What car do I have? (2008 1.4SE)

[guest1870]

I'm looking to get a set of winter tyres from MyTyres website. I'm having difficulty understanding how their web site relates to my particular car model. If I select "Jazz 1.4" from their pick list, it gives me options to select which model. I thought my car was a GD model but their pick list only gives options of "GG", GE6", "GG3" and the "youngest" date listed is April 2009 onwards.
What is the official model designation of my car and how do I find out what rims I have? (standard 15" Honda Alloys)
Or are the "GG", "GE6" references to wheel types rather than car model?
Sorry if I'm missing the point here, I've not had the car long.

[guest2662]

me to i dont know what the gd or whatever they stand for? please someone tell us thanks.

[DV]

Check your sticker on the door jamb what sizes are good for your car and choose on that.
Alternatively read the tyre size from the tyre.

[guest1844]

On the Mytyres car selector, choose Jazz 1.3. (the "1.4" is in fact nearer a 1.3). You will then get the choice of 2 GDs; strangely only listed up to Dec 2005. I wonder if that's a mistake. May be best to ring them.
I thought all GD Jazzes ran on 15" with 55/185 or 14" with 65/175 which is the same overall diameter (and bolt holes). The GEs went up a size. So there should only really be a choice of two. If you select one it will tell you the rim dimensions.
Somebody else know?
(I bought the above for my 2005 GD and the fit is perfect).

[guest1870]

Thanks Bazzer,

I did wonder about selecting "1.3" rather than "1.4" since the engine is actually 1349cc. And the manufactirung dates confused me too. My model was made right up until 2008. I think you are right and their web site has an error in it.

It's not as simple as one poster suggested ("just fit the tyres that are recomended") because I'm buying replacement wheels AND tyres from MyTyres. I therefore need to get the wheels which will actually fit onto my wheel hubs, so it's crucial to get my model designation correct.

Just to complicate things, I'd like to get narrower, higher profile winter tyres than standard (if legally possible) because I reckon they will perform better in snow and be cheaper.

(As an aside, 7 inch wide tyres on a small, light, everyday car like a Jazz seems ridiculous to me. A few years ago, this size of tyre would only have been used on proper sports cars. I suspect marketing and fashion, rather than real-world roadholding ability are at work here)

I know how tyres are sized, but I'm clueless about how wheel sizes are designated. Anyone know?

[Ozzie]

When I took delivery of my spare wheel from wheelsnthings the box it came in said 15 x 6J, so rather than start unpacking it all I phoned them up, they said that all Jazzs have the same bolthole pattern and basically only the rim diameter changes model to model, so bearing that in mind whether your car is a GD GE GG or whatever shouldn't matter.

Ozzie

[guest1870]

Thanks Ozzie, that is useful info. My next question was going to be "are the rims interchangeable?", so you've answered that one.

I realize that the title of this post is a bit confusing. I should probably start another specifically about winter tyres.
Bazzer,if you are still there, what size steel wheels and winter tyres did you end up buying? It sounds like I'm thinking of doing the same as you (narrower, higher profile than standard).

[guest1844]

My car normally runs the 15" 185/55 tyres; the ones I bought from mytyres were 14" 175/65 on steel rims. This is the smaller rim, but with the deeper/higher profile tyre the overall diameter remains the same. I believe the "base" model Jazzes run this size as standard. Before buying I checked with a Honda dealer what the exact rim dimensions should be (with respect to the "5½ x 14  4 x 100.00 x 56.00 ET: 45.00" quoted on the mytyres website). The dealer couldn't find out what the Honda dimensions are specified as. So I took a wee bit of a chance you may say and ordered the wheels from mytyres.
I was pleased to discover they were a perfect fit. I wondered if there might have been a problem with the locking wheel nut, but all fits fine.
As for the drive, the ride is slightly softer (with pressures at 32psi, which is maybe a tad too high) and steering is a tiny bit not quite so accurate, although it virtually eliminates tramlining on rutted roads. They are also usefully quieter than the summer Bridgestones, though the Bridgestones are known to be noisy.
Its nice to get them on as the winter pulls in as you feel a bit more secure, the deeper profile is slightly more pothole proof and the narrower width helps with deep surface water which in the dark you can misjudge. Summer comes along and you slip the summers back on, giving you that ko-kart feel / wind-in-you-hair / sunglasses / isn't life good feeling... Remember that?
I bought the Nankangs, which is all I could get last winter (they were completely out of stock for weeks). I'm a bit of a tyre snob so would have probably chosen something with a top review, but I can't fault them. I ran them for 3.5 months /3000 miles (motorways mainly) and they lost less than a millimetre of tread.

(Note the car handbook has a section on tyres, and lists the different approved sizes).

[guest1870]

Thanks Bazzer for answering all my queries, very detailed.
I'll have a good look at the handbook to check what sizes are given. I can't really see a problem with the sizes you've chosen for yours.
Some people would maybe view it as a "modification" but since all you are doing is fitting the OE size wheels & tyres from a lower spec model of the same car, I can't see a problem. I may call my insurer to tell them I've fitted winter tyres (in a size listed by the manufacturer) just in case.
I'll post a notice here when I've completed the purchase and fitted the new wheels, for info.
Just ignore the PM I sent earlier, you've answered my query admirably,
Cheers,
Wul

[guest1844]

I may call my insurer to tell them I've fitted winter tyres

If you're running an approved wheel size then there will be no need. I haven't told mine. The insurance documents make no mention of tyres; after all you can buy very cheap and shocking budget tyres (I believe the rules on tyre sales in this country are very lax), or get used tyres from your local scrappy, and you wouldn't contravene your insurance.
As an aside, if they change the motorway speed limit to 80mph, this will place bigger demands on car tyres that will cause some to come unstuck... I imagine the Germans, on their autobahns, are much more aware and take more care of their tyres.

[DV]

I may call my insurer to tell them I've fitted winter tyres (in a size listed by the manufacturer) just in case.

"Insurance implications - winter tyres
If you fit winter or all-season tyres in place of your standard 'summer' tyres there should be no need to tell your insurer – even though the speed index might be lower."

Source: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter-tyres-in-the-uk.html.
Correct as of 28 October 2011.

[guest1870]

Thanks for the tips regarding the dreaded insurance companies. I think you are right, if its a road legal tyre then it's hardly a modification. I'd rather not speak to them if possible. I'll only get some call centre drone, who knows nothing about motors but pushes the panic button about my query.
The owners handbook even states that some winter tyres may have a speed rating lower th the top speed of the car. It only advises a warning sticker within the driver's field of vision as a precaution.
So, next stop MyTyres....