[barajasbarbara]

Honda got back to me today after I submitted a question on the website (first post on this thread). Response pretty much as expected:

"Thank you for allowing Honda Automobile Customer Service the opportunity of responding to your message. Unfortunately, the 2019 Honda Passport will come standard with 20-inch alloy wheels and tires on all trims. This information is available at www.hondanews.com. We are sorry to hear that this may affect your decision to purchase a Honda passport. Thank you for contacting us and have a great rest of your day.

Kind regards,
Honda Automobile Customer Service"

I find it amusing that amusing that Honda itself states "Unfortunately, the 2019 Honda Passport will come standard with 20-inch alloy wheels."

---
That is funny. This was probably answered by some low-level customer relations person. It needs to get escalated to some "higher-ups" at Honda. Hopefully someone from Honda reads this forum.

 

[umcintosh]

Does anyone know if the rims on the passport with the 265/45r20 spec are 8.5" or 8" width? I believe the MDX A-Spec has 8.5" rims with this package so I am assuming the Passport with the 265 width is on a wider wheel with a possibly different offset than the 245/50r20 tirs on sport and EX-L.

 

[carlahancock]

The best car I ever had, was an S2000. It was my daily driver for over 12 years. Did nothing but changing oil and tires. It as may pride and joy, and brought me nothing but fun. Since then, any Honda vehicle I've driven felt like crap. Needless so say, my requirements have changed, but the Passport was really the first vehicle that could bring me back to Honda. But with those wheels? It's as if it's telling me to fuck off and crawl back under the Subaru I came from. Are there no sane people working at Honda anymore? I really miss my S2000.

 

[aarondixon]

LOL, I miss my 85 Prelude, had it for slightly over 10 years, loved that one...

 

[hensonstephanie]

Should be 245/60R-18 and the 6 speed transmission on the Sport and EX-L. Give us choices!
Same as Pilot! The Touring and Elite people want 20s. not everyone!
Black out wheels and mirrors on the Sport and Elite was a good move.
Still have EX-L and Touring to pick from if you don't like all that black.

 

[barajasbarbara]

Honda (and the other car makers) are going for the "mass market", and all their market research tells them that there are more soccer moms and guys who never go offroading compared to the relative few true offroading enthusiasts who would only consider a Wrangler or 4Runner. Look at the 2019 Toyota RAV4 -- it has 225/65R17 on the LE and XLE, and 235/55R19 on the XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited -- and the Adventure trim is supposed to be for outdoorsy types. If you've ever wondered what’s with all the Land Rovers with low aspect ratio tires, it's all about looking good in the Whole Foods parking lot.

What the conventional thinkers in Honda's marketing department don't realize is that tastes are changing. There are a number of people who don't want fake outdoorsy-styled vehicles, but instead want something close to a real off-roader, with the reliability of a Honda. It wouldn't cost Honda anything to offer the 245/60R-18 (same as Pilot and Ridgeline) tires on black alloy wheels as either standard equipment or a no-cost option on the 2019 Passport Sport and EX-L, and would definitely gain them more customers. And if they really want to generate some excitement, they should allow dealers to offer all-terrain tires on 18" black alloys without charging an exorbitant dealer markup for the tires and installation.

 

[ericsmith]

I submitted mine just now, and joined just to post this.

I'm coming from an Xterra, which is no longer made. It's a great vehicle, but it's way more capable than I use. I'd rather trade some of that capability for comfort and gas mileage.

Literally the only thing keeping me from choosing a Passport as my next vehicle is the wheel size. I've never owned a Honda and I've never even considered one. But, since I'm older and I'd like to have a more comfortable vehicle, the Passport is looking really good to me.

But, if I have to run All-Seasons on 20's or go through a bunch of tire and wheel swapping nonsense, then forget it. I'll just get a Frontier or a 4runner or something.

Do the right thing, Honda! Listen to your potential buyers!

 

[blankenshiplaura]

If they ever offer 18" wheels, they'll probably be a "no cost" option. If I downsize, I'd rather take off the 20" ones and sell them for a profit to a Ridgeline or Pilot owner. Yes, a small hassle.

 

[blanchardjordan]

Hello Guys and Gals,
This is the first post, I sell wheel and tire packages to new car dealers on the west coast and N. Nevada the new 2019 RAV4 has been a popular crossover for me, as of now no lift or level kit available yet so I've been hanging 17x8 wheels and a 225/65R17 BFG KO2 tire, one of my Honda dealers told me to do my magic so I'll be the ginny pig and see what fits, I don't think Honda did its research on the whole adventure crossover and Overlanding lifestyle I too think they screwed the pooch when went with a 20" .... I'll get back to you guys after I find out what works.

 

[fraziermaria]

Can I use 265/50R20 to replace 265/45R20?

 

[hensonstephanie]

Pilots with 18" wheels, will be a much smoother ride than any Passport with those stiff
20"s, on dirt and fire roads. If Honda tested this Passport in mud, sand and snow. It's sad that they
didn't test it on long dirt roads that will shake and rattle all 4 trim models, on the way to the campsite.

 

[blanchardjordan]

Can I use 265/50R20 to replace 265/45R20?

I don't know, I haven't been able to test fit yet, its a whole 2" in diameter bigger here is a size comparison

 

[paul23]

Can I use 265/50R20 to replace 265/45R20?

That size fits on the Ridgeline. Since it's the same platform with a lift advantage on the Passport, you are probably fine.

 

[umcintosh]

265/50r20 will probably fit fine as people are using those tires on Pilots and Ridgelines with limited, if any issues but we will have to wait and see for sure. I plan on buying 265/50r20 if we go with the passport.
Roid Rage, you compared 265/50 and 265/40 tires above and it should be 265/50 and 265/45. Its a 1" difference, not 2".

 

[blanchardjordan]

265/50r20 will probably fit fine as people are using those tires on Pilots and Ridgelines with limited, if any issues but we will have to wait and see for sure. I plan on buying 265/50r20 if we go with the passport.
Roid Rage, you compared 265/50 and 265/40 tires above and it should be 265/50 and 265/45. Its a 1" difference, not 2".

Old eyes ... Thanks for the correction

 

[blanchardjordan]

Old eyes ... Thanks for the correction

 

[emilyblankenship]

RR; Is your experience that a ~1" increase in outer diameter an easy workable upgrade?
My need is longer dirt roads with some baseball size rocks that can be killer on rims if hit wrong. Therefore a 17" rim and taller sidewall is what I desire so can air down for those long dirt road hauls. Thinking the 245/75R17 at 30.5" OD will work, what do you think? For more aggressive thinking the 245/75R17 at 31.5" OD, thoughts?

 

[mbrooks]

Don’t forget that you have to consider the SPARE TIRE. If you get a flat and put the spare on, then the diameter of the 4 tires should be similar. Otherwise, traction control & stability control may have fits.

 

[debbiekeller]

I don’t see an issue with 20’s other than them putting crappy branded tires on it from factory like most new cars. My ‘17 CRV tires only lasted 23k.

Also, The Pilot Touring/Elite has 20’s too.

The look of the Passport would suffer if 18’s were put on I feel. Let’s see how it rides first too.

The Pirelli P-zero tires that came on my LR4 were bald by 10K miles. They basically got the LR4 from the factory to my driveway. Most OEM tires are junk.

 

[barajasbarbara]

Still no reply from Honda to my email about this issue. I think they've exceeded their "3-5 business days". My guess is that a bunch of Honda executives are trying to translate RR's "screwed the pooch" into Japanese.