Tyre/wheel question.

[cavmad]

I noted with interest on another thread (which I now can`t find!) that rear arches may have to be modified to fit GTi wheels to a BX.
I can only assume this is down to the bigger/wider wheels and tyres and have therefore worked out the following:

Standard tyres for diesels (with the possible exception of the turbo) seem to be 165-70-14. This would mean by my calculations that the listed tyres have the following dimensions


165-70-14: 165mm wide by 115.5mm high.

175-70-14: 175mm wide by 122.5mm high.

185-60-14: 185mm wide by 111.0mm high.

(All being based on, for example, 185-60-14 means width is 185mm and 60% of the width is the height).

Therefore I can only deduce that it must be the width of the wheel/tyre that`s the problem, not the height.
Does that make any sense to you?

[Stewart (oily!)]

You will not have to modify your rear wheel arch to fit factory speedline alloys, they are a snug fit with 195/60 tyres but they do go in, you may need to jack the car a little higher when fitting them. they will however show up any rear arm wear by rubbing on the insides .
Stewart

[cavmad]

Cheers Stewart. Maybe the answer is to fit either 185-60`s instead of 195`s or buy some aftermarket wheels which are slightly narrower?
I take it the GTi or 16V wheels are 5.5Jx14?

[Geoffrey Gould]

Hello I guess it all depends on the definition GTI " ordinary " alloys are 5 1/2 J (that hasnt come out too well-- thats five and a half. ) these will quite happiley fit under the rear arches with no problem and even allow for some rear arm bearing wear, and the 16V wheels are 6J and in anything else apart from the 16V can be a bit of a problem.
They are a tight fit. Ive got 185's with 6J's on my non 16V and that is ok and does have some room but is a little 'under tyred' it's a personal thing to do with feel I think.
If I went up to 195's then there would be a problem, the outer wheel arch lip (rear) would need a trim with a grinder, when sat down on the suspension there would be vertually no clearence tyre to inner arch. If there is ANY rear arm bearing slop 195's will rub. As a friend of mine found out when being in a hurry and trying to drive off with the suspension not up.
If you wish to fit 195's then dont untill the arm bearings are done, it could end in tears.
Not having had one I do have a feeling that estate models are different.
Cheers.
Geoff

[Stewart (oily!)]

GTI steels are 5.5 inch Speedlines are 6 inch, both fit easily, as far as grip goes theres not much to choose between 185 and 195, both fitments give far more grip than the pizza cutting 165s
Stewart

[sleepy0905]

I have just fitted speedlines to mine and they went on fine the only thing i had to do was take the lip of the rear arch which i did with two wooded bars and a couple of g cramps and folded the lip flat. The wheels would of gone on with no modification to the lip but it looked a bit to close for comfort but stewart had already advised me of this at the meet at the rompers.

[Kitch]

The 16v Speedlines with 195/60/14's on will fit straight on a hatchback. As will some form of A/M wheel with say 195/50/15.

But having fitted the 16v alloys to my old estate, the rear arches were too tight and had to be "modified".

[cavmad]

I`ve seen some really nice and very cheap aftermarket alloys on eBay a few times, I`ll see ifey still have any and ask what `J` they are. I know they were 14" which will suit me and if they are 4.5 or 5J I can probably fit my 70 series tyres to them which`ll save money as much as anything else.

[sleepy0905]

If they are after market ones make sure the wheel offset is between 15-25 otherwise you will have problems this value is on the wheels somewhere and it is stated as an ET value also they stud PCD should be 108mm if i remember correctly.

[Mike E (uk)]

As supplied by Citroen originally,

GTI 8V has alloys 5.5" wide,and 185 tyres.

16V has alloys 6" wide and 195 tyres.
These look the same as 8V when not dark grey.

Mike