Has anybody got a 18in alloy wheel for a 06 prestigio 2.4 as i hit pot hole today it's the 10 spoke type.

Sorry to hear that.

I'd doubt it - there are some people (myself included) who would like a spare one. Have you thought of changing your wheels and selling the three undamaged ones? I've got a nice set of 17" ones off an Alfa Brera I've just taken off my car :devil:

i like the 18inc wheels that it came with it suits the car i might look at having it repaired, priced a new one it's £264. If it can't be done then i will think again.

Earlier today on eBay there was a new set of Saab 9-3 18” for around £200. No idea if they’re suitable – but might be worth an enquiry, as they didn’t sell. I’d be more specific, but about to close-down – will check `em out in the morning.

What tyres are you running on? - & have you tried a size/speed/load outside of the 225/45R18 95Y?

DIDI> any noises from your InsCo over using the Alfa rig?

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55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150 (225/45R18 95Y)

I have been running mine on Dunlop Sp01 they have done 26.887miles but will need changing before winter and i will use them again love the 2.4 wish they would bring them back to the uk.

Caravadossi said:

Earlier today on eBay there was a new set of Saab 9-3 18” for around £200. No idea if they’re suitable – but might be worth an enquiry, as they didn’t sell. I’d be more specific, but about to close-down – will check `em out in the morning.

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2010/07/31 09:28
eBay listing: 290453557180 Saab 12763042 18” (10-spoke) Light Alloy

Edited 11:26
Apologies - that's a one off, not a *set*

Hmm, that's one wheel only. As far as insurance goes, if the wheel / tyre combination is a recommended fit (which it is - the handbook lists 17" wheels as an alternative fit for the 2.4) then there isn't a problem. The whole insurance thing is overhyped - it's like saying that the insurance company won't pay out if you have Kumho tyres fitted instead of Bridgestone. The Alfa wheels came off a car with the same platform, same weight, using the same engine - I'd love any insurance company to try and go up against a competent lawyer on that one .

Anyhow, back to John - keep us posted as to what you decide to do, if your tyres are getting close to the limit then it might be worth changing your wheels anyway, as you'd get some money back for your old wheels. Don't forget you can get wheels from any Vectra C, Signum, 04- Saab 9-3, Alfa 159 or Brera. The odd Vauxhall set pops up from time to time on www.vectra-c.com .

HTH.

Nice try DIDI, but ABWAM (Ah-but-wait-a-minute) …

When one goes to court, the outcome is often uncertain – if the outcome was certain, there would be no need to go to court. The competent lawyer may come-up against an incompetent lawyer, but then in contrast … (?) - & given the prevalence, surely even an incompetent lawyer will be experienced in all the mod stunts by now.

Anyway, what court? Is there uncertainty? The consequences of a `disappointing incident’ with undeclared mods could be an invitation to a Foxtrot Oscar wave from the InsCo. What court follows? The criminal court – where the insured wants to argue that the InsCo defrauded him (& not vice-versa)? Or the civil court – where the insured wants to argue the InsCo are in breach-of-contract (& not vice-versa)?

I don’t think you’ll get-away with lumping all FIAT Group (or Epsilon platform) wheels into one envelope. Clearly the Croma OH gives FIAT wheel `options’ – whereas selecting wheels from an Alfa envelope might not be viewed as an option but a mod. I reckon any lawyer would argue Alfa (or Abarth, Ferrari, Maserati) wheels are `distinguished’ from FIAT mainstream wheels.

Where there is uncertainty, is over how individual InsCo’s see the matter. I understand some are happy to merely add the new wheels to your notes, without an additional charge – in contrast to others who take the opportunity to snatch £X extra, but still only cover replacement to OE level.

What Alfa wheels do you have? 60690480, 60690481, 60696918? … & tyres?

What tyres are you currently running? - & have you tried a size/load/speed outside of 225/45R18 95Y?

We'll have to agree to differ on that one I'm afraid, there are several different viewpoints out there. Do I have to tell the insurers because my windscreen is now non-OEM? Or what about fitting non-OEM brake pads or discs? Or suspension components? If you have a 'Dynamic' but fit 'Prestigio' wheels then are you still breaking the rules because your car is now modified?

My personal opinion is that my 'modified' wheels are waaaaaaay more legal than the pimped-up bling rings fitted with what look like rubber bands that can be found on various Saxos, 106s, Corsas etc - all of which have been declared to their insurance companies of course

Anyway, back on topic - I've currently gone back to the standard Fiat 18" wheels as KeithGlos was selling his, but I'm still not sure whether I'll stay with the 18s or go back to the 17s. The 17s were more tolerant of road surfaces but the 18s are more stable. No rush to change either way at the minute as the tyres on the 18s have a decent amount of tread and there's plenty of room in my shed.

Out of interest, the 17s were fitted with 225/50 tyres rather that the 215/50s fitted to Cromas, according to the tyre size calculator here this size is much closer to the 225/45 x 18 rolling circumference. I wouldn't go any bigger than 225/45 as the price gets silly. 225/45 x 18 and 225/50 x 17 are roughly equivalent, with the 17s being slightly cheaper.

The other point to bear in mind is that the 1.9 150 JTD was specified with both 91W and 95Y tyres. Load rating 91 is 615Kg, 95 is 690Kg. The maximum front axle weight of my 2.4 is 1200Kg so a load rating of 91 is acceptable IMO as I cannot possibly foresee any way in which I will personally get to the maximum front axle weight for the car.

Obvously Fiat (being liable) would rather build in a greater margin of safety but there's only 110Kg difference in kerb weight between the 1.9 auto and 2.4. I've had this before on my old Sharan - VW specify XL tyres but this is to cater for the car carrying seven large adults with a full complement of luggage while towing an 1800Kg trailer. Us consumers are not to be trusted as we do stupid things then blame the manufacturer...

My Alfa wheels look like this with a Fiat badge in the middle, so they are Fiat wheels if anyone looks (after an accident, for example) . Have a look at the attachment to see what they look like when fitted - they're on a par with the OEM 18" for looks in my opinion, but easier to clean. I'm sure all the insurance loss adjusters out there will be fully conversant with all the wheels fitted to that high-volume seller, the Fiat Croma.

Speaking of which, you can get some unusual non-standard fit OEM alloys here. Think I prefer the standard ones though as they're easier to clean and look better (subjective, I know).

Anyway, back on topic, apologies to John for hijacking your thread. Have you found out if your wheel is recoverable?

I believe the general (& legal) view to be that fitting Alfa wheels to a FIAT is clearly a `modification.’ It cannot be viewed as an `option’ – i.e. fitted on the production line, or at the dealers. (Even parts fitted on the production line can be classified as a modification). A lawyer (any lawyer) will be familiar with the legal term `distinguished’ – i.e. show that Alfa wheels can clearly be distinguished from FIAT wheels. They may well be by the same OE manufacturer, but there will be clear separate batches & kept separate for shipment to separate assembly lines.

To succeed in your view, you would have to show that the wheels were common to both Alfa & FIAT – i.e. that there was no distinction along the supply chain, & that they could be selected at random for either FIAT or Alfa assembly lines.

But then setting aside all of the above - it’s not me who you have a insurance contract with, whether remaining good, void or voidable.

I hope to look at this further, to at least consider a set of Alfa (or Saab) wheels should the opportunity arise.

Apologies to John re the `one off’ error – but I’m sure I’ve seen more than one *new* set of suitable Alfa (or Saab) wheels on eBay in the past few weeks, but perhaps now deleted from the `completed’ listings. Did not someone from the FF/Croma crowd buy a set?

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55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150 (225/45ZR18 95W)

Watch out for the offset if buying non-Fiat ones. It took me ages to find my 18" spare wheel. It was from ebay and I think it came from a posh Astra, not a Vectra. Definitely the right offset though, but can't remember the details now.

I don't know about the insurance side of things, but I'd definitely stick to the ones made by car companies. Some of the aftermarket ones look too spindly to be capable of carrying the weight of a car. It's another area of the car parts market that desperately needs some kind of load/safety testing and kitemarking, but as far as I'm aware there isn't such a system.

I'm not sure about the tyre ratings, but I haven't seen anything stating that 91 rated tyres are OK. Mine drove like an old mattress with these, that the previous owner had fitted.

JOHN COOPER said:

i like the 18inc wheels that it came with it suits the car i might look at having it repaired, priced a new one it's £264. If it can't be done then i will think again.

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JC - £264 for a one-off FIAT 7.5Jx18 doesn’t make sense, when measured against a 7Jx17 Vauxhall set.

eBay: 370414607614 Vauxhall 7Jx17 Vectra-C £259 (Barnsley)

See also eBay: 110556060125 ??

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55 Prestigio 1.9/16v 150 (7.5Jx18 ET41)

wheel been repaired like new new cost £75 plus vat so now iam ready to go on my hols to the south of france on thursday can't wait, looking forward to the trip as it is now running 252 bhp and 368 fpt

Nice looking Saab 9-3 16" set c/w tyres going on eBay: 110571820698

£123 @ 20:23 - with a couple of hours before end.

Edited 22:24
Went for £290.01

Shameless plug - my wheels are now in the classifieds here