Hi guys!

I wanting to increase the size of my wheels up a notch to give my Mk2b some more kerb appeal, but I don't know what size would be good. I want to put 17's on but would I be able to get away with low profile tires, and how low would they need to be? Will it effect the car in any other way?

Cheers guys!

OppanAhsanStyle said:

I wanting to increase the size of my wheels up a notch to give my Mk2b some more kerb appeal, but I don't know what size would be good. I want to put 17's on but would I be able to get away with low profile tires, and how low would they need to be? Will it effect the car in any other way?

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This should help you work out what size tyre you need.

If you're moving from 14" or 15" wheels, you will definitely notice a bumpier ride: as the sidewalls of the tyre will be considerably narrower, and less flexible. (I noticed this, just moving from 14" steelies to 15" alloys... -- but then, I have a very sensitive spine...!) It will also, probably, impact your insurance premiums... -- so I would ring your insurer, to find out: especially as I don't think any of the Mk2/b Puntos came with 17" wheels as standard....

I can't remember if your car is already lowered. If it isn't, then the lower-profile tyres may look a bit lost -- especially in the front wheel arches. If it is, I would expect the ride to be extremely hard....

I appreciate the aesthetic reasons, by the way; but having a spine that's been rebuilt (and now consists of as much metal as bone, at the base of my neck), 15" Sporting alloys with standard suspension is as far as I'll go. To each his own, though... -- it is, after all, a free world...!

17" ruin the punto
Harder ride
More body roll
Crapper turning circle
Slower acceleration
Stressed diff

To me its not worth it

Avoid 16" due to expensive tyres

15" is best compromise with a little spring swapping

Ziggy

My Punto has 18s and they fit perfectly, however it did cause a large wheel arch gap - so I popped some coilovers on which did the trick!

The tyre size on mine is 225 35 18.
Harder to find (that's what my garage always says), but usually reasonably priced

JackDeean said:

My Punto has 18s and they fit perfectly, however it did cause a large wheel arch gap - so I popped some coilovers on which did the trick!

The tyre size on mine is 225 35 18.
Harder to find (that's what my garage always says), but usually reasonably priced
View attachment 128247

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Need some better pics of this!!!!

JackDeean said:

My Punto has 18s and they fit perfectly, however it did cause a large wheel arch gap - so I popped some coilovers on which did the trick!

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Can I ask how it feels to drive -- i.e. acceleration- and suspension-wise...?

This is as low as I've had it..
This is a little higher, more realistic when I'm surrounded my speed bumps scratching under my car ?

The snowy photo is before I lowered it, as you can tell.. It had to be done, ha!

Love my FIAT!

Can I ask how it feels to drive -- i.e. acceleration- and suspension-wise...? [/QUOTE]


I don't know if I'm making it up, but it does feel like I can accelerate quicker, hardly ever wheel spins now either!
Before it was low is was a fairly stiff ride, which I liked, but it does take a while getting used to going over speed bumps! Other than that it just feels a little more sturdy?

JackDeean said:

I don't know if I'm making it up, but it does feel like I can accelerate quicker, hardly ever wheel spins now either!
Before it was low is was a fairly stiff ride, which I liked, but it does take a while getting used to going over speed bumps! Other than that it just feels a little more sturdy?

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Ta! Nothing wrong with being subjective...!

Just thought the OP might like to see he has different options... -- and although I think yours looks fabulous, sadly it's not a Mk2 Punto...!

Ah thankyou! Oh haha that's funny, all I saw was Punto, so I had to poke my nose in ?

JackDeean said:

Ah thankyou! Oh haha that's funny, all I saw was Punto, so I had to poke my nose in ?

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It'll teach me to pay more attention to avatars with cars in them, as well...!

Ziggy122 said:

Crapper turning circle
Slower acceleration
Stressed diff

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These have very little to do with wheel diameter and it's a massive generalisation on your part.

Turning circle - if the overall width and the overall wheel/tyre diameter are similar to stock and the effective offset is the same, then it follows that the turning circle will be similar to stock.

Acceleration - if the overall circumference is similar, then acceleration will be similar (OK, there'll be a different degree of things like tyre flex under hard acceleration, but I think in this case they would be negligible).

Stressed diff - would I be right in saying that you're assuming larger wheels equals more weight? Not true my friend

Bigger wheels throw speedo out of calib.


more stress on wheel bearings too,

oldhammer said:

Bigger wheels throw speedo out of calib.


more stress on wheel bearings too,

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How?

If your rolling overall circumferences are the same, then in this respect there is no difference between one set of wheels and another.

If your wheel centrelines are the same as well (which they will be if the offset and wheel widths are), then the leverage on the hubs will be the same. If you're thinking of increased weight, then yes, you have part of a point. But not all wheels weigh the same.

My point above is based of fact!
go to a specialist wheel company and ask,


the cars speedo is calibrated to the size of wheel rim fitted to it from factory.
by Adding bigger wheels throws the speedo out, (check and confirm with GPS/satnav)


ive fitted bigger wheels to a lot of cars, findings where more stress on wheel bearings,

oldhammer said:

My point above is based of fact!
go to a specialist wheel company and ask,


the cars speedo is calibrated to the size of wheel rim fitted to it from factory.
by Adding bigger wheels throws the speedo out, (check and confirm with GPS/satnav)


ive fitted bigger wheels to a lot of cars, findings where more stress on wheel bearings,

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No, it's based on an assumption of fact. Please read what I wrote fully and properly.

I'm quite aware of speedo calibration (you need to be aware of it to be able to put a car through IVA), so if you fit larger wheels, you specify the tyres to suit so the overall rolling diameter is stock, or as close to stock as possible. Ask any wheel specialist, or look up any tyre calculator available online.

If your overall circumference deviates from stock, then yes of course the speedo will be out.

If you fit heavier or wider wheels, then yes I agree with you. Maybe my point didn't get through to you. Wider or bigger wheels do not necessarily mean they weigh more, or put simply; not all wheels are of equal weight.

Apropos the speedo: by law the speedo has to be optimistic (I'm unsure of by how much). By increasing the circumference of the wheels, you effectively raise the gearing, thus, in any gear, you travel further per tyre revolution and the speedo tends towards a less optimistic or even pessimistic reading.

Still, given 17" rims, you're looking at pretty low profile to keep the same circumference.

Don't know about type approval, but for IVA (according to the latest version I have) the true speed must be at least 57mph at an indicated 70mph. The true speed can't be higher than the indicated speed (i.e. the speedo cannot under read).

on 17"s my speedo reads about 2mph over gps
on original 14"s it read about 4-5mph over original

toad101 said:

on 17"s my speedo reads about 2mph over gps
on original 14"s it read about 4-5mph over original

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OK, but for the info to be of much use we need to know the profile of the original and 17" wheels.