Chrysler Ypsilon wheels

[longdog]

I have bought a Chrysler Ypsilon (diesel), which clearly has very similar running gear to a Fiat 500/new Panda/Mito. (There doesn't yet appear to be a forum for Ypsilons.) For better ride quality, I want to change the 16" alloy wheels (with 195/45R16 tyres) for steel ones. The handbook says I can use either 14" with 175/65 tyres or 15" with 185/55. I would be grateful for any guidance on the likely advantages and disadvantages of each.

And, if I buy steel wheels from a non-Fiat source, do I have to worry about any other other characteristics than the stated rim specification? Offset, for instance?

Thanks.

 

[PAN366E]

Also look into the new Ford Ka which is also using fiat running gear.

Should be 4x98 too

 

[dave]

it might not be the wheels giving bad ride quality, has it got the 500 suspension or the ford one?

 

[fingers99]

The obvious disadvantage will be a smaller tyre footprint, so handling and braking will suffer to some extent.

Look at FIAT/Alfa/lancia, as both the PCD and centre bore are pretty specific to these marques. Dunno about the KA.

Offset (will be expressed as ET) should be as close as possible to the original.

PCD is 98cm, centre bore is 58 (sometimes given as 58.1.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Is it branded "Chrysler Ypsilon" in the UK..??
Overhere in Holland it is still "Lancia" and is basically a re-badged Fiat in luxury disghuise...!!
(btw, Ford Ka=Fiat 500 same factory and production lines))

 

[longdog]

Thanks. Yes, in UK it's a Chrysler, but all over the car there are bits saying "Fiat" or "Lancia". I like the car.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

OK, thanks.
Strange move from Fiat UK, I would say "Lancia" sounds much better and has a far more "sporty Italian" image than Chrysler...??
Anyway, you can use Fiat parts for your car without problems!

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Are you sure about switching to steel wheels..??
It'll ruin the appearance of the car imo...!
What brand of tyres are currently on?
Changing to another brand might improve ride quality..!

 

[longdog]

My thanks to PAN366E, dave, Peter Pick Up and fingers99. I had no idea that offset was expressed as ET, and I'm afraid I still don't know whether the Ypsilon has the Ford or the Fiat suspension. It's really that my experience accords with the point constantly made by Honest John in the Daily Telegraph that with low profile tyres you feel every drain cover and you increase the risk of damaging expensive alloy wheels because there simply isn't enough depth to the tyre. The 16" tyres specified in the Ypsilon handbook have a height/width ratio of 45. For 15" wheels it is 40 or 55, and for 14" wheels it is 65. So it appears to me that bump absorption must be better with 14" than 15", but that directness/responsiveness in the steering is probably not as good.

With the present 16" wheels and tyres the handling seems to me to be pretty sharp - sharper than I need. The Ypsilon is marketed as being at the luxury end of Fiat's small car range, and I bought it for long distances on the Continent. So I would be happy to trade some sharpness for a more comfortable ride. Appearance is not a concern.

Thanks again to those who have responded.

 

[jimbo118]

I've done nearly 11k miles in my Twinair Ypsilon now on 16" wheels and would say the ride overall is very good (living in Dorset it spends most of its time on bumpy country roads so a decent test) - it certainly rides better than our 2010 Eco active Panda on 13" wheels so personally I wouldn't bother changing them. The only time they are an issue is potholes due to the very low profile of the tyre.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Every year I switch twice from 17 to 16 inch on my Alfa and from 15 to 14 inch on our Fiat summerwheel/tyres to winterwheels/tyres.
I don't feel much difference in ride quality/comfort at all...!!
Keep the 16 inch on your Ypsilon, and save a lot of money, maybe try different tyre pressures to your taste.
Again, a another brand tyre, same size, will make a huge difference in comfort sometimes...

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

Btw, did you buy the car new, if so, how many miles yet?
If it is new, everything has to "settle" and you have to get comfortable with the car as well, it will take some time....!!

 

[dave]

PCD is 98cm, centre bore is 58 (sometimes given as 58.1.

58 hub 58.1 wheel i think, so there is a .1 to stop wheel cracking due to heat expansion:idea:

not sure i agree with Honest John, used to have very low profile tyres on my punto and mrs dave higher profile on her punto. we drove the same roads with same pot holes, mrs dave broke 3 alloys i broke none. i checked my tyres presures every week, mrs dave never checked hers, if i hit a pot hole i would roll out the other side, if mrs dave hit a pot hole she would hit the brake so a stopped wheel would hit the other side of the pot hole

 

[longdog]

Thanks, Peter Pick-up, for your advice. The car has done just under 6000 miles and I have done about 300 in it so, yes, it's perhaps early days to be making judgements.

 

[longdog]

Thanks, dave, that does put a different light on things, but I'd still be interested in anybody else's experience of changing tyre size, either way.

 

[cjlar]

Replaced Idea with Ypsilon Twinair (no more kids) Very, very impressed with Twinair, sounds like original 500, but goes like stink! Torque like diesel but only 200 miles up. Will update consumption when loosened out. Revs to limiter in 3rd and 4th much quicker than a 4 cylinder.(Discovered by accident!)

P.S. To Mods: This should not be in Miscellaneous.

 

[longdog]

I started this thread to seek opinions on changing the 16" alloy wheels on my Ypsilon for 14" or 15" steel ones. I made the change in May, to 15" as I could not find 14". The new tyres are of the same make and type as the old ones. Since then I have done 6,000 miles on the continent. I am in absolutely no doubt that the ride is much improved and that the car feels altogether better to drive. I think that maybe if Fiat had put out the UK press cars on 15" wheels instead of the more visually striking 16" ones the reviews for the Ypsilon would have been better than they were.