Tuning Replacement Filter or Air Induction Kit?

[AdamsT]

Hi all

I have a 1.2 16v '52 plate punto, I'm looking to upgrade the air filter. I've had a look at pros and cons of choosing a replacement filter, or a new induction kit.
Either way i will be using K&N parts, but i was wondering if anyone had upgraded to an induction kit and what they though?
I have heard that induction kits can actually suck power from smaller engines and tha it would be better to stick with a filter replacement.
I'm looking to do it as the first step in a line of small upgrades. I want to lowerher 30mm/60mm, fit some 16/17in wheel upgrade and a few minor engine upgrades.

Cheers in advance.

 

[steven45610]

Hi all

I have a 1.2 16v '52 plate punto, I'm looking to upgrade the air filter. I've had a look at pros and cons of choosing a replacement filter, or a new induction kit.
Either way i will be using K&N parts, but i was wondering if anyone had upgraded to an induction kit and what they though?
I have heard that induction kits can actually suck power from smaller engines and tha it would be better to stick with a filter replacement.
I'm looking to do it as the first step in a line of small upgrades. I want to lowerher 30mm/60mm, fit some 16/17in wheel upgrade and a few minor engine upgrades.

Cheers in advance.

I went for induction and does nothing apart from making it sound like theres a whole in my exhaust in my opinion i cant wait to put standard one back on the car but thats my opinion. I have the focus induction kit on mine though.

 

[gaz0_0]

I put a pipercross induction kit on my sporting. I like the sound it gives when you open the throttle. Mine drove better and pulled better after fitting the induction kit, but because the standard filter was so old and blocked up i couldnt tell you wether the car liked having a clean filter or wether the fact i fitted a induction kit made the difference.

 

[fingers99]

The K & N filters are fine. Their induction kits for the FIRE engines are rubbish.

While you won't see any gains with anything other than the very best induction kits, talk of "sucking power" is plain silly.

Big wheels are not necessarily an upgrade: it's easy to destroy ride quality and bugger up the gearing, something that a somewhat obese car with a small, revy engine will be very sensitive to.

 

[AdamsT]

I was weary of just running out and putting 120 quid in Mr. K&N's back pocket when i wasnt sure what the results would be. However i've just seen multiple suppliers on ebay whacking out boxed new ones for 70 odd quid, so I'm debating it now come payday.

Fingers99, I'm not so much going for the biggest wheels I can find, just something that will look nice with the lowered stance. the 14" dynamic alloys really dont cut it.

 

[fingers99]

Try 15". The trick is to keep the rolling radius of the wheel and tyre as close to stock as possible, so as to keep the gearing the same. Going to 17s from 14s would make this very difficult (might be possible with ultra low profile tyres, but the expense, the likelyhood of wheel damage and dreadful ride quality on stock suspension (or any suspension that doesn't cost at least what the car is worth) make it a poor choice).

 

[AdamsT]

yeah i was thinking maybe 16" on a lower profile tyre?

 

[fingers99]

See what you can find. There should be some charts on the web.

 

[Ziggy122]

if you want roar = Focus induction kit

If you want power = GSR induction only

If you want cheapness - stick to stock

As for wheels and tyres

The standard sizes are
165/70/14
185/55/15


I jumped onto Miata Tyre calculator

To match the 15" alloy's @ 876 revolution per mile as a 16"
your looking at something like

195/45/16 = 880 = Speed will over read slightly
185/45/16 = 894 (the speedo will over read slightly more
195/50/16 = 852 (speed will be undereading = Lots of Speed cameras getting you)

Also you dont wanna go too wide of a tyre, as the punto is light, a wider tyre = less contact pressure

there have been members on here with tyres like 205 reporting very unhappy backends that slide around when wet

Then there is the price!
195/45/16 is the nearest i could see on a QUICK browse via Camskills website
And some of the tyres quickly shoot up in price!

So make sure you way up the odds
Alloys + Tyres 15" vs Alloys + Tyres 16"

Personally i'd stick to 15"
Why? Fiat made the car suitable for them! for a reason as mentioned by others above
plus the punto's gearbox isn't very strong, made of chocolate more like! So unless you like replacing gearbox's alot, i'd avoid large!

Ziggy

 

[AdamsT]

Thanks for the info man, i'll start digging around at rim styles!