Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

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Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by pvvC5 »

Evening all

I am the proud owner of a C5iii Tourer 2.0 HDi 138 Exclusive (2009) which I purchased earlier this year second hand.

The previous owner upgraded the wheels to 19" versions form the standard 18". I am now keen to get some winter tyres as I will be heading off to the continent over New Year and don't want to get caught out like previous years!

However, I am not keen to pay £300+ per tyre for 245/40 19" winter tyres. I called the Citroen Dealership (London West) who are adamant that I cannot downsize the wheels due to some reason (the chap I spoke to was only passing on the info and didn't seem to be able to explain the reason).

However, every winter tyre site (like mytyres.co.uk) I go to lists the 225/60 16" as the standard winter tyre size for this model (with suitable rims of course). It is a difference of at least 50% if not 67% on the 19" tyres. I thought I would look at the recommended size for the C6 as I understand it shares many parts with the C5 (including the larger diameter rims) and the recommended size for winter tyres is 225/55 17" - so it seems very odd that i need to maintain 19" rims on my C5...

Do any of you have experience in putting a smaller sized rim on this model? I can see that the brake calipers would be a limitation to rim size but surely I must be able to at least put a 17" rim on the car?
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by pvvC5 »

I should have added that this is my first post on this site and I am very much looking forward to learning from the impressive expertise. I trawled through about 10 pages of posts looking for an answer to the above but couldn't find it. If this has been answered elsewhere please do point me in the right direction!

many thanks!, Peter
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by mooseshaver »

My c5 tourer has 17" which came as standard.
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by Peter.N. »

I don't know whether the earlier C5 wheels will fit, mine both have 15" wheels but you could put some taller tyres on which will improve the ride too.

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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by qprdude »

You would ned to keep the tyre circumference as close to that of the ones on your 19" rims as possible to avoid mileage and speedo problems I would think. These cars have BIG discs so the 16" might be a step too far. Mine came with 19" rims, but there are 17" and 18" ones around.
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by mooseshaver »

When looking for tyres online, such as blackcircles.com you can put your reg in, and it claims that 16" we're also available for our cars. Other sites are the same so it's probably correct.
I dot know how pressure monitors fit in but are they stuck to the wheel too so you would need those replaced and programmed up or do they come off?
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by fifth_cit »

Yes 16" are standard on my Tourer which is a 2.0HDi SX version which has a tyre size of 225 60 16 98V. Its the height of the tyre 60% of the width that makes the difference so that the speedo etc does not change. I also think the discs would be the same.
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by qprdude »

Surely if you change the wheel circumference, you change the amount of revolutions, and therby the speedometer reading and the miles?
Are cars with the bigger wheels calibrated differently, or does the car automatically adjust for the change?
I'm guessing here, but from the look of my MkIII with 19" rims, the 16" rims are gonna look a bit lonely in the wheel arch unless you fit very tall tyres.

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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by old'uns »

as already stated, you need to keep the rolling circumference as close as possible to the original, from memory +/- 2.5% is ideal?
smaller wheels compared to the 19"s will need a tyre with a taller profile, have a play here..
http://www.tyresave.co.uk/tyresize.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by pvvC5 »

Thanks very much for the helpful replies.

I am assuming the discs on the C5iii will be the same? Or do different sized engines have different sized disc brakes? I can only think of this as the reason why not all C5s can go down to 16" wheel sizes....
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by qprdude »

Wouldn't gaurantee the discs being the same size on all C5's. Should be easy to check though. I know wheel sizes are restricted by discs on some marques.
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by DickieG »

The Citroen parts site lists 17" wheels with 225/55R17 tyres as suitable for winter tyres on a C5 fitted with 19" wheels.
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by pvvC5 »

DickieG - brilliant! thanks a million - That is exactly the info I was after! You'd think the guys at the Citroen dealership would have this info to hand instead of feeding me rubbish....
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by Xantippa »

16" wheels fits your car just fine, I have 16" 225/60 winter tires on mine (HDi 136 2,0). Only 2,2 - 3,0 HDi´s and 3,0 V6 require 17" wheels, because they are fitted with bigger front brakes that don´t fit with 16" rim. I understand tyre suppliers want to sell you bigger and more expensive wheels. There´s no point in putting bigger winter wheels, because they just don´t work as well as smaller size...
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Re: Newbie - C5 Tourer Wheel downsizing?

Post by pvvC5 »

Xantippa - I will measure the diameter of my disc brakes. I would prefer to put 16" wheels with winter tyres on as you suggest - cheaper and more availability! I almost get a full set of 16" 225/60s for the cost of 1 19" 245/40 winter tyre! OK, well almost.....
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