Xantia tyre change

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 02:30

I have 185/65/R14 wheels on my xantia 1.9TD 95'. I would like to put bigger wheels like on 96'model. Do you recomend putting 195/65/R15 (I know i can put 185/65/r15 but i don't know if putting 195/65/r15 will fit under wheelarch) What's the downside of doing that?
Thanks

Post by **philhoward** » 10 Mar 2004, 02:33

The 95 VSX comes with 195/55R15's...

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 02:40

195/55/15 has diameter dimension as 185/65/r14. I want bigger and more comfortable wheels.

James.UK · Post by **James.UK** » 10 Mar 2004, 02:54

Hi DGS, having bigger wheels will mean your car travels further with each full turn of a wheel, so your mileometer and speedo will be a country mile out??
Mr Plod the policeman will love you though! [;)] lmho...

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 03:09

But only for 6.38%. That is good because if you do 1000km the milemiter would register only 936km

)
I know that diameter change will give me inaccurate readings (i don't mind that) but i want to know if that wheel diameter swap is safe and possible.

David W · Post by **David W** » 10 Mar 2004, 12:29

DGS,
It is my experience, and the observation of others, that the best riding Xantias are those earlier ones on 185/65x14H tyres. It has been discussed elsewhere here that the type of tyre can make almost as much difference as new spheres to short ridges and manhole covers etc.
David

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 10 Mar 2004, 14:17

I've got two Xantias, one is on 185/65 14s and the other is on 185/65 15s. I changed the spheres on the car with the bigger wheels and still it is not as comfortable as the older car.

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 15:23

But older xantias have different sphere types and they are comfortable because of that (for example xantia 1.9d till 95 has 400/70bar/1.65bore front sphere and xantia 1.9d 96 has 400/55bar/1.5mm bore sphere. Why dont you try to put 185/65/r15wheels on older xantia and see what will you get?

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 10 Mar 2004, 18:31

My 95 and 97 Xantias both have the same type of front spheres on them.
http://www.gsfcarparts.com/downloads/sphere_table.pdf
Different engine types have different spheres, not different years.

David W · Post by **David W** » 10 Mar 2004, 18:36

dgs,
Yep Kowalski's right, I'm fitting the same sphere type to cars with both sized wheels so it isn't the spheres that make the difference.
David

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 18:38

That sphere table isn't quite accurate. Over the years citroen mede suspension firmer. First BX had more comf suspension then the later one on same engine. Xantia 1.9d from 94 has 400/70/1.65 sphere. xantia 1.9d from 96 has 400/55/1.5 sphere. Look at original citroen documentation
http://www.citroen-pr.net/spot_pdf/FR/p ... ENSION.pdf

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 18:40

It would be unlogical to claim that bigger wheels with same side profil are less comfortable then the smaller ones

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 10 Mar 2004, 18:54

According to that table, the non-hyrdractive xantia 1.9 td hatchback has always used the 400/55 front spheres, as fitted to my Xantias. I know what sort of spheres are fitted to the front of my Xantias because I fitted them, they are also the correct spheres. I know that the tyre pressures are the same too.
One car is more comfortable than the other. The difference between the two is that one has 14 inch steel wheels and 185/65 tyres where as the other has 15 inch alloy wheels and 185/65 tyres these are the original tyre sizes for the car. It may be down to the alloy wheels being 6 inches wide where as the steel wheels are most probably 5.5 inches.
Given that the spheres are the same (same part number, same manufacturor) and the wheels and tyres aren't the same what is the most likely cause of the difference in ride quality?

JohnCKL · Post by **JohnCKL** » 10 Mar 2004, 19:08

Also consider the weight differences. I've weighed the 185/60/14 wheels (rim+tyre) at about 15kg while the 195/60/15 at 18kg, variance of 3 kg each wheel. Changed mine from the 15s to 14s to see the difference. Not that much by feel, only that 15" wheels are more stable. By theory of course, the smaller wheels would be more economical on fuel since they have to spend less energy to spin that extra weight and suppose to be faster on acceleration too. Besides, the smaller tyres are cheaper to replace and doesn't aqua plane as easily as fatter wheels. By contrast, wider tyres should brake and stop more effectively.

dgs · Post by **dgs** » 10 Mar 2004, 19:10

Kowalski, look at that table again. xantia 1.9di atmo till 05/95 has 95 666 858 spheres wich are 400/70bar and xantia 1.9di atmo from 06/95 has 99 666 857 spheres wich are 400/55. Isn't that right?
If you want to see wich wheel is more comf. you must test it on the SAME car. So put those larger wheels on xantia with smaller onses. (that will work only if you have same profile tyre and same manufacture 185/65/r15 michelin VS 185/65/r14 michelin) Of course that wider rim on a same tyre is less comf.