January 29, 2016 Lada.Online 182 086 119
After the pre-production XRAY was shown to the public, comments regarding its appearance began to pour in. The size of the hatchback resembles a compact crossover, but compared to the size of the body, the standard wheels seem disproportionate. Let's find out which wheels and tires are best to choose for the Lada XRAY!
Developers' thoughts on wheel diameter
There was no question for the developers about what wheels to put on the Lada XRAY. They initially designed the car for urban conditions. The hatchback does not have all-wheel drive. Hence the large diameter of the wheels becomes unreasonable. Why reduce maneuverability in favor of cross-country ability if no one will use such a function. The designers decided to fully concentrate on a car model designed for the family.
Main advantages of 15 inch wheels:
- small turning radius;
- road stability;
- improve pickup rates;
- compact dimensions for transportation.
AvtoVAZ also understands the financial situation in the country very well. Reducing the cost of some elements allows us to create that very attractive price for residents of the CIS. Lada XRAY simply needs to remain competitive, otherwise the manufacturer will go bankrupt. It will not be possible to win a client with quality, so you have to resort to such unpopular methods.
The wheel diameter of 15 inches best suits the overall concept of the car and pricing policy. If desired, 16-inch models are available for sale. However, the standard configuration will remain unchanged for now.
Winter tires for Lada X-Ray
Winter models
Today the question remains, what size tires should be installed on the Lada X-Ray in order to improve driving performance. Specialists created a project that was designed exclusively for urban conditions. The hatchback does not have all-wheel drive. Based on this indicator, a large wheel diameter will become completely unreasonable. It makes no sense to reduce maneuverability in favor of cross-country ability. The designers decided to concentrate entirely on a car model designed for the family.
What is the advantage of 16-17 inch wheels?
After the announcement, Lada XRAY lost its client. Considering only the presence of a bench model, many, without testing the car on the road, immediately rejected it. The disproportionate exterior was to blame. Although now the opinion is gradually changing, the first impression has already been formed.
Large arches are the main complaint against the developers. Having off-road potential, it would be foolish to bypass this driving option. The size of the wheels should at least provide the opportunity to sometimes leave the track to feel the full control of the hatchback. With 15 inches, such a chance is lost forever.
The situation is smoothed out a little by 16-inch wheels. They reduce the negative impression of the exterior. Also, given the roads in Russia, increased cross-country ability is by no means a whim. The situation is especially aggravated with the onset of winter, when there are huge snowdrifts everywhere and the roads are constantly accumulating pieces of ice. Even while in the city, every motorist has to experience the full extent of off-road conditions.
Hence, the wheel parameters of 16 and 17 inches look much more appropriate. You will definitely have to overpay for their purchase, but repairing the underbody of a car from damage is also not a cheap task.
How to choose the right wheels for “Hray” 15 radius
Before buying wheels for Lada X-Ray 15 radius, the driver should know some of the advantages and disadvantages of this size
You may be interested in How to paint stamped wheels for a car with your own hands
First of all, you should remember that these wheels on the Xray R15 are the minimum for this model, and in order to get the standard wheel size, you need to use tires with a 65 mm profile, otherwise the vehicle's ground clearance will be significantly reduced and the driver will often hit the bottom even at slight unevenness.
When the owner of a Lada prefers fast and aggressive driving, he should not choose this size, and all because of the same profile, because on sharp turns the tires can be deformed from high forces caused by inertia, and even fly off the rims, which is inevitable will lead to an accident with serious consequences at least for the vehicle.
The standard wheel size is 6.0J x 15 ET37, which can be increased in width to 6.5J, however, the offset must also be increased to ET41, otherwise the protruding tires in rainy weather will greatly stain the car body, and the plastic linings on the wheel arches, protecting from splashes, look extremely ridiculous on this model.
Often such wheels are produced not only in cast, but also in stamped versions, so drivers have the opportunity to save money or simply purchase a spare tire, which is used extremely rarely.
The main manufacturers that produce wheels for Lada X-Ray of this radius are K&K or SCAD, which is unchanged for Lada, as well as YST, NZ, Alcasta and some other brands.
R15 wheels on Lada X-Ray
Important!
Drivers should be suspicious of cheap Chinese replicas and give preference only to original products, because poor quality of the product or too soft steel quickly leads to imbalance, as well as damage to the disc when driving on uneven roads, which affects not only the wheel, but also pendant.
How to increase the return of Lada XRAY wheel diameter
It is worth noting that the Lada XRAY has increased clearance between the road and the bottom. The ground clearance is higher than many competitors - 195 mm. Given this decision by the manufacturer, a lot depends on the choice of the desired tire diameter.
If, with the standard 15 inches, the car turns into a turn at high speed, then it will show good stability indicators. It's a completely different matter with 16 and 17 inches - the difference is noticeable.
Here are the main car parameters that are most affected by changing tires:
- vehicle weight;
- fuel consumption;
- braking distances;
- dynamics.
Another important factor is noise. By increasing the area of contact with the ground, additional friction is created and the likelihood of picking up small stones. Lada XRAY is far from ahead of its competitors in terms of sound insulation. Accordingly, on our roads the driver runs the risk of encountering constant noise in the cabin. If you want to reduce the influence of the road on the sound, you should pay attention to the smallest tires in width.
According to some sources, the wheel pattern on the Lada XRAY allows the option of installing 20-inch wheels. Definitely, such drastic changes will immediately reduce many of the hatchback’s performance. AvtoVAZ itself recommends limiting yourself to 19 inches with the following tire ratings: 175/45, 185/40, 195/40.
Flaws
Negative aspects
Before purchasing components, you should familiarize yourself with the main parameters of the car, on which changing tires will have a special impact:
- vehicle weight;
- fuel consumption;
- road grip;
- dynamics.
When choosing new developments, an important factor remains the noise that occurs when the speed exceeds 60 km/h. As a rule, increasing the area of contact with the ground creates additional friction. Lada XRAY lags behind its foreign/domestic competitors in terms of noise insulation. Accordingly, on Russian roads the driver regularly faces this problem. Constant noise in the cabin creates discomfort. To reduce noise in the cabin, you need to purchase tires that are small in width.
Important!
According to some sources, the bolt pattern of components for the Lada XRAY allows for the optimal installation of 20-inch wheels. With such drastic changes, many vehicle performance indicators immediately decrease. recommends Niva car owners to install 19-inch designs with tire ratings: 175/45, 185/40, 195/40.
Many motorists are unhappy that the hatchback is equipped with large arches. The size of the wheels should allow drivers to comfortably control the vehicle on the highway. However, fifteen-inch wheels are not designed for high-speed driving.
You might be interested in Camrica car wheels
The situation can be corrected with 16-inch tires. As a rule, wheels with a minimum size are installed in the summer season. The situation gets worse when winter comes. There are huge snowdrifts or icy roads on the roads. Even while in the city, every motorist has to experience the full extent of off-road conditions.
Note!
Therefore, with the onset of winter, the wheel sizes of 16 and 17 inches are ideal for a hatchback. Despite the fact that the cost of components is quite high, the car owner will no longer have to spend money on repairing the underbody of the vehicle from all kinds of damage.
Impact on acceleration and gas mileage
The wheel diameter on the Lada XRAY directly affects the two most important indicators for men: acceleration and fuel consumption. For each increase in wheel diameter, approximately 2% is lost in acceleration, if we take 15 inches as a basis. Young people should definitely remember this pattern, because it is novice motorists who like to press the pedal to the floor.
Russians are familiar with the race for every liter of gasoline. In this regard, AvtoVAZ takes care of the safety of the family budget. 15-inch wheels are the most economical option. If you track the increase in fuel consumption for every inch, you get a disappointing figure of 3%. Here it’s worth thinking seriously about switching to 17th - fuel consumption is 6% higher.
How to choose the right R16 wheels for Lada X-Ray
16-radius wheels are much more popular for this brand of car and are installed as standard in almost all trim levels, except for the simplest one. Thus, for an owner who decides to replace them for some reason, it will be better to choose the factory size.
It is for the Lada X-Ray that this dimension largely meets the conditions for optimality in terms of wheel size, which determines the vehicle's ground clearance and profile height. Therefore, these discs can be used for all-season tires and do not have to replace them every six months, which will significantly allow car enthusiasts to save money.
The factory wheel size can be supplemented with parameters of 6.5J x 16 or 7.0J x 16, which will make it possible to use 215-225/55/R16 tires, and the car will feel much better on slippery roads.
You may be interested in this About wheel nuts: selection criteria
These wheels, just like in size R15, are used in both stamped and cast versions. However, if a car enthusiast has enough money to replace wheels, he can always find a premium option - forged wheels, which will be much lighter and stronger than cast ones.
Note! Considering that the cost of a car is from 530 thousand rubles*, fully equipped wheels of a given radius in a forged version can cost up to 20% of the price of a new car.
R16 radii for Lada X-Ray are produced by many well-known manufacturers, in addition to those listed above, and some of them can be distinguished due to their impeccable quality, in particular LegeArtis, X-Race, Replica, Cross Street. In addition, alloy wheels R16 “Phoenix” on Lada Vesta and X-Ray (article number 8450030687) are very popular among car enthusiasts.
Low profile tires for Lada X-Ray
If discs are changed after prolonged use, from one year or more, then replacing only one product will be too noticeable both in the appearance of the car and during its operation. Thus, a new disc may have a slightly different shape, degree of wear, chemical composition and, most importantly, weight, as a result of which the car may pull to the side on the road, especially at high speeds.
It is advisable to change the wheels as a whole set at once, and if there is no budget for such a procedure, experts often advise replacing the wheels in pairs - for the whole axle at once. Moreover, in the case of X-Ray, given the front-wheel drive and engine location, newer wheels need to be placed forward.
Optimal wheel size for Lada XRAY
This time, AvtoVAZ, releasing another hatchback, thoroughly worked out the option with the optimal wheel size. The 15-inch model is without a doubt the place to be. Such improved indicators as stability when cornering, fuel efficiency, and a small turning radius fit optimally into the concept of a city car.
Although with 16 inch wheels the Lada XRAY takes on an aesthetic appearance. The path opens to off-road terrain, which very often awaits around the next corner. Car owners ultimately have to make their final choice on their own. Weighing all the advantages with the negative factors, you will get the ideal option for the required driving style. As a result, each motorist has his own values when choosing the desired wheel diameter.
Check out our VKontakte group.
