Wheels?

Hi, i just bought a used citroen c3 2003 model. And i used to own an Opel Corsa 1998 model. I noticed that the wheels are the same size and has the same specs (R 175 if i remember correctly ) does this mean that the wheels for my opel corsa will fit my Citroen? The wheels for my old car are pretty new so.

Hello AnRaIbLD

Your wheels could be compatible however you need to look at more than the width of the tyre (the 175 part).

The overall diameter of the wheel and tyre must be the same. The stud/bolt pattern and spacing (where the fixings on the middle of the wheel are) must be identical as must he offset - the distance from the back face of the wheel to the inside of the wheel centre (hub). The width of the actual wheel can possibly be different, this depends on what wheel/tyre combination the car is meant to cover. Manufacturers fit different wheel/tyre combinations but often change the size of other components when they do this, eg a sporty model may have wider tyres but in doing so they fit different hubs and often bigger brakes.

If all that's OK then you're good to go. If in doubt I'd get it checked.

The measurement that doesn't have to be the same is the diameter of the actual wheel - the number after the tyre width eg 175 R 14 is a 14 inch rim. By fitting different profile tyres (the height of the tyre side-wall) you can vary this so long as the overall diameter is unchanged. Again, beware, bigger wheels and lower profile tyres can change the handling of the car. Lower profile tyres are supposed to give better handling but can give a bumpier ride which can be dangerous if overdone as well as damaging suspension parts.