Buying alloys without tyres?

[Scottingram]

I had to replace my front 2 tyres recently and was adviced to get a decent quality pair and paid around £150 (including tracking). However, I am now desperate to get rid of my crappy hubcaps/wheeltrims and getting some alloys. What are the chances of buying a set of (preferably used) alloys without included tyres to fit my current set of tyres? The tyres are 165/65R15.. but I'm guessing it won't be as easy as just buying a set of 15" alloys and fitting them to my tyres?

​Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[daveski]

Buy set of wheels.
Drive to Kwik Fit (other tyre fitting places are available)
Ask them to swap the tyres over
Pay
Leave.

It will be fine

Although with a mk3 you might find 16" wheels suit the car more than 15s.

 

[Scottingram]

So my 165/65R15 tyres will fit 6.5x15 alloys? That makes me very happy if what you're saying is definitely the case. You also think 16" alloys will fit my tyres?

 

[Ph1 Tom]

Wow! They saw you coming if you paid that much for tracking and two tyres in that size.

With that width of rim you want a 195 width tyre. You can get Uniroyal rainsport 2 for £33 per tyre in 195/50-R15

As above the 16" will look better, you could keep an eye out for a set of 172 cup alloys with 205/45-R16 tyres.

 

[Scottingram]

Honestly it was the cheapest myself and my dad could find in my area! That were of a good quality (although I know nothing about branding of tyres, think they're Avon?)

Okay, I won't be looking to be buying any new tyres as it will be even more of a waste of money. What size alloys would definitely fit my tyres?

 

[daveski]

Should fit 6.5, yes, I think they fit on Clio Turbines which iirc are 6.5 wide.

You'll struggle to find many later Clio wheels that will fit though as most are 7" wide.

 

[Scottingram]

So, I just asked Alloywheelworld.co.uk this question:

Hello, I would like to buy some alloys without tyres included as i have only just bought new tyres to replace my old ones - the size of the tyres are 165/65R15. Would any 15" alloy fit these tyres?

To which they replied:

Hello,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Any 15" wheels are ok with this size of tyre.
If you require any further advice, please let me know and I will be happy to help. Thanks.

Does this sound about right to everyone? I don't know who to believe on this subject!

 

[daveski]

What wheels are you looking at?

 

[Scottingram]

I've not specifically looked at certain alloys I'd buy as I didn't want to get my hopes up! Ha, but preferably they'd be used. very good condition from ebay/gumtree and it seems that I'd be definitely looking at 15" alloys (highly, highly doubt 16s would fit my tyres), would like them in a gunmetal colour and not over the top with the price.

 

[daveski]

16"s definitely won't fit your tyres, they may look better on your car though.

 

[M26]

Please tell me how you came to any sort of conclusion that 15" tyres could possibly fit on 16" wheels?

Also, 165 width tyres would be why the tyres were so expensive. You should have changed up to something like 185/195 as these are more common and ultimately cheaper.

 

[Scottingram]

I never once came to that conclusion - it seemed Daveski suggested it a few post back, which I dismissed in my previous post by saying 'I highly, highly doubt 16s would fit'. But, yeah, to be honest, I wish I bought a whole set of alloys with tyres included, however, my Dad was on the case and sorted the tyres out for me (he was paying so I couldn't really argue.)

My plan is to get some 15s and put them on my current tyres, which now seems pretty feasible (fingers crossed). I will then get some lowering springs and lower by 35mm (at least) - I have no idea how this will turn out, will it look silly on 15s? I kind of think it will look decent, but then again, I really don't have a great deal of knowledge on modifications, which is why I'm so grateful there's a forum like this!

Kind of thinking my plan wouldn't affect insurance too much.

 

[Scottingram]

Any opinions how a lowered (35/40mm) red mk3 Clio with 15" alloys would look?

 

[JP83]

Any opinions how a lowered (35/40mm) red mk3 Clio with 15" alloys would look?

Unless you're going for the euro look, a bit on the small side I'd say.

Check here for inspiration: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?359285-show-us-your-mk3-s

 

[M26]

Personally, 165 profile tyres on alloys will look far too small. Especially on a mk3 as the arches are quite big.

​I'd personally try and pick up some used 16" with tyres. May as well do it properly to start with, springs etc can wait.

 

[Scottingram]

Thank you - i'll take another look through that.

Not really going for a euro look, although I guess I wouldn't mind it, just don't want a chavvy look or the cheap hub cap look, ha. I'm just in a bit of a sticky situation and I am limited with what I can do, so trying to figure out if the changes I can make will be worth it.

 

[Scottingram]

Personally, 165 profile tyres on alloys will look far too small. Especially on a mk3 as the arches are quite big.

​I'd personally try and pick up some used 16" with tyres. May as well do it properly to start with, springs etc can wait.

You're probably right, do you think the tyres would look almost too 'thin' for the alloys?

 

[M26]

You're probably right, do you think the tyres would look almost too 'thin' for the alloys?

Yeh that's exactly what I mean mate. I had 165 profile tyres on alloys back when I bought my 1.2 and they looked stupid. Put 195s on it and it looked a whole lot better.

 

[glowworm105]

I had my mk3 lowered 35mm and it still wasn't low enough, I had 17" on mine as I found 16" to small Imo it looked ok but if I would have kept the car I probably would have looked at lowering it a bit more on coilovers. Just a though though the 16" Canada alloys that come on some of the mk3s do look good especially when lowered abit

 

[Scottingram]

The bloody height of Clios is so annoying, was driving back from work today and looking at other cars and it seems if I lower mine by 35mm, it will probably be just about the same height of the majority of other cars!

All I'm thinking is, if I were to replace my original hub cap wheels with 15" alloys and lower it by at least 35mm, then it's not exactly gonna look worse, is it? Or is it just a waste?

 

[daveski]

I just suggested 16" wheels will look better on your car.

Like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/renault-c...s_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item460e020418

 

[glowworm105]

i woudnt say its a waste, its definitely an improvement over standard but from my memory the lowest springs I could find were 35mm if I wanted to go lower coilovers were the only option but you are right it does give them a normal look lol

 

[Scottingram]

I just suggested 16" wheels will look better on your car.

Like these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/renault-c...s_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item460e020418

Are you trying to make me cry? They'll end up going for cheaper than I paid for my front 2 tyres!

 

[daveski]

Bid then

You could always put your new tyres on ebay to make some money back.

 

[Scottingram]

i woudnt say its a waste, its definitely an improvement over standard but from my memory the lowest springs I could find were 35mm if I wanted to go lower coilovers were the only option but you are right it does give them a normal look lol

Yeah, I thought I might of read about 40mm, but that might of been my imagination.

But, to give everyone an idea of what I'm working with, here's a quick photo I took a couple hours ago:

This is my first car and I've had it for just over a year, I've always wanted to do some mods but never really had the spare time or money, but I'm craving a change now. So the changes I'll be wanting to make are: Alloys in a gunmetal colour, lower by at least 35mm, colour code the sidestrips and wingmirrors somehow, remove the Clio badge from the back, oh and replace the ariel cos some **** nicked mine.

P.S needs a good polish and my god... didnt realise how bad my iphone 5 camera was ha.

 

[Scottingram]

Bid then

You could always put your new tyres on ebay to make some money back.

They're like 3 weeks old, which is a good selling point - but I don't think my parents would be doing me any more favours in the future (Dad paid for the tyres), Ha How much you think I'd get for them?

 

[glowworm105]

shame you missed out on the alloys on ebay they were the ones I was talking about and they sold cheap aswell, but from that picture id say it would look better lowered abit with alloys also slightly off topic but get some silvervision bulbs for the indicators on the front makes the front end looks loads better

 

[Scottingram]

shame you missed out on the alloys on ebay they were the ones I was talking about and they sold cheap aswell, but from that picture id say it would look better lowered abit with alloys also slightly off topic but get some silvervision bulbs for the indicators on the front makes the front end looks loads better

Okay cool, thanks how much are they? and are they hard to fit?

 

[glowworm105]

my last ones cost me a few quid of ebay and there very easy to fit at the most its a 5 minute job probably the easiest bulb to change on a mk3

 

[Scottingram]

Okay, cheers.

If anyone knows of anywhere or anyone selling (preferable used, will be cheaper) 6x15 alloys that would fit my clio, please let me know!

 

[daveski]

Pay £12 to be a member here and keep checking the for sale section.

Otherwise Ebay and Gumtree will be your best bets.

 

[Scottingram]

Yeah I am contemplating the whole membership thing.

Stupid question, but when searching for alloys on gumtree/ebay, I am searching for 'Renault Clio 15" alloys' - but what else could I search for to find what I need, because I'm guessing that, for example, someone would be selling alloys from a Corsa or something that would also fit my car? or am I wrong?

My lack of car knowledge is really showing through.

 

[daveski]

Just search for Renault alloys, its easier

I wouldn't limit yourself to just 15s though. I know you have new tyres but if a set of 16s or 17s comes up with tyres that will fit your car just buy them

 

[Scottingram]

Just search for Renault alloys, its easier

I wouldn't limit yourself to just 15s though. I know you have new tyres but if a set of 16s or 17s comes up with tyres that will fit your car just buy them

You really are right and I should buy the 16s/17s so I will look into seeing how much I'd get for my tyres. 15s would be the safer option, though. Not too sure how my dad would react if I sold the new tyres he just bought me, ha. The other thing going through my mind is, wouldn't the insurance stuff be easier if i stuck to 15s?