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Virtual Mechanic

Car and bike questions? We have the answers

I am not too very happy with the tyres my 800cc Maruti Alto LX came with originally— 145/80 R12. They look skinny and I think the car deserves a beefier set of tyres and possibly, bigger wheels too. What are the options available, even if it involves upsizing the wheels to 13-inch alloys?

Rushad, via email

If you are looking for a wider tyre to improve the road performance of the Alto, you could try the 155/70 R12s, which can be fitted on your existing rims. The choice in the 13-inchers is very limited as it is either the 145/70 R13 as used on the old Zen or the 155/70 R13s which may foul with the bodywork for lack of clearance. Fitting the 155/70-R12 would be the safest option.

According to a well-read friend, one has to balance a wheel every time one has a puncture. Is this true? I don't usually do this, though I frequently (once in 6 months) get the process done. What about alignment, then?

Rajakumaran B V, via email

Yes, it is true that a tyre, once dismounted from the wheel and then put back, must be considered for a wheel-balance job. Alignment has more to do with suspension geometry, and therefore this remains unaffected - you don't have to re-align every time your tyres is removed and re-mounted.

My four year-old Siena Weekend is shod with 175/65 R14 tyres and I find that the car runs low on clearance when fully loaded up. Is there some way by which I can fit higher profile and wider tyres to my car and improve the situation simultaneously?

Bala Anand, via email

You could fit on 185/70-R14s This is an ideal tyre upsize for the Siena Weekend and will increase the ground clearance marginally, while the tyres' wider footprint will also provide you with better road holding characteristics.

My year-old Ambassador 1800 ISZ is shod with skinny 155/80-R15 tyres that provide inadequate grip on loose gravel and mud surfaces since I do a lot of rural commutes on duty as a government official. Can I replace these with 195/70-R15 tyres on the current wheels?

Girish D, via email

The 195/70-R15s are a bit too large for the Ambassador. You could however try fitting 165/80-R15 tyres which would increase the overall diameter of the tyres, thereby giving better ground clearance. The 165/80-R15s can be mounted on the same rims as well.

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