Club126UK

Fiat 126 Chat => Tuning & Customising 126 Models => Topic started by: Joe Webb on July 27, 2015, 03:51:31 PM

Title: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 27, 2015, 03:51:31 PM

Hey there!
My car is fanally MOT'ed and I'm just waiting for my registration

The brakes are a bit hairy though, so i wanted to fit discs.

Unfortunately i have the standard 12" rims (9 of them in fact  :cry:)

So I was wondering what rim/ tyre combo you would reccomend? Do fiat cinquecento/uno/panda alloys fit ok?

I have a 1999 elx

Cheers!
Joe
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: sitzke on July 27, 2015, 05:09:15 PM
hello, I have Borbet A in 5.5x13, ET30, with 165/55 R13 tires.
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Gadge on July 27, 2015, 05:32:53 PM
Hi joe if you have a PDC of 4x98 then you can fit cinquecento, seicento and panda 13" wheels as a straight swap. If you want discs you can buy a special kit for 12" wheels but it's not cheap - around £500. The cheapest way would be to use a set up using seicento calipers and an adaptor plate and use 13" wheels. Brand new kits are around the £200 mark but you can do it using good second hand calipers for a heck of a lot less. I think I did mine for less than £100 and that was for drilled discs and OMP pads. Personally I think It's a well worth upgrade. :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 27, 2015, 06:56:17 PM
Ok great, i'll check my pcd after dinner

So i can save the money i spend on wheels by getting second hand callipers! Good tip!

Yeah its pretty essential for my car tbh, it tries to kill you by swerving into oncoming traffic when you brake!  :$

How much were your borbets sitzke?

There are some uno wheels i really like but i can only find 2! I'm glad for the excuse to get some mad rims actually :P
Will have quite a few 12's for sale soon!

Cheers gadge!
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 27, 2015, 08:48:47 PM
will these fit?
I'm happy to use spacers.
and yes, my pcd is 4x98 :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Uno-Turbo-Alloy-Wheels-/252033894647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3aae6408f7
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on July 28, 2015, 06:05:05 AM
I ran UNO Turbo wheels on a 126 with no problems . They were fitted with 155x65 13 tyres. I still have spare disc brake adaptor plates if you need a pair  :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 28, 2015, 08:22:13 AM
Aah that would be ideal! How much do you want for them? :D

Cheers rusty!

Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on July 28, 2015, 09:49:42 AM
I can do a pair of adaptor plates for £27 including UK postage  :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 28, 2015, 09:58:22 AM
Stainless? :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on July 28, 2015, 10:04:13 AM
No but I did notice that some one else had copied my design and was selling them on ebay  :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 28, 2015, 10:31:12 AM
Oh no rusty!  :o

I think I know the ones you mean and they are stainless :S

I think i'll have to go for those, sorry! I'd much rather buy from you!  :$

How much did you get your callipers for Gadge? I've found some for 36 quid, is that good?
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 28, 2015, 10:41:52 AM
Do i need to order any nuts and bolts or do they come with the discs and callipers?
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on July 28, 2015, 01:00:52 PM
Hi Joe that is not a problem. I thought about buying a pair of the stainless ones myself but at the time the seller said to enquire about postage. But anyway I have put together quite a few conversions now for the 126 and I have tended to fit the plates to recon stub axles using flanged nuts and bolts then paint the whole assembly. If you get the used calipers make sure that you get the carriers and all of the bits and fixings including the banjo bolts which have a finer thread than the 126 brake cylinders. If you do a search in the tuning section you should find a post I did that lists all the parts you need  :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 28, 2015, 03:41:41 PM
Ok great! I'll make sure they come with all the fix'ns

Is it possible to get locking wheel nuts for it? Do i just get seicento ones?

Cheers rusty!
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on July 29, 2015, 07:34:58 AM
Do i just get seicento ones?



NO

Cinquecento & Seicento wheel bolts have a finer pitch thread and would ruin your hubs. A guy on here a couple of years back left his mate to fit the wheels on his car and ended up stripping the threads on all 4 hubs. Use the standard wheel bolts and you can get locking ones. Depending upon what alloys you fit you may need to get longer bolts.
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 29, 2015, 10:28:13 PM
Ok cool, won't do that then! cheers for the heads up!

just snapped these beauties up:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161771258831?_ilink&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l4459&_trkparms=gh1g%3DI161771258831.N9.S1.M-6.R1.TR5

seems like they should fit! will i need longer bolts?
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: DeVilleChris on July 29, 2015, 10:43:14 PM
They look nice!
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 30, 2015, 08:25:34 AM
Yeah they do! I'm chuffed :)

Thought i was gunna get them for 40 quid until the last second though haha! ::)

Now just need some tyres
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on July 30, 2015, 10:54:07 AM
What profile tyres will i need? Also whats the best width to go for? 165?

They are 5j

Any reccomendations for spirited driving? :)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: drcdb15 on August 02, 2015, 05:08:31 PM
Have a look here:

http://www.tyresizecalculator.com/tyre-wheel-calculators/tyre-size-for-rim-size-width-calculator

and remember that your insurance company will not look too favourably upon "spirited driving" in the event it leads to "spirited crashing"  :cry:

So best perhaps not to push the boundaries *too* far  ;)
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Gadge on August 02, 2015, 05:39:46 PM
Spirited driving is a bit far fetched in a 126  :P ...... The speed limit is just about achievable  ;D
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on August 09, 2015, 08:08:57 PM
yeah you're right haha, might be a bit optimistic! I can only afford cheap ones anyway :(

cheers!
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Ricardo Regalo on January 15, 2020, 03:07:31 PM
I guys, I know this is an old post, but I happen to have the exact same model as Joe, a Polish 126 ELX.
I still have the original 12 inch wheels on mine. I read on your posts that a swap for the 13 inch wheels with PCD 4x98 is a straight through job.
I always wanted to have bigger wheels on my 126. I think that they look nicer and should be a slightly smoother ride. My question (though maybe a stupid one ::)) is regarding the wheel arches. Won't there be the problem with the possibility the front wheels will touch the arches when turning?
I've seen some for sale sale in my country (Portugal) that are 5.5x13 4x98 65mm. I believe the 5.5 is the width, right? What about the 65mmm? They were from a fiat punto does anyone know if this will fit?
I "fell in love" with the following, but I thing they are too expensive.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Fondmetal-GT5-wheels-4x98-5-5x13-split-Fiat-Lancia-Abarth-Autobianchi/174124309267?hash=item288a9e1b13:g:p90AAOSwT75d81yj

Will appreciate any input someone may have.
 
 
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: michaelodonnell500 on January 16, 2020, 03:03:13 PM
the 65mm should be the offset which is the distance from the rim to the hub face.
I don't remember what the fiat 126 off set is, but looking at those wheels they will sit further into the wheel arch, which could cause a problem when turning
Can you visit and compare them?
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Pete126 on January 16, 2020, 08:52:57 PM
This site may help

https://www.carlsalter.com/fiat-wheel-fitments.html
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Ricardo Regalo on January 17, 2020, 08:56:51 PM
Thank you guys.

So according to the site Pete shared, the offset for the 126 is 58mm, same as most Fiat models. Am I seeing this correctly? So if I get some rims that previously belong to one of that models I will be in the clear regarding the offset, correct?

I found some aluminium wheels that I really liked,(in Poland  :cry:) and they are not so cheap, (specially because I will have to recondition them as well). With the transport costs, I'm not sure it will be worth it:

https://allegro.pl/oferta/alufelgi-o-z-4x98-13-fso-polonez-fiat-125p-8599127428

I think these were from a 126 originally (don't know a Fiat 125  ???), so I'm positive they would fit. Which kinda answers my initial question about the rim diameter 13 being to big for the wheel arches.

On the other hand I found these very close to home, which I don't like as much, but they're not bad. And they are much more affordable with no need for any work to be done, and including the tires (I think):

https://www.standvirtual.com/anuncio/jantes-especiais-fiat-13-155-70-13-ID8NKv0k.html?utm_source=olx.pt&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=search_results_link

Well I'me still in the browsing and learning chapter. However there's something that someone just pointed out to me that most Fiat models have a locating pin on the hub (which I could spot on my 126, dah, I knew it but didn't remember  :$), but I could not see any hole on these rims (or many other Fiat rims). Is that because the face of the rim is further out, and the hole for it is on the inside?

Most probably I will settle for the later ones, although I will always feel a wee bit annoyed that I didn't fit my little Maluch with the "ones".
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Essex 126 on February 28, 2020, 09:00:26 AM
I'm running 175/50 R13 on a 35mm lowered set up. It's fine on the strights and the larger tyres can be run at 15psi so you can run stiffer suspension so still have a qusie smooth rides. But there is tire scrub when turning more then a typical road bend so parking can be a challenge.

They are steel rims R13 5inch wide
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Minijohn on March 10, 2020, 10:48:46 PM
Ricardo - from the site that Pete sent, the 58mm is the centre bore size (CB), not the offset.
The offset is known as ET, which is the short form of the German word 'Einpresstiefe' which literally translates as 'insertion depth'

I'm running Cinquecento 5.5 x 13 with 165/55 x 13 - no clearance problems although these will be replaced soon with slotmags which have more offset. I'm expecting to have to modify the wheel arches.
I have Cinquecento discs and had to fit a 5mm spacer at the front.

The car wont ever carry 4 people as it has Smart car front seats which reduce access to the rear anyway plus I'm more interested in the look than carrying 4 people.
Rear springs are cut down by 1 coil with cut down bump stops.
The front spring has the 3rd leaf flipped, the mounts reduced by 10mm and the bump stops cut down - but it's not yet as low as I want.



Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Ricardo Regalo on March 14, 2020, 03:55:31 PM
Hi guys,

Sorry, I've been for quite some time without checking the forum.
But now I can "announce" (eheheheh) that I already bought and installed new wheels on my Maluch. It is so proud of itself,  8) eheheheh.
I'm sorry I didn't remember to take some pictures to post here, before I left for my vessel. I will do it whence I get back home.
 
After some long search online for suitable rims I finally came upon some cheap (but good) wheels that initially belong to a fiat Uno turbo IE and were in a reasonable condition. These are 5.5JxR13. I don't remember exactly the offset but it was a really close fit on the back (we had to bend slightly the protection clip for the oil pipe).

I put 145/70 tires on them. I was really doubting these could fit with such large rims. But the shop that sold me the tires was positive they would. And they did :o. The tires are very rounded because of the difference in width, but I actually like the look. It gives it a retro look. But I'm thinking that maybe 155/65 would look even better. The reason I didn't go for the 155/70 was because I tried before some rims with these size tires, on the front wheels and these touched slightly the wheels arches plastic cover when turning.

I'm thinking on (maybe) fitting a 16mm spacer on the wheels as they are only slightly outer than the original rims (they're the ones I could find on a shop near me). Actually I would like to see how the Maluch would look with them before I commit... ;) But I guess that's not possible... I have to buy them and then if I don't like the look... just try to sell the spacers online.   
 
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Ricardo Regalo on March 14, 2020, 05:32:47 PM

The car wont ever carry 4 people as it has Smart car front seats which reduce access to the rear anyway plus I'm more interested in the look than carrying 4 people.

Minijohn, congratulations on the Smart seats idea... I'm afraid I will have to steal it  :$. I think they look great. I was looking for some replacement for the original seats, but I hadn't even started looking for seat that could possibly fit. Now I know which ones. I'm not too worried on losing the possibility to carry people on the back seat. The Maluch is mainly for my missus and I.

I have to ask you, was it too much trouble to fit those seats? If your not offended, by me taking your idea  ;D, would you give some pointers on how to?   
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Minijohn on March 17, 2020, 11:30:54 PM
Hi Ricardo
To be honest, the Smart Car seats were a bit of a pain to fit. It's not as straightforward as you might think.
I'm 6'2" so need the seats quite a long way back.
If you're shorter, then fitting is easier.

The main difficulty is the right side of the tunnel where the hot air comes through from the engine.
That narrows the car quite a bit and required some serious bashing with a big hammer to give clearance for the seat runner.
I also had to cut away some of the seat metalwork to give clearance. (you can see this on the photo)

The 126 seat runners were in the way so I cut them off with an angle grinder.

If you get some Smart Car seats, make sure you get the subframes they bolt to and the seat belt stalks that are bolted to the seats.
You can they concentrate on fitting the subframes to the car & then simply bolt the seats to the subframes.
The seats end up very close to the door frame, so before you do the final fit of the subframe, put the seats on the subframes to make sure all is OK.
The odd thing about the seats is that although they look the same, they are different left/right. The subframes are completely different and the seats themselves will only fit on the correct subframe, you can't switch them over.
I fitted the right side seat on the left side of the car & the left side seat on the right side.

You'll need to remove the "ears" near the headrests the seatbelts pass through. I cut them off with an angle grinder.
You can bin the 126 seatbelt stalks as the Smart Car's bolt to the seat itself and the 126 belt buckle fits perfectly.

Also, on right hand drive Smart cars, only the right hand seat reclines. The left seat will tip forward but not recline.

Having said all that, I'm well pleased with the result.
They're probably not the comfiest of seats, but they're a heck of an improvement over the originals and look much better too.
I guess they should be safer as the headrest is much taller than the 126's.

Good luck
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Ricardo Regalo on March 20, 2020, 03:18:50 PM
Hi Minijohn,

thank you for the insight.

After what you said, I'm thinking twice about using the Smart's seats. They look good indeed, but they seem way too much trouble. I was going for something a bit easier to accomplish.

However, I'm still keen on upgrading the seats on mine. The good news is that I found online plenty of second hand seats available at affordable prices to choose from. Just have to study well in advance an opt for the ones that are the easiest fit/better looking/most comfortable, and then plan the installing. I believe a good plan, always saves a lot of work  ;).

Cheers.   
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on April 04, 2020, 10:32:29 PM
I guys, I know this is an old post, but I happen to have the exact same model as Joe, a Polish 126 ELX.
I still have the original 12 inch wheels on mine. I read on your posts that a swap for the 13 inch wheels with PCD 4x98 is a straight through job.
I always wanted to have bigger wheels on my 126. I think that they look nicer and should be a slightly smoother ride. My question (though maybe a stupid one ::)) is regarding the wheel arches. Won't there be the problem with the possibility the front wheels will touch the arches when turning?
I've seen some for sale sale in my country (Portugal) that are 5.5x13 4x98 65mm. I believe the 5.5 is the width, right? What about the 65mmm? They were from a fiat punto does anyone know if this will fit?
I "fell in love" with the following, but I thing they are too expensive.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Fondmetal-GT5-wheels-4x98-5-5x13-split-Fiat-Lancia-Abarth-Autobianchi/174124309267?hash=item288a9e1b13:g:p90AAOSwT75d81yj

Will appreciate any input someone may have.
 

Hey just spotted this,

I've been off the forum for 4 years as my car was laid up but coronavirus has given me the time I need to fix it haha

My wheels and tyres are the same as they were back then and they fit great. There is a tiny tiny bit of scrub on full right lock but that's it
Title: Re: 13 inch wheels
Post by: Joe Webb on April 04, 2020, 10:37:32 PM
Hi Minijohn,

thank you for the insight.

After what you said, I'm thinking twice about using the Smart's seats. They look good indeed, but they seem way too much trouble. I was going for something a bit easier to accomplish.

However, I'm still keen on upgrading the seats on mine. The good news is that I found online plenty of second hand seats available at affordable prices to choose from. Just have to study well in advance an opt for the ones that are the easiest fit/better looking/most comfortable, and then plan the installing. I believe a good plan, always saves a lot of work  ;).

Cheers.

I'm about to gut my old seicento for the engine, brakes etc. And the seats look like the rails line up directly with the raised section for the seat rails on the floor pan.

Cutting the original rails off will be a pain in the arse though as I have noticed whilst welding in new ones. There are a lot of spot welds holding those things in and the welds go through 3 layers of metal.

You'd be better off grinding the rails off from above