What wheels to put on the VAZ 2109. What tires are better for the “nine?” How to choose stamped products

On the problem of choosing tires Autoreview This is not the first time. At the beginning of this year, for example, experts Autoreview acquainted readers with the results of comparative tests of a whole range of new domestic tires, intended mainly for winter use on cars with 14-inch wheels. This time we will talk about car tires VAZ-2109 (08), but first, a few words about exactly what question our testers had to answer and why this question arose

Naturally, sooner or later, owners of “eights” and “nines” change the wheels of their cars. But many do it in a “cunning” way. Some put unusual tires (often wider) on “original” wheels, others do the opposite; they replace standard steel wheels with light-alloy ones, leaving the same tires, and still others are experimenting with both. We believe that one of the motivating motives for this kind of replacement is the desire to become recognizable, to stand out from the crowd. Moreover, unlike foreign manufacturers of mass cars, our AvtoVAZ does not spoil us with a variety of versions of the basic model. So the owners decorate their pets in their own way. Some “innovations” also have practical implications. It is known that saving “native” disks to Samara in divine form is possible only if you drive on our roads at a snail’s speed or not at all. But that’s not why the car was bought! Alloy wheels, due to their lower weight and greater strength, partly solve this problem. And when elegant wheels appear, you want to put on tires that are wider and behind the wheel... And recently it has become possible to get more for the “eight” or “nine” and 14-inch wheels. In a word, if you have money, then choose! But few owners can give any clear answer to the question: why are “branded” tires, for example, 185 mm wide, better than “original” 165 mm ones? Does the car hold the road better? Uses less gasoline? Accelerates faster? Do tires last longer? In fact, answers to these and other questions require serious professional work. And our experts first tried to model the most likely combination of such replacements.

Well-known manufacturer of high-quality stamped alloy wheels, the company Aviation technology , provided us with two sets of wheels for the V8 - with a seat size of 13 inches (like the original ones) and with a seat size of 14 inches. And for tires we turned to a well-known trading company Yu. V. L. Plus and chose relatively inexpensive (retreaded) but very elegant tires there Monarch MB dimensions 185/60 R13 (price 112,860 rubles per tire) and 185/60 R14 (122,400 rubles). That is, these tires only have a different mounting diameter. (Externally, these tires resemble popular tires P6 Pirelli same dimensions.) This mention is very important, because retreaded tires Monarch, Although they have high performance qualities, they are still noticeably heavier than their “prototypes”. If only for this reason, the result of our test cannot be considered as a comparison of 13- and 14-inch tires in general, but as a test of tires specifically Monarch MB! Well, as a basis, as a “base”, we took standard BL-85 dimensions 165/70 R13Nizhnekamsk tire planton standard "eight" disks.

And further. Because cars VAZ-2109, on which the tests were carried out did not undergo any special training, then the results of our measurements (for example, acceleration dynamics, maximum speed, economy) should not be treated as an attempt to verify the manufacturer's data, but as a basis for conclusions only regarding tires

Before testing began, the air pressure in all wheels was set to 2.0 kg/sq.m. cm at an ambient temperature of +15 degrees (indoors).

EXTERNAL DATA

Without a doubt, non-standard “shoes” clearly win! VAZ-2109 seems to stand on its feet more firmly and more thoroughly. In his “outfit” a certain thoroughbredness and self-confidence immediately appear. And in this sense, we liked the 14-inch tires the most Monarch, and a lot of credit for this goes to the company’s elegant wheelsAviation technology.13" alloy wheels with tires Monarch They look just as good, but the effect is no longer there. Although the advantage over the “native” wheels is obvious here too.

ACCELERATING AND BRAKING DYNAMICS

Need to dwell in detail on the description of accelerating dynamics and braking properties VAZ-2109, “shod” with different tires, no: the numerical results given in the table were obtained using professional equipment Ono Sokki, speak for themselves. We only note that the experts’ impressions completely coincide with the obtained figures, and that the domestic tire BL-85 proved to be very worthy here, and, let us remember, on ordinary steel wheels.

Therefore, let us dwell in more detail on those parameters that definitely need comments.

CONTROLLABILITY

Need I say that controllability significantly affects the active safety of a car, generally determining the nature of its behavior in all conditions and driving modes? And tires, of course, play a crucial role here.

We assessed the reliability of driving both in standard (usual) driving modes on public roads and in emergency situations(maneuver “rearrangement” and driving along a special route “mountain road”).

This is what happened. In normal modes, 14-inch tires Monarch and Bl85 provide for VAZ2109 approximately the same sensitivity and delay in steering wheel actions. The car is fast and even “sporty” in its reactions. But there are some differences. 14" tires Monarch when driving with slight steering deviations, they provide the car with a clearly better pattern of increasing reactive action on the steering wheel than tires Bl-85. This tires the driver less, without requiring him to overly strictly control the trajectory of movement (which, alas, is very typical for domestic tires BL-85 at speeds over 100 km/h).

Monarch tires with a seat size of 13 inches in similar situations they slightly change the character of the car. He becomes more “wobbly”, sluggish in his reactions. Delays in steering wheel actions increase noticeably, and sensitivity decreases. But in general, driving the “nine” in this configuration, especially when driving in a straight line, is much calmer. Moreover, the nature of the increase in reactive action is almost the same as that of 14-inch tires, but the resulting sluggishness of the car is unlikely to appeal to fans of sharp driving.

Many owners of “nines” and “eights” are familiar with one feature of the behavior of these cars when driving at high speeds.

We are talking about the intense diagonal rocking of the car that occurs on the gentle waves of our roads. This greatly disturbs the driver, because, rocking along with the car, he willy-nilly deflects the steering wheel, which causes, albeit small, but still changes in the trajectory of movement. In our case, this phenomenon persisted, but the tires Monarch (of both dimensions) noticeably smoothed out this effect.

When driving in a turn with increased lateral accelerations used for the test VAZ-2109 In all configurations, the front axle tended to slide to the outside of the turn, thereby demonstrating comfortable understeer. Both the reaction to a decrease in fuel supply and an increase in the angle of rotation of the steered wheels are quite acceptable. And here the main dependencies established in standard driving modes are preserved.

But specific differences also emerged.

At the entrance to the “limit” turn VAZ-2109, "shod" with 13-inch tires Monarch, Resists your steering inputs noticeably longer, requiring a larger steering angle than you would like. But then the entire curved section passes very stably. Car with 14 inch tires Monarch allows you to turn into a turn much easier, with smaller steering angles, but then, when you are already moving along the desired trajectory, you will need to turn the steering wheel a little more. Behavior VAZ-2109 on BL-85 tires turned out to be very close to that on 14-inch tires Monarch, however, reactions to steering wheel actions are noticeably faster and sharper here.

Wider tires, and even on stamped alloy wheels from the company Aviation technology, look, you see, more attractive than the standard (left) set

An optical device measures the maximum speed at which the testers will be able to avoid knocking down a single pole.

The “rearrangement” maneuver simulates avoiding a sudden obstacle and allows you to numerically evaluate the vehicle’s ability to make sharp maneuvers:

When driving on a special “mountain road” route in extreme conditions, the Monarch tires proved to be at their best. Both 13- and 14-inch Monarch tires allowed us to drive the car much more confidently. This especially applies to Monarch 185/60 R14 tires. With the power reserve of the 1300 cc "nine" they allowed movement

on the special highway with virtually no lateral slips, and only slightly “squeaked” in turns. Here, of course, the lack of power affected, especially on transitional regimes. (After all, the transmission was not designed for such wheels, but in the end it turned out to be more reliable, and therefore safer).

Against this background, the VAZ-2109 on

The BL-85 is also very good, but the sliding is clearly stronger, and in the presence of gentle waves, an unpleasant lateral rocking of the body often occurs.

When performing the “rearrangement” maneuver - simulating a detour around a sudden obstacle - the tires were again the best Monarch 185/60 R14. They made it possible to achieve the highest speed of the maneuver, and ensured better stability of the results. In second position are tires. Monarch 185/60 R13, but its advantages over the domestic one BL-85s are barely visible.

SMOOTH RIDE, VIBRATIONS AND NOISE

To begin with, we note that according to these parameters in itself VAZ-2109 can hardly be considered comfortable enough for Russian roads. Naturally, tires could not completely correct this situation, but their influence is obvious.

Tires recognized as the best in terms of vertical acceleration Monarch 185/60 R13. The car was most comfortable on gentle waves, when driving through seams, joints and tougher obstacles. 14" tires Monarch lost noticeably. In this configuration VAZ-2109 begins to repeat the profile of the road in more detail, the level of vertical accelerations and the overall vibration load increase. The internal panels begin an active “independent” life, rattling at every pothole. But, perhaps, something else is more important for us: when getting into deep potholes, the passage of which causes a “breakdown” of the suspension, the 14-inch wheel feels noticeably more confident, sharply reducing the likelihood of tire damage.

BL-85 tires left an ambivalent impression. The fact is that in terms of the transmission of vertical accelerations they are close to tires Monarch 185/60 R14, that is, they don’t work well. But when driving along seams and joints BL-85 not only is it not inferior to both English competitors, but also sharply reduces the overall level of vibration load. As a result, it turned out that the rocking of the body became more intense, and all the roughness from the road was smoothed out better.

Acceleration and braking dynamics, maximum speed and efficiency were measured using a professional Ono Sokki device (Japan)

The same result applies to internal noise. Here the BL-85 easily outperforms its competitors, putting the least amount of strain on the ears. A The tires performed worst of all Monarch 165/60 R13. These “raise” a very unpleasant low-frequency hum from the road, which drowns out all other sounds in the cabin.

WHAT IS THE RESULT?

So, what should you choose?..

As we believed, there is no clear answer. And this is understandable. After all, choosing a tire is always a compromise; what’s more important to whom? Based on the totality of impressions, in our opinion, tires are of greatest interest Monarch 185/60 R14 and... “native” Bl-85. Monarch tires 185/60 R13 will attract, perhaps, with its appearance or price. But the main thing is that not a single type of tested tires, sometimes leaving a very noticeable imprint on the consumer properties of the car, did not reveal any “crime”, did not reduce the level of active safety (or its individual components) to the point where such replacements could become dangerous. So choose with confidence.

After the test, we decided to leave 14-inch tires on one of the editorial cars. Monarch. They seemed to us both the safest and the best in size and proportions compared to others. VAZ-2109.

And further. Although, as we mentioned, the standard transmission VAZ-2109 and is not designed for 14-inch tires, it was with such wheels that the speedometer readings of the “nine” were closest to true speed cars. (By the way, when one of the owners of the “nine” foams at the mouth and tells how it “easily” accelerates to 160 or more, you can safely upset him - this isthe speedometer is lying, and the car is in best case scenario reached the maximum “passport” speed.)

Compared to the “standard” tires, these tires have only one serious drawback - a noticeable loss of vehicle dynamics. But every cloud has a silver lining. 14" tires Monarch It is clearly more reliable to drive through deep ruts and potholes. The maximum speed was also higher, and fuel consumption in steady state conditions (at constant speeds) was lower. (Although in the “ragged” driving mode the costs are obviously higher than those of competitors - the wheel is heavier.)

Let us emphasize that domestic tires BL-85 pleased with the balance of characteristics corresponding to the capabilities

car, its character. This is not surprising, because several years ago a lot of effort was devoted to the issue of selecting tires for the VAZ front-wheel drive models that appeared then, and, I must say, not in vain.

But times are changing. And today's car equipment VAZ-2109 with BL-85 tires dimensions 165/70 R13 are suitable, perhaps, only for the cheapest, basic configurations...

Externally, Monarch MB tires differ from the famous Pirelli P6 except for the “branded” inscriptions on the sidewalls

Some tire road test results

Parameter	Tire model, size
	Monarch 185/60 R14	Monarch 185/60 R13	Bl-85165/70 R13
Price of one tire, rub. Static radius, mm Maximum speed, km/h	122400 270 141,1	112860 260 138,8	30000-45000 259 141,9
Acceleration from standstill to speed, from 60 km/h 100 km/h 120 km/h	7,02 18,33 29.75	6.59 17,47 30,59	6,49 17,33 28,78
Fuel consumption, l/100 km 60 km/h 90 km/h 120 km/h
Vehicle run-out from a speed of 50 km/h, m
Braking distance from a speed of 80 km/h. m Brake pedal force, kg
True speed at speedometer readings, km/h	36,3 57,5 77.5 97.0 117.5	33.3 53.0 73.5 91.5 110,3	34.7 54,5 74.3 93.5 113.9
Speed ​​of the “rearrangement” maneuver, km/h
Some results of expert assessments (using a five-point system)
Accelerating dynamics
Controllability
Smooth ride
Vibration load
Noisiness

We will figure out how to choose the right tires and wheels for your VAZ 2109. We will not touch on specific manufacturers, we will simply make a review, thanks to which you will have a good understanding of tires and wheels by their appearance and markings.
VAZ 2109 cars use wheels with a diameter of 13 inches. Therefore, if you saw R13 on your tire, then this is precisely an indication of the disc diameter.
However, in addition to the diameter, the disk has other important parameters:

Disk diameter - everything is clear here, this is the diameter inside the disk on which the tire will be installed.
Rim width - the width inside the rim at which the tire will be mounted.
ET drive failure. A parameter showing how deep the disc will be recessed into the car arch.
PCD - the number of mounting holes and the distance between them.
DIA is the diameter of the central hole of the wheel rim.
There are five important parameters and each of them must not be forgotten. Standard marking
VAZ disk is as follows:
5Jx13H2
That's all. In this case, the unspecified parameters are as follows:
Wheel offset 40 mm
PCD 98/4 mm
DIA 58.5 mm
The diameter and width of the rim are important because if you do not take them into account, then standard VAZ tires will not fit on this rim. Offset is important in how the wheel will look on the car: offset<40 мм — колесо будет утоплено в арку, >40mm will stick out from the side of the car.
PCD is very important, if you take a disc with any other PCD, then you simply will not be able to screw it to the hub. Either the number of holes will be wrong, or the distance between these holes will not be exactly 98 mm. The bolts will not fit into the holes on the hub, and if they do, the disk will warp when compressed. There are many discussions on this issue on the Internet. For example, wheels from Renault Laguna with a diameter of 13 inches have PCD not 98 x 4, but 100 x 4. This means that the distance between the holes in the disk is not VAZ’s 98 mm, but 100 mm. The subject of the dispute is the following: some argue that this is all nonsense, carefully crimp the bolts crosswise when installing and ride to your health. Others argue that this should not be done - the disk will become uneven and the car will shake when driving. We are all different people, and what is good for one may be bad for another. One will drive with a broken suspension on such rims and not pay attention to the fact that the car is shaking. Another person will pay attention to even minor vibrations when the car is moving. The reason for the vibrations is the following: due to an uneven fit (even fractions of a millimeter play a role), the wheel on a disk with PCD 100 on a hub with holes 98 x 4 rotates not in a circle, but in an ellipse. That is, the center of the car axle will not coincide with the center of the disk. But here supporters of 100 x 4 disks will again object - there are special bolts
with eccentrics:

It makes sense to use bolts with eccentrics if you are installing alloy wheels. The reason is as follows: a stamped used disc in good condition on a VAZ 2109 costs about $10. And one eccentric bolt costs about $2-3. That is, it turns out that four eccentric bolts cost the same as the disc itself.
Now let's move on to the tires. The vast majority of tires currently produced by industry
tubeless radial. An explanation of the typical designations on the tire is given below.

Let's look at a few examples. Example No. 1:

The figure shows a tire with a diameter of 14 inches, width 185 mm, height equal to 185 mm * 0.7 (70% of the tire width). This winter tires, since there is an M+S inscription, it is also tubeless. The arrow shows the direction of rotation of the wheel. This is also important, because if you do not place it in the direction of the arrow, the tires will wear out more. Here are a couple more typical tire designations:

Every owner of a domestic car sooner or later thinks about this question - which wheels are best to install on a VAZ 2109. In this case, it is necessary to determine the size of the wheels and the method of their manufacture. It is possible to install stamped and light alloy products of various sizes on the machine. It is also important to know the parameters of VAZ wheels so that the kit fits perfectly.

The VAZ 2108 and 2109 models have long become legends. Over the years, a huge number of these cars have been produced and delivered to various countries around the world. Simplicity of design and ease of maintenance made this machine one of the most popular models in the manufacturer’s line.

VAZ 2109 car

The disks on 2109 and 2108 from VAZ were installed identically. The cars had identical parameters, the only difference was the number of doors. Due to the high popularity of the car, on the country's market you can find a huge number of offers for the sale of spare parts, tires and wheels.

Note!

The dimensions of the wheel arches allow the installation of wheels with radii from R13 to R15 on the Nine.

Some car owners prefer to install products that exceed these permissible dimensions. In this case, it is necessary to redesign the machine.

In the factory configuration, the machine is most often supplied with stamped wheels of various radii. There are some versions with castings, but they are quite rare. However, there comes a time for every motorist when it is necessary to change tires. This may occur due to wear or damage, seasonal changes, or other reasons.

In this case, there are plenty to choose from on the market. Both original stamped or light alloy wheels and products from various other companies are presented. Some car owners even purchase used products.

Large radius alloy wheels for VAZ 2109

During the entire production of the model, there were no changes in the parameters and sizes of wheel mounts. It is possible to install them from earlier models to new ones and vice versa. Many domestic wheel manufacturers offer a special line of products for the VAZ 2109. In this case, all parameters and dimensions match perfectly. The most popular installation is for 2109 15-inch disks. This is considered the optimal solution, since this size meets the manufacturer’s requirements and does not affect the smoothness and comfort of movement.

Almost all VAZ cars have the same bolt pattern parameters.

The standard bolt pattern is 4x98. That is, to install the products, four bolts are required, which are fastened at an axial distance of 98 millimeters. This is a very popular mounting method among cars of this class. Thanks to this, there are problems with selection rims Car owners usually don’t.

If a decision has been made to replace wheels, then many different parameters and characteristics must be taken into account. The main ones are the dimensions of the width and height of the product, offset and bolt pattern. Knowing them, you can safely purchase the selected discs.

However, the following factors should be kept in mind:

• IN winter period It is advisable to install wheels of minimum radius and width. This is done to obtain better stability in bad weather on slippery road surfaces;
• In the warm season there are no special requirements. You can install larger rims, this will give greater controllability and stability under normal conditions.

Among tuning enthusiasts, it is popular to modify a car to install large-sized products. It is important to consider that intervention in the design of the machine should be done as carefully as possible and it is advisable to entrust this to professionals. In addition, exceeding the permissible dimensions may lead to problems with passing the annual Maintenance. Installing large wheels will greatly affect the comfort of movement.

Characteristics and parameters of wheels for a domestic car

The main parameters of any product are bolt pattern or drilling.

Due to the fact that the VAZ 2109 has a common base with the models of the Fiat concern, this parameter is 4x98. However, the overhang dimensions and hub diameter should also be taken into account. If all the listed parameters match, then we can safely say that the disk is suitable.

There is a wide range of products on the market with a drilling parameter of 4x100. These products are inexpensive and high quality, and many car owners are tempted to install them. It is possible to carry out such an installation, but for this you need to purchase special eccentric bolts, which are designed for installing disks of other sizes.

Wheel parameters

As for the wheels themselves, on the VAZ 2109 it is possible to set sizes to 13, 14 and 15 inches. In the latter case, it is necessary to select tires with a low profile so that the wheel fits.

The car was equipped from the factory with wheel rims of the following sizes:

• 5J wheels on 13 ET40 with 165/70R13 tires;
• 4.5J wheels on 13 ET40, tires - 155/80R13;
• 5.5J wheels on 13 ET40, tires - 175/70R13;
• 5J wheels on 14 ET40, tires - 175/65R14;
• 5.5J wheels on 14 ET37, tires - 185/60R14;
• 6J wheels on 14 ET35, tires - 185/60R14.

Other characteristics of products for the VAZ 2109 car:

• PCD (bolt pattern) - 4x98 (4 is the number of holes, 98 is the diameter of the circle on which they are located in mm);
• fasteners - M12 by 1.25 (12 - stud diameter in mm, 1.25 - thread size);
• diameter of the central hole - 58.5 mm;
• tire pressure - 1.9-2 bar.

• 4.5, 5 and 6J represents the width of the wheel rim. In this case, it is equal to sizes from 4.5 to 6 inches;
• The number 13 or 14 indicates the mounting diameter, measured in inches;
• ET represents the overhang of the disc, measured in millimeters;
• The drilling or bolting parameter is designated as 4x98, or PCD. In this case, the product is secured with four bolts, which are located around a circle with a diameter of 98 millimeters;
• The diameter of the central hole is the size for the hub, measured in millimeters.

Knowing all these parameters, problems with selecting and purchasing wheels for a car should not arise.

Wheel sizes

One of the most popular sizes on domestic car are R14 and R15. Installation of such products is possible without any problems, provided that the overhang, width and drilling dimensions are observed. If a decision is made to install products that differ in size, then it is necessary to alter some components or purchase a set of spacers.

Note!

The problem with installing large wheels is the small wheel arches.

If you exceed the parameters without modifying the arches, then the tires in turns will touch the slats and arches, which will lead to high wear of all components and parts of the chassis.

To avoid such problems, you should purchase rims whose sizes are guaranteed to fit all parameters. Optimal sizes 14 and 15 inches correspond to the factory settings for handling, dynamics and smoothness.

Wheels with a radius of R13 and R14 will give the maximum level of riding comfort.

As for large sizes, the decision to install them has its positive and negative sides, which are important to know. And the decision to purchase and replace wheels must be made by the car owner.

• Improved car behavior on the road;
• Improving the appearance of the car;
• Maximum road performance, such as dynamics, handling;
• Better absorption of road surface defects;
• At installed tires with a high profile, the wear resistance of the suspension increases;
• Reducing the braking distance.

• Reduced driving comfort, which is associated with the high sensitivity of the suspension to all road defects;
• Difficulty parking and driving on roads with problematic surfaces;
• Increased requirements for pressure control in low-profile tires;
• Increased fuel consumption, which is associated with the increased complexity of driving the wheels;
• High price of the kit.

Why is it important to buy original alloy wheels?

Purchasing original light alloy products is a guarantee of meeting the maximum safety and quality requirements. Good producers Be sure to check products before sending them to stores.

Only original alloy wheels have low weight and good dynamic properties. This will reduce wear and tear, fuel consumption and improve the car's handling in all situations.

How to choose stamped products

VAZ 2109 with stamped rims

Stamped wheels are the most common for the VAZ 2109. Cars are equipped with these from the factory very often. This is due to the low cost of manufacturing such products.

They are not attractive in terms of design and have poor performance, but often car enthusiasts are attracted by their price. It is necessary to install stamped products on VAZs in compliance with the same requirements as for cast ones. Their parameters and sizes are fully consistent.

The dimensions and parameters common for the entire line of VAZ car models allow you to choose a set of wheels without any problems.

Any owner of a VAZ-2109 sooner or later has a question: what is the bolt pattern on the rims of their car? It is usually asked at the moment when they begin to think about replacing these important wheel elements that ensure traffic safety and the image appeal of the vehicle.

In general, the concept of “bolt pattern” implies the distance from the center of one disk mounting hole to another. For the most part, this parameter is the same for all products of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant, but in general no standard values ​​have been developed. That’s why the holes for the bolts on the hubs are located differently among different manufacturers.

Bolt pattern - dimensions

If you purchase discs with a lower ET value, the grip on the road surface will increase significantly, which means:

• controllability will deteriorate;
• fuel consumption will increase;
• wheel bearing wear will accelerate.

Is it possible to install 4x100 disks?

This option can be seen quite often on the VAZ-2109. However, in reality this solution is not correct.

The problem is that the standard bolt pattern of the model in question differs relatively little from the factory one. It seems to many that these couple of millimeters do not matter. However, it is impossible to secure a 4×100 disk properly with ordinary bolts. There is a thickening on them (under the head) - it is this that does not allow the fasteners to be screwed in completely. Moreover, if you try to do this by force, most likely you will break the thread in the hub.

Replacing discs is a natural step for owners of any car. Even those who prefer to ride on factory wheels won't be able to use them forever. And when the old ones become unusable, the question arises - what to buy to replace them.

Kinds

Analyzing the wheel rim market, the entire range can be divided into three types:

• Stamped steel;
• Light alloy cast;
• Light alloy forged.

Many cars, including the VAZ 2109, were equipped with stamped wheels from the factory. Outwardly they are completely unattractive, and over time they lose their external characteristics. Let's be honest, this is a relic of the past.

But at the same time, steel stampings have their advantages, due to which this type of disc is still produced and is in impressive demand among consumers:

• Affordable price. These are the cheapest options available today;
• High strength indicators. Considering the quality of our roads, many people think primarily about quality, safety, and not external data;
• Reliability. They do not have to be changed almost every season, which results in impressive savings;
• With strong impacts, the stampings do not break or crack. They crumple as much as possible, which opens up opportunities for recovery and restoration;
• Easy to remove and change without outside help.

But let's be completely honest. For all their positive qualities, disgusting appearance forces car owners to give up reliability and durability in favor of image and external attractiveness. Moreover, you should not think that light-alloy options are absolutely fragile and break only from one type of damage.

Light alloy

If we talk about alloy wheels, they are made, as you may have guessed, from special light alloys.

A total of three types of alloys are used.

Alloy type	Peculiarities
Titanium	An excellent choice in all respects except cost. These are the most expensive alloy wheels, which, nevertheless, last a long time, are reliable, and look simply excellent.
Aluminum	Many people put aluminum alloy first, taking into account external characteristics, strength indicators and availability. An important advantage of aluminum is that it is not susceptible to corrosion. With proper use, aluminum alloy lasts a long time and maintains the excellent appearance of the car.

When choosing alloy wheel sets, be sure to compare their strengths and weaknesses. Appearance is far from the only criterion that you need to pay attention to when purchasing.

Advantages and disadvantages of light alloy

Compared to steel wheels, choosing light alloy options provides car owners with a fairly extensive list of advantages. But it is also important to know about the disadvantages.

Advantages

Flaws

Attractive, modern appearance, which allows you to distinguish the wheels from competitors and monotonous stamped products; Reduces the weight of the unsprung part; Allows you to implement original design ideas; Effectively cools the brake assembly; During manufacturing, maximum precision is observed, which has a positive effect on balancing and tire wear; During production they are coated with anti-corrosion compounds, which allows you not to be afraid of driving even on snowy roads strewn with salt or other reagents

The material is quite fragile, therefore, with strong impacts, cracks appear or the disc breaks completely; It is impossible to repair light alloy products, unlike stamped steel ones; You can damage a disk in the simplest situation, for example, when parking a car; When choosing products from dubious manufacturers, there is a high probability of getting a manufacturing defect; The discs do not absorb impacts, which causes the car’s suspension to suffer more; it is subject to additional loads

Operating rules

1. Try to avoid bumps, which requires more careful driving.
2. Park carefully and pay close attention to where you park your car.
3. Avoid hitting holes and potholes. This is dangerous for a car with any wheels, but if the stamping can still be restored later, the light alloy will have to be sent to a landfill.
4. When moving on rails, do not gain high speed. Impacts on metal can cause not only deformation of the discs, but also damage to the suspension.

Markings and parameters

Markings shown on rims, there are three types:

• European;
• Russian;
• American.

The difference between them is not significant, plus the information is always indicated the same, only sometimes with different ways of notation.

When choosing wheels for the VAZ 2109, you need to adhere to the choice of products with the following parameters.

Parameter	Features and Requirements
	Here we are talking about rim width and diameter. For nines, it is important to use wheels where the diameter and width of the rim have the following parameters - 5.5 by 13.5, 5.5 by 14 or 6 by 14 inches. It is possible to install disks with a large diameter, but this will affect specifications, control complexity, fuel consumption and other parameters
	This is the number of holes intended for fixing the disk and the distance between them. For VAZ 2109 the required parameter is 98/4
	This is the diameter of the central hole. For VAZ 2109 it is 58.1 millimeters
	This is a departure. Requires +40. Choosing wheels with a lower offset will increase traction, which will lead to more difficult steering, faster wheel bearing wear and increased consumption fuel

Focus on these key parameters when choosing a new kit. Plus, don’t forget about the role of the quality of the products themselves.

When choosing a set of new stampings or light alloys, be sure to pay attention to the following points.

1. All alloy wheels must be certified and supplemented with a quality mark and X-ray inspection.
2. All discs must have a mark from the regulatory authority and a document confirming that the discs have passed quality control and compliance with current standards.
3. The product indicates the maximum permissible load that the disk can handle.
4. The name and other information about the manufacturer is quite obvious information that you can and should read on the disk.
5. Product heat number, production method, marking and date of manufacture. If not, look for a kit in another store. This is clearly a counterfeit or questionable shipment.

Storage rules

Many car owners purchase two sets of wheels, one of which is used in winter, and the other in summer. This allows you not to transfer tires from one set to another every time.

But if you leave wheels in a garage or other place for a long time, you risk losing their original quality, since the storage rules were not followed.

And they are quite simple.

1. Don't just throw the kit somewhere in the corner where some space has become available.
2. Before storing, mark the wheels so you know where the front left, rear right, and so on are.
3. Store wheels exclusively in a dry, cool and dark place. There should be no chemicals, gasoline or oil in the immediate vicinity of tires. These components are capable of destroying the structure of the wheels over time, so their service life is noticeably reduced.
4. If tires are stored with rims, they should not be kept in a standing position. Hang or place horizontally. Many experts advise using wooden pallets.
5. If the rubber is stored separately, it is located vertically. Moreover, the tires should be rotated once a month so that the pressure does not deform the compound. Do not hang or stack tires on top of each other.
6. Before storing, inspect the projectors and remove any stones or stuck pebbles.
7. Carefully check the condition of the wheels before installing them for the new season.

Wheels are more than just a visual decoration for a car. Safety, reliability of the suspension, fuel consumption and a number of other parameters largely depend on their quality and correct choice.