Steel or light alloy: which is better and why
Based on the manufacturing method, models are divided into two types.
Steel ones (also called stampings) are distinguished by the fact that during production all parts are welded. This is a simple technology, so their price is low. The positive aspects of this option: discs are easily restored even with deep deformations, they are highly reliable, durable, and repairs are simple and inexpensive. Light alloy products are modern and more popular; they include aluminum and magnesium alloys. According to the production method, they are divided into cast, forged, combined, and titanium.
View | Manufacturing | pros | Minuses |
Cast. | The metal is poured into molds, then the frozen surface is processed. This production method makes the metal structure grainy. | Low weight. | During long-term use on broken, bumpy roads, microcracks appear that can split the disc with a powerful impact. Repairs are expensive; products are straightened on a machine. But after such a procedure there is no guarantee of reliability during operation. |
Forged. | Manufactured by hot stamping. The texture of the metal becomes fibrous and durable. | Low weight and high strength. | Forged wheels are produced from aluminum or magnesium (luxury quality, stronger than aluminum, the price is much higher, made by pre-order). |
Combined. | Cast and forged parts are connected using special bolts. | They are subject to repair, and the rim can be replaced, but the central part can be left. | A considerable price, which provoked mass counterfeits - with decorative bolts. |
Titanium. | Due to the large weight of the metal, the thickness of the disks is reduced during manufacturing. | The most durable. | They have a high price. A small number of models are produced. |
When choosing cast specimens, you should pay attention to the metal that is part of the alloy: magnesium - lighter in weight, but with reduced strength; aluminum - less susceptible to cracking. So which products are most suitable for Lada Kalina? Every driver strives for maximum safety on the road. When choosing wheels, you should analyze the condition of the surfaces on which the car will be driven and your driving style.
The advantages of steel wheels are their attractive cost. In addition, there is the possibility of restoration after deformation. When impacted, they do not split, but are crushed; suspension and steering parts are minimally damaged.
Alloy wheels for Kalina have such advantages.
- Wide range of different models. Additionally, there is the possibility of painting.
- Low weight increases the dynamic parameters of the suspension, which improves driving safety.
- Better performance of heat removal from brake units.
In Europe, alloy wheels are more popular. In the Russian market, due to the quality of roads, most drivers choose steel or forged ones.
Review of the best summer and winter tires
Car tires require special care when choosing, and that is why care is needed here. Lada Kalina puts forward its own requirements for car tires, so it is important to consider the points individually when selecting winter and summer options.
Basic summer tires
Nokian Hakka Green 2 is a popular option for summer car tires that ideally combines quality, reliability, practicality and functionality. Reasonable cost and quality from manufacturers are the main advantages.
Continental ContiPremiumContact 5 is the second most important option, the cost of which is an order of magnitude higher than that of the Nokian, but at the same time the quality is slightly different, inferior by literally a couple of points.
Formula Energy is an option that is almost half the cost of the previous one, but is in no way inferior in quality. If you are on a limited budget, this tire option will be ideal.
Hankook Kinergy Eco 2 are well-known summer tires for cars, and they combine quality, reliability, attractiveness and affordable price. All this became the basis for the development of popularity. But, as practice shows, there are certain differences in quality, so it’s difficult to call such rubber durable.
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance is a combination of a well-known brand and a fairly high cost because of it, so there is a need to rationally consider the options. It is also important to note that the quality, as practice has shown, is slightly different from current offers.
Discs for "Kalina"
The wheelbase, technical characteristics of the engine, as well as the traditional compact size are an invariable feature of absolutely all VAZ cars, with the exception of the iconic Niva. Numerous car owners of domestic cars are largely limited in the choice of wheels, since the dimensions of the car in the basic configuration simply do not allow them to install something exotic. If we talk about the factory version, then the wheels for the Kalina are supplied with the following characteristics:
Lada Kalina
- This is a traditional 58.1 mm drill and 4x98 bolt pattern for the brand, which, in principle, is not bad, as it provides versatility and interchangeability. In addition, the standard European size 4x100 is also suitable for these parameters.
- The simplest configuration of the Lada Kalina is equipped with stamped wheels 5.0J x 13 ET40, which corresponds to 175/70/R13 tires. Such a small size is especially convenient for tire fitting, since you can even “change the shoes” of the car manually, and the car also becomes more passable on snowy roads.
- As standard, the manufacturer equips this car with wheels with the specifications 5.5J x 14 ET37 or 6.0J x 14 ET37, and the ideal tires for this size are 175/65/R14 and 185/60/R14, respectively. As a rule, they also come in the “stamping” version, but are covered with decorative plastic caps in the original version.
- More expensive modifications of the Kalina are equipped with 6.5J x 15 ET35 wheels and 195/50/R15 tires. This is the best option, since with such a size, the car enthusiast does not need to change the shoes of his “iron horse” twice every year, and he can immediately install all-season tires and change them only as they wear out.
- The luxury version of the car is considered the most expensive and comes from the factory with an automatic transmission and alloy wheels, which can compete with the equipment of compact cars from the world's leading automakers. So, the size of this product is 6.5J x 16 ET45, and the tires have dimensions of 195/45/R16.
New Lada: How to determine the color of a VAZ car by vin Factory wheels on a Lada Kalina
If you consider a car option like the “Kalina Sport”, intended for high-speed movement around the city, then installing R13 wheels on this modification is highly not recommended due to the too high profile tires. The risk is that on sharp turns the tires may simply fly off the side of the rim, and this will inevitably lead to an accident. Thus, the wheels on the Lada Kalina Sport have a width of at least 6.0J-6.5J and a radius of 15 inches and above.
choice for 14 and 15-inch wheels
In the “Lux” trim levels of Lada Kalina-2 cars, alloy wheels with a diameter of 15 inches are installed from the factory. For more affordable versions, such as “Norma”, “stamping” with a diameter of 14 inches is standard. VAZ installs only universal, that is, all-season tires on all new cars. Of course, if we are talking about a crossover, the buyer will be offered universal Pirelli tires. However, the option of using all-season tires is not suitable for winter. Let's consider what is better to choose for a station wagon and for a hatchback of the “berry family”, if we are talking about the need to install a “spike”.
Winter tires for “Standard” and “Norma”
Those who purchased a car with a 14-inch “stamping” are in the most advantageous position. In this case, the owner will be able to choose anything from a huge list of studded tires, including imported ones. AvtoVAZ recommends using the following sizes:
For winter, obviously, the first option is suitable: narrower tires have better cross-country ability.
It must be remembered that the use of tires of any size other than those recommended may void the suspension warranty. You can choose the most suitable size using the table below. The best option will be highlighted in black.
Each cell of the following table contains the outer diameter of the wheel:
See column number 14
As a result of tests carried out by different publications, a list of products that meet the above goals was formed. The list contains the names of brands under which studs of size 175/65 R14 are offered:
- Hakkapeliitta 8 – good grip properties, even on ice. Add to this high cross-country ability and low fuel consumption. Comments can be made regarding directional stability in the snow.
- Continental ContiIceContact - the owner can count on ideal traction properties, including on ice. Good braking on asphalt is guaranteed, but fuel consumption will be quite high.
- Michelin X-Ice North 2 - the balance of all indicators is complemented by good grip properties demonstrated on snow. Fuel consumption will be low, but increased noise will be noted.
- Gislaved NordFrost 100 – ideal deceleration on wet asphalt. To it we must add good handling, as well as stability and cross-country ability in winter.
- Nokian Nordman 4 – option suitable for snow and asphalt. Fuel consumption will be moderate, but braking on dry asphalt will not bring pleasant emotions.
- Kama EURO 519 – poor deceleration on wet asphalt, and in general, these tires are only for snow.
- Cordiant Polar 2 – the worst grip on snowy roads, high fuel consumption. There are no comments only when driving at low speeds.
- Amtel NordMaster ST is an asphalt tire that holds its course well on snow.
Based on the information provided, you can easily choose the appropriate option.
This is what the tread of modern winter tires looks like
How to choose wheels with radii r13 and r14 for the Lada Kalina
This wheel size, produced on almost all Kalina models as standard, is usually changed by drivers not to improve the visual characteristics of the car, but only in cases where the original wheels become unusable or deformed.
These wheels have the following distinctive features, knowing which, the owner will quickly decide what kind of wheel he needs:
- R13 wheels on the Lada Kalina should not be considered in the “cast” version, since they will not add beauty to the car due to their small size, and they will not be cheap compared to stamped products (1.2-1.7 thousand rubles .* per wheel).
- Alloy wheels for 14 on the Lada Kalina are presented on the market with many options, from which you can choose the most suitable products both for aesthetic reasons and based on the most reasonable price.
- The width of the wheel rim cannot be less than 5.0J, since otherwise the disks will simply lose stability, but not more than 6.0J, so that the driver does not have to look for a non-standard offset.
- Rubber must be selected only with a high profile, 65-70 mm, which excludes the possibility of comfortable high-speed driving, however, with a smaller cross-sectional size, the car will drop so low above the road that the driver will have to go around every bump to avoid damage to the bottom.
- The most popular brands of these wheels are domestic giants, such as AvtoVAZ itself or franchise concerns - K&K and SKAD.
R16 wheels for Lada Kalina
17" casting machine
See what the Kalina-2 hatchback might look like on 17-inch wheels:
Kalina-2 on 17-inch casting, with and without lowering
There are two tuning options presented here, with and without lowering, and in both cases the wheels used are: 7Jx17 ET-38. Tires – 205/40 R17. According to the author of the first method, there are no problems as a result. That is, the wheels do not cling to the body anywhere even when the car is loaded. The only thing is that when you turn the steering wheel all the way, one of the wheels still slightly touches the metal, but this can be neglected.
You need to take into account the following: if you simply take and install wheels with 205/40 R17 tires, the seating position of the Kalina-2 hatchback or station wagon will increase to 175 mm (the standard value is 160 mm). In general, the next step should be a competently executed understatement. Author's version: the front suspension uses struts and springs shortened by 90 mm, the rear suspension is also equipped with shortened shock absorbers and springs (–90 mm). You don’t have to lower anything, but simply install new wheels, and this tuning method has been tested by owners in reality. But it is unlikely that a car with a seat height increased to 175 mm has better handling than the factory version. We will leave the choice to the owner.
How to choose wheels with radii r15 and r16 for the Lada Kalina
Those car enthusiasts who choose 15 and 16 radius wheels for their Lada Kalina save less on their budget and often think about the appearance of their “iron horse”.
The main thing that large radius wheels have is their presentable appearance, because it entails the overall visual effect of the car and makes it recognizable. Thus, with this dimension, you should completely abandon “stamping” and install only cast and forged products on the hubs.
With a radius of 16, the “casting” has a relatively large mass, given that the car itself is very compact and light. Therefore, when driving at high speeds, a driver with such discs will definitely feel a decrease in the dynamic characteristics of his car. Thus, R16 should only be purchased in a forged version, since the specific gravity of a lightweight alloy will be lower than on cast wheels.
When adjusting the factory wheel width 6.5J x 15 ET35 or 6.5J x 16 ET40, it should be taken into account that it is necessary to carefully select the ET dimension, since the disk must be under the wheel arch and at the same time not touch the stationary parts of the car. In addition, if the wheel protrudes beyond the dimensions, the driver will need to purchase additional plastic protection against dirt around the perimeter of the wheel arches.
For a spare wheel, it is better to purchase an inexpensive stamped version; it will cost less than “casting” or “forging”, and besides, this wheel is used extremely rarely.
Among the most well-known manufacturers, various companies of both Russian and foreign production predominate, with the exception of those listed above, in particular IFree, YST, Yokatta, VSMPO Aurora, NZ, Alcasta and some others.
Alloy wheels on Lada Kalina Sport
What non-standard sizes can be supplied?
Many Lada Kalina car owners want to make the design of their cars more presentable by installing wheels of non-standard width and diameter. The manufacturer allows the installation of wheels with non-standard sizes on the car:
When choosing new wheels, it is important to keep the rim width in mind. It is advisable to purchase only tires recommended by AvtoVAZ. It is important to remember that tire size affects handling. For example, when increasing the bus:
- the car behaves more stable on the road;
- controllability improves;
- The car turns easier.
Simultaneously with the increase in wheel width, the tread begins to drain water from the contact patch worse. As a result, the car handles much worse and other problems arise. Comfort on uneven roads also deteriorates when using low-profile tires. Since low height leads to constant shock to the suspension.
What disks can I replace the factory ones with?
When purchasing products other than those offered by the manufacturer, the radius of the wheel should be taken into account; it should not differ much from the standard one. It is necessary to take into account the year of manufacture of the car and its equipment. The wheel parameters are absolutely independent of the body shape: whether it is a sedan, hatchback or station wagon.
When selecting disks for Kalina, you need to know the number of mounting holes and the diameter of the circle for their placement (drilling, LZ*PCD) - 4*98. The diameter of the main hole should correspond to the vehicle hub diameter (DIA) - 58.6. The offset values (ET) must be selected as recommended by the car manufacturer.
New Lada: Description of the standard on-board computer Lada Vesta
Properly selected wheels for a Kalina car mean road safety, reduced fuel consumption, and extended transmission life.
How to choose the best wheels with a diameter of 16 inches
Let's calculate what the outer diameter of tires of the following standard size is: 195/45 R16. The resulting value is 582 mm. Which is 2 mm less than the outer diameter of the tires installed by AvtoVAZ itself. And the rim of an alloy wheel with an increased diameter should not be narrower than 7 inches (7Jx16 wheels are needed). It is interesting that the only configuration of the Kalina-2 Sport uses tires of size 195/50 R16, but we are going to install lower-profile tires.
Various Kalina-2 hatchbacks with 16-inch wheels
Now, let's talk about the meaning of departure. It is clear that it should be from the range ET-35 - ET-38. When using a larger value, we eliminate the possibility of rubber “catching” metal, but we add load to the chassis. In general, wheels with an offset of ET-38 can be installed if the warranty is not needed. The value recommended by AvtoVAZ, ET-35, is suitable: many owners of VAZ cars purchase 7Jx16 ET-35 wheels, if we talk specifically about 16 inches. On such wheels they mount tires 205 mm wide and 92 mm high, and somehow the whole thing rides. Our conclusions:
- 205/45 R16 – not recommended, but viable;
- 195/45 R16 is quite suitable.
Note that the conclusions refer to the option of using disks of the following standard size: 7Jx16 ET-35.
In conclusion, just in case, we will list which discs are installed on the Kalina-2 from the factory. If we are talking about casting and a diameter of 15 inches, the width of the rim can only be 6 inches (no less). Another option used is 5.5Jx14. This information must be taken into account when choosing - you cannot buy narrow alloy wheels with a large diameter.
The mounting holes for some disks are located on a circle with a diameter of 100 mm. We need 98 mm, but we won’t be able to distinguish one from the other by eye. Therefore, when making a choice, be careful. It is unnecessary to remind you that installing disks with an incorrectly selected PCD parameter value is prohibited. Happy tuning!
Bolt pattern and possible options
Bolt pattern is the fastening of the wheel to the hub using bolts or special studs. Simply put, this is the size of a car's "shoe."
Wheel rim for Kalina with bolt pattern 4*98
For all generations of Lada Kalina, the bolt pattern is standard 4x98, although there were experiments when some cars came off the assembly line with a non-standard parameter - 4x100.
In order to change the wheel bolt pattern, you will have to turn to tuning and replacing some suspension elements. Such alterations are mainly carried out by tuning studios, since the selection of spare parts for the Lada Kalina is quite complicated. In this case, you will have to replace the hub, brake disc, steering knuckle, tie rod ends and shock absorber struts. We have already written in more detail about replacing front shock absorbers in this material.
Lada Kalina wheel and tire sizes
The Lada Kalina car in the first and second generations is equipped with R13 and R14 wheel rims with a bolt pattern of 4×98, offset ET37-40, width - 5.0 and 5.5J, centering hole - CO 58.5.
Tires and wheels table
13 / 5.0J PCD 4×98 ET 40 CO 58.5, 175/70 R13 14 / 5.5J PCD 4×98 ET 37 CO 58.5, 175/65 R14
another tire option - 185/60R14
Wheel bolt pattern Lada Kalina (1119) 2005 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline)
- Razboltovka.ru
- PCD
- Lada
- Kalina (1119)
- 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline)
- 2005
Find the disk parameters of Lada Kalina (1119) 2005, 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline).
Table of parameters and wheel bolt patterns of the Lada Kalina (1119) 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline) model - 2005.
Disc drilling parameters are usually called bolt pattern:
- LZ (number of holes)
- PCD (hole center circle diameter)
- ET (disc offset)
- DIA (hole diameter)
Save just in case so as not to lose!
Make model modificationAuto Year of manufacture Wheel width Wheel diameter Bolt pattern LZ*PCD Offset ET DiameterDIA Installation type
Lada Kalina (1119) 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline) | 2005 | 5.5 | 14 | 4×98.0 | 37 | 58.6 | Factory |
Lada Kalina (1119) 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline) | 6.0 | 14 | 4×98.0 | 37 | 58.6 | Acceptable | |
Lada Kalina (1119) 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline) | 6.5 | 15 | 4×98.0 | 35 | 58.6 | Tuning | |
Lada Kalina (1119) 1.6 (82 hp, gasoline) | 6.5 | 16 | 4×98.0 | 35 | 58.6 | Tuning |
Tire size on Kalina (factory)
According to the manufacturer's data, three tire sizes can be installed on the Lada Kalina. It depends on the year of manufacture of the car. So, let's look at what options exist for installing tires on the Lada Kalina:
- The most common size option is 175/70R13. This is the standard size of “Zhiguli” tires, which takes its history back to the “Classics”.
- The second most popular size on the VAZ, but the most common on the Lada Kalina is 175/65R14.
- The third standard tire size option is 185/65R15.
14th radius on a Lada Kalina with Kama-217 tires (this is a classic!)
The wheel rim with which the Lada Kalina comes off the production line in the most popular “Norma” configuration
From a different angle, the same tires and the same wheels
Standard version of wheels for Lada Kalina in LUX configuration: 6.0×15 4*98 ET 35 dia58.6
All other tire size options are non-standard and are not recommended for installation on the Lada Kalina.
Typical tire and wheel sizes for Lada Kalina:
Dimensions for Lada Kalina 1.6:
- Wheels 14x5.5: diameter 14 (inches), width 5.5 (inches), offset 37 (mm), PCD 4x98 (mm).
- Tires 175/65R14: maximum width 184 (mm), maximum outer diameter 594 (mm).
Dimensions for Lada Kalina 1.6 16V:
- Wheels 14x6.0: diameter 14 (inches), width 6.0 (inches), offset 37 (mm), PCD 4x98 (mm).
- Tires 185/60R14: maximum width 197 (mm), maximum outer diameter 586 (mm).
Important: options for replacing factory tires on Lada Kalina cars are 185/55R15, 195/50R15 and 195/45R16.
Lada Kalina wheel sizesLada Kalina wheel sizes
Generation 2
In 2013, the second generation of Lada Kalina appeared. The car premiered at the Moscow Motor Show a year earlier. After 9 years of producing the debut generation, AvtoVAZ decided to refresh the model, making it more modern. As a result, Lada Kalina II received a new design, a revised range of engines and transmissions, a redesigned interior and a suspension with improved settings.
The eyeliner did the model good. The car has become more dynamic and increased in size. The second Lada Kalina is no longer a miniature city car, but a full-fledged class B hatchback. In this series, AvtoVAZ refused to produce modifications in the sedan body, offering consumers exclusively station wagons and hatchbacks. Other changes include revised front optics and an enlarged mesh grille. The openings for the foglights were also significantly enlarged.
The transformations also affected the interior. The interior of the new Lada Kalina has received higher quality finishing materials. Minor changes affected the center console. In the basic configuration, the list of equipment has become richer.
At the minimum, the car acquired front electric windows, 1 airbag and ABS. This version received a 1.6-liter 8-valve unit (87 hp). More top-end variations were equipped with a 1.6-liter 8-valve engine (98 hp) and a 1.6-liter 16-valve engine (106 hp). A “sport” version with a 118-horsepower unit was also offered. The power plants came in combination with an “automatic” or “mechanical”.
Wheel and tire characteristics:
- 5.5J wheels on 14 ET35, tires – 175/65R14;
- 6J wheels on 14 ET35, tires – 185/60R14;
- 6J wheels on 15 ET35, tires – 185/55R15;
- 6.5J wheels on 15 ET35, tires – 195/50R15;
- 6.5J wheels on 16 ET35, tires – 195/45R16.
In 2014, AvtoVAZ introduced a cross-country version of the Lada Kalina.
Characteristics of wheels for lada kalina cross
Starting from 2022, Russian engineers of the AvtoVAZ concern slightly adjusted the suspension of the Lada Kalina station wagon and they got a crossover, since the car was raised a few more centimeters above the ground. In addition, the necessary attributes for a small SUV were added to this version, and a fundamentally new car rolled off the assembly line - the Lada Kalina Cross. Of course, in order to match the qualities of the SUV, the car is equipped with slightly different rims.
First of all, this is an increased load index on the wheel assembly, which requires a different thickness of tires, rims and steel quality. This is due to the fact that an SUV drives in much more extreme conditions than a sedan or hatchback, and a station wagon is often intended for transporting cargo.
The wheel size for Kalina Cross in the simplest configuration is 5.5J x 14 ET35, and for a slightly more expensive modification - 6.0J x 15 ET33, which corresponds to tires 175-185/55-65/R14-R15, but in this In this case, the car does not look very impressive due to too large gaps between the rubber surface and the wheel arches. Therefore, many car enthusiasts change the tire profile without touching the wheels to 70 and even 75 mm, which creates the effect of a real SUV.
In richer trim levels, the car is equipped with a slightly larger radius of wheels with parameters 6.5J x 15 ET30, and 195/55/R15 tires fit perfectly on them. This size is in high demand among buyers, as it is optimal for both smooth asphalt and off-road trails.
Wheels for Lada Kalina Cross
When purchasing a car, drivers try to choose exactly the modification that was initially equipped with alloy wheels from the K&K company, with 5 standard spokes in Silver color, because the caps on top of the stamped products often fly off and break when used on bad roads.
For those budget-conscious buyers, the most basic modifications come with stampings in both 14- and 15-inch radii, and they look pretty good when paired with branded plastic hubcaps.
Those same car enthusiasts who try to install R17 and higher wheels on this VAZ modification, with low-profile tires, taking advantage of the relatively high ground clearance, risk completely damaging the shock absorbers in the first year of operation of the vehicle. Thus, if the edge of the wheel extends too far relative to the axis of its attachment to the hub during maneuvers on the road, a significant load is placed on the mating element, which can cause deformation of the axle along with the brake disc, hub and studs, which will lead to their inevitable replacement.
Car disk warehouse
Many Kalina owners are often interested in used wheels that are actively posted by past owners on the Internet. However, this purchase will be very doubtful, since no expert can guarantee the ideal geometry of the product and the absence of any microcracks on it after an accident or other mechanical impacts.
This means that to save money, you should abandon such options and simply buy a new stamped wheel with decorative linings instead of putting your car and your own health at risk.
*Prices are current as of December 2022.
How to make a choice?
This car was first released in May 2008. The sports hatchback at that time was equipped with 15-inch wheels with Pirelli tires. In 2014, the second model Kalina Sport was released, made in the spirit of other models of this brand, but more elegant and ergonomic. The new generation car was equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels that improve steering sharpness.
Cars of this brand, including Lada Kalina 2 and Kalina Sport, have wheels ranging from R13 to R 15. Each model has its own optimal size. You can also install the R14 on the Kalina Sport, and it will look like a regular Lada Kalina Station Wagon. When choosing disks, you need to remember a few general rules:
- The width of the rim should not be the same as the width of the tire section. The tire profile should be 25% larger. If you need to put wheels on a car with R15 tires, then the size of the wheels should be 5.5 inches.
- A very wide or very narrow rim spoils the profile of the tires; they lose lateral rigidity. In this case, the car loses maneuverability and resistance when skidding decreases, which can lead to an accident.
- You should not install alloy wheels of a larger size on your car than indicated on the passport. Low-profile tires are now in fashion, which allows you to install larger wheels without changing the size of the wheel itself. In this case, the main technical characteristics will not change either. The ground clearance and engine load will remain the same. Of course, the driving qualities of low-profile tires are better than those of regular tires, but the weight of the structure increases due to the weight of the large rim. This problem can be solved by installing an alloy rim.
- When choosing discs for Kalina, you need to remember that the diameter of the central hole must match the standard diameter.
- The material from which alloy wheels are made is selected taking into account their size. For R13 they can be steel. If size R 15 and above, you can only take products made of light alloys. They will not affect the weight of the car, and if they fall into a hole, they will not be damaged, while the R15 wheels, made of steel, will burst under their own weight.
Characteristics of standard wheels of different configurations
The first generation Kalina models are equipped with 14 and 13 inch products. The light-alloy version was released with a diameter of R14. With this reduced tire profile, it is also possible to install R15 (this was done in the sports version).
For all modifications of the first generation sedan, hatchback, station wagon, and sport models produced in 2004–2020, the following dimensions were used:
- 5J wheels on 13 ET40, matching tires - 175/70R13;
- 5.5J on 14 ET37 - 175/65R14;
- 6J on 14 ET37 - 185/60R14;
- 6.5J on 15 ET35 - 195/50R15;
- 6.5J on 16 ET45 - 195/45R16.
All modifications of cars (hatchback, station wagon, cross, sports of the second generation (from 2020) were equipped with the following types of wheels and tires:
- 5.5J on 14 ET35, tires - 175/65R14;
- 6J on 14 ET35 - 185/60R14;
- 6J on 15 ET35 - 185/55R15;
- 6.5J on 15 ET35 - 195/50R15;
- 6.5J on 16 ET35 - 195/45R16.
The “norm” and “standard” packages of the second generation do not have factory alloy wheels. In the luxury package, the buyer can choose cast R14 and R15.
Generation 1
The development of the Lada Kalina model began in 1993. In 1998-2000, AvtoVAZ showed prototypes of the car. The official premiere of the product took place only in 2004.
The basic version was the VAZ-1118 sedan. Its production continued until 2009, after which it gave way to the Lada Granta. Since the development of the first generation Lada Kalina lasted almost 10 years, its appearance turned out to be similar to foreign cars of the late 1990s. However, the sedan did not look at all like a “guest from the past.” The exterior of the model looked quite good against the background of domestic cars. True, in the profile of the VAZ-1118 there was clearly a noticeable disproportion between the short, high stern and the small, low hood. The sedan did not create a feeling of heaviness, but it looked too miniature. Small headlights and a radiator grille taken from Priora complemented the image of the city car.
The interior of the VAZ-1118 turned out to be very comfortable using modern materials. The compactness of the car should not be confusing; 5 people could comfortably fit inside it. The trunk of the Lada Kalina sedan was designed for 400 liters.
The model was equipped exclusively with a 1.6-liter unit (80 hp), corresponding to Euro-3.
The hatchback of this series was introduced in 2006. The VAZ-1119 model existed for seven years. The car became a complete copy of the sedan, differing from it only in its shortened length. Such changes affected the free space in the cabin and trunk volume. The Lada Kalina hatchback was positioned exclusively as a city car, and its compactness was seen as a plus, as it allowed it to maneuver on narrow streets. Externally, it looked lighter and faster in comparison with the sedan. In addition to the 1.6-liter engine, the hatchback was equipped with a 1.4-liter unit.
The latest modification of the Lada Kalina was the VAZ-1117 station wagon. It arrived at dealers in 2007. The model had a longer body and increased ground clearance by 25 mm. This allowed her to move more easily on country roads. The remaining technical characteristics of the station wagon completely repeated those of the sedan.
Wheel sizes
For all modifications of the model, the following types of wheels and tires were used:
- wheels 5J on 13 ET40 (5 – width in inches, 13 – diameter in inches, 40 – positive offset in mm), tires – 175/70R13 (175 – tire width in mm, 70 – profile height in %, 13 – rim diameter in inches);
- 5.5J wheels on 14 ET37, tires – 175/65R14;
- 6J wheels on 14 ET37, tires – 185/60R14;
- 6.5J wheels on 15 ET35, tires – 195/50R15;
- 6.5J wheels on 16 ET45, tires – 195/45R16.
Other wheel characteristics:
- PCD (drilling) – 4 by 98 (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 – 58.6 mm;
- tire pressure – 1.9 bar.
In 2011, Lada Kalina became a leader in terms of sales volumes on the Russian market. In comparison with other AvtoVAZ models, it was a step forward in technical terms and in design.