It’s safe to say that rims have always been a “stumbling block” for many owners. On the one hand, stamped standard wheels are quite cheap, unpretentious and durable; the required wheel size is always on sale, both R13 and R14 can be bought without even traveling to the regional center.
But it’s worth at least somehow changing the appearance of the car, repainting the body, carrying out minimal tuning - and the desire to “install casting” increases exponentially. In addition to beauty and fuel economy, alloy wheels allow the owner to make a serious argument in favor of choosing a VAZ 2107 and even brag a little to the audience: they say, “I could have bought a foreign car a long time ago, but since I’m a patriot, you know, I installed central locking, alloy, and continue to respect our auto industry."
So, about the rims in order.
Functions of rims
- The discs transmit torque to the tire of the drive pair.
- The discs help to compact the tire evenly along its entire circumference, or perimeter.
- The disc ensures the correct location of the tire in the suspension, providing all the rigidity of the structure.
Discs come in different widths and diameters, (R 13, R 14, for classics), weight, and number of holes for fastening.
First of all, according to the production method, discs are either stamped or cast. And the first question from a newbie, “which disks to install,” implies precisely the answer to this question. It's not that simple. Let's figure out why.
Stamped discs
Their advantages are unpretentiousness, low cost, high wear resistance, and ductility. This means that if it falls into a hole, the disc can be dented, but cannot be split or broken. A bent disk can be easily straightened even with an ordinary hammer. Stamped wheels are so cheap that cars with them don’t take their shoes off at night.
As for the disadvantages, the most important one is the large weight, which affects acceleration, braking and inertia. The result is worse handling and higher fuel consumption. In addition, from a purely aesthetic point of view, all cars look the same. Rust can also be a disadvantage, since factory paint is usually short-lived. Also, the stamping should be washed well in spring and autumn to avoid unnecessary noise and corrosion by salt.
Alloy wheels
Casting is fashionable, cool, modern. In addition, such disks can be 20-30% lighter than stamped ones, because they are made from a light metal alloy, they are less susceptible to corrosion and are more durable. The low-pressure casting technology itself increases the strength of products.
Externally, alloy wheels have an individual look; there are design bureaus that produce new shapes and follow fashion.
Functionally, the ride on alloy wheels is smoother, acceleration is improved, and fuel consumption is lower.
But there is also a “other side of the coin”. The disadvantage of alloy wheels is the continuation of their advantages. That is, when it gets into a hole, a cast disk does not crumple like a stamped one. But under supercritical load it simply bursts, splits - and its place is in an alloy processing workshop, or in the trash.
This is all due to the fragility of the disk. In addition, the cost of casting is higher and the service life is shorter. An important disadvantage is the transmission of all shocks to the suspension, since the disc cannot absorb them using its own deformation. Therefore, before deciding which wheels to install, decide where and why you will drive the car.
Review of tires on the VAZ 2115 for the winter season
Since the VAZ 2115 is an inexpensive car and was discontinued more than five years ago, it is unlikely that anyone would think of installing expensive imported tires on it. We do not take into account options for tuning, since this is the exception rather than the rule.
Therefore, we will proceed from the dimensions prescribed by the automaker and make a selection of budget models.
Kama-505
This model of radial tires from NShZ (Nizhnekamsk) is produced in all sizes suitable for the Lada 2115 in radius 13 and 14.
The symmetrical deep tread with 12 rows of factory studs contributes to excellent handling on slippery roads. Excellent grip is ensured not only by the tread pattern, but also by the rubber formulation.
Kama EVRO-519
Another model from the Nizhnekamsk Tire Plant is Kama Euro-519. It consists of two layers of rubber: the lower one, more dense, reliably holds the studs, and the upper one is soft and elastic, providing the best contact with the road in low temperatures.
The fan-shaped directional tread pattern provides excellent cross-country ability on ice and snow. Factory studding guarantees the correct fit of the studs, eliminating damage to the rubber layer.
For domestic cars, which Lada-2115 is, is one of the best options.
Cordiant Snow Cross
Offer from the Omsk Tire Plant (OSHZ). The size range of this model is very large, but in radii 15 and 16 there is no option required for the VAZ 2115. But there are R13 and R14.
An excellent option for those who live in the outback, in a region where in winter there is not so much snow as a mess of snow and mud. The deep directional pattern, similar to the eighth generation of the Hakkapeliitta tread, eliminates the risk of aquaplaning and promotes self-cleaning of the wheel.
Note: A similar tread does not make the tire identical to the Finnish Nokian in terms of performance characteristics, which has 190 rather than 60 studs per m/p.
And the rubber composition is completely different, which gives a 100% difference in price.
Cordiant Polar 2
A very decent model in terms of driving performance from the same Omsk Tire Plant. In 2013, when it was just introduced to the wheel market, Polar 2 took part in testing conducted by Za Rulem magazine. And this is what happened as a result:
- In braking on wet asphalt, the tire came second, behind only Gislaved;
- In braking on dry asphalt, Polar 2 was generally the first, leaving behind Voronezh-based Amtel and imported Nokia, Michelin and Continental;
- But when braking and accelerating on ice, as well as in terms of noise level, the model came second from the bottom. The same Amtel turned out to be worse;
- In braking and propulsion in deep snow, in fuel efficiency, the Cordiant, unfortunately, ended up last.
The conclusion suggests itself: it is better to drive on such tires where there is no deep snow in winter.
Viatti Brina Nordico
There is nothing surprising in the similarity of this tread to Continental, because it was developed by the specialists of the German CONTINENTAL, who organized the production of Viatti in Nizhnekamsk.
True, the quality of the tires turned out to be not quite the same - the tread “floats” on wet asphalt.
But it rows excellently on snow and ice, despite the fact that the spikes are only on the edges, and there are none at all in the center of the tread. In defense, let's say that the spikes that are there hold up pretty well.
The noise level is average, no worse than that of the same Continental. The rubber is quite durable and resistant to damage, as confirmed by the test drive.
Tunga Nordway 2
Another budget option is the Tunga Nordway 2 tire. It is produced by two manufacturers: OShZ (Omsk) and YaShZ (Yaroslavl). Its symmetrical directional pattern with a zigzag central rib gives the tires stability and ensures controllability in difficult weather conditions.
The grooves extending to the sides allow the tire to independently clear itself of adhered snow. Finnish-made spikes, multi-flange, with anchor fit, at the rate of 110 pieces per m/p for 14 radius. The disadvantages include a high noise level.
Matador MP-92 Sibir Snow
If your car has wheels within a 15 radius, and you drive mainly on city asphalt streets, pay attention to the winter studless tire MP-92 Sibir Snow from Matador (Slovenia).
The asymmetrical pattern with multiple edges and drainage grooves provides excellent performance on wet and icy roads. The rubber is very soft and quiet, making driving as comfortable as possible.
Wheel functionality
In front-wheel drive cars, the disk transfers revolutions to the drive pair. The tire fits tightly on it. The front suspension becomes stiffer due to the correct placement of the tire.
Wheels for the VAZ 2107 are available in several versions. They differ in certain parameters:
- Width.
- Diameter.
- Mass.
- Number of mounting holes.
It is allowed to install wheels of sizes R13, R14 on any VAZ 2107 car. According to the production method, this can be either stamping or casting.
Beginners always ask the question, which discs are best to put on the seven? It will not be possible to answer it in one sentence. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Parameters of standard bolts
The disks are fastened with a 19 mm wrench using steel bolts M12x1.25x27, where 12 indicates the diameter, 1.25 is the thread pitch, 27 is the length of the threaded part. The seat has a cone shape for reliable fixation and centering.
The use of bolts that do not meet the technical requirements leads to vibration of the wheel and contributes to its separation.
Stamped
- Low cost.
- Unpretentiousness.
- Excellent wear resistance.
- Plastic.
The stamping, falling into the hole, does not break or crack, it only wrinkles. You can straighten out the dent with a regular hammer.
The main disadvantage, perhaps, is the large mass. Because of this, the car takes a long time to accelerate, it develops greater inertia, and the braking distance increases. All these qualities affect the car’s handling and increase fuel consumption.
If you look at the stamped wheels on the VAZ 2107 from an aesthetic point of view, you will notice that they all look the same.
The factory coating is usually of poor quality, so the paint quickly begins to fly off and the surface becomes covered with rust. To prevent the stamping from making noise or being corroded by salt, it must be constantly washed.
Cast
Today, the best wheels on the VAZ 2107 are considered to be cast products. They recently came into fashion and quickly gained great popularity. Light alloys are used for their production, so they weigh 30% less than stamped counterparts.
Alloy wheels are highly durable and almost never rust. In addition, their appearance has many differences. Designers take care of the aesthetics of the product, giving it an original look.
If we consider die-cast models from the point of view of functionality, certain advantages immediately become noticeable:
- Fast acceleration.
- Soft movement
- Reduced fuel consumption.
For all their advantages, alloy wheels are not without negative qualities. After a strong blow, for example, when flying into a deep hole, it will not crumple, but simply burst. Such parts cannot be repaired.
The cost of cast structures is always higher than ordinary stamping, and the service life is much shorter.
Any impact is transmitted to the suspension, since alloy wheels cannot absorb external influences by their own deformation. Each driver decides which wheels to install on a VAZ 2107 individually, taking into account future operating conditions.
When choosing, it is very important to consider the car model. For example, wheels for low-profile tires are not suitable for summer residents; heavy structures will increase fuel consumption.
Selection principles
The selection of wheels is made taking into account the design features of the vehicle and operating conditions, assessing the impact of many factors.
The VAZ-2107 on 14 wheels looks more attractive than the standard version, but it must be taken into account that a new light-alloy version will lead to additional financial costs due to a change in tire size.
A car with 15 rims looks beautiful, but requires the use of low-profile tires, otherwise the tires will rub against the wheel arch protection. Operation in off-road conditions, maximum loading of the trunk with this option is fraught with negative consequences.
Wide wheels with a long offset increase stability, but tend to heavily pollute the car in bad weather conditions. The large curb weight of the car leads to friction between the tires and the fender liners.
The selection of accessories is carried out taking into account the correspondence of the parameters of the tires used to the standard sizes of the wheels. Dimensions of 13 inches exclude the use of wide-profile tires due to the small volume of the wheel arch.
Choosing non-standard wheels means replacing car tires. It is necessary to take into account the acceptable tire sizes for the VAZ-2107 recommended by experts:
- diameter 13-15 inches;
- width 165-185 mm;
- tire profile – 55-80%.
VAZ 2107 wheel sizes
Four mounting bolts are used to secure the products. The holes for them are located around a circle with a diameter of 98 millimeters. Holes with a diameter of 12.5 millimeters are drilled for the bolts.
In order for the disc to fit freely on the hub, a central hole with a diameter of 58.5 millimeters is made in it. It is through this hole that its orientation occurs. The bolts only press the flange against it.
When installing an alloy wheel, you may need to use an adapter ring. Sometimes without such an additional part it is impossible to create an accurate alignment of the hub and the surface of the disk. The ring can be freely purchased at any auto store.
The offset, or offset of the disc on a VAZ 2107 is usually 29 millimeters. This term refers to the distance formed between the mating surface of the disk after installation on the hub, with a conditional plane passing through the center of the disk rim.
That is, when the offset is positive, it seems that the element has gone deep into the arch. With a negative value, it seems to come out of the arch, it seems that it is too deeply recessed in the seat.
Experts advise making the flight within normal limits. If the overhang is too large, the wheel may begin to touch the fender liners. A deviation of 5 millimeters in any direction is allowed. In other words, on a VAZ 2107 the offset can be in the range of +24 - +34 millimeters.
Moreover, this parameter is designed only for a specific disk width. To install a wider model, it is necessary to withstand a smaller offset.
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Options for summer
Now let’s look at which budget tires you can choose for the summer.
Viatti Strada Asimmetrico
The Strada Asimmetrico model from NShZi is available in all sizes allowed for installation on the VAZ 2115 (except for the low profile). The manufacturer positions it as a premium tire, which involuntarily brings a smile - in our country, sadly, there are simply no necessary specialists to create high-quality rubber.
There is also no reliable data on the characteristics of tires. All that remains is to focus on the type of tread. It is asymmetrical, with deep longitudinal drainage grooves.
This pattern gives the wheels directional stability, good handling, and quick response when braking. Whether this is really so, you will find out from your own experience.
According to reviews from Internet users, most of them are not disappointed in the driving characteristics of this model. Perhaps on a smooth highway it will yield to award-winning tires from European manufacturers, but it will definitely leave them behind where the asphalt ends.
AMTEL Planet 2P
If the winter AMTEL does not shine with its performance qualities, then for summer driving the Planet 2P model is an excellent solution, and not only for driving on asphalt.
The sufficiently deep tread relief makes driving on wet dirt roads hassle-free. The tire is wear-resistant, and what’s especially nice is that it’s inexpensive.
Cordiant Road Runner PS-1
The tread type of the Road Runner PS-1 model from Sibur-Russian Tires is rain. The tire is produced for cars of “B” and “C” classes, and is positioned as an option for active driving in city conditions. The presence of a breaker on the tire frame makes it resistant to deformation and mechanical stress.
If you pay attention to the tests conducted by the magazine "Behind the Wheel" in 2014, Cordiant was in the middle of the tests, ahead of such brands as BFGoodrich, Barum Brillantis 2 and Toyo Proxes CF2 in wet braking performance.
When braking on a dry road, as well as when performing a maneuver on a wet one, the Road Runner PS-1 found itself, although not at the very tail, but close to it.
Kama Breeze-132
This model has proven itself quite well among owners of domestic cars. The optimal combination of quality and cost: good speed characteristics, cornering stability, unimpeded water drainage on wet asphalt. Great option for Lada 2115!
Triangle Group TE301
Many car owners look askance at Chinese tires. Sometimes this is true, but not in relation to Triangle. This is a very serious and large manufacturer, producing most standard sizes not only for passenger cars, but also for trucks.
The rubber is very soft, with good rain tread. It walks well not only on a flat road, but also on rough roads, and feels confident in the rain. The shoulder areas are reinforced, which provides stability when performing maneuvers. And what’s most important for many drivers is that it has a very affordable price.
And finally
Car owners usually decide which winter tires are best for a VAZ 2115 or what to change into in the summer, based on the budget allocated for these purposes. There is also a choice within one price segment, and it can be quite difficult for a person to make it.
