Wheels for Lada Vesta SW Cross - where can I get them cheaper?

Good afternoon, dear Zarulevites! I would like to suggest a relevant topic for an article. I am the owner of a Lada Vesta SW Cross, and now it is important for me to buy winter tires on rims. However, it turned out that AVTOVAZ used a non-standard disk with an offset of 43 and requires that only this be used in order to avoid loss of warranty. The official disc costs a cosmic 7.5 thousand, there is only one possible replacement - for 6.5 thousand, and even the manufacturer has only 1 (one) disc in stock (assume that there is no replacement). Thus, the factory imposes the purchase of its unique disc at a clearly inflated price. Why not bring this to the attention of the public and ask for comments from the plant? At the very least, the factory could allow other replacement options. Judging by the forums, people install 15th and 16th wheels, risking the warranty, because the imposed option is simply twice as expensive. With all respect, Andrew.

Dear Andrey! We tried to answer your questions from all possible positions.

Officially

Any manufacturer, not only AVTOVAZ, will require the use of only those tire and wheel sizes that are specified in the operating instructions. The car passed factory tests and certification on them. How it will behave on “shoes” with other parameters is unknown to the manufacturer, and he cannot take responsibility for such a replacement.

In the latest version of the Vesta operating instructions, comprehensive information about tires and wheels is given on p. 121.

To confirm this, in general, obvious information, I nevertheless contacted the AVTOVAZ press service and called the Lada hotline incognito. Both sources were unanimous: on the Lada Vesta Cross sedan and station wagon, only 17-inch tires and wheels with the parameters specified in the operating instructions are allowed. Other options will be considered as a reason to refuse warranty repair of the chassis.

Selection of disks for Vesta

The quality of Russian roads leaves much to be desired, so sooner or later the rollers will have to be replaced, since they wear out much faster on such roads. Another reason for replacement is the desire to change stamped to casting or choose a different design.

In such cases, there is no point in recommending standard wheels with a radius of 15; it would be better to choose R16 or R17. For 16's you can use tire sizes 175/70 and 205/60. For 17's the optimal tires are 175/50 and 195/50.

The following discs are recommended by the manufacturer:

K&K Anna 15 6Х15 4Х100 DIA 60 ET 50;
K&K Ptalomey 16 6Х16 4Х100 DIA 60 ET 50;
K&K Ptalomey 17 6X17 4X100 DIA 60 ET 50.

But that doesn't mean others aren't suitable. There is a huge arsenal of discs of various types and at different prices. When choosing them for Vesta, you should take into account that the bolt pattern (the distance between the wheel bolts) differs from that used on other VAZ cars. As before, there are 4 bolts for fastening, but if previously the diameter between them was 98 mm, then on Vesta the bolt pattern is 4/100.

You should not give preference to deliberately large disks (from 18 radius).

At the same time, aesthetically the car will look original. But with such rollers you will have to use low profile tires. And this, given the condition of the roads, will make everyday trips unpleasant.

Rating of alloy wheels for Vesta

For convenience, this shortlist is compiled from bottom to top, i.e. the best brand will be at the end. The top casting includes the following brands.

LS Wheels. Manufacturer from Taiwan. The products are certified by Rosstandart and adapted to Russian operating conditions. Pros: a wide variety of castings, attractive design and low cost. Of the minuses: not the best quality.
Alcasta. This brand is preferred by connoisseurs of classics and strict design. The company's products have been sold in Russia since 2013. They are distinguished by excellent balancing from the factory, light weight and low price. The disadvantages include the softness of the metal and poor paint coverage.
LegeArtis. Stylish and high-quality alloy wheels, despite the fact that they are made in China. Production is carefully controlled at every stage, products undergo multi-level testing. Modern technologies are used, but the quality of the metal leaves much to be desired; at high speeds and when falling into holes, cracks and other mechanical damage may appear.
Replica. A brand that produces copies of original wheels from the world's leading automakers. The quality of the discs depends on the factory, and there are several of them. Over the course of many years of history, the company has gained an impeccable reputation. In addition to high quality and a large selection, car enthusiasts will be pleased with low prices. However, on some copies, namely those included in the kit, there are different weights and incorrect geometry.
Dotz. One of the world's best disc manufacturers from Germany. The company is narrow-profile and deals exclusively with car wheels, so the product is of a high level. All products comply with international standards and are tested at every stage of production. In addition to quality and beautiful design, the brand offers a range of prices and a wide variety. Oddly enough, there are virtually no shortcomings.
K&K. The products are characterized as high quality, inexpensive and reliable. This is a Russian product, and it is the wheels of this manufacturer that AvtoVAZ uses. Parts are manufactured using modern equipment and meet international standards. There are no minuses as such; the pluses include an interesting design.

K&K is a Russian manufacturer, a leader in the rating of production of alloy wheels for Vesta.

Of course, the list of trustworthy manufacturers can be supplemented with at least a dozen other brands. The car owner can choose from them depending on financial capabilities and personal desires.

Top best manufacturers of stamped wheels

On the market you can find dozens of brands that produce reliable stamped wheels. The list of the best includes only the most popular brands with a long history.

Asterro. Manufacturer of stampings from Uzbekistan. The main production is concentrated in China. The main advantage of casting from this company is high-quality welding and painting. The products are available to a wide range of car enthusiasts, making them popular in the market. Disadvantage: their heavy weight and simple, uncomplicated design.
TZSK. One of the most popular Russian manufacturers of wheel rims. Production is established in Tolyatti. Thanks to modern technologies and equipment, the products are not inferior in quality to discs from Europe. A huge assortment allows you to choose a model that is suitable in size and design. The products are distinguished by their low price and light weight. Unfortunately, there are counterfeit products under this brand, and the original has weak coloring.
KRKZ. A Ukrainian manufacturer that specializes not only in stamped automobile wheels. There is a range of products for trucks, tractors and agricultural machinery. The plant cooperates with many European organizations, which helps improve product quality. Stamped discs of this brand allow you to save money, while they are durable and have a long service life. The manufacturer produces only standard-type discs, which are heavy, and these are their main disadvantages.
TREBL. A Chinese company working using original stamping technology. The products are characterized by low price, good performance characteristics and high quality. Their main drawback is their weak coloring, but the minus is insignificant, so many motorists prefer not to pay attention to it.

You can also add the Mefro company - wheels of real German quality. Stamping from this manufacturer is in demand in different countries. The company produces products for trucks, trailers, special and agricultural equipment. One of the disadvantages is the possibility of purchasing a fake, so you need to buy them in specialized or branded stores. They are not overpriced and are consistent with the quality. These products are reliable and have a long service life.

Be careful when purchasing: many stampings are fake.

Sanctions

You can pay not only by refusing free repairs. If tires not approved by the factory are noticed by a traffic police inspector on the road, he has the right to draw up a report on the vehicle’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Technical Regulations, clause 5.1 of which states: “Vehicles must be equipped with tires in accordance with the vehicle manufacturers’ operational documentation.” And this is already a reason to terminate registration if the problem is not eliminated.

Wheel markings are usually applied to the inner surface. If you put the Vesta Cross on the same 17-inch wheels, but with different parameters of offset, width and diameter of the central hole, the inspector, of course, will not be able to assess compliance right on the road. But the other diameter is already obvious, and its marking on the tire will tell you.

The car on “seventeenth” wheels looks, of course, more beautiful, but practicality suffers.

A diameter other than the seventeenth will also put an end to the ability to honestly pass inspection. If you completely exaggerate, extremely unpleasant consequences can arise in the event of an accident with a serious outcome. After such cases, they often order a lot of examinations and find out all the details. Non-standard wheels will emerge, and who knows how the investigators will regard it. But this is a theory.

More information about the presented assortment

Compared to forged products, cast wheels in Moscow are inexpensive designs, but they are more expensive for motorists compared to steel rims. However, they are in great demand due to the ability of casting technology to produce real masterpieces in the style of light alloy products. Light-weight structures can become the main highlight of the exterior of the VAZ Vesta Sedan 1.6 2015. They offer decent corrosion resistance, which cannot be said about steel wheels, and demonstrate excellent driving performance.

Light alloy rims are made from aluminum or titanium alloy, which are valued due to their excellent physical and chemical properties. Moreover, in terms of strength, these alloyed metals are not particularly inferior to steel. With alloy wheels, owners of the VAZ Vesta Sedan 1.6 2015 do not have to worry about maintaining their speed performance.

In addition, alloy wheels are valued due to their fuel efficiency, which is ensured by their lightweight design and low rolling resistance coefficient. In addition, they have excellent thermal conductivity, which helps prevent the possibility of overheating of the brake and chassis systems. This property allows drivers to feel somewhat more confident in the safety of movement. Light alloy products are balanced and have high accuracy of geometric parameters.

Reality

Real life, as usual, has some differences. I called several official Lada dealers in Moscow and, introducing myself as the owner of a SW Cross station wagon, asked for advice on an alternative to the original 17-inch “shoes”. The answers were like carbon copies. The parts department managers saw no problem with installing 16-inch wheels and were willing to offer options.

When asked directly, “What about the guarantee?” were put out and switched to the appropriate specialist. And already from the warranty technician there was a predictable answer: the wheels will fit, but showing up with them at the service station will be a reason to refuse free suspension repairs. However, everyone made it clear that this would not necessarily happen. Would you take their word for it?

The paradox: with excellent geometric cross-country ability, good suspension and electronics tuning, the Vesta Cross is limited on bad asphalt and beyond by the size of the tires.

Of course, you can schedule maintenance trips during the season when your Vesta is wearing factory wheels. But the very fact that dealers match sizes that are not approved by the factory is outrageous. Someone will buy them without asking any questions! And then, to his surprise, the same technical center will receive a refusal of warranty.

How to choose cast products

The car is equipped with such wheels from the factory, or you can purchase them yourself. The widespread use of casting is associated with the relative low cost of production and the ability to create products of any shape and design.

Factory alloy wheels for Lada Vesta Cross SW

Alloy wheels purchased independently must meet all recommended parameters and characteristics. The maximum permissible radius, which is R17, should not be exceeded.

In terms of prevalence, die-cast products represent 70 percent of the total market. They have less weight than stamped steel and improved characteristics. By purchasing cast wheels, you can improve the factory settings of the car, get better dynamics, handling and smoothness.