GTI alloys

In a short period of time I've had so many different wheels on my BX, that I decided to give them a separate gallery-style page. When I got it, the original GTI wheels were fitted. I didn't like them particularly, and they had two different tiresizes on them that were all down to the wear bars, too. The right time to upgrade to 15 inch! In the meantime I ran around on the steel wheels the PO gave me that did have some tread on them. Again two different sizes though. But it ain't easy to find wheels that suit the design of a BX well. Skip 99% of modern wheels cos they suck on a BX!

Audi "Technocast" 15x7J

4x108, isn't that the same PCD as many Audis? Yes, but the center hole is different and they require spacers (15-20mm per wheel) because of their high ET. I always liked having 15x7's on my Celica, not as "economy sized" as stock Peugeot or Citroën wheels often are. And these seemed to look right on the BX. Unfortunately these "Technocast" Audi 80 wheels (that I bought off Marktplaats for a song) needed a paintjob. That and the spacers, 4 new tires and adapting the center hole one way or another (by spacers or boring out the wheel centers - something I'd done before, successfully), would be a bit expensive.

ZX 16V

While considering my options, I ran across a set of ZX 16V wheels, with 2 good tires. Narrower by one inch, but "plug and play". So I put my Audi wheels up for sale. These ZX wheels looked quite good on the car, too. They came with two good 195/55 Michelin Pilot SX and I put two used 185/55 Contis on the rear. Not great for handling, but durable. Note that the 195/55s did not fit on the rear.

306 XSi

But then I started upgrading the brakes, and doing it right. That meant 283mm Xantia discs up front. Unfortunately the ZX wheels no longer fit. Note that some 15 inch wheels do clear these brakes, but ZX 16V wheels don't.

So I was forced once again to look for different wheels. I could use the money, and cleaning them regularly wasn't my thing anyway, so I put the ZX alloys up for sale. Steel wheels fit my brakes, so for 30 euros I bought a set of 15 inch steel off a 306 XSi, with caps. UGLY? Yup, agreed. I didn't mind the fact they came without tires though - finally I could put MY choice of tires on, instead of running off other people's crap. Of course I got 4 new Bridgestone Potenza RE720, 195/50-15. Tires that served me quite well in the Celica, too. Note that 195/50 JUST fits in the rear, where 195/55 didn't. Whew, close...

XM Phase 1 caps

Because the 306 caps looked horrible on a BX, I went looking for a more traditional design instead. When you're looking for them, it turns out 15 inch caps aren't exactly common. But they are plentiful in XM land, and the Phase 1 cap looked good on a BX too. Different, controversial, but nice and original Citroën. I was happy with them, and ran around on these for quite a while. Turns out the rim protector bars on the RE720s line up to the caps exactly, too. Neat and aerodynamic.

Xantia phase 1a wheels.

Don't really belong here, but just before I sold the car, I replaced the worn 283mm brake discs by a better set of 266mm. Now these 14 inch Xantia wheels fit as well. I kept my 15 inch steel wheels as winter wheels for the Xantia. That car will also get new 283mm discs. At first sight, Xantia wheels look the same as BX wheels apart from the cap. Not entirely true. The rim is wider (5.5J - only BX GTI has that) making it easier to fit 185/60 or 185/65 tires, which from mailinglist traffic appears to be the best size for a BX. Also, the ET is a bit lower (18 vs. 25) so the wheels fill the arches a bit better (not such a deep gap). A subtle difference, but better by all accounts if you ask me. A regular BX TZI cap will fit, too. A nice option for people who don't want to compromise original looks, but still want to get rid of them silly narrow gripless wheels.

Full circle.

And the new owner... brought it back to all original by installing the original GTI wheels once again!