3 stud to 4 stud conversion vs banded steel wheels
Discussion
We’ve picked up a very low miles 1995 Phase 1 Peugeot 106 Ski Edition (see Readers Cars for the full details). It’s a lovely little thing, just 8k miles since new and completely original. From the factory they came with 13” steel wheels with skinny 145 section tyres.
In the modern era, these are not ideal, the car has no ABS and with overall grip low, I feel it would go good to have slightly wider wheels and tyres on there, say 165 or 175 on either 13” or 14” wheels.
Being a lower spec 106, it came with 3 stud hubs and wheels. Finding these nowadays is next to impossible so that either means a 4 stud conversion (as there’s a good selection of 4 bolt used 106 wheels) or widening the existing steel wheels via banding. I have no experience with either so any thoughts?
The conversion is apparently a bit of ballache, it would be an all new rear beam and all new front uprights. A way round this would be 3 to 4 stud spacer adapters, they are available and would seem to be an easy solution. Again, any thoughts?
In the modern era, these are not ideal, the car has no ABS and with overall grip low, I feel it would go good to have slightly wider wheels and tyres on there, say 165 or 175 on either 13” or 14” wheels.
Being a lower spec 106, it came with 3 stud hubs and wheels. Finding these nowadays is next to impossible so that either means a 4 stud conversion (as there’s a good selection of 4 bolt used 106 wheels) or widening the existing steel wheels via banding. I have no experience with either so any thoughts?
The conversion is apparently a bit of ballache, it would be an all new rear beam and all new front uprights. A way round this would be 3 to 4 stud spacer adapters, they are available and would seem to be an easy solution. Again, any thoughts?
Putting significantly wider tyres on it will alter the handling, probably not for the better.
Adding adapter plates would change the offset, which will affect the steering feel and wear on bearings and suspension bushings, probably not for the better.
Unless you're really determined to take this on as an engineering challenge, I'd have thought you'd be better off enjoying the car for what it is.
Adding adapter plates would change the offset, which will affect the steering feel and wear on bearings and suspension bushings, probably not for the better.
Unless you're really determined to take this on as an engineering challenge, I'd have thought you'd be better off enjoying the car for what it is.
How old are the current tyres? You might find just putting one new rubber on improves things a lot.
When I bought my Elise it had 10 year old tyres on and was almost undriveable in the wet. New tyres and it's much much better in the wet, even though they're "semi slick" tyres with fairly minimal tread
When I bought my Elise it had 10 year old tyres on and was almost undriveable in the wet. New tyres and it's much much better in the wet, even though they're "semi slick" tyres with fairly minimal tread
Not sure it’s that difficult to do.
Front hubs can be pulled off the upright and replaced with a 4 bolt hole hub. Plenty available on eBay. But yes you have to take off and then refit the entire strut to get a press to push the hub out.
The s1 106 Rallye use 4 bolt rears on a drum set up so would expect that it’s either a case of removing the entire drum off the stub pin, or maybe just the drum cover and swapping for a 4 bolt. Removing the entire drum can be done with the rear beam still on the car.
I do know the cars quite well having owned a 106 Rallye of some sort since 1994!
Front hubs can be pulled off the upright and replaced with a 4 bolt hole hub. Plenty available on eBay. But yes you have to take off and then refit the entire strut to get a press to push the hub out.
The s1 106 Rallye use 4 bolt rears on a drum set up so would expect that it’s either a case of removing the entire drum off the stub pin, or maybe just the drum cover and swapping for a 4 bolt. Removing the entire drum can be done with the rear beam still on the car.
I do know the cars quite well having owned a 106 Rallye of some sort since 1994!
ta264 said:
How old are the current tyres? You might find just putting one new rubber on improves things a lot.
When I bought my Elise it had 10 year old tyres on and was almost undriveable in the wet. New tyres and it's much much better in the wet, even though they're "semi slick" tyres with fairly minimal tread
Try this first. New tyres make a big difference. When I bought my Elise it had 10 year old tyres on and was almost undriveable in the wet. New tyres and it's much much better in the wet, even though they're "semi slick" tyres with fairly minimal tread
Driving a low powered fwd car with tall skinny tyres is great fun when you get used to it. Light steering and you get lots of feedback through the steering wheel. More than with low profile tyres as the taller sidewall deflects more progressively.
In your place I would enjoy the car for what it is, but of course it's yours to do what you like with. If it's the look of wider wheels and tyres you want, go for it. But I don't think the dynamic benefits, if any, would be worth the faff.
Thanks all 
The wheel/tyres I had in mind would be OEM Phase 1 106 wheels and not significantly wider, just stepping up from 145 to 165.
This is exactly in keeping with what could have come with the car in the mid 1990s (they were offered as a factory option) and what the vast majority of 106s had from the factory. It was just the base model special editions that came on 145s, so any handling changes would be minimal.
I'll have a think about it....I'm very much in two minds about this. As the car is so low miles and completely original, I am inclined to keep it that way, especially as it drives beautifully already. The tyres are also brand new so no issues there.
GreenV8S said:
Putting significantly wider tyres on it will alter the handling, probably not for the better.
Adding adapter plates would change the offset, which will affect the steering feel and wear on bearings and suspension bushings, probably not for the better.
Unless you're really determined to take this on as an engineering challenge, I'd have thought you'd be better off enjoying the car for what it is.
Agree on the adaptor plates Adding adapter plates would change the offset, which will affect the steering feel and wear on bearings and suspension bushings, probably not for the better.
Unless you're really determined to take this on as an engineering challenge, I'd have thought you'd be better off enjoying the car for what it is.
The wheel/tyres I had in mind would be OEM Phase 1 106 wheels and not significantly wider, just stepping up from 145 to 165.
This is exactly in keeping with what could have come with the car in the mid 1990s (they were offered as a factory option) and what the vast majority of 106s had from the factory. It was just the base model special editions that came on 145s, so any handling changes would be minimal.
I'll have a think about it....I'm very much in two minds about this. As the car is so low miles and completely original, I am inclined to keep it that way, especially as it drives beautifully already. The tyres are also brand new so no issues there.
Some of the 106 cars of that year range and rim size have 155/70 13 tyres fitted but that would put your speedo out of calibration a bit.
https://www.wheel-size.com/size/peugeot/106/1994/
Assuming your tyres are 145/70 13, it looks like you could put 155/65 13 tyres on it without a problem.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=145-70r...
https://www.wheel-size.com/size/peugeot/106/1994/
Assuming your tyres are 145/70 13, it looks like you could put 155/65 13 tyres on it without a problem.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=145-70r...
oakdale said:
If the car is in good condition, keep it in standard spec as it may become a fairly valuable classic in the future.
I'd leave the standard wheels on it, the eccentricity of the three stud wheels fitted as standard will probably add to its value.
I am with keep it original. It's only original once. Back in the day 145 tyres were fine, they probably still are. I'd leave the standard wheels on it, the eccentricity of the three stud wheels fitted as standard will probably add to its value.
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