| Adding to the Hyundai i10 Automatic count - My experience EDIT: 7 month update
Hello All,
We took delivery of a Blushing Red i10 A/T Sportz last weekend. The color and option combination took 4 weeks for Continental Hyundai to order from Hyundai. However, everything was timely and up to expectation. As a dealer I recommend their services. The showroom they have in Khar is simple, but efficient and gets the job done well.
I had the opportunity to inspect the car a day earlier which is when I also asked them to fit the Hyundai security system. They come with different components depending on the i10 model. It’s more to do with wire harness being included or excluded.
First off took it home for blessings from my family, had a quick lunch and set out to get the footwear replaced. This is where my adventure started. Let me take a step back a bit. A week before taking delivery, I had bought Konig 13” alloys (PCD 100, ET 40). This is after of course reading scores of posts and doing a lot of calculations on what would fit.
I drive to a popular Santacruz (W) tire dealer for some 175/70R13 Conti’s. He advised me to go in for the XM1 to which I said a yes. He remarked to me when taking out the Konig’s from my car that they were great and very light. Naturally I was super happy with my purchase. They get into action, and mount tires on all 4 rims.
They start the fitting with the front right hand side wheel. PCD being the same it goes on but does not turn. The brake calipers were touching the rim. My expectation (and I thought it would be standard operating process) from such an experienced outfit was to first check for obstruction without mounting the tire.
Point to note here. Brake calipers of the automatic are seemingly beefed up and hence these rims had no clearance. Even the Konig authorized agent who has his shop at Milan subway was surprised. Bottom line: 13” Konig’s do not fit on the i10 AT. However, the same model of Konig’s in 14” with the same ET fit perfectly.
Of course by that time the damage was already done. Getting the tires off would mean scratched rims. I had bought these from Manjit Singh, a very pleasant sardarji who has a small shop as soon as you take a right into Milan subway. I called him from the tire shop explaining to him the situation. As he wanted to see for himself I took one mounted wheel there. As expected it still hit the calipers. He did not have any other 13” wheels that I liked so said I could consider 14”. I called the tire shop who said that should be no problem. I also had some confidence as may of our BHP’ians have also shod their i10s with 14”. So I Manjit was very nice and said go ahead and see if the 14” similar model Konig’s fit and if so I could take them.
I took all 4 rims to the tire shop by which time I get a call from Manjit saying that the Konig dealer was refusing to accept the 13” back as it had scratches. Another step back here: Before I took the 14” back to the tire shop, Manjit had a tire shop next to him remove the tire from the 13” I had got for him to see. The tire man TORE the wall of the brand new XM1. You read that right. I realized this only when I reached the Santacruz tire shop.
So from 2PM to 5:30PM on a Saturday, this is what I had achieved: Rims that do not fit and were scratched that the dealer will not take back, one torn Michelin XM1 and a terrible feeling of uncertainty.
Took all the 14” rims back to Manjit who offered me other 14” from his stock. I picked out a set brushed finished ones (I don’t know the make as there is none and on the wheel cap we put a Hyundai logo) He had just one piece at his shop at Milan and the remainder were to be brought from a place in Mahim. The Santacruz shop would be shut by then time they arrived. So went back to and had them fit my OE footwear. He billed me for one torn tire, weights & 4 valves. Rs 4000 of wasted money. It was 7:30 PM now.
Went back to Manjit at Milan and struck a deal with him to put tires from Kampala tires, Andheri (E) at Sher-e-Punjab. The remainder rims were on their way to Kampala. Reached there and finally got Energy XM1+ (175 65R14) fitted. Speedo difference ~0.8%. The ride back home was bloody brilliant. Hit the highway and the car felt like it was huge and absorbing the road brilliantly. My dad and I both felt the difference immediately.
Now, for some information on tire pressure and driving with load. Kept the Civic at home and headed out with family in the i10. Five of us plus my little 9 kg one year old. The drive was fantastic all round. Tire pressure was 30. Doing about 70 at Marine Drive went over one of those bad bumps (sudden crest and trough) and tires touched the inside. Note that with my new setup, the overall package diameter has increased by 5 mm. A short wheel base also does not help over such bumps. Makes me wonder if I needed to lower the profile a bit more.
All in all I’m extremely happy with the power and road manners of the car. I noticed that the 4th overdrive ratio kicks in a little late which is probably why many of us AT owners are complaining about the fuel efficiency. Mine has been sipping a bit as well but have learnt to drive it better and currently testing a tire pressure of 33.
I am thankful to Manjit Singh who did all he could to help. I’d recommend him to anyone wanting rims and tires.
I will post pictures later today if possible or over the weekend. Do let me know if you have any questions. All comments welcome. | 
17th June 2009, 16:10
