There’s been enough chatter on how the 15-inch stock alloy wheels on the 5-door Maruti Jimny look pretty small on the new SUV
It’s not even been 48 hours since the 5-door Maruti Jimny made its market debut, and the first few owners have taken the aftermarket route to jazz up their vehicles. A case in point here is a video of what is being touted as the country’s first Jimny to receive aftermarket 20-inch alloy wheels. This also means that this could be the first-ever 5-door example of the fourth-gen Jimny to sport XL-size mags. It’s noteworthy that SUV enthusiasts around the nation frowned upon how the stock 15-inch mag wheels on the Jimny look a tad too small. No wonder that the owner of one of the first units to be delivered has been quick enough to flock to a tire store for an upgrade.
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5-spoke 20-inch Alloy Wheels on Maruti Jimny Alpha
The recently launched 5-door Jimny is available in Zeta and Alpha trims. The latter sports 15-inch alloys finished in dark grey. The owner of the SUV seen above has replaced the stock alloys with bigger 20-inch units with a dual-tone finish. A close look at the video reveals that these rims come from Plati, an aftermarket wheel brand that is quite popular due to its designs and low prices. Interestingly, the video shows the aftermarket rims only on the rear axle. Of course, this video was probably shot before the front wheels were swapped with the bigger rims. Visually, the new wheels give the rear of the SUV a bolder stance. They even fill the wheel well better.
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Disadvantages of Using Bigger Wheels on Your SUV
- Reduced Off-Road Performance – The huge increment in the wheel diameter has warranted the usage of lower-profile tires. This has a direct impact on the off-road performance of the vehicle. While the new setup might make the SUV look a tad better, it’s sure to have a detrimental effect on the performance. So, it’s for sure that this Jimny won’t be as competent off the road as a stock version.
- Lower Fuel Mileage – The larger wheels can even cause the fuel mileage to suffer a bit. While the drop in mileage varies from wheel to wheel, a bigger wheel will surely weigh more. This is especially true in the case of cheap aftermarket alloys such as that of Plati, which imports its rims from China. Simply speaking, it takes more fuel to move the heavier wheels, which is why the fuel consumption increases.
- Slower steering and acceleration – The heavier wheels will also affect the car’s maneuverability and the acceleration. The Jimny already has a pretty heavy steering by Maruti Suzuki standards. Adding heavier wheels and wider tires will lead to a noticeable increase in the heaviness of the steering wheel. Besides the weight, the larger contact patch of the tire plays a role in this. Similarly, even the acceleration suffers.
- Speedo Error – The bigger alloy wheels are sure to upset the speedometer’s calibration. You can easily expect a speedo error of 10 to 20 km/h. Thsi is simply inevitable due to the huge increment in the wheel diameter. The change in the speedometer readings will even impact the odometer reading. This can confuse you a bit as you won’t know the correct time for periodic maintenance. Similarly, this could even affect the resale value of the vehicle.
- Safety systems malfunction – Lastly, another disadvantage of such an upgrade is the effect on the safety systems. These include essentials such as ABS, EBD and traction control. These systems might stop responding correctly due to the usage of the bigger wheels and tires. As the bigger wheels weigh more, the calibration of the safety systems, which is done for lighter speeds, suffers. Hence, they may stop working optimally. So, even if you plan to upgrade to bigger wheels, ensure they are light enough and weigh the same as the stock ones.
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What We Think
It doesn’t come as a surprise to see Maruti Jimny owners flocking to the aftermarket accessory stores to prep up their vehicles. However, it’s important to ensure that such modifications don’t have a negative effect on the performance of the SUV. The Jimny is a highly capable off-roader that offers impressive dynamics even when driven on tarmac. However, the addition of such huge wheels and lower-profile tires is sure to lower the capability of the vehicle. So, even if one plans to upgrade to a snazzier set of wheels, it’s highly important to stick to the OEM-recommended sizes.
