Renault Kiger: tyre upgrades and change in driving style for the CVT

Can I upsize my Kiger’s 16-inch wheels to 17 inchers? Also, I have the turbo-petrol CVT powertrain. I grew up with a Kinetic Honda, and we had to change its clutch plates frequently if we revved it hard from a standstill. Does this apply to a CVT as well? Should I initially be gentle on the throttle and accelerate slowly so the CVT doesn’t burn?

Rohit Katre, Mumbai

Autocar India says: While it is possible to upsize the Kiger’s stock 16-inch rims to 17-inch units with 205/55-section tyres, the downsides would include slightly stiffer ride quality and reduced fuel efficiency owing to the wider contact patch with the road. Since it could also harm the suspension components in the long run, we would recommend avoiding such an upgrade.

Compared to a manual gearbox, automatic transmissions – CVTs, torque convertors, dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) – are highly complex systems with various electronic and mechanical components such as actuators, valves, solenoids, belts and clutches, among others. 

Although automatic gearboxes are designed to withstand the vagaries of driver inputs throughout a vehicle’s lifetime, it is important to observe gentle driving behaviour, particularly while moving the vehicle from a standstill, as the engine and transmission have to pull the maximum load.

As a clutch remains the linkage between the engine and gearbox even in a CVT, there are high chances of it failing prematurely if subjected to prolonged heavy loads and sudden acceleration inputs. Hence, we would recommend adopting a driving style focusing on gradual acceleration for the most part while leveraging the vehicle’s momentum to build speed. This would ensure the longevity and reliability of the drivetrain.

Also see:

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