Before you shop for alloy wheels for Alto 800, know the starting point: Maruti Suzuki built every Alto 800 on 12 inch pressed steel rims wearing 145/80 R12, and alloys were never a factory option. Any alloy is an aftermarket fit, and it has to share this car's listed four stud, 100 mm circle and its 54.1 mm hub hole.
Most owners choose either a 12 inch alloy that keeps the stock tyre, or a 13 inch alloy with a lower profile tyre. Both can work well if the overall tyre height stays close to stock. What follows covers picking a size and living with alto 800 modified alloy wheels.
Alto 800 fitment card
- Status
- No longer sold new; figures are for the last version
- Tyre size
- 145/80 R12 on every variant, petrol and CNG
- Wheels
- 12 inch steel on every variant; full wheel covers on upper variants such as VXi
- Tyre pressure (cold)
- Front 30 psi, rear 30 psi; check the driver door sticker
- Spare
- 145/80 R12 on a 12 inch steel wheel
- PCD
- 4 x 100 mm, centre bore 54.1 mm
- Wheel cap
- 12 inch full cover
- Wiper blades
- 21 inch driver side; measure the passenger blade (13 or 14 inch listed)
- Fog lamps
- Not fitted at the factory; later cars have a covered slot in the bumper
Stock wheel facts for the Alto 800
| Item | Alto 800 |
|---|---|
| Factory wheel | 12 inch steel, all variants |
| Tyre | 145/80 R12 |
| PCD | 4 x 100 mm |
| Centre bore | 54.1 mm |
| Covers | 12 inch full covers on VXi |
The PCD and bore come from wheel fitment databases rather than a maker brochure, so offer a bare alloy up to the hub at the shop before any tyre is mounted on the set. Our PCD calculator explains the measurement.
Choosing alloy wheels for Alto 800 by size
| Option | Tyre | Overall diameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 inch alloy | 145/80 R12 | 536.8 mm (stock) | Same ride, lighter wheel, cheapest change |
| 13 inch alloy | 145/70 R13 | 533.2 mm | Minus 0.7 percent, ride close to stock |
| 13 inch alloy | 155/65 R13 | 531.7 mm | Minus 1 percent, sharper look, slightly heavier steering |
Each 13 inch option stays inside the 3 percent band that keeps the speedometer honest. Larger 14 inch combinations need very low profile tyres on this small car and make the ride harsh on rough roads; we do not suggest them.
Offset and clearance
Offset sets where the wheel's mounting face lies relative to its centre line, and so how far the tyre pokes out. Wheel databases quote ET45 for the Alto 800, a figure the maker itself does not publish. A lower number shoves the tyre outward, where a loaded car may graze the arch lip over bumps; a higher one tucks it in toward the suspension strut. A wider 155 tyre needs a quick check at full lock in both directions. Where an aftermarket wheel has a larger centre hole, plastic spigot rings sized to 54.1 mm stop shimmy at speed.
Trade offs to weigh
- Steering effort: a wider tyre is noticeably heavier when parking, most of all on lower variants without power assistance.
- Ride: a lower sidewall passes more shock from potholes into the cabin.
- Tyre cost: 13 inch rubber is dearer than 145/80 R12, and village dealers stock less of it.
- Insurance and resale: declare the alloy swap to your insurer at renewal; some second hand buyers want a stock Alto.
- Spare: the spare stays a 12 inch steel wheel. With 13 inch alloys the diameter is close enough for a slow drive to a shop, but replace it with a matching tyre soon.
Caring for alloys on Indian roads
Hose the brake dust away weekly with a bucket of car shampoo, because baked dust eats into lacquer in May heat. Avoid acid based wheel cleaners at roadside washes. Stop the puncture shop from rattling alloy nuts on at full air gun force; hand tightening with a torque wrench protects the studs. If you hit a deep pothole, check the inner rim for a bend, which shows as a slow leak or a steering shake. A wheel repair specialist can often roll out a bend; any crack means a new wheel. Diamond cut faces scratch easily and need a lathe to refinish.
Do you need alloys at all
For a city runabout, steel wheels with 12 inch covers are tough and easy to fix after a pothole hit. Alloys save some weight and look sharper, and they suit owners who keep the car long term. If you just want a fresh look, our Alto 800 wheel cap page covers cover options. Stock tyre data lives on our Alto 800 size guide, and wider buying advice for any car sits in the alloy wheels hub.
Questions owners ask
Which bolt pattern does an Alto 800 use?
Wheel fitment databases list it at 4 x 100 mm; they put the hub hole at 54.1 mm. Try a single wheel on the car before you pay for four.
Did any Alto 800 come with factory alloys?
No. Every variant used 12 inch steel wheels; the VXi added full wheel covers.
Which alloy size is best for an Alto 800?
A 13 inch alloy with 145/70 R13 holds overall height inside 1 percent of stock and keeps the ride comfortable. A 12 inch alloy with the stock tyre is the simplest change.
Will 14 inch alloys fit an Alto 800?
With the right PCD they will bolt up, yet matching stock overall height with 14 inch rims means a thin 55 or 60 series tyre, and this light hatch then rides and steers worse. We would skip it.
Will alloys raise my Alto's fuel economy?
Barely, from slightly lower wheel weight. A wider tyre can cancel that out. Correct pressure matters more.