Wheels and tyres

The wheels are Powder coated – they seem pretty robust and still look ok after a few years of driving. They probably need to be done again to get a more correct colour grey.

I have two sets of wheel hub caps for the wheels. A set of the smaller and a set of the larger stainless ones. They both look good and it’s more of a mood type thing as to which I put on. The small ones supposedly are correct for a Dspecial but this car was delivered with the larger ones on here in Australia. I purchased the smaller set after buying the car.

I currently use Michelin 185 HR XVS Tubeless R15 – Michelin XVS are suddenly hard to find, and XAS originals almost impossible. Locally we can get them at www.stuckey.com.au as a ‘classic’ tyre. Michelin seem to be producing them in batches about once a year.

A full range of the original Michelins can also be obtained from Vintage Tyres in the UK but they are more expensive obviously having to import them to Australia from the UK.

There is some variation in tyres and their supply on the D Models. Most late models in Australia like mine seem to have been supplied with 185 on all four corners… they drive good! especially when they are new… There is a lot of discussion in D groups about the benefits or not of driving with XAS over XVS. And discussion about the merits of driving on Michelin or other brands, and often the discussion revolves around cost value for money etc. The Michelin XVS seems pretty good to me. I like the ride and they look good. And then there’s the obvious connection with Citroën during development of the DS.

Here is some helpful info that helps explain what the markings on the side of your tyres mean.

Michelin Car Tyre Sidewall Markings:

Michelin = Manufacturer’s name
Energy = Name of the range of tyres
Usually a Logo (eg. Energy)
185 = Nominal section width of the tyre (SW = 185mm)
65 = Aspect ratio or series (H/S = 0.65 ie. 65%]
R = Radial construction
15 = Nominal interior diameter of the tyre in inches: 15 (corresponds to the rim diameter)
Load & Speed indexes – These 2 elements put together are called the Service Description and are mutually dependent.
88 = Load Capacity Index (88 = 560 kg) The load index is an assigned number ranging from 0 to 279 that corresponds with the maximum load carrying capacity of a tyre. Most passenger car tyres load indexes range from 62 to 126.
H = Speed Category Symbol (H = 210 km/h) The speed index is an assigned letter ranging from J to Z that corresponds to the reference maximum speed at the associated load index
XVS = Tread pattern
TL = Tubeless
Xï = Michelin radial, registered trademark

  • Maximum speed symbols for tyres:
    Speed symbol km/h mph
    N 140 87
    P 150 93
    Q 160 99
    R 170 106
    S 180 112
    T 190 118
    H 210 130
    V 240 149
    W 270 168
    Y 300 186