Problem finding 13" tires

I have a 91 metro convertible. When I bought the car someone had put a set of 14s on it that rub everytime I hit the slightest bump. I am wanting to go back with the original tire so that my speedometer and mileage will read correctly. I have a set of the original rims but I am having problems finding the 165/65R13 tires.

I am sure that they're a lot of you that have faced this before, what is the best solution or source for tires?

Thanks for the help.

Anybody and everybody sells 13" tires! Highly COMMON!

Discount Tire here in Spokane has a Billboard advertising them...

Do you really mean 12" tires? Earlier Metros used 12" tires like my '93.

THOSE are hard to find and cost more than 13" tires....

DoctorBill

12" Tires?.....I've gotten all of mine at the Tirerack.com (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?width=145%2F&ratio=0&diameter=12&sortCode=30450&minSpeedRating=S&ratio=&width=145%2F&diameter=12&minLoad=S&vehicleSearch=true&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&RunFlat=All&x=93&y=5) . Prices are always cheapest there too inc Shipping to your house. Standard Geo Metro size tires are 145/12 but the last 2 times I put tires on my Metros, I Ran 155/80/12's on them inc my current 94 4Dr Metro...You get a little more height and width out of 155's and Speedo readings are less than 1 mph difference using 155's VS 145's. The Tire rack sells the 145/12's in a Yokohama Y372 (All-Season) tire for $36.00 each. I have a Set of the Kumho Power Star 758 (All-Season) (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?width=155%2F&ratio=0&diameter=12&startIndex=0&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&RunFlat=All&x=70&y=4) 155/80/12 tires on my 94 Metro Now and the tire rack sells those for $25.00 each (Supply and demand makes them cheaper price)......$130.00 for all 4 shipped to my house......Dirt cheap I'd say and the last set of these Tires I got near 50K Miles out of them! I just take the tires down to the local tire store and have them mount and balance them for another $30.00.

It's true that many earlier Metros take the 12" tires. However I believe the convertible came standard with 13" tires. It is a common size and about any tire dealer should have them available. I recently bought a set of 12" from our local tire store and they had no trouble getting them here in Ohio. I paid $123 for all four mounted and balanced.

The convertibles did come with 13" as original, and it is true that there are alot of 13" tires around but there does not seem to be many 165/65 so far the only one I can find is a special order Bridgestone that was priced at $80 a piece for a 40000 mile tire. I thought maybe someone had a some experience with something else.

I have not tried any of the online salers but I will.

Thanks for the info, keep it coming.

165/65's are 21.44 in. tall the 175/60's are 21.27 in. tall and the 185/60's are 21.74 in. tall the 60 series is just a little wider and about a 1/4 in taller or shorter depending on your choice. Assuming width clearence is not an issue either tire would be a good choice. I run the 185's and like the extra width, it gives you a little more meat on the ground. I see these tires on sale often and you can find them just about anywhere.

Does anyone ever see the 12" tires 'on sale'...?

I always get the "these are odd sized tires..." pile of crap, "..that's why
they cost more than the 13" tires...."

BTW - is it less important balancing 12" tires than 13" and up ?

Does one save any money ordering them and then paying for mounting and
balancing elsewhere?

DoctorBill

Two weeks ago I paid $168 tax included at american tire co. for 155/80/12 mounted and balanced in Vancouver, WA. I thought that was a pretty good deal at the time, but it was probably their regular price.

our local walmart carries the 12's for a good price. But I alway buy from tireracka and have sears mounth them for me. I have two metros with the kumho powerstars. They have a normal tire patterd, not that metric tread stuff. These so OK in snow and don't seam to wear very fast, so far.

Does anyone ever see the 12" tires 'on sale'...?

I always get the "these are odd sized tires..." pile of crap, "..that's why
they cost more than the 13" tires...."

BTW - is it less important balancing 12" tires than 13" and up ?

Does one save any money ordering them and then paying for mounting and
balancing elsewhere?

DoctorBill
Doc, I doubt you'll find any local tire stores selling 12" tires any cheaper than the $25.00 each in the link to the tire rack I posted above? The Tire rack is No small outfit...Their located in Indiana but they have warehouse's all of the USA. I've bought new tires from them over 15 times now on all our different vehicles...Hell, when i tried to get a set of tires for my Metro from the local tire store, they didn't have any in stock so they were checking for me online. When I glanced over the guys shoulder to see where......They were on the Tirerack website!.....Balancing......12" Tires should be treated no different than any other tire.....Balance them correctly!.......Save $$$.....It costs me $30.00 to mount and balance 4 Geo tires or 4 Tires for any car I take to the local shop.....When you just saved $150.00 off a set of tires from the Tire rack for my 95 Caprice VS the local tire store....It's worth it "Big Time"......Geo tires you will save $$$ still, but it's to a lesser extent given the price of a Geo 12" tire.

I have talked with all of the local tire company's and have not been able to find the alternative sizes 175/60R13's or the 185/60R13's. Have any of you found these at a national chain or online retailer?

Thanks again for the help.

Hey there Halljow,
Don't know your situation where you live, but you might try to find a tire shop that has a link to a used tire shop. There is one where I live, but it was hard to find, and not very well advertised.
Some people, when they blow one tire, but buy a full set. Great for vanity, but a killer on their checkbook.
When the people get new tires, sometimes the old tires are still decent, and get sent to the warehouse. The warehouse sells them (mounted and balanced, plus installed) for a very low price.
The down side is that it is rare to find all 4 tires as one kind/brand. The size may be the same, and even similar wear, but you may end up with four different tires. Once I found this place, I have not shopped anywhere else. I simply have them put the black wall out, and I have four tires with 75% wear left at 25%-50% of the original cost. Sometimes you can find sets of two, which can be matched front and rear.
You might try this method if you are looking to get tires on the car, but do not care if they all are the same brand.
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