14 inch wheels? .. anybody?

[DangerDude]

Just thinking about the possibility of putting 14 inch alloy wheels on my 1999 1.0, 5 speed Rolls Metro. Anybody try this yet? Wondering if it would class up my already beautiful Metro and make it an even better fuel sipper, or would I smoke the clutch and brakes due to the longer moment arm? Would an extra inch on the diameter make an appreciable change ?
Improvement or detriment? Are any rims interchangable that anybody knows of? My Pipsqueak is the best car in the world! I just can't keep my hands off it though. At 195 thousand miles .. we're just starting to hit our stride!
Everyone should have one of these baby's!!!!!!!!
Thanks for reading! DangerDude (the proud papa of Pipsqueak!)

[Woodie83]

Swift GTI came with 14" wheels from the factory. 185/60-14 comes out the same diameter as your stock tires. I've got 195/50-15 on my 98 Metro, still the same diameter. I've heard of guys with 17's if you want to look like an idiot in an Escalade. :-) You don't want an extra inch of diameter, but a three cylinder could use a quarter inch or so, the gears are too short from the factory. Too much would be hard on the clutch and brakes. 185/65-14 or 175/70-14 would be just a little taller for better highway mileage without getting too carried away. Don't know that those sizes are available, I'm just doing the math here.

[DangerDude]

Thank you Woodie83 for your insight, I guess I wouldn't be gaining much in economy or handling. Might as well look at a tricked out cylinder head or leather seats or Bondo tailfins .. or maybe just another tank of gas .. at the rate things are going! I may have to think about Lo-Jack too .. You think Metro's will start looking good to thieves ???.. hmmmm .. (did I say that?) DangerDude

[human ills]

My Metro is running 195/60 14s acceleration is slow, but I don't have anything to compare it to, the wheels were what was on the car when I bought it. My best MPG so far is 39.something but obviously the odometer is about 2 or 3% pessimistic.
The car sticks pretty well and looks pretty good.
I'm eventually going to go to the local Pick n Pull to get a set of stock wheels in the hopes of really increasing my mileage.

[wit2pz]

I replaced my 12's for a set of 14x7 from Pep Boys. Gunmetal looks good on my Blu-Bubble! My actual speed is about 5mph faster on the highway, so I have to be careful, as 55=60, 60=65, and so-on.

I noticed it rides a lot quieter, too!