bigger rims and wider tires.

[wildfan17]

I would like to eventually put bigger rims 14s on my car, and have a wider set of tires on than the regular festiva tires. What to I need to do for this to work and not rub up inside the wheel well? Thank you

[Aaronbrook37]

It's not so much the wheel well as it is the spring perch. The fronts do okay as long as you aren't breaking into the 200's in treadwidth, which I consider overkill for street-driven Festiva's with under 100HP that don't autocross. 185/60-14 requires either rear wheel spacers (easy to find on Ebay) or rear Aspire struts. 195/45-14 even moreso. KYB's won't suffice, since they are a Festiva-based application. Use the search function to acquire details on the spacers. If I take off my rear wheels in the next little while, I'll take some pictures of mine.

[TominMO]

Right, get the Monroe rear struts for the Aspire. Gives you about a 5/8" higher spring perch, which is sufficiently higher for the wider/taller tires.

I did a writeup on doing the rear struts; watch out for the lower strut bolts. Use a lot of PB Blaster over a few days to try to de-rustify them. Here is the link:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29414&highlight=strut+rear

[murrillcg]

Right, get the Monroe rear struts for the Aspire. Gives you about a 5/8" higher spring perch, which is sufficiently higher for the wider/taller tires.

I did a writeup on doing the rear struts; watch out for the lower strut bolts. Use a lot of PB Blaster over a few days to try to de-rustify them. Here is the link:
http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ght=strut+rear

does it matter what year aspire? My 89 Festiva has 185/60-14 and do fine on the front, but even with spacers on the rear it is really close to the shock/spring.

[TominMO]

does it matter what year aspire? My 89 Festiva has 185/60-14 and do fine on the front, but even with spacers on the rear it is really close to the shock/spring.

Exactly, that's the problem with the rear. Any year Aspire uses the same rear strut.

[murrillcg]

thanks Tom, once I'm done sinking money into my sons car, I will look into getting a set.

[Aaronbrook37]

Alternatively, you can cut off the Festiva perch after converting to coilover sleeves. However, this voids any warranty a shock will have as well as provides plenty of risk when cutting/welding a shock. As well, it wouldn't be remotely reversible.