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  • #1

    Winter Tire Options?

    Hello Fellow Festiva owners,

    I purchased my 1988 Festiva L last week for $700. It is the 4 speed manual and completely stock with 87k miles. Very little rust.

    I am concerned about next winter since I live in Central Ohio and the winters can be a little rough. What snow/ winter tires do you run? I have the stock 12'' rims. If I choose to upgrade to 13'' rims/wheels, do I need to do any suspension modifications to avoid rub? What 13'' rims do you recommend?

    Thank you in advance for all the knowledge here.

    - Gabe
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Welcome Gabe!W

    You can switch to 13" wheels without changing anything. A 13x5 wheel with 4x114.3 bolt center and a set of 155/65-13 tires will put your diameter and width nearly identical to the 155/80-12 tires. There are several winter and snow tire options in this size.

    It sounds like you've found a rust free car in the snow belt. You should take some preventative measures to keep your car from rotting out. A few of us are working on a sealing tecnique to protect the body sills, and we should have a write up before winter sets in again.
    Last edited by Advancedynamix; 05-10-2015, 09:23 AM.
    Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

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    • #3
      Thanks for the quick reply Advancedynamix. I will check into that option for wheels and tires.

      I am really looking forward to the rust prevention write up!

      Thanks again.

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      • #4
        13" Geo metro rims are a perfect fit, and there are no shortages of Metros in the junkyards. I ran a set until I bought some 13" Konigs. But steel is better for a winter exclusive wheel.
        1991 Ford Festiva BP (Full Aspire/Rio Swap) (337k Miles) (Around 95k Engine)
        2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport 2.2L DOHC Ecotec (Threw a Rod)
        1998 Chevy Monte Carlo LS 3.1 V6 (225k miles) Best MPG = 28

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        • #5
          nice find! I'm not a big fan of the 88/89 carb Festivas but that's just my preference...

          My 13" all seasons do great with two people in the car... I got 175/70/13 tires on the festiva.... I would reccomend 12" studded snow tires for the Festiva

          speeking of snow tires, I got 3 1/2 sets of studded snow tires on stock Festiva 12" steel rims and 3 sets of studded snow tires on 13" steeles for the Aspire/Accent.... I got one set of Festiva steels that need new all seasons and a good sandblasting plus the original set of 12" steels on the yellow and silver Festiva...

          they are all different size tires but for how much 12 and 13" stock is left out there, I don't give a crap what size they are as long as they fit.....
          Last edited by old yellow; 05-11-2015, 06:32 PM.
          Doug's Daily Driver (Dad): '91 Ford Festiva L Manual "Old Yellow" got with 40,xxx mi... about 52,xxx mi. give or take now

          Austin's Daily Driver (mine) : '91 Ford Festiva GL Automatic "Whitie III" W/ 0.40 over aspire engine from '94 Aspire "New Blue" rebuilt 92,xxx mi. then... about 96,xxx mi. or more now (on body)

          Doug's work car: '95 Ford Aspire Manual "Whitie II" w/ swapped stock aspire engine from '95 Silver Aspire and has           it's 5th transmission! 75,xxx mi... now with about 130,xxx mi.

          Sold! '89 Ford Festiva Manual "Gaystiva" (sold to my Uncle) - got with 163,xxx..... now 163,xxx Sold!

          TRANSFERRED! '89 Ford Festiva Automatic EFI "one hit wonder" Given to           bolokid - got with 210,xxx ...... now with 210,xxx miles TRANSFERRED!

          '94 Ford Aspire SE Manual "Assfire" - got with at least 350,000 mi

          SOLD! '90 Ford Festiva L Manual look for Narion (or click the username) it's new owner on the forum! - got with 193,xxx miles... now has 193,xxx miles give or take SOLD!

          R.I.P '91 Ford Escort GT w/ bad engine..... stripping for parts then off to the scrapper!

          R.I.P '91 Ford Festiva Manual "Lil Red Rocket" bought brand new in 1991 with ~120 mi... ended with 227,xxx mi.

          R.I.P '97 Ford Aspire 4 Door Automatic "Ford Metro" parts car - got with about 144,xxx mi.... ended with 144,xxx mi

          R.I.P '95 Ford Aspire Manual Silver (one owner and one family car) got with about 50,000 miles ended with about 90,000 miles

          R.I.P '94 Ford Aspire Manual "New Blue" got with 150,xxx.... ended with about 200,xxx (it's engine is the .40 engine in my GL)

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          • #6
            I've got four Firestone Winterforce 155/80-13s on Aspire steelies, for my Aspire. They are quite awesome. You'll want Metro rims for stock Festy brakes of course.
            90 Festy (Larry)--B6M (Matt D. modified B6 head), header, 5-speed, Capri XR2 front brakes, many other little mods
            09 Kia Rondo--a Festy on steroids!

            You can avoid reality, but you can't avoid the consequences of avoiding reality--Ayn Rand

            Disaster preparedness

            Tragedy and Hope.....Infowars.com.....The Drudge Report.....Founding Fathers.info

            Think for yourself.....question all authority.....re-evaluate everything you think you know. Red-pill yourself!

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            • #7
              I appreciate all the replies. Cheers!

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              • #8
                no problem!
                Doug's Daily Driver (Dad): '91 Ford Festiva L Manual "Old Yellow" got with 40,xxx mi... about 52,xxx mi. give or take now

                Austin's Daily Driver (mine) : '91 Ford Festiva GL Automatic "Whitie III" W/ 0.40 over aspire engine from '94 Aspire "New Blue" rebuilt 92,xxx mi. then... about 96,xxx mi. or more now (on body)

                Doug's work car: '95 Ford Aspire Manual "Whitie II" w/ swapped stock aspire engine from '95 Silver Aspire and has                 it's 5th transmission! 75,xxx mi... now with about 130,xxx mi.

                Sold! '89 Ford Festiva Manual "Gaystiva" (sold to my Uncle) - got with 163,xxx..... now 163,xxx Sold!

                TRANSFERRED! '89 Ford Festiva Automatic EFI "one hit wonder" Given to                 bolokid - got with 210,xxx ...... now with 210,xxx miles TRANSFERRED!

                '94 Ford Aspire SE Manual "Assfire" - got with at least 350,000 mi

                SOLD! '90 Ford Festiva L Manual look for Narion (or click the username) it's new owner on the forum! - got with 193,xxx miles... now has 193,xxx miles give or take SOLD!

                R.I.P '91 Ford Escort GT w/ bad engine..... stripping for parts then off to the scrapper!

                R.I.P '91 Ford Festiva Manual "Lil Red Rocket" bought brand new in 1991 with ~120 mi... ended with 227,xxx mi.

                R.I.P '97 Ford Aspire 4 Door Automatic "Ford Metro" parts car - got with about 144,xxx mi.... ended with 144,xxx mi

                R.I.P '95 Ford Aspire Manual Silver (one owner and one family car) got with about 50,000 miles ended with about 90,000 miles

                R.I.P '94 Ford Aspire Manual "New Blue" got with 150,xxx.... ended with about 200,xxx (it's engine is the .40 engine in my GL)

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                • #9
                  Find anything? I used to have to drive through a lot of snow all winter and tried 13in rims once. With the wider profile i had almost no traction in the snow compared to the 145 12's.
                  I could get stuck in the middle of a road with only 4 inches of snow with the 13's. With the 12's going through ditches or fields with snow toughing the bottom of the bumper was fine. Huge difference.


                  Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                  • #10
                    My experience was exactly the reverse towing snowmobiles. My guess is the type of tire and tire rubber composition matters way more than tire size...as long as the bottom does not drag in the snow.
                    Reflex paint by Langeman...Lifted...Tow Rig

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                    • #11
                      Towing could be the difference too. Not enough weight for the 13's i dont think. Until you put a trailer on it.
                      The 13's i had were supposedly better tires than the 12's but who knows


                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                      • #12
                        When I leave the snowmobiles the other two cars seem to depend on rubber quality. The twelves do not kick cornholio and take names until I put the ATV tires on. Even the bald stock Rincon Dunlops will destroy any 13. Worn out tow tires, last year the winter snow force in 13 did much better than the 12 on the other car but all I could find was classic. Cannot find good 12 DOT tires until I get ATV tires. Just my seat of the pants observations..in mostly wet snow and ice.

                        Snow temp, water content , snow depth, Ice , packed snow and again temps can make a huge difference. Black ice that is just getting the surface thawed is the one I care about the most. Sliding backwards down supertall single lane paved roads with a trailer on behind is special moment of sheer terror one will never forget and the best therapy will not stop the screams at 2 AM as you relive those memories..
                        Reflex paint by Langeman...Lifted...Tow Rig

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                        • #13
                          I've had good luck find "euro-winter" snow tires. They even come in 12's and thy have loads of tread and traction. Iv'e always been lucky enough to get them with a car I've bought, but I'm sure they can be ordered online quite easily.

                          Festivas are great winter cars in my experience, it's amazing what they can plow through.

                          Welcome!

                          FX
                          Because....45 MPG.

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