wheels/tires questions

[Cheapo]

ok. I'm going to be picking up a '90 festiva in about a week. Tires need replacing and since 12" tires are a pain to find, I want to upgrade to 13" rims. What rims will fit? How big of a tire can I fit without issues?

[wrongfulleaf]

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2157

[denguy]

I would stick with 12s because this is what the factory suspension is tuned for.
Tire Rack has 12s.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=1&autoMake=Ford&autoYear=1991&autoModel=Festiva&autoModClar=&width=165/&ratio=70&diameter=12&sortCode=30600&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=R&minLoadRating=S&tab=All

[Charlie1717]

I would stick with 12s because this is what the factory suspension is tuned for.
Tire Rack has 12s.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...ting=S&tab=All

I would not stick with 12's. You and your suspension will be perfectly fine moving up to 13's. 14's are when you want to consider the aspire swap so you can have bigger brakes. 13's are very common and honestly what the car should have had to begin with. Plus they are much more affordable to replace.

[Bert]

Mid to late 90s Geo Metro rims, and late 80s Mazda 323 13 inch rims should be a direct fit on Festiva hubs. Once you start getting into 14 inch rims nothing will be quite so easy; they tend to be quite a bit wider (5 1/2-6 inch?) than the standard 4" (steel) and 4 1/2 inch (alloys) wide Festy wheels and then offset and tire sizes become critical if you want to avoid wheel well rubbing.
Maybe you want to start keeping your eyes out for an intact Ford Aspire so as to be able to scavenge the wheels/suspension, more modern brakes and achieve a more universal 100mm bolt pattern.

[JPT]

13 inch steelies from a late '80s Mazda 323 fit perfectly with a short tire. If you run 155/80-13s with Festy struts like me, you'll need spacers in the back. I'm running 5/16" ones.

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Regarding suspension tuning, didn't LXs come with 13" tires standard?

[FestYboy]

NO. All festivas are 12" stock.

[navdoc101]

Gro metro rims, 175/70-R13 tires

[runner406]

How did u use actual lug nuts and not the stupid bolts bro ??

[Bert]

Anyone out there contemplating larger tires and/or bigger/better engines should first get rid of the bicycle brakes they put on the OEM cars. No doubt the skinny 12 inch tires were put on there for a reason.

[runner406]

I love my bike brakes lmao hahaaha

[BigElCat]

Anyone out there contemplating larger tires and/or bigger/better engines should first get rid of the bicycle brakes they put on the OEM cars. No doubt the skinny 12 inch tires were put on there for a reason.

The stock brakes handle 175/65/14's just fine if the brakes are in good shape. 1/4 inch spacers and Monroe rear struts where required to get these on.

[BigElCat]

13 inch steelies from a late '80s Mazda 323 fit perfectly with a short tire. If you run 155/80-13s with Festy struts like me, you'll need spacers in the back. I'm running 5/16" ones.

Hey JPT...clean Festiva..I like it.

I'm trying to make my pics post in that size, how do you post yours?

[Cheapo]

Anyone out there contemplating larger tires and/or bigger/better engines should first get rid of the bicycle brakes they put on the OEM cars. No doubt the skinny 12 inch tires were put on there for a reason.

I don't see 13" tires causing brake issues as long as the tire diameter is the same as oem