wheels/tires questions

[navdoc101]

yep, did the stud-lug nut swap. Monroe Aspire struts on rear. Theres a thread on here about how to swap in the studs.

[TominMO]

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

The best upgrade you can make is the Aspire swap--much better brakes, and huge improvement in tire selection. There is no good reason to stick with 12" tires, except keeping it stock for some automotive museum. There are all sorts of tire sizes, struts, springs, coilovers etc. you can put on a car, depending on what you want it to do. That is tuning the suspension! What comes from the factory is just a general tune to appeal to the average driver, and hold down cost.

By the same argument, we should never do motor swaps since the car was "tuned" for the B3.

[caprisecca]

by my thinking i wanted to keep the smallest tires possible for better gas mileage. am i wrong i thinking this? what do some of u guys get running bigger tires?

[JPT]

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

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

I shrink my pics first (no bigger than 640 x 480). I make a copy of the original, sized to fit the forum.

I use IrfanView for that. It's an excellent program for playing with pictures.

[stonemaster]

12's arent hard to find at all, I found 4 places had em in stock and Discount Tires Direct has em online, stick with 12's for better gas mileage

[TominMO]

by my thinking i wanted to keep the smallest tires possible for better gas mileage. am i wrong i thinking this? what do some of u guys get running bigger tires?

IMHO the best overall mileage would be with 155/80x13s. Still narrow for less friction, taller than 12s for higher overall gearing. They will be slightly heavier (as will the 13" wheels), but that only shows up for city driving; and how heavy your right foot is will actually be a larger factor than this. Also you can get many other tire sizes and qualities that handle and stop better, compared to 12" tires.

[Bert]

Tire selection in 12s is quite restrictive around here (Cooper and Motomaster cheapies that don't run all that round nor smooth nor last very long) whereas 13s are much more common and you can actually get Toyos, Michelins and some of the better brands.

[cway1319]

i like to switch up during the winter i run 13s then summer i run my 12s. love the 12s! makes me feel like im driving a golf cart