favorite tire size for stock rims?

General discussion about our beloved Tercel 4WD cars
e2stew
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favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by e2stew »

hi, I'm looking for a new set of tires for my new to me Tercel.
What is your favorite tire for stock rims, size, name and brand?
Thanks
83 Tercel SR5 (with 4.10 gearing)
90 Suzuki DR250s
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by takza »

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

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... toModClar=

I had good luck with Kumho tires in the 195-60-14" size....best combo for price..snow..wet...dry traction and wear.
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e2stew
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by e2stew »

Thanks for the response.
83 Tercel SR5 (with 4.10 gearing)
90 Suzuki DR250s
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by ARCHINSTL »

I had the Sumitomo HTR200 for 5 years on the 13" wheels; when I went to 14", I went with the Kumho Solus KR21. Wish I'd done that back with the 13"... While we have very little snow, the Kumho are way better than the Sumitomo in rain (even when the Sumitomo were new). Thanks, hberdan!
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by toughtercel »

Interesting ,there not one 175/80 R13 available , plenties of "70" , even I tried 185/80 R13 still nothing but it to wide anyway.
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by dlb »

i run 185/80R13 and i don't find them too wide. no wait, i just put brand new snow tires on and with the huge tread there is a tiny amount of rub when cranking the wheel all the way in either direction. i didn't feel any difference between running the stock tire size and these bigger ones. and contrary to what i've heard, i haven't had any problem finding R13 tires.
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by hberdan »

Kumho Solus KR21, like the man said. Works great on my 13" steelies. Very very quiet.
I run Hankook IPikes in the winter, also on 13" steelies. That is a tremendous ice and snow tire. Not as noisy as the Hankook 401s.
Both types are 175/70/13.
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by Petros »

I highly recommend going to 14" wheels if you can afford it. It improves the handling and braking performance, less mushy tire between the rim and the road makes it more crips, reduces the heavy understeer.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
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e2stew
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by e2stew »

Any tips on which cars to look for in a pull a part yard for 14" rims that would work with the Tercel?
83 Tercel SR5 (with 4.10 gearing)
90 Suzuki DR250s
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by Petros »

This I clipped from an old thread. With the 14" wheels you want to get a tire size that is approx the same rolling dia. as stock, this lists all the info on which cars use the 100mm x 4 bolt pattern of the Tercel4wd.

This info is from various sources and can be duplicated or even be wrong...some are 13" wheels

'93 Tercel
'85-'89 MR2
'87-'88 FX
'97-'98 Tercel
'92-'97 Paseo


· Acura Intergra · 86-01
· Chrysler Aries · 81-90
· Dodge Neon · 94-99
· Dodge Omni · 79-90
· Plymouth Daytona · 85-91
· Ford Aspire · 94-99 13"?
· Ford Escort · 91-00

· Mercury Tracer · 91-99

· Chevy Prizm · 89-01
· Geo Storm · 90-94

· Honda Prelude · 82-91
· Honda Accord · 82-89
· Honda CRX · 82-93
· Honda Civic · 80-current
· Honda Del Sol · 93-00

· Hyundai Accent · 00-current

· Kia Rio · 00-current
· Kia Sephia · 94-current
· Kia Spectra · 00-current

· Mazda Miata · 91-current
· Mazda MX3, GS · 92-98
· Mazda Protege DX, LX, LX2.0 · 90-current
· Mazda 323 · 90-98 13"???

· Mitsubishi Mirage · 93-99

· Nissan NX1600/NX2000 · 91-93
· Nissan Sentra · 86-99
· Nissan Pulsar · 87-90
· Nissan 200SX · 95-99
· Saturn SC, SW, SL · 91-current
· Suzuki Esteem (sedan/wagon) · 95-02

· Toyota Celica · 86-91
· Toyota Corolla · 89-01
· Toyota MR2 · 86-90
· Toyota Paseo · 92-98
· Totota Tercel · 89-98

· VW Cabriolet · 92-94
· VW Cabriolet III · 95-98

· VW Corrado G60 · 89-92
· VW Fox · 87-93
· VW Golf II & III · 85-98
· VW Jetta I, II & III · 81-98
· VW Passat 4 Cyl · 90-98
· VW Rabbit · 76-81
· VW Rabbit Convt. · 80-81
· VW Scirrocco · 76-89


· Toyota Celica · 86-91

· Nissan Pulsar · 87-90

· Nissan 200SX · 95-99

· Mazda MX3, GS · 92-98

---

posted by 83toybeater

alright i put together a list of factory 14s that will fit this car. helpfull when going to junk yards

first off the hub center on the tercel is 54.1mm

bolt pattern 4x100

all these are the correct bolt pattern

year .......... hub
miata 90-05 54.1
escort 91-95 54.1
zx2 98-03 54.1
geo prizm 93-03 54.1
kia sephia 94-01 56.1
kia rio 01-05 54.1
suzuki areo02-05 54.1
esteem 95-03 54.1
corrola 93-02 54.1 ( i got mine off this one)
Mr2 00-05 54.1
cavalier 91-04 70.3
neon 94-05 57.1
vw cabrio 95-03 57.1
vw jetta 92-98 57.1
vw passat 90-97 57.1
plymoth
horizon 87-90 57.1
colt 86-93 57.1
saturn sc 91-02 57.1
civic 80-05 56.1
accord 82-89 56.1
accent 00-05 56.1
sentra 91-99 66.1
mirage 93-02 56.1
protegay 90-01 54.1


remember all the above will fit but the center will not be riding on the hub ring if it isnt 54.1 but you can buy spacers for the hub to make them fit perfectly.

---


I do know for sure that the 14" X 5.5" steel Escort wheels fit very well (have them on my car)....even the 15" X 5.5" Escort GT alum wheels likely would. (Note: have since found that the early 87-89 Escort GT 15 x 6" wheels are 4 X 108...so they won't fit) The GT wheels would be some major shoes for this car and would actually look pretty good...not sure about offroad though.

You will need to actually put a prospective wheel with tire on the front of your car and turn in sharp circles to check for rubbing though. The center of the wheel should fit snugly on the steel hub. The back wheels should be OK.

The outside tire diameter can affect how your car handles and accelerates:

* a larger diameter tire REDUCES the RPM of the engine at cruising speeds...but also when "crawling" offroad...so you would have less effective power at low speeds.

* Using too large a diameter wheel/tire without going with a wider series tire (I use 60 series) can cause cornering problems...for those who do serious cornering.

* If you are going offroading in rocky terrain...70 series might be the lowest series you'd want to use....though I went thru some rough trails with 60 series Kumhos and saw no sidewall damage.

Serious offroad tires tend to be taller tires that don't "squish" the sidewalls when inflated to specs...this helps prevent sidewall cuts?

Have since found that serious offroaders air-down (or deflate) their tires in really rough terrain....making this issue debatable?

The wheel width can be important...a wider wheel results in a wider track for better car stability and also allows less tire "rollover" on turns.


Various tire sizes and speedometer errors for 13" & 14" tires:


* 175/80/13 are 3% greater diameter than OEM

* 195/60/14 are 1% less diameter than OEM

* 205/60/14 are 1% greater diameter than OEM

* 215/60/14 are 3% greater diameter than OEM

* 185/65/14 are 0% greater diameter than OEM

* 195/65/14 are 2% greater diameter than OEM

* 185/70/14 are 3% greater diameter than OEM

* 195/70/14 are 5% greater diameter than OEM

* 205/70/14 are 8% greater diameter than OEM

* 185/75/14 are 6% greater diameter than OEM

* 195/75/14 are 8% greater diameter than OEM

* 205/75/14 are 10% geater diameter than OEM ... Dust Magnet/Downey
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
takza
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by takza »

Cheapest and easiest to find are the Escort steel wheels...though you might find some kind of alloy wheels while you are at it?

If you go to... http://www.car-part.com/ ...you can put in about any car on those lists and see a pic of the wheel...and you can tell by the number that come up as to how available they will be generally.
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toughtercel
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by toughtercel »

davidlucasbarnes wrote:i run 185/80R13 and i don't find them too wide. no wait, i just put brand new snow tires on and with the huge tread there is a tiny amount of rub when cranking the wheel all the way in either direction. i didn't feel any difference between running the stock tire size and these bigger ones. and contrary to what i've heard, i haven't had any problem finding R13 tires.
Sorry , I didn't explain why , yur right , it because full turn that cause rubbing which can avoid by not to over steer and also spare tire department will cause big bump in the cargo, Yes we have plenty 13" in Canadian tires store and other store in Canada , but USA are limit , I bought the last set of 175/80R13 from Wal-Mart last year ( American Company), they discontinue them except they still sell peppy 155. I very happy with those too. This must be my tenth times i mention about tires business since I join this forum, I think I am done talking about tires for good ha !.
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by St6fan »

Anything that bolts onto a 4X100 Honda/Acura Mk1/Mk2 VW/Audo/BMW will fit.

There's LOTS to choose from. See my wheels thread - I have a spare set of 15" alloys right now.
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e2stew
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by e2stew »

Thanks to all for the input.

I got some 14" steelies off craigslist. They came with tires about as bad as the ones I had so I put them on.
I have a few mechanical issues to short out before I spend the money for new tires.

I thing the seller said they where off a '92 honda, not sure but the bolt pattern matches.
There is a slight gap around the center ring, less than a 1/16" maybe.
Is that safe? I always though if the lug pattern was the same the wheels would work but there is mention in a previous post about "hub centers and spacers".

thanks
83 Tercel SR5 (with 4.10 gearing)
90 Suzuki DR250s
St6fan
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Re: favorite tire size for stock rims?

Post by St6fan »

I have these:

Image

195/50/15 4X100 and will bolt right up - you'll need tires though, they're pretty low on rubber. Should look great though.
1986 Tercel 4WD Slug-On-Rails
1969 Miro 12' Skiff with 15HP Evinrude
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