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Geo Metro Tire and Wheel Questions

30 messages,  Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:11 PM

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#28 of 30 SOLVED!!! by colt1911 Aug 27, 2009 (6:51 pm)
Wow what a thread !!! This thread helped me a little in my research, so now I'm BACK, to give back!! Let me hit a few points first.   /quote geoman2 Forget the larger lugs.You won't find them with the substandard mm inside diameter and larger outside diameter...does NOT exist! /quote   First, the the studs ar NOT SUBSTANDARD! 10x1.25 is a standard metric size. 10mm is common bolt size, 1.25mm is metric 'fine' thread. the word 'substandard is misleading and wrong!   Second, Larger lugs DO exist. I have been a mechanic for 25 years (school trained), and there is NO safety issue with them. I will detail below.   BTW, I am glad you are happy with your 145/80/12's. I wasnt...   Moving on. During the process of converting to a 13" wheel, I compiled some information to help others along. Here it is:   OEM Info ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Wheel = 12" x 4" Tire = 145/80-12 Bolt pattern = 4 x 4.5" (114.3 mm) Fender well clearance 597mm   ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Car Year Pattern Stud Size Center Bore Offset ---------------------------------------------------------------------- METRO 89-97 4X114.3 10mmX1.25 59.6 35   EXCEL 86-94 4X114.3 12mmX1.5 67.1 46   New Wheel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13" x 4.5" Steel Wheel SILVER; 12 SLOT Model: Hyundai Excel 86-94   (as you can see I used Hyundai excel rims because I got them for $10 ea, and all I had to do was paint them, surely many more will fit)   Most compatiable sizes (the 155's were exact replacements I bought a while back, shown for comparison purposes only, they were Douglas brand from Walmart, they dont carry them anymore BTW) (the numbers on the far left mean nothing, it was just a list) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Size total Radius +/- clearance ea side   OEM 145/80/R12 537mm (21.1) +0mm 30mm   Mine 155/75/R12 537mm (21.1) +0mm 30mm   3 185/60/R13 552mm (21.7) +15mm 22.5mm Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer) 46.00 Price: $184.00 for 4 - Shipping $40.90 ============= $224.90 5 195/60/R13 564mm (22.2) +27mm 16.5mm Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer) 49.00 Price: $196.00 for 4 - Shipping $42.18 ============= $238.18 8 205/60/R13 576mm (22.7) +39mm 10.5mm Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer) 54.00 Price: $216.00 for 4 - Shipping $46.02 ============= $262.02 9 215/50/R13 546mm (21.5) +9mm 25.5mm Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer) 52.00 Price: $208.00 for 4 - Shipping $43.46 ============= $251.46 ----------------------------------------------------------------------   These tires were all from tirerack. You can look around if you want... Other sizes may fit, but hitting the fenderwells is questionable, since they had to be shipped, I erred on the side of caution. BTW, I went with the 215/50/13's. They do not rub fenderwells or ANYWHERE!!   Anyway, heres more:   Stock Tire - 145/80R12 215/50R13 Section Width: 5.70 in 145 mm Section Width: 8.46 in 215 mm Rim Diameter: 12 in 304.8 mm Rim Diameter: 13 in 330.2 mm Rim Width Range: 4 - 4.5 in Rim Width Range: 6 - 7.5 in Overall Diameter: 21.13 in 536.70 mm Overall Diameter: 21.46 in 545.08 mm Sidewall Height: 4.56 in 115.82 mm Sidewall Height: 4.23 in 107.44 mm Radius: 10.56 in 268.22 mm Radius: 10.73 in 272.54 mm Circumference: 66.38 in 1686.0 mm Circumference: 67.41 in 1712.2 mm Revs per Mile: 984.3 Revs per Mile: 969.2 Actual Speed: 60 mph 100 km/h Speedometer1: 59.0 mph 98.4 km/h   Speedometer Difference: 1.557% too slow Diameter Difference: 1.54%   As you can see, the rim size is too small for the tires I selected, they work fine, but honestly, if I had it to do over again I would have gone with the 195's. I almost did, but I LOVE WIDE TIRES!! The rolling resistance is kind of high too, and that has hurt my gas milage, but at 57 mpg, I had some to spare   I used a javascript program on a website to calculate alot of this. I will post the link here, but I dont know how they are about links on this website. I really joined up here to make this post so hopefully other people wont have to do so much research like I did.   http://www.rims-n-tires.com/info_specs.jsp?   (this site seems to be down sometimes, maybe my security settings, but often I had to try back later to get there)   Anyway, on to the lugs. The brand is Gorilla Automotive, the style is acorn, and they are also a 'bulge seat' style, which means simply, they are one size larger in physical form only. The hex size is listed as 3/4 inch, which is a direct cross to 19mm (close enough ok?), the same hex size you would get if you had 12mm studs!!! No need to change studs the seat is .5mm larger than the hex drive, more than enough to cover the hole.   Here is a link to their catalog: http://daliracing.com/v666-5/download/Gorilla_lock_nuts.pdf   or google 'Gorilla_lock_nuts.pdf'   The part number is 41118 (bulk package), 41117 (clamshell package) 41117B (bag package.   This is a link to where I bought mine, I got 20 for about $23 after shipping. If your buying custom stuff that has to be shipped, DO GET EXTRAS, 20+ they were only 0.82 cents each (before shipping) I couldnt find these in retail stores around town either.   http://www.brandsport.com/grla-41118.html   They fit very well, a little long, but they will STILL allow wheel covers no problem. If you dont want chrome like me, you can acid bath them first, and they will be a beautiful black chrome!! ( I have yet to do this myself)   Anyway, I can post pics if anyone wants, I have dozens of pictures already taken (point me to an online picture dump). I also have pics of the washers I made before the lugs arrived. This is NOT safe in my humble AND professional opinion, even though they sell expensive lug washers. I got 3/8 zinc flat washers, lift wheel off ground, center wheel with two opposing lugs, put washer on stud, use nut and torque wrench to make flat washer conical. Then repeat for other lugs. This is real dangerous IMO because people 'forget'. I was checking the torque on my lugs every 10-15 miles for about 5 days!!! What a pain!! Its really unsafe, and I dont recommend it unless:   1 Its very temporary 2 You never forget anything 2 You check the proper torques (with a torque wrench) very often (95-100ft lbs)   If you leave them like this, your damn wheel WILL fall of sometime you are least expecting, and maybe kill someone, so use the PROPER LUGS!! I only include this information for completeness.   It's been a great experience even for a seasoned mechanic, but I hope I have saved someone a little research. Please be safe, and change the studs, or buy the oversized nuts.   questions/comments?   Colt
#29 of 30 Re: Geo Metro lug nuts [butch22] by lilbull Sep 21, 2009 (8:05 am)
Replying to: butch22 (Oct 01, 2008 1:51 am) The person that recommended this site: Offset Lugs for the shoulder or acorn seated lugs is spot on. Please be safe and enjoy a few new shiney parts by investing in the proper upgrade lugs.   You'll enjoy the better ride and handling w/ the 13's over stock 12's, but remember your speedo is going to be off by 5 to 7mph so do 5mph under what it reads.
#30 of 30 Re: Geo Metro Factory Tires [garynofishing] by cammyspradling Nov 10, 2009 (3:11 pm)
Replying to: garynofishing (Sep 03, 2008 4:36 pm) Hello Don't know if it will help you or not but that size wheel comes on 1992 Geo Metro. Found a Place tht can order than 45 a piece brand new. took me 2 months to find this place. Good luck

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