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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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#10 of 30 Re: Wheel alignment 93 metro XFI [eshelje] by bugsbugni Aug 20, 2008 (7:49 pm)
Replying to: eshelje (Aug 09, 2008 9:30 am) I have a 92 metro with 328,000 miles . To check your allignment you will need a tool to measure the inside distance between both front tires in the front and the distance between the wheels at the back. I use two thin pieces of wood taped together in such a way as to the slide on each other to be able to place it on the wheel forward edge of both wheels. slide the two pieces out so that it is snug. where the two pieces are next to each other mark across both pieces with a pencil. you will use this measurement along with the measurement you get from doing this at the rims closest to the back of the car. take the measurements let say 40" front and 39" back. this will show that you have toe out of one inch. there are jam nut on both tie rods going to both wheels . loosen them and depending on toe out or toe in you can make your adjustments. check and recheck. around 1/4" toe in is good. I have used this procedure on numerous vehicles and it works great . one set of tires lasted me 88,000 highway miles and my steering wheel is dead on. also keep in mind that it is best to have the car on ramps with weight on the front end due to some cars will vary toe in/out with car in air or on ground. if your steering wheel is straight, or if your car pulls to one side or the other or if your steering wheel is of and your car does not pull, then you have to see what it takes to correct this. questions reply I will help you if I can. I have seen just about all combinations including a cadillac that would wear out a tire in one week , it had hit a curb at high speed. i was able to correct it with just alligning it
#11 of 30 Geo Metro Factory Tires by garynofishing Sep 03, 2008 (4:36 pm)
Is there anyone out there who knows for sure what the factory original tires were for my -------or ANY----- 1989 to 1994 Geo Metro? I am wondering if it was Yokohama. Hopefully, someone who has or has a low mileage car remembers what was on it. I know the tire size was 145/80R/12 Replies to this message: rondean15 (Sep 09, 2008 7:30 pm) butch22 (Oct 01, 2008 2:03 am) cammyspradling (Nov 10, 2009 3:11 pm)
#12 of 30 Re: Geo Metro Factory Tires [garynofishing] by rondean15 Sep 09, 2008 (7:30 pm)
Replying to: garynofishing (Sep 03, 2008 4:36 pm) I have a friend that used wheels and 13" tires off of a 2000 Hyundai Accent. Says it drives a lot better. Replies to this message: butch22 (Oct 01, 2008 2:03 am)
#13 of 30 Geo Metro lug nuts by butch22 Oct 01, 2008 (1:51 am)
I have a 92 Metro which came stock with the 12" wheels. I want to use the 13" rims but the lug nuts seem too small to tighten the wheel up. Can i get the right size nuts which are a little bigger on the outside? Replies to this message: geoman2 (May 12, 2009 5:21 pm) geoman2 (May 14, 2009 2:37 pm) beltwaybandit (Jun 02, 2009 9:05 am) geoman2 (Jun 07, 2009 11:06 am) geoman2 (Jun 07, 2009 12:03 pm) and 3 more... lilbull (Sep 21, 2009 8:05 am)
#14 of 30 Re: Geo Metro Factory Tires [rondean15] by butch22 Oct 01, 2008 (2:03 am)
Replying to: rondean15 (Sep 09, 2008 7:30 pm) What lug nuts did he use?
#15 of 30 Re: 93 Geo Metro...Wheels bowing out, or in!! [indhelp] by zenden Dec 29, 2008 (11:21 pm)
Replying to: indhelp (Jan 26, 2008 12:25 am) HI! Because you said : Mostly while I was sitting at a red light, or when I would put it in reverse.   The GEO is known for the crankshaft pulley to come lose. it is located on the right side, and is the main drive belt pulley for PS, AC and alternator, (there are only! 4- 10 mm bolts that hold it on! ), Sometimes the bolts brake off one at a time, or just over a period of time they come lose. This was a flaw in the engine from the factory!) This pulley is maid of heavy steel and is also the harmonic balancer for the engine. When it comes lose it will make a noise and shake; if you jack up the car and grab it with your hands and wiggle it; there is a good chance that you could see it wobble slightly, or look straight down at it from under the hood while it is running to see if it is wobbling. Also when they first start to come lose on this type of car; ( usually but not always,) over time it will make a noise by rubbing the black plastic timing cover down near that pulley. The pulley will melt a whole in that cover by rubbing it. You may see this by looking down at it.  I hope that this helps you. Dennis
#16 of 30 Re: FYI [munchkin2] by geoman2 May 11, 2009 (3:42 pm)
Replying to: munchkin2 (Jul 18, 2008 12:07 pm) You guys are all wrong about everything!First of all,12"tires like 145-80R-12 are easy to find,and I have been buying them for years...not only all season 12 inch but snow tires with or without studs!Online is the trick!Not at your local tire store!Go online to the Tire Rack Store.Right now,you can get the 145-80-R12 for 39.00 apiece,and its around 30 or 40 dollars to ship all 4 tires anywhere in the USA.....and my last order I received in about a week!Mavis tire is another online co.(I'm not sure of that spelling however,but the phone # is 1-800-757-4291).Now I know that the Tire Rack has the 12"in stock,but i'm not sure about Mavis,but you can call.Yokohama are the all seasons and Cooper Weather Master are the snow tire brand. One other very important thing here..... About the 13"wheels.Forget it!!!!!! I own a 1992 Geo Metro hatchback. I've tried the so called 13"wheels with matching bolt(stud)pattern.I've tried a wheel from the Horizon,Omni and others.You would think that as long as the bolt pattern matches that there would be no problem,right?.....WRONG! This is the problem:On the Geo Metro,atleast 1992-94 and possibly other years(with the plain 2 door Geo hatchback,not necessarily the LSI or fancy models),the stock studs coming out of the rotors are of "substandard"size!They are actually significantly smaller than the hole diameter in the matching 13" wheels from other model cars!!!!So this is a safety hazard as I was told by several tire mounting professionals!!! Yes,the 13"matching bolt pattern wheel can be easily mounted on to the matching Geo's studs,BUT there is too much play between the stock 92 Geo stud and the hole in the 13"wheel.Yes you can tighten down the Geo's lugs down into the wider hole of the 13"wheel,but the Geo's lugs ALSO have a smaller outside diameter.....so the chance of the wheel coming slightly loose or the "play"in the lug verses the larger hole diameter in the 13"wheel can pose a safety threat.I seen it with my own eyes!Many junk yard inventory computers will "tell you" that the horizon wheels and other 13"wheels will fit the 1992-94 Geo Metro....and yes they will.....but trust me,this is a mistake to mount the 13"rim....go see for yourself and take a "closer"look at the hole verses the lug diameter! Plus,at 39 dollars apiece for 12"tires at the Tire Rack online(still available as i write this),forget the expense of the wheels PLUS the more expensive 13"tires!
#17 of 30 Re: Geo Metro lug nuts [butch22] by geoman2 May 12, 2009 (5:21 pm)
Replying to: butch22 (Oct 01, 2008 1:51 am) Forget the larger lugs.You won't find them with the substandard mm inside diameter and larger outside diameter...does NOT exist!Take note to my other response about tire size and wheel change.You just bought a set of 13inch tires and wheels you can now resell.The whole setup is useless!Go to the Tire Rack and buy your 12 inch tires again.There are a few online company's,one from Canada that sells the 145-80R-12.Google search.make sure you don't buy the 12"boat tires,that won't work either. Replies to this message: geoman2 (May 14, 2009 2:37 pm)
#18 of 30 Re: Geo Metro lug nuts [geoman2] by geoman2 May 14, 2009 (2:37 pm)
Replying to: geoman2 (May 12, 2009 5:21 pm) also let me mention one other thing about these 13"wheels that "supposedly fit(and do not) with the 91-94 Geo Metro hatchback.Even IF you could find larger sized lug nuts that could take up all of the additional space between the outside of the lug and the larger hole diameter in the 13"wheel....forget it again!No good!Why?Simple: The weight of that tire and other stress forces are being overly focused on the lug,because the hole diameter is too large in any 13"wheel you put on the car,especially when you hit pot holes,dips,rough roads and more.The wheel can still move in the lug area on a microscopic,level and the substandard mm studs can then bend with alot of additional stress.Think about it....if you need to find larger sized lugs to "try"and make the 13"wheel fit,then you must realize that there is something wrong here.If the 13"wheels truly fit the Metro(91-94)then you should be able to put them right on,zip your lugs on and be on your merry way!But this unfortunately is NOT the case.Put 13"wheels on yout metro hatchback,and you could be playing with an eventual large repair bill,or your life.Do what I do and order your 12"tires online.I've never failed to have a problem except once in a while with the snow tires.But then,hardly anyone orders 12"snows.I'm one of the few that oders 12"snows with studs on all 4 tires!Why?because i live in the mountains...need I say anymore?
#19 of 30 Re: Geo Metro lug nuts [butch22] by beltwaybandit Jun 02, 2009 (9:05 am)
Replying to: butch22 (Oct 01, 2008 1:51 am) The convertible geo metros (and a few other models of the Suzuki Swift) came originally with 13 inch rims. Larger diametrer lugs are available for the larger rims. I bought mine through Advance Auto. But you will have to remove the rear brake drums and front hubs, knock out or press out the old smaller lugs, very carefully drill the holes to accept the larger lugs, press in the larger lugs and re-install the hubs and drums. I have done this with my 90 metro hatch and am using 13 inch wheels from the convertible. There were other answers to your question that indicated that if you swap to larger wheels you will have alot of problems. That is not really true as long as you use the proper size lugs and the wheels you use have the proper offset plus you don't go crazy with tires that are to large. Replies to this message: geoman2 (Jun 07, 2009 11:06 am) geoman2 (Jun 07, 2009 12:03 pm) geoman2 (Jun 07, 2009 1:33 pm) and 2 more...

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