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My '91 Metro Has 12s and I want 13s the EASY Way; Can I simply buy 13s that were on the verts?
Topic Started: Apr 10 2015, 01:09 AM (763 Views)
RedwoodGuy
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I did try reading through the topic, but just when I thought I understood it, I got confused again.

I have a 91 metro hatch with 12s. Tire selection sucks. I'd like to have nice 13s. So, my understanding is that ALL I have to do is find four 13" wheels from any of the verts and simply bolt them on. Presto change-o with nothing special needed. True?

Various junkyards have lots of those 13 vert wheels.

I am totally new - so if that was totally dumb, go easy on me.
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Mythstae
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It's not totally dumb at all. Some of this stuff can be confusing!
The wheels from a convertible ARE 13, yes.
However, they have different lug studs than your car.
Your car will have 10mm studs; the convertible will have 12mm.
You CAN use 13s from a convertible, or a 95-01 Metro or Swift, however, you will need to buy 10mm bulge style lug nuts.
They have a conical seat that allows them to grip properly on your 10mm lug studs.

If you can FIND a convertible, however, you have the opportunity to upgrade your car!
You can swap the entire front knuckle from the convertible into your car, as well as the rear drums...
Presto-change-o!
Now you have 12mm lug studs, the ability to run 13" wheels with no issue, and a front brake setup that is no longer hub-over-rotor.
Your front brakes will also have gone from non-vented to vented (helps prevent warping the rotors).

And the pads might be bigger, too? But I'm not positive about that part.

If you've got any questions, fire away! We're here to help!
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geo4thewin
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Technically speaking, bulge nuts are not required. Multiple people use stock lugs for 13 inch wheels, including a friend of mine and he has never had an issue.
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idmetro
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Well the really easy is to buy a 95+ or a convertible. Other than that, it's as described above. Good Luck!
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RedwoodGuy
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Hey guys, thank you so much. I got it! Considering that nuts are not all the costly, it seems quite reasonable to get some vert wheels. I'm not accomplished enough as a wrench twister to swap all the hubs and such.

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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

geo4thewin
Apr 10 2015, 06:54 AM
Technically speaking, bulge nuts are not required. Multiple people use stock lugs for 13 inch wheels, including a friend of mine and he has never had an issue.


:ermm:
However, there are pictures and stories on this forum of people who ran 13" tires on 12" hubs with stock lug nuts who now have ruined wheels with weak and broken studs. Of course, YMMV, but RedwoodGuy I'm with you. Lug nuts are not expensive enough to not warrant doing the job in the safest way possible.

Of course, the safest way possible to do the swap would be to do the hub upgrade as well. ;)
Bigger tires need bigger brakes. Don't "go the easy way" when it comes to brakes. Your brakes are the one part of your car that HAVE to work 100%, 100% of the time. ^o)

Just to be clear, read what Mythstae said one more time,
Quote:
 
You CAN use 13s from a convertible, or a 95-01 Metro or Swift

In other words, all Metro 13" wheels are the same. There is a VERY slight difference in appearance (some have square spokes, some have triangle spokes) but honestly unless there right next to each other, you would never see it.

Also, remember to swap out your white speedometer gear with a brown one so that your speedometer will read correctly. Even a "not accomplished enough as a wrench twister" such as yourself can handle one 10mm bolt and one small clip! :lol
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GeoStalker
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"Chicks dig me and guys think I'm cool."

geo4thewin
Apr 10 2015, 06:54 AM
Technically speaking, bulge nuts are not required. Multiple people use stock lugs for 13 inch wheels, including a friend of mine and he has never had an issue.
YIKES!! The stock nuts are so small the outer edges look like they barely hold anything on. To be safe, get the Gorilla bulge nuts.

Gorilla bulge nuts

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Edited by GeoStalker, Apr 10 2015, 08:34 AM.
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Old Man


geo4thewin
Apr 10 2015, 06:54 AM
Technically speaking, bulge nuts are not required. Multiple people use stock lugs for 13 inch wheels, including a friend of mine and he has never had an issue.
"stock lugs" for 13 inch wheels are 12 mm.

please explain to me how you use 12mm stock lugs on a 10mm lug bolt.
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idmetro
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Old Man
Apr 10 2015, 09:43 AM
geo4thewin
Apr 10 2015, 06:54 AM
Technically speaking, bulge nuts are not required. Multiple people use stock lugs for 13 inch wheels, including a friend of mine and he has never had an issue.
"stock lugs" for 13 inch wheels are 12 mm.

please explain to me how you use 12mm stock lugs on a 10mm lug bolt.
Pretty sure they are using the "stock" 10mm lugnuts that came with the 12" wheels to hold the 13" wheels in place on the 12" hub. That is how the Metro I just picked up was set up...
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perfesser
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Elite Member - Former Metro owner

idmetro
Apr 10 2015, 10:23 AM
Old Man
Apr 10 2015, 09:43 AM
geo4thewin
Apr 10 2015, 06:54 AM
Technically speaking, bulge nuts are not required. Multiple people use stock lugs for 13 inch wheels, including a friend of mine and he has never had an issue.
"stock lugs" for 13 inch wheels are 12 mm.

please explain to me how you use 12mm stock lugs on a 10mm lug bolt.
Pretty sure they are using the "stock" 10mm lugnuts that came with the 12" wheels to hold the 13" wheels in place on the 12" hub. That is how the Metro I just picked up was set up...
Mine was set up that way, too. They threw the set of 12s in when I bought the car. The car had 13s on it with the original 10mm lugnuts. I didn't care for the looks of that, so I got a set of bulge nuts. I'm in the process of converting all hubs and brakes now (from a couple of '95s), as I have a really nice set of 14" alloys I want to use.
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geo4thewin
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Looks like I was the :shitstir for once in my life. B-)
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