Changing Tire Size on a Tercel

Maintenance/Repairs
1

I have a Toyota Tercel with P155R80 tires, and I’d like to put my Cavalier’s P175R70 tires on it.



The online tire calculator says the size change isn’t significant, but I wonder about the width.



Anyone have experience with this?



Thanks

Mike

2

The tread will be 20 mm wider, or about 3/4 inch. That’s not much. I wouldn’t worry about this. The difference will not be significant.

3

The 175r70-13 is the other factory size tire for a Tercel. In fact it is far more common than the 155r80-13, although the 155 may get you ever so slightly better gas mileage, the 175r70 will last longer and you may find some brands with a lower rolling resistance than the available 155’s.

I have gone with 185r70-13 with our 86 Tercel 4wd wagon, but it will rub the left inner fender well on an extreme left turn. I should note here that the left wheel did hit a curb hard enough to bend the lower control arm mount. I straightened it out but it’s still about a 1/16" off.

The +1 size for this vehicle is a 185/60-14, which is about a 1/10" larger diameter. I have seen these model Tercel’s with 195/50-15 tires and wheels and the owners claim that they haven’t had interference problems. They are the same diameter as the 175/70-13, but wider. I am referring to the 86 model here, what year is yours?

4

Thank you for the insight.

Your personal experience was exactly what I looking for.

Didn’t know about the multiple sizes yet, as I just got the car, and it didn’t come with manuals.

mike

5

Hi,

Years ago, I want to change tires on my wife’s 86 Dodge Colt from 155/80/R15 to 175/70/13. The 175 size was a listed option for a Colt. The diameter is the same but there may some clearance issues with steering for the larger tire. I would check the door tire placard to determine if the 175 size was an option for a Tercel. According to www.tirerack.com, 175/70/13 was an optional size for a 90 Tercel.

Ed B.

6

Just curious, what year Tercel?

7

They might scrape when turned all the way. Might. Less traction in snow.

8

This question has roused my curiosity.

I’ve been careful to use the size tire recommended by the manufacturer. What happens if you don’t? Assuming a wheel and tire fit ok into the wheelwell
and have enough clearance to avoid suffing, wouldn’t an odd sized tire throw off speedometer and odometer
readings?

9

If you are going to use the Cavalier’s wheels, then I would measure the difference in the wheel OFFSET between the Cavalier and Tercel wheels.