# Changing Tire Size on a Tercel **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 3, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193 "2007-06-03T16:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eskieguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8e8cbc/32.png) [@eskieguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eskieguy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/1 "2007-06-03T16:51:05Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/2 "2007-06-03T17:54:44Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![keith3267](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@keith3267](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith3267)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/3 "2007-06-03T17:56:26Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![eskieguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8e8cbc/32.png) [@eskieguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eskieguy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/4 "2007-06-03T18:36:12Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/5 "2007-06-03T18:48:43Z")
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](http://www.tirerack.com), 175/70/13 was an optional size for a 90 Tercel. Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![keith3267](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@keith3267](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith3267)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/6 "2007-06-04T00:31:29Z")
Just curious, what year Tercel? ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/7 "2007-06-04T06:38:23Z")
They might scrape when turned all the way. Might. Less traction in snow. ---
**Author:** ![thechums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@thechums](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thechums)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/8 "2007-06-04T17:46:15Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Raymond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c57346/32.png) [@Raymond](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Raymond)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-tire-size-on-a-tercel/193/9 "2007-06-04T18:31:52Z")
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.