Practically Classics Forum

My dad is thinking of buying a metro as a runaround, but is put off by the fact the tyres are an odd size and hence will be expensive to replace. Does anyone know if any other wheels with a more mainstream tyre size will fit?

There's a thread on this very same topic HERE.

If yours is a miniMETRO-badged example, in which case it'll most probably have conventional wheels with either 135/82%x12 or 155/70%x12 depending on which model it is, then the former are used on, among other cars, the Fiat 500 of the '60s and early '70s and are available. Not all that cheap, but out there.

There is no issue getting 12" tyres for Metro's.

only the Metric 315 profile tyres are non exsistent for "new stock" although old stock appears I would'nt trust them.

If your dad is looking at say an early Mg metro with pepperpot alloys then he's fine, or any other mk1 model with 12" steel wheels also good.

13" tend to be an issue, but can be found if you look hard enough.

for all metro advice see www.metroownersclub.org (or me )

Miss Rusty's Metro came with metrics, I've replaced them with 13" turbo cross-spokes, which regularly pop up on fleabay, I paid I think 40 quid for a set of 5 with no rubber or nuts. Mini places all sell suitable nuts. You need a fairly low profile tyre to clear the rear arm pivots, not usually in stock on the day at your local tyre place but easy to get in, I had no problem getting 165/55 13" which is pretty close to the 165/60 originally specced for the earlier turbos.

Make sure though that you get A series Metro cross-spokes, the later K series cars had similar looking ones but they won't fit, you can tell them apart by the centre cap: it's covers the centre hole on the 'right' ones, but stretches to the wheelnut holes on the 'wrong' ones.