Can I replace 13in wheels with 12 inch?

terryw

Experts will think that this is a daft question - please be nice!

I drive a Kia Pride with 13 inch wheels. About a year ago I bought 5 spare wheels with excellent tyres from Ebay.

Today I decided to swop them around but find that the Ebay wheels are 12 inch (presumably off an older model).

Is there anything to stop me swopping them over? If it is ok, is there anything else that I shoud be aware of?

Thanks in advance.

skiddlydiddly

Make sure they have the same PCD, similar offset and that they clear your brakes.

Flying-High_2

Should Imagine the 12" will have higher profile tyres to keep the Overall rolling radius the same...

Therfore will be fine...

Be worth pricing Tyres before you chuck the 13" rims as 13"s may work out cheaper.

babyshoes

If you change your wheel size, you need to change your tyre size so the rolling radius of the whole wheel is the same, otherwise your speedo and mileometer will be inaccurate. This is a fairly complicated formula that I wouldn't want to try to work out, but there are charts available to tell you how to do this - usually used when people want to put low profile tyres on a car.

Also, is the wheel nut arrangement of the new wheels the same as the old one? They may look the same but be slightly out, or they may be quite different. If they do fit, the car would still go, so would get you out of a fix if you urgently need new tyres on your car (eg two flat or bald tyres), but they would probably also knacker your steering geometry and possibly suspension angles over time if they are a different width to the originals.

There is a possibility they are a standard option, check the specs online or ask a tyre fitter to check their charts. There is also a possibility a previous numpty owner put the 13" wheels on without knowing what they were doing. You need to find out what the correct wheels for the car should be!

I would suggest you don't do it if they are not a recommended option for the car unless you really have no option, and even then only use them for a very short time until you can replace them with the correct wheels.

Rather sell them again on ebay and try to minimise your losses, then replace them with the correct size wheels and tyres!

Hammyman

And don't forget to notify your insurance company as you have altered the vehicle from standard.