1999 Geo metro tire sizes & fitment
Approved tire and wheel sizes for the 1999 Geo Metro, sourced from manufacturer fitment data and refreshed monthly.
Approved fitments
| Tire size | Rim size | PCD (bolt pattern) | Offset | Load index | Speed rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155/80R13 OEM | 4.5x13 | N/A | 45mm | 75 | S |
| 165/80R13 | 4.5x13 | N/A | 45mm | 82 | S |
| 165/70R14 | 4.5x14 | N/A | 45mm | 82 | S |
| 175/65R14 | 5x14 | N/A | 45mm | 82 | S |
| 175/70R13 | 5x13 | N/A | 45mm | 82 | S |
| 175/60R14 | 5x14 | N/A | 45mm | 82 | S |
Best by use case
Four tires, four jobs
See the best tires for the Geo Metro, ranked by category →
Tire recalls & safety complaints for the Geo Metro →
Plus-size and winter-downsize options for every Geo Metro factory size →
Compatible alternative sizes for 155/80R13
Sizes within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter safe-fit tolerance. Each row links to the size's own page.
| Alternative size | %Δ OD | Category | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
165/75R13 |
-0.09% | wider | Safe |
185/60R14 |
-0.10% | plus 1 | Safe |
165/60R15 |
0.14% | plus 2 | Safe |
175/70R13 |
-0.52% | wider | Safe |
155/65R15 |
0.74% | plus 2 | Safe |
For the full list of alternatives with comfort/handling impact, see 155/80R13 upsize options. To check an arbitrary size pair, use the tire compatibility calculator.
Check a different size against this vehicle
Type any tire size below; we'll compute its overall-diameter delta against the OEM 155/80R13 and verdict using the ETRTO ±3% rule.
Common upgrade paths
- Plus-1: 185/60R14; one rim size up, -0.10% OD change. Sharper steering, mild ride penalty, modest cost premium.
- Plus-2: 165/60R15; two rim sizes up, 0.14% OD change. Noticeable ride penalty, higher pothole risk, meaningful tire-cost premium.
Use the plus-size calculator to evaluate any rim step against the OEM size.
How to choose tires for the 1999 geo metro
The 1999 Geo Metro ships from the factory on 155/80R13 tires mounted on 4.5x13 wheels, with a load index of 75 and a speed rating of S. 6 approved fitments are documented for this model year, allowing some flexibility between performance, comfort, and winter compounds. The Compatible alternative sizes table above lists every safe substitution within the ETRTO ±3% overall-diameter tolerance.
Tire choice on the Geo Metro comes down to three trade-offs that matter more than brand loyalty: load index (must equal or exceed the OEM number, in this case 75), speed rating (must match or exceed the placard, here S), and UTQG treadwear (higher means longer life, lower usually means stickier rubber). Owners replacing factory tires with the same compound class, for example all-season for all-season, generally see no change in ride characteristics or fuel economy. Switching categories (performance summer to all-season touring, for example) is where the trade-offs show up at the contact patch.
For 1999 Geo Metro owners considering a plus-size upgrade, the safer option is a Plus-1 step (one rim size up with a 10-point aspect drop and ~10 mm of additional section width). Plus-2 is technically viable on this chassis if the alternative-sizes table lists a Plus-2 candidate within tolerance, but expect a meaningful ride-harshness penalty and a tire-cost premium of 30–60% per tire relative to the OEM fitment. For winter use the recommended pattern is one width step down (e.g. from a 235 to a 225) with the aspect ratio bumped up to preserve overall diameter; narrower tires apply higher contact pressure per square inch on snow, which translates directly into shorter braking distances. The plus-size calculator evaluates any specific rim step against this OEM size.
Before purchasing, verify the tire size on the driver-door placard of your specific 1999 Geo Metro, since trim levels and option packages can shift the original fitment from what is documented here. The placard reading is the authoritative source per FMVSS 110, and dealers will reference the placard rather than aftermarket catalogs when validating warranty claims.
NHTSA-reported issues for 1999 geo metro
Top issue category: Tires (General)
Reported across: 1999 – 1999 (1 year)
What owners described
Blowout or sudden deflation is the most common description, in 11% of these reports. Percentages are shares of the 9 reports covering every model year of the Geo Metro that include a written account; a single report can describe more than one problem, so they do not total 100%.
| Reported problem | This subject | All tire complaints | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowout or sudden deflation | 11% | 20% | 0.6× |
| Sidewall failure | 11% | 15% | 0.7× |
| Bubble or bulge in the tire | 11% | 6% | 1.9× |
| Cracking or dry rot | 11% | 9% | 1.2× |
| Loss of control, rollover or collision | 11% | 8% | 1.3× |
| Premature or uneven wear | 11% | 1% | 8.5× |
In owners' own words
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA about Geo Metro. Reports are published by NHTSA as filed and are lightly cleaned here only to remove intake codes.
THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW WAS REPORTED YESTERDAY 11/12/1999. I FORGOT TO ADD THAT IT MAY NOT CAUSE SAFETY PROBLEMS NOW BUT MONTHS DOWN THE LINE AND DEPENDING ON THE TEMPERATURES, THE SEEPAGE OF THE SEALANT CAN CAUSE THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDOW TO BE INEFFECTIVE AND ULTIMATELY CAUSE WATER TO ENTER THROUGH THE CABIN AREA. WHEN THAT HAPPENS IT COULD CAUSE SHORTAGE AND RISK TO MAJOR COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES ARE THAT THEY SHOWED PRE-MATURE UNEVEN WEARING ON THE OUTER TREADS OF ALL TIRES AT APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES. THIS WEARING CAN BE HAZARDOUS DURING WET DRIVING CONDITIONS AS THE GRIP OF THE TIRES TO ADHERED TO THE ROAD CAN BE LIMITED. I REPORTED 3 TIRES/FAILURES BECAUSE I HAD TO REPLACE ONE ORIGINAL BECAUSE OF A FLAT THAT WAS UNREPAIRABLE.
THE GOODYEAR INVICTA GL 155-80-13 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE ON ONE, TIRE HAD A FIST SIZED BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL, INSPECTION SHOWED REMAINING TIRES WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO DEFECT TIRES. *MJS
ONE OF THE WHEEL HUB CAPS CAME OFF AND THE TREAD OF TWO TIRES BEGAN PEELING OFF.*NM A TICKING SOUND WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND GETTING LOUDER EVERY DAY. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID APPEARED BROWN INSTEAD OF PINK. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE WORN OUT. THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP CRACKED, THE OIL SWITCH WAS BAD, AND THE PCV VALVE WAS BAD. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE STALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHEED THE 25 MPH MARK. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT BETWEEN THE VALVE STEM AND THE TIRE. AFTER TEN DAYS, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER FOUND AIR COMING OUT IN THE SAME AREA. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS. THE PROPER PRESSURE RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNKNOWN AND PRESSURE CHECKS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THERE WAS ALSO NO VIBRATION BEFORE THE INCIDENT. HE BRAND NAME OF THE TIRE IS TURISMO TWO.
Complaints are voluntarily submitted to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation and are not verified by NHTSA; they represent owner-reported problems, not proven defects. Counts can be useful as a relative quality signal across comparable tires or vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What size tires fit a 1999 Geo Metro?
Can I run a different tire size on my 1999 Geo Metro?
Where can I buy tires for my 1999 Geo Metro?
What is the recommended tire pressure for the 1999 Geo Metro?
Can I fit winter tires in a different size on my 1999 Geo Metro?
How often should I rotate the tires on my 1999 Geo Metro?
For broader tire questions; replacement timing, UTQG, EV-specific tires, winter swaps; see the tire FAQ.
Sources for this page
- Vehicle owner's manual tire & wheel placard; door-jamb placard on the Geo Metro is the authoritative source for OEM tire size, load index, and cold-inflation pressure for your specific trim.
- NHTSA SaferCar; recall lookup for the 1999 Geo Metro.
- ETRTO 2024 Standards Manual §2.3; overall-diameter math used for the alternative-size verdicts above.
- Tire & Rim Association 2025 Yearbook; load-index to maximum-load reference.
Last verified 2026-10-07.