Chevrolet Metro Tires

Chevrolet Metro was sold from 1998 through 2001 as a small, economical subcompact built for efficient daily transportation rather than muscle-car drama or luxury-car excess. Its appeal today comes from simplicity, light weight, and the growing interest in preserving late-20th-century practical cars that once filled American roads in huge numbers. Tire selection for Chevrolet Metro is more straightforward than on many older collector vehicles, but buyers still need to match the correct modern metric size, radial construction, and 13-inch rim fitment rather than assuming any small-car tire will do. Before choosing a tire, confirm the car still carries its original 13-inch wheels and check the sidewall style that best suits the look you want.

Chevrolet Metro Tire Size Guide

155/80R131998-2001

Chevrolet Metro uses one distinct tire size across the 1998 through 2001 model years: 155/80R13. That code means a 155mm section width, an 80-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. Available products for this size are all radials, with whitewall options ranging from narrow whitewall styles to a wider 2 inch whitewall, and the listed tires fit 13-inch wheels with product rim-width ranges including 4.00 to 5.50 inches depending on the tire. This is the right choice for owners keeping the standard Metro wheel diameter and looking for a period-appropriate passenger-car radial rather than an older bias-ply type.

Chevrolet Metro Tires by Year

The year listing lets you match Chevrolet Metro tires to each model year from 1998 through 2001. All years shown use the same 155/80R13 size on 13-inch wheels, so the main task is verifying the car still carries the correct wheel diameter and selecting the sidewall style that suits the car.

Best Chevrolet Metro Tires for Sale

Available Chevrolet Metro tires cover one size with 4 products from 4 brands. Whitewall choices include narrow and wide styles, so confirm the correct 155/80R13 size and 13-inch rim diameter before selecting.

155/80R13 Products

These are the available products for 155/80R13.

Radial Tires

Travelstar Radial | 14mm Whitewall | 155/80R13

Travelstar - UN106

SidewallNarrow Whitewall
Rim Diameter13 in
Rim Width—
Weight13.51 lb
Max Load—
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Radial Tires

BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial | 2 Inch Whitewall | 155/80R13

BFGoodrich - Silvertown Radial

SidewallWide Whitewall
Rim Diameter13 in
Rim Width4.00 - 5.50 in
Weight15.25 lb
Max Load959@35 psi
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Radial Tires

Maxxis | 0.625 Inch Whitewall | 155/80R13

Maxxis - Classic Whitewall MA-1

SidewallNarrow Whitewall
Rim Diameter13 in
Rim Width4.50 - 5.50 in
Weight15 lb
Max Load959@35 psi
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Radial Tires

Tornel | 0.625 Inch Whitewall | 155/80R13

Tornel - Tornel Classic

SidewallNarrow Whitewall
Rim Diameter13 in
Rim Width4.00 - 5.00 in
Weight15 lb
Max Load959@35 psi
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Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQ below covers Chevrolet Metro tire sizing, what 155/80R13 means, available whitewall styles and brands, and how to care for low-mileage collector radials on a late-classic economy car.

Size Basics & Fitment

Chevrolet Metro uses one tire size across the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 model years: 155/80R13. The available products for Chevrolet Metro in that size are all radial tires built for a 13-inch rim, with listed rim-width ranges including 4.00 to 5.50 inches depending on the specific tire.

That makes Chevrolet Metro simpler than many collector vehicles because there is no year-to-year size change within this production span. The practical check is to confirm that the car still wears 13-inch wheels and to compare wheel width to the product specifications before choosing among the available whitewall styles.

On a Chevrolet Metro, 155/80R13 is a modern metric radial size. The 155 is the section width in millimeters, 80 is the aspect ratio, the R identifies radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches.

Knowing how to read the code helps you avoid substituting a tire that may mount on the wheel but alter the car's proportions or intended fit. If your Chevrolet Metro still has its original-size wheels, 13 inches is the critical match, and the rest of the size should stay aligned with 155/80R13 unless you are intentionally re-engineering the wheel and tire package.

Chevrolet Metro uses a 13-inch rim diameter for the tire size listed here. Every available Chevrolet Metro product in this fitment is built around a 13-inch wheel, and several products also specify compatible rim-width ranges from 4.00 up to 5.50 inches.

Rim diameter is the first measurement to confirm because a 13-inch tire cannot be safely mounted on a wheel of another diameter. If the car has replacement wheels, check the wheel stamping or measure carefully before selecting a tire, then compare the wheel width with the range listed for the specific tire you are considering.

Buying the Right Tire

A 1998 Chevrolet Metro uses 155/80R13 in the fitment covered here. The corresponding products are radial tires for 13-inch wheels, so the key dimensions to verify on the car are the tire size already fitted, the wheel diameter, and the wheel width.

Even with a single listed size, older economy cars are often found with replacement wheels or non-original tires. Check the existing sidewall, inspect the wheel for a 13-inch marking, and compare the wheel width to the tire's approved range so the replacement stays consistent with the Chevrolet Metro fitment.

Chevrolet Metro tires in 155/80R13 are available with more than one sidewall style. The current choices include narrow whitewall options and a wider 2 inch whitewall, giving owners a range from a subtle period look to a more pronounced whitewall appearance.

That choice matters mainly for visual character, since all of the listed options are radial tires in the same basic size. A narrow whitewall usually suits a stock or lightly restored Chevrolet Metro, while a wider whitewall can create a more stylized custom look without changing the core fitment.

Chevrolet Metro tires in this size are available from Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel. Each brand offers a radial tire in 155/80R13 for 13-inch wheels, with the main visible differences centered on sidewall treatment and series styling.

Brand choice on a Chevrolet Metro often comes down to the look you want and how closely you want the tire to match the car's personality. Once size and wheel dimensions are confirmed, compare the sidewall style, rim-width compatibility, and overall presentation rather than choosing by brand name alone.

Chevrolet Metro tires in 155/80R13 are offered in several series, including Travelstar UN106, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial, Maxxis Classic Whitewall MA-1, and Tornel Classic. All are radial designs for 13-inch wheels, but they differ in branding and in the sidewall presentation available within this fitment.

For most Chevrolet Metro owners, the important distinction is not a change from bias-ply to radial, since every product here is already radial. The better comparison is which series gives the whitewall width and visual tone that fits your car, from understated narrow whitewalls to a more prominent wide whitewall style.

Maintenance & Longevity

A Chevrolet Metro should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. If the car sits for long periods, keep the tires inflated to the recommended operating pressure for the tire and move the car occasionally to reduce flat-spotting in the radial casing.

Long idle periods are often harder on collector-car tires than regular moderate use. For a Chevrolet Metro that is driven seasonally, clean the tires before storage, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and inspect for weathering each time the car comes back into service.

Tires on a Chevrolet Metro should be inspected before regular driving and again any time the car has been sitting for an extended period. Look for pressure loss, sidewall cracking, tread separation, punctures, uneven wear, and signs that the tire has been rubbing because of alignment or suspension issues.

A quick visual check is useful, but a hands-on inspection matters just as much on a low-mileage collector car. If your Chevrolet Metro sees occasional use, plan a more thorough inspection at least seasonally so small problems are found before they turn into vibration, poor handling, or a roadside failure.

Tires on a Chevrolet Metro should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, irregular wear, or structural concerns appear, even if tread depth still looks acceptable. Collector cars often accumulate miles slowly, so the condition of the casing and sidewall is more important than tread alone.

That rule is especially important on a lightweight car like Chevrolet Metro, where old tires can make the steering feel nervous and reduce stability in wet conditions. If the tires are several years old, have an uncertain service history, or show visible deterioration, replacement is the prudent course even when the tread seems barely worn.

Restoration & Authenticity

The Chevrolet Metro fitment covered here uses 155/80R13 tires on 13-inch wheels across the 1998 through 2001 model years. The available replacement products are all radial tires in that size, offered in several branded series with different whitewall treatments.

If you are aiming for an accurate restoration of a Chevrolet Metro, the size itself is the first point to preserve. After that, the decision becomes how closely you want the sidewall appearance to reflect a plain factory-style economy-car look versus a more stylized whitewall presentation.

Correct tire fitment can affect both presentation and credibility on a Chevrolet Metro, especially as late-20th-century preservation becomes more serious in collector circles. Judges and informed buyers notice whether the tire size, wheel diameter, and overall visual character look appropriate for the car.

A Chevrolet Metro restored with the proper 155/80R13 fitment will generally look more coherent than one wearing random modern substitutes. If the car is headed for marque events or preservation judging, keep records of the wheel size and choose a sidewall treatment that matches the period character you want to present.

Chevrolet Metro tires in this fitment are available with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Since Chevrolet Metro was a late-1990s to early-2000s economy car, the most restrained look usually comes from the narrower whitewall treatments rather than the broader custom-style whitewall.

That said, correctness depends on your goal for the Chevrolet Metro. A preservation-minded restoration usually benefits from a subtle sidewall, while a personalized build may intentionally use the 2 inch whitewall to create a stronger visual statement without changing the underlying 155/80R13 fitment.

Safety & Road Use

The listed Chevrolet Metro tires are modern radial passenger-car tires in the correct 155/80R13 size, so they are appropriate in principle for public-road use when properly mounted, inflated, and maintained. Safety still depends on the condition of the wheels, brakes, suspension, alignment, and the age and condition of the tires themselves.

A Chevrolet Metro can be a practical road car, but its light weight makes it sensitive to pressure, balance, and worn chassis components. Before regular driving, make sure the tires are matched as a set where possible, free of age-related damage, and mounted on sound 13-inch wheels.

Before driving a Chevrolet Metro, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel security, and any sign of cracking or impact damage. Also confirm that the tires clear the body and suspension properly and that there is no irregular wear pointing to alignment or mechanical issues.

That pre-drive routine is especially important on a Chevrolet Metro that sits for long periods between outings. A few minutes spent checking the tires can reveal a slow leak, flat spot, or deteriorated sidewall before it affects braking, fuel economy, or straight-line stability.

A Chevrolet Metro should be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition, age, and rating of the tires actually fitted, not simply to the car's capability. One listed 155/80R13 product includes a 79T service description, and all listed options are modern radial tires rather than fragile antique constructions.

Even so, an older Chevrolet Metro benefits from conservative driving if the suspension, wheel alignment, or tire age is in question. Treat stable handling, proper inflation, and overall vehicle condition as the deciding factors, and reduce speed immediately if the car shows vibration, wandering, or heat-related tire concerns.