Just a thread on what size wheels for my escort . Tyre availability etc . What are your thoughts ???

For tyre availability and price you cant beat 15's.
 
Shaun
 

15's are the way to go these days unless your wanted purely original.
Nothing nicer than a hot escort on 15's, and tyres are easy to get and cheap as chips!
eg:
 

50 profile 15" tyres are a like a cushion of air until you've driven a BMW with low profile run-flat tyres... haha

But yes, i do agree to some point, if your suspension setup is a basic escort setup, then the best handling you will get is from the 13" wheels. If your car is quiet low and you want 15" wheels you do need to just keep in mind suspension setup will differ.

whooligan,...well said 
Guys we have these cars because we want to enjoy driving them. Don't ruin that enjoyment by having a vehicle that rides too hard because you have made the wrong choices in suspension setup and wheel/tyre selection.
I see it every day in my business with customer's road use vehicles. 
They take a nice car (and often very expensive car) and ruin the ride quality with ill advised suspension mods and tyre sizing.
How many do this?......In my experience....LOTS
Think with your head and not with what YOU think looks good.....seek impartial advice. That is not the guy trying to sell you something. 
 

Don't drive an escort if you want comfort, hard suspension and fast cornering are what escorts are all about

Imo I would have a comfort car for a daily driver , the escort was never designed for comfort and suits a wk end ride for me some thing that doesn't body roll and sticks to the road for a change where I can even hear and smell the engine lol. I just can't see the sense of driving a 30yr old car for something it was never designed for Thats all.

IMHO it is hard to beat a well sorted Escort on 13"s for both handling/comfort and sheer period styling
 

photo curtesy of autoartphotography.com
 

If you want a decent supply of tred there is an option3.. 14in ! Best of both worlds, not to harsh and still sidewall flex for corner grip.
I've owned the same mk1 with same suspension for 15yrs , I always ran 13x6.5in rim and 185/65 tyre , at one time I ran 15x7 with 195x50 and it was slower on acceleration, slid earlier on bends ...sure the tyres were a different brand but it was like comparing apples to oranges! Also remember that alloy is heavier than rubber..

i have 15's. but thats only because of large brakes. not all of us build our eskies for a soft comfy ride