American Motors Gremlin Tires

American Motors Gremlin used 10 sizes across 1971 to 1978: 6.45-14 for 1971-1977 on 14-inch rims, 600-13 for 1971-1972 on 13-inch rims, 6.45-15 for 1971 on 15-inch rims, B78-14 for 1971-1972 and 1978 on 14-inch rims, D70-14 for 1971-1973 on 14-inch rims, 695-14 for 1972-1977 on 14-inch rims, C78-14 for 1972-1974 and 1978 on 14-inch rims, DR70-14 for 1973 on 14-inch rims, DR78-14 for 1975 on 14-inch rims, and D78-14 for 1976 on 14-inch rims.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not enough on many American Motors Gremlin applications, especially in the early 1970s. Check the size stamped on the tire, confirm the wheel diameter on the car, and then compare whether the car is set up for numeric, alphanumeric bias-ply, or radial sizing before narrowing the replacement.

On an American Motors Gremlin, 600-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 600 represents a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 13 identifies a 13-inch rim diameter. Available tires in this size fit 13-inch wheels with rim widths from 4.00 to 4.50 inches and are offered in bias-ply construction.

That matters because a 600-13 American Motors Gremlin tire is not interchangeable with the more common 14-inch sizes used elsewhere in the range. If your Gremlin is a 1971 or 1972 car, verify whether it has the smaller 13-inch wheels before selecting a replacement, since those same years also appear with larger-diameter wheel and tire combinations.

A 1972 American Motors Gremlin has 6 tire sizes listed because that model year spans multiple configurations. The 1972 range includes 600-13 on 13-inch wheels, several 14-inch options including 6.45-14, B78-14, 695-14, C78-14, and D70-14, and both numeric and alphanumeric bias-ply sizing conventions.

That means the right choice comes from the specific wheel and configuration on your American Motors Gremlin, not from the calendar year by itself. Start by measuring or reading the wheel diameter, then compare the existing size code and overall style of fitment so you do not accidentally move from a 13-inch setup to a 14-inch one or swap between different period sizing systems.

American Motors Gremlin uses more than one rim diameter across its production years. Most listed fitments are 14-inch, but 13-inch applications appear in 1971 and 1972 with size 600-13, and a 15-inch application appears in 1971 with size 6.45-15. The rest of the listed sizes for the model are 14-inch fitments.

Wheel diameter is the first thing to confirm on an American Motors Gremlin because several early-year sizes overlap. A car wearing 13-inch, 14-inch, or 15-inch wheels will need a completely different tire even if the model year matches, so a quick wheel check prevents the most common fitment mistake on this page.

American Motors Gremlin listings include both bias-ply and radial fitments, but they are not shown as universal substitutes for every year. Bias-ply sizes dominate the range, while radial applications appear in DR70-14 for 1973 and DR78-14 for 1975. That means the right construction depends on the specific year and configuration rather than a one-answer rule for the whole model line.

For a period-correct presentation, many restorers keep an American Motors Gremlin on the same construction type associated with its original size category. If drivability is a priority and your car is one of the years listed with a radial size, confirm that exact radial code before changing over rather than assuming any 14-inch tire will be equivalent.

A radial tire can change how an American Motors Gremlin feels on the road because radial and bias-ply constructions flex and respond differently. The Gremlin range includes both types in certain years, with bias-ply dominating most listed fitments and radial sizes appearing in select 14-inch applications. Even when wheel diameter stays the same, construction type can alter steering feel, ride quality, and road response.

That matters most on a collector American Motors Gremlin that still has suspension geometry, alignment settings, and steering components suited to its original tire type. If the car is being preserved as a factory-style restoration, stay close to the listed construction for that size; if it is being driven regularly, evaluate the full wheel-and-tire combination rather than comparing sidewall markings alone.

Mixing bias-ply and radial tires on an American Motors Gremlin is not a good practice. The model’s fitment range includes both constructions across different years and configurations, but they are listed as distinct applications rather than as pairable combinations. Different carcass behavior can create inconsistent handling and braking feel even when rim diameter matches.

The safest collector-car approach is to keep all four tires on an American Motors Gremlin in the same construction type and matching size family. If your car currently has a mixed set, use the year and wheel diameter to identify the correct all-around replacement direction, then bring the whole car back to one construction standard.

A 1971 American Motors Gremlin can use 600-13, 6.45-14, 6.45-15, B78-14, or D70-14, so confirmation starts with the wheel itself. That year spans 13-inch, 14-inch, and 15-inch applications, and it also includes both numeric and alphanumeric bias-ply sizing. Reading the size on an existing tire is helpful, but the wheel diameter remains the decisive check.

Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, compare the car’s existing size code style and overall presentation. A preserved original-style American Motors Gremlin often benefits from staying in the same size family and sidewall look already associated with the car, while a fresh restoration should be cross-checked against factory literature, build information, or marque references before changing formats.

American Motors Gremlin tire offerings include several sidewall styles: wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, blackwall, dual redline, redline, pin white stripe, raised white letter, and raised white letter with blue streak styling. Those options are spread across the available 600-13, D70-14, and 695-14 products. The variety reflects different period looks, from economy-car whitewalls to more performance-oriented muscle-era stripe treatments.

Choosing among them depends on how your American Motors Gremlin is being presented. A simple blackwall or narrow whitewall usually suits a stock, understated car, while redline or raised white letter styles better match sportier period themes. If authenticity matters, compare the sidewall treatment to surviving photos, factory literature, and the car’s trim and stance rather than treating every 14-inch option as equally correct.

American Motors Gremlin tire products on this page come from BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, and Goodyear. BFGoodrich appears in 600-13 and 695-14 offerings, Firestone appears in D70-14, US Royal appears in 695-14, and Goodyear appears in 695-14. Those brands cover a mix of classic bias-ply series and sidewall treatments that suit different restoration directions.

Brand choice on an American Motors Gremlin usually comes down to the exact size you need first, then the series and sidewall style that best match the car. Once the fitment is settled, compare whether you want a clean stock presentation, a sport-compact look, or a stronger muscle-era visual cue from the tire’s sidewall and tread family.

American Motors Gremlin products on this page include Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Wide Oval, Blue Streak, and Power Cushion series. Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and US Royal Classic Bias Ply emphasize stock-style bias-ply presentation, Wide Oval brings a sportier period performance look, Blue Streak adds competition-inspired raised white letter styling, and Power Cushion offers another classic bias-ply route with traditional sidewall options.

The important point is that series choice for an American Motors Gremlin comes after the correct size has been identified. Once you know whether the car needs 600-13, D70-14, or 695-14, the series helps you fine-tune the appearance and character of the restoration, especially if you are trying to match a plain-driver look versus a more assertive early-1970s street-performance theme.

An American Motors Gremlin should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with petroleum products. Clean tires and proper inflation help prevent flat spotting and sidewall stress during long periods of inactivity. If the car will sit for months, moving it slightly from time to time or supporting it appropriately can reduce casing fatigue.

Collector cars such as the American Motors Gremlin often spend more time parked than driven, so storage conditions matter as much as mileage. Keep the tires off damp soil or bare concrete when possible, maintain sensible air pressure, and inspect sidewalls before returning the car to regular use after a long layup.

Tires on an American Motors Gremlin should be visually inspected before every drive and given a more thorough inspection several times a year, even if the car covers very little mileage. Look for cracking, bulges, irregular wear, air loss, tread separation signs, and sidewall damage. On a low-use collector car, age and storage conditions can matter more than tread depth alone.

A practical routine is to make tire inspection part of every American Motors Gremlin pre-drive check along with fluids, brakes, and lights. Cars fitted with older-style bias-ply tires deserve especially careful observation because irregular wear or underinflation can show up quickly in steering feel and straight-line tracking.

American Motors Gremlin tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, or casing deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, particularly on vehicles that see occasional use. A tire that looks presentable can still be unsuitable for road service if the structure has deteriorated with time.

That is especially important on an American Motors Gremlin kept for shows, cruises, and seasonal driving. If the car has any older tire of uncertain age, or a period tire that has spent years in storage, have it evaluated carefully and replace it when condition is questionable rather than waiting for tread wear to make the decision.

American Motors Gremlin was fitted with more than one tire size across its 1971 to 1978 run, including numeric and alphanumeric bias-ply sizes and select radial applications in later years. Available product series for listed Gremlin sizes include Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Wide Oval, Blue Streak, and Power Cushion. That spread shows there is no single one-size answer for the entire model line.

For restoration work, the right original-style tire for an American Motors Gremlin depends on the exact year, wheel diameter, and how the specific car was configured. Factory literature, surviving original cars, and AMC marque references are the best guides when you are trying to match the tire not just to the model, but to the individual car’s trim level and visual character.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the presentation, judging outcome, and perceived value of an American Motors Gremlin. Size, construction type, sidewall treatment, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks historically coherent for its year and configuration. A car on the wrong wheel diameter or the wrong style of sidewall can look noticeably out of step even to casual enthusiasts.

For a judged American Motors Gremlin, tire details should match the character of the specific build rather than simply fitting under the fenders. Marque clubs, factory photos, and period sales material are useful references when choosing between blackwall, whitewall, redline, or raised white letter styles and when deciding whether bias-ply or radial presentation is the right call.

American Motors Gremlin restorations can draw from blackwall, wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, dual redline, redline, pin white stripe, raised white letter, and raised white letter with blue streak styling, depending on the exact size chosen. The correct look depends on the year, wheel package, and the personality of the specific Gremlin being restored. A stock economy-oriented car often suits a plain blackwall or whitewall, while sportier builds may align better with redline or raised white letter treatments.

Use the sidewall to support the story your American Motors Gremlin tells. If the car is restored to factory style, compare the sidewall choice to period images and factory references; if it is a day-two or performance-flavored build, the more aggressive stripe and letter options can be visually appropriate without abandoning the period feel.

A properly selected, properly mounted, and properly maintained tire can be suitable for driving an American Motors Gremlin on public roads, but safety depends on using the correct size and construction for the car. The Gremlin range includes multiple wheel diameters and both bias-ply and radial applications, so fitment errors matter. Tire age, condition, inflation, and the car’s mechanical state are just as important as the sidewall marking.

On a collector American Motors Gremlin, road use should begin with a realistic assessment of how the car is equipped and how it will be driven. A freshly inspected set in the right size is only part of the picture; steering, brakes, suspension, and alignment should all be in sound condition before the car is driven beyond short local use.

Before driving an American Motors Gremlin, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel security, and whether all four tires are the correct size and construction type for the car. Also look for age cracks, flat spotting from storage, and any sign that a tire has been run underinflated. On a car with multiple possible fitments, confirm that the wheel diameter and tire code still match front to rear.

A sensible pre-drive routine helps catch the problems collector cars develop while sitting. For an American Motors Gremlin, that means treating the tires as part of a broader systems check that includes brakes, steering response, fluid leaks, and lighting, especially before highway use or the first outing after seasonal storage.

Appropriate speed for an American Motors Gremlin on original-style tires should be guided by the tire’s construction, age, condition, and the overall condition of the car rather than by appearance alone. Bias-ply tires can deliver a very authentic driving character, but they do not feel the same as modern tires and deserve a measured approach. Even a correct-looking collector tire should be treated with respect on a car designed and restored to period standards.

For real-world use, drive an American Motors Gremlin at speeds that match its mechanical condition and the capabilities of the tires actually fitted to it. Gradual break-in, moderate cruising, and avoiding sustained high-speed running are sensible practices, especially on bias-ply setups or on a car that has spent long periods parked between outings.