American Motors Pacer Tires

American Motors Pacer uses 695-14 in 1976 and 1977, D78-14 in 1976 through 1978, DR78-14 in 1978, E78-14 in 1978, ER78-14 in 1978, and 195/75R14 in 1979 and 1980. Every listed size uses a 14-inch rim diameter, but the sizing systems differ: early numeric, alphanumeric bias-ply, alphanumeric radial, and later metric radial.

That means the correct tire for an American Motors Pacer depends first on the year, then on the specific size family used on that car. A 1978 American Motors Pacer needs especially careful checking because several sizes appear in the same year, while 1979 and 1980 narrow the choice to a single metric radial size.

On an American Motors Pacer, 695-14 is a numeric bias-ply size used in 1976 and 1977. The 695 indicates a nominal section width of about 6.95 inches, and the 14 identifies the rim diameter. Listed tires in this size fit 14-inch wheels, generally in the 5.00 to 6.00 inch rim-width range.

That older numbering system can be confusing if you are more familiar with modern metric radials. For an early American Motors Pacer, 695-14 points you toward a period-style bias-ply tire, so the best next step is to compare the existing tire size, wheel width, and restoration goal before choosing among blackwall, whitewall, redline, or raised-letter styles.

A 1978 American Motors Pacer can show D78-14, DR78-14, E78-14, or ER78-14 because that model year includes both bias-ply and radial constructions as well as two width classes. D78-14 and E78-14 are bias-ply sizes, while DR78-14 and ER78-14 are radial sizes. All four use 14-inch wheels, so the split is about construction and section class rather than wheel diameter.

For a 1978 American Motors Pacer, the practical question is not just which year you own but which configuration you are matching. Check the size already fitted, compare it with factory literature or restoration records for the car, and decide whether you want to preserve the original construction type or move within the listed year-correct options.

American Motors Pacer sizes in numeric bias-ply and non-radial alphanumeric bias-ply formats should be treated as tube-type applications here. That includes 695-14, D78-14, and E78-14. The later radial sizes, including DR78-14, ER78-14, and 195/75R14, are not presented in the same tube-required bias-ply format.

For a collector American Motors Pacer, tube use matters because it affects mounting parts, wheel condition, and service procedures. If your car runs one of the bias-ply sizes, plan the tire and tube package together and make sure the wheel is suitable for tube use, especially if the car has sat for long periods or has older restored wheels.

American Motors Pacer appears with both bias-ply and radial fitments in the listed years, so the right choice depends on the specific year and configuration. Early sizes such as 695-14 and D78-14 are bias-ply, 1978 includes both bias-ply and radial alphanumeric options, and 1979 through 1980 move to 195/75R14 radial sizing. That means both construction types can be appropriate, but not for the same setup.

If your goal is period-correct restoration for an early American Motors Pacer, bias-ply usually matches the character of the original size system. If your car is a later Pacer or a 1978 example originally equipped for radial sizing, a radial is the closer match to how that particular car was specified and will align better with later-production fitment.

A radial tire can change the feel of an American Motors Pacer compared with a bias-ply tire because the two constructions flex and respond differently. Within the listed fitments, bias-ply sizes appear in the earlier years, while radial-type sizes become more prominent later. That progression reflects a broader period shift in how cars were equipped and how they rode on the road.

On a collector American Motors Pacer, the practical result is that steering feel, straight-line tracking, and overall ride character may differ depending on construction choice. If you want the car to feel closer to its earlier-era tire behavior, stay with the listed bias-ply size; if the car belongs to the later radial period, follow the listed radial fitment rather than mixing eras.

American Motors Pacer fitments include both bias-ply and radial sizes across the production run, but that does not mean they should be mixed casually on one car. The listed sizes separate into construction families for a reason, especially in 1978 where bias-ply and radial choices coexist. A mixed set can create uneven response and handling behavior.

The sound approach for an American Motors Pacer is to keep all four tires in the same construction type and the same size family intended for that configuration. If you are sorting out a car with mismatched old tires, use the year, wheel, and existing specification to reset the car to one consistent setup before regular driving.

To confirm the right tire size for a 1978 American Motors Pacer, start with the four listed possibilities: D78-14, DR78-14, E78-14, and ER78-14. The key difference is not rim diameter, since all are 14-inch sizes, but width class and construction. D and E identify different size classes, while the presence of R marks a radial.

For a real-world check, compare the tire size already on the car, the wheel width, and the type of restoration or preservation you are aiming for. If the car still carries an older specification sticker, service paperwork, or long-term ownership records, those details can help separate a narrower D-series setup from a wider E-series setup and bias-ply from radial.

American Motors Pacer tires are available in several sidewall styles, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, dual redline, raised white letter, and a raised white letter with blue streak treatment. The exact style depends on the size and series, with early 695-14 bias-ply offerings showing the broadest cosmetic variety and later 195/75R14 radials centered on whitewall formats.

That variety matters because sidewall appearance can change the character of an American Motors Pacer as much as the wheel itself. A preserved driver may suit a simple blackwall or narrow whitewall, while a more stylized period presentation might call for redlines or raised-letter bias-ply tires if the year and size support them.

American Motors Pacer tires in the listed sizes come from BFGoodrich, US Royal, Goodyear, Coker Classic, STA, Tornel, Maxxis, and Travelstar. Brand choice depends on size and construction, since some brands appear only in bias-ply early sizes while others appear in the later 195/75R14 radial fitment. The available series also vary from classic bias-ply lines to later whitewall radials.

For an American Motors Pacer owner, brand selection usually follows the first fitment decision rather than leading it. Once the correct size and construction are established, you can narrow the field by sidewall style, series, and the kind of visual presentation you want, whether that is understated driver style or stronger period-correct appearance.

American Motors Pacer tire series include Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Blue Streak, Power Cushion, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Traxion, Transport Highway, Star Series, Tornel Classic, Classic Whitewall MA-1, Coker Classic Radial, and UN106. Those series represent different construction approaches and intended looks, ranging from classic bias-ply passenger tires to radial whitewalls and heavier-duty specialty options. The series available to you depend on the exact size your Pacer uses.

That means an American Motors Pacer owner should think of tire series as the second decision after fitment. Once the proper size is identified, the series helps determine whether the car leans toward stock-style presentation, sportier period appearance, or a more utility-oriented bias-ply setup, especially in the 1978 overlap year where construction choice also affects the result.

An American Motors Pacer stored on fitted tires should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Clean tires and properly inflated tires hold up better during long storage, and moving the car slightly from time to time helps reduce flat-spotting, especially on bias-ply constructions.

If an American Motors Pacer sits for months at a time, storage habits can affect both appearance and drivability. Using tire cradles or taking some load off the tires during very long storage can help preserve shape, while checking inflation before and after storage keeps the car from resting on underinflated casings that age faster.

Tires on an American Motors Pacer should be inspected regularly even if the car covers very few miles. Collector cars often age out their tires long before they wear out, so sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, weather checking, air loss, and irregular wear matter more than tread depth alone. Bias-ply tires deserve especially close attention because they can spend long periods parked and then be asked to carry full load suddenly.

A good routine is to inspect an American Motors Pacer before each drive and to perform a more careful condition review several times a year. Include the spare if the car carries one, and look closely at valve stems, tubes where fitted, and the inside sidewall condition during service intervals rather than focusing only on visible outer tread.

Tires on an American Motors Pacer should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, vibration, repeated air loss, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often spend far more time aging than wearing, and a low-mile car can still be running on unsafe rubber. Time and condition matter at least as much as remaining tread depth.

For an American Motors Pacer, replacement decisions should be driven by condition and intended use rather than appearance alone. Any tire of uncertain age, any old spare put back into service, or any long-stored tire that has become stiff or cracked deserves careful evaluation before road use so the car's handling and braking are not compromised.

American Motors Pacer appears with multiple original-era size families across its 1976 to 1980 run, including 695-14, D78-14, DR78-14, E78-14, ER78-14, and later 195/75R14. The available series include classic bias-ply offerings and radial lines, which reflects the Pacer's place in a transition period rather than one single tire type for every year. The right original-style answer depends on the exact year and configuration.

For restoration work, the most accurate path is to match the American Motors Pacer by model year first and then verify the size against surviving labels, manuals, or marque references for that individual car. That approach is especially important for 1978, where both bias-ply and radial alphanumeric sizes appear and a quick visual assumption can point you to the wrong construction.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how an American Motors Pacer is judged and perceived, particularly when the car is restored to a period-specific standard. Size, construction, and sidewall style all influence authenticity, and the Pacer's short production run includes visible changes from early bias-ply sizing to later radial metric sizing. A tire that looks plausible but belongs to the wrong year can stand out quickly.

For an American Motors Pacer headed to shows or marque judging, tires should match the era and presentation of the car as closely as possible. A preserved original, a dealer-style cosmetic restoration, and a road-tour driver may each justify a different approach, so decide early whether your priority is authenticity, drivability, or a balanced compromise between the two.

American Motors Pacer restoration options include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, dual redline, and raised-letter sidewall treatments depending on size and series. No single sidewall style covers the entire run, because the available visual treatments vary between early 695-14 bias-ply tires, 1978 alphanumeric offerings, and later 195/75R14 radials. The correct look follows the year, size, and restoration theme.

If the goal is a factory-minded American Motors Pacer restoration, compare period photos, sales literature, and the exact trim presentation before choosing a sidewall. If the car is being restored in a more personalized 1970s style, the listed redline or raised-letter bias-ply options can create a stronger period impression where the proper early size supports them.

American Motors Pacer tires can be suitable for public-road use when the correct size, construction, and overall condition are matched to the car. The listed fitments include both bias-ply and radial designs, and later metric radial options are different in character from the earlier bias-ply sizes. Road safety depends on proper mounting, inflation, condition, and using one consistent tire type across the car.

For a collector American Motors Pacer, the practical question is whether the tire matches how the car will actually be used. A local show car that sees occasional fair-weather drives may tolerate a more period-focused choice, while a regularly driven Pacer benefits from especially careful attention to condition, balancing, alignment, and avoiding aged or mismatched tires.

Before driving an American Motors Pacer, check tire pressure, visible cracking, sidewall bulges, tread condition, valve stems, lug tightness, and whether all four tires match in size and construction. On early bias-ply applications, pay attention to any signs of tube-related air loss or wheel condition issues. On later radial setups, watch for aging, uneven wear, and any vibration that suggests internal deterioration.

Those checks matter because collector cars often sit longer than modern daily drivers, and storage can hide problems until the car is moving at speed. A short pre-drive walkaround of an American Motors Pacer can catch most preventable tire problems, especially if the car alternates between long garage periods and brief seasonal outings.

An American Motors Pacer should be driven at sensible, moderate speeds that respect the age, construction, and condition of the tires fitted to it. A bias-ply American Motors Pacer on early 695-14 or D78-14 tires should not be treated like a modern car on contemporary high-speed radials, while later 195/75R14 radial-equipped cars generally suit normal collector-car road use more comfortably. Tire condition remains the deciding factor either way.

In practice, the right speed for an American Motors Pacer is the one that stays comfortably within the limits of the tire, suspension, brakes, and steering condition of that particular car. If the tires are older, the car has been sitting, or the setup is a period-correct bias-ply package, keep speeds conservative until the whole vehicle has proven itself stable and sound.