Chevrolet Citation Tires

Chevrolet Citation uses three tire sizes across the 1980 to 1983 production run: 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14. The 185/80R13 and 205/70R13 sizes are used from 1980 through 1983 on 13-inch wheels, while 215/60R14 appears in 1981 and 1982 on 14-inch wheels.

The practical takeaway is to identify the exact year and then confirm the wheel diameter on the car before settling on a tire. A Citation wearing 13-inch wheels belongs in one of the two 13-inch sizes, while the 14-inch size is limited to certain 1981 and 1982 applications.

A 1981 Chevrolet Citation can show 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14 because that year includes both 13-inch and 14-inch wheel applications. Two of the listed sizes fit 13-inch wheels, and the third fits a 14-inch wheel, so the split is not interchangeable by year alone.

That means a 1981 Citation owner needs to identify the actual wheel package before choosing a tire. Measuring the wheel or checking the tire already on the car will usually sort the 13-inch versus 14-inch question quickly, after which you can match the correct width and profile.

Chevrolet Citation uses both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters within this model group. The 13-inch wheel sizes are 185/80R13 and 205/70R13 for 1980 through 1983, while the 14-inch wheel size is 215/60R14 for 1981 and 1982.

Wheel diameter is the first fitment checkpoint because a 13-inch tire cannot be mounted on a 14-inch wheel, and the reverse is equally true. If the car has changed hands or has replacement wheels, verify the wheel itself rather than assuming the year alone tells the full story.

On a Chevrolet Citation, 185/80R13 means the tire is 185 millimeters wide, has an 80-series aspect ratio, uses radial construction, and fits a 13-inch rim. It is one of the full-run Citation sizes and appears from 1980 through 1983.

That decoding helps you compare it directly with the wider 205/70R13 and the lower-profile 215/60R14. If your Citation is equipped for a 13-inch wheel and you want the narrower of the two 13-inch options, 185/80R13 is the size to verify against the wheel and vehicle configuration.

A 1982 Chevrolet Citation may use 185/80R13, 205/70R13, or 215/60R14, so the correct size depends on the wheel package rather than the model year alone. The first distinction is wheel diameter: the first two sizes fit 13-inch rims, while 215/60R14 fits a 14-inch rim.

Start by reading the size on the existing tire if it is known to be correct, then confirm the wheel diameter directly on the car. Once the diameter is settled, you can choose among the available width, profile, brand, and sidewall style options that match the Citation’s intended appearance and use.

Chevrolet Citation tires in this group are offered in several sidewall styles: narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and RWL raised white letters. The 185/80R13 options include narrow and wide whitewalls, the 205/70R13 option is blackwall, and the 215/60R14 option is RWL.

That variety lets owners match the car’s look more closely to a factory-style restoration or a period aftermarket presentation. A whitewall radial can suit a more formal or upscale appearance, while blackwall and raised white letter tires tend to give the Citation a sportier early-1980s character.

Four brands appear in the current Chevrolet Citation tire selection: Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Michelin. Those brands cover the three Citation sizes with different sidewall styles and tire series, including whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter radials.

Brand choice matters after the size and wheel diameter are confirmed, not before. Once the correct Citation size is established, the remaining decision is usually whether the car calls for a more original-looking whitewall treatment or a sportier blackwall or raised white letter presentation.

Chevrolet Citation tires here appear in four series: Maxxis Radial, Silvertown Radial, Star Series, and Michelin XDX-B, plus BFGoodrich Radial T/A for the 14-inch size. All are radial-construction tires, but they differ in sidewall presentation and intended visual character, from narrow or wide whitewalls to blackwall and raised white letter styling.

For most Citation owners, the key distinction is not construction type but appearance within the correct size. A whitewall radial suits a more traditional early-1980s look, while the Michelin blackwall and BFGoodrich Radial T/A lean more toward the sport-compact side of the Citation’s original market position.

A Chevrolet Citation should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long periods on hot concrete. Keeping the tires clean and maintaining correct inflation helps prevent flat spotting and sidewall stress during periods of little use.

If the Citation sits for extended intervals, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Collector cars often age their tires by inactivity rather than mileage, so storage conditions have a direct effect on how well the tires retain shape and serviceability.

Tires on a Chevrolet Citation should be inspected at least seasonally and again before any highway use or longer trip. The inspection should include tread condition, sidewall cracking, air pressure, valve stems, irregular wear, and any signs that the tire has been run underinflated or damaged by age.

A Citation that is driven only occasionally can still develop tire issues between outings, especially if it spends long stretches parked. Regular checks also help catch wheel or alignment problems early, which is particularly important when comparing wear across different Citation wheel and tire packages.

Tires on a Chevrolet Citation should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulging, vibration, or visible structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector and low-mileage cars often wear out tires by time and storage exposure rather than by mileage alone.

A tire that looks presentable can still be unsuitable for road use if the casing has aged out. If a Citation has been parked for years or has older tires of uncertain service history, have them evaluated closely before putting the car back into regular driving rotation.

Chevrolet Citation used multiple tire sizes during its 1980 to 1983 run, including 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and, in certain 1981 and 1982 applications, 215/60R14. The available products also show different visual treatments such as narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letters rather than a single universal presentation.

For an authenticity-focused restoration, the best approach is to match the exact year, wheel diameter, and intended trim appearance before choosing a tire. Factory literature, surviving original cars, and marque specialists are the best references for narrowing which Citation combination belongs on a particular restoration.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and judging outcome of a Chevrolet Citation because wheel diameter, tire profile, and sidewall style strongly influence how the car sits and how authentic it appears. A Citation restored with the wrong diameter or an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment can look out of period even if the car is otherwise well finished.

Owners preparing for shows or preservation-class events should match the tire size and visual style to the specific car rather than choosing only by convenience. Marque clubs, era sales literature, and unrestored reference cars are the most useful guides when appearance and judging standards matter.

Chevrolet Citation restoration choices in this group include narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter sidewalls. Each can be appropriate depending on the Citation’s year, wheel size, and the look being restored, since the available 13-inch and 14-inch tires are not all presented in the same style.

A more conservative or upscale Citation often looks right with a whitewall radial, while a sport-oriented presentation may call for blackwall or raised white letter styling. The best match comes from comparing the car’s trim level, original appearance cues, and wheel package before choosing the final sidewall treatment.

The listed Chevrolet Citation tires are modern radial designs in the correct vintage size range for the model, and that makes them suitable candidates for public-road use when they are properly fitted to the correct wheel diameter and kept in sound condition. Safety still depends on the full vehicle, including wheel integrity, brakes, steering, suspension, and alignment.

Before regular road use, make sure the Citation is wearing the correct 13-inch or 14-inch tire size for its wheel package and that all four tires are in matching serviceable condition. A fresh set of correctly sized tires can improve confidence, but they should be treated as one part of a complete mechanical readiness check.

Before driving a Chevrolet Citation, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread wear, age-related cracking, wheel security, and whether the installed tire size matches the wheel diameter. On this model, that last point matters because both 13-inch and 14-inch applications exist within the same production span.

A quick pre-drive inspection is especially important if the Citation is used occasionally rather than daily. It is also wise to watch for uneven wear or pull, since either can indicate alignment or suspension issues that will shorten tire life and affect how the car behaves at speed.

A Chevrolet Citation should be driven at speeds appropriate to the age, condition, and specification of the tires actually fitted, not simply by what the car could do when new. Even with correct-size radial tires, the safe operating envelope depends on inflation, condition, load, road conditions, and the overall mechanical state of the vehicle.

The sensible approach is to build speed gradually after the car has been inspected and sorted, especially if it has spent years in storage. If there is any vibration, wandering, heat buildup, or age-related deterioration, limit use until the Citation and its tires are evaluated and corrected.