DeLorean DMC 12 Tires

DeLorean DMC 12 uses two tire sizes for both 1982 and 1983: 195/60R14 on 14-inch wheels and 235/60R15 on 15-inch wheels. The smaller 195/60R14 size is the front fitment, while the wider 235/60R15 size is the rear fitment. Both sizes are radial metric sizes rather than older numeric or alphanumeric collector-car sizes.

That means a DeLorean DMC 12 owner should think in terms of front and rear positions, not just model year. Verify the wheel diameter at each axle and make sure the car has not been altered from its staggered wheel setup before choosing replacements, especially if you are replacing only one pair rather than all four tires.

On a DeLorean DMC 12, 195/60R14 means the tire is 195 millimeters wide, has a 60-series aspect ratio, uses radial construction, and fits a 14-inch wheel. That is the front tire size used in 1982 and 1983. It is a modern metric radial code, so the final number is the actual rim diameter.

The practical point is that every part of that code matters. A DeLorean DMC 12 owner should match the full size, not just the wheel diameter, because width and sidewall height affect clearance, stance, and the intended front-to-rear balance of the car.

DeLorean DMC 12 uses two rim diameters rather than one: 14-inch wheels with 195/60R14 tires at the front and 15-inch wheels with 235/60R15 tires at the rear. That arrangement is used in both 1982 and 1983. The difference is part of the car’s staggered tire setup.

Because the front and rear wheel diameters are different, a DeLorean DMC 12 owner should confirm axle position before ordering any tire. It is especially important when a car has changed hands, had wheel swaps, or is being recommissioned after long storage, since mismatched wheels can cause confusion quickly.

A 1982 or 1983 DeLorean DMC 12 uses the same two-size arrangement: 195/60R14 at the front and 235/60R15 at the rear. The correct size depends on which axle you are fitting, not on a year-to-year size change. Wheel diameter confirms the position, since the front wheel is 14 inches and the rear wheel is 15 inches.

Start by checking the sidewall of the tire currently on the car and then verify the wheel diameter directly. That step matters on any DeLorean DMC 12 that may have had aftermarket wheel changes or mixed replacement tires over the years, because selecting by memory alone can easily put a rear size on the wrong axle.

DeLorean DMC 12 tire offerings here include blackwall and RWL, or raised white letter, sidewall styles. The 195/60R14 front size is available in blackwall, while the 235/60R15 rear size includes blackwall and RWL choices. All listed products are radial tires.

A blackwall tire generally keeps the appearance closer to the restrained factory-era look most owners expect on a DeLorean DMC 12. Raised white letters create a more overt period performance look, so the better choice depends on whether the goal is a more original presentation or a more customized early-1980s style.

The available DeLorean DMC 12 tire brands here are Michelin, M&H Racemaster, Cooper, and BFGoodrich. Michelin appears in the 195/60R14 front size, while M&H Racemaster, Cooper, and BFGoodrich appear in the 235/60R15 rear size. Each brand is represented with radial construction products.

Brand choice should come after size and axle position are confirmed. A DeLorean DMC 12 owner comparing options should also consider sidewall appearance and intended use, since a blackwall street presentation and a raised white letter performance look create very different visual results on the same car.

DeLorean DMC 12 tire series offered here include Michelin MXV3-A, Drag Radial, Cobra Radial G/T, and Radial T/A. All are radial tires, but they differ in intended character and appearance, with the rear fitments ranging from a drag-oriented radial to more traditional street-performance styles. The front offering is a Michelin MXV3-A radial in 195/60R14.

For a DeLorean DMC 12 owner, that means the choice is not just about dimensions. Think about how the car will be used and how you want it to present visually, then select the series that matches that purpose while keeping the correct front and rear size pairing intact.

A stored DeLorean DMC 12 should be kept in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Clean the tires first and maintain proper inflation during storage. If the car will sit for an extended period, moving it occasionally helps reduce the chance of flat spotting.

Because DeLorean DMC 12 uses different front and rear tire sizes, it is wise to keep records of which tires were fitted to each axle before any long layup. That makes recommissioning easier and helps prevent accidental rotation or mix-ups when the car returns to service.

Tires on a DeLorean DMC 12 should be visually inspected before each drive and given a more careful inspection at regular service intervals. Check for cracking, bulges, punctures, irregular wear, and signs of impact damage, and confirm inflation pressure with the tires cold. Collector cars often age out tires long before they wear them out.

A DeLorean DMC 12 that sees occasional use can hide tire problems surprisingly well because the tread may still look serviceable. Pay particular attention to the wider rear tires, since an issue there can affect traction and stability more noticeably than many owners expect.

DeLorean DMC 12 tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, impact damage, or structural concerns appear, even if tread depth still looks acceptable. Low-mile collector cars often spend long periods parked, and time can degrade the rubber and casing independently of visible wear. A tire that looks presentable can still be past its useful service life.

That matters on a DeLorean DMC 12 because the car depends on a specific front-to-rear tire relationship for proper stance and handling. If one axle needs replacement, compare the age and condition of the opposite axle as well so the car is not returned to the road with a visibly mismatched or aged set.

DeLorean DMC 12 uses a staggered radial tire arrangement in the sizes 195/60R14 and 235/60R15 for the 1982 and 1983 years covered here. The available products show radial construction and include several different modern series choices rather than a single original-equipment line. That means the sizes are the key authenticity anchor, while exact brand and pattern selection may vary.

For a restoration-minded DeLorean DMC 12 owner, the best approach is to confirm the car’s intended presentation first. If originality matters at concours or marque-club level, compare the car against period photos, surviving examples, and marque references before settling on the final sidewall style and brand.

Correct tire fitment can affect how a DeLorean DMC 12 is judged and how seriously the restoration is taken, especially when the car is presented for marque-specific evaluation. The proper front-to-rear size relationship matters because the car was built around different tire sizes and wheel diameters at each axle. An incorrect all-around substitute can change both appearance and stance.

Owners aiming for strong presentation should match the correct size to each axle and choose a sidewall style that fits the intended era look of the car. Marque clubs, period photography, and experienced DeLorean DMC 12 restorers remain the best references when deciding how strictly to pursue factory-style appearance.

DeLorean DMC 12 tire options here include blackwall and raised white letter sidewalls. Blackwall appears in both the front offering and one rear offering, while raised white letters appear in rear 235/60R15 choices. Both belong to the broader early-1980s performance era, but they create different visual impressions.

A DeLorean DMC 12 restored toward a more factory-like, restrained look will usually read more naturally on blackwall tires. Raised white letters suit an owner who wants a stronger period performance appearance, but they should still be paired carefully so the front and rear presentation stays balanced.

A DeLorean DMC 12 can be driven on public roads with correctly sized, properly mounted, roadworthy tires in sound condition. The available tires listed here are radial products in the proper front and rear sizes, but safety depends on age, condition, inflation, wheel condition, and the overall mechanical state of the car. Tire size alone does not guarantee roadworthiness.

Before returning a DeLorean DMC 12 to regular road use, inspect the tires closely and make sure the front 14-inch and rear 15-inch wheel positions have not been mixed up. Cars that have been stored for years deserve a full recommissioning review so the tires, brakes, steering, and suspension are all evaluated together.

Before driving a DeLorean DMC 12, check cold inflation pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, and any signs of impact damage or air loss. Confirm that 195/60R14 tires are fitted at the front and 235/60R15 tires at the rear, and make sure the tires are seated on the correct wheel diameters. A quick walkaround often catches issues that matter immediately on the road.

That basic routine is especially important on a DeLorean DMC 12 that is used only occasionally. Intermittent-use collector cars can develop age-related tire problems between drives, so a few minutes of inspection before each outing is far more valuable than relying on how the car felt months earlier.

A DeLorean DMC 12 should be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition, age, and specification of the tires actually fitted, not simply to the car’s theoretical capability. Even with the correct 195/60R14 front and 235/60R15 rear sizes, an older collector-car tire deserves more caution than a fresh daily-driver fitment. Age, storage history, and condition matter as much as size.

The sensible approach is to build speed gradually only after the car has proven stable, smooth, and free of vibration. Any newly acquired or long-stored DeLorean DMC 12 should be treated conservatively until the tires and the rest of the chassis have been fully inspected and evaluated in real driving conditions.