Ford GT Tires

Ford GT uses 815-15 and G70-15 in 1968, H70-15 in 1969-1970, F70-14 in 1971-1972, G70-14 in 1971-1978, H70-14 in 1973-1978, HR78-14 in 1974-1978, 235/45R18 and 315/40R19 in 2005-2006, and 245/35R20 with 325/30R20 in 2017-2022. The 1968-1978 sizes are tied to 14-inch or 15-inch wheels depending on year, the 2005-2006 cars use an 18-inch front and 19-inch rear combination, and the 2017-2022 cars use 20-inch fitments front and rear.

That means the Ford GT badge alone is not enough to choose a tire. Start with the exact year, then confirm whether the car uses a single-size period setup, a 1970s alternative size for the same year, or a staggered modern front-and-rear arrangement before selecting anything.

On a Ford GT, 815-15 is a numeric bias-ply size used in 1968. The 815 portion refers to a nominal section width of about 8.15 inches, while the 15 identifies the wheel diameter. Available products in this size are bias-ply tires for 15-inch rims.

That decoding matters because 815-15 belongs to the older bias-ply sizing system rather than later alphanumeric or modern metric radial sizing. If your 1968 Ford GT is fitted with 15-inch wheels and you are trying to preserve a period-correct look and feel, this is one of the size formats you should compare against the wheel and any original vehicle paperwork.

A 1974 Ford GT can show G70-14, H70-14, and HR78-14 because that year includes more than one 14-inch fitment path. The split is primarily a construction difference, with G70-14 and H70-14 as alphanumeric bias-ply sizes and HR78-14 as an alphanumeric radial size. All three use 14-inch rims, but they do not represent the same construction style or visual character.

That means the correct choice depends on how the specific 1974 Ford GT is configured and what standard you are trying to follow. If the goal is factory-era appearance and steering feel, many owners stay with the listed bias-ply options, while drivers prioritizing a later-period radial specification may focus on HR78-14.

Ford GT uses several rim diameters across the years covered here. The 1968-1970 applications are 15-inch, the 1971-1978 applications are 14-inch, the 2005-2006 cars use 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels, and the 2017-2022 cars use 20-inch fitments front and rear. Rim diameter is built into the alphanumeric and metric size codes, so the final number in each size is the wheel diameter.

Because those diameters change so dramatically from one Ford GT generation to another, wheel measurement is the first check to make before looking at tread style or brand. A Ford GT that has had wheels swapped at some point should be verified at the car itself rather than chosen by year alone.

For Ford GT applications in the 1974-1978 range, both crossply and radial choices appear in the listed sizes. G70-14 and H70-14 are bias-ply options, while HR78-14 is a radial option on the same 14-inch wheel diameter. Earlier 1968-1973 fitments shown here are bias-ply, while the 2005-2006 and 2017-2022 generations are radial by design.

The right choice depends on the era of the car and the result you want. A restoration-minded owner usually stays with the period construction type that suits the car's original character, while a driver of a later-listed 1970s application may prefer the listed radial option for a more modern on-road feel.

Yes, radial tires can change how a Ford GT feels compared with bias-ply tires. Within the 1974-1978 fitments, HR78-14 is a radial alternative to the bias-ply G70-14 and H70-14 sizes, so the construction difference itself is part of the intended choice. Later Ford GT generations listed here use only radial metric sizing, which reflects a very different chassis and performance era.

On a 1970s Ford GT, moving from bias-ply to radial often changes steering response, straight-line tracking, and the car's overall road manners. Owners trying to preserve an original driving character usually choose the period bias-ply path, while owners focused more on regular road use may gravitate toward the radial option listed for those later 14-inch years.

A Ford GT should not be treated casually when mixing bias-ply and radial constructions, especially in the 1974-1978 years where both types are listed in 14-inch sizes. The fitment range shows that Ford GT applications can be configured around one construction type or the other, not as a random blend. Maintaining consistent construction across the set is the more appropriate approach.

If your Ford GT currently wears mixed tires, treat that as a signal to review the full setup before regular driving. Decide whether the car is being kept period-correct with bias-ply tires or updated within the listed range to radial construction, then build a matched set around that decision rather than combining the two styles.

A 1971 Ford GT can use either F70-14 or G70-14, and both are 14-inch bias-ply sizes. That means year alone narrows the field, but it does not choose the exact size by itself. The difference is within the same general period fitment family, with G70-14 representing a wider class than F70-14.

The best approach is to confirm the wheel size, inspect the tire size that is already on the car if it is known to be correct, and compare that with original paperwork or marque-club guidance. That extra step matters most on years like 1971 and 1972 where more than one listed size can legitimately appear.

Ford GT tires in the 1968-1978 range are available in several period-style sidewall treatments, including narrow whitewall, whitewall with redline, redline, raised white letters, pin white stripe, and blackwall depending on the size. The later 2005-2006 and 2017-2022 radial offerings listed here are blackwall. Sidewall style is therefore closely tied to the era and size family of the car.

That gives a Ford GT owner room to match the tire to the car's intended presentation. A concours-oriented late-1960s or 1970s car may call for a very specific sidewall look, while later supercar generations generally belong with the blackwall radial appearance that suits their modern wheel and tire proportions.

The listed Ford GT tire offerings come from BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, and Nitto depending on size and era. Firestone and Goodyear cover many of the 1968-1978 bias-ply applications, BFGoodrich appears in both vintage and modern radial fitments, and Nitto appears in the later 20-inch radial range. Brand availability changes with the size rather than staying constant across the whole Ford GT nameplate.

That matters because a buyer choosing tires for a 1970s Ford GT is often balancing brand, construction type, and sidewall style at the same time. A buyer working with a 2005-2006 or 2017-2022 car is usually focused more on matching the proper front and rear metric sizes within the modern radial offerings.

Ford GT tires are offered in several distinct series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Wide Oval, Custom Wide Tread, Speedway Wide Tread, g-Force Comp 2 AS, g-Force Sport Comp 2, g-Force Phenom T/A, and Nitto NT555 G2. The vintage series are period-style bias-ply products for the late-1960s and 1970s sizes, while the g-Force and Nitto series are modern radial lines used with the later metric applications.

The practical takeaway is that series choice should follow the generation of Ford GT you are fitting. For early cars, the series selection shapes period appearance and construction character, while for later cars it is more about choosing among modern radial performance options in the exact front and rear sizes the car requires.

A Ford GT should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and major temperature swings. Clean floors, proper inflation, and regular movement of the car can help reduce flat spotting and sidewall stress, especially on older bias-ply applications from the 1968-1978 range.

If the Ford GT sits for long periods, many owners use tire cradles or move the car occasionally to change the contact patch. Cars with staggered modern radial setups also benefit from careful inflation checks during storage, since low-profile performance tires can lose pressure over time and should not be left underinflated.

Tires on a Ford GT should be visually inspected before each drive and more thoroughly reviewed on a regular schedule even if the car covers very few miles. Collector cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out, and that is especially true for older bias-ply Ford GT applications as well as low-mileage modern supercar generations.

Look for pressure loss, cracking, bulges, tread separation, impact damage, and uneven wear that may point to alignment or suspension issues. A Ford GT that is driven infrequently still deserves periodic hands-on inspection by someone familiar with collector vehicles, because calendar age can matter more than tread depth on these cars.

A Ford GT tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, structural damage, or persistent air loss becomes evident, even if the tread still looks usable. Low-use collector tires can appear serviceable long after the rubber has begun to decline. That principle applies to both vintage bias-ply tires and modern radial Ford GT fitments.

Age-related replacement is particularly important on cars that spend more time parked than driven. Any long-stored set should be evaluated with the same seriousness as a high-mileage set, and owners should be cautious about relying on appearance alone when deciding whether a Ford GT tire still belongs in road service.

Ford GT did not use one single tire specification across the full span covered here. The listed period fitments range from 815-15 and G70-15 in 1968 to H70-15 in 1969-1970, then to several 14-inch options from 1971 through 1978 including F70-14, G70-14, H70-14, and HR78-14. Multiple period-style series are available within those years, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Wide Oval, Custom Wide Tread, and Speedway Wide Tread.

For a restoration, the right answer depends on the exact year and how closely the car is being returned to a specific original configuration. Marque literature, surviving original examples, and club judging guidance are the best references for settling whether a particular Ford GT should wear one listed size, sidewall treatment, or period series over another.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the judged presentation and the perceived value of a Ford GT, particularly for collector-era cars from 1968 through 1978. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks right for its year. A modern radial on a car that should present as a period bias-ply example can change that impression immediately.

Owners pursuing points judging or high-level restoration work should treat tires as visible restoration components, not disposable accessories. Matching the Ford GT's year, wheel diameter, and period-appropriate sidewall treatment usually strengthens authenticity, and marque clubs or recognized specialists can help settle close questions before final selection.

Ford GT restoration sidewall choices depend on the year and size family because the available period-style options include narrow whitewall, whitewall with redline, redline, raised white letters, pin white stripe, and blackwall. Early and mid-1970s muscle-era applications commonly align with redline, raised white letter, or pin stripe presentations, while later modern supercar fitments listed here are blackwall radial designs.

The key is to match the sidewall treatment to the car's restoration target rather than choosing only by personal taste. If the Ford GT is being restored for factory-era appearance, compare the sidewall style against original photos, literature, and marque-club references so the tire supports the car's overall visual authenticity.

A Ford GT can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and matched to the car's intended use. That said, a 1968-1978 Ford GT on period-style bias-ply tires will have very different road manners from a 2005-2006 or 2017-2022 Ford GT on modern radial performance tires. Construction type and age matter as much as tread depth.

Road safety comes from the whole package, not from the size code alone. Before using a Ford GT regularly, make sure the tires are age-appropriate for service, the front and rear sizes are correctly matched where the car uses a staggered setup, and the chassis is aligned and mechanically sound enough to make proper use of them.

Before driving a Ford GT, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, and any signs of flat spotting or impact damage. Confirm that the car is wearing the correct wheel diameter for its year and that later-generation cars still have the proper staggered front-and-rear size pairing. On older bias-ply applications, tube-type service and general age condition deserve extra attention.

A short walk-around catches many problems before they become expensive or dangerous. If a Ford GT has been parked for a long period, do not assume the tires are ready simply because they hold air; give the whole set a careful inspection and pay close attention to age, cracking, and irregular wear before heading onto the road.

Appropriate speed for a Ford GT depends heavily on which generation and which type of tire it is using. A 1968-1978 Ford GT on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven with more restraint than a later Ford GT on modern metric radials, because the handling response, heat tolerance, and overall road feel are not the same. Older-style tires ask for older-style expectations.

The practical rule is to drive within the limits of the tire's construction, age, and condition rather than the car's nameplate reputation. If your Ford GT is fitted with vintage-style bias-ply tires, treat smooth road surfaces and moderate speeds as part of responsible use, while later radial-equipped cars still deserve careful warm-up and pressure monitoring.