Ford Maverick Tires

Ford Maverick uses these sizes across the 1970-1977 production run: B78-14 for 1970-1972, C78-14 for 1970, 1973, 1974, and 1977, 6.45-14 for 1971-1974, D70-14 for 1972-1974, D78-14 for 1972, 1974, and 1977, DR78-14 for 1973 and 1975-1977, D78-13 for 1974, BR78-14 for 1975-1976, CR78-14 for 1975-1977, and DR70-14 for 1975-1976. Every listed size uses a 14-inch rim except D78-13, which uses a 13-inch rim.

That range means a Ford Maverick cannot be matched by model name alone. Start with the car’s model year, then confirm the wheel diameter on the vehicle itself, and finally compare the installed size or original paperwork if the car has been restored or modified over time.

A 6.45-14 Ford Maverick tire is a numeric bias-ply size used on selected 1971 through 1974 cars. The 6.45 refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 14 refers to the rim diameter in inches. It is an older sizing convention that predates the later alphanumeric radial-style markings seen elsewhere in the Maverick range.

That matters because a 6.45-14 Ford Maverick should be treated as its own period-correct fitment rather than as a modern metric equivalent chosen by guesswork. If your car shows this size in period literature or on surviving original-style wheels, stay with the correct numeric size family and bias-ply construction unless you have a clear reason to change direction.

A 1974 Ford Maverick has five listed sizes because that year spans multiple configurations, including both 13-inch and 14-inch wheel applications. The 1974 size list includes 6.45-14, C78-14, D78-13, D70-14, and D78-14. That is the broadest fitment spread in the Maverick run and shows that wheel diameter and tire profile both need to be checked carefully.

A 1974 Ford Maverick owner should identify more than the year before choosing tires. Confirm the wheel diameter stamped on the wheel or measured at the bead seat, then compare the current tire size and the car’s exact configuration so you do not accidentally choose a 14-inch tire for a 13-inch wheel, or the wrong profile within the same rim diameter.

Ford Maverick uses 14-inch wheels throughout most of the 1970-1977 range, but a 13-inch application also appears in 1974 with size D78-13. The rest of the listed sizes—B78-14, C78-14, 6.45-14, D70-14, D78-14, DR78-14, BR78-14, CR78-14, and DR70-14—are all 14-inch fitments. The practical takeaway is that the Maverick range is mostly 14-inch, but not exclusively.

Wheel diameter should be confirmed before anything else because the wrong rim diameter is an immediate mismatch, even if the rest of the size looks close. On a Ford Maverick that has changed hands or been restored, wheels may have been swapped, so a physical check is more reliable than assuming every car in the line used the same diameter.

The correct tire size for a year-specific Ford Maverick is narrowed down by matching the model year to the listed sizes and then confirming the wheel diameter and installed configuration. Some years have only two listed sizes, while 1972 through 1977 carry four or more options, and 1974 includes both 13-inch and 14-inch applications. A year match alone is helpful, but it is not always enough to make the final call.

The best approach is to check the tire size already on the car, verify the wheel diameter directly, and compare that information with period paperwork or restoration records if available. That extra step is especially important on Ford Maverick examples that may have received replacement wheels, trim changes, or suspension updates over the decades.

Current Ford Maverick product coverage in D70-14 includes three sidewall styles: raised white letter, redline, and pin white stripe. All three available products are Firestone Wide Oval bias-ply tires. Those sidewall treatments give Maverick owners a choice between a sportier muscle-era look and a more restrained stripe treatment within the same size family.

Sidewall style should be chosen to suit the car’s presentation as much as its size requirement. A Ford Maverick built as a sporty period-style car may look right with raised white letters or redlines, while a more understated restoration may call for a pin white stripe, provided D70-14 is the correct size for that specific car.

The current Ford Maverick product selection shown here includes Firestone. The listed offerings are all in D70-14 and belong to the Firestone Wide Oval series, with raised white letter, redline, and pin white stripe versions available. That means brand choice is narrow in the currently covered size, even though the Maverick itself used a much broader spread of sizes over its production run.

Brand should come after fitment in the decision process. On a Ford Maverick, first confirm that D70-14 is the correct size for the year and configuration, then choose the sidewall presentation that best matches the car’s intended look, whether that is factory-style restraint or a more performance-oriented period appearance.

The current Ford Maverick products shown here are all from the Firestone Wide Oval series. Within that series, the functional fitment remains D70-14 bias-ply, while the visible difference is the sidewall treatment: raised white letter, redline, or pin white stripe. In other words, the series is the same, but the appearance varies to suit different restoration or period-custom goals.

A Ford Maverick owner choosing among these Wide Oval options should think about how the car will be presented. If the car is built around a sporty early-1970s visual theme, the bolder sidewalls may fit naturally; if the goal is a quieter showroom-style look, the pin stripe treatment may better support the overall restoration.

A stored Ford Maverick should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Clean concrete is acceptable, but the tires should not sit for long periods in standing moisture or against chemical spills. If the car will be parked for an extended time, maintaining correct inflation and moving it occasionally helps reduce flat spotting.

Collector cars benefit from simple storage discipline more than most daily drivers because the tires age even when mileage stays low. If a Ford Maverick spends months between outings, inspect the sidewalls before and after storage seasons and consider support strategies that reduce prolonged load on one contact patch.

Tires on a Ford Maverick should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the driving season. Look for cracking, bulges, tread separation, uneven wear, air loss, and signs of contact with suspension or body components. On a collector car, those checks matter because long idle periods can hide age-related deterioration that may not show up through tread wear alone.

A practical routine is to give the Ford Maverick a quick walk-around before moving it, then perform a closer inspection whenever you rotate the car in storage, adjust pressure, or prepare for an event. Early detection is especially important on older bias-ply tires, where visual condition and age can matter as much as remaining tread depth.

Ford Maverick tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out because the car sees limited annual mileage. A tire that holds air and shows tread can still be unsuitable for road use if the casing or rubber has deteriorated with time.

That makes age tracking just as important as tread inspection on a Ford Maverick. If the car has older bias-ply tires or long-stored period rubber, replacement should be considered proactively rather than waiting for visible failure, especially before any sustained highway use or longer-distance driving.

Ford Maverick used multiple original-style size families during its 1970-1977 run rather than one single tire specification. The listed fitments include alphanumeric bias-ply sizes such as B78-14 and C78-14, numeric bias-ply 6.45-14, lower-profile D70-14 and D78-14 applications, later alphanumeric radial sizes such as BR78-14, CR78-14, DR78-14, and DR70-14, and a one-year D78-13 application in 1974. That spread reflects changing configurations across the production run.

For restoration work, the right question is not simply what fit the Ford Maverick nameplate, but what fit your specific year and configuration. Original paperwork, marque references, and surviving unrestored examples are the best way to settle which of the listed sizes most accurately matches the car you are restoring.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Ford Maverick is judged and how authentic it appears to knowledgeable buyers. Size, construction type, sidewall treatment, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks consistent with its year and intended presentation. A Maverick wearing the wrong wheel diameter or an obviously mismatched profile can look off even to a casual observer.

That matters most on a restored Ford Maverick where details are expected to support the car’s story. If the goal is show judging or faithful restoration, confirm the size family first, then choose the sidewall style and construction that best align with period expectations for that particular version of the car.

Ford Maverick restorations using the currently covered D70-14 size can choose from raised white letter, redline, or pin white stripe sidewall styles. All three are offered within the Firestone Wide Oval bias-ply line. The most correct choice depends on how the individual car was equipped and whether the restoration aims for sporty period flair or a more restrained showroom-style appearance.

A Ford Maverick restoration should treat sidewall style as a finishing detail after size has been settled. Once D70-14 is confirmed as the right fitment, sidewall selection becomes a matter of authenticity and presentation, and period photos or marque references can help determine which look best suits the specific car.

Properly selected and properly maintained tires can be suitable for public-road use on a Ford Maverick, but the first requirement is choosing the correct size and rim diameter for the specific car. The Maverick range includes several bias-ply sizes and later radial-designated sizes, along with both 13-inch and 14-inch applications. Safety starts with matching the tire to the wheel and the car’s intended use rather than choosing by appearance alone.

A Ford Maverick that is driven regularly should have its tire pressures, overall condition, and age reviewed as part of normal preparation. If the car is a limited-use collector vehicle, road safety depends even more on inspection discipline, because long storage intervals can hide age-related issues that are not obvious from tread depth alone.

Before driving a Ford Maverick, check inflation pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and any sign that the tire is rubbing the body or suspension. Confirm that all four tires match the intended size family and that the wheel diameter is correct for the fitted tires. On a collector car, it is also wise to look for flat spotting or age cracks if the car has been sitting.

Those checks matter because a Ford Maverick may carry replacement wheels or older tires that no longer reflect the car’s original setup. A short pre-drive inspection takes only a few minutes and can reveal the most common problems before the car is out on the road, especially after storage or seasonal inactivity.

A sensible speed for a Ford Maverick on original-style tires depends on the tire’s construction, age, condition, and the overall state of the car. Bias-ply tires and older collector tires generally call for more conservative driving than a modern daily driver, even when tread looks good. The practical rule is to treat the car as a vintage vehicle first and avoid demanding more of the tires than their age and design can comfortably support.

For a Ford Maverick that is driven for pleasure rather than commuting, smooth secondary-road use is usually the right mindset. If the car wears older bias-ply tires, keep speeds moderate, avoid abrupt maneuvers, and make sure the braking and suspension systems are in equal condition so the tires are not asked to compensate for unrelated mechanical issues.