Mazda RX-3 Tires

Mazda RX-3 models from 1971 through 1978 are listed with two tire sizes: 155R13 and 560-13. Both sizes use a 13-inch rim diameter. The 155R13 entries are radial tires, while the 560-13 entries are bias-ply tires offered in period-style whitewall configurations.

The practical difference is that a Mazda RX-3 owner is choosing between two fitment approaches rather than two different wheel diameters. Start by checking the wheel width on the car, then decide whether the goal is more original visual character with bias-ply construction or a later-style driving feel with a radial tire.

On a Mazda RX-3, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 560 identifies the nominal section width class with the decimal omitted, and the 13 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing convention that differs from modern metric radial markings.

That matters because a Mazda RX-3 owner may see both 560-13 and 155R13 listed for the same years and assume they are simply two ways of writing the same thing. They are not identical constructions, so confirm whether the car is set up for a bias-ply restoration look or a radial road-use setup before deciding.

Mazda RX-3 tire listings from 1971 through 1978 use a 13-inch rim diameter in both listed sizes. The radial 155R13 products are built for 13-inch rims, and the bias-ply 560-13 products are also built for 13-inch rims. There is no wheel-diameter change across the listed production years.

Even with one rim diameter across the range, wheel width still matters on a Mazda RX-3. The listed radial products suit wider 13-inch rims than some of the bias-ply options, so check the wheel itself before selecting a tire, especially if the car has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point.

Mazda RX-3 tube requirements depend on which of the two listed sizes you choose. The 560-13 bias-ply size requires a tube. The 155R13 radial products are listed as radial tires and do not carry the same tube requirement language as the bias-ply size.

That means a Mazda RX-3 owner should not treat tube use as a one-answer issue for every tire on the car. If you are fitting the numeric bias-ply option for an original-style look, plan around tube service as part of the installation. If you are moving to the radial size, verify the wheel condition and tire specification before mounting.

Mazda RX-3 listings include both bias-ply and radial choices in 13-inch fitments, so the right answer depends on how the car will be presented and driven. The 560-13 bias-ply options are the closer visual match for a period-style restoration, while the 155R13 radial options represent the more modern construction type available for the same model years.

A Mazda RX-3 kept for show presentation or a strongly original look often benefits visually from the bias-ply option, especially with whitewall styling. A Mazda RX-3 driven more regularly on modern roads may feel more natural on radials. Decide first whether authenticity or road behavior is the main priority, then match wheel width to the selected size.

A Mazda RX-3 fitted with 155R13 radial tires will generally feel different from one running 560-13 bias-ply tires because the two constructions behave differently even though both fit 13-inch wheels. The radial options listed for Mazda RX-3 are modern radial designs, while the 560-13 choices are classic bias-ply tires.

For a Mazda RX-3 owner, the practical takeaway is that steering response, ride character, and the car’s overall feel can change with construction type. If the car has been restored to factory style, bias-ply may better preserve that impression. If the goal is comfortable road use, a radial setup may be the more appropriate direction.

Mazda RX-3 tire listings show that both bias-ply and radial constructions are available, but that does not mean they should be mixed casually on one car. Because these constructions flex and respond differently, combining them can change how a Mazda RX-3 behaves on the road.

The better practice is to choose one construction type for the full set on a Mazda RX-3 unless a knowledgeable specialist has a very specific reason to do otherwise. Keeping all four tires consistent preserves predictable handling and makes it easier to evaluate wheel width, ride height, and overall appearance during a restoration or driver-oriented setup.

Mazda RX-3 models from 1971 through 1978 are listed with both 155R13 and 560-13, so the correct choice is confirmed by checking the wheels on the car and identifying the intended setup. Both use 13-inch rims, but the radial products suit different wheel-width ranges than the bias-ply products. The decision is not year alone; it is year plus wheel specification and restoration goal.

A Mazda RX-3 owner should inspect the tire currently on the car, measure or verify wheel width, and compare that to the intended use of the vehicle. Cars restored for period appearance often favor the bias-ply option, while regularly driven examples may be better matched to the radial size. That process is more reliable than choosing by model year alone.

Mazda RX-3 tire offerings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The 155R13 radial products are listed as blackwall tires. The 560-13 bias-ply products are available in both 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and 2.25-inch wide whitewall versions.

That gives a Mazda RX-3 owner some flexibility depending on the look of the build. Blackwall radials suit a sportier, more understated presentation, while the whitewall bias-ply options lean into period styling. If appearance matters as much as size, compare the sidewall treatment to the rest of the car’s trim, wheel covers, and intended restoration era.

Mazda RX-3 tire options in these sizes are available from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Michelin and Dunlop cover the 155R13 radial fitment. BFGoodrich and Firestone cover the 560-13 bias-ply fitment with period-style sidewall options.

Brand choice on a Mazda RX-3 should follow the same process as size choice: decide on radial or bias-ply construction first, then compare the available brands within that construction. Once that is settled, sidewall style and wheel-width compatibility become the next important checks for a clean fit and an appearance that matches the car.

Mazda RX-3 products here span four series: Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply. The Michelin XAS-FF and SP Sport Aquajet entries are radial constructions in 155R13. The Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Classic Bias Ply entries are bias-ply constructions in 560-13, with whitewall variations available in that size.

For a Mazda RX-3 owner, the key difference is not just brand naming but tire philosophy. The radial series support a later-style driving feel and blackwall appearance, while the classic bias-ply series support a more vintage presentation. Once construction type is chosen, series selection becomes a matter of sidewall style, visual preference, and the wheel-width range of the specific tire.

A Mazda RX-3 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tire pressure should be maintained during storage rather than allowed to fall. If the car sits for long periods, clean tires and wheels before storage so dirt and brake residue do not remain against the rubber.

Collector cars such as Mazda RX-3 often spend more time parked than driven, which can be harder on tires than regular use. Rolling the car periodically, avoiding long-term loading in one spot, and keeping the suspension from resting heavily on one contact patch will help preserve the casing shape and sidewall appearance over time.

Tires on a Mazda RX-3 should be visually inspected before each drive and examined more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car is used lightly. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, uneven wear, slow air loss, and changes in how the car sits. Bias-ply tires and older collector-car fitments deserve especially careful attention because age and storage history matter as much as mileage.

A practical routine for a Mazda RX-3 is to check inflation, sidewall condition, and wheel hardware before the car leaves the garage, then perform a closer inspection at the start of each driving season. If the car has recently changed from bias-ply to radial or vice versa, inspect more often at first to be sure wear and handling remain consistent.

Mazda RX-3 tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, separation, or long-term storage history raise concerns, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires can age out before they wear out. That is especially important on a lightly driven Mazda RX-3, where low mileage can hide rubber deterioration.

The key is to judge the entire condition of the tire, not just tread depth. If the car has sat for years, has developed vibration, or shows visible sidewall aging, replacement should move ahead before further driving. Any older specialty tire should also be evaluated in the context of how the Mazda RX-3 is actually used, whether for local shows, weekend drives, or longer road miles.

Mazda RX-3 listings here include both 560-13 bias-ply tires and 155R13 radial tires across the 1971 through 1978 production years. That means more than one tire approach is represented for the Mazda RX-3 rather than a single universal original-style answer. Available series include classic bias-ply lines as well as radial lines, so the exact period-correct choice can vary with the car’s configuration and restoration target.

For a Mazda RX-3 restoration, the best approach is to compare the car against original paperwork, period photos, sales literature, and marque-club guidance. That helps determine whether the goal is a factory-style bias-ply presentation, a later in-period radial look, or a road-use compromise that still suits the car’s era and visual character.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and the judged authenticity of a Mazda RX-3. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall stance all contribute to whether the car looks appropriate for its year and restoration standard. A wide-whitewall bias-ply Mazda RX-3 will present very differently from a blackwall radial Mazda RX-3, even though both fit 13-inch wheels.

For owners concerned with concours or marque-level judging, tire choice should be treated as a visible restoration decision rather than an afterthought. Matching the tire’s construction and sidewall style to the intended period appearance can improve credibility and consistency. If the car will be judged, compare your planned tire setup with examples accepted by knowledgeable Mazda enthusiasts and clubs.

Mazda RX-3 tire options here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall options are associated with the 155R13 radial fitment, while the 560-13 bias-ply options include both 1.00-inch and 2.25-inch whitewalls. That gives restorers several visual directions rather than one fixed sidewall treatment.

The correct choice for a Mazda RX-3 restoration depends on the look you are trying to recreate. A sport-oriented presentation generally favors blackwalls, while a period-custom or certain period U.S.-market visual themes may lean toward whitewalls. Before settling on a sidewall, compare it with the car’s wheel covers, ride height, trim level, and the era-specific appearance you want the finished car to convey.

Mazda RX-3 tires can be suitable for public-road use when the tires are the correct size, properly fitted to the wheel, in sound condition, and matched to how the car is driven. The listed Mazda RX-3 options include both radial and bias-ply construction, and each should be used with an understanding of its intended character. Condition, age, inflation, and installation quality matter as much as the size itself.

A Mazda RX-3 driven regularly should have its tires evaluated as part of the whole vehicle, including suspension, steering, brakes, and alignment. If the car has been sitting for long periods or has unknown wheel history, resolve those issues before relying on it in traffic. Safe road use starts with the complete setup, not simply with choosing a tire size.

Before driving a Mazda RX-3, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel fasteners, and whether all four tires are the same basic construction type. Also confirm that the tires clear the body and suspension through steering travel and that the car sits level. A collector Mazda RX-3 that has been stored should be inspected more carefully before returning to the road.

That pre-drive routine is especially important if the Mazda RX-3 is running freshly installed tires, long-stored tires, or a newly completed restoration. Any pull, vibration, rubbing, or unusual steering feel on the first drive should be investigated immediately. Short local test drives are the right way to evaluate a collector car before treating it like a routine daily-driven vehicle.

Appropriate speed for a Mazda RX-3 depends on the exact tire fitted, its condition, and whether the car is running radial or bias-ply construction. A sound radial setup and a sound bias-ply setup do not necessarily feel the same at speed, even on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. The practical limit should always be set by the tire’s actual condition and the car’s mechanical state, not by the engine’s capability alone.

For a collector Mazda RX-3, the sensible approach is to build speed gradually after verifying inflation, balance, and chassis condition. Bias-ply tires often reward a more conservative driving style, while radials may feel more familiar on modern roads. In either case, avoid assuming that an older or newly restored car should be driven like a modern performance vehicle simply because the badge says RX-3.