Mitsubishi Cordia Tires

Mitsubishi Cordia uses three tire sizes across the 1983 to 1988 production run: 165/80R13, 185/70R13, and 195/60R14. The 165/80R13 size is used from 1983 through 1985 on 13-inch wheels, 185/70R13 appears from 1983 through 1987 on 13-inch wheels, and 195/60R14 is used from 1986 through 1988 on 14-inch wheels.

That means year alone is not always enough to choose correctly, especially in 1986 and 1987 when both 13-inch and 14-inch fitments appear in the Cordia range. Check the tire already on the car, confirm the wheel diameter stamped on the wheel if possible, and then match the size to the actual rim diameter before choosing a replacement.

A 1986 Mitsubishi Cordia can have either 185/70R13 or 195/60R14 because that model year spans two wheel diameters within the Cordia range. The split is a rim-diameter change rather than a construction change, since both listed sizes are radial tires. One fitment uses a 13-inch wheel and the other uses a 14-inch wheel.

The practical takeaway is that a 1986 Mitsubishi Cordia owner should identify the wheel diameter first, then select the matching tire size. Measuring the wheel or reading the existing tire size is usually the fastest way to confirm it, and it is more reliable than assuming all 1986 Cordia models used the same wheel package.

Mitsubishi Cordia uses both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters across its production run. The 13-inch fitments cover 165/80R13 from 1983 to 1985 and 185/70R13 from 1983 to 1987, while the 14-inch fitment is 195/60R14 from 1986 to 1988. The first year the 14-inch wheel appears is 1986.

Because 1986 and 1987 overlap between 13-inch and 14-inch applications, wheel diameter is the most important first check on any Mitsubishi Cordia. Once that is confirmed, the size choice becomes much simpler and prevents the common mistake of choosing a later 14-inch tire for a car that still has 13-inch wheels, or the reverse.

The correct tire size for a 1986 Mitsubishi Cordia is either 185/70R13 or 195/60R14, depending on which wheel diameter the car has. Both are radial sizes, but they do not interchange because one fits a 13-inch rim and the other fits a 14-inch rim. The same overlap applies to 1987 Cordia applications as well.

Start with the actual wheel and current tire size rather than the calendar year alone. If the car still wears its original-style wheel package, that usually settles the question quickly; if wheels have been changed over the years, verify the mounted rim diameter and then select the matching size to keep the fitment correct.

Mitsubishi Cordia tires are available in several sidewall styles within the listed sizes, including blackwall, wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, and redline. The 165/80R13 offerings include whitewall variations, 185/70R13 includes blackwall, whitewall, and redline choices, and 195/60R14 is listed in blackwall. All available products in these sizes are radial constructions.

That variety gives a Cordia owner room to choose between a more restrained factory-like blackwall look and a period-custom appearance with whitewall or redline styling. For a preservation-minded late-1980s import, blackwall is usually the most era-consistent visual choice, while the decorative sidewall options can suit a personalized or nostalgic presentation.

The listed Mitsubishi Cordia tire brands are BFGoodrich, Maxxis, Avon, Dunlop, Michelin, and Vredestein. BFGoodrich appears in both 13-inch sizes, Maxxis appears in 165/80R13, Avon and Vredestein appear in 185/70R13, Dunlop appears in 185/70R13, and Michelin appears in both 185/70R13 and 195/60R14.

Brand choice matters less than first getting the correct size and wheel diameter, since a 13-inch Cordia and a 14-inch Cordia do not use the same tire. Once size is settled, buyers can narrow the field by preferred sidewall style, intended use, and whether they want a more touring-oriented look or a sportier blackwall presentation.

Mitsubishi Cordia tire series in the listed range include Silvertown Radial, Classic Whitewall MA-1, CR6ZZ, SP Sport Aquajet, Sport Classic, Michelin XDX-B, Sprint Classic, and Michelin MXV3-A. All of them are radial tires, but they differ in sidewall presentation and period character, with some aimed at classic styling and others presented as blackwall performance-oriented options.

For a Cordia owner, the practical difference is usually visual style and the era impression the tire gives the car. A Silvertown Radial or Classic Whitewall MA-1 can add a more stylized collector look, while blackwall series such as Sport Classic, Sprint Classic, or Michelin-pattern offerings generally suit an OEM-style late-classic import appearance more closely.

A Mitsubishi Cordia should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and standing moisture. Tires age as much from time and environment as from mileage, and collector cars that sit for long periods can develop flat spotting, sidewall stress, and cracking if storage conditions are poor.

For a Cordia that is driven infrequently, keep inflation at the appropriate level for the installed tire, move the car periodically, and avoid leaving it parked on the same tire contact patch for months at a time. Clean floors, a breathable cover, and regular pressure checks help preserve both blackwall and decorative sidewall tires.

Tires on a Mitsubishi Cordia should be inspected at least monthly during the driving season and again before any longer trip or event. Look for pressure loss, tread wear irregularities, sidewall cracking, impact damage, valve condition, and signs that the tire is no longer wearing evenly across the axle.

An older Cordia may have sat for extended periods, and that can reveal suspension, alignment, or storage-related issues through the tires before they become more expensive problems. Frequent visual checks are especially worthwhile when the car changes between seasonal use and long storage, since problems often appear after sitting rather than after regular driving.

Tires on a Mitsubishi Cordia should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, particularly on low-mileage cars where calendar time and storage history matter more than miles driven.

The sensible approach is to evaluate the entire tire, not just the tread depth. If a Cordia has older tires of uncertain age, especially on a car that has spent years parked, replacement is usually the prudent choice before regular road use, because rubber condition and internal integrity determine serviceability more than appearance alone.

Mitsubishi Cordia uses three period-correct size paths across its production run: 165/80R13, 185/70R13, and 195/60R14. The available series in those sizes include Silvertown Radial, Classic Whitewall MA-1, CR6ZZ, SP Sport Aquajet, Sport Classic, Michelin XDX-B, Sprint Classic, and Michelin MXV3-A, all in radial construction.

Original-equipment accuracy on a specific Cordia comes down to the exact year, wheel package, and presentation you are trying to reproduce. A restorer aiming for a factory-authentic result should match the wheel diameter first, then compare surviving original tires, factory literature, and marque references to choose the sidewall style and overall look that best suits the car.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and the perceived quality of a Mitsubishi Cordia restoration. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts typically notice whether the car wears the proper overall size, the correct wheel diameter for its year and configuration, and a sidewall style that suits the period character of the car.

For a Cordia, the biggest authenticity mistake is often getting the wheel diameter and corresponding tire size wrong during the 1986 to 1988 transition years. Even on a driver, a properly fitted tire helps the car sit correctly and look coherent, while a serious show restoration benefits from checking marque references and period photos before final selection.

Mitsubishi Cordia tires are available here in blackwall, wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, and redline forms, depending on size. Because Cordia is a late-classic 1980s sport coupe, blackwall is generally the most natural restoration-style appearance, while whitewall and redline options create a more personalized or custom-period look rather than a restrained factory impression.

That does not mean a decorative sidewall is automatically wrong for every Cordia, especially if the car is being finished in a period-custom style. The best choice depends on whether the goal is showroom-style authenticity, a dealer-era personalized look, or a distinctly owner-tailored presentation that still respects the size and wheel diameter used on the car.

The listed Mitsubishi Cordia tires are all modern radial products in sizes appropriate to the model range, so they are suitable choices for normal public-road use when correctly matched to the car’s wheel diameter and maintained in good condition. Safety still depends on proper installation, sound wheels, correct inflation, and the overall mechanical condition of the Cordia.

A Cordia that has been stored for years deserves a full roadworthiness review before regular driving, even if the replacement tires are new. Brakes, suspension bushings, steering components, and alignment all influence how safely the car uses the tire, so tire choice should be treated as one part of a complete recommissioning process.

Before driving a Mitsubishi Cordia, check that the tire size matches the wheel diameter, inspect inflation pressures, look for sidewall or tread damage, and confirm that the tires clear the body and suspension properly. On this model, the 13-inch and 14-inch fitments make wheel-diameter verification especially important because the later size does not belong on the earlier rim.

It is also wise to inspect wheel condition, valve stems, lug torque, and the age and behavior of any spare tire if the car still carries one. A short, careful test drive after fitting tires can reveal pull, vibration, rubbing, or balance issues before the Cordia is used for longer trips or higher-speed highway driving.

A Mitsubishi Cordia should be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition of the installed tires, the load they are carrying, and the overall state of the car. Several listed 13-inch and 14-inch options are performance-era radial designs, but safe speed is never determined by tire labeling alone on a collector vehicle that may have aged suspension, brakes, or steering components.

The prudent approach is to treat a recently recommissioned Cordia conservatively until the car proves stable, smooth, and properly sorted at ordinary road speeds. As with many 1980s collector cars, the real limit is often the car’s maintenance condition rather than the catalog specification of the tire, so build confidence gradually instead of assuming modern-car behavior.