Mitsubishi Precis Tires

Mitsubishi Precis uses two tire sizes across the 1987 to 1994 model years: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13. The 155/80R13 size appears on every year from 1987 through 1994, while 175/70R13 is used from 1987 through 1991 and again in 1993 and 1994. Both sizes are radial designs for 13-inch wheels.

That means the correct tire choice starts with the model year, then moves to the car’s actual configuration. If your Mitsubishi Precis is a 1992 model, the listed size is 155/80R13 only. For all other years, check the existing tire size, wheel width, factory placard, or original owner literature before deciding between the narrower taller 155/80R13 and the wider lower-profile 175/70R13.

On a Mitsubishi Precis, 155/80R13 is a modern metric radial size. The 155 is the tire’s nominal section width in millimeters, 80 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is the size that runs through the full 1987 to 1994 production span.

That code matters because a tire can share the same 13-inch wheel diameter but still differ noticeably in width and sidewall height. On a Mitsubishi Precis, 155/80R13 gives a narrower, taller-profile fitment than 175/70R13. If your goal is to stay close to the long-running standard size used across the full model range, this is the first size to compare against the car’s current setup.

A 1987 Mitsubishi Precis has two listed tire sizes because that model year was offered with both 155/80R13 and 175/70R13 fitments. Both use the same 13-inch rim diameter and both are radial tires, so the split is not a wheel-diameter change or a construction change. It reflects a configuration difference within the same model year.

For the owner, that means year alone is not enough to choose a tire on those overlapping years. Check the tire information placard, the existing wheel and tire combination, and any original paperwork that came with the car. If the car has already been changed over at some point in its life, compare the wheel width and overall appearance before selecting the replacement size.

Mitsubishi Precis uses a 13-inch rim diameter for both listed tire sizes. The 155/80R13 products are built for 13-inch wheels, and the 175/70R13 product is also built for a 13-inch wheel. There is no rim-diameter change across the years covered here.

That simplifies fitment because the main difference between the available sizes is width and sidewall profile rather than wheel diameter. Even so, wheel width still matters, especially if the car has been modified or fitted with replacement wheels over the years. Before replacing tires on a Mitsubishi Precis, confirm the wheel size stamped on the rim and compare it with the recommended range for the tire you plan to use.

A 1990 Mitsubishi Precis can use either 155/80R13 or 175/70R13, so the correct tire size is tied to the specific configuration rather than the year alone. Both are 13-inch radial sizes, but they differ in width and aspect ratio. The narrower 155/80R13 has a taller sidewall, while the 175/70R13 is wider and lower in profile.

Start with the tire information label on the car if it is still present, then compare that with the current wheel and tire combination. If the car has been restored, repainted, or modified, verify against original paperwork or a Mitsubishi specialist rather than assuming the installed tires are correct. Matching the size to the intended configuration will preserve the right stance, steering response, and speedometer relationship.

Mitsubishi Precis tire options here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. The 155/80R13 size is available with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall treatments, while the 175/70R13 offering is listed as a blackwall. All of them are radial tires sized for 13-inch wheels.

That gives owners some flexibility depending on whether the goal is original small-import simplicity or a period custom look that suits the era. Many late-1980s and early-1990s compacts look most natural on blackwalls, but whitewalls can be appropriate for a preserved survivor or a personalized presentation. Sidewall style should come after size is settled, not before, since appearance should never override correct fitment.

Five brands are represented for Mitsubishi Precis tire fitments here: Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, Tornel, and Avon. Four of those brands cover the 155/80R13 size, while Avon covers the 175/70R13 size. All of the available products are radial-construction tires.

Brand choice becomes relevant after you have confirmed the correct size for the car. Once that is settled, compare sidewall style, intended use, and the wheel-width range for the specific tire. A preserved stock-style Mitsubishi Precis may call for a different visual presentation than a driver-oriented car, even when both are using the same basic wheel diameter.

Mitsubishi Precis tires here appear in several series: UN106, Silvertown Radial, Classic Whitewall MA-1, Tornel Classic, and CR6ZZ. All of them are radial tires, but they differ in brand family, sidewall treatment, and overall intended character. Some emphasize classic whitewall appearance, while the CR6ZZ is presented as a blackwall option in the wider 175/70R13 size.

For most Mitsubishi Precis owners, the practical difference is choosing between visual style and the exact size needed for the car. A whitewall radial can suit a period-preservation theme, while a blackwall radial often keeps the late-classic compact look more understated. Compare the series only after confirming the correct size, since the broadest product variety is in 155/80R13 rather than 175/70R13.

A Mitsubishi Precis should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and avoid letting the car sit on damp ground or in standing water. If the car will be parked for long periods, moving it occasionally helps reduce flat-spotting.

Long-term collector storage is easier on tires when the car is kept out of temperature extremes and not left under constant load in one exact position for months at a time. Many owners use tire cradles or place the car on stands when storage is extended, while keeping the suspension in mind. A small late-classic car like Mitsubishi Precis still benefits from the same disciplined tire care as larger collector vehicles.

Tires on a Mitsubishi Precis should be inspected at least monthly and again before any trip beyond a short local drive. Look for air loss, cracking, uneven wear, sidewall bulges, tread separation, and age-related hardening. Collector cars that are driven infrequently often need closer visual inspection than regular commuters because deterioration can develop before tread is worn out.

Inspection should include the inner sidewall, valve stems, and wheel condition, not just the outer tread surface. If your Mitsubishi Precis has been sitting through a season or more, check inflation and examine each tire under good light before putting road miles on the car. A brief inspection routine is often the difference between a pleasant drive and discovering a preventable problem once the car is already moving.

Tires on a Mitsubishi Precis should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, or structural deterioration becomes evident, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out. The decision should be driven by condition and service history, not by tread depth alone.

That matters on a low-mileage Mitsubishi Precis because a car that sees occasional use can still be riding on old rubber that no longer performs as intended. If the age of the tires is unclear, have them evaluated during routine service and inspect the date information where applicable. Replacement is especially prudent when a car has been stored for years, driven on underinflated tires, or exposed to heat and sun over time.

Mitsubishi Precis is shown here with two original-type size paths across its production years: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13. The 155/80R13 size spans 1987 through 1994, while 175/70R13 is listed for 1987 through 1991 and again for 1993 and 1994. The available replacement tires are all radial designs for 13-inch wheels.

For an accurate restoration, the important step is matching the car’s year and configuration before focusing on brand or sidewall style. A survivor-grade Mitsubishi Precis may also warrant checking original window sticker material, owner literature, or marque-specific references if you want to mirror the car’s factory presentation more closely. Once the correct size is settled, you can choose the sidewall look that best fits the restoration goal.

Correct tire fitment can affect how a Mitsubishi Precis is judged and how convincingly it presents as an authentic preserved or restored car. Size, sidewall profile, and sidewall style all influence the car’s stance and visual era-correctness. Even on a modest late-classic import, the wrong tire proportions can make the car look noticeably off.

That matters most when the car is being prepared for marque events, period shows, or preservation-focused display. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts tend to notice whether the tire height and width suit the model’s original appearance. If authenticity is the priority, use the year-specific size guidance first, then compare blackwall versus whitewall presentation in light of the exact look you want the Mitsubishi Precis to carry.

Mitsubishi Precis tire options here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall appears in 175/70R13, while the 155/80R13 size has multiple whitewall choices. All are radial tires sized for 13-inch wheels, so the question becomes one of presentation after fitment is confirmed.

For many late-1980s and early-1990s economy cars, blackwalls usually read as the most restrained and era-natural appearance. Whitewalls can still be appropriate where the owner is recreating a dealer-era custom look, preserving an older replacement-tire style, or aiming for a particular period aesthetic. A Mitsubishi Precis restoration should treat sidewall style as a finishing detail that supports, rather than overrides, the correct year-and-configuration size.

Modern radial tires in the listed Mitsubishi Precis sizes are intended for normal road use when they are new, properly installed, correctly inflated, and matched to sound wheels. The available options here are all radial-construction 13-inch tires, which suits the late-classic compact design of Mitsubishi Precis. Safety still depends on the condition of the complete vehicle, not the tire alone.

Before regular road driving, make sure the brakes, suspension, steering, and alignment are in proper order and that the selected tire size matches the car’s configuration. A Mitsubishi Precis that has sat unused for a long period should be recommissioned carefully rather than driven immediately at speed. Good tires are only one part of roadworthiness, and an otherwise neglected car can still be unsafe.

Before driving a Mitsubishi Precis, check tire inflation, visible condition, tread and sidewalls, valve stems, lug tightness, and any signs of rubbing or uneven wear. Also confirm that all four tires are the correct size for the car’s setup and that the spare is usable if one is carried. A quick walkaround often catches problems early.

On a car like Mitsubishi Precis, it is also wise to check fluid levels, brake feel, steering response, and whether the car pulls or vibrates once underway. If the tires are newly installed, recheck inflation and wheel fasteners after the first short drive. Small front-wheel-drive cars can react noticeably to mismatched sizes or neglected alignment, so tire inspection should be part of every pre-drive routine.

A Mitsubishi Precis should be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition, age, and specification of the tires actually fitted, not simply the capability the car may have had when new. The listed replacement fitments are modern radial tires, but road speed still needs to reflect proper inflation, load, balance, and overall vehicle condition. Aging tires or long-stored tires deserve extra caution.

The practical rule is to build speed gradually after inspection and use, especially if the car has been off the road for a long time. If there is any vibration, pull, wandering, or heat buildup, stop and investigate rather than pressing on. A well-sorted Mitsubishi Precis on fresh correctly sized tires can be a very usable compact, but sensible road speed should always match tire condition and mechanical readiness.