Peugeot 304 Tires

Peugeot 304 models from 1970 through 1972 are associated with two tire sizes: 145R14 and 520-14. The 145R14 size is a radial built for a 14-inch rim, while 520-14 is a numeric bias-ply size also built for a 14-inch rim. That means the full year range carries the same two basic fitment paths rather than changing sizes from one production year to the next.

The practical difference is not the model year alone but the tire system your Peugeot 304 is actually using. A car already fitted with metric radials will usually point you toward 145R14, while a car set up for period-style bias-ply tires may use 520-14. Check the tire size currently on the car, verify the wheel width if possible, and make sure the appearance and construction match your restoration or driving goals.

On a Peugeot 304, 520-14 is an older numeric bias-ply size designation. The 520 refers to the nominal section width in the traditional numeric system, and the 14 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the available Peugeot 304 products, 520-14 is offered as a bias-ply tire on a 14-inch rim with narrow whitewall styling.

That matters because 520-14 does not translate directly into a modern metric radial in the way many later sizes do. If your Peugeot 304 wears this size, the car may be set up for a more period-looking bias-ply presentation rather than a later radial appearance. Confirm the wheel and compare the stance you want before changing formats, because appearance and driving feel can differ noticeably between the two size systems.

A 1970 Peugeot 304 has 145R14 and 520-14 listed because the fitment split is by construction type and size system, not by wheel diameter. Both sizes use a 14-inch rim, but 145R14 is a radial metric-style fitment and 520-14 is a numeric bias-ply fitment. The same two-size pattern continues through 1971 and 1972 as well.

For the owner, that means the right answer comes from identifying how the specific Peugeot 304 is equipped today and what kind of result you want from the tire change. A preserved or restored car may be aiming for period bias-ply character, while another owner may prefer the radial fitment already on the car. Looking only at the model year will not settle the question; the actual wheel and tire setup will.

Peugeot 304 tube requirements depend on the tire size and construction you choose. The 520-14 products are bias-ply tires, and a tube is required with that size family. The 145R14 products are radial tires, so they are not automatically treated the same way as the older bias-ply numeric fitment.

If your Peugeot 304 is being fitted with 520-14 tires, plan the installation as a bias-ply setup rather than assuming modern tubeless practice. If the car is running 145R14 radials, inspect the wheels carefully and match the installation method to the wheel design and condition. Collectors often inherit cars with mixed-era components, so it is worth checking the wheel itself instead of relying on assumptions from the badge or year.

Peugeot 304 owners have both paths available in the listed fitments: 520-14 as a bias-ply tire and 145R14 as a radial. The bias-ply option leans toward a period-style appearance with narrow whitewall offerings, while the radial option follows a more modern metric format with blackwall styling. Both sizes use 14-inch rims, but they represent different tire technologies and visual character.

The best choice depends on how your Peugeot 304 is being used and presented. A restoration-minded owner may prefer the bias-ply look, especially if the goal is period presentation, while a driver already set up on metric radials may prefer to stay with 145R14. Keep the car consistent rather than treating the two sizes as interchangeable styling choices alone, since construction influences feel as well as appearance.

Yes, changing a Peugeot 304 from bias-ply 520-14 tires to 145R14 radials can alter the way the car feels on the road because the construction type changes, not just the size code. The listed radial option uses a different carcass design from the listed bias-ply option, and that typically affects steering response, ride character, and tracking behavior. Even with the same 14-inch rim diameter, the driving impression will not be identical.

That is why many experienced owners choose a direction and stay with it rather than mixing old and new tire behavior casually. If your Peugeot 304 has been sorted around radial tires, replacing like with like usually preserves the familiar feel. If the car is a period-style restoration, the bias-ply route may be more faithful visually and dynamically, but it should be approached as a whole-vehicle choice rather than a simple size substitution.

Mixing 520-14 bias-ply tires and 145R14 radial tires on a Peugeot 304 is not a good idea because the two constructions behave differently even though both are 14-inch fitments. Bias-ply and radial tires respond differently to steering input, road irregularities, and load transfer. A matched construction set is the more coherent and predictable approach for the chassis.

If your Peugeot 304 currently has one type at the front and another at the rear, treat that as something to correct rather than preserve. Collector cars often pass through multiple owners and eras of maintenance, so mismatched tires are not unusual. Before any road use, inspect all four tires and make sure the full set follows one construction type and one compatible size system instead of combining the two listed fitment families.

A 1971 Peugeot 304 can use either 145R14 or 520-14, so confirmation starts with the car itself rather than the year alone. Both sizes are listed for that year and both use a 14-inch rim, but one is a radial size and the other is a bias-ply size. The fastest first check is the sidewall on the existing tire, followed by the wheel dimensions and the kind of restoration or driving setup the car is intended to keep.

Once you know whether the Peugeot 304 is set up around radial or bias-ply construction, the choice becomes much clearer. Preserve consistency with the wheel width, sidewall look, and overall presentation already established on the car. If the car is newly acquired and its history is unclear, compare all four wheels and tires carefully, because mixed replacements from different periods can make the fitment story less obvious than the year listing suggests.

Peugeot 304 tire offerings here include blackwall and narrow whitewall sidewall styles. The 145R14 radial options are blackwall tires, while the 520-14 bias-ply options are offered with narrow whitewall treatments in more than one whitewall width. That gives Peugeot 304 owners a clear visual divide between the more modern radial presentation and the more period-styled bias-ply look.

Sidewall choice affects the car's appearance as much as the size itself, so it should match the kind of Peugeot 304 you are building. A blackwall radial usually suits a straightforward road-use presentation, while a narrow whitewall bias-ply setup pushes the car toward a more stylized or period-influenced visual statement. Choose the sidewall style only after you have settled the construction type, because the styling and tire technology are linked in the current offerings.

Peugeot 304 tires in the listed sizes come from Firestone, Camac, and Premium Sport. Firestone and Camac cover the 145R14 radial size, while Premium Sport covers the 520-14 bias-ply size. That brand spread mirrors the two different fitment directions available for the Peugeot 304: metric radial on one side and numeric bias-ply on the other.

For the buyer, brand choice follows size choice more than the other way around. If your Peugeot 304 needs 145R14, you are choosing among radial offerings from two brands; if it needs 520-14, the available products center on Premium Sport bias-ply designs with narrow whitewalls. Start by locking in the correct size and construction, then compare brand and appearance details within that narrower fitment path.

Peugeot 304 products here include the Firestone F560 Radial, the Camac BN313 Radial, and the Premium Sport Lowrider series. The first two are radial-series offerings in 145R14 with blackwall styling, while the Premium Sport Lowrider line covers 520-14 bias-ply tires with narrow whitewall presentation. The main difference between them is construction type and visual character rather than small variations within one tire family.

That means the series question on a Peugeot 304 is really a decision about what kind of car you want when the tire change is complete. Owners preserving a radial-equipped driver will usually compare the F560 Radial and BN313 Radial, while someone aiming for a stylized or period-leaning bias-ply look will focus on the Premium Sport Lowrider options. Make the construction decision first, then choose the series that best matches the car's appearance and intended use.

A Peugeot 304 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long-term exposure to moisture. Tires age as much from environment as from mileage, and collector cars often spend long periods parked. Clean floors, proper inflation, and regular repositioning all help reduce flat-spotting and localized stress.

If the Peugeot 304 will sit for an extended period, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading on one section of the tire. Bias-ply and radial tires both benefit from careful storage, though a low-use collector car often suffers more from age and inactivity than from road wear. A simple storage routine pays off in ride quality, appearance, and casing life when the car returns to use.

Tires on a Peugeot 304 should be inspected at regular intervals even when the car is driven only occasionally. A visual check before each outing and a more thorough inspection several times a year is a sensible routine for a collector car. Look for cracking, air loss, uneven wear, sidewall damage, and signs that an older tire has hardened with age.

This matters especially on a Peugeot 304 because the car may be running either radial or bias-ply tires, and low annual mileage can hide age-related deterioration. Check all four tires, including the inner sidewalls and valve areas, rather than glancing only at the tread. An inspection habit also helps catch mismatched replacements, wheel issues, or tube-related concerns before they become road-use problems.

Peugeot 304 tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks serviceable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, especially on cars that see short seasonal drives or mostly static display use. Visible tread depth alone is not enough to judge whether an older tire still belongs in service.

Treat replacement as a condition decision, not a mileage decision. If your Peugeot 304 has older tires of uncertain history, have them evaluated with the same seriousness you would give brakes or steering components. Cars that have sat for long periods can carry tires that look presentable from a few feet away but no longer provide trustworthy service, so periodic age-based reassessment is part of responsible ownership.

Peugeot 304 fitment listings include both 145R14 radial and 520-14 bias-ply sizes across 1970 through 1972, so more than one tire approach is represented within the model range. The available products also span radial series and a bias-ply series rather than pointing to a single universal original-equipment answer for every car. A specific Peugeot 304 may therefore need to be judged by its own configuration and restoration target.

For an authenticity-minded owner, the next step is to compare the car against factory literature, period photographs, and marque-club guidance rather than assuming that every Peugeot 304 left the line in one identical tire format. The right restoration choice depends on how the individual car was specified and what standard of originality is being pursued. Tire style, construction, and sidewall presentation should all be treated as part of that larger historical picture.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both presentation and judging for a Peugeot 304 because size, construction type, and sidewall style all change how authentically the car reads. A 145R14 blackwall radial gives a different visual and historical impression than a 520-14 narrow whitewall bias-ply tire, even though both sizes are associated with the same model years. Judges and informed buyers notice those distinctions quickly.

The practical takeaway is to match the tire to the standard you are chasing. If the Peugeot 304 is being restored for authenticity, consult period references and Peugeot enthusiast sources before finalizing the fitment. If the car is a driver with tasteful updates, consistency matters more than rigid originality, but the tire should still suit the car's era, wheel setup, and overall character rather than looking obviously out of place.

On the Peugeot 304, the Firestone F560 Radial and Premium Sport Lowrider series serve two distinctly different purposes. The F560 Radial is offered in 145R14 as a blackwall radial, while the Premium Sport Lowrider line is offered in 520-14 as a bias-ply narrow whitewall tire. The difference is therefore not just branding but an entire change in size system, construction type, and visual effect.

That makes the choice largely a question of identity for the car. A Peugeot 304 set up as a practical driver will often align more naturally with the radial series, while a more stylized or period-themed presentation may point toward the bias-ply whitewall series. Compare the wheel setup and the car's overall build theme before choosing, because switching between those series changes both appearance and the way the tire relates to the chassis.

Peugeot 304 tires can be suitable for public-road use when the correct size, construction, and condition are all in place. The key is matching the tire to the wheel and keeping a full, age-appropriate set in sound condition rather than relying on old or mismatched tires. A car running 145R14 radials presents a different use profile from one fitted with 520-14 bias-ply tires, so road expectations should match the construction chosen.

Safe road use starts with a complete inspection of the Peugeot 304, not just the tire sidewall. Check inflation, age, sidewall condition, wheel integrity, valve hardware, and overall consistency across all four corners before regular driving. A well-sorted collector car on the correct tires can be enjoyable on modern roads, but any uncertainty about age, damage, or mixed tire types should be resolved before putting the car into normal traffic.

Before driving a Peugeot 304, inspect tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread condition, and whether all four tires match in size family and construction. Also confirm that the car is running either the 145R14 radial setup or the 520-14 bias-ply setup consistently rather than a mixture. Because both size systems appear across the same model years, an older car can carry confusing replacement history unless checked carefully.

The tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that includes brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel fasteners. With a collector Peugeot 304, the safest habit is to walk around the car before every outing and look for changes since the last drive, especially after storage. Small issues such as pressure loss or sidewall cracking are much easier to catch in the garage than after the car is already at road speed.

Appropriate speed for a Peugeot 304 depends on the actual tire fitted, its age, its condition, and whether the car is on radial or bias-ply construction. A fresh, correctly fitted tire in good condition should still be treated with the respect due any vintage or collector-car application, and an older bias-ply setup deserves a more conservative approach than many modern drivers instinctively use. Speed choice should always follow the condition of the complete car, not just the engine's ability to keep up with traffic.

In practice, drive a Peugeot 304 at moderate speeds that suit its tires, brakes, steering, and road environment rather than pushing the car because the roadway allows it. If the car is newly acquired, has sat for years, or carries tires of uncertain age, keep speeds low until the entire setup has been inspected. Smooth inputs and realistic pace do more for safety and preservation than trying to make a vintage tire package behave like a modern one.