Plymouth Colt Tires

Plymouth Colt fitments span 12 sizes across the 1983 to 1994 model run: 155R13, 175/70R13, 165/80R13, 185/70R13, 155/80R13, 145/80R13 on 13-inch rims, and 185/60R14, 185/70R14, 195/60R14, 205/70R14, 185/75R14, and 185/65R14 on 14-inch rims. Early years begin with 13-inch applications, while 14-inch sizes enter the range in 1985 and continue alongside 13-inch choices rather than replacing them outright.

That wide spread means year alone is not enough to choose correctly for a Plymouth Colt. Check the existing tire sidewall, measure the wheel diameter, and compare the car’s present setup against the year listing so you match both the tire size and the wheel size already on the vehicle.

A 155R13 tire for the Plymouth Colt is an early Euro-metric radial size used in 1983 and 1984. The 155 identifies the section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 is the required rim diameter in inches. Unlike later metric sizes such as 155/80R13, the aspect ratio is not written separately and is understood as a traditional full-profile radial format.

That matters because a Plymouth Colt wearing 155R13 should not be treated as if every other 13-inch size is interchangeable. If the car still carries its original narrow-wheel look, this size preserves that character more closely than moving to a wider or lower-profile alternative.

A 1987 Plymouth Colt has 7 tire sizes listed because the model line used more than one wheel and tire configuration in the same year. The choices that year include several 13-inch sizes plus both 185/60R14 and 185/70R14 on 14-inch rims. That is a wheel-diameter split, not a case of one size replacing another midyear across the board.

The practical step is to identify the specific configuration on the car before choosing a tire. Read the current tire size if it is known to be correct, and physically confirm whether the wheel is 13 inches or 14 inches before narrowing the search to profile and sidewall style.

Plymouth Colt uses both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters across the 1983 to 1994 production span. The early range begins with 13-inch applications, and 14-inch wheel fitments first appear in 1985. After that point, both diameters remain in use depending on the year and configuration rather than following one simple changeover for every car.

Rim diameter is the first thing to verify because it immediately eliminates the wrong half of the size range. A 13-inch wheel must stay with one of the listed 13-inch sizes, and a 14-inch wheel must use one of the listed 14-inch sizes, even when the same model year shows both.

A 1989 Plymouth Colt can use 145/80R13, 155/80R13, 165/80R13, 175/70R13, 185/70R13, 185/70R14, or 195/60R14, so the correct choice depends on the exact wheel-and-tire package on the car. That year includes both 13-inch and 14-inch fitments as well as more than one section width and aspect ratio within each diameter group.

Start with the wheel diameter, then read the full sidewall size on an existing tire if the car is already wearing a known-correct set. If the current tires are questionable, compare the wheel size and overall stance against original paperwork or marque references before choosing among the listed 1989 Plymouth Colt sizes.

Plymouth Colt tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and RWL. Some sizes are offered only in blackwall, while others—especially 13-inch and 14-inch classic radial replacements—have multiple cosmetic choices that change the look of the car without changing the base size.

Sidewall style should follow the character of the specific Plymouth Colt you are building. A plain blackwall usually suits a factory-style economy-car appearance, while whitewall or stripe tires can push the look toward period custom or preserved survivor presentation if that matches the car’s history.

Plymouth Colt tire offerings in these sizes come from Avon, Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, Travelstar, Tornel, Vredestein, and, in some sizes, collector-oriented branded radial lines such as Silvertown Radial. Brand coverage varies by size, with some fitments offering a single choice and others offering several blackwall, whitewall, or performance-style alternatives.

That means the first filter should be size and rim diameter, not brand preference alone. Once the correct Plymouth Colt size is established, you can narrow the field by visual style, rim-width compatibility, and whether you want a more period-looking replacement or a sport-oriented radial presentation.

Plymouth Colt tires appear in several distinct series, including Avon CR6ZZ, Michelin XAS-FF, Michelin XDX-B, Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2, Michelin MXV3-A, Michelin XWX, Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet, Dunlop Sport Classic, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial, BFGoodrich Radial T/A, Maxxis Classic Whitewall MA-1, Travelstar UN106, Tornel Classic, and Vredestein Sprint Classic. Some emphasize a plain blackwall performance look, others focus on classic whitewall styling, and some blend vintage appearance with modern radial construction.

Choose the series that matches how your Plymouth Colt will be used and presented. A preserved stock-style car may call for a simpler blackwall or whitewall radial, while a more sporting build may favor one of the performance-oriented blackwall series available in the correct size.

A Plymouth Colt stored on its tires should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tires age more slowly when they are clean, properly inflated, and not left supporting the full vehicle weight on one spot for long periods.

If the Plymouth Colt will sit for months, roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces flat-spotting while keeping the suspension safely settled. A car used only seasonally benefits from checking inflation before and after storage so the tires are not left underinflated while parked.

Tires on a Plymouth Colt should be inspected before regular driving and at least several times through the year even if the car sees limited mileage. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, uneven wear, punctures, impact damage, and pressure loss, especially on collector cars that may sit longer than modern daily drivers.

Inspection should also include the wheel and valve area, since many fitment issues first show up as slow leaks or unusual shoulder wear. If the Plymouth Colt has recently changed wheel or tire size, check for rubbing at full steering lock and under suspension compression before putting any real miles on the car.

Tires on a Plymouth Colt should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, vibration, or structural damage appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector cars often age out their tires long before they wear them out, because time, heat cycles, and storage conditions affect the casing and rubber as much as mileage does.

The practical rule is to judge a Plymouth Colt tire by condition and age as well as tread depth. Any tire that shows visible age-related deterioration or has an uncertain service history deserves careful evaluation before road use, especially on a car that may have spent long periods parked.

Plymouth Colt used more than one tire size across its 1983 to 1994 run, including 13-inch and 14-inch radial fitments. The range includes early 155R13 applications, several 13-inch metric radials, and later 14-inch sizes such as 185/60R14, 185/70R14, 195/60R14, 205/70R14, 185/75R14, and 185/65R14 depending on year and configuration. There is no single original tire specification that covers every Plymouth Colt.

For restoration work, match the tire to the exact year and equipment level rather than to the model name alone. Original owner paperwork, factory literature, and marque-community references are the best way to confirm which listed Plymouth Colt size belongs on the specific car in your garage.

Correct tire fitment can affect how a Plymouth Colt is judged and how authentic it appears, especially when the car is being restored to a factory-style presentation. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the tire size, wheel diameter, profile, and sidewall treatment suit the year and character of the car.

A Plymouth Colt restored with the right dimensions will usually look more settled and believable than one wearing an obviously mismatched profile or incorrect wheel diameter. If the car is intended for show use, verify the size and sidewall style against period references before making a final decision.

Plymouth Colt restoration choices in the available range include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and RWL depending on size. Blackwall is the most straightforward factory-style visual choice for many Plymouth Colt applications, while whitewall or stripe treatments create a more customized or specialty-period appearance.

The right answer depends on the story of the specific Plymouth Colt. If the goal is stock appearance, start with the correct size and a simple sidewall treatment; if the car reflects period personalization, the available whitewall or performance stripe options can be appropriate without abandoning the proper dimensions.

These radial tires are intended for real road use on a Plymouth Colt when the size, rim diameter, and wheel-width compatibility are correct and the tires are in sound condition. The available range is entirely radial, and many of the offerings are built to suit classic or enthusiast cars that are still driven rather than displayed only.

Safe road use still depends on the whole vehicle, not just the tires. Before taking a Plymouth Colt into regular traffic, make sure the brakes, suspension, alignment, steering, and inflation pressures are sorted so the chosen tire can perform as intended.

Before driving a Plymouth Colt, check tire pressure, visible condition, tread and sidewall damage, lug torque, and whether the tire size matches the wheel diameter actually fitted to the car. Because this model can use many different 13-inch and 14-inch sizes, confirming that the car is not wearing an incorrect substitute is especially important.

A short low-speed shakedown is wise after fitting new tires to a Plymouth Colt. Listen for rubbing, feel for pulling or vibration, and recheck pressures once the car has settled into use so any fitment or mechanical issue is caught before longer highway driving.

A Plymouth Colt should be driven at speeds appropriate to the condition, age, and rating of the specific tires fitted, not simply to the car’s capabilities. Several listed replacements are modern radial designs in the original size families, but actual safe cruising speed still depends on tire condition, inflation, wheel condition, and the car’s overall mechanical health.

That means a freshly sorted Plymouth Colt on properly sized, sound radial tires can be used more confidently than a car on old, aged rubber of uncertain history. If the tires are older, recently acquired, or the car has been dormant, keep speeds conservative until the whole package has been inspected and proven on the road.