Plymouth TC3 Tires
Plymouth TC3 was Chrysler’s early-1980s three-door hatchback, sold during a period when domestic compact cars were shifting toward front-wheel-drive packaging, smaller overall dimensions, and more modern radial tire fitments. Produced from 1980 through 1982, Plymouth TC3 sits in an interesting transition era where styling, trim presentation, and wheel-and-tire choices could vary more than many buyers expect from such a short production run. Tire selection is not entirely straightforward because the listed sizes span several section widths and include both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters by 1982. Anyone choosing tires for a Plymouth TC3 should first confirm the actual wheel diameter on the car before narrowing down the correct size.
Plymouth TC3 Tire Size Guide
Plymouth TC3 uses 5 distinct tire sizes across the 1980 to 1982 production span, and the most important fitment change is the move from 13-inch wheels to a 14-inch wheel option in 1982. Most sizes listed for Plymouth TC3 are metric radial sizes, where the first number is section width in millimeters, the second number is aspect ratio, and the final number is the wheel diameter in inches.
175/75R13 fits Plymouth TC3 models from 1980 and again in 1982 where that specific size was used. The code indicates a 175mm section width, a 75-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. Choose this size only if the car is already equipped for 13-inch wheels and verify the sidewall style you want, since Plymouth TC3 listings span both plain and styled period looks.
185/70R13 applies to 1980 Plymouth TC3 applications using that larger 13-inch fitment. The size code means a 185mm section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. Choose this size for a 1980 Plymouth TC3 that carries 13-inch wheels and needs the broader stance of this fitment, with available products including blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall styles.
155/80R13 fits 1981 Plymouth TC3 applications that used the narrower 13-inch size. The code indicates a 155mm section width, an 80-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. Choose this size when the car is set up for the slimmer 1981 fitment, especially if period-style narrow or wide whitewall sidewalls are part of the look you want.
165/75R13 is listed for 1981 Plymouth TC3 alongside another 13-inch size, so it applies to specific 1981 configurations. The code means a 165mm section width, a 75-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. Choose this size only after confirming the exact wheel-and-tire specification on the car, since 1981 Plymouth TC3 used more than one 13-inch metric radial size.
195/60R14 fits 1982 Plymouth TC3 applications that used the larger 14-inch wheel. The code indicates a 195mm section width, a 60-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. Choose this size only for a 1982 Plymouth TC3 with 14-inch wheels, because it will not interchange with the model’s 13-inch fitments.
Plymouth TC3 Tires by Year
The year listing breaks Plymouth TC3 tire fitment down by model year so you can match the car’s production year to the sizes associated with it. Plymouth TC3 production changed from 13-inch to 14-inch wheels in 1982, so confirm which rim diameter the specific car carries before selecting a tire. These year entries are especially useful on 1981 and 1982 models, where more than one size appears within the same year and the correct choice depends on the actual wheel-and-tire configuration.
1980 Plymouth TC3
- 175/75R13
- 185/70R13
1981 Plymouth TC3
- 155/80R13
- 165/75R13
1982 Plymouth TC3
- 175/75R13
- 195/60R14
Best Plymouth TC3 Tires for Sale
Available Plymouth TC3 tires cover 3 listed sizes across 7 brands and 12 products. Choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline options, so confirm both the correct size and the wheel’s 13-inch or 14-inch rim diameter before selecting.
185/70R13 Products
These are the available products for 185/70R13.
155/80R13 Products
These are the available products for 155/80R13.
195/60R14 Products
These are the available products for 195/60R14.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQs below focus on the details that matter most for Plymouth TC3 owners: which years use which metric radial sizes, when 14-inch wheels appear, what sidewall styles are available, and how to care for collector-use tires on an early-1980s hatchback.
Size Basics & Fitment
Plymouth TC3 uses five listed tire sizes across its 1980 to 1982 run: 175/75R13 for 1980 and 1982, 185/70R13 for 1980, 155/80R13 for 1981, 165/75R13 for 1981, and 195/60R14 for 1982. Four of those sizes fit 13-inch wheels, while 195/60R14 is the only 14-inch fitment in the group.
That means year alone is not always enough to choose correctly. Start by confirming the actual wheel diameter on the car, then compare the existing tire size, wheel width, and overall appearance you want to preserve before settling on the final replacement size.
Plymouth TC3 uses both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters in the listed fitments. The 1980 and 1981 applications are all 13-inch sizes, while 1982 includes both a 13-inch size, 175/75R13, and a 14-inch size, 195/60R14.
That split makes wheel diameter the first thing to verify on any 1982 Plymouth TC3. A tire sized for a 13-inch wheel cannot be mounted on a 14-inch wheel, so checking the wheel itself is more important than assuming every car from the same year used the same diameter.
1981 Plymouth TC3 has two listed sizes, 155/80R13 and 165/75R13, and both use the same 13-inch rim diameter. Since the wheel diameter does not change within that year and all listed products are radial, the split points to different configurations rather than a construction or wheel-diameter change.
The practical takeaway is to identify the exact setup on the car instead of choosing by year alone. Check the current tire size, compare wheel width if known, and use factory literature or marque-specific references if the car has been restored or altered over time.
Buying the Right Tire
The best way to confirm the correct tire size for a Plymouth TC3 is to match three things: the model year, the actual wheel diameter, and the tire size already fitted if the car still carries the proper wheels. That matters because 1980, 1981, and 1982 do not all share one universal size, and 1982 includes both 13-inch and 14-inch applications.
A careful buyer should read the size molded on the existing tire, inspect the wheel diameter directly, and compare the car’s current stance with the intended factory-style appearance. On a restored or modified Plymouth TC3, wheel swaps are common enough that physical verification is more reliable than year-based assumptions.
Plymouth TC3 tire offerings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline sidewall styles. Blackwall appears across several performance-oriented radial options, while whitewall and redline choices are present on certain 13-inch sizes for owners who want a stronger period-custom or dress-up look.
Sidewall style does not change the required size, but it does change the car’s visual character significantly. If originality matters, compare your Plymouth TC3 against period photos, surviving trim details, and the look you want the finished car to present at shows or on the road.
The listed Plymouth TC3 tire brands are BFGoodrich, Avon, Dunlop, Michelin, Vredestein, Travelstar, Maxxis, and Tornel. Availability varies by size, with the broadest selection appearing in 185/70R13 and more limited choices in sizes such as 195/60R14.
Brand choice should come after fitment is settled. Once the correct size is confirmed, you can narrow the field by sidewall appearance, intended use, and how closely you want the tire’s look to match the era and personality of your Plymouth TC3.
Plymouth TC3 listings include several tire series, including Silvertown Radial, CR6ZZ, SP Sport Aquajet, Sport Classic, Michelin XDX-B, Sprint Classic, UN106, Classic Whitewall MA-1, Tornel Classic, and Michelin MXV3-A. Some emphasize period styling, some focus on blackwall performance character, and others are aimed at classic-car whitewall presentation in smaller radial sizes.
The right series depends on how your Plymouth TC3 will be used and how authentic or personalized you want it to look. A blackwall performance radial gives a different visual and driving impression than a wide whitewall or redline tire, even when the base size is correct.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Plymouth TC3 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Clean tires and proper inflation help prevent flat spotting and sidewall stress during longer periods of inactivity.
If the car will sit for extended intervals, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one section of the tire. Collector cars such as Plymouth TC3 age better when storage conditions are controlled as carefully as mileage.
Tires on a Plymouth TC3 should be inspected regularly even if the car is driven only occasionally. Look for air loss, sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, irregular wear, and any mismatch between the tire size on the car and the wheel diameter it is supposed to fit.
A good routine is to inspect before every meaningful drive and again after long storage periods. Low-use collector cars often age out their tires before they wear them out, so visual condition and inflation are just as important as tread depth.
Tires on a Plymouth TC3 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, air loss, or structural damage show that the casing is no longer trustworthy, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires commonly reach the end of their safe service life because of time and environment rather than mileage alone.
That is especially important on a lightly driven Plymouth TC3 that may appear well preserved but still carries old rubber. If a car has sat for years, have the tires evaluated carefully before returning it to road use, because appearance by itself is not a reliable measure of serviceability.
Restoration & Authenticity
Plymouth TC3 used more than one tire size during its short production run, including 13-inch and 14-inch applications depending on year and configuration. The listed sizes show that there was not one single universal Plymouth TC3 fitment across 1980 to 1982.
For a restoration-minded owner, the most accurate approach is to match the tire size, wheel diameter, and sidewall look to the specific car being restored. Period photographs, factory literature, and marque-specific references are the best way to confirm what is appropriate for a particular Plymouth TC3.
Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and credibility of a Plymouth TC3 restoration. Size, wheel diameter, and sidewall style all influence whether the finished car looks properly sorted for its year and configuration.
Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts tend to notice obvious mismatches such as the wrong rim diameter, an overly modern appearance, or a sidewall treatment that does not suit the car’s character. A Plymouth TC3 restored with the proper proportions usually looks more coherent and better finished overall.
Plymouth TC3 tire choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline styles. Blackwall is the most restrained and broadly era-appropriate look for an early-1980s compact hatchback, while whitewall and redline options create a more customized or dressed-up period appearance.
The right answer depends on the specific Plymouth TC3 you are recreating. If the goal is factory-style authenticity, compare against original photos or surviving unrestored cars; if the goal is a period custom feel, the whitewall and redline options can support that look without changing the basic size requirement.
Safety & Road Use
The listed Plymouth TC3 tires are radial designs appropriate to the car’s era, but road safety depends on much more than the size alone. Condition, age, inflation, wheel compatibility, suspension health, and brake condition all matter before any public-road driving begins.
A properly sorted Plymouth TC3 on correctly sized, sound tires can be driven practically, but a car that has sat for years needs a full mechanical review first. Treat tire choice as one part of the car’s overall readiness, not as a stand-alone safety guarantee.
Before driving a Plymouth TC3, check that all four tires match the wheel diameter they are mounted on, verify inflation, inspect for cracking or bulges, and confirm that tread wear is even. It is also wise to look at valve stems, wheel condition, and the age and general state of the spare if one is carried.
Because Plymouth TC3 uses more than one size family across only three model years, a quick fitment check can prevent obvious mistakes. If the car has recently changed hands or undergone restoration work, confirm that the tire size and wheel size combination makes sense before any meaningful road use.
A sensible speed for a Plymouth TC3 depends on the condition, age, and specification of the tires actually fitted, not simply on the car itself. Even with radial tires, an older collector car should be driven within the limits of its tire condition, wheel condition, and overall mechanical health.
For practical use, build speed gradually and pay attention to vibration, wander, noise, and heat buildup. A Plymouth TC3 on fresh, correctly fitted tires and a sound chassis can be used more confidently than one still carrying aged or questionable rubber, so condition should always govern pace.