Plymouth Valiant Tires

Plymouth Valiant uses 650-13 and 700-13 from 1960 through 1969, both on 13-inch rims. Later listings include 695-14 for 1965, 1966, 1972, and 1975; D78-14 for 1972, 1974, and 1975; DR78-14 for 1974; E78-14 for 1975 and 1976; and ER78-14 for 1976, all on 14-inch rims. The early sizes are numeric bias-ply sizes, while the later D- and E-series sizes introduce alphanumeric bias-ply and radial fitments.

The practical takeaway is that Plymouth Valiant fitment is tied to both year and wheel diameter, not year alone. Start by measuring the wheel or confirming the stamping, then compare the tire size already on the car with the year-specific listings. That matters most on mid-sixties and mid-seventies cars, where more than one size appears in the same production year.

On a Plymouth Valiant, 650-13 is a numeric bias-ply size used on early cars. The 650 designation is the nominal section width with the decimal omitted, and the 13 identifies the rim diameter. The available 650-13 products are bias-ply tires built for 13-inch rims with recommended rim widths of 4.50 to 5.00 inches.

That size belongs to the early compact Valiant years, so it is the right place to look if the car still carries its original-style 13-inch wheel package. Compare wheel width as well as diameter, and keep the car’s intended use in mind. A period-style 650-13 bias-ply will preserve an authentic appearance and handling character that suits an early-sixties restoration.

A 1975 Plymouth Valiant can show 695-14, D78-14, and E78-14 because more than one 14-inch fitment was used within that model year. The split is not a 13-inch versus 14-inch wheel issue in 1975, since all three sizes use 14-inch rims. Instead, the year includes multiple same-diameter size options that likely reflect differences in configuration, trim, or intended tire specification.

That means a 1975 Plymouth Valiant owner should not choose by model year alone. Check the wheel size, the size currently mounted if it is known to be correct, and any factory literature, build information, or restoration records that follow the car. When several 14-inch sizes appear in one year, the exact configuration matters more than the badge on the fender.

Plymouth Valiant uses both 13-inch and 14-inch rim diameters across the years covered here. The 13-inch sizes are 650-13 and 700-13, used from 1960 through 1969. The first 14-inch listings appear in 1965 with 695-14, and later 14-inch sizes include D78-14, DR78-14, E78-14, and ER78-14.

Rim diameter is the first fitment point to confirm because a tire size that looks close on paper will not mount correctly if the wheel diameter is wrong. Measure the wheel or verify the stamping before comparing widths or sidewall styles. That step is especially important on mid-sixties Plymouth Valiant cars, where 13-inch and 14-inch applications overlap within the same year range.

Plymouth Valiant listings include both bias-ply and radial constructions, but they do not appear in the same size family across all years. Early sizes such as 650-13, 700-13, and 695-14 are bias-ply offerings, while later alphanumeric radial listings appear as DR78-14 for 1974 and ER78-14 for 1976. That means the choice is partly historical and partly tied to the specific year and size your car uses.

Choose bias-ply when authenticity and original-era appearance are the priority, especially on an earlier restoration. Choose radial only when your Plymouth Valiant is one of the years and configurations that use a radial size, and when your goal is later-period road manners rather than strict period presentation. The key is to match the tire construction to the correct size family for the car.

Yes, radial tires can change how a Plymouth Valiant feels on the road compared with bias-ply tires. The later radial sizes listed for Plymouth Valiant, DR78-14 and ER78-14, represent a different construction type than the earlier bias-ply 13-inch and 14-inch options. Even when overall fitment is correct, radial construction typically gives the car a different response than a period-style crossply tire.

That matters most if you are balancing authenticity against drivability. A restored show-focused Plymouth Valiant often benefits from staying with the bias-ply construction associated with its era, while a later driver may suit a correct radial size if the car is already configured for it. Evaluate steering feel, stance, and the overall restoration goal before moving from one construction type to the other.

Mixing crossply and radial tires on a Plymouth Valiant is not a good practice. The fitment range for Plymouth Valiant includes both constructions, but they belong to different size families and different periods in the car’s production. Bias-ply and radial tires react differently under load and in cornering, so a mixed set can create inconsistent handling.

The sound approach is to choose one construction type that matches the correct size for the specific Plymouth Valiant year and configuration, then keep that construction consistent across the full set. If the car currently has a mixed assortment, treat that as a signal to review wheel size, intended use, and restoration goals before replacing the tires as a matched group.

A 1965 Plymouth Valiant can use 650-13, 700-13, or 695-14, so that year requires more checking than most. The two 13-inch sizes belong to the early compact fitment group, while 695-14 introduces a 14-inch wheel application in the same model year. The correct answer depends on the actual wheel diameter and the specific configuration of the car.

Start with the wheel itself, because a 13-inch versus 14-inch difference settles the question quickly. After that, compare the existing tire size if the car has a known-correct set, then verify against original paperwork or marque-specific references. On a transitional year like 1965, the right tire is the one that matches the car’s wheels and configuration together.

Plymouth Valiant tire offerings include wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, blackwall, dual redline, RWL, and raised-white-letter blue-streak styles. The early 650-13 and 700-13 options center on whitewall presentations, while 695-14 broadens into blackwall, redline, and performance-oriented sidewall treatments. E78-14 also appears in both wide whitewall and blackwall forms.

That variety lets a Plymouth Valiant owner tune the look of the car to its restoration period and personality. A conservative restoration often leans toward blackwall or era-appropriate whitewall, while a more performance-themed or muscle-era presentation may favor redline or lettered styles where they are offered. Match the sidewall style to both the year of the car and the visual character you want to preserve.

Plymouth Valiant tires in the listed sizes are available from Coker Classic, US Royal, Firestone, BFGoodrich, Goodyear, and STA. Brand coverage varies by size, with 650-13 shared by Coker Classic and US Royal, 700-13 shown from Firestone, 695-14 represented by BFGoodrich, US Royal, and Goodyear, and E78-14 represented by Coker Classic and STA. No single brand covers every listed Plymouth Valiant size.

Brand choice should come after you establish the correct size and construction. Once the fitment is settled, compare brand offerings by sidewall style, tire series, and the type of driving or restoration you have in mind. That approach keeps appearance and authenticity decisions from leading you into the wrong size family for the car.

Plymouth Valiant products appear in several tire series, including Coker Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Blue Streak, Power Cushion, Traxion, and Transport Highway. Most of those are classic passenger-car bias-ply lines, while Blue Streak leans toward a period competition look and the STA Traxion and Transport Highway entries move into heavier-duty blackwall territory. The series therefore differ by intended character as much as by brand.

For a restored street car, the classic bias-ply passenger series usually make the most visual and historical sense. A Plymouth Valiant built with a stronger performance theme may suit a Blue Streak-style presentation, while the truck-oriented E78-14 STA options should be considered carefully for application and appearance. Choose the series that matches the car’s purpose after the size itself is confirmed.

A Plymouth Valiant that sits for long periods should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tires on collector cars age from time and environment as well as mileage, and low-use cars are especially prone to flat spotting and sidewall weathering. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and correct inflation all help preserve the tire casing.

If the car will be parked for an extended season, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Keep the storage area free of electric motors and battery chargers that can create ozone. Good storage habits matter just as much for a lightly driven Plymouth Valiant as regular road miles do for a daily driver.

Tires on a Plymouth Valiant should be inspected at regular intervals even if the car is driven only occasionally. Check inflation, sidewall condition, tread surface, bead area, and any signs of uneven wear before each meaningful drive and during routine seasonal service. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, so infrequent use is not a reason to inspect them less carefully.

A practical routine is to give the tires a visual check every time the car comes out of storage and a more thorough inspection several times per year. Pay close attention after winter storage, after long highway use, or any time the steering feel changes. Catching cracking, air loss, or irregular wear early can prevent damage to both the tire and the car.

Tires on a Plymouth Valiant should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, tread separation, repeated air loss, or structural damage appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector cars often preserve tread because they see limited mileage, but the rubber and internal structure continue to age. Appearance alone is never a complete guide to serviceability.

If a Plymouth Valiant has spent years in storage, age should carry as much weight as tread depth in the decision to replace. Have older tires examined closely before returning the car to regular driving, especially if the vehicle has unknown service history. A conservative replacement schedule is usually cheaper than repairing body or suspension damage caused by a failing vintage tire.

Plymouth Valiant appears with several period-appropriate size families across its production span rather than one single original fitment. Early cars use 650-13 and 700-13, mid-period listings add 695-14, and later cars move into D78-14, DR78-14, E78-14, and ER78-14. The available product families are primarily classic bias-ply lines, with later radial sizes appearing for selected seventies applications.

To identify what belongs on one specific Plymouth Valiant, match the car’s year, wheel diameter, and restoration goal before narrowing the choice further. If the car is being restored for formal judging, factory literature and marque-club references should settle the exact original specification. That is especially important on transition years where more than one size appears.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the judged authenticity and the overall presentation of a Plymouth Valiant. Size, construction type, rim diameter, and sidewall style all contribute to whether the car looks right for its production year. A car wearing an incorrect wheel diameter or a visibly wrong sidewall treatment can lose points with informed judges and look out of step to experienced collectors.

For that reason, tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than as a final cosmetic detail. A driver-quality Plymouth Valiant may allow more flexibility, but a serious restoration benefits from matching the tire’s visual character to the car’s era. Marque clubs and period brochures remain the best references when authenticity carries real weight.

Plymouth Valiant tire offerings include wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, blackwall, dual redline, RWL, and raised-white-letter blue-streak styles, so the correct sidewall depends on the car’s year and character. Early sixties cars generally align more naturally with whitewall presentations, while later sixties and seventies applications can reasonably move toward blackwall or sportier sidewall treatments depending on the build. The right answer is visual and historical, not just dimensional.

A careful restoration should use a sidewall style that matches how the specific Plymouth Valiant would have been presented in its period. A family compact restored to showroom character will usually want a more restrained whitewall or blackwall, while a more aggressive period look may justify redlines or lettered tires where those styles are offered in the correct size. Let the era of the car lead the decision.

A correctly sized, properly mounted, and well-maintained tire can be suitable for driving a Plymouth Valiant on public roads, but safety depends on much more than matching the size code. Construction type, age, inflation, wheel condition, alignment, and the overall mechanical state of the car all matter. A bias-ply Plymouth Valiant will also feel different on the road than one fitted with a later radial size.

Treat tire choice as one part of a complete roadworthiness check. Before regular use, make sure the wheels are sound, the tires are free of age-related defects, and the car’s steering and suspension are in proper condition. A Plymouth Valiant that is sorted correctly can be enjoyable on modern roads, but it still needs to be driven within the limits of its vintage design.

Before driving a Plymouth Valiant, check inflation pressure, visible tread and sidewall condition, valve stems, wheel attachment, and any sign of cracking, bulging, or air loss. Confirm that all four tires match in size and construction, especially on later cars where both bias-ply and radial listings appear in the fitment range. If the car has been sitting, inspect for flat spotting and age-related hardening before heading onto the road.

The first miles after storage are when old tire problems often reveal themselves, so keep the initial drive short and attentive. Pay close attention to pull, vibration, wandering, or unusual noise, because those can point to inflation issues, mismatch, or structural tire problems. A brief pre-drive check is one of the simplest ways to protect both a Plymouth Valiant and its occupants.

A Plymouth Valiant on period-style tires should be driven at speeds that suit the construction, age, and condition of the tires rather than the capability of modern traffic. Bias-ply tires, particularly on an unrestored or lightly used car, generally call for more conservative operation than a modern vehicle. Even later radial-size Plymouth Valiant applications should be treated with respect if the tires or wheels are older.

Use moderate speeds, smooth steering inputs, and longer following distances until you know exactly how the car responds. If the tires are older, the car has just come out of storage, or the suspension history is unclear, conservative local driving is the right starting point. The goal is not to prove top speed, but to keep a vintage Plymouth Valiant stable, predictable, and enjoyable.