Subaru DL Tires

Subaru DL uses three listed tire sizes across its 1972 to 1989 production span: 6.15-13 for 1972 through 1979, 155R13 for 1972 through 1989, and 165R13 for 1985 through 1989. All three sizes are built around a 13-inch rim diameter, but they represent different sizing systems and, in the case of 6.15-13, a different construction type from the radial options.

The practical step is to match the tire to the specific year and the wheel-and-tire setup already on the car rather than assuming one size fits every Subaru DL. Early cars may appear in either numeric bias-ply or metric radial form, while late cars can use either 155R13 or 165R13 depending on configuration.

On a Subaru DL, 6.15-13 is a numeric bias-ply size used in the 1972 through 1979 range. The 6.15 is the nominal section width in inches, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a metric radial code, so it should be understood as an older sizing convention with a different appearance and driving character than 155R13 or 165R13 radials.

That distinction matters because a Subaru DL wearing 6.15-13 tires should be evaluated as a bias-ply application, not simply converted by guesswork into a later radial size. If originality matters, keep the car in the sizing format appropriate to its setup; if drivability matters more, compare the actual wheel and existing tire specification carefully before changing format.

A 1975 Subaru DL has two listed tire sizes because that year falls in the overlap between 6.15-13 numeric bias-ply sizing and 155R13 metric radial sizing. Both use 13-inch wheels, so the split is not caused by a wheel-diameter change. Instead, it reflects a period when older and newer tire sizing systems were both used on Subaru DL applications.

The right way to sort that out is to inspect the car itself and identify which tire format and wheel setup it currently carries. A Subaru DL that has long been restored or maintained may already be on one system or the other, and keeping the sizes consistent across the axle and throughout the car is more important than choosing by year alone.

Subaru DL tube requirements depend on the tire type. The listed radial products in 155R13 and 165R13 are tubeless-style radial fitments, while the 6.15-13 numeric bias-ply application calls for a tube. That means tube use is tied to the older bias-ply size rather than to every Subaru DL tire choice across the full production run.

If your Subaru DL is using the early 6.15-13 format, treat tube fitment as part of the tire package and make sure the wheel condition is suitable for that arrangement. If the car is on 155R13 or 165R13 radials, focus instead on confirming the wheel width and overall tire compatibility before replacing the set.

Subaru DL appears with both bias-ply and radial sizing in the listed year range. The 6.15-13 option represents the older bias-ply approach used on 1972 through 1979 applications, while 155R13 runs throughout 1972 to 1989 and 165R13 appears from 1985 through 1989 as radial choices. That gives Subaru DL owners a real period split between traditional construction and later radial behavior.

Choose bias-ply if your goal is period-correct presentation for an early Subaru DL that was set up that way, and choose radial if you want the later-style road manners associated with the metric fitments listed for the model. The important point is to match all four tires to a coherent setup rather than combining two different driving characteristics on one car.

A Subaru DL fitted with radial tires such as 155R13 or 165R13 will typically feel different from one running an early 6.15-13 bias-ply setup. The listed radial options use a newer construction style than the numeric bias-ply fitment, so steering response, tracking, and general road feel can change even when the wheel diameter remains 13 inches.

That matters most on early Subaru DL cars that could be found in either format. If the goal is authenticity, keep the car in the construction type that suits the restoration; if the goal is regular road use, make the switch as a complete set and verify that the chosen radial size matches the car’s intended late or early fitment pattern.

A Subaru DL should not be treated casually when mixing crossply and radial tires because the listed sizes reflect different construction philosophies, not just different numbers on the sidewall. The early 6.15-13 bias-ply option and the 155R13 or 165R13 radial options are intended as separate setups. Mixing them can produce uneven handling characteristics that are out of character with a properly matched set.

The safer collector-car practice is to keep the same construction type across the full vehicle and to reserve any change in type for a full replacement plan. If your Subaru DL came to you with a mixed set, identifying the intended size and construction should be one of the first corrections before regular driving.

A 1987 Subaru DL can use either 155R13 or 165R13, both on 13-inch rims. Because two metric radial sizes are listed for that year, the correct choice depends on the specific configuration and the size already associated with the car. The decision is not made by year alone, since Subaru DL used more than one fitment in that late-production period.

Start by checking the existing tire sidewall, wheel width, and any factory or restoration records that stayed with the car. If the Subaru DL has been altered over time, matching the replacement tires to the wheel dimensions already in use is usually the clearest way to avoid choosing a size that looks or fits incorrectly.

Subaru DL tire options in the listed sizes come from Michelin and Dunlop. Michelin appears in 155R13 and 165R13 offerings, including XAS and XAS-FF series examples, while Dunlop appears with SP Sport Aquajet products in both sizes. All of the listed products for those available radial sizes use blackwall styling.

Brand choice on a Subaru DL often comes down to the type of period look and driving character you want within the correct size. Once the correct size is identified, comparing brand, series, and wheel-width compatibility is more useful than choosing solely on name recognition.

Subaru DL tire offerings include Michelin XAS-FF, Michelin XAS, and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet series. All are radial products in the listed available sizes, but they represent different period touring-performance lines rather than one universal product under multiple names. The series distinction matters because it affects how closely the finished car matches a particular era look and feel within the Subaru DL’s later metric-radial applications.

For a buyer, the key step is to choose the correct size first and then compare series within that size. A Subaru DL that needs 155R13 should stay in that size before any series decision is made, and a late car that calls for 165R13 should be evaluated within the wider option rather than cross-shopping to another size.

A Subaru DL 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 wheels before storage, and keep the car on a stable surface rather than bare ground. If the car sits for long periods, maintaining proper inflation is as important as tread depth for preserving the shape of the tire.

Owners who keep a Subaru DL as a seasonal or collector car should move the car periodically or use methods that reduce flat-spotting during long storage intervals. Early cars on bias-ply tires deserve extra care, since long stationary periods can affect ride quality more noticeably than on a regularly driven modern car.

Tires on a Subaru DL should be inspected before road use if the car is driven infrequently, and at regular intervals throughout the season even if the tread still looks healthy. Look for cracking, weathering, punctures, irregular wear, sidewall damage, and changes in how the tire seats on the rim. Collector cars can age tires out long before they wear them out.

That inspection routine matters on a Subaru DL because some cars spend long periods parked and may only come out for occasional drives or events. A close visual check, air-pressure check, and quick review of valve stems and wheel condition can prevent small age-related issues from turning into roadside problems.

A Subaru DL tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, or structural deterioration appears, even if the tread is still deep. Collector cars often preserve tread while the casing and rubber quietly age. That rule applies to both radial and bias-ply Subaru DL fitments, since visible wear is only one part of a tire’s service life.

If a Subaru DL has been sitting for years, age and storage history deserve more attention than mileage. Any tire with questionable condition, persistent air loss, or clear sidewall deterioration should be removed from service and evaluated against the intended use of the car before it returns to regular driving.

Subaru DL appears with both 6.15-13 and 155R13 in the 1972 through 1979 years, then with 155R13 alone from 1980 through 1984, and with both 155R13 and 165R13 from 1985 through 1989. The available products tied to the radial sizes include Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet series. That tells you Subaru DL moved through more than one tire sizing convention over its production life rather than staying with one static fitment.

For an exact restoration, the best approach is to match the car’s production year and configuration first, then compare that with surviving original paperwork, period photography, or marque-club guidance. A Subaru DL restored for authenticity should reflect the correct size system and general tire character for its era, not simply any 13-inch tire that happens to fit.

Correct tire fitment can influence how a Subaru DL is judged because tire size, construction style, and sidewall appearance all contribute to whether the car looks appropriate for its year and restoration standard. An early Subaru DL on a numeric bias-ply setup presents differently from one on a metric radial, and late cars with 155R13 or 165R13 should also reflect the proper configuration.

That does not mean every Subaru DL must be restored to concours standards, but it does mean tire choice is visible and often noticed. Owners concerned with value, authenticity, or event judging should use the size listings as a starting point and then compare against marque-specific references before finalizing the tire setup.

For Subaru DL, Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF appear as separate radial series within the available metric fitments. Both are offered in the period-style radial category used on later Subaru DL applications, but they are listed as distinct series rather than interchangeable labels. That means the choice is less about changing the basic construction type and more about selecting the period radial line that best suits the car.

The useful restoration approach is to settle the Subaru DL’s correct size first and then compare which Michelin series best fits the intended presentation of the car. If originality is the priority, period literature, surviving examples, and club knowledge can help determine whether one series better matches the character of a specific restoration.

A Subaru DL can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, construction, and condition for the car, and when the rest of the vehicle is mechanically sound. The listed radial options are conventional road-use tire types for a compact car of this era, while the early 6.15-13 bias-ply size calls for a more traditional setup and correspondingly careful expectations.

Road safety on a Subaru DL depends on more than matching the sidewall size. Tire age, inflation, wheel condition, suspension health, and brake condition all matter, especially on a collector car that may have long dormant periods between drives.

Before driving a Subaru DL, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign of flat-spotting or impact damage. Confirm that all four tires match the intended size and construction type for the car, especially on early Subaru DL examples that could appear in either bias-ply or radial form. A quick walkaround can catch most obvious tire-related issues.

Beyond the tires themselves, a Subaru DL should also have its brakes, steering, and suspension reviewed if it has been stored or used lightly. Cars that look fine cosmetically can still have age-related issues that only appear once they return to road speed.

A Subaru DL should be driven at speeds appropriate to the tire type fitted, the age and condition of the tires, and the overall mechanical condition of the car. A car on fresh, correct-condition radial tires in 155R13 or 165R13 is a different case from an early Subaru DL maintained in a more traditional 6.15-13 bias-ply setup. Tire age and condition matter at least as much as the printed size.

The practical rule is to begin conservatively, assess ride quality and stability, and avoid treating a collector Subaru DL like a modern daily driver until the entire car has proven itself roadworthy. Any vibration, wandering, pull, or heat buildup should be treated as a reason to stop and inspect before continuing.