The 1974 Plymouth Duster sits in the final stretch of the compact Mopar muscle era, when sporty coupes still balanced everyday usability with distinct small-car attitude. That matters when choosing tires, because the 1974 Plymouth Duster spans both traditional bias-ply fitments and a radial fitment depending on sub-model. Covered sizes include DR78-14, E70-14, 695-14, and D78-14, all built around a 14-inch rim, with choices that range from redlines and raised white letters to narrow whitewalls and blackwalls. The right selection comes down to confirming the exact sub-model first, then matching the tire’s construction and appearance to the car’s intended restoration style and road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1974 Plymouth Duster
The 1974 Plymouth Duster uses four primary tire sizes, and the correct one depends on the exact sub-model rather than wheel diameter, since every fitment here is built for a 14-inch rim. Some configurations use bias-ply tires, while the Duster 360 also carries a radial fitment option, so the first step is identifying the car’s specific model before choosing a tire style, construction, or equivalent radial alternative.
DR78-14 is a vintage alphanumeric radial size, where the letter code identifies the tire’s size class, the R denotes radial construction, and 14 refers to the rim diameter in inches. On the 1974 Plymouth Duster, this size is part of the Duster 360 fitment and represents the radial side of the vehicle’s period tire story. It is most relevant to owners who want to stay with an authentic-era radial format rather than moving to a bias-ply presentation. Confirming that the car is a Duster 360 is the key step before treating DR78-14 as the right primary fitment.
E70-14 is a vintage alphanumeric bias-ply size, with the letter indicating the tire’s width class, the 70 identifying its profile family, and the 14 marking rim diameter. This size gives the 1974 Plymouth Duster a traditional muscle-era bias-ply look, and available choices include Firestone and Goodyear products in Wide Oval and Custom Wide Tread series. Sidewall treatments include pin white stripe, redline, and raised white letter styles, giving this fitment a distinctly appearance-driven selection process. It is the size to evaluate carefully when the goal is preserving a strong period-style look on a Duster 360.
695-14 is a numeric bias-ply size in which 6.95 represents the nominal section width in inches and 14 is the rim diameter. On the 1974 Plymouth Duster, this fitment appears on the w/318 Eng. configuration and opens up a broad mix of period-style choices from BFGoodrich, US Royal, and Goodyear. Available series and sidewalls include blackwall, narrow whitewall, dual redline, raised white letter, and Blue Streak presentations, so appearance plays a major role alongside basic fitment. This size also has clearly defined radial equivalents for owners comparing traditional construction with a more modern radial format.
D78-14 is a vintage alphanumeric bias-ply size, with the D indicating the tire’s size class, 78 identifying the profile family, and 14 denoting rim diameter. On the 1974 Plymouth Duster, it belongs with the w/318 Eng. fitment and should be treated as a distinct primary size rather than assumed interchangeable with the other 14-inch options. Its relevance is mainly in preserving the correct fitment path for that specific sub-model and wheel setup. The important next step is confirming whether the car is using its intended sub-model tire size before comparing appearance or construction choices.
Sub-model fitment matters on the 1974 Plymouth Duster because the covered configurations do not all use the same primary tire size or construction. Identifying whether the car is a Duster 360 or a Duster w/318 Eng. is the first step before comparing bias-ply options, radial fitment, or radial-equivalent alternatives.
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1974 Plymouth Duster 360
The 1974 Plymouth Duster 360 uses either DR78-14 radial or E70-14 bias-ply fitment, giving this sub-model a meaningful construction choice within the same 14-inch wheel diameter. Tire selection here revolves around whether the goal is a period-style bias-ply presentation or staying with the radial format associated with this configuration.
The 1974 Plymouth Duster w/318 Eng. uses 695-14 or D78-14 bias-ply sizing, so this sub-model follows a more traditional bias-ply fitment path. Choosing tires for this version starts with confirming which of those primary sizes is on the car, then narrowing by sidewall style, series, or radial-equivalent interest where applicable.
Bias-Ply to Radial Tire Conversion for the 1974 Plymouth Duster
E70-14 and 695-14 both have three radial-equivalent options. For E70-14, the choices are 185R14 as an 80-series metric radial, P195/75R14 as a 75-series P-metric radial, and P205/70R14 as a 70-series P-metric radial. For 695-14, the equivalents are 175R14, P185/75R14, and P195/70R14 in those same categories. These options differ mainly by sizing convention and profile family, and the recommended rim-width range for both primary sizes is 4 to 6 inches, so wheel compatibility and clearance should be checked before changing formats.
Modern Radial Equivalents
185R14
Equivalent 80-series Metric Radial (E70-14)
P195/75R14
Equivalent P-metric 75-series Radial (E70-14)
P205/70R14
Equivalent P-metric 70-series Radial (E70-14)
175R14
Equivalent 80-series Metric Radial (695-14)
P185/75R14
Equivalent P-metric 75-series Radial (695-14)
P195/70R14
Equivalent P-metric 70-series Radial (695-14)
Important Considerations When Replacing Bias Ply With Radial
Compare overall diameter and section width carefully to ensure proper fit.
Verify recommended rim range (4-6 in) and load needs match your vehicle specifications.
Check fender clearance, steering clearance, and stance before installation.
Consider suspension condition and intended road use when choosing equivalents.
Important Fitment Notes
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1974 Plymouth Duster Tires for Sale
Available 14-inch tire choices for the 1974 Plymouth Duster vary widely by size, brand, series, and sidewall treatment. Buyers can compare Firestone, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, and US Royal options across Wide Oval, Custom Wide Tread, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Blue Streak, and Power Cushion lines.
Common questions for the 1974 Plymouth Duster usually center on which tire size belongs on each sub-model, how bias-ply and radial fitments differ, and how to choose the right sidewall style and period look without overlooking wheel and clearance checks.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1974 Plymouth Duster?
The 1974 Plymouth Duster uses four primary tire sizes: DR78-14, E70-14, 695-14, and D78-14. The correct size depends on the exact sub-model, with the Duster 360 using DR78-14 radial or E70-14 bias-ply, while the Duster w/318 Eng. uses 695-14 or D78-14 bias-ply.
That means the first step is confirming the specific Duster configuration rather than assuming every 1974 model used the same tire. Since all of these fitments use a 14-inch rim, the main decision is not wheel diameter but matching the proper size and construction to the car before comparing sidewall style, brand, or radial-equivalent alternatives.
What size rim does a 1974 Plymouth Duster use?
The covered tire fitments for the 1974 Plymouth Duster are all built around a 14-inch rim diameter. That includes DR78-14, E70-14, 695-14, and D78-14, so the wheel diameter stays consistent even though tire size and construction vary by sub-model.
A shared 14-inch rim diameter does not make every tire size automatically interchangeable. Wheel width still matters, and the car’s exact sub-model matters just as much, especially because the Duster 360 includes both bias-ply and radial fitment while the w/318 Eng. stays within bias-ply sizes.
Why does the 1974 Plymouth Duster have more than one tire size?
More than one tire size applies because the 1974 Plymouth Duster covers different sub-models with different fitment paths. The Duster 360 carries DR78-14 radial and E70-14 bias-ply fitments, while the Duster w/318 Eng. uses 695-14 or D78-14 bias-ply sizes.
For a buyer, that means selection starts with identifying the actual car rather than choosing by appearance alone. Two Dusters from the same model year can share the same 14-inch wheel diameter yet still call for different size codes, different construction types, and different product groups.
Bias-Ply & Radial Options
Is E70-14 a bias-ply or radial tire for the 1974 Plymouth Duster?
E70-14 is a bias-ply tire size on the 1974 Plymouth Duster. It appears on the Duster 360, where it represents a traditional alphanumeric muscle-era fitment distinct from the DR78-14 radial option used on the same sub-model family.
That distinction matters because bias-ply and radial tires create different buying decisions even when rim diameter stays the same. Owners choosing E70-14 often focus on period-style appearance, sidewall treatment, and keeping the car aligned with a classic bias-ply presentation instead of moving to a radial alternative.
What radial tire sizes are equivalent to E70-14 and 695-14?
E70-14 has three radial equivalents: 185R14, P195/75R14, and P205/70R14. The 695-14 size also has three radial equivalents: 175R14, P185/75R14, and P195/70R14, covering 80-series metric and P-metric radial alternatives in both 75-series and 70-series formats.
Those sizes provide useful alternatives, but they still need to be checked against the car’s wheel setup before conversion. A recommended rim-width range of 4 to 6 inches applies to both primary bias-ply sizes, and overall fit should still be reviewed for wheel compatibility and vehicle clearance.
What should I check before converting my 1974 Plymouth Duster from bias-ply to radial tires?
Start by confirming the Duster’s exact primary size and sub-model, then compare only the radial-equivalent sizes tied to that fitment. For E70-14, that means 185R14, P195/75R14, or P205/70R14, and for 695-14 it means 175R14, P185/75R14, or P195/70R14.
Next, verify the wheel width, since both of those bias-ply sizes reference a 4 to 6 inch recommended rim-width range for radial alternatives. Clearance at the fenders and steering should also be reviewed, especially if the Duster has aftermarket wheels, changed ride height, or suspension parts that differ from its original setup.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 1974 Plymouth Duster tire?
Begin with the exact sub-model and primary size, because a 1974 Plymouth Duster does not use one universal tire. The next key decision is construction, since the Duster 360 includes both radial and bias-ply fitment while the w/318 Eng. uses bias-ply sizes.
Once the basic fitment is settled, the choice becomes more specific: sidewall style, brand, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility where product specs vary. A restoration-oriented Duster may lean toward a traditional bias-ply look, while a regularly driven car may lead the owner to compare equivalent radial formats more closely.
What sidewall styles are available for 1974 Plymouth Duster tires?
Available sidewall styles for covered 1974 Plymouth Duster tire sizes include pin white stripe, redline, raised white letter, narrow whitewall, blackwall, dual redline, and a raised white letter Blue Streak presentation. The exact choices depend on the tire size, since E70-14 and 695-14 do not share the same product mix.
That variety makes appearance a major part of the buying decision, especially on a 1970s Mopar where tire presentation can change the car’s whole stance. The practical step is choosing the correct size first, then narrowing the options by the look that best suits the car’s intended restoration style or road-going personality.
What brands offer tires for the 1974 Plymouth Duster?
The available brands for covered 1974 Plymouth Duster tire sizes include Firestone, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, and US Royal. Brand availability depends on the size, with E70-14 centered around Firestone and Goodyear, while 695-14 includes BFGoodrich, US Royal, and Goodyear offerings.
Brand choice should follow fitment, not replace it. After confirming the car’s size and construction, compare each brand’s available series and sidewall treatments, since that is where the real differences appear for this Duster rather than in any one-name-fits-all approach.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1974 Plymouth Duster?
A period-style 1974 Plymouth Duster usually starts with the correct primary size for the exact sub-model, then stays within the appropriate bias-ply or radial format for that configuration. E70-14 and 695-14 offer the broadest appearance choices among the covered sizes, especially for buyers focused on classic 1970s presentation.
From there, sidewall treatment helps define the car’s character, whether that means redline, raised white letter, narrow whitewall, or blackwall. Exact originality can vary by car and owner goals, so anyone pursuing a highly exact restoration should compare the tire choice against marque-specific references and the car’s own historical details.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1974 Plymouth Duster?
Tire construction changes the visual character of a restored 1974 Plymouth Duster as much as the size code does. A bias-ply tire typically supports a more traditional 1970s presentation, while a radial fitment can give the car a later-period roadgoing look, especially on the Duster 360 where both constructions appear.
That makes construction a styling decision as well as a fitment decision. Owners restoring for show presentation often start by matching the sub-model’s primary size and then choose the sidewall style that suits the build, while owners prioritizing mixed-use driving may spend more time evaluating radial-equivalent alternatives.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1974 Plymouth Duster?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1974 Plymouth Duster even when the car still uses a 14-inch wheel. Changes such as aftermarket wheels, different wheel widths, altered ride height, suspension work, or body changes can all influence how a DR78-14, E70-14, 695-14, or D78-14 tire sits on the car.
That is especially important when comparing one primary size against another or considering a radial equivalent for a bias-ply fitment. Clearance at the fender openings and during steering travel should be reviewed carefully, since a modified Duster may no longer reflect the dimensions or stance of a stock setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1974 Plymouth Duster on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for the correct diameter and sound condition, confirm that the tires match the intended size for the car’s sub-model, and check inflation, bead seating, and visible clearance. It also helps to look over suspension and steering components so the new tires are not being asked to work around worn hardware.
A short test drive should include attention to rubbing, pulling, unusual vibration, or any sign that the tire choice and vehicle setup are not working together as expected. Collector cars like a Duster often spend long periods parked, so fresh tires should still be paired with a careful overall mechanical check.
How should tires on a collector 1974 Plymouth Duster be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1974 Plymouth Duster should be checked regularly for pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and signs of slow air loss. Low-use cars can age their tires long before they wear them out, so condition matters at least as much as mileage.
Storage also plays a big role in preserving a Duster’s tires. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps protect rubber over time, and periodic inspection before each driving season helps catch age-related issues before they become a road-use problem.
