The 1979 Aston Martin V8 sits at the intersection of British grand touring luxury and serious late-1970s performance, with the hand-built character and long-legged road manners that make these cars so distinctive today. Tire choice matters because this model uses three radial 15-inch fitments, and the right size depends on whether the car is a Saloon Coupe, Vantage Coupe, or Volante Convertible. Across those sizes, the available selection ranges from blackwall and whitewall styles to redline and raised white letter options from brands such as Michelin, Avon, Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Maxxis. The goal is matching the car's exact configuration, intended appearance, and real road use before settling on a tire.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1979 Aston Martin V8
The 1979 Aston Martin V8 uses three tire sizes, all in radial construction on 15-inch rims. The key first step is identifying the exact sub-model, because Saloon Coupe, Vantage Coupe, and Volante Convertible fitments are not the same. Once the correct size is confirmed, the decision shifts to profile, sidewall style, brand, and whether the tire's character suits a restoration-oriented presentation or regular road use.
225/70R15 is a metric radial size in which 225 refers to nominal section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 15 is the rim diameter in inches. On the 1979 Aston Martin V8, this size is used on certain Saloon Coupe applications and keeps the tire choice within a modern radial format. Available options include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, pin-white-stripe, redline, and raised white letter styles across series such as Michelin XWX, Goodyear Polysteel, Silvertown Radial, Cobra Radial G/T, Classic Whitewall MA-1, and Radial T/A. It is a useful size to confirm carefully when the car's wheel setup or desired appearance may differ from another V8 variant.
235/70R15 follows the same metric radial format, with a 235-millimeter nominal width, a 70-series profile, radial construction, and a 15-inch rim diameter. This size appears on the Volante Convertible and on certain Saloon Coupe applications, making it one of the more important fitments to sort out by sub-model. Product choice spans blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, and raised white letter treatments from Avon, Michelin, BFGoodrich, and Cooper in series such as Turbosteel 70 CR11B, Michelin XVS, Silvertown Radial, Cobra Radial G/T, and Radial T/A. It is the right size to evaluate when you want the correct fitment foundation without giving up meaningful appearance choices.
255/60R15 is a wider, lower-profile metric radial size, with 255 indicating nominal section width in millimeters, 60 indicating aspect ratio, and 15 indicating the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1979 Aston Martin V8, this size belongs to the Vantage Coupe and should not be assumed to apply across the rest of the lineup. The available choices center on raised white letter or outlined white letter presentations from Goodyear, Cooper, and BFGoodrich, including Customgard Flexten, Eagle GT, Cobra Radial G/T, and Radial T/A series. It is the size to focus on when matching the Vantage's specific fitment and preserving the proper relationship between tire width, profile, and wheel setup.
Sub-model fitment matters on the 1979 Aston Martin V8 because the tire size changes across the range even though every application uses a 15-inch radial. Checking whether the car is a Saloon Coupe, Vantage Coupe, or Volante Convertible is the clearest way to avoid choosing the right construction in the wrong size.
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1979 Aston Martin V8 Saloon Coupe
The 1979 Aston Martin V8 Saloon Coupe uses radial fitments in either 225/70R15 or 235/70R15, so the exact wheel and existing setup deserve a close look before choosing a replacement. That makes this sub-model less about construction choice and more about confirming size, then selecting the preferred brand, sidewall treatment, and tire series.
The 1979 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe uses the 255/60R15 radial size, which separates it clearly from the other V8 sub-models covered here. Tire selection then centers on choosing among the available raised white letter and outlined white letter offerings while keeping wheel width and overall fitment in mind.
The 1979 Aston Martin V8 Volante Convertible uses a 235/70R15 radial tire on a 15-inch rim. That gives the owner a useful range of blackwall, whitewall, redline, and raised white letter options, with the main priority being a tire that suits both the car's appearance and its intended road use.
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 1979 Aston Martin V8 Tires for Sale
Available 1979 Aston Martin V8 tires span 225/70R15, 235/70R15, and 255/60R15 radial fitments from Goodyear, Michelin, Avon, BFGoodrich, Cooper, and Maxxis. The product grid gives meaningful comparison across series, sidewall styles, rim-width specifications, load figures, and overall presentation.
These FAQs focus on the exact tire sizes used on the 1979 Aston Martin V8, how those fitments change by sub-model, and how to sort through radial choices, sidewall styles, wheel compatibility, appearance, and road-use checks.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1979 Aston Martin V8?
The 1979 Aston Martin V8 uses three tire sizes: 225/70R15, 235/70R15, and 255/60R15. All three are radial 15-inch fitments, but they do not apply to every version of the car. The Saloon Coupe uses 225/70R15 or 235/70R15, the Volante Convertible uses 235/70R15, and the Vantage Coupe uses 255/60R15.
The practical step is confirming the exact sub-model first, then checking what is actually on the car now. A long-owned collector car may have had wheel changes or prior substitutions, so matching the correct size to the correct sub-model matters more than simply ordering by model name alone.
What size rim does a 1979 Aston Martin V8 use?
The tire fitments covered for the 1979 Aston Martin V8 all use a 15-inch rim diameter. That is consistent across 225/70R15, 235/70R15, and 255/60R15, even though the tire widths and profiles differ by sub-model. The common thread is radial construction on a 15-inch wheel.
Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture, so it helps to verify wheel width as well before choosing among available products. That matters especially on a car with non-original wheels, because two tires can share the same 15-inch diameter while calling for different rim-width ranges and presenting a different stance.
Do all 1979 Aston Martin V8 sub-models use the same tire size?
No. The 1979 Aston Martin V8 range uses different tire sizes depending on the sub-model. The Saloon Coupe uses 225/70R15 or 235/70R15, the Volante Convertible uses 235/70R15, and the Vantage Coupe uses 255/60R15. All are radial tires on 15-inch rims, but the fitment is not shared across the full lineup.
That distinction affects both appearance and product choice, since each size opens a different mix of brands, sidewall treatments, and tire series. Using the sub-model as the starting point keeps the selection process much cleaner than trying to choose by wheel diameter alone.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 1979 Aston Martin V8 tire?
Start with the car's exact sub-model and correct size, since the 1979 Aston Martin V8 uses 225/70R15, 235/70R15, or 255/60R15 depending on configuration. All are radial fitments, so the next decision becomes product character rather than construction type. Sidewall appearance, brand, tire series, rim-width specification, load figure, and overall look all become part of the comparison.
A restoration-oriented Volante may call for a very different visual treatment than a Vantage intended to emphasize a more performance-focused period look. Matching the tire to the car's use, wheel setup, and presentation usually leads to a better result than choosing only by size and ignoring the rest of the package.
What sidewall styles are available for 1979 Aston Martin V8 tires?
Sidewall choices for the 1979 Aston Martin V8 vary by size, but the overall mix includes blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, pin-white-stripe, redline, RWL, and OWL styles. That gives this car an unusually broad range of visual directions, from understated grand touring presentation to more overt late-1970s performance styling depending on the sub-model and tire size.
Appearance should still follow fitment, not replace it. Once the correct size is confirmed, the sidewall treatment can help shape the car's final look without changing the underlying wheel diameter or basic fitment requirements. That is especially useful on a hand-built car where visual balance matters as much as the specification itself.
What brands offer tires for the 1979 Aston Martin V8?
Available brands for the 1979 Aston Martin V8 include Goodyear, Cooper, Michelin, Maxxis, BFGoodrich, and Avon, depending on the tire size. Those brands appear across several different product lines, including touring-style blackwalls, whitewall variants, redlines, and raised white letter tires. The brand mix changes somewhat from one size to another.
That means brand choice should be made after the correct fitment is settled, not before. A Saloon Coupe owner comparing 225/70R15 or 235/70R15 may see a different product mix than a Vantage owner shopping 255/60R15, so size and sub-model still frame the decision more than brand loyalty alone.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1979 Aston Martin V8?
A period-style choice starts with the exact sub-model and its correct radial size, then moves to the tire's visual character. For a 1979 Aston Martin V8, that could mean a blackwall grand touring presentation, a whitewall treatment, a redline, or a raised white letter look depending on the car's configuration and the style you want to emphasize.
The safest approach is to treat size as fixed and appearance as the variable. If exact originality matters, compare the tire choice against marque references, period photography, or other vehicle-specific documentation. That keeps the result visually appropriate without overstating a tire as factory-correct when the goal is really a convincing period-style presentation.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1979 Aston Martin V8?
On the 1979 Aston Martin V8, construction is straightforward because the primary fitments are radial rather than bias-ply. The appearance difference comes less from switching construction and more from choosing the right size, profile, and sidewall treatment within the available radial offerings. Those details have the strongest influence on how settled and authentic the car looks.
A restored Saloon Coupe, Volante, or Vantage can take on a noticeably different character depending on whether it wears blackwalls, whitewalls, redlines, or lettered sidewalls. Keeping the correct sub-model size in place usually does more for the finished look than chasing novelty in tread or sidewall style.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1979 Aston Martin V8?
Yes. Even though the 1979 Aston Martin V8 uses 15-inch radial tire sizes, aftermarket wheels, altered wheel width, suspension changes, ride-height changes, or body modifications can all affect what works on the car today. That is especially important on a model where one sub-model may use 225/70R15 or 235/70R15 while another uses 255/60R15.
Checking the actual wheel and tire setup on the car prevents confusion before ordering a replacement. Clearance at the fender edge, steering range, and the relationship between tire width and wheel width all deserve attention, particularly when the car has been modified over time or returned from an older restoration.
What should I inspect before driving a 1979 Aston Martin V8 on new tires?
Before putting a 1979 Aston Martin V8 back into regular road use on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage, confirm the wheel diameter and width, and make sure the chosen tire size matches the car's exact sub-model. Tire pressure, valve stems, and general clearance should also be checked once the tires are mounted.
A short initial road test is worthwhile on a collector car, especially one that may sit for long periods. Listen for rubbing, feel for any vibration, and recheck inflation after the first drive. That early inspection helps catch wheel-balance, clearance, or setup issues before they turn into a larger problem.
How should 1979 Aston Martin V8 tires be maintained?
Tires on a 1979 Aston Martin V8 should be inspected regularly for air loss, tread wear, sidewall cracking, bulges, and cuts, even if the car covers very few miles. Collector vehicles often age their tires through time and storage conditions more than mileage, so visual condition matters just as much as tread depth.
Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, excessive heat, and ozone sources helps preserve tire condition. Pressure should be checked before use rather than assumed, and any car that has sat for an extended period deserves a closer look before a longer drive. Low annual mileage does not eliminate the need for routine tire inspection.
