The 1979 Ferrari 308 sits squarely in the era when Ferrari’s mid-engine V8 road cars became part of the broader enthusiast imagination, blending sharp Italian styling with the kind of compact proportions that still define the model today. For tire selection, this year of 308 uses a 205/70R14 radial on a 14-inch rim, keeping fitment relatively straightforward across the covered versions. That simplicity still leaves room for meaningful choice, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter presentations from brands such as BFGoodrich, Michelin, and Maxxis. The real task is choosing the tire that best matches your 308’s appearance, wheel setup, and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1979 Ferrari 308
The 1979 Ferrari 308 uses one primary tire size: 205/70R14, and it is a radial fitment on a 14-inch rim. That same size is shared across the 308 GT4 and 308 GTB/S, so the main decision is not which primary size fits, but which version of 205/70R14 best suits your wheel width, visual style, and driving goals.
A 205/70R14 tire uses a 205-millimeter section width, a 70-series profile, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. On the 1979 Ferrari 308, that makes it a modern metric radial size rather than an older bias-ply or alphanumeric format, which helps keep fitment interpretation simple for today’s buyer. Available choices in this size include Michelin, BFGoodrich, and Maxxis products, with blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and RWL sidewall treatments across series such as Michelin XWX, Silvertown Radial, Radial T/A, and Classic Whitewall MA-1. This size is the starting point for balancing period-style appearance with the actual wheel and use requirements of your 308.
Tire fitment stays consistent across the covered 1979 Ferrari 308 sub-models, with the same primary size used throughout. Even so, checking the exact sub-model remains worthwhile so the tire choice matches the car’s presentation, wheel setup, and intended use.
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1979 Ferrari 308 GT4
The 1979 Ferrari 308 GT4 uses the same 205/70R14 radial fitment as the other covered 308 version. That makes tire selection more about choosing the right sidewall style, brand, and series for the car’s appearance and road use than sorting through multiple primary sizes.
The 1979 Ferrari 308 GTB/S also uses the 205/70R14 radial size on a 14-inch rim. With fitment staying straightforward, the practical decision is whether your car is better served by a traditional blackwall presentation or a more restoration-oriented whitewall or redline style.
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 Ferrari 308 Tires for Sale
Available 205/70R14 choices for the 1979 Ferrari 308 include BFGoodrich, Michelin, and Maxxis options across the Michelin XWX, Silvertown Radial, Radial T/A, and Classic Whitewall MA-1 lines. Sidewall treatments range from blackwall and narrow whitewall to redline, dual-redline, and RWL, with rim-width compatibility varying by product.
Common 1979 Ferrari 308 tire questions usually center on the 205/70R14 fitment, 14-inch rim compatibility, sidewall appearance, and how to choose among the available radial tire options. Owners also tend to ask what to inspect before road use on a collector-era Ferrari.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1979 Ferrari 308?
The 1979 Ferrari 308 uses a 205/70R14 radial tire. That same primary size applies to the covered 308 GT4 and 308 GTB/S versions, so the core fitment is consistent across the model range represented here.
Since there is one primary size, the real next step is confirming the actual wheels on the car still match the original 14-inch fitment. On collector vehicles, aftermarket wheels, past restoration choices, or long-ago changes can alter what is currently mounted, so checking rim diameter and wheel width before selecting a new 205/70R14 tire is still important.
What size rim does a 1979 Ferrari 308 use?
The primary tire fitment for the 1979 Ferrari 308 is built around a 14-inch rim. The 205/70R14 size itself confirms that rim diameter, and the available products in this fitment are all intended for 14-inch wheels.
Rim diameter is only part of the picture, so it also helps to confirm wheel width before choosing among available tires. Some 205/70R14 products suit a 5.00 to 7.00 inch rim width range, while others call for 5.50 to 7.50 inches, which can affect which specific tire makes the most sense for the wheels currently on the car.
Do all 1979 Ferrari 308 sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1979 Ferrari 308 sub-models here, including the 308 GT4 and 308 GTB/S, use the same 205/70R14 radial tire size. There is no split in primary fitment between those versions.
That consistency simplifies size selection, but it does not mean every product choice will suit every car the same way. The owner still has room to choose among blackwall, whitewall, redline, dual-redline, or RWL presentations, and should confirm the wheel dimensions and overall visual direction of the car before settling on one version of the shared size.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 205/70R14 tire for a 1979 Ferrari 308?
Start with the basics: correct size, radial construction, and 14-inch rim compatibility. From there, the most important differences are wheel-width suitability, sidewall style, and the character of the tire line, with options ranging from traditional blackwall and RWL to narrow whitewall, redline, and dual-redline treatments.
A buyer focused on a more restrained European look may lean toward a blackwall presentation, while a restoration-oriented or custom appearance may point toward one of the stripe or whitewall choices. It also helps to compare the wheel width on the car to the tire’s approved rim-width range so the selected 205/70R14 matches the actual setup rather than just the nominal size.
What sidewall styles are available for 1979 Ferrari 308 tires?
The 1979 Ferrari 308 has several sidewall styles available in 205/70R14, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and RWL. That gives the car a wider appearance range than many single-size fitments, even though the underlying tire size remains the same.
Sidewall choice changes the presentation of the car far more than many owners expect, especially on a low, sharply styled 1970s Ferrari. Selecting the right look depends on whether the car is being kept visually understated, restored with period-style cues in mind, or given a more personalized vintage look while still staying within the proper size family.
What brands offer tires for the 1979 Ferrari 308?
Available 205/70R14 tires for the 1979 Ferrari 308 include choices from BFGoodrich, Michelin, and Maxxis. Those brands cover several distinct tire lines, including Michelin XWX, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial, BFGoodrich Radial T/A, and Maxxis Classic Whitewall MA-1.
Brand matters less as a ranking exercise than as a shorthand for tire character, appearance, and sizing details within the same fitment. Comparing the series, sidewall treatment, and wheel-width compatibility usually tells the buyer more than the brand name alone, especially when the goal is matching the tire to a specific restoration direction or road-use plan.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1979 Ferrari 308?
A period-style 1979 Ferrari 308 usually starts with the correct 205/70R14 radial size and then narrows the choice by visual presentation. In this fitment, that can mean a more understated blackwall approach or a more expressive vintage look through redline, dual-redline, or narrow whitewall styling.
The right answer depends on how closely the car is being restored and how you want the finished car to read visually. When exact originality matters, marque-specific historical references should guide the final appearance choice, but for many owners the key is staying with the proper size and selecting a sidewall treatment that complements the car rather than overpowering it.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1979 Ferrari 308?
On the 1979 Ferrari 308, construction is straightforward because the primary fitment is already radial. That means the visual character of the finished car is shaped less by a bias-ply-versus-radial decision and more by sidewall treatment, tread style, and the overall look of the tire line selected in 205/70R14.
A blackwall tire tends to preserve a more restrained, performance-oriented presentation, while redline, dual-redline, or narrow whitewall choices create a noticeably different period-style effect. For a restoration-minded owner, keeping the proper size and matching the tire’s visual tone to the wheel design and car’s finish often matters more than chasing a dramatic construction change.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1979 Ferrari 308?
Yes. Even though the 1979 Ferrari 308 uses a single primary size, modifications can still affect how a 205/70R14 tire works on the car. Wheel changes, altered wheel widths, suspension modifications, or body and fender work can all change the fitment picture.
A car that no longer has its original wheel setup should be checked for actual rim diameter, wheel width, and clearance at full steering and suspension movement before a new tire is chosen. That matters just as much on a collector Ferrari as it does on any other vintage vehicle, because appearance changes often come with fitment consequences.
What should I inspect before driving a 1979 Ferrari 308 on new tires?
Before driving a 1979 Ferrari 308 on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and width, confirm the tires are seated properly, and verify inflation pressure. It also makes sense to look over the suspension, steering components, and brake area so the new tires are not being asked to work around unrelated mechanical issues.
A careful first road check should include watching for vibration, rubbing, unusual pull, and any sign of air loss after installation. Collector cars that sit for long periods deserve extra attention here, since stale alignment settings, aged bushings, or old wheel hardware can show up only after the fresh tires are back on the road.
How should 205/70R14 tires on a collector 1979 Ferrari 308 be maintained?
205/70R14 tires on a collector 1979 Ferrari 308 should be kept at proper pressure, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and checked for air loss even when the car is driven infrequently. Low-mileage use does not prevent tires from aging, so condition matters just as much as tread depth.
Storage habits also play a big role in long-term tire life. A 308 kept away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources generally gives its tires a better chance of aging well, and periodic visual checks help catch problems early before a short local drive or longer outing turns into an avoidable roadside issue.
