1979 Ford Bronco Tires

The 1979 Ford Bronco uses four primary 15-inch tire sizes: H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, and 700-15. The correct size depends on the Bronco's GVWR configuration, not simply the model name, and the fitment range includes both bias-ply and radial-style construction.

The first step is confirming which GVWR version the Bronco is. Once that is established, compare the wheel width and the tire's intended construction before choosing a replacement, especially on trucks that may have been changed over to aftermarket wheels or a different tire style during their working life.

The 1979 Ford Bronco uses a 15-inch rim across all four primary tire sizes covered here. H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, and 700-15 all share that same basic rim diameter, even though the tire sizing systems and constructions differ.

Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture. Wheel width still matters, especially because 700-15 products are built around a narrower rim range than many H78-15, L78-15, and LR78-15 options, so the actual wheel on the vehicle should be checked before selecting a new tire.

The 1979 Ford Bronco has more than one tire size because tire fitment varies by GVWR configuration. The GVWR 6010 Bronco uses H78-15, the GVWR 6100 and 6400 versions use L78-15 or LR78-15, and the GVWR 6500 version spans 700-15, L78-15, and LR78-15.

That variation means tire selection is tied to the truck's exact setup rather than a one-size-fits-all answer. Buyers should confirm the vehicle's rating, inspect the wheels currently installed, and avoid choosing by appearance alone when more than one 15-inch fitment may seem visually plausible.

H78-15 is a bias-ply tire size for the 1979 Ford Bronco. It uses the vintage alphanumeric bias-ply sizing system and appears on the GVWR 6010 Bronco configuration as a traditional 15-inch fitment.

That matters because a buyer deciding on H78-15 is usually balancing traditional appearance against the possibility of a radial alternative. Keeping the Bronco in H78-15 bias-ply form preserves the original style of fitment, while any move to a radial-equivalent size should include checks for wheel width, overall dimensions, and clearance.

Radial equivalents for H78-15 include 215R15 as an 80-series metric radial, P225/75R15 as a 75-series P-metric radial, P235/70R15 as a 70-series P-metric radial, and 760R15 as a bias-look radial. Each one keeps the Bronco on a 15-inch rim while using a different radial sizing convention.

Those options are useful comparison points, but they should not be treated as automatic substitutions. A 6- to 8-inch rim-width range is associated with these H78-15 equivalents, and the final choice still needs to account for the wheel actually on the Bronco, plus body, steering, and suspension clearance.

Either can make sense on a 1979 Ford Bronco, depending on the truck's exact fitment and your goals. H78-15, L78-15, and 700-15 are bias-ply primary sizes, while LR78-15 brings radial construction into the Bronco's 15-inch fitment range on certain GVWR versions.

Bias-ply tires support a more traditional period presentation, especially in whitewall or truck-style blackwall forms. Radial choices can be considered when the wheel setup, intended driving use, and clearance all support the change, but the Bronco's actual GVWR-based fitment should guide the decision before appearance or brand.

Start with the Bronco's correct GVWR-based size, because a 1979 Ford Bronco can use H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, or 700-15 depending on configuration. After size, the main considerations are construction type, wheel width, sidewall style, and whether the truck is being kept in a period-style bias-ply look or moved toward a radial-style setup.

Product character also varies by series and use. Some choices lean toward traditional whitewall presentation, while others are blackwall truck, highway, or military-style tires, so the right pick usually comes from matching the Bronco's intended appearance and use with the wheel and fitment it actually has.

Sidewall choices for 1979 Ford Bronco tires include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and dual-white-stripe styles, depending on size. H78-15 and L78-15 have the broadest appearance spread, LR78-15 appears in a narrow whitewall radial-style form, and 700-15 includes both blackwall and wide whitewall options.

That variety gives the Bronco owner room to shape the truck's look without changing the basic fitment category. A blackwall truck tire tends to suit a utility-minded or off-road presentation, while whitewall and stripe treatments push the Bronco toward a more restoration-oriented or custom vintage appearance.

Tires for the 1979 Ford Bronco are available from Coker Classic, BFGoodrich, Firestone, and STA across the applicable sizes. Brand presence varies by fitment, with some sizes centered on traditional passenger-style bias-ply offerings and others including truck, highway, or military-inspired tire lines.

Brand should be compared alongside the exact size, sidewall treatment, tire series, and rim-width requirements rather than treated as the only deciding factor. A Bronco owner choosing between L78-15 and 700-15 products, for example, may find that use type and wheel compatibility narrow the field faster than brand alone.

A period-style 1979 Ford Bronco tire starts with the correct GVWR-based primary size, then moves to the appearance and construction that best suit the truck's intended presentation. H78-15, L78-15, and 700-15 bias-ply tires all support a traditional late-1970s truck look in ways that a modern-looking substitute may not.

After confirming the proper size, choose between blackwall truck-style tires, wide whitewalls, or stripe treatments based on how the Bronco is being restored or displayed. When exact originality matters, compare that visual choice against vehicle-specific historical references rather than assuming every vintage-looking sidewall was used the same way.

Tire construction changes the visual character of a restored 1979 Ford Bronco as much as the sidewall style does. Bias-ply tires preserve the traditional vintage fitment type used across most of this Bronco's primary sizes, while radial-style construction can shift the truck toward a slightly more modern road-oriented look.

That difference matters most when the Bronco is being restored with a strong period presentation in mind. Even when an LR78-15 radial or a radial-equivalent size is attractive for driving reasons, the owner should decide whether the goal is traditional truck appearance, a mixed-use vintage driver, or something in between.

Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1979 Ford Bronco even when the tire size itself is correct for a factory-style configuration. Changes to wheel width, wheel offset, suspension height, steering components, or body clearance can alter how H78-15, L78-15, LR78-15, or 700-15 fit on the truck.

A Bronco with aftermarket wheels deserves a closer inspection before any tire is chosen, especially when moving between narrower 700-15 products and wider alphanumeric sizes. Clearance at full steering lock and under suspension movement should be checked so the selected tire matches the truck as it sits today.

Before driving a 1979 Ford Bronco on new tires, inspect the wheels for the correct diameter and width, confirm the tires are seated properly, and set pressure to the product's requirements. It is also smart to check valve stems, lug torque, tread condition after installation, and basic clearance around suspension and body components.

A vintage full-size Bronco should also be looked over for steering looseness, worn shocks, sagging springs, and uneven ride height, since those issues can affect how a new tire behaves. A short local test drive followed by a recheck for rubbing, vibration, or air loss is a sensible final step.

Tires on a collector 1979 Ford Bronco should be inspected regularly for pressure loss, tread wear, cracking, bulges, and cuts, even if the truck is driven only occasionally. Low-use vintage SUVs often age their tires by time and storage conditions as much as by mileage, so condition matters just as much as tread depth.

Proper storage helps preserve them between drives. Keeping the Bronco away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, standing moisture, and ozone sources such as electric motors can slow deterioration, and moving or driving the truck periodically helps avoid long-term flat spotting on parked collector vehicles.