The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon came from an era when family wagons were expected to handle daily driving, highway miles, and practical cargo duty with equal ease. As a late-1970s Mopar wagon, it sits in the transition period when radial tires had become a normal part of the driving experience rather than an upgrade from earlier bias-ply fitments. This vehicle uses an ER78-14 radial tire on a 14-inch rim. Because there is one primary size for the wagon, the main decision is less about fitment variety and more about choosing the right tire presentation and construction style for the way the car is kept, shown, and driven.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon
The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon uses one primary tire size: ER78-14. It is a radial fitment on a 14-inch rim, and the covered Volare Wagon sub-model shares that same size, so the real choice is selecting the tire style and overall presentation that best suits your car rather than sorting through multiple primary fitments.
ER78-14 is a vintage alphanumeric radial size. In this format, the letter designation identifies the size class, the R indicates radial construction, the 78 refers to the profile family, and the 14 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon, that makes it a period-appropriate late-1970s radial fitment rather than an earlier bias-ply size. The key selection step is choosing an ER78-14 tire that matches your intended use, whether that means a more restoration-oriented appearance or a road-going setup that still respects the wagon’s original size and wheel diameter.
Tire fitment is straightforward for the covered 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon sub-model. The shared tire size keeps the focus on selecting the right ER78-14 tire style and confirming that the wagon still has its proper 14-inch wheel setup.
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1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon Base
The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon Base uses the ER78-14 radial size. That makes tire selection relatively simple, with the practical next step being to verify the existing wheel setup and then choose a tire that fits the wagon’s restoration goals and road-use plans.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
These FAQs focus on ER78-14 fitment for the 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon, including rim sizing, radial construction, restoration-minded tire choice, and the wheel, suspension, and maintenance checks worth making before regular road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon?
The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon uses ER78-14 tires. That is the primary fitment for this model and it is a radial size, which suits the wagon’s late-1970s tire application and keeps the vehicle in the sizing format it was built around.
Using the correct size matters because an older wagon may no longer be on its original wheels after years of service or restoration work. Start by confirming that the car still has 14-inch wheels, then compare the tire’s construction style and appearance to your goals, whether the wagon is being kept as a road car, a clean survivor, or a restoration-oriented driver.
What size rim does a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon use?
The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon uses a 14-inch rim with its ER78-14 tire size. The final number in the size code identifies the wheel diameter, so matching the tire to a 14-inch wheel is a basic fitment requirement.
Wheel diameter should be confirmed before ordering tires, especially on an older vehicle that may have seen replacement wheels or aftermarket changes over time. A tire with the correct overall style but the wrong bead diameter will not mount properly, so checking the wheel stamping or measuring the wheel itself is a smart first step before comparing tire options.
Does the 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon Base uses the same ER78-14 radial tire size as the covered Volare Wagon fitment. There is no separate primary tire size for that sub-model within this application.
That consistency simplifies the search because the decision does not hinge on sorting between multiple wagon sub-model tire sizes. The more useful checks are confirming that the wheels are still 14-inch units and deciding whether the tire should emphasize a late-1970s period look, a restoration-minded presentation, or straightforward road use on a collector-era wagon.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a ER78-14 tire for a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon?
Start with the basics: the tire should be ER78-14 and it should suit a 14-inch wheel. Since this Plymouth uses one primary size, the real selection factors are the tire’s construction style, its visual character, and whether it matches the way the wagon is driven and presented.
A restoration-oriented owner may care most about maintaining a proper late-1970s look, while a regular driver may focus on predictable road use within the original size format. It also helps to inspect the car’s current wheels, suspension height, and overall condition so the new tires complement the actual vehicle setup rather than assumptions about how it left the showroom decades ago.
How do I choose between the available ER78-14 tires for a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon?
Choosing between ER78-14 tires comes down to how closely you want the wagon to reflect its original era and how the vehicle will be used. Since the size itself is fixed, differences in presentation and construction details become more important than basic fitment variety.
A car built mainly for shows or preservation may call for a tire with a more traditional visual character, while a wagon that sees regular neighborhood or highway driving may be chosen with road manners and practical use in mind. Matching the tire to the vehicle’s role keeps the result coherent, especially on a classic wagon where appearance and stance are part of the ownership experience.
What tire series are available for the 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon?
ER78-14 is the key fitment point for the 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon, and tire series matter only within that correct size. A tire series can influence the visual style and the overall character of the tire, even when the basic fitment remains unchanged.
When comparing series, keep the decision centered on the wagon’s intended look and use rather than treating the name alone as the deciding factor. The right choice is the one that stays within ER78-14 fitment, suits a 14-inch wheel, and aligns with whether the car is being preserved as a period-style wagon or driven more regularly as a usable collector vehicle.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon?
A period-style 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon should stay with the ER78-14 size because that is the primary fitment for the vehicle. Keeping the original sizing format intact does a great deal to preserve the wagon’s late-1970s character, even before finer appearance details are considered.
From there, the best choice depends on how strictly the car is being restored and how closely its visual presentation needs to reflect its era. If exact originality matters, vehicle-specific historical references and marque expertise are worth consulting, since a period-style tire can be the right directional choice without automatically being the exact tire appearance the car wore when new.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters because tire size has a strong effect on stance, wheel-well appearance, and the overall period impression of a restored 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon. Using ER78-14 keeps the restoration grounded in the size the wagon was built to use.
Even a nicely finished car can look slightly off if the tire diameter, profile, or general sizing convention drifts away from the intended fitment. Staying with the proper 14-inch application also helps avoid avoidable mounting and clearance issues, which is important when a restoration is meant to look right at a glance and remain practical to drive and display.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon?
Yes. Even though the primary tire size is ER78-14, modifications can change whether that size still behaves as expected on the vehicle. Wheel swaps, altered ride height, suspension changes, or bodywork repairs can all influence how much clearance the tire has in actual use.
A wagon with aftermarket wheels should be checked for wheel diameter and width before any tire purchase, and a lowered or altered suspension setup deserves extra attention around fender and steering clearance. Older cars often change over time, so the safest approach is to treat the original size as the starting point and then verify that the current vehicle still supports it properly.
What should I inspect before driving a 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for damage or corrosion, confirm that the tires are mounted on proper 14-inch rims, and make sure the lug hardware is in good condition. It is also wise to check suspension wear, steering components, and alignment so the new tires are not compromised by unrelated mechanical issues.
A collector-era wagon can sit for long periods, which makes a broader once-over especially worthwhile. Look at inflation pressure, valve stems, and signs of rubbing during lock-to-lock steering or full suspension movement. Taking a few extra minutes to confirm the car’s overall condition helps the new ER78-14 tires work as intended instead of masking problems elsewhere in the chassis.
How should ER78-14 tires on a collector 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon be maintained?
ER78-14 tires on a collector 1979 Plymouth Volare Wagon should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, bulges, cuts, and uneven wear, and driven enough to avoid long-term flat spotting from extended storage. Regular visual checks matter because low-mileage classics can age out tires before they wear them out.
Storage conditions also play a major role in tire life. Keeping the wagon away from prolonged sunlight, excessive heat, moisture, and ozone-producing equipment can help preserve the tire’s condition over time. A quick inspection before every outing and a more thorough check before a longer drive are sensible habits for any vintage wagon that is used intermittently.
