The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am landed in the late-1970s personal coupe era, when American buyers still wanted sporty styling but increasingly expected modern road manners and radial-tire comfort. That makes tire selection for this car less about translating an older bias-ply size and more about choosing the right version of its original radial-era fitment. The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am uses a 205/70R14 radial on a 14-inch rim. Within that size, there are meaningful choices in sidewall appearance, including narrow whitewall, blackwall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter designs. The right pick depends on whether the goal is stock-appearing presentation, period-inspired style, or regular collector-car driving.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am
The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am uses one primary tire size: 205/70R14. It is a radial fitment on a 14-inch rim, and the same size carries across the covered Grand Am configuration here. Since the size itself is straightforward, the real decision becomes choosing the sidewall style, tire series, and brand that best match the car's appearance, wheel setup, and intended road use.
A 205/70R14 size uses a 205-millimeter nominal section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. On a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am, that means a true radial-era fitment rather than an older bias-ply format, so the focus shifts from decoding vintage sizing to choosing the right tire character. Available options include BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Michelin, with sidewall treatments ranging from blackwall and narrow whitewall to redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter styles. That gives Grand Am owners room to match the car to a cleaner touring look, a more performance-oriented presentation, or a restoration-minded appearance.
Sub-model fitment is simple for the covered 1979 Pontiac Grand Am range. The Base model uses the same 205/70R14 radial fitment, so the main task is choosing the right tire style and product details rather than sorting through multiple size combinations.
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1979 Pontiac Grand Am Base
The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am Base uses the same 205/70R14 radial fitment found on this application. That makes tire selection more about appearance and product choice, such as whitewall, redline, raised white letter, or blackwall styling, while still confirming wheel width and overall vehicle setup.
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 Pontiac Grand Am Tires for Sale
Available 205/70R14 choices span Maxxis, BFGoodrich, and Michelin, with radial options in Classic Whitewall MA-1, Radial TA, Silvertown Radial, and Michelin XWX series. Sidewall treatments include narrow whitewall, RWL, redline, dual-redline, and blackwall, with rim-width compatibility varying slightly by product.
These 1979 Pontiac Grand Am tire FAQs focus on the 205/70R14 fitment, 14-inch rim compatibility, radial construction, sidewall-style choices, and the practical checks worth making before putting a collector-era Grand Am back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am?
The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am uses a 205/70R14 radial tire. That size combines a 205-millimeter section width, a 70-series profile, and a 14-inch rim diameter, making it a modern metric radial format rather than an older alphanumeric or numeric bias-ply size.
Using the correct size is only the first step. Once 205/70R14 is confirmed, the important choices become sidewall style, brand, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility, especially if the car has replacement wheels or has been stored for long periods and is now being returned to road use.
What size rim does a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am use?
The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am uses a 14-inch rim with its 205/70R14 tire size. Product fitments in this size also show approved wheel-width ranges within the broader 14-inch application, including 5.00 to 7.00 inches and 5.50 to 7.50 inches depending on the tire.
Rim diameter is the non-negotiable measurement, but wheel width still matters when choosing among available tires. A Grand Am with aftermarket wheels, refinished factory wheels, or swapped rims should have both diameter and width checked before selection so the chosen tire matches the wheel properly.
Does the 1979 Pontiac Grand Am Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am Base uses the same 205/70R14 radial tire size. That keeps fitment straightforward for this application, since the covered sub-model does not introduce a second primary size or a different construction type.
Even with shared size fitment, product choice can still change the look of the car quite a bit. A Base model owner can choose among blackwall, narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, or raised white letter options while still staying within the correct 205/70R14 sizing format.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 205/70R14 tire for a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am?
Start with the correct 205/70R14 size and confirm that the tire matches the car's 14-inch wheel and the wheel-width range required by the product. Since the Grand Am uses a radial fitment, the main differences come from sidewall styling, tire series, brand, and certain product details such as load specification and weight.
The right choice depends on how the car is used and how it should look. A touring-oriented blackwall or whitewall can suit a more restrained presentation, while redline or raised white letter tires can shift the car toward a sportier late-1970s appearance without changing the base size.
What sidewall styles are available for 1979 Pontiac Grand Am tires?
The 1979 Pontiac Grand Am's 205/70R14 fitment is available in several sidewall styles, including narrow whitewall, blackwall, redline, dual-redline, and RWL, which is raised white letter. Those options all stay within the same primary tire size while changing the visual character of the tire significantly.
Sidewall style is often the biggest appearance decision on a car from this era. A narrow whitewall can lean more formal, a blackwall keeps the look understated, and redline or raised white letter treatments can make the Grand Am read more performance-oriented while still preserving the correct size format.
What brands offer tires for the 1979 Pontiac Grand Am?
Tires for the 1979 Pontiac Grand Am's 205/70R14 fitment are available from Maxxis, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. The selection includes Classic Whitewall MA-1, Radial TA, Silvertown Radial, and Michelin XWX series, giving owners several different directions in both appearance and tire character.
Brand choice should be considered alongside sidewall design, wheel-width compatibility, and the style of restoration or road use planned for the car. Instead of treating the decision as brand-only, compare how each tire presents on the vehicle and whether its specifications align with the actual wheels on the car.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1979 Pontiac Grand Am?
A period-style 1979 Pontiac Grand Am should start with the correct 205/70R14 radial size, then narrow the choice by visual presentation. In this fitment, that means deciding among styles such as narrow whitewall, redline, dual-redline, blackwall, or raised white letter, depending on the look the car is meant to carry.
For many restorations, appearance matters as much as size. A cleaner touring presentation may point toward whitewall or blackwall, while a sportier late-1970s feel may favor redline or RWL styling. If exact originality is important, compare the tire choice against marque references or surviving vehicle history before settling on one look.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1979 Pontiac Grand Am?
On a restored 1979 Pontiac Grand Am, construction is less about a bias-ply-versus-radial debate because the primary fitment is already radial. The visual difference comes more from the tire's sidewall treatment and series styling than from switching between fundamentally different construction eras.
That makes the restoration decision more refined. A Michelin XWX blackwall gives one kind of late-1970s road-car presentation, while BFGoodrich redline, dual-redline, or raised white letter designs create a more assertive period-inspired look. Keeping the correct 205/70R14 size helps preserve the stance while allowing that appearance choice.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am?
Yes. Even though the 1979 Pontiac Grand Am's primary size is 205/70R14, modifications can change whether a particular tire works comfortably on the car. Wheel width, wheel offset, suspension height, brake changes, and body or fender alterations can all influence clearance and the way the tire sits in the wheel opening.
A Grand Am with aftermarket wheels should have the actual rim diameter and width confirmed before choosing among available products. Clearance should also be checked at full steering lock and through normal suspension travel so the correct tire size does not create rubbing issues because of changes elsewhere on the car.
What should I inspect before driving a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am on new tires?
Before driving a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage or distortion, confirm the wheel size, and make sure the tires are inflated properly for the setup being used. The suspension, steering components, and alignment should also be in sound condition so the new tires are not asked to compensate for worn hardware.
Collector cars often sit for long periods, so the rest of the chassis deserves the same attention as the tires. Check for air loss after installation, listen for rubbing, and look over the wheel wells and steering range during the first short drive to catch fitment or condition issues early.
How should 205/70R14 tires on a collector 1979 Pontiac Grand Am be maintained?
205/70R14 tires on a collector 1979 Pontiac Grand Am should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and periodic evaluation for age-related deterioration. Tread depth matters, but so do sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, and any sign that the tire has been losing air while the car is parked.
Storage conditions make a real difference on a low-use Grand Am. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and moving the vehicle occasionally can reduce long-term stress from sitting in one position. Any tire showing condition concerns should be inspected before road use.
