By 1986, the Chevrolet Chevette had become one of the familiar economy cars of the American road, valued for simple packaging, compact dimensions, and everyday usability. Today, surviving examples often appeal to owners who appreciate honest late-classic transportation and want to preserve the car’s character without overcomplicating the details. The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette uses a 155/80R13 radial tire on a 13-inch rim, so the main decision is less about multiple fitments and more about choosing the right style within that size. Available choices include narrow whitewall and wide whitewall options across several radial series. That makes appearance, wheel compatibility, and intended use the key points to settle before selecting tires.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette
The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette uses one primary tire size: 155/80R13. That is a radial tire size for a 13-inch rim, and the covered Chevette sub-model uses the same fitment. With size settled, the real choice becomes which radial tire best suits the car’s look and use, especially when comparing whitewall styles, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility.
A 155/80R13 tire uses a 155-millimeter nominal section width, an 80-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. On the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette, this modern metric radial format keeps the fitment straightforward and centers the decision on style and specification rather than decoding an older sizing system. Available options include Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel, with both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall presentations across series such as UN106, Silvertown Radial, Classic Whitewall MA-1, and Tornel Classic. This size is the right starting point when maintaining the Chevette’s compact stance while still tailoring the tire’s appearance to the car.
Tire fitment is straightforward for the covered 1986 Chevrolet Chevette sub-model. The key is still confirming the exact sub-model and wheel setup on the car, especially if it has been changed over the years.
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1986 Chevrolet Chevette CS
The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette CS uses the same 155/80R13 radial fitment on a 13-inch rim. That keeps tire selection focused on choosing the whitewall style, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility that best match the car’s appearance and current wheel 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 1986 Chevrolet Chevette Tires for Sale
Available 155/80R13 choices for the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette include Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel radials. The main differences in the product grid are sidewall style, tire series, and rim-width compatibility, with both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall options represented.
Common questions for the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette usually come down to correct 155/80R13 fitment, 13-inch rim compatibility, whitewall style choices, and the checks worth making before putting a lightly used collector-era compact back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette?
The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette uses a 155/80R13 radial tire. That size combines a 155-millimeter nominal width with an 80-series profile and a 13-inch rim diameter, making it a straightforward modern metric radial fitment rather than an older bias-ply or alphanumeric size.
Using the correct size matters because the Chevette is a small, lightweight car that depends on proper overall tire proportions for appearance and clearance. Before choosing among available 155/80R13 tires, confirm that the car still has 13-inch wheels and has not been changed to a different wheel or suspension setup over the years.
What size rim does a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette use?
The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette uses a 13-inch rim with its 155/80R13 tire size. The tire size itself confirms that rim diameter, and the available tire choices in this fitment are built for 13-inch wheels rather than a larger or smaller rim.
Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture, so it is also smart to verify wheel width before selecting a specific tire. Some 155/80R13 products in this size family are paired with different recommended rim-width ranges, which means the existing wheels should be checked before settling on one brand or tire series.
Does the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette CS use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1986 Chevrolet Chevette CS uses the same 155/80R13 radial tire size as the covered Chevette fitment. That keeps the selection process simple because the main concern is not a different sub-model size, but choosing the right tire style and specification within that same size.
Even with shared sizing, the actual car should still be inspected for wheel changes made during its life. A Chevette that has received aftermarket wheels, replacement rims, or suspension changes may need a closer check of wheel width and clearance before a new 155/80R13 tire is selected.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 155/80R13 tire for a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette?
Start with the basics: the correct size is 155/80R13, and the Chevette uses radial construction on a 13-inch rim. Once that is established, the real comparison points are sidewall appearance, brand, tire series, and whether the tire’s rim-width specifications match the wheels currently on the car.
A narrow whitewall can suit a clean late-classic driver, while a wider whitewall creates a more distinctly vintage presentation. It also helps to compare product details such as rim-width range and load figures where given, especially if the car is being preserved for occasional cruising rather than used as a daily driver.
What sidewall styles are available for 1986 Chevrolet Chevette tires?
The available 155/80R13 tires for a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette include narrow whitewall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Narrow whitewall options appear across multiple brands, while the available wide whitewall option offers a more pronounced traditional look in the same overall tire size.
That choice is mostly about presentation rather than changing the underlying fitment. Owners trying to preserve a clean period-style appearance often compare how much whitewall they want visible on the car, while also confirming that the selected tire’s wheel-width range and overall specifications suit the Chevette’s current wheel setup.
What brands offer tires for the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette?
Available 155/80R13 tires for the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette come from Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel. Those brands cover several distinct series, including UN106, Silvertown Radial, Classic Whitewall MA-1, and Tornel Classic, giving buyers more than one way to approach the same core size.
Brand alone should not be the only deciding factor. It makes more sense to compare the sidewall style you want, the series character, and any rim-width or load specifications tied to the individual tire, then match those details to how the Chevette is equipped and how it will actually be driven.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1986 Chevrolet Chevette?
A period-style approach starts with the correct 155/80R13 radial size, since that keeps the Chevette’s proportions in the proper range for a compact mid-1980s economy car. From there, the choice usually comes down to whether a subtle narrow whitewall or a more pronounced wide whitewall better suits the look being pursued.
For many owners, the goal is preserving the car’s overall character rather than chasing a single exact presentation. If strict originality matters, the best course is to compare the tire’s sidewall treatment and overall look against period photos, marque references, or other vehicle-specific restoration guidance before making a final selection.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters because the 1986 Chevrolet Chevette is a small car whose appearance can change noticeably with the wrong size or the wrong sidewall treatment. Staying with 155/80R13 helps preserve the intended stance and keeps the restoration grounded in the proper fitment range.
Appearance is only part of the equation. Proper fitment also supports sensible wheel compatibility and helps avoid problems that can come from mismatched rim diameter or altered proportions, so the restoration decision should balance visual goals with a careful check of the actual wheels and condition of the car.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette?
Yes. A 1986 Chevrolet Chevette may have started with a 155/80R13 radial on a 13-inch rim, but wheel and suspension changes can alter what works on the car today. Aftermarket wheels, different wheel widths, lowering, or body changes can all influence clearance and overall fitment.
That is why the current setup matters more than assumptions based on age alone. A quick inspection of wheel diameter, wheel width, and available clearance around the fenders and suspension can prevent ordering a tire that is correct in size code but mismatched to the way the car is now equipped.
What should I inspect before driving a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for damage, confirm the 13-inch rim setup, and make sure the tires are mounted in the proper 155/80R13 size. It is also smart to check valve stems, inflation pressure, tread seating, and visible clearance at the fenders, suspension, and steering components.
A collector-era compact that sees limited use deserves a broader once-over as well. Brake condition, alignment, wheel-bearing play, and any signs of suspension wear can affect how the car feels on fresh tires, so a careful pre-drive check helps the new tires perform as intended instead of masking other issues.
How should 155/80R13 tires on a collector 1986 Chevrolet Chevette be maintained?
Collector-car tires should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and periodic movement of the vehicle so one area of the tire is not left loaded in the same spot for too long. On a 1986 Chevrolet Chevette, that means keeping a close eye on sidewall condition, tread wear, and any signs of air loss.
Storage conditions matter almost as much as mileage on a low-use car. Keeping the Chevette away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources can help preserve the tires, while routine inspections before drives make it easier to catch cracking, bulges, or cuts before they become a road-use concern.
