The 1986 Ford Taurus arrived as one of the most important American sedan redesigns of the decade, bringing aerodynamic styling and a more modern front-wheel-drive layout to the family-car market. For many owners today, that means preserving a distinctly mid-1980s look while still choosing a tire that suits real road use. Tire fitment on the 1986 Ford Taurus centers on three primary radial sizes: 195/70R14, 205/70R14, and 205/65R15. Available choices range from straightforward blackwall metric radials to wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter styles. The key is confirming the wheel diameter on the car first, then choosing the size and appearance that best match the vehicle’s setup and intended presentation.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1986 Ford Taurus
The 1986 Ford Taurus uses three primary tire sizes, and the first thing to confirm is whether the car is running a 14-inch or 15-inch wheel. All three fitments are radial, but the correct choice depends on the exact wheel diameter and the size already associated with the car, especially if wheels have ever been changed. Once that is settled, the decision shifts to tire style, series, and the kind of appearance you want the Taurus to carry.
A 195/70R14 uses a 195-millimeter section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim. On the 1986 Ford Taurus, this is a modern metric radial fitment that suits owners who want to stay with a straightforward, later-model sizing convention rather than a vintage alphanumeric or bias-ply format. In this size, the available option is a Dunlop Sport Classic with a blackwall sidewall. It is a useful choice when maintaining a clean, understated appearance and confirming a 14-inch wheel is the first part of the fitment check.
A 205/65R15 measures 205 millimeters in nominal section width, uses a 65-series profile, and fits a 15-inch rim with radial construction. For a 1986 Ford Taurus, this size matters because it is the only primary fitment here that moves to a 15-inch wheel, making wheel-diameter confirmation especially important before selection. Available choices include BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial options with either a 2-inch whitewall or a redline sidewall. This size is worth evaluating when the car already wears 15-inch wheels and the goal includes a more distinctive period-style presentation.
A 205/70R14 combines a 205-millimeter nominal section width with a 70-series profile, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim. On the 1986 Ford Taurus, it offers one of the broader style ranges, with choices that include narrow whitewall, raised white letter, redline, dual-redline, and blackwall treatments. Available series include Maxxis Classic Whitewall MA-1, BFGoodrich Radial T/A, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial, and Michelin XWX. This size makes sense for owners with 14-inch wheels who want more flexibility in sidewall appearance and brand character without leaving the correct metric radial family.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1986 Ford Taurus sub-models because GL, L, LX, and MT5 all share the same three primary radial sizes. The important step is not trim identification as much as confirming which wheel diameter and tire size are actually on the car before choosing a replacement.
1
1986 Ford Taurus GL
The 1986 Ford Taurus GL uses the same three radial tire sizes found across the broader Taurus lineup for this year. That means selection comes down to confirming whether the car has a 14-inch or 15-inch wheel and then choosing the sidewall style and tire series that best suit its presentation.
The 1986 Ford Taurus L shares the same tire-fitment pattern as the other covered sub-models, with three applicable radial sizes. Tire choice is mainly a matter of wheel-diameter verification first, followed by deciding whether a simple blackwall or a more restoration-oriented sidewall treatment makes the most sense.
The 1986 Ford Taurus LX follows the same fitment path as the rest of the lineup, using the same group of primary radial tire sizes. For replacement, the main consideration is matching the tire to the wheel on the car and then narrowing the choice by brand, series, and sidewall appearance.
The 1986 Ford Taurus MT5 uses the same overall tire-size choices as GL, L, and LX models in this year. That keeps fitment simple, but it still makes sense to verify the actual wheel diameter and current setup before selecting among the available blackwall, whitewall, redline, or raised white letter options.
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 Ford Taurus Tires for Sale
Available 1986 Ford Taurus tire options span Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Michelin, with choices across Sport Classic, Silvertown Radial, Radial T/A, Classic Whitewall MA-1, and Michelin XWX lines. Sidewall treatments include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter styling.
These FAQs focus on the tire sizes used on the 1986 Ford Taurus, how 14-inch and 15-inch wheel fitment affects selection, and how to compare available radial tires by sidewall style, series, appearance, and road-use considerations.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1986 Ford Taurus?
The 1986 Ford Taurus uses three primary radial tire sizes: 195/70R14, 205/70R14, and 205/65R15. Those sizes are all correct within this model year, but they do not all use the same rim diameter, since two fitments are for 14-inch wheels and one is for a 15-inch wheel.
The practical step is to confirm the wheel diameter currently on the car before choosing a replacement tire. A Taurus that still has its original-style setup may be straightforward, but any wheel change over the years can alter what fits, so matching the tire to the actual rim on the vehicle matters more than choosing by model name alone.
What size rim does a 1986 Ford Taurus use?
A 1986 Ford Taurus uses either a 14-inch or 15-inch rim, depending on which of its primary tire sizes is on the car. The 195/70R14 and 205/70R14 fitments use 14-inch rims, while the 205/65R15 fitment uses a 15-inch rim.
That difference makes wheel-diameter verification the first fitment check before ordering tires. Looking at the current sidewall size and confirming the wheel itself will help prevent mixing a 14-inch tire with a 15-inch rim, and it also helps narrow the available product choices by sidewall style, tire series, and brand.
Do all 1986 Ford Taurus sub-models use the same tire size?
GL, L, LX, and MT5 versions of the 1986 Ford Taurus share the same overall group of primary tire sizes: 195/70R14, 205/70R14, and 205/65R15. That means fitment is consistent across the covered sub-models, rather than splitting into separate trim-specific tire families.
Even with that shared fitment pattern, the correct replacement still depends on the wheel and tire setup actually on the car. A buyer should check the current tire size, verify whether the wheels are 14-inch or 15-inch, and then compare the available radial tires by style and specifications instead of assuming every listed size applies to every individual Taurus without verification.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1986 Ford Taurus?
Start with the correct size and rim diameter, since the 1986 Ford Taurus uses three primary radial sizes and two wheel diameters. Once the fitment is narrowed correctly, the next factors are sidewall appearance, tire series, brand, and whether the car is being kept in a stock-looking street setup or given a more distinctive period-style presentation.
A blackwall metric radial may suit a clean driver-oriented look, while whitewall, redline, dual-redline, or raised white letter options can change the character of the car significantly. It also helps to compare rim-width compatibility where stated, along with load figures and general tire dimensions, so the replacement matches both the wheel and the way the Taurus will be used.
What sidewall styles are available for 1986 Ford Taurus tires?
Available sidewall styles for 1986 Ford Taurus tires include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter treatments. The exact sidewall options depend on the tire size, so the available appearance choices are broader in some sizes than others.
That matters because sidewall styling changes the visual tone of the car even when the tire remains within the correct size family. A blackwall keeps the presentation restrained, while whitewalls and redlines lean more toward an appearance-focused or restoration-oriented look, and raised white letters bring a sportier period flavor. Choosing the style after confirming size helps keep fitment and appearance working together.
What brands offer tires for the 1986 Ford Taurus?
Tires for the 1986 Ford Taurus are available from Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Michelin. Those brands appear across the applicable radial sizes, with offerings that include Sport Classic, Silvertown Radial, Radial T/A, Classic Whitewall MA-1, and Michelin XWX series depending on the size selected.
Brand choice should be treated as one part of the decision rather than the whole decision. The more important first step is choosing the correct size for the wheel on the car, then comparing how each brand’s available series and sidewall treatments align with the Taurus’s intended use, visual style, and any rim-width requirements tied to that specific tire.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1986 Ford Taurus?
A period-style 1986 Ford Taurus tire choice begins with the correct size already used on the car, then moves to appearance. Depending on size, available options include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, and raised white letter radials, so the visual effect can range from understated factory-era flavor to something more customized.
For a restoration-minded driver, keeping the correct metric radial format is usually the best starting point because it preserves the car’s later-1980s tire character. Exact originality can vary by wheel package and vehicle history, so owners who need a highly precise restoration result should compare the tire choice against period photos, window sticker documentation, or marque-specific reference material.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1986 Ford Taurus restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters on a 1986 Ford Taurus restoration because size and wheel diameter influence both stance and overall presentation. Using one of the proper primary radial sizes keeps the car within its intended tire family, while moving to a different size or rim diameter can change the way the vehicle sits and how authentic it looks.
Appearance details matter too, especially when choosing between blackwall, whitewall, redline, or raised white letter styles. Even if the car is not being restored to a highly exact standard, confirming the current wheel size and staying within the proper fitment range helps avoid a mismatch between the Taurus’s distinctly modern-for-1986 shape and an out-of-character tire presentation.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1986 Ford Taurus?
Modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1986 Ford Taurus, especially if the car has aftermarket wheels, suspension changes, or body alterations. Because this model year uses both 14-inch and 15-inch rim fitments, even a simple wheel swap can change which tire size is appropriate and what sidewall profile makes sense.
Clearance should be checked at the fenders, steering range, and suspension before changing from the size already on the car. It also helps to verify wheel width against the tire being considered, since some available products include stated rim-width ranges and those specifications are just as important as matching the diameter printed in the size code.
What should I inspect before driving a 1986 Ford Taurus on new tires?
Before driving a 1986 Ford Taurus on new tires, inspect the wheels for the correct diameter and general condition, then confirm the tire size matches the rim. It is also smart to check valve stems, look for uneven wear that could point to alignment or suspension issues, and make sure inflation is set appropriately for the tire being installed.
A short road test should include attention to steering feel, vibration, and clearance during turns and over suspension movement. On an older Taurus, worn suspension parts or previous wheel changes can reveal themselves only after the new tires are mounted, so catching rubbing, pull, or irregular behavior early helps protect the tires and the car.
How should tires on a collector-era 1986 Ford Taurus be maintained?
Tires on a collector-era 1986 Ford Taurus should be inspected regularly for air loss, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and irregular tread wear, even if the car is driven only occasionally. Low-mileage storage does not stop tire aging, so condition matters just as much as remaining tread when the vehicle spends long periods parked.
Good storage habits help preserve both appearance and service life. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources can reduce deterioration, and moving the vehicle periodically can help avoid flat spotting on seldom-driven tires. Before a longer drive, a careful pressure and condition check is especially worthwhile on an older collector car.
