The 1987 Honda Accord came from a period when Honda had firmly established the Accord as a smart, well-balanced front-wheel-drive car with broad appeal for commuters, enthusiasts, and preservation-minded owners alike. Its blend of tidy proportions, light controls, and durable engineering makes it a rewarding late-1980s car to keep on the road today. Tire fitment for the 1987 Honda Accord centers on one primary size, 185/70R13, in radial construction on a 13-inch rim. Within that size, the available choices span blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall styles across several tire series. That makes the real decision less about size and more about matching the tire’s look, character, and wheel compatibility to the car you own.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1987 Honda Accord
The 1987 Honda Accord uses one primary tire size: 185/70R13, a radial tire designed for a 13-inch rim. That same size is used across the DX, LX, and LXi sub-models, so the main decision is choosing the right tire within that fitment based on sidewall style, series, and how closely the tire’s character matches your car’s intended appearance and use.
185/70R13 is a metric radial size in which 185 refers to nominal section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1987 Honda Accord, this size reflects the car’s original-era move toward modern radial fitment and everyday road manners. Available choices include blackwall touring and sport-oriented offerings, along with redline and wide whitewall versions in the Silvertown Radial series. Choosing within this size comes down to appearance, rim-width compatibility, and whether the car is being kept close to period style or given a more individualized presentation.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1987 Honda Accord sub-models. DX, LX, and LXi models all share the same primary size, so selecting a tire is more about construction details, sidewall style, and wheel compatibility than sorting through different fitments by trim.
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1987 Honda Accord DX
The 1987 Honda Accord DX uses the same 185/70R13 radial fitment found across the rest of the covered Accord range. That keeps tire selection focused on choosing the right product style, rim-width match, and overall presentation rather than sorting through multiple size options.
The 1987 Honda Accord LX also uses 185/70R13 radial tires on a 13-inch rim. For an LX owner, the important comparison is between available blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall options, along with the tire series and wheel-width range that best suits the car’s current setup.
The 1987 Honda Accord LXi shares the same 185/70R13 radial tire size as the other covered sub-models. That means the buying decision centers on product character and appearance, while still confirming that the actual wheel on the car remains a 13-inch fitment with suitable width for the tire selected.
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 1987 Honda Accord Tires for Sale
Available 185/70R13 choices include BFGoodrich, Avon, Dunlop, Michelin, and Vredestein options across Silvertown Radial, CR6ZZ, SP Sport Aquajet, Sport Classic, XDX-B, and Sprint Classic series. Buyers can compare blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall styles, along with rim-width ranges where they are stated.
Common 1987 Honda Accord tire questions usually come down to the 185/70R13 fitment, 13-inch wheel compatibility, available radial styles, and how to choose between blackwall, redline, or whitewall options before putting the car back into regular road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1987 Honda Accord?
The 1987 Honda Accord uses a 185/70R13 radial tire. That primary fitment applies across the covered DX, LX, and LXi sub-models, making tire sizing more straightforward than on vehicles that change size by trim or wheel package.
Even with one shared size, it is still worth confirming the wheels currently on the car. Many older Accords have been modified over time, so checking that the car still has a 13-inch wheel and a suitable rim width helps keep the selection process focused on the right 185/70R13 options.
What size rim does a 1987 Honda Accord use?
The primary tire fitment for a 1987 Honda Accord is built around a 13-inch rim. That matches the 185/70R13 size, where the final number identifies the wheel diameter the tire is meant to mount on.
Wheel diameter is the first thing to verify before choosing a tire, especially on a car this age. A previous owner may have changed wheels, and tire choice should follow the actual wheel on the car rather than assumption. Once 13-inch diameter is confirmed, compare the tire’s stated rim-width range to the wheel in use.
Do all 1987 Honda Accord sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1987 Honda Accord DX, LX, and LXi sub-models all use the same 185/70R13 radial tire size. That shared fitment keeps the search process simple because the basic size does not change from one listed sub-model to another.
The remaining differences are product-related rather than fitment-related. An owner can compare blackwall, redline, or wide whitewall styles, along with the character of the available tire series, without needing to sort through different primary sizes. It is still smart to confirm the actual wheels on the car if anything has been changed over the years.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 185/70R13 tire for a 1987 Honda Accord?
Start with the correct size, 185/70R13, and make sure the tire suits a 13-inch wheel with compatible rim width. From there, the choice comes down to the tire’s intended look and character, since available options range from traditional blackwall radials to redline and wide whitewall styles.
Series differences matter when comparing how closely a tire matches the way the car is being used. A preservation-minded Accord may call for a more period-style presentation, while another owner may prefer a sportier blackwall selection. Load figures, weight, and sidewall treatment are also worth comparing when narrowing the available products.
What sidewall styles are available for 1987 Honda Accord tires?
The available 185/70R13 tires for a 1987 Honda Accord include blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Blackwall choices make up most of the selection, while redline and 2-inch whitewall versions are available in the BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial line.
Sidewall style has a strong effect on how the car presents, even when the size stays exactly the same. A blackwall tire generally suits a clean late-1980s road-car look, while redline or wide whitewall options create a more customized or restoration-inspired appearance. The right choice depends on the owner’s visual goal rather than a change in basic fitment.
What brands offer tires for the 1987 Honda Accord?
Tires for the 1987 Honda Accord in 185/70R13 are available from BFGoodrich, Avon, Dunlop, Michelin, and Vredestein. Those brands cover several different tire series, including Silvertown Radial, CR6ZZ, SP Sport Aquajet, Sport Classic, XDX-B, and Sprint Classic.
Brand choice should be treated as part of a broader comparison rather than the only deciding factor. It helps to look at the sidewall style, rim-width compatibility where stated, and the general character of each series. That approach is more useful than focusing on brand name alone, especially when the same Accord fitment supports several different visual and driving presentations.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1987 Honda Accord?
A period-style 1987 Honda Accord still starts with the correct primary size, 185/70R13. From there, the best match depends on whether the goal is a clean late-1980s blackwall presentation or a more distinctive vintage-inspired look using one of the available specialty sidewall treatments.
Most restoration-oriented buyers will want to keep the tire visually in step with the car’s era and overall condition. Blackwall radials usually preserve the most natural everyday appearance for an Accord of this generation, while redline or wide whitewall choices create a more stylized result. For exact originality questions, vehicle-specific historical references remain the best guide.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1987 Honda Accord?
On a 1987 Honda Accord, tire construction is already radial in the primary fitment, so the visual effect comes less from bias-ply versus radial and more from the specific tread and sidewall treatment. The construction type aligns with the car’s late-1980s design era and everyday road-car character.
Appearance changes most noticeably when comparing blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall versions within the same size. A restored Accord with stock-style wheels may look understated and era-appropriate on blackwalls, while a specialty sidewall creates a more personalized presentation. Tire choice should support the car’s overall finish, wheel style, and intended level of originality.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1987 Honda Accord?
Yes. Even though the standard fitment is 185/70R13, modifications can change what actually works on a 1987 Honda Accord. Aftermarket wheels, altered wheel width, suspension changes, or body modifications can all affect how a tire sits and whether there is enough clearance through steering and suspension travel.
That is why the actual wheel diameter and width on the car matter as much as the original fitment. A tire that suits one Accord may not suit another if the wheels have been changed over the years. Checking wheel specs and visible clearance before mounting tires helps avoid issues that a catalog size alone cannot answer.
What should I inspect before driving a 1987 Honda Accord on new tires?
Before putting a 1987 Honda Accord back on the road with new tires, inspect the wheels for damage, confirm the wheel diameter and width, and make sure valve stems and mounting surfaces are in good condition. It is also wise to check alignment, suspension wear, and any signs of rubbing in the wheel wells.
Collector and occasional-use cars often need more than fresh tires alone. Look over brake components, bushings, shocks or struts, and steering parts so the new 185/70R13 tires can work as intended. Once mounted, maintain correct inflation, recheck air pressure after initial use, and pay attention to any vibration, pull, or clearance issue on early drives.
How should 185/70R13 tires on a collector 1987 Honda Accord be maintained?
185/70R13 tires on a collector 1987 Honda Accord should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and protected from long periods of heat, direct sunlight, and ozone exposure. Low-mileage use does not prevent aging, so condition matters just as much as remaining tread depth.
Cars that spend time in storage benefit from routine pressure checks and occasional movement to avoid prolonged static loading in one spot. It also helps to inspect for slow air loss before longer drives rather than assuming the tires are ready because the car was parked indoors. Good storage habits support both appearance and road readiness.
