The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis belongs to the era of efficient subcompact imports that emphasized light weight, tidy dimensions, and straightforward everyday usability. Buyers looking after one today are often balancing practical road use with a clean, era-appropriate appearance that still suits an eighties economy car. The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis uses 13-inch radial tire fitments, with 155/80R13 and 175/70R13 both applying across the covered sub-models. That leaves room to choose between blackwall and whitewall presentations, along with several radial tire series and brands. The key is confirming the wheel setup on the car and then deciding whether appearance, driving use, or restoration style matters most.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis
The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis uses two primary tire sizes, both in radial construction on 13-inch rims. Because the same two sizes appear across the covered sub-models, the first step is confirming which wheel and tire size is actually on the car today, especially if it has aluminum wheels or has been changed over time. Once that is clear, the decision shifts to overall tire stance, sidewall style, and product selection within the correct size.
Fit(s): Base, LS, LS w/aluminum wheels, and w/aluminum wheels
Construction: Radial|Rim: 13 in
175/70R13 is also a metric radial size, using a wider 175-millimeter nominal section width, a 70-series profile, and a 13-inch rim diameter. For the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis, it stays within the same wheel diameter while changing the tire's width and profile relationship compared with 155/80R13. The available product selection here centers on Avon in the CR6ZZ series with a blackwall sidewall treatment. This size is worth considering only after confirming the car's existing wheel setup, since correct 13-inch diameter alone does not settle the fitment question.
Fitment stays fairly straightforward across the covered 1987 Mitsubishi Precis sub-models because each one is associated with the same two radial tire sizes on 13-inch rims. Checking the exact sub-model still helps, especially on cars with aluminum-wheel naming, because the actual wheel setup on the vehicle should guide final tire selection.
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1987 Mitsubishi Precis Base
The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis Base is associated with the same pair of 13-inch radial tire sizes used across the broader model coverage. That means the real selection step is confirming which wheel-and-tire combination the car currently carries and then choosing the right appearance and product style within that fitment.
The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis LS follows the same basic tire-fitment pattern, using the same two radial size options on 13-inch rims. Tire choice here comes down to verifying the wheel setup on the car and deciding whether a narrower whitewall-style look or a blackwall sportier presentation better matches the intended use.
The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis LS w/aluminum wheels is still tied to the same two 13-inch radial tire sizes as the other covered sub-models. Because wheel material and wheel setup are not the same thing, it is smart to confirm the exact mounted size before choosing between the available radial products.
The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis w/aluminum wheels shares the same overall tire-size coverage as the rest of the model range, with both primary radial sizes appearing here as well. Selection is less about the trim name and more about checking the car's actual wheels, then matching the tire to the desired stance and sidewall appearance.
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 Mitsubishi Precis Tires for Sale
Available 13-inch radial choices for the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis vary by size, brand, tire series, sidewall treatment, and rim-width specification. Options include Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, Tornel, and Avon, with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles represented.
These FAQs focus on the tire-size choices used on the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis, how its 13-inch radial fitments differ, and what to check when choosing tires for appearance, wheel compatibility, and road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis?
The 1987 Mitsubishi Precis uses two primary tire sizes: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13. Both are radial tires designed for 13-inch rims, and both appear across the covered sub-models, including Base, LS, LS w/aluminum wheels, and w/aluminum wheels.
That means the fitment question is not just about the model name. The practical step is checking which size is actually mounted on the car now and confirming the wheel diameter before choosing a replacement. A Precis that has been changed over time may no longer match the tire size expected from the trim name alone.
What size rim does a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis use?
The covered tire fitments for the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis use a 13-inch rim diameter. Both primary sizes, 155/80R13 and 175/70R13, are built around that same 13-inch wheel size, so rim diameter does not change between the listed fitments.
Wheel diameter is only part of the picture, though. Rim width can still matter when comparing available tire options, and an older car may have different wheels than it left with. Checking the stamp on the wheel and comparing it with the tire's approved rim-width range helps avoid choosing a tire that is right in diameter but wrong for the wheel.
Do all 1987 Mitsubishi Precis sub-models use the same tire size?
Across the covered sub-models, the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis shares the same two tire sizes: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13. That includes the Base, LS, LS w/aluminum wheels, and w/aluminum wheels versions, all using radial construction on 13-inch rims.
Shared size coverage makes the model range easier to shop, but it does not eliminate the need to inspect the car itself. One Precis may be running the narrower 155/80R13 while another uses 175/70R13, and wheel changes over the years are common on older compacts. Matching the replacement to the tire and wheel currently on the vehicle remains the safest approach.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis?
Start with the actual size on the car, since the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis can use either 155/80R13 or 175/70R13. From there, compare radial construction details, rim-width compatibility, sidewall style, and the intended look of the vehicle rather than selecting only by diameter.
The narrower 155/80R13 opens up more appearance-oriented options, including whitewall styles from several brands, while 175/70R13 has a different product character. A daily-driven car, a preserved original-style compact, and a lightly modified Precis may each point toward a different choice. Tire selection makes more sense once size, wheel, and appearance goals are settled together.
What sidewall styles are available for 1987 Mitsubishi Precis tires?
Sidewall choices for the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall, depending on tire size and product series. The 155/80R13 options include both narrow and wide whitewall styles, while the 175/70R13 offering is a blackwall tire.
That makes sidewall treatment an important part of the buying decision. A whitewall can give the Precis a more restoration-oriented or period small-car presentation, while a blackwall keeps the look simpler and more performance-flavored. The best choice depends on whether the car is being kept close to its era character or aimed at a cleaner modernized appearance.
What brands offer tires for the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis?
Tires for the 1987 Mitsubishi Precis are available from Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, Tornel, and Avon. Those brands are spread across the two primary sizes, with 155/80R13 carrying the broader mix of manufacturers and 175/70R13 represented by Avon.
Brand alone should not be the only filter. It helps to compare which size each brand supports, the sidewall style offered, the tire series, and whether the rim-width specification matches the wheel on the car. For many Precis owners, the strongest brand choice will be the one that aligns with the right size and the appearance they want.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1987 Mitsubishi Precis?
A period-style 1987 Mitsubishi Precis usually starts with choosing the tire size that matches the car's actual wheel-and-tire setup, then selecting a sidewall treatment that suits an eighties compact. In this fitment range, 155/80R13 offers the broadest traditional-looking options, including narrow whitewall and wide whitewall radial choices.
That does not make one sidewall automatically correct for every Precis. Owners pursuing a more exact restoration should compare the car against period photos, marque references, and surviving original examples before deciding on brand or whitewall width. For a driver-quality car, the goal is often a size and visual style that looks appropriate without overreaching on originality claims.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1987 Mitsubishi Precis?
On a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis, tire construction is simpler than on many older collector cars because the primary fitments are radial. The bigger appearance difference comes from the tire's profile, sidewall treatment, and overall presentation, especially when comparing a blackwall 175/70R13 with whitewall 155/80R13 options.
A restored compact from this era can look noticeably different depending on whether the tires emphasize clean economy-car practicality or a more dressed-up period style. The best visual result usually comes from keeping the tire size appropriate to the wheel and body, then choosing the sidewall style that matches the level of restoration rather than chasing a generic vintage look.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis even when the tire still uses a 13-inch rim. Aftermarket wheels, altered rim width, suspension changes, lowering, or body repairs can all change how well a 155/80R13 or 175/70R13 tire sits and clears the car.
A modified Precis should be checked at full steering lock and through normal suspension travel before settling on a replacement tire. It also helps to confirm the wheel width against the tire's approved range, since clearance is only one part of fitment. Older imported compacts often survive with mixed parts, so assumptions based on trim alone can be misleading.
What should I inspect before driving a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis on new tires?
Before driving a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage, verify the mounted size, and confirm that the beads seat correctly on the rims. It is also wise to look over the suspension, steering components, and alignment condition so a fresh set of tires is not immediately affected by underlying wear.
Collector-age economy cars often spend long periods parked, so basic road-readiness checks matter just as much as the tire installation itself. Check inflation pressure, lug-nut torque, tread-to-body clearance, and any signs of rubbing during a slow test drive. Catching those issues early helps protect the new tires and makes the car more predictable on the road.
How should tires on a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis be maintained?
Tires on a 1987 Mitsubishi Precis should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for uneven wear, and checked for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, or slow air loss. Since these cars are now well into collector age, low-mileage use does not eliminate the need for routine visual inspection and periodic pressure checks.
Storage conditions also matter. A Precis that sits for long stretches should be kept away from prolonged sunlight, excess moisture, and ozone sources such as electric motors or generators. Rolling the car occasionally and keeping the tires clean can help reduce long-term stress points. Any sign of age-related deterioration deserves attention before regular road use resumes.
