The 1988 Buick Skylark came from a period when GM front-wheel-drive midsize cars balanced everyday comfort with increasingly modern wheel and tire sizing. For a Skylark owner today, that means tire selection is less about antique sizing conventions and more about matching the car’s exact wheel setup and intended appearance. The 1988 Buick Skylark uses radial tire fitments in 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14, so the first step is confirming which rim diameter is actually on the car. Available choices range from blackwall and raised white letter styles to narrow and wide whitewalls, making it possible to lean stock-looking, sporty, or more restoration-minded without drifting away from correct fitment practice.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1988 Buick Skylark
The 1988 Buick Skylark uses three primary tire sizes, and the right one depends first on confirming whether the car has 13-inch or 14-inch wheels. Both Skylark Custom and Skylark Limited can use these radial fitments, so the real decision is matching the car’s current wheel setup, then choosing the sidewall style, series, and overall look that best suits how the car will be driven and presented.
185/80R13 is a metric radial size in which 185 identifies the nominal section width in millimeters, 80 is the aspect ratio, R indicates radial construction, and 13 is the rim diameter in inches. On the 1988 Buick Skylark, it represents a taller-profile 13-inch radial fitment with a traditional passenger-car look. Available choices include Maxxis, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial, and Coker Classic, with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall presentations. This size makes sense when the Skylark has 13-inch wheels and the goal is a more conservative, period-leaning appearance rather than a sport-oriented sidewall treatment.
205/70R13 is a metric radial size where 205 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R marks radial construction, and 13 identifies the rim diameter. For a 1988 Buick Skylark, this is another 13-inch fitment but with a wider, lower-profile shape than 185/80R13. The available product in this size is a Michelin XDX-B blackwall, giving it a distinctly European-style touring presentation compared with whitewall alternatives in the other 13-inch size. It is the size to evaluate when the car already carries 13-inch wheels and a blackwall radial look is the direction you want.
215/60R14 is a metric radial size that uses a 215-millimeter nominal section width, a 60-series aspect ratio, radial construction, and a 14-inch rim diameter. On the 1988 Buick Skylark, this size shifts the fitment conversation to a different wheel diameter, so wheel confirmation matters before anything else. The available choice is a BFGoodrich Radial T/A with raised white letters, giving this fitment a more assertive late-1980s sport-sedan appearance than the whitewall and blackwall 13-inch options. It is the right path to consider when the car is equipped with 14-inch wheels and that lower-profile, performance-flavored look fits the build.
Tire fitment for the 1988 Buick Skylark is straightforward by trim because both Custom and Limited models use the same group of radial tire sizes. The important check is not the trim name alone, but which wheel diameter is currently on the car before choosing among the available 13-inch and 14-inch fitments.
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1988 Buick Skylark Custom
The 1988 Buick Skylark Custom uses the same three radial tire fitments found across the covered Skylark line, so the deciding factor is the wheel setup on the individual car. That makes tire selection more about confirming 13-inch versus 14-inch rims, then choosing the sidewall style and series that best match the car’s appearance and use.
The 1988 Buick Skylark Limited shares the same radial size choices as the Custom, which keeps trim-level fitment simple but makes wheel verification essential. Once the rim diameter is confirmed, the main decision becomes whether the car calls for a whitewall, blackwall, or raised white letter presentation.
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 1988 Buick Skylark Tires for Sale
Available 1988 Buick Skylark tires span 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14 sizes from Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Michelin, and Coker Classic. Choices vary by series and appearance, including narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter sidewalls.
These FAQs focus on the 1988 Buick Skylark’s three radial tire sizes, 13-inch versus 14-inch wheel fitment, available sidewall and brand choices, and the checks that matter before putting a collector-era driver back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1988 Buick Skylark?
The 1988 Buick Skylark uses three primary radial tire sizes: 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14. Both the Skylark Custom and Skylark Limited are associated with these same size options, so the fitment question centers on the wheel diameter and setup on the individual car rather than a trim-specific tire size split.
That means the first thing to confirm is whether the car has 13-inch or 14-inch wheels. Once that is settled, the remaining choice is the character of the tire itself, including whitewall, blackwall, or raised white letter styling, along with the rim-width range and general look that best suits the car.
What size rim does a 1988 Buick Skylark use?
A 1988 Buick Skylark can use either a 13-inch or 14-inch rim, depending on which of its primary tire sizes is on the car. The 185/80R13 and 205/70R13 sizes are for 13-inch rims, while 215/60R14 is for a 14-inch rim.
Since this Skylark uses more than one rim diameter, measuring or reading the wheel before ordering tires is essential. A car may also have had replacement wheels fitted over the years, so checking the actual rim diameter and width on the vehicle is more reliable than assuming every 1988 Skylark still carries its original setup.
Do all 1988 Buick Skylark sub-models use the same tire size?
The covered 1988 Buick Skylark sub-models share the same overall fitment range rather than having completely separate tire-size groups. Both the Custom and the Limited are associated with 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14 radial sizes.
That does not mean every individual car should use any of the three without checking the wheels already on it. The practical takeaway is that trim name alone does not settle the choice, so confirming actual rim diameter and the current wheel-and-tire combination is the right next step before selecting a replacement tire.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1988 Buick Skylark?
Start with the exact tire size and rim diameter already on the car, because the 1988 Buick Skylark uses both 13-inch and 14-inch fitments. After that, compare the tire’s sidewall style, series, rim-width specification, and overall presentation so the replacement matches the way the car will be used and how you want it to look.
A Skylark kept in a more original-looking driver condition may lean toward one of the whitewall 185/80R13 options, while a sportier presentation may point toward the raised white letter 215/60R14. Blackwall 205/70R13 choices sit in the middle, so appearance and wheel setup work together when narrowing the field.
What sidewall styles are available for 1988 Buick Skylark tires?
Available sidewall styles for 1988 Buick Skylark tires include narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter. Those appearances are spread across the vehicle’s different tire sizes, so sidewall choice is tied not only to styling preference but also to the wheel diameter and size the car actually uses.
Whitewalls usually give the car a more traditional late-1980s passenger-car look, while blackwall keeps things cleaner and more understated. Raised white letters on the 215/60R14 option create a stronger sport-oriented presentation, so selecting a sidewall is really a combination of fitment, visual balance, and how period-minded the finished car should feel.
What brands offer tires for the 1988 Buick Skylark?
Tires for the 1988 Buick Skylark are available from Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Michelin, and Coker Classic. Brand choice depends partly on size, since the 185/80R13 fitment has multiple brand options, while the 205/70R13 and 215/60R14 sizes are represented by one available product each.
That makes size confirmation especially important before comparing brands. Once the correct size is established, look at the tire series, sidewall treatment, rim-width range, and load specification as part of the decision, because those details usually influence the final choice more meaningfully than brand name alone on a collector-era street car.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1988 Buick Skylark?
A period-style 1988 Buick Skylark tire choice starts with the wheel diameter already on the car, then moves to the sidewall look that best reflects the way you want the Buick presented. In this fitment range, 185/80R13 offers the strongest traditional appearance because it is available with narrow and wide whitewall treatments.
That does not make it the right answer for every Skylark, especially if the car carries 14-inch wheels or has been intentionally styled with a sportier late-1980s look. For a restoration-minded owner, the best approach is to match size, wheel, and sidewall style to the car’s actual setup and surviving historical reference points.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1988 Buick Skylark?
On a restored 1988 Buick Skylark, construction is less of an appearance divider than it would be on an earlier bias-ply-era car because the primary fitments here are already radial. The more visible difference comes from sidewall treatment and profile, with whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter styles creating very different impressions on the finished car.
That means appearance decisions revolve around the exact radial size and sidewall style rather than choosing between bias-ply and radial construction. A whitewall radial can keep the car looking more formal and traditional, while a blackwall or raised white letter tire can shift the Skylark toward a sharper, more contemporary late-1980s presentation.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1988 Buick Skylark?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1988 Buick Skylark even when the tire size itself is one of the correct primary options. Aftermarket wheels, different wheel widths, changes in offset, suspension alterations, or body modifications can all influence how a 13-inch or 14-inch tire sits in the wheel opening.
That is why a modified Skylark should be checked at full steering lock and through normal suspension travel before settling on a replacement tire. Clearance at the fender edge, strut area, and inner wheelhouse matters just as much as the printed size, especially when moving between stock-style and more aggressive visual setups.
What should I inspect before driving a 1988 Buick Skylark on new tires?
Before driving a 1988 Buick Skylark on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and condition, confirm that the tires match the car’s actual size, and check that inflation is set properly. It is also smart to look over the suspension, steering components, and brake hardware so the new tires are not being asked to compensate for worn chassis parts.
A short test drive should include listening for rubbing, watching steering response, and rechecking pressure after the tires have settled in. On a collector-era car that may sit for long periods, it also helps to inspect for uneven wear, air loss, or alignment issues early, before the first longer highway outing.
How should tires on a collector 1988 Buick Skylark be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1988 Buick Skylark should be maintained with regular pressure checks, routine visual inspections, and attention to age-related deterioration as well as tread wear. Even a lightly driven car can develop cracking, flat spotting, bulges, or air loss if it spends long periods parked or stored in unfavorable conditions.
Good storage habits make a difference, especially for a car that is driven seasonally. Keeping the Skylark away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and periodic movement of the car can reduce flat-spotting. Any sign of sidewall damage or persistent pressure loss deserves a closer inspection before road use.
