The 1989 Buick Skylark came from an era when Buick’s compact and midsize front-wheel-drive cars balanced everyday comfort with trim and wheel choices that could noticeably change the car’s stance and appearance. For owners keeping one on the road today, tire selection is less about antique sizing and more about matching the exact wheel and profile the car carries. The 1989 Buick Skylark uses radial tire fitments in 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14. That opens the door to different looks as well, from whitewall-style 13-inch tires to blackwall and raised white letter alternatives. The key is confirming the wheel diameter first, then choosing the sidewall style and tire character that best suits the car’s condition and intended use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1989 Buick Skylark
The 1989 Buick Skylark uses three primary tire sizes, and the first step is 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 tire size to the actual wheel setup on the car and then choosing the appearance and product style that fits your goals.
185/80R13 is a metric radial size with a 185-millimeter section width, an 80-series profile, radial construction, and a 13-inch rim diameter. On a 1989 Buick Skylark, it represents a taller-profile 13-inch radial that suits buyers looking for a traditional passenger-car look and ride profile. Available choices include Maxxis, BFGoodrich, and Coker Classic options, with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall treatments across series such as Maxxis Radial, Silvertown Radial, and Star Series. It is a strong size to evaluate when the car has 13-inch wheels and appearance matters as much as basic fitment.
205/70R13 is a metric radial size that uses a wider 205-millimeter section width, a 70-series profile, and a 13-inch rim. For the 1989 Buick Skylark, this size keeps the 13-inch wheel diameter but changes the tire’s visual proportion and width compared with an 185/80R13. The available product in this size is a Michelin XDX-B blackwall radial, giving it a distinctly different character from the whitewall-oriented 185/80R13 choices. This size makes the most sense when the car already carries the correct 13-inch wheel and you want to stay with that wheel diameter while matching the existing fitment.
215/60R14 is a metric radial size with a 215-millimeter section width, a 60-series profile, and a 14-inch rim diameter. On the 1989 Buick Skylark, it stands apart from the 13-inch sizes because it requires a 14-inch wheel and gives the car a shorter-profile, wider-footprint look. The available BFGoodrich Radial T/A uses raised white letter sidewalls, which creates a more performance-flavored appearance than the whitewall and blackwall 13-inch alternatives. It is the size to consider only after confirming the car is actually equipped with 14-inch wheels.
Fitment is straightforward across the covered 1989 Buick Skylark sub-models because both use the same three radial tire sizes. Even so, checking the exact wheel diameter on the car still matters, since these sizes span both 13-inch and 14-inch applications.
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1989 Buick Skylark Custom
The 1989 Buick Skylark Custom uses the same radial tire fitment range as the overall model, with options in both 13-inch and 14-inch wheel diameters. Tire selection comes down to verifying the wheels currently on the car and then choosing the sidewall style and tire profile that best match its presentation.
The 1989 Buick Skylark Limited shares the same three radial tire sizes as the Custom, so the fitment question is not trim level but wheel setup. Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, the buyer can narrow the choice by sidewall appearance, tire series, and the overall look desired for the car.
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 1989 Buick Skylark Tires for Sale
Available 1989 Buick Skylark tires vary by size, brand, series, and sidewall presentation. Choices include Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Michelin, with narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter styles depending on whether the car uses 13-inch or 14-inch wheels.
Common 1989 Buick Skylark tire questions usually center on which of the three sizes applies, whether the car has 13-inch or 14-inch wheels, and how to choose between whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter radial options.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1989 Buick Skylark?
A 1989 Buick Skylark uses one of three radial tire sizes: 185/80R13, 205/70R13, or 215/60R14. The correct size depends on the wheel setup on the specific car, since two sizes use 13-inch rims and one uses a 14-inch rim.
The most important check is the actual wheel diameter currently installed, especially on older cars that may have had wheels changed over time. Once that is confirmed, the choice becomes much easier because each size points you toward a specific profile, sidewall style, and product group rather than leaving you to guess among unrelated tire options.
What size rim does a 1989 Buick Skylark use?
The 1989 Buick Skylark uses either a 13-inch or 14-inch rim, depending on the tire size on the car. Both 185/80R13 and 205/70R13 are built for 13-inch wheels, while 215/60R14 is built for a 14-inch wheel.
That makes wheel confirmation more important than trim name alone, since both Skylark Custom and Skylark Limited can use these sizes. Measuring the wheel or reading the existing tire sidewall is the quickest starting point, and it is also wise to confirm wheel width before choosing among products with different rim-width compatibility ranges.
Do all 1989 Buick Skylark sub-models use the same tire size?
Both the 1989 Buick Skylark Custom and 1989 Buick Skylark Limited share the same range of three radial tire sizes: 185/80R13, 205/70R13, and 215/60R14. That means the covered sub-models do not split into separate trim-specific tire-size groups.
Even with shared fitment coverage, the tire on your car still needs to match its actual wheel diameter and wheel width. A Skylark that currently carries 13-inch wheels will not use the 14-inch option, so checking what is mounted on the vehicle matters more than assuming one size applies to every example.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1989 Buick Skylark?
Start with the correct size and wheel diameter, since the 1989 Buick Skylark uses 185/80R13, 205/70R13, or 215/60R14 radial tires. From there, compare the tire’s visual style, construction details, and wheel-width suitability so the tire matches both the car and the way it is being used.
A whitewall 185/80R13 gives a very different presentation from a blackwall 205/70R13 or a raised white letter 215/60R14. Looking at the car’s current stance, wheel type, and intended role as a preserved driver or more appearance-focused project will usually point you toward the most sensible choice within the correct fitment.
What sidewall styles are available for 1989 Buick Skylark tires?
Sidewall choices for a 1989 Buick Skylark include narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, blackwall, and raised white letter styles. The available style depends on the tire size, with whitewall options centered around 185/80R13, blackwall offered in 205/70R13, and raised white letter available in 215/60R14.
That range gives the Skylark owner more than one visual direction. A whitewall setup leans toward a traditional late-1980s passenger-car look, while blackwall is more restrained and raised white letter creates a sportier presentation. Choosing the sidewall should come after the size is settled, since appearance options are tied directly to the correct fitment.
What brands offer tires for the 1989 Buick Skylark?
Tires for the 1989 Buick Skylark are available from Maxxis, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Michelin. Brand availability depends on size, with the broadest brand and sidewall variety appearing in 185/80R13, while 205/70R13 and 215/60R14 have more specialized single-product choices.
Brand selection should be considered alongside tire series, sidewall style, and wheel compatibility rather than by name alone. A buyer deciding between a wide whitewall BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial, a Coker Classic Star Series, or a Michelin blackwall is really choosing the overall character of the car as much as the brand on the sidewall.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1989 Buick Skylark?
For a period-style 1989 Buick Skylark, the best starting point is the correct size for the wheel on the car and then the sidewall treatment that suits the look you want. In this fitment range, 185/80R13 offers narrow and wide whitewall options, while 205/70R13 is available as a blackwall and 215/60R14 as a raised white letter radial.
That means the tire choice can either preserve a more traditional Buick passenger-car appearance or push the car toward a sportier visual tone. When exact originality matters, use the tire size and wheel diameter on the car as the baseline and compare the sidewall style against period photos, sales material, or marque-specific references.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1989 Buick Skylark?
On a 1989 Buick Skylark, construction is straightforward because the primary fitments are all radial. The appearance difference comes less from bias-ply versus radial and more from profile, wheel diameter, and sidewall style, such as whitewall, blackwall, or raised white letter presentation.
A taller-profile 13-inch radial can give the car a softer, more traditional stance, while the 14-inch 215/60R14 setup changes the visual balance toward a lower-profile look. For a restoration-minded owner, construction is already aligned with the period, so the more meaningful appearance decision is selecting the right size and sidewall treatment.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1989 Buick Skylark?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1989 Buick Skylark even when the tire size looks close on paper. Wheel swaps, changes in wheel width, altered offset, suspension work, or ride-height changes can all influence whether a 13-inch or 14-inch setup clears properly.
That matters most on a car with replacement wheels or a changed stance, since the Skylark already spans more than one original-size category. Checking steering clearance, fender space, and the actual wheel dimensions before choosing a replacement tire helps avoid selecting a size that matches the sidewall code but not the car’s present setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1989 Buick Skylark on new tires?
Before driving a 1989 Buick Skylark on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and overall clearance at the front and rear. It is also smart to verify that the tire size matches the wheel diameter and that the tire is seated and inflated correctly for initial road use.
A short, careful test drive can reveal rubbing, vibration, or steering issues that are easier to correct early. Older cars also benefit from a quick check of suspension wear, alignment condition, and brake operation, since fresh tires often make existing mechanical problems more noticeable than they were on worn or aged rubber.
How should tires on a collector-era 1989 Buick Skylark be maintained?
Tires on a collector-era 1989 Buick Skylark should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly, and protected from long periods of sitting in harsh storage conditions. Even if the car sees limited mileage, the tires still need routine checks for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow air loss.
Storage habits matter nearly as much as road use on a low-mileage Skylark. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the sidewalls, while occasional movement prevents long-term flat spotting. Regular visual checks before local drives and longer outings help catch age-related issues early.
