1973 Plymouth Tire Fitment Guide

1973 Plymouth vehicles use a broad range of sizes depending on model. Barracuda uses 735-14 and F78-14; Cricket uses 155R13 and 560-13; Cuda uses F70-14 and F78-14; Duster uses E70-14; Fury uses J78-15, LR78-15, L84-15, F78-15, H78-15, and G78-15; Road Runner uses F70-14 and G70-14; Satellite uses E78-14, F78-14, G78-14, H78-14, and HR78-14; Valiant & Duster uses 695-14 and D78-14. Rim diameters span 13, 14, and 15 inches, so there is no one-size-fits-all Plymouth answer for 1973.

That range means the first fitment question is always model identification, followed by wheel diameter confirmation. Rim width also varies by size where product coverage exists, from narrow compact fitments such as 560-13 on roughly 3.50- to 4.50-inch rims to broader 14- and 15-inch applications reaching 7.00 inches or more. Once the model and wheel are confirmed, the remaining choice is usually between sidewall appearance and, on certain models, bias-ply versus radial construction.

On a 1973 Plymouth Cricket, 155R13 is a Euro-metric radial size. The 155 is the section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this coverage, 155R13 appears as a blackwall radial from Michelin and Dunlop, with H speed ratings that carry a 130 mph ceiling. One version is marked tubeless, while another does not use the same tubeless marking in the size description.

That makes 155R13 very different in character from the Cricket's 560-13 bias-ply option even though both fit a 13-inch wheel. If your goal is to keep a Cricket in a more modern radial format that still suits the era, 155R13 is the one to examine first. If your goal is a more original-looking small-car presentation, the bias-ply 560-13 may be the better visual match.

No, 1973 Plymouth models do not use the same tire size. The compact Cricket uses 13-inch sizes, most Barracuda, Cuda, Duster, Road Runner, Satellite, and Valiant-family applications use 14-inch sizes, and Fury applications use 15-inch sizes. Even within the same rim diameter, size codes differ by model and purpose. Plymouth's 1973 range was simply too broad, from imported economy transportation to full-size sedans and muscle-oriented coupes, for one tire size to cover everything correctly.

In practical terms, year and make are only the starting point on a 1973 Plymouth search. Two cars from the same showroom year can need entirely different diameters, widths, and sidewall presentations. Buyers should identify the exact model first, then compare the applicable sizes for that model rather than assuming another 1973 Plymouth with a similar body style used the same tire.

For a 1973 Plymouth Cricket, the choice between 155R13 and 560-13 is mainly a radial-versus-bias-ply decision. The 155R13 is a radial on a 13-inch wheel and appears in blackwall form from Michelin and Dunlop, while the 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply on the same 13-inch diameter with whitewall choices from BFGoodrich and Firestone. They represent two different eras of tire construction rather than two cosmetic versions of the same thing.

Choose 560-13 when the priority is a more period-correct bias-ply look for a restoration-minded Cricket. Choose 155R13 when you want the car in the radial format tied to that model's 1970s import character. The important step is not to substitute one for the other casually; confirm that your Cricket's wheel and restoration goals line up with the construction type you want before making a final selection.

1973 Plymouth tires cover a wide range of sidewall styles, and the exact look depends on the size. Across the lineup you can find blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, dual white stripe, dual redline, redline, pin white stripe, and raised white letter treatments. Smaller and family-oriented sizes often lean toward blackwall or whitewall styles, while performance-oriented 14-inch sizes such as F70-14, E70-14, and G70-14 bring in the stripes and raised white letters associated with muscle-era presentation.

The right choice comes down to the personality of the car and the kind of restoration you want to present. A Fury or Satellite often looks most at home on whitewalls, while a Road Runner, Cuda, or Duster may call for redlines or raised white letters to look era-appropriate. Matching the sidewall style to the model is just as important visually as getting the basic size code right.

1973 Plymouth coverage includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Michelin, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, STA, and US Royal. Some sizes are single-brand offerings, such as F78-14 from Coker Classic, while others have broader coverage, such as F70-14 from Firestone and Goodyear or 695-14 from BFGoodrich and US Royal. The brand mix also changes by vehicle type, with compact radial Cricket fitments coming from Michelin and Dunlop and many domestic bias-ply sizes coming from traditional U.S. nameplates.

Brand selection matters most after the size is narrowed down, because each size has its own mix of sidewall styles and product character. A buyer comparing 1973 Plymouth tires should first choose the correct size, then compare the brands available within that size for the look they want. That approach avoids falling in love with a brand or sidewall treatment that does not exist in the correct fitment.

Rim width requirements for 1973 Plymouth tires vary by size. Examples include 735-14 at 5.00 to 5.50 inches, 560-13 at 3.50 to 4.50 inches depending on product, 155R13 at 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 695-14 at 5.00 to 6.00 inches, F70-14 and E70-14 at 6.00 to 7.00 inches, G70-14 at roughly 6.00 to 8.00 inches depending on product, F78-14 and G78-14 at 5.00 to 7.00 inches, H78-14 at 5.50 to 8.00 inches, and several 15-inch Fury sizes between 5.00 and 8.00 inches.

That spread is why wheel confirmation matters before selecting a tire, especially on cars that may have received wheel swaps over the decades. Staying within the rim-width range for the exact size helps preserve the intended section shape and overall appearance. If your car is a restoration project with uncertain wheel history, measure the wheel and compare it to the tire's accepted width range before moving forward.

Inner-tube requirements for 1973 Plymouth tires are not uniform across every size on this page. The 155R13 Cricket radial includes one product marked TL, meaning tubeless, while the other radial product does not carry the same marker in the size description. E78-14 includes an STA version explicitly described as tubeless. Many of the other bias-ply products do not use tube markings in the product descriptions, so the exact setup should be confirmed by the specific tire's sidewall marking and the wheel design being used.

The wheel itself matters almost as much as the tire when tubes are involved. Original older wheels, especially if rusty, pitted, or not intended for modern tubeless service, may still call for a tube-compatible approach even when a tire can be run tubeless in another application. Confirm the wheel condition and the tire's actual construction marking together instead of assuming every 1973 Plymouth tire follows the same tube rule.

A 1973 Plymouth should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone sources that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid prolonged contact with standing moisture, and move the car periodically if it will sit for long stretches. Bias-ply tires tend to develop flat spotting more readily during static storage, while radial tires generally recover more quickly once driven.

Long-term collector storage is easier on the tires when the car is not left in one position for months at a time. If the car will be parked for an extended season, some owners roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged load on one contact patch. The key is preserving sidewalls and casing shape, not simply keeping the tread off the ground.

Tire life on a 1973 Plymouth is usually judged more by age than by mileage, because many collector cars accumulate miles slowly. A sensible rule is to begin careful age-related evaluation around five to seven years and to treat the ten-year point as a serious replacement consideration even if tread depth still looks acceptable. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the best starting point for tracking age.

Collector ownership can make old tires look deceptively healthy because they are often clean, lightly worn, and only driven on fair-weather days. Rubber hardening, internal aging, and sidewall cracking can still advance even when the car is not used much. For a 1973 Plymouth that sees occasional touring, age awareness is often more important than chasing a mileage number.

Tires on a 1973 Plymouth should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or event. Check inflation, visible sidewall cracking, tread wear, cuts, bulges, and any signs that the tire is no longer holding shape consistently. If your Plymouth uses a tube-type setup, include the valve stem and any signs of slow leakage in that routine, because tube and stem issues can show up before a tread problem does.

A short local cruise can hide problems that become obvious only at sustained speed or after heat builds in the casing. It is also wise to inspect the spare, since a trunk-mounted spare on a collector car may be far older than the four tires on the ground. Consistent pre-drive checks are one of the simplest ways to keep an older Plymouth from turning a tire issue into a roadside event.

A 1973 Plymouth Barracuda would have been associated with bias-ply construction in period, and the sizes covered here are 735-14 and F78-14. That aligns with the broader early-1970s American pattern, when bias-ply tires were still common on domestic performance and sporty cars even as radial use was growing elsewhere in the market. A specific original brand should not be assumed without factory literature or surviving-car evidence tied to your exact Barracuda application.

For restoration work, the main authenticity checkpoints are correct size family, bias-ply construction, and an appropriate sidewall style for the car's original appearance. If the car is headed for judged competition, consult marque specialists or original sales and service material to confirm whether your particular Barracuda should wear the numeric or alphanumeric fitment. That level of research matters more than choosing a familiar tire brand name.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1973 Plymouth, especially in stock or restoration-focused judging. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice the size code, the construction type, the wheel diameter, and the sidewall look. A radial on a car expected to wear bias-ply tires, or a raised white letter tire on a model that should present as a whitewall-equipped family car, can stand out immediately even when the overall restoration is strong.

The closer the event is to factory-authentic standards, the more those details count. A Road Runner may look right with a performance sidewall treatment that would seem out of place on a Fury, while a Satellite may call for a more restrained presentation. Before finalizing tires for a judged 1973 Plymouth, compare the size and sidewall style to marque-club guidance and period photos of cars equipped like yours.

For 1973 Plymouth applications such as F70-14, E70-14, and G70-14, Firestone Wide Oval and Goodyear Custom Wide Tread occupy a similar period-performance space but differ in available sidewall treatments and some fitment ranges. Firestone Wide Oval appears in combinations such as redline, pin white stripe, and raised white letter, while Goodyear Custom Wide Tread appears in raised white letter or redline depending on size. Their rim-width ranges are close, though Goodyear reaches a little wider on some G70-14 applications.

The practical difference is usually visual and application-specific rather than a matter of one being universally right for every 1973 Plymouth muscle model. If you are restoring a Road Runner, Cuda, or Duster, compare the sidewall style you want first, then confirm that the wheel width falls within the accepted range for that exact tire. That method preserves both authenticity and proper fitment discipline.

1973 Plymouth tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and operated within their construction and speed limits. The 155R13 Cricket radials here carry H speed ratings, which correspond to 130 mph. Most other sizes on this page are bias-ply applications, and while many collector cars will never approach the tire's absolute limit, safe highway use depends just as much on the car's braking, steering, suspension, and overall condition as it does on the tire itself.

For most vintage Plymouth use, the real issue is not top speed but heat, age, inflation, and mechanical readiness. A well-maintained 1973 Plymouth on fresh, properly fitted tires can be entirely enjoyable on modern roads, but it should still be driven with an awareness of its era. Build your confidence around inspection, condition, and realistic cruising speeds rather than assuming any old tire is ready for a long interstate run.

Inflation pressure for 1973 Plymouth tires should start with the vehicle's original factory recommendation, then be checked against the tire's own rated load-and-pressure information for the exact size you are using. Examples here include 735-14 at 1360 pounds at 32 psi, 560-13 at 850 pounds at 30 psi, F70-14 at 1500 pounds at 32 psi, E70-14 at 1400 pounds at 32 psi, G70-14 at 1620 pounds at 32 psi, J78-15 at 1860 pounds at 32 psi, and H78-15 up to 1830 pounds at 45 psi on one STA application.

Those figures are not interchangeable from one size to another, and they are load-rating references rather than a blanket instruction to inflate every tire to its maximum. A Fury on 15-inch tires and a Cricket on 13-inch tires clearly do not belong in the same pressure conversation. Match the pressure decision to the exact tire size, product, and intended use, then verify the car's handling and wear pattern over time.

Before a longer drive in a 1973 Plymouth, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is usable. Pay close attention to the sidewalls on older bias-ply tires and to any sign of age-related hardening on tires that look cosmetically clean. If the car uses a tube-type arrangement, valve stems and slow leaks deserve extra attention because they can turn into problems only after the tires warm up on the road.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip routine on a car from this era. A smart long-drive check also includes brakes, wheel bearings, suspension condition, and general underhood readiness, since a 1973 Plymouth's roadworthiness depends on the entire system working together. Treat the tire inspection as the first checkpoint, not the last one, before asking an older Plymouth to cover real distance.