1977 Honda Tire Fitment Guide

1977 Honda vehicles use five sizes across two models. The 1977 Honda Accord uses 155R13 and 560-13, both for 13-inch wheels. The 1977 Honda Civic uses 155R12 and 6.00-12 for 12-inch wheels, plus 155R13 and 6.15-13 for 13-inch wheels. Where product fitment details are available, 155R13 fits rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches wide depending on product, while 560-13 fits rims from 3.50 to 4.50 inches wide depending on brand and sidewall configuration.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident tire choice on 1977 Honda vehicles. Start by identifying whether the car is an Accord or Civic, then confirm whether it has 12-inch or 13-inch wheels before comparing radial versus bias-ply construction. Once wheel diameter is confirmed, the choice becomes much more straightforward and keeps you from chasing the wrong size family.

On a 1977 Honda tire, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. For 1977 Honda applications, that size appears on the Accord rather than across the whole model range. Available versions include both narrow and wide whitewall styles, which makes the size especially relevant for appearance-conscious restorations.

A modern buyer should read 560-13 as an older sizing system, not as a direct metric equivalent. The code tells you the tire belongs to the traditional bias-ply family and must go on a 13-inch wheel. Because rim-width recommendations vary within the size, it is smart to confirm the actual wheel width before settling on a particular BFGoodrich or Firestone version.

No. The 1977 Honda Accord uses two 13-inch sizes, one radial and one bias-ply, while the 1977 Honda Civic spans four sizes across both 12-inch and 13-inch wheels. The only size shared by both models is 155R13. Every other size is model-specific, so 560-13 belongs to Accord fitment, and 155R12, 6.00-12, and 6.15-13 are Civic applications.

That model split matters because two cars from the same year and make can need different wheel diameters before you even get into construction style. If you are starting with a recently acquired car, check the model badge, verify the wheel diameter, and compare the tire on the car with the size family that belongs to that model. That approach prevents confusion between Civic's 12-inch and 13-inch options and Accord's all-13-inch setup.

For a 1977 Honda Accord, the choice between 155R13 and 560-13 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. The 155R13 is a radial format with Blackwall offerings from Michelin and Dunlop, while the 560-13 is a bias-ply size offered with narrow or wide whitewall styling from BFGoodrich and Firestone. The 560-13 does not apply across the whole 1977 Honda range; it is an Accord-specific fitment path.

Choose 560-13 when the goal is a more traditional period presentation, especially if sidewall appearance matters to the finished look of the car. Choose 155R13 when you want to stay with a radial construction while keeping the car in a proper 13-inch fitment family. The simplest way to narrow the decision is to separate restoration appearance from everyday driving expectations before comparing individual products.

Sidewall style depends on the size. The radial 155R13 is available in Blackwall form, while the bias-ply 560-13 comes in Narrow Whitewall and Wide Whitewall versions. That creates a clear visual split between the radial and bias-ply choices for 1977 Honda applications where products are available. Whitewall width is not just a cosmetic detail, since it changes the visual character of a restored car.

For a late-1970s Japanese compact, Blackwall is usually the more natural fit if you want a cleaner, everyday factory-era look. Whitewall bias-ply tires can still make sense when the goal is a particular custom appearance or a period presentation shaped by owner preference rather than strict mainstream showroom style. If appearance is a major part of the project, decide on sidewall style before narrowing by brand.

Four brands cover the currently available 1977 Honda tire offerings shown here. The 155R13 radial is available from Michelin and Dunlop, while the 560-13 bias-ply is available from BFGoodrich and Firestone. That means Accord buyers can compare across both construction type and brand family, while the shared 155R13 also gives Civic owners a radial option in a common 13-inch size.

Brand choice matters most after the correct size and construction type are settled. Michelin and Dunlop speak to the radial side of the late-1970s small-car market, while BFGoodrich and Firestone cover the bias-ply and whitewall side of the decision. Once you know whether your Honda needs 12-inch or 13-inch fitment and whether originality or a radial format matters more, the brand field becomes much easier to sort through.

Rim width depends on the size and, in some cases, the specific product. For 1977 Honda applications in 155R13, approved rim width runs from 4.00 to 5.50 inches. For 560-13, BFGoodrich versions fit 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, while the Firestone version fits 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims. Those ranges all share the same 13-inch wheel diameter, but they do not share one universal wheel-width requirement.

That matters most for cars that may have had wheels changed over the years. If your Accord is running 13-inch wheels, measure or verify wheel width before choosing among the 560-13 options, especially when comparing BFGoodrich and Firestone. A tire can be correct in diameter yet still be a poor match for the wheel if the rim width falls outside the approved range.

Inner-tube requirements can vary by size and by product. The Michelin 155R13 carries a TL marking, which identifies it as tubeless, while the other 155R13 product does not establish one uniform tube status across the size as a whole. The 560-13 products also do not carry one consistent tube callout in the size markings shown here, so a blanket statement across every product would be too broad.

Treat tube use as a product-level and wheel-level confirmation point rather than assuming every tire in the same size behaves the same way. Original wheel condition, bead-seat design, and restoration choices all play a role. Before final selection, check the exact sidewall marking on the tire you want and confirm whether your wheel is appropriate for tubeless service or should remain in a tube-type setup.

Original 1977 Honda wheels can often be used with more than one tire size only when the wheel diameter matches the tire. On the Accord, both 155R13 and 560-13 use 13-inch wheels, so the diameter requirement is shared. Civic applications are different because the model used both 12-inch and 13-inch tire sizes in 1977, so one original wheel cannot serve both diameter groups.

The practical takeaway is to confirm wheel diameter first and wheel width second. A 13-inch Accord wheel may accept either of its two size families if the wheel width also falls within the product's approved range, but that same logic does not let a 12-inch Civic wheel take a 13-inch tire. Diameter is the first gate, and width is the second.

A stored 1977 Honda should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from ozone sources such as electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and air compressors. Clean, dry surfaces are better than damp soil or bare ground, and maintaining proper inflation helps the tire keep its shape. Because 1977 Honda fitments include both radial and bias-ply constructions, storage habits matter: bias-ply tires tend to flat-spot more readily during long static periods, while both constructions can suffer sidewall aging from heat and ozone exposure.

If the car will sit for months at a time, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. A breathable car cover and stable indoor temperatures help as much as the tire choice itself. Good storage practice preserves appearance, reduces vibration when the car returns to the road, and slows down age-related cracking that can shorten tire life on a collector Honda.

Tires on a 1977 Honda should be judged more by age than by mileage, because collector and hobby cars often travel very little each year. A sensible rule is to begin careful evaluation around five to seven years of age and to consider replacement around the ten-year mark regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the sidewall is the best starting point for establishing age, even when a tire still looks outwardly sound.

That age-based approach is especially important on older Hondas that may spend long periods parked and then return to road use for weekend drives or events. A tire can look presentable yet still harden, crack, or lose structural resilience over time. If your Honda has older tires with no obvious wear but a late date code, replacement planning is usually wiser than waiting for mileage to force the issue.

Tires on a 1977 Honda deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more thorough one before any longer outing. Check for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and pay attention to how the car feels as it starts rolling after sitting. If the setup uses tube-type components or uncertain tube compatibility, valve stems and slow leaks deserve extra attention because age can affect those parts as much as the tire itself.

Regular inspection is one of the simplest ways to make an older Honda more dependable on the road. A brief walk-around can catch a low tire, a weathered sidewall, or a damaged stem before it turns into a stranded-car problem. Longer trips deserve a fuller check, including the spare, because a decades-old small car often gets driven less frequently but needs more vigilance when it finally comes out.

The 1977 Honda Accord falls into an era when both bias-ply and radial fitment conversations existed, but radial construction had become a very normal part of the passenger-car market by the late 1970s. Within the Accord's fitment range here, 155R13 represents the radial path and 560-13 represents the bias-ply path, both on 13-inch wheels. No original-equipment brand should be assumed from size alone, and market-specific or trim-specific confirmation is best handled through Honda literature or a marque specialist.

For a restoration, the right answer depends on whether you are pursuing period driving character, visual authenticity, or a car prepared for judged originality. Size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all shape how the finished Accord reads to an experienced eye. If the car will be shown, verify the exact expectation for your event before choosing between a radial blackwall look and a bias-ply whitewall presentation.

Correct tire fitment can matter quite a bit when a 1977 Honda is judged for authenticity. Size, construction, wheel diameter, and sidewall style all contribute to whether the car looks right for its era and market position. A radial where a bias-ply look is expected, a whitewall style that feels out of character for the presentation, or the wrong wheel diameter can all stand out even if the tire physically mounts and drives well.

The standard depends on the type of event. A preservation-minded class may care deeply about period-correct construction and sidewall treatment, while a casual local show may simply reward a clean and coherent overall appearance. If judging matters, consult the event rules or a Honda club before making the final call, because that extra step often matters more than choosing between two otherwise acceptable brands.

For the 1977 Honda Accord's 560-13 size, BFGoodrich and Firestone differ mainly in sidewall presentation and approved rim-width range rather than overall construction type. BFGoodrich offers both 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and 2.25-inch wide whitewall versions with a 3.50 to 4.00-inch rim-width range, while Firestone offers a 2.25-inch wide whitewall with a 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim-width range. Both are bias-ply tires and both carry a load figure of 850 pounds at 30 psi.

That means the choice comes down to the visual style you want and the wheel you are mounting on. If your wheel is on the narrower side, the BFGoodrich options may align better; if your wheel measures wider within the 13-inch family, the Firestone fitment window may be more appropriate. Matching the rim-width range to the actual wheel is just as important as choosing the preferred whitewall look.

1977 Honda tires can be suitable for highway driving when the tire is the correct size, is in sound condition, and is used within its construction and rating limits. The available 155R13 radial products carry H speed ratings, which correspond to a 130 mph ceiling. Bias-ply options such as 560-13 should be treated according to their own construction character even when a speed letter appears in the size code, because the car's age, suspension condition, and braking ability usually matter more than outright tire speed capacity in normal highway use.

Highway safety on a late-1970s Honda is really a systems question, not just a tire question. Fresh tires help, but so do proper inflation, alignment, wheel condition, brakes, steering, and suspension bushings that have not aged out. If the goal is regular road use, start with a tire that matches the car correctly and then make sure the rest of the vehicle is equally ready for sustained speeds.

Inflation pressure should follow the vehicle's original guidance first and the tire manufacturer's rating information second, because pressure is tied to both the car and the specific tire. For 1977 Honda applications where load-and-pressure figures are available, the 560-13 bias-ply tires are rated at 850 pounds at 30 psi. That figure belongs to that size and those products; it should not be transferred to 155R13 or to Civic sizes with different dimensions and construction.

The safest approach is to use the owner's manual or factory placard as the baseline for vehicle setup, then verify that your chosen reproduction or specialty tire is being used within its own published load-and-pressure limits. If the car has been modified, or if the wheels are not original, treat pressure setting as part of the full fitment decision rather than copying a number from another size family.

Before a longer drive in a 1977 Honda, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any sign that the tire has been losing pressure. Check valve stems, especially on older wheels or any setup where tube use is part of the equation, and do not forget the spare. Tire age matters as much as visible tread, so a car that looks ready can still be compromised by old rubber.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-trip routine for an older Honda. Brakes, cooling system, belts, hoses, wheel bearings, and lights all deserve attention before the car is asked to do more than a short local outing. A small, reliable 1977 Honda is still a nearly half-century-old machine, and longer drives reward owners who treat the tires as one important piece of total mechanical readiness.