1979 Ferrari Tire Fitment Guide

1979 Ferrari vehicles covered here use one tire size: 205/70R14. That size applies to the 1979 Ferrari 308 and mounts on a 14-inch rim. Available products for this size are built for rim-width ranges spanning 5.00 to 7.50 inches, depending on the specific tire, so the wheel itself still needs to match the individual tire's approved range.

That makes year-and-make fitment simple, but wheel verification still matters before choosing a tire. If your 308 is wearing factory-style 14-inch wheels, the next step is usually deciding between sidewall treatments such as RWL, redline, dual redline, or narrow whitewall rather than sorting through multiple size families.

On a 1979 Ferrari, 205/70R14 is a metric radial size. The 205 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, the R identifies radial construction, and 14 is the wheel diameter in inches. That makes it a modern-format size compared with older numeric or alphanumeric sizing systems used on earlier collector cars.

For a Ferrari 308 owner, that means the code itself tells you both the construction type and the wheel diameter in one line. It also helps when comparing visual stance and sidewall profile across brands, because two tires can share the same 205/70R14 designation while still differing in sidewall style, approved rim-width range, and overall presentation.

Yes. The 1979 Ferrari model covered here, the 308, uses 205/70R14 throughout this year-and-make range. There is no split here between one Ferrari model using a numeric bias-ply size and another using a metric radial, so the fitment path is much cleaner than it is on many domestic makes from the same era.

That means identifying the model is still important, but once you have confirmed a 1979 Ferrari 308, the focus shifts away from size selection and toward tire style and setup details. Buyers typically compare whitewall, redline, dual redline, and raised white letter options to get the visual effect that best complements the car.

1979 Ferrari tires in 205/70R14 are available with several very different sidewall looks: Narrow Whitewall, RWL, Redline, and Dual-Redline. All of them share the same basic size and radial construction, but they create very different visual results on a Ferrari 308. The BFGoodrich options cover raised white letters and both redline treatments, while Maxxis offers a narrow whitewall version.

For many 308 owners, sidewall style is the most important buying decision because it changes the car's period impression more than the size itself. A restrained blackwall-style presentation is often closest to a European sports-car feel, while redlines, raised white letters, or a narrow whitewall push the car toward a more personalized period look.

1979 Ferrari vehicles in 205/70R14 are covered by Maxxis and BFGoodrich. BFGoodrich appears in multiple styles within this size, including Radial T/A, Silvertown Radial Redline, and Silvertown Radial Dual-Redline, while Maxxis offers the Classic Whitewall MA-1. All of these are radial tires built around the same basic 14-inch fitment.

Brand choice often comes down to the appearance you want and the personality you want the finished car to project. Owners building a Ferrari 308 with a cleaner sports-car presentation may lean one way, while owners aiming for a stronger period-custom visual statement may prefer another, even though the underlying size remains the same.

For a 1979 Ferrari in 205/70R14, BFGoodrich Radial T/A uses an RWL sidewall and carries a 93S speed rating, with a 5.00 to 7.00-inch approved rim-width range and a weight of 23.7 pounds. BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial appears in Redline and Dual-Redline versions, each with a 5.50 to 7.50-inch approved rim-width range and a weight of 24 pounds. All share radial construction and a 1,433-pound load figure at 35 psi.

The practical difference is appearance first, with a smaller setup difference tied to wheel width range. A 308 owner choosing between them should verify the actual wheel width, then decide whether the sharper muscle-era look of raised white letters or the more understated vintage-performance look of a redline better suits the car.

The 205/70R14 tires used on 1979 Ferrari vehicles fit a 14-inch rim, but the approved wheel-width range depends on the product. Some 205/70R14 options are approved for 5.00 to 7.00-inch rims, while others are approved for 5.50 to 7.50-inch rims. That difference matters even when the sidewall marking looks identical at first glance.

Before choosing a tire for a Ferrari 308, confirm the wheel width on the car rather than assuming every 205/70R14 behaves the same. Matching the tire to the wheel's actual width helps preserve proper tread shape, sidewall support, and the intended appearance once the tire is mounted and inflated.

The 205/70R14 products for 1979 Ferrari vehicles do not carry tube-type markings in their size descriptions, and the available options are modern radial constructions commonly used in tubeless service. That said, wheel condition and wheel design still matter on a late-1970s collector car, especially if the wheels have been restored, refinished, or replaced over time.

A Ferrari 308 owner should confirm how the actual wheels are configured before final tire selection. If the wheels are original, restored, or specialty replacements, verify sealing surfaces, valve stems, and overall condition so the tire and wheel can be matched correctly instead of assuming every 14-inch wheel should be treated the same way.

A 1979 Ferrari should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid prolonged contact with damp concrete when possible, and move the car periodically so the same footprint is not loaded month after month. Radial tires resist flat-spotting better than old bias-ply designs, but they still benefit from careful storage.

Collectors who leave a Ferrari 308 parked for extended periods often use tire cradles or lift the car appropriately to reduce stress on the casing. Even when the car is rarely driven, clean storage conditions and occasional movement do more for long-term tire life than simply covering the car and forgetting about it.

Tires on a 1979 Ferrari should be judged by age as much as by tread depth. Collector cars often age out their tires before they wear them out, so a close inspection at around five to seven years is wise, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as a tire approaches ten years from its date code. Heat cycles, storage conditions, and underuse can shorten that timeline.

A Ferrari 308 that sees only occasional fair-weather driving can still be riding on old rubber that looks respectable from a few feet away. Checking the DOT date code, sidewall condition, and overall feel of the tire is more useful than relying on mileage alone when deciding whether the car is ready for continued road use.

Tires on a 1979 Ferrari should be inspected before every drive, especially if the car spends long stretches in storage. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and any sign that the tire has lost pressure since the last outing. On a low-mileage collector car, age-related issues can appear well before tread wear suggests a problem.

A more thorough inspection is smart before any longer trip in a Ferrari 308. Check inflation when the tires are cold, look closely at valve stems, and inspect the spare as carefully as the four road tires, since an unused spare can age just as badly as the tires carrying the car.

A 1979 Ferrari 308 belongs to an era when radial construction was already the expected fitment for a European sports car, and the size used here is 205/70R14. That means a radial in that size is the correct starting point for an authenticity-minded replacement. Sidewall appearance is where originality questions become more nuanced, since period market preferences and individual delivery specifications could affect the car's visual presentation.

Owners restoring a 1979 Ferrari for closer historical accuracy should confirm factory literature, marque-club guidance, or original photos of their specific car before settling on a sidewall style. The right answer is often less about the basic size than whether the finished tire looks appropriate for a late-1970s Ferrari delivered in the market your car represents.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1979 Ferrari when a car is judged for authenticity. Size, radial construction, overall stance, and sidewall presentation all affect whether the car looks era-appropriate. A tire that technically fits but carries a sidewall style strongly associated with another market segment can change the impression of the car even before a judge studies finer restoration details.

For a Ferrari 308 headed to a judged event, confirm the expectations of the club or concours that will evaluate it. Some venues focus on broad correctness, while others are more sensitive to sidewall appearance and period character, so matching the tire's look to the car's intended presentation is just as important as choosing the right 205/70R14 size.

For a 1979 Ferrari in 205/70R14, the Maxxis Classic Whitewall MA-1 uses a Narrow Whitewall sidewall with a 5.00 to 7.00-inch approved rim-width range and a 24-pound tire weight. BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial uses either a Redline or Dual-Redline sidewall with a 5.50 to 7.50-inch approved rim-width range and also weighs 24 pounds. Both share radial construction and a 1,433-pound load figure at 35 psi.

That comparison comes down to presentation and wheel compatibility rather than a change in basic size. A Ferrari 308 owner deciding between them should first make sure the wheel width falls inside the tire's approved range, then choose the sidewall treatment that best supports either a more restrained grand-touring look or a stronger period accent.

Yes, modern radial 205/70R14 tires for 1979 Ferrari vehicles can be appropriate for highway driving when they are in sound condition, correctly inflated, and matched to suitable wheels. Some 205/70R14 products carry an S speed rating, which is rated to 112 mph. On a late-1970s Ferrari, overall highway safety also depends heavily on the condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, alignment, and wheel bearings.

For most real-world touring speeds, the bigger concern is usually the condition of the whole car rather than whether the tire's speed ceiling exceeds ordinary highway use. A Ferrari 308 that has been sitting for long periods should be recommissioned carefully before any extended drive, even if the tire size and sidewall appearance look correct.

The 205/70R14 tires used on 1979 Ferrari vehicles carry a maximum load figure of 1,433 pounds at 35 psi on the available products here. That number is the tire's rated maximum load-and-pressure pairing, not automatically the same as the carmaker's recommended operating pressure. Tire pressure for actual road use should be set with the vehicle manufacturer's guidance in mind first.

For a Ferrari 308, start with the factory recommendation from the owner's manual or door-jamb information if available, then confirm that the chosen tire's own markings and maker guidance are compatible with that use. Avoid borrowing a pressure figure from another size or another Ferrari, because pressure choice should match the actual tire and the actual vehicle setup.

Before taking a 1979 Ferrari on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign of impact damage. Confirm cold inflation pressure, check the valve stems, and make sure the spare is serviceable rather than simply present. On a radial-equipped Ferrari 308, also pay attention to vibration or pull during the first miles, since that can reveal age, balance, or alignment issues.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive checklist on a car of this age. A longer trip in a 1979 Ferrari also calls for a broader inspection of brakes, cooling system, belts, hoses, fluid leaks, and lighting so the car's mechanical condition supports the tire's capabilities instead of limiting them.