1979 Renault Tire Fitment Guide

1979 Renault vehicles in this fitment group use three sizes: 165R13, 600-13, and 145R13. All three mount on 13-inch rims. Where rim-width guidance is available, 165R13 fits 4.50- to 6.00-inch rims, 600-13 fits 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, and 145R13 fits 4.00- to 5.00-inch rims.

That means the first job is confirming the exact tire size your individual car uses, rather than assuming any 13-inch tire will be interchangeable. Once the size is confirmed, the next decision is whether you want a radial for more modern road manners or a bias-ply tire for a more traditional look and feel. Checking the wheel width before ordering is especially important when moving between the narrower 145R13, the wider 165R13, and the 600-13 bias-ply.

On a 1979 Renault, 600-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.00 refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial code, this format does not spell out an aspect ratio, and the absence of an R indicates bias-ply construction rather than radial construction.

That matters because 600-13 is chosen as much for its period character as for its dimensions. A bias-ply tire changes the way an older car looks and feels compared with a metric radial, especially in steering response and ride character. If your Renault is being restored toward a more era-correct presentation, 600-13 is the size to consider, but wheel width and overall setup still need to be verified before making the switch.

On a 1979 Renault, 165R13 is a Euro-metric radial size. The 165 is the section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the rim diameter in inches. When the full marking appears as 165HR13, the H speed rating means the tire is rated up to 130 mph.

That code is useful because it tells you this is a modern-style radial format, even though it is still appropriate for a late-1970s European car. A 165R13 gives you a wider metric radial option than 145R13 while staying on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. Before choosing between the two radial sizes, compare your wheel width, your car's present setup, and the look you want under the fender.

For a 1979 Renault, the main difference is construction type and the driving character that comes with it. The 600-13 is a bias-ply tire, while 145R13 and 165R13 are radials. Bias-ply construction is the more traditional choice for an older presentation, while the radial options better suit owners who use the car regularly and want the manners associated with later tire design.

The right choice depends on how you use the car and how closely you want the tire to reflect period practice. A show-focused Renault may lean toward 600-13, especially if the owner wants a classic whitewall treatment. A driver-oriented Renault will usually lean toward one of the radial sizes, but the exact size still needs to match the car's wheel width and current fitment rather than being chosen on construction alone.

1979 Renault tires are available in both blackwall and whitewall styles, depending on size. The 145R13 and 165R13 radial options come in blackwall form, while the 600-13 bias-ply is offered with either a narrow whitewall or a wide whitewall. That gives this year and make a clear separation between a more European radial appearance and a more traditional American-style whitewall look.

For most late-1970s Renault passenger cars, blackwall radials will look the most natural to the car's original market character. Whitewalls on a 600-13 can still be attractive for a personalized period look, but they create a different visual impression than the metric radial choices. If appearance matters as much as construction, compare the sidewall treatment to your wheel covers, trim level, and the overall direction of the restoration before choosing.

1979 Renault vehicles are covered by Michelin, Dunlop, Firestone, and BFGoodrich across the three available sizes. Michelin and Dunlop cover the 165R13 radial category, Michelin and Firestone cover the 145R13 radial category, and BFGoodrich covers the 600-13 bias-ply category. That spread gives Renault owners access to both European-style radial offerings and classic bias-ply options.

Brand choice should come after you settle the correct size and construction. Once those are established, compare the sidewall style, rim-width range, speed marking, and any load information that matters for your use. A Renault driven on modern roads may push the decision toward one radial brand or another, while a restoration with a strong visual focus may center more on the whitewall treatment offered in the bias-ply size.

Rim-width requirements for 1979 Renault tires vary by size. The 165R13 radial fits 4.50- to 6.00-inch rims, the 600-13 bias-ply fits 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, and the 145R13 radial fits 4.00- to 5.00-inch rims. All three use a 13-inch rim diameter, but the acceptable wheel width changes with the tire size and construction.

That is why two 13-inch tires are not automatically interchangeable on the same wheel. A car wearing 145R13 may be on a narrower rim than one set up for 165R13, and the 600-13 bias-ply has its own width window as well. Measure the wheel or verify it against the car's current setup before changing sizes, especially if you are moving between bias-ply and radial construction.

Inner-tube requirements on 1979 Renault tires depend on the specific product. The Michelin versions of 145R13 and 165R13 carry TL markings, which identify them as tubeless tires. Other products in those radial sizes do not always repeat that marking, so tube status can vary by product. The 600-13 bias-ply products do not carry a TL or TT marker in the size description here.

The practical step is to confirm the sidewall marking on the exact tire you are considering and match that to the wheel you plan to use. Older wheels may have their own requirements apart from the tire itself, particularly if the car has been restored, modified, or converted from one construction type to another. If there is any doubt, a marque specialist or tire installer familiar with vintage wheels can help confirm the safest setup.

All three 1979 Renault tire sizes here use a 13-inch rim diameter, so they share the same wheel diameter. That means an original 13-inch wheel can often work across the available sizes, but diameter alone is only part of the equation. Rim width still needs to fall within the acceptable range for the exact tire you choose.

That distinction is especially important when moving from 145R13 to 165R13, or from a metric radial to a 600-13 bias-ply. A wheel that is correct for one of those sizes may sit at the edge of the range or outside the range for another. Before reusing original wheels, verify their width and inspect them for age, corrosion, and bead-seat condition so the tire and wheel work together properly.

A 1979 Renault should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires clean, maintain inflation, and move the car periodically if it will sit for long stretches. Bias-ply tires such as 600-13 tend to flat-spot more readily in storage than radial tires, while any older sidewall is vulnerable to ozone cracking if the environment is poor.

For longer-term layups, many collectors place the car on stands or at least roll it occasionally to avoid constant loading in one spot. If the Renault stays on the ground, use a clean surface rather than bare earth and check pressure before the next outing. Good storage habits preserve sidewalls, reduce temporary deformation, and make it easier to return the car to service without surprises.

Tires on a 1979 Renault are usually judged more by age than by mileage, because collector cars often accumulate miles slowly. A sensible rule is to begin close inspection once a tire reaches about five to seven years of age and to treat the ten-year point as a serious replacement threshold regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the best quick reference for age.

That approach matters even more on a lightly driven Renault, where tread can look healthy long after the rubber has hardened or begun to crack internally. Age, storage conditions, inflation history, and environmental exposure all affect service life. If the car has been sitting for years, evaluate the spare as carefully as the four road tires, since it may be the oldest tire on the car.

Tires on a 1979 Renault should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for cracking, bulges, uneven wear, embedded debris, pressure loss, and any sign that the tread or sidewall has changed since the last use. If your Renault uses tube-type construction or older valve hardware, include the valve stems and any tube-related air retention concerns in that inspection.

A quick pre-drive check catches the issues that most often sideline an older car: low pressure, weathered sidewalls, and damage that occurred while the car was parked. On a vintage Renault, tires are only one part of the readiness picture, but they are the one component every steering, braking, and ride input depends on. Five minutes in the garage can prevent a much bigger problem on the road.

A 1979 Renault would have been a radial-era car, and the metric radial sizes 145R13 and 165R13 align with that late-1970s European context. The 600-13 bias-ply option is available for this year and make, but bias-ply construction would be a more traditional alternative rather than the default expectation for a mainstream 1979 Renault passenger-car presentation. Original-equipment branding can vary by market and delivery specification, so the construction type is the more important starting point than the brand name.

If you are restoring a 1979 Renault with authenticity in mind, begin by confirming the exact size shown on the car's original references, surviving tires, or vehicle paperwork. From there, decide whether you are aiming for market-correct restoration or a sympathetic driver-quality presentation. Marque clubs and Renault specialists are the best source when the car's market, body style, or trim history could affect the exact original fitment.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1979 Renault, especially if the event places weight on originality. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the car wears the proper size family, the appropriate construction type for the era, and a sidewall style that suits the car's market and presentation. A modern-looking tire on an otherwise faithful restoration can stand out just as much as an incorrect wheel cover or trim detail.

For a late-1970s Renault, that usually means paying close attention to whether the car should wear a blackwall metric radial rather than a whitewall bias-ply. The right answer can vary with the goal of the car, because a touring-oriented restoration may accept tasteful deviations that a concours field would not. If awards matter, review the event's judging standards and compare them with Renault club guidance before finalizing the tire choice.

For the 1979 Renault in 165R13, Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF share the same core size marking of 165HR13 82H TL, the same 13-inch rim diameter, the same 4.50- to 6.00-inch rim-width range, and the same blackwall presentation. The clearest specification difference here is weight, with the XAS-FF shown at 20 pounds and the XAS at 9 pounds. Both sit in the radial, H-rated part of the fitment range.

That means the choice is less about fitment and more about the exact product character you want on the car. Since the size, speed rating, rim diameter, and tubeless marking align, either one belongs in the same general fitment conversation for a 1979 Renault using 165R13. When comparing closely related series like these, many owners also weigh period appearance, tread style, and the broader restoration direction of the car.

1979 Renault tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly inflated, and in sound condition. The radial choices include H-rated products, and an H speed rating carries a 130 mph ceiling. The 600-13 bias-ply products do not show a speed letter here, so they should be approached with the more conservative expectations typical of classic bias-ply construction rather than treated like modern high-speed radials.

In real use, the tire is only part of the highway equation on a late-1970s Renault. Brakes, suspension condition, steering wear, wheel balance, and overall mechanical health often matter more than the tire's theoretical speed ceiling at ordinary U.S. road speeds. A well-sorted car on fresh tires is the goal, whether you choose a metric radial for regular use or a bias-ply tire for a more traditional driving character.

Inflation pressure on a 1979 Renault should follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation for the specific application, while also respecting the tire's own maximum load-and-pressure information where it is stated. The 600-13 BFGoodrich bias-ply carries 1,010 pounds at 32 psi, and the 145R13 Firestone radial carries 825 pounds at 44 psi. Those figures are product-specific maximum references, not blanket pressure settings for every tire in the year and make range.

That distinction matters because 145R13, 165R13, and 600-13 are different sizes and constructions, and pressure should not be transferred casually from one to another. Start with the vehicle's recommended cold pressures if you have them, then confirm that your chosen tire is being used within its own load and pressure limits. If the car has been modified from its original size, use the tire maker's specifications and the car's actual operating condition to guide the final setting.

Before a longer drive in a 1979 Renault, inspect all four tires and the spare for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper cold inflation. Confirm that the valve stems are sound, and if your setup uses tube-type construction or older wheel hardware, pay extra attention to air retention and stem condition. A longer trip also warrants checking wheel fasteners, alignment symptoms, and any vibration that has appeared in recent local driving.

A tire check should be part of a broader mechanical review on any older Renault. Verify brakes, steering, fluids, belts, lights, and charging system health before you put sustained miles on the car. Even a tire that looks good in the garage can reveal age-related issues once heat and speed build up, so a careful pre-trip inspection is the simplest way to keep an enjoyable drive from turning into a roadside repair.