1980 Subaru Tire Fitment Guide

1980 Subaru vehicles use two different tire sizes, and they are model-specific rather than shared across the entire range. The Subaru DL uses 155R13, while the Subaru GL uses 175/70R13. Both sizes are radial tires that mount on 13-inch wheels. For wheel fitment, 155R13 examples are built for 4.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths, while 175/70R13 examples are built for 4.5- to 6.0-inch rim widths.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident choice on a 1980 Subaru. The buyer should first confirm whether the car is a DL or GL, then confirm the actual wheel width before settling on a tire. Even though both sizes share the same wheel diameter, the tire itself is not interchangeable in a casual sense because width and profile differ.

On a 1980 Subaru, 155R13 is a Euro-metric radial size. The 155 refers to nominal section width in millimeters, the R denotes radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Because no aspect ratio is printed in the size itself, this format is conventionally treated as an 80-series metric radial. On 1980 Subaru applications, 155R13 belongs to the DL.

That decoding helps explain why the tire looks relatively narrow by modern standards. A DL owner comparing 155R13 to 175/70R13 should not treat them as the same thing with different branding, since they represent different width and profile choices tied to different models. Matching the code on the sidewall to the car's model is the cleanest way to start.

On a 1980 Subaru, 175/70R13 is a metric radial size with more information built into the code than 155R13. The 175 is the section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R indicates radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. This size is used on the 1980 Subaru GL rather than the DL.

For a buyer, the key difference is that this size combines a wider section with a defined profile. That can affect the car's stance and how closely the finished fit resembles the GL's intended setup. If your 1980 Subaru is a GL, start with this size and then verify wheel width and the exact tire's sidewall markings before moving forward.

1980 Subaru tire choices in both 155R13 and 175/70R13 are available in blackwall form. The 155R13 choices from Michelin and Dunlop are blackwalls, and the 175/70R13 offering from Avon is also a blackwall. That appearance is consistent with the understated look many compact imported cars carried around 1980, especially outside of overtly luxury-oriented applications.

A blackwall is often the most natural visual match for a 1980 Subaru restoration or preservation project, especially if you want the tire to look in scale with the car's original design. Since sidewall styling is straightforward here, the more important choice usually becomes selecting the correct model-specific size first, then checking the tire's exact construction and wheel-width compatibility.

Three brands cover 1980 Subaru applications across the two sizes used that year. Michelin and Dunlop offer 155R13 for the Subaru DL, while Avon offers 175/70R13 for the Subaru GL. All three are radial tires, and all three appear in blackwall form for these Subaru fitments.

That brand spread gives DL owners two different choices within the same size while GL owners have a focused option in the correct model-specific size. The best way to narrow the field is to start with the car's model and size, then compare details such as sidewall markings, speed rating, rim-width range, and whether the tire suits a stock-looking restoration or a more driver-oriented approach.

Both the Michelin XAS and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet fit the 1980 Subaru DL in 155R13 radial form, and both carry an H speed rating. The Michelin uses a 155HR13 78H TL marking and is built as an 80-series metric radial with a 4.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range and a 20-pound weight. The Dunlop also weighs 20 pounds and carries a 78H service description, with a stated maximum load capacity of 937 pounds.

For a DL owner, the choice is less about size fitment and more about the exact character of the tire you want on the car. The Michelin includes an explicit tubeless marking and a published rim-width range, while the Dunlop adds a published load figure. Comparing those details against your wheel width and how you use the car is the sensible next step before making a final selection.

Rim width depends on the tire size used on the specific 1980 Subaru model. The 155R13 size used on the DL fits rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches wide, while the 175/70R13 size used on the GL fits rims from 4.5 to 6.0 inches wide. Both sizes mount on 13-inch wheels, but the acceptable rim-width window changes with the tire itself.

That makes wheel measurement an important part of the process, especially on a car that may have changed hands several times or picked up replacement wheels over the years. A 13-inch diameter alone is not enough. Confirm the actual wheel width before choosing a tire, particularly if the car has aftermarket wheels or if you are working from old paperwork rather than the wheel in front of you.

1980 Subaru radial tire choices do not point to a universal tube requirement across both sizes. The Michelin 155HR13 for the Subaru DL is marked TL, which indicates tubeless construction, while the Dunlop 155R13 does not carry the same explicit tube marking in its size string. The 175/70R13 Avon radial for the Subaru GL also appears without a tube-type marking in the size itself.

The practical approach is to confirm the exact tire's sidewall marking and then match that with the wheel condition and valve-stem setup on your car. On an older Subaru, wheel age and sealing condition can matter just as much as the tire design. If your wheels have corrosion, pitting, or questionable bead-seat surfaces, it is wise to sort that out before final tire installation.

Original 1980 Subaru wheels can share the same 13-inch diameter requirement across both sizes, but that does not automatically make every wheel ideal for both 155R13 and 175/70R13. The two sizes overlap only partly in rim-width range. A 155R13 works with 4.00- to 5.50-inch rims, while 175/70R13 works with 4.5- to 6.0-inch rims.

In practical terms, a wheel's diameter may be correct while its width still needs checking before you switch from one model-specific tire size to another. That matters most when a car has had wheel swaps over the years. Measure the actual wheel and match it to the intended tire size instead of assuming every original-looking 13-inch Subaru wheel serves both applications equally well.

A stored 1980 Subaru should be kept away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and furnaces. Tire pressures should be maintained during storage, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long-term static loading. Radial tires generally tolerate storage better than older bias-ply designs, but they still age from time, heat, and environment.

For a compact car like a 1980 Subaru, long idle periods can create tire shape changes, pressure loss, and sidewall weathering that are easy to miss until the next drive. A clean, dry garage and occasional movement do more for tire preservation than many owners realize. If the car will sit for a season or longer, add tire inspection to the restart routine rather than treating storage as a pause button.

Tires on a 1980 Subaru should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage alone, because many surviving examples are driven only occasionally. A good rule is to begin careful evaluation once tires are around five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point, even if tread depth still appears generous. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the key reference for age.

Collector cars often fool owners because the tires can look barely used while the rubber has already hardened or begun to crack internally. That is especially important on a light, modestly powered car where age-related issues may show up before obvious tread wear. If your 1980 Subaru still wears older tires from a previous restoration, age should carry at least as much weight as brand or remaining tread.

Tires on a 1980 Subaru deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more thorough check before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven tread wear, and pressure loss. Because older wheels and valve hardware can become a trouble point with age, the valve stems and bead areas also deserve attention, especially if the car has been parked for long periods.

Frequent inspection matters because low-mileage classics often accumulate time-related deterioration between drives rather than wear from use. A Subaru that seems fine rolling around the garage can still reveal problems once heat and road speed enter the picture. Making tire inspection part of your regular pre-drive routine is one of the simplest ways to avoid preventable issues on a vintage Japanese car.

The 1980 Subaru DL uses 155R13, and radial construction was already established by this period for compact imported cars. That means a radial in the correct 155R13 size is the right general direction for an owner trying to preserve the car's era-appropriate fitment character. No single original-equipment brand should be assumed without market-specific factory literature or long-term ownership records.

For restoration work, the biggest authenticity points usually come from getting the size, construction type, and overall visual character right rather than chasing a brand name without proof. If you are preparing a DL for marque judging or a highly original presentation, compare the tire against period brochures, window stickers, and club knowledge. Subaru enthusiast groups can help confirm market and trim nuances before a final choice.

Correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1980 Subaru because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size and overall presentation suit the model. On a DL, that means 155R13 radial fitment; on a GL, it means 175/70R13 radial fitment. Sidewall appearance also affects the visual impression, and blackwall tires are consistent with the understated look expected on many compact imports of this period.

An incorrect size can alter stance and proportions enough to stand out even to a casual observer. For formal judging, standards can vary by event, so the safest path is to confirm what your specific club or concours values most heavily. Some events emphasize factory-style appearance, while others focus more on cleanliness and overall presentation than on tire brand or exact sidewall wording.

For a 1980 Subaru DL, both the Michelin XAS and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet are 155R13 radial choices with H-rated service descriptions, so either keeps the car in the correct size family. The Michelin carries a 155HR13 78H TL marking, a 4.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range, and a 20-pound weight. The Dunlop also weighs 20 pounds and carries a 78H designation, with a published maximum load capacity of 937 pounds.

That makes the distinction one of exact specification and presentation rather than basic fitment. Restorers often compare sidewall appearance, sidewall wording, and how closely the tire's overall character suits the period feel they want. Before settling on one, check your wheel width and decide whether your priority is a faithful stock-size restoration or a driver-oriented preservation that still stays within the DL's correct size.

1980 Subaru tire choices in these sizes are radial designs, and the products here carry H speed ratings, which correspond to a 130 mph ceiling. That is well beyond the normal highway speeds most surviving 1980 Subaru DL and GL models will ever see in ordinary use. On a car of this era, the vehicle's own age, braking condition, suspension health, alignment, and general mechanical state are often more relevant to real-world road safety than the tire's maximum speed rating alone.

Highway confidence still depends on the tire being the correct size, properly inflated, and free of age-related deterioration. Even a high-quality radial should not be trusted blindly if it is old, underinflated, or mounted on a compromised wheel. A well-sorted 1980 Subaru on fresh, correctly matched tires is in a much better position for modern road use than one relying on aged rubber with unknown service history.

Inflation pressure on a 1980 Subaru should follow the factory recommendation for the car and the tire maker's guidance for the exact product, rather than borrowing a number from another size. The 155R13 Dunlop carries a published maximum load capacity of 937 pounds, but that figure should not be treated as a universal operating pressure target for every 155R13 or for the 175/70R13 GL size. Each size and tire design should be treated on its own terms.

Start with the Subaru owner's manual or door-jamb specification for the car's intended pressure, then confirm that the tire is being used within the manufacturer's limits. That approach keeps you from overinflating a lightly loaded compact car in pursuit of a number that belongs to a different tire or use case. Pressure should be checked cold, not after the car has been driven.

Before taking a 1980 Subaru on a longer drive, inspect each tire for visible cracking, punctures, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is serviceable, and make sure the wheel and tire combination matches the model-specific size the car should be using. A longer trip on an older compact car also deserves a quick look at brakes, belts, hoses, fluids, lights, and wheel-bearing or suspension play.

That pre-drive routine matters because age-related issues often emerge under sustained heat and speed, not during short local use. A Subaru that feels fine around town can reveal vibration, pulling, pressure loss, or tire noise once the trip length increases. The goal is not to overcomplicate the outing, but to give the car a thorough enough once-over that the tires are only one well-managed part of the preparation.