1980 Volkswagen Trucks Tire Fitment Guide

1980 Volkswagen Trucks used three tire sizes, all on the Rabbit Pickup: 165/75R13, 175/70R13, and 175/70R14. The two 13-inch sizes share the same rim diameter, while 175/70R14 fits a 14-inch wheel. For products with published wheel guidance, 175/70R13 fits 13-inch rims that are 4.5 to 6.0 inches wide.

That means the first fitment question is not trim level so much as wheel diameter and the exact setup on the truck today. Many Rabbit Pickups have been changed over the years, so the tire already on the truck, the wheel stamping, and the actual rim diameter should all agree before you move ahead with a replacement.

On a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup, 165/75R13 is a metric radial size. The 165 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 75 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is one of the 13-inch fitments used on the Rabbit Pickup in 1980.

That code matters because it tells you both the tire’s basic proportions and the wheel size it mounts on. If your truck currently carries a 13-inch wheel but the sidewall size does not match 165/75R13, check whether it has been changed to the wider 175/70R13 before choosing a replacement.

1980 Volkswagen Trucks had only one model core here, the Rabbit Pickup, but it did not use just one tire size. The Rabbit Pickup appears with 165/75R13, 175/70R13, and 175/70R14, so there is variation even within that single model. Two sizes fit 13-inch wheels, while the third fits a 14-inch wheel.

That is why identifying the truck by year and make is only the starting point. A Rabbit Pickup owner still needs to confirm the actual wheel diameter and the size currently fitted, especially on trucks that have seen decades of service, restoration work, or wheel swaps.

Choose between 175/70R13 and 175/70R14 on a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup by wheel diameter first. The 175/70R13 fits a 13-inch wheel and is available as an Avon CR6ZZ Blackwall with an H speed rating up to 130 mph. The 175/70R14 fits a 14-inch wheel and is available as a Travelstar radial with a Narrow Whitewall and a T speed rating up to 118 mph.

The practical difference is less about old-versus-new construction, since both are radial, and more about the wheel already on the truck plus the appearance you want. If the truck wears 13-inch wheels, the 175/70R13 is the correct path; if it wears 14-inch wheels, the 175/70R14 is the correct one.

1980 Volkswagen Trucks tire options here include both Blackwall and Narrow Whitewall sidewall styles, depending on size. The 175/70R13 comes in Blackwall form, while the 175/70R14 is available with a 14mm Narrow Whitewall. Both are radial choices for the Rabbit Pickup.

For many Rabbit Pickup owners, sidewall style is an appearance decision tied to the truck’s overall look. A Blackwall usually suits a cleaner, more understated driver presentation, while a Narrow Whitewall can add a more period-flavored visual accent, especially on a truck restored with an eye toward late-1970s and early-1980s styling.

Two brands cover the available 1980 Volkswagen Trucks tire options here. Avon offers the 175/70R13 in the CR6ZZ series, and Travelstar offers the 175/70R14 in the UN106 series. Both are radial tires for Rabbit Pickup applications.

Brand choice is partly tied to size because each available size here points to a different brand and sidewall presentation. If you already know your wheel diameter and want to keep the same size that is on the truck now, the brand decision becomes straightforward once the 13-inch or 14-inch fitment is confirmed.

For 1980 Volkswagen Trucks, published rim-width guidance is available for 175/70R13: it fits 13-inch wheels from 4.5 to 6.0 inches wide. The 175/70R14 is confirmed as a 14-inch fitment, and both 13-inch sizes share the same wheel diameter even though the width guidance is not identical across every size here.

Rim width matters because it affects how the tire sits on the wheel and how the tread meets the road. Before mounting replacement tires, verify the wheel’s actual width rather than assuming every 13-inch Rabbit Pickup wheel is the same, especially if the truck has aftermarket or later wheels.

The available 1980 Volkswagen Trucks products here are radial passenger-style sizes without tube-type markings in the size descriptions. That points toward tubeless use for the 175/70R13 and 175/70R14 products commonly associated with the Rabbit Pickup. Tube use should still match the wheel condition and the exact tire’s sidewall markings.

Older wheels can complicate the answer, especially if the truck has seen refinishing, corrosion, or wheel changes over the years. If you are reusing original wheels, make sure the bead seats and valve stem areas are in sound condition and verify whether the exact tire you choose is marked for tubeless service before installation.

Original 1980 Volkswagen Trucks wheels can only be used with all applicable tires when the wheel diameter matches the size you intend to fit. The Rabbit Pickup uses both 13-inch and 14-inch tire diameters across its size range, so a 13-inch wheel cannot take a 14-inch tire, and a 14-inch wheel cannot take a 13-inch tire.

That makes wheel identification the key setup check before anything else. Measure or confirm the wheel diameter directly and compare it to the sidewall size already on the truck, then verify that the wheel width is suitable for the replacement tire you have in mind.

A 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires properly inflated, and if the truck sits for extended periods, roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term loading on one contact patch.

Radial tires usually tolerate storage better than older bias-ply designs, but they still age from environment and time. Clean, stable storage conditions help preserve the sidewalls and tread, and they reduce the chance of developing vibration, sidewall checking, or weather-related deterioration before the truck returns to regular road use.

Tires on a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage alone. A good rule is to begin closer evaluation around the five- to seven-year mark and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if the tread still looks usable. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the reference point for age.

Collector and hobby vehicles often accumulate very few miles, so tread depth can give a false sense of security. Rubber hardens over time, internal components age, and a truck that looks ready for use can still be riding on tires that are well past their safest service life.

Tires on a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing at highway speed. Look for cracking, cuts, embedded debris, uneven wear, bulges, and air loss, and check that the valve stems are in good condition. On a low-use Rabbit Pickup, pressure checks matter just as much as visual inspection.

Frequent inspection is especially important on older trucks because they may sit for long intervals between drives. Catching a slow leak, sidewall issue, or wheel-sealing problem in the garage is much better than discovering it after the truck is loaded or committed to a longer trip.

A 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup would have been fitted with radial tires from the factory era rather than older bias-ply construction. The Rabbit Pickup used 165/75R13, 175/70R13, and 175/70R14 fitments in this year-and-make range, depending on the specific setup. Original-equipment brand choice could vary by market and supply, so construction, size, and sidewall presentation are usually the first authenticity checks.

For a restoration, matching the exact size and the right visual character matters more than simply finding any tire that fits the wheel. If you are preparing a truck for marque judging or a highly accurate restoration, compare the current wheel and tire combination against period literature and consult Volkswagen truck enthusiasts for market-specific confirmation.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup, especially on an authenticity-focused vehicle. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size, radial construction, and sidewall style suit the truck’s era and intended presentation. A visibly incorrect diameter or an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise careful restoration.

That does not mean every show truck needs the same visual treatment, because different classes emphasize originality differently. If your goal is concours accuracy, verify the wheel diameter, tire size, and sidewall appearance against period references and the standards used by the event or marque organization.

For 1980 Volkswagen Trucks applications here, the Avon CR6ZZ and Travelstar UN106 differ first by size and wheel diameter. The Avon CR6ZZ is a 175/70R13 Blackwall radial with an 82H rating and a published 4.5-to-6.0-inch rim-width range, while the Travelstar UN106 is a 175/70R14 Narrow Whitewall radial with an 84T rating. Their visual character and wheel fitment are therefore not interchangeable.

That comparison is useful for owners deciding how they want the truck to look as much as how they want it to fit. If your Rabbit Pickup remains on 13-inch wheels, the Avon aligns with that setup; if it wears 14-inch wheels and you want a whitewall accent, the Travelstar is the relevant direction.

1980 Volkswagen Trucks tire options here are radial designs with modern-style speed ratings that are compatible with normal highway use when the tires are in sound condition and properly matched to the wheels. The 175/70R13 Avon carries an H rating, which corresponds to 130 mph, and the 175/70R14 Travelstar carries a T rating, which corresponds to 118 mph. Those ceilings are well above ordinary U.S. highway speeds.

Real-world safety in a Rabbit Pickup depends on more than the tire alone. Brake condition, suspension wear, alignment, load carried in the bed, and the truck’s overall mechanical health all matter, so a highway-ready tire should be part of a broader roadworthiness check rather than the only standard.

Inflation pressure on a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup should follow the vehicle’s factory recommendation first, then be checked against the tire maker’s maximum-pressure and load information for the exact tire size you choose. Pressure should not be borrowed from one size to another simply because the tires look similar, especially when 13-inch and 14-inch fitments are both in play.

The best practice is to use the owner’s manual or factory placard as the starting point for the truck and then confirm that the tire selected is being used within its rated limits. That approach preserves the intended handling balance and helps avoid overinflation or underinflation on a light front-wheel-drive pickup.

Before a longer drive in a 1980 Volkswagen Trucks Rabbit Pickup, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, punctures, and proper inflation. Make sure the spare is usable, the valve stems are sound, and the wheel hardware is secure. If the truck has sat for an extended period, look for signs of flat-spotting or air loss before heading out.

A longer-trip inspection should also include the rest of the truck, not just the tires. Check brakes, wheel bearings, fluid levels, cooling system health, lights, and wipers so the Rabbit Pickup is ready for sustained road use rather than just a short local drive.