1981 Plymouth Tire Fitment Guide

1981 Plymouth vehicles use 11 distinct sizes across six model lines: 155R13, 6.15R13, and 175/70R13 for the Champ; 195/75R15 and 205/75R15 for the Gran Fury; 155/80R13 and 165/75R13 for the Horizon and TC3; 175/75R13, 185/70R13, and 185/65R14 for the Reliant; and 195/70R14 for the Sapporo. Wheel diameters vary by model, with 13-, 14-, and 15-inch applications all present in the 1981 Plymouth range.

That spread means fitment is tied closely to the model rather than to the make as a whole. A compact Horizon or TC3 does not share the same tire family as a full-size Gran Fury, and even the Reliant can require either a 13-inch or 14-inch application. Start by confirming the exact model and the diameter stamped on the wheel before comparing brands, sidewall styles, or load and speed details.

On a 1981 Plymouth, 155R13 is a Euro-metric radial size used on the Champ. The 155 identifies nominal section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Because no aspect ratio is printed in that older style of metric sizing, it is conventionally treated as an 80-series radial.

That matters because 155R13 belongs to a narrow early-1980s compact-car fitment family and should not be confused with the larger 13-inch sizes used elsewhere in the Plymouth lineup. If your Champ currently wears a different modern metric size, compare the tire's full sidewall code and verify the wheel width before substituting. It is a size where exact sidewall marking can help preserve the right look for an import-based Plymouth compact.

No, 1981 Plymouth models do not use the same tire size. The lineup ranges from small 13-inch compact applications on the Champ, Horizon, TC3, and some Reliants to 14-inch fitments on the Sapporo and certain Reliants, plus 15-inch sizes on the Gran Fury. Only the Horizon and TC3 share the same two sizes, while the other models carry their own fitment patterns.

For a buyer, that means year and make are only the starting point. If you are unsure whether a car is a Reliant, Horizon, or TC3, or whether a Reliant has 13-inch or 14-inch wheels, checking the actual sidewall and wheel diameter first will avoid ordering the wrong family of tires. Once the model is confirmed, the size choices become much easier to narrow down.

1981 Plymouth tire choices span several sidewall appearances depending on size. Blackwall options appear in sizes such as 155R13, 175/70R13, and 195/70R14, while 195/75R15 and 205/75R15 add narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions for the Gran Fury. 205/75R15 also reaches into goldline, 155/80R13 offers narrow and wide whitewall treatments, and 185/70R13 includes blackwall, wide whitewall, and redline choices.

The right sidewall depends heavily on the model's character. A Gran Fury usually looks most at home with a whitewall treatment, while a Champ, Sapporo, or many compact Plymouth applications often lean more naturally toward blackwall. If authenticity matters, match the sidewall style to the role of the car first, then compare the finer details such as load rating, speed rating, and wheel-width compatibility within that size.

1981 Plymouth tire coverage includes Michelin, Dunlop, Avon, Coker Classic, American Classic, BFGoodrich, Tornel, Travelstar, and Maxxis. Brand availability depends on the size: Michelin and Dunlop cover 155R13, Avon covers 175/70R13, Coker Classic and American Classic cover 195/75R15, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and American Classic cover 205/75R15, Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel cover 155/80R13, BFGoodrich, Avon, and Dunlop cover 185/70R13, and Dunlop covers 195/70R14.

That mix gives 1981 Plymouth owners different paths depending on the model and the look they want. Some sizes emphasize classic-style whitewalls, others stay focused on blackwall touring or sport-oriented radials, and certain compact sizes have only a small handful of brand choices. Once you know the exact size on your car, comparing by brand becomes much more meaningful than trying to shop across the whole 1981 Plymouth range.

For 1981 Plymouth applications, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet serve different sizes and visual purposes. In 185/70R13, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial appears in redline and wide whitewall styles with a max load of 1,135 pounds at 35 psi and a rim-width range of 5.00 to 6.50 inches, while Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet appears as a blackwall 185/70VR13 82V with a max load of 1,047 pounds. In 155R13, Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet is a blackwall H-rated radial used on the Champ.

The practical difference comes down to style and intended character within the correct size. BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial gives a more overt vintage sidewall look where that appearance matters, while Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet stays closer to a cleaner blackwall presentation with clearly marked higher-speed touring intent in its fitments. Choose between them only after confirming the exact size your Plymouth uses, because they do not overlap across the lineup in a simple one-for-one way.

Rim-width guidance varies by size on 1981 Plymouth applications. 155R13 fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 175/70R13 fits 4.5 to 6.0-inch rims, 195/75R15 fits 5.00 to 7.00-inch rims, 205/75R15 fits 5.50 to 7.50-inch rims, 155/80R13 fits ranges from 4.00 to 5.50 inches depending on the product, and 185/70R13 fits either 4.5 to 6.0 or 5.00 to 6.50 inches depending on brand. Those ranges are tied to the tire size rather than to Plymouth as a whole.

That makes wheel measurement worth doing before committing to a tire, especially on cars that may have changed wheels over the years. A Gran Fury and a Reliant can both wear radials, but their wheel and tire families are completely different. If your wheel sits near the edge of a range, verify the exact product's approved rim width instead of assuming every tire in that size accepts the same wheel.

Most 1981 Plymouth tire products are radial tubeless designs, and one 155R13 Michelin XAS version is explicitly marked TL for tubeless use. Other sizes such as 195/75R15, 205/75R15, 155/80R13, 185/70R13, and 195/70R14 appear in modern radial forms that are typically used without tubes when mounted on suitable tubeless wheels. No tube-type marking appears among these Plymouth fitments.

Even so, tube decisions should follow the wheel as much as the tire. If your car still uses an older wheel with corrosion, rivets, or sealing issues, a tire installer may recommend a different approach than a clean late-model-style tubeless wheel would need. Confirm the sidewall marking on the exact tire and inspect the wheel condition before mounting, especially on a collector car that has sat for long periods.

A stored 1981 Plymouth should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber prematurely. Keep the car in a dry, cool space, maintain proper inflation, and move it periodically so one section of the tire is not carrying the vehicle's weight for months at a time. Long static storage is especially hard on older collector tires and can encourage flat-spotting.

If the car will sit for a full season, many owners either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces continuous loading on the tires while still preserving suspension geometry. Covering the tires from light exposure helps, but clean storage conditions matter more than cosmetic covers alone. A few minutes of preparation can make a noticeable difference in how smoothly a low-mileage 1981 Plymouth drives when it comes back out.

On a 1981 Plymouth, tire age usually matters more than tread wear because many collector and hobby cars do not accumulate miles quickly. A good rule is to begin paying close attention once tires reach the five- to seven-year range and to consider replacement around ten years, even if the tread still looks deep. The DOT date code on the sidewall is the most useful starting point for that timeline.

A low-mileage Gran Fury, Sapporo, or Reliant can still be riding on old rubber that looks respectable at a glance but has hardened with time. Cracking, vibration, loss of wet-weather confidence, and repeated air loss are all signs that calendar age is catching up. If the age is approaching the upper end of the range, a fresh set is often a smarter decision than trying to stretch one more driving season from old tires.

Tires on a 1981 Plymouth should be inspected before every drive, and again more carefully before any extended outing or highway trip. Check inflation, visible sidewall cracking, tread wear, bulges, cuts, and any signs of impact damage from curbs or potholes. On cars that sit often, also watch for weather checking and for valve stems that have become stiff or brittle with age.

That routine is especially important on hobby vehicles because problems often appear during storage, not while driving. A compact Horizon or TC3 that sees only occasional use can lose pressure unnoticed, and a full-size Gran Fury can place more demand on an aging tire once fully loaded for a longer trip. A quick walkaround before leaving the garage is one of the simplest ways to prevent trouble on an older Plymouth.

The 1981 Plymouth Champ was part of an era when radial tires were already standard equipment on many passenger cars, especially compact and import-derived models. For the Champ, the relevant family includes 155R13, 6.15R13, and 175/70R13, all radial sizes associated with that model. That makes radial construction the correct starting point for an authentic 1981 Plymouth Champ restoration rather than a period bias-ply substitute.

Original-market details can still vary by trim, market, and equipment package, so a careful restoration should compare the surviving sidewall code, wheel sticker, and factory literature for the specific car. If you are preparing a judged car, marque clubs and original sales materials are the best places to confirm which of the Champ's radial size designations belongs on your exact example. Getting the size code right matters as much as choosing the right general construction.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters when showing a 1981 Plymouth, especially if the event emphasizes factory appearance or period correctness. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the car wears the right size family, the proper radial construction for the era, and a sidewall style that suits the model. A whitewall-heavy full-size Gran Fury and a blackwall-oriented Champ or Sapporo project very different visual signals.

The closer the event is to concours-style judging, the more important those details become. A wrong wheel diameter, an obviously incorrect profile, or a sidewall treatment that clashes with the model's original character can draw attention even if the car is otherwise well restored. Before a serious show, compare your tire choice against period photos, factory brochures, and club guidance for that particular Plymouth model.

For the 1981 Plymouth Gran Fury in 195/75R15, Coker Classic Star Series and American Classic Radial overlap closely in size and sidewall presentation but differ in details. Both offer narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions, with Coker Classic carrying a max load of 1,477 pounds at 32 psi and American Classic ranging from 1,444 pounds at 35 psi in the narrow whitewall to 1,477 pounds at 35 psi in the wide whitewall. Their approved rim-width range reaches 5.00 to 7.00 inches where stated.

For restoration work, the meaningful choice is usually the sidewall look you want and how closely the product's dimensions and pressure spec align with your wheel and intended use. Either line keeps the Gran Fury in a traditional full-size radial family, but the visual effect of a narrower white stripe versus a wider one can change the car's appearance substantially. Match the sidewall style to the car's presentation before deciding between brands.

Yes, 1981 Plymouth tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in good condition, and used within their ratings. Several 1981 Plymouth sizes carry clear speed ratings, including T to 118 mph on some 155/80R13 products, H to 130 mph on sizes such as 155R13 and 175/70R13, and V to 149 mph on products in 185/70R13 and 195/70R14. All of the covered fitments are radial designs, which aligns well with normal modern-road use.

In practice, an older Plymouth's braking, suspension condition, steering wear, and overall mechanical state are usually more limiting than the tire's printed speed capability at ordinary highway speeds. A Gran Fury, Reliant, or Horizon that tracks straight and holds pressure is very different from one riding on aged rubber or neglected alignment settings. The safest approach is to treat the tire as one part of the entire roadworthiness picture rather than the whole answer by itself.

Inflation pressure on 1981 Plymouth tires should start with the vehicle's factory recommendation, then be compared with the tire maker's maximum-rated pressure for the exact product. Several products carry pressure and load figures on the tire specification itself: 195/75R15 reaches 1,477 pounds at either 32 or 35 psi depending on product, 205/75R15 reaches 1,598 pounds at 35 psi on several versions, 155/80R13 reaches 959 pounds at 35 psi, and 185/70R13 ranges up to 1,135 pounds at 35 psi on some products.

Those figures are not blanket inflation recommendations for every 1981 Plymouth application. They show the pressure associated with a product's maximum load rating, which is different from the pressure your specific car may need in normal service. Use the factory placard or owner's manual as the baseline, then confirm the exact tire's sidewall information so you do not transfer a number from a larger or smaller Plymouth size that was never meant for your model.

Before a longer drive in a 1981 Plymouth, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check that the valve stems are sound, the spare is usable, and the wheel hardware is secure. On cars that have been parked for extended periods, look closely for flat spotting or sidewall aging that may not be obvious until the car is rolling at speed.

A longer trip is also the right time to think beyond the tires themselves. Older Plymouths benefit from a basic mechanical check that includes brakes, cooling system, steering play, and wheel-bearing condition, since any of those can affect how the tires behave on the road. If the car has recently changed tires or wheels, a short local shake-down drive before the main trip is a smart way to catch vibration or clearance issues early.