1986 Hyundai Tire Fitment Guide

1986 Hyundai vehicles use two tire sizes: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13, and both apply to the Hyundai Excel. Each size fits a 13-inch rim, so the main distinction is overall section width and profile rather than wheel diameter. Rim width guidance is available from current tire offerings: 155/80R13 examples span roughly 4.00 to 5.50 inches depending on brand, while 175/70R13 examples reach 4.5 to 6.0 inches.

That means a 1986 Hyundai buyer should confirm the exact size already on the car, the wheel width, and the look they want before choosing a replacement. A taller 155/80R13 gives a more traditional small-car stance, while a 175/70R13 has a wider, lower-profile appearance. Since both sizes fit 13-inch wheels, wheel diameter alone is not enough to identify the correct tire.

On a 1986 Hyundai, 155/80R13 means the tire is 155 millimeters wide, has an 80-series aspect ratio, uses radial construction, and mounts on a 13-inch wheel. It is a metric radial size rather than an older numeric or alphanumeric bias-ply code. Within this size, whitewall treatments are common, including narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions.

That breakdown helps you compare products without confusing size with styling. A 155/80R13 can look quite different depending on whether it has a black sidewall, a thin white stripe, or a broad whitewall band, but it is still the same basic fitment family. For an Excel owner trying to preserve a period feel, the profile and sidewall treatment often matter almost as much as the dimensions.

On a 1986 Hyundai, 175/70R13 means the tire is 175 millimeters wide, has a 70-series aspect ratio, uses radial construction, and fits a 13-inch rim. Compared with 155/80R13, it is wider and lower in profile while keeping the same wheel diameter. The current 175/70R13 option for this Hyundai application is a blackwall radial with an H speed rating.

For a buyer, that means the 175/70R13 is not just another way of writing the same tire. It changes the tire's proportions and the car's visual character even though the wheel size stays at 13 inches. If your Excel already wears this size or is set up around it, stay with that specification unless you are intentionally reworking the fitment and have confirmed wheel width and clearance.

A 1986 Hyundai Excel can use either 155/80R13 or 175/70R13 only when that size matches the car's intended fitment and wheel. Both are radial tires on 13-inch rims, so the decision is mainly about selecting the correct specification already associated with your car rather than choosing between bias-ply and radial construction. The 155/80R13 is narrower and taller in profile, while the 175/70R13 is wider and lower.

That difference affects appearance first and foremost, and it can also influence steering feel and stance. Owners preserving a more stock small-car look often gravitate toward the 155/80R13 profile, especially with whitewalls, while those keeping a later-1980s blackwall look may prefer 175/70R13. Check the existing tire size, the wheel width, and any factory tire placard information before changing from one to the other.

1986 Hyundai tire choices include both whitewall and blackwall sidewall styles, depending on size. The 155/80R13 is available with narrow whitewalls and a wider whitewall treatment, while the 175/70R13 is available as a blackwall radial. All of these remain radial tires, so the sidewall style changes the look far more than the underlying construction type.

For an Excel owner, that makes sidewall choice a styling decision tied to the personality of the car. A whitewall can lean toward a dressier showroom-era presentation, especially on a clean survivor or restoration, while a blackwall keeps the car closer to the straightforward economy-car image many buyers remember from the period. Matching the sidewall style to the overall build often produces a more convincing result than treating every 13-inch radial the same.

1986 Hyundai fitments are covered by several brands across the two sizes. The 155/80R13 is available from Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel, while the 175/70R13 is available from Avon. All of them are radial options, but they differ in sidewall styling, rim-width recommendations, and in some cases load and speed information.

That brand spread gives a buyer room to prioritize appearance and fitment details rather than chasing a single name. If your Excel needs a whitewall, the 155/80R13 group offers the broadest range. If you need the 175/70R13 size specifically, the available Avon option points the decision toward maintaining the right dimensions first, then evaluating whether its blackwall presentation suits the car.

Rim width recommendations for 1986 Hyundai tires depend on the size and the specific tire. In 155/80R13, current examples span about 4.00 to 5.50 inches, with some brands calling for 4.00 to 5.00 and others allowing 4.50 to 5.50. In 175/70R13, the available example fits a 4.5 to 6.0 inch rim width range. Both sizes use a 13-inch rim diameter.

That means wheel diameter alone is only part of the fitment picture. Before fitting replacement tires to a 1986 Hyundai Excel, verify the actual wheel width so the tire falls within the approved range for the specific product you are considering. Staying inside that range helps preserve the intended sidewall shape and reduces the chance of choosing a tire that physically mounts but is poorly matched to the wheel.

A 1986 Hyundai Excel uses 13-inch tires in both fitments, so the wheel diameter requirement is the same for 155/80R13 and 175/70R13. That means both sizes share basic 13-inch rim compatibility. Rim width still matters, however, because the accepted width range is not identical between the two sizes and can vary somewhat by brand within 155/80R13.

In practical terms, some original 13-inch Hyundai wheels may work with either size, while others may be better matched to one size than the other depending on width. Measure the wheel before changing sizes and compare it to the tire maker's approved range. That is especially important when moving from the narrower 155 to the wider 175, since a wider tire can ask more of the same wheel.

A 1986 Hyundai should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone sources. If the car will sit for long periods, rolling it periodically helps reduce flat-spotting and keeps the tire from bearing weight in the same position month after month. Moisture control matters too, since damp floors and enclosed humidity are hard on both tires and wheels.

Collector cars like the Excel often spend more time parked than driven, so storage habits can age the tires faster than mileage ever will. If the car will sit through a season, place a barrier under the tires or consider stands used correctly so the load is reduced. When the car comes back into service, recheck pressure and inspect the sidewalls closely before the first real drive.

Tires on a 1986 Hyundai should be judged by age as much as by tread depth. A sound collector-car rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if the car has seen limited mileage. The DOT date code on the sidewall is the simplest way to establish age.

That matters because a lightly used Excel can appear to have excellent tread while still riding on old rubber. Small economy cars are often revived after long storage, and age-related cracking or hardening can make an otherwise attractive tire a poor choice for regular driving. When in doubt, weigh age, visible condition, and your intended use together rather than looking at tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1986 Hyundai should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, uneven tread wear, embedded debris, and any sign that the tire has been run underinflated. Pressure should be checked cold, since a small, light car can feel noticeably different when one tire is even modestly low.

Regular inspection is especially important on a car that is driven occasionally rather than daily. Long periods of sitting can hide slow pressure loss, age-related cracking, or dry-rotted valve stems until the day the car is asked to travel farther than usual. A quick walk-around and pressure check takes only minutes and can prevent turning an enjoyable old-car drive into a roadside problem.

1986 Hyundai tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in good condition, properly inflated, and used within their rated capability. Among current options, 155/80R13 appears with at least a T speed rating, which carries a 118 mph ceiling, and 175/70R13 appears with an H rating, which carries a 130 mph ceiling. Those ratings are well above normal highway speeds, assuming the tires are not aged out or damaged.

Tire rating is only part of the story on an older compact car. A 1986 Hyundai Excel's braking system, suspension condition, alignment, and general maintenance often matter more to real-world confidence than the tire's headline speed symbol. If the car has been parked for years, treat the first highway trip as the end result of a thorough recommissioning process rather than the first step.

Inflation pressure for a 1986 Hyundai should follow the car's original pressure recommendation first, then be checked against the tire's own sidewall information for rated maximum pressure and load. Within the current 155/80R13 choices, some examples carry a maximum load of 959 pounds at 35 psi. Pressure should not be transferred casually from one size to another, because 155/80R13 and 175/70R13 are different tire specifications.

The safest approach is to start with the vehicle placard or owner's manual if available, then confirm that your chosen tire is being used inside its approved limits. Do not inflate a tire to its sidewall maximum unless the application calls for it. For an Excel that sees mixed use, a correct cold pressure matters more than chasing a number that sounds modern or performance-oriented.

Before a longer drive in a 1986 Hyundai, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, punctures, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm lug torque, and look at the spare as carefully as the four road tires, since many older small cars still carry an untouched original spare that is no longer trustworthy. If the car has been sitting, watch for vibration or pull during the first few miles.

A longer trip in an older Hyundai should always begin with a broader mechanical check as well. Cooling system health, brakes, belts, hoses, and charging performance can all matter as much as the tires once the car is asked to sustain highway speed. Treat the tires as one part of a complete pre-drive inspection, not as an isolated item, and the car will usually reward that extra preparation.