1986 Mitsubishi Tire Fitment Guide

1986 Mitsubishi vehicles use 11 distinct tire sizes across five models. Cordia uses 185/70R13 and 195/60R14, Galant uses 185/70R14 and 195/60R15, Mirage uses 155R13, 145/80R13, and 185/60R14, Starion uses 205/55R16, 225/50R16, and 215/60R15, and Tredia uses 165/80R13, 185/70R13, and 195/60R14. Rim diameters span 13, 14, 15, and 16 inches, so fitment starts with the wheel actually on the car.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a correct tire decision on a 1986 Mitsubishi. Cordia and Tredia share some sizes, but Mirage, Galant, and Starion each bring their own combinations. Before choosing a tire, confirm the exact model and then verify the wheel diameter and acceptable rim-width range for that size. On cars that may have changed wheels over the years, reading the sidewall of the old tire and measuring the rim can save a costly mistake.

On a 1986 Mitsubishi, 155R13 is a euro-metric radial size. The 155 refers to nominal section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Because no aspect ratio is written into the code, this format conventionally represents an 80-series profile. In this application, 155R13 belongs to the Mirage.

That narrower profile fits the Mirage's compact, economy-focused character and should not be treated as interchangeable with wider Mitsubishi sizes just because the rim diameter is also 13 inches. If your Mirage currently wears a different size, check whether the car has been changed to another factory wheel package. Staying with 155R13 keeps the tire close to the original narrow-section format, while switching to another size should only happen after confirming wheel width and overall fit.

No. 1986 Mitsubishi models do not share a single universal tire size. Cordia and Tredia overlap on 185/70R13 and 195/60R14, but Galant uses its own 14-inch and 15-inch sizes, Mirage uses three separate compact-car fitments, and Starion uses larger 15-inch and 16-inch performance sizes. Every fitment in the range is radial, but the dimensions and wheel diameters vary substantially by model.

That matters because a size that looks close on paper may still be wrong for the wheel and the stance of the car. A Starion owner, for example, should be thinking in terms of wider 15-inch or 16-inch sport fitments, while a Mirage owner is often dealing with narrower 13-inch sizes. If you are unsure which Mitsubishi model you have, identify that first before comparing brands, sidewall styles, or speed ratings.

Sidewall choices for 1986 Mitsubishi tires vary widely by size. Blackwall options appear across most sizes, especially Mirage and Starion fitments, while redline, wide whitewall, narrow whitewall, and raised white letter styles are concentrated in selected Cordia, Tredia, Galant, and Starion sizes such as 185/70R13, 195/60R15, 215/60R15, and 165/80R13. That means the sidewall look is often determined as much by the size as by the brand.

For a 1986 Japanese car, blackwall usually gives the most era-appropriate mainstream appearance, particularly on performance and economy models. Specialty sidewalls can still make sense for a personalized car, a period-themed build, or a buyer who wants a custom visual style without changing the basic dimensions. Once you know the correct size, compare the sidewall options inside that size rather than assuming every appearance treatment is available for every 1986 Mitsubishi application.

Brands covering 1986 Mitsubishi fitments include BFGoodrich, Avon, Dunlop, Michelin, American Classic, and Maxxis. Coverage depends on size: 185/70R13 uses BFGoodrich, Avon, and Dunlop; 185/70R14 uses BFGoodrich, Avon, Dunlop, and Michelin; 195/60R15 uses BFGoodrich and Michelin; 215/60R15 uses American Classic, BFGoodrich, and Dunlop; and several Mirage and Starion sizes are handled by Michelin and BFGoodrich in blackwall radial form.

The practical takeaway is to start with the correct size, then compare the brands that actually build that fitment. Some sizes lean toward touring or classic-style presentation, while others lean toward performance-oriented 1980s and later radial design. If you are matching a car's personality, a Galant or Tredia may invite a different brand and sidewall choice than a Starion, even before you look at speed ratings or tread style.

In 195/60R15 for the 1986 Mitsubishi Galant, BFGoodrich Radial T/A and Michelin Primacy 3 take notably different approaches. The BFGoodrich carries an RWL sidewall, an S speed rating to 112 mph, a 1,190-pound load figure at 35 psi, and a 5.50- to 7.00-inch rim-width range. The Michelin Primacy 3 is a blackwall tubeless radial with a V speed rating to 149 mph and a 5.5- to 7-inch rim-width range.

That makes the choice less about basic fit and more about presentation and intended use. The BFGoodrich suits buyers who want a more period performance look with raised white letters, while the Michelin speaks more to a cleaner modern blackwall appearance and a higher speed-rated touring profile. Either way, the wheel still needs to fall within the acceptable rim-width range for the specific tire chosen.

Rim-width requirements depend on the exact 1986 Mitsubishi tire size. Examples include 185/70R13 at roughly 4.5 to 6.5 inches depending on brand, 195/60R15 at 5.5 to 7 inches, 155R13 at 4.0 to 5.5 inches, 185/60R14 at 5.0 to 6.0 inches, 205/55R16 at 5.5 to 7.5 inches, 225/50R16 at 6.0 to 8.0 inches, 215/60R15 at 5.5 or 6.0 up to 7.5 inches, and 165/80R13 at 4.5 to 6.0 inches.

That range matters because the same nominal size can have slightly different approved wheel widths from one brand to another. If your Mitsubishi still has original wheels, measure the wheel width before committing to a tire, especially on cars with optional wheel packages or long ownership histories. If the wheel falls near the edge of the range, compare the exact tire you want rather than assuming every tire in that size accepts the same rim.

Most 1986 Mitsubishi tire options here are radial designs intended for tubeless service, but tubeless marking varies by product in several sizes. Clear TL markings appear on products such as 195/60R14, 195/60R15 Michelin Primacy 3, 155R13 Michelin XAS, 185/60R14, 205/55R16 Michelin SX MXX3, and 225/50R16 Michelin Pilot Sport. Other products in the same or similar sizes do not always include a tube-status marking in the sidewall code shown.

That means the wheel condition and the exact tire marking both matter before installation. If your 1986 Mitsubishi still uses older factory wheels, inspect the bead seats and valve-stem area carefully and follow the tire maker's construction and mounting guidance. Where tube status varies by product marking, confirm the specific tire's sidewall before assuming a tubeless setup, especially on a collector car that may have seen wheel swaps or previous repairs.

No, original 1986 Mitsubishi wheels cannot be treated as universal across all tire sizes because the lineup uses 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, and 16-inch rim diameters. A Cordia or Tredia may alternate between 13-inch and 14-inch fitments, a Galant may use 14-inch or 15-inch fitments, a Mirage may use 13-inch or 14-inch fitments, and a Starion may use 15-inch or 16-inch fitments. Rim diameter must match the tire exactly.

Within a given model, more than one wheel package may be correct, but the wheel on the car still determines the tire size family you can use. Do not move across diameter groups simply because the tire seems close in width or profile. Read the current tire sidewall, verify the wheel diameter directly, and then confirm that the wheel width falls inside the approved range for the exact replacement size you want.

A stored 1986 Mitsubishi should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors and ozone sources, and on a clean, dry surface rather than bare earth. Maintain the tires at proper pressure during storage and move the car periodically if possible so one section of the casing does not carry the load continuously. Radial tires generally tolerate storage better than bias-ply designs, but they still age from time, heat, and environmental exposure.

If the car will sit for months, many owners use tire cradles or support the vehicle to reduce long-term flat spotting and stress on suspension components. This is especially useful for collector Mitsubishis that see occasional seasonal use. Before returning the car to regular road service, inspect sidewalls, tread surfaces, valve stems, and inflation pressure rather than assuming a tire that looks clean has stayed healthy through storage.

On a 1986 Mitsubishi, tire age usually matters more than mileage. Collector and hobby cars often accumulate little annual use, so the key guideline is periodic age-based evaluation rather than waiting for tread wear alone. Many owners begin paying close attention once tires are about five to seven years old and treat ten years from the DOT date code as a strong replacement point, even if the tread still looks serviceable.

That approach is especially important on low-use cars such as a preserved Starion, Cordia, or Tredia that may spend more time parked than driven. Rubber hardens, internal materials age, and sidewalls can crack long before the tread is worn out. Check the DOT code on each tire, compare all four tires and the spare, and avoid judging condition purely by appearance from a few feet away.

Tires on a 1986 Mitsubishi should be inspected before every drive, and more thoroughly before any extended outing or highway trip. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, punctures, and pressure loss, and make sure the tread is aging evenly across the contact patch. Valve stems also deserve attention, since a cracked or hardened stem can cause the same kind of trouble as a damaged tire.

A quick visual check before a short local drive may be enough for a frequently used car, but a long weekend trip calls for a deeper inspection and a pressure check while the tires are cold. Include the spare if the car still carries one. On an older Mitsubishi, a careful tire inspection should be part of the same routine that also checks belts, hoses, fluids, and brakes.

A 1986 Mitsubishi Cordia would have been fitted with radial tires from the factory, which aligns with the broader mid-1980s market shift away from bias-ply construction for mainstream passenger cars. Cordia fitments in this year use 185/70R13 or 195/60R14 depending on the wheel package. Both are modern metric radial sizes appropriate to the period, and the exact original sidewall appearance could vary by trim, market, and dealer presentation.

For a restoration, the important starting points are the correct size, the correct wheel diameter, and a sidewall style that matches the look you want to recreate. Blackwall is often the safest visual choice for a stock 1986 Japanese sporty compact, while custom or personalized cars may reasonably go another direction. If the goal is strict authenticity, compare your wheel and surviving factory literature and consult a Mitsubishi marque specialist for trim-specific confirmation.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters when showing a 1986 Mitsubishi, especially if the event values factory-correct presentation. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size matches the car's original wheel package, whether the construction type suits the era, and whether the sidewall style looks appropriate to the model and period. On a 1986 import, an obviously out-of-period sidewall treatment can stand out even if the tire physically fits.

That does not mean every show demands the same standard. A preservation class, a modified class, and a marque-focused concours may each view sidewall treatment and replacement tire style differently. If the car is being built for judged originality, start with the correct size family for the model and wheel diameter, then check event rules or club guidance before choosing whitewall, redline, raised white letter, or plain blackwall presentation.

In 185/70R13 for the 1986 Mitsubishi Cordia and Tredia, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial and Avon CR6ZZ differ in both presentation and specification details. The BFGoodrich appears in redline and wide whitewall versions, carries a 1,135-pound load figure at 35 psi, and fits roughly 5.00- to 6.50-inch rims. The Avon CR6ZZ is a blackwall radial, uses a 4.5- to 6.0-inch rim-width range, and carries an H speed rating to 130 mph.

For a restoration-minded owner, the BFGoodrich options are the obvious path if sidewall styling is part of the car's intended look. The Avon, by contrast, fits a more understated blackwall presentation with a speed-rated sport-touring character. Both fit the same nominal size, so the decision turns on wheel width, desired sidewall appearance, and how closely the finished car is meant to follow a stock-versus-personalized theme.

1986 Mitsubishi tire options can be suitable for highway driving when the tires are in good condition, correctly matched to the car, and used within their speed and load ratings. Depending on size and product, speed ratings here include S to 112 mph, H to 130 mph, V to 149 mph, W to 168 mph, and Y to 186+ mph. Every fitment in this range is radial, which aligns well with normal modern-road use for these cars.

In real-world driving, the condition of the vehicle often matters as much as the letter on the sidewall. Suspension wear, alignment, braking capability, and age-related mechanical issues can limit confidence long before a healthy radial tire reaches its rated ceiling. For highway use, focus on fresh tires, correct pressures, a current inspection of the whole chassis, and a tire size that truly matches the wheel and model rather than chasing the highest speed rating alone.

Inflation pressure on a 1986 Mitsubishi should start with the factory vehicle recommendation for the exact model and wheel package, then be checked against the tire maker's own load and pressure information for the specific tire. Some products here include load figures such as 1,135 pounds at 35 psi for 185/70R13, 1,201 pounds at 35 psi for 185/70R14, 1,190 pounds at 35 psi for some 195/60R15 options, 1,411 pounds at 35 psi for 215/60R15, and higher-pressure load references on certain 16-inch performance tires.

Those figures are maximum load-and-pressure references, not universal set-and-forget inflation recommendations for every 1986 Mitsubishi. A Mirage, Galant, and Starion should not automatically run the same pressure just because the tire sizes seem related. Use the original vehicle guidance as the baseline, adjust only within the tire maker's approved limits, and check pressure cold before driving rather than after the tires have heated up.

Before a longer drive in a 1986 Mitsubishi, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Make sure the tire size on the car matches the wheel diameter, and look closely at the valve stems and the spare. If the car has sat for a long period, pay attention to vibration during the first miles, since old tires can develop flat spotting or reveal age-related weakness once back in service.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-trip routine for an older car. Verify brakes, wheel bearings, coolant hoses, belts, lights, and fluid levels, and carry the tools needed to deal with a puncture or pressure loss. On a performance model such as the Starion, also be attentive to alignment and suspension condition, because those cars place more visible demand on wider tires than Mitsubishi's smaller economy models do.