1987 Ford Trucks Tire Fitment Guide

1987 Ford Trucks vehicles used 13 distinct sizes across six models. Bronco used 235/75R15 and 31X10.50R15; Bronco II used 195/75R15 and 205/75R15; F-150 used 195/75R15, 215/75R15, and 235/75R15; F-250 used 7.50R16, 215/85R16, and 235/85R16; F-350 used 750-16, 215/85R16, and 235/85R16; and Ranger used 185/75R14, 195/75R14, 205/75R14, 215/75R14, 195/75R15, 205/75R15, and 215/75R15. Rim diameters across the year range from 14 to 16 inches.

That spread means there is no single tire size for all 1987 Ford Trucks applications. Ranger alone can fall into either 14-inch or 15-inch groups, while the heavier F-250 and F-350 move to 16-inch truck sizes. Start with the model and actual wheel diameter on the vehicle, then narrow to the exact size before comparing brands or sidewall styles.

On a 1987 Ford Trucks application, 750-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.50 refers to nominal section width in inches and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches, while the dash format signals a bias-ply construction rather than a radial. In this year and make range, 750-16 applies to the F-350.

That format feels older because it is older in tire-design terms, and it carries a more traditional heavy-truck appearance and driving character than a modern radial. If your F-350 is being restored with an eye toward vintage visual correctness, 750-16 is the fitment to study closely. It is still important to confirm the wheel itself, because other F-350 applications in 1987 also used 16-inch radials in different sizes.

No, 1987 Ford Trucks models do not use the same tire size. Compact Ranger and Bronco II applications sit in smaller radial sizes, the full-size Bronco and F-150 use 15-inch light-truck or passenger-style radials, and the F-250 and F-350 step into heavier 16-inch truck fitments. One F-350 application also uses a 750-16 bias-ply size that does not apply elsewhere in the lineup.

That makes model identification more than a formality. A buyer shopping only by year and make could easily land on the wrong wheel diameter or the wrong construction type, especially between Ranger, F-150, and the larger F-Series trucks. If your truck has been modified over the years, compare the tire size on the sidewall and the wheel diameter before treating any factory fitment as your final answer.

For 1987 Ford Trucks, that comparison matters only within the heavy-duty F-350 context, because 235/85R16 is a radial and 750-16 is a bias-ply fitment. The radial choice reflects later truck-tire design and the 750-16 preserves an older numeric bias-ply format with a more traditional look. Both mount on 16-inch wheels, but they are not the same kind of tire in construction or character.

Choose 750-16 when visual authenticity and traditional bias-ply appearance are your priority. Choose 235/85R16 when you want to stay with a 16-inch heavy-duty fitment but prefer a radial construction. The smartest next step is to verify which wheel and fitment your truck actually carries now, especially if it has passed through multiple owners or has already been restored once.

1987 Ford Trucks tires span a surprisingly wide range of sidewall styles. Depending on size, options include RWL, RBL, blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and even goldline. The truck-oriented Bronco and heavy-duty F-Series sizes lean toward blackwall or raised-letter styles in some applications, while many of the 14-inch and 15-inch radial sizes also offer narrow or wide whitewalls that create a more custom or period-inspired appearance.

The right sidewall depends on how you want the truck to present. A stock-looking work truck or off-road-oriented Bronco often looks more natural on blackwall or raised-letter rubber, while a Ranger, Bronco II, or cruiser-style F-150 may suit a whitewall better. Sidewall style does not change the basic fitment, but it changes the truck's visual personality enough that many restorers choose it almost as carefully as the size itself.

1987 Ford Trucks fitments are covered by several brands, depending on size. BFGoodrich appears in 235/75R15, 31X10.50R15, 205/75R15, 215/75R15, 235/85R16, and 750-16. American Classic, Coker Classic, Maxxis, Tornel, Firestone, Lester, and Travelstar also appear across different 14-inch, 15-inch, and 16-inch sizes, with the broadest brand mix showing up in the smaller radial whitewall fitments.

Brand choice usually follows the kind of truck you are building. Raised-letter truck radials tend to concentrate in BFGoodrich offerings, while whitewall-focused compact and classic-style sizes open up more choices from American Classic, Coker Classic, Maxxis, and Tornel. Once you know your exact size, compare the available brands by sidewall style, construction, and any speed or load markings that matter for how the truck will actually be used.

Rim width requirements vary quite a bit across 1987 Ford Trucks sizes. Examples include 235/75R15 at 6.0 to 8.5 inches depending on product, 31X10.50R15 at 7.0 to 9.0 inches, 205/75R15 at 5.5 to 7.5 inches, 195/75R15 at 5.0 to 7.0 inches, 215/75R15 at 5.5 to 7.5 inches, 235/85R16 at 6.0 to 7.5 inches, 750-16 at 5.0 to 6.0 inches, 195/75R14 at 5.0 to 7.0 inches, 205/75R14 at 5.0 to 7.5 inches, 185/75R14 at 4.5 to 7.5 inches, and 215/75R14 at 5.5 to 7.5 inches.

Those ranges show why wheel diameter alone is not enough. Two tires that fit the same 15-inch or 16-inch wheel diameter can still want different wheel widths, especially when you compare a flotation-style truck tire to a narrower metric radial. Measure the wheel you have on the truck, then compare it to the size-specific range before settling on a product.

The available 1987 Ford Trucks products shown here do not use tube-type markings such as TT, and none are identified as tube-type fitments. The radial sizes across Ranger, Bronco II, Bronco, F-150, and the available F-Series radial products read as tubeless-style modern construction, and the 750-16 bias-ply products also do not carry a tube-type notation in the size marking shown here.

Tube decisions still come back to the wheel as much as the tire. If a truck still has older wheels, specialty wheels, or restored original rims with condition issues, a marque specialist or tire professional may want to evaluate whether a tube is appropriate for that wheel even if the tire itself is not marked tube-type. Wheel condition, valve stem type, and actual air retention matter more than assumptions.

A 1987 Ford Trucks vehicle stores best in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Clean, inflated tires age better than dirty, underinflated ones, and long static storage is harder on tires than regular moderate use. The bias-ply 750-16 fitment can flat-spot more readily during storage than the radial sizes used elsewhere in the 1987 Ford truck range.

If the truck will sit for months, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces long-term weight on one patch of tread. That is especially helpful on heavier F-Series trucks. Keep the tires off wet ground, check inflation before the truck goes into storage, and inspect sidewalls when it comes back out so small age-related issues do not become road-trip problems.

For a collector or lightly used 1987 Ford Trucks vehicle, age usually matters more than mileage. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely around five to seven years from the date of manufacture and to treat ten years as a strong replacement point even if tread remains. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the best way to establish age.

That matters because many vintage trucks accumulate very few miles, and the tires can appear healthy long after the rubber has started to harden. A Bronco that only sees weekend drives and an F-350 that spends most of its life parked can both age out their tires before they wear them out. Use age, visual condition, and the way the tire holds pressure as your baseline, not tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1987 Ford Trucks vehicle should be checked before every drive and more carefully before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, irregular tread wear, slow air loss, and any signs that the tire has been overloaded or run underinflated. On heavier F-Series trucks, also pay close attention to weathering and tread separation risks because the vehicles themselves can place greater demand on the casing.

A quick walkaround catches more trouble than many owners expect, especially on trucks that sit for long stretches and then return to road duty. Check pressure with a gauge rather than by appearance, inspect the spare as well as the four road tires, and look closely at valve stems. Regular inspection is inexpensive insurance on any older truck, whether it is a compact Ranger or a one-ton F-350.

Many 1987 Ford Trucks tire choices are suitable for normal highway use when they are in good condition, correctly matched to the truck, and inflated properly. The speed-rated products shown here use an S rating, which carries a 112 mph ceiling, appearing in sizes such as 235/75R15, 31X10.50R15, 215/75R15, 235/85R16, and one 185/75R14 application. Other sizes are available without a visible speed letter in the marking shown here, so the individual product should be checked before use.

Real-world highway confidence in a 1987 Ford truck is usually limited more by the truck's age, suspension condition, steering components, brakes, and loading than by the tire's headline speed capability. A restored Ranger and a working F-350 ask very different things of their tires. Match the size and load capability to the vehicle, then keep expectations realistic for an older platform rather than treating the tire alone as the whole answer.

Inflation pressure on 1987 Ford Trucks tires depends on the exact size and product. Examples include 235/75R15 versions rated at 1,985 pounds at 50 psi, 2,028 pounds at 35 psi, or 2,271 pounds at 32 psi; 215/75R15 versions rated at 1,765 pounds at 50 psi, 1,742 pounds at 35 psi, or 1,874 pounds at 32 psi; 235/85R16 at 3,042 pounds at 80 psi; 750-16 at 1,660 pounds at 40 psi or 1,850 pounds at 48 psi; and Ranger-oriented 14-inch sizes generally falling in the 32 to 44 psi range depending on product.

Those numbers are tire ratings, not universal vehicle settings, and they should not be transferred from one size to another. Use the original Ford recommendation as your starting point for the truck itself, then compare it with the tire manufacturer's rating for the exact reproduction or modern product you choose. On any older truck, pressure should support the load being carried, not just the tire size written on the sidewall.

Before a longer drive in a 1987 Ford Trucks vehicle, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, tread separation, bulges, embedded debris, and uneven wear. Check cold inflation pressure, confirm the spare is usable, and make sure valve stems are sound. On heavier trucks such as the F-250 and F-350, also look for signs of overload stress, because a damaged casing can become much more serious at sustained road speed.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip routine on an older truck. Wheel bearing condition, steering play, brake response, shocks, and alignment all affect how safely the tire can do its job. If the truck has been sitting, give it a short local shakedown before committing to a highway run. That approach is especially worthwhile when an older truck has newly mounted tires but unproven chassis components.