1987 Hyundai Tire Fitment Guide

1987 Hyundai vehicles use two tire sizes: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13, and both apply to the Excel. Both sizes mount on 13-inch rims, so there is no change in wheel diameter between them. Rim width guidance appears on products in both sizes, with 155/80R13 applications covering 4.00 to 5.50 inches depending on brand and 175/70R13 covering 4.5 to 6.0 inches.

That means a 1987 Hyundai buyer should confirm the actual Excel fitment before choosing by appearance alone. Even though both sizes are 13-inch radials, the narrower 155/80R13 and the lower-profile 175/70R13 create a different stance and sidewall look. Verifying the tire already on the car, the wheel width, and any factory placard information is the best first step before moving on to product selection.

On a 1987 Hyundai, 155/80R13 identifies a metric radial tire with a 155-millimeter nominal section width, an 80-series aspect ratio, and a 13-inch rim diameter. The R confirms radial construction. Within the 1987 Hyundai range, this size is used on the Excel and appears in several whitewall configurations, including narrow whitewall and wide whitewall designs.

For a buyer, that code matters because it points to a tall-sidewall compact radial that keeps a more traditional small-car profile. It is often the stronger visual match when the goal is a stock-style presentation on an early Hyundai economy car. Before choosing among the brands in this size, compare rim width range, sidewall style, and whether the exact product carries a speed rating in the size marking.

On a 1987 Hyundai, 175/70R13 means a metric radial tire with a 175-millimeter nominal section width, a 70-series aspect ratio, and a 13-inch rim diameter. The wider tread and shorter sidewall distinguish it from 155/80R13 even though both fit 13-inch wheels. Within the 1987 Hyundai range, this size also belongs to the Excel.

The practical takeaway is that 175/70R13 gives the car a different visual character than the taller 155/80R13. In the current product mix, it appears as a blackwall Avon radial with an H speed rating, which may appeal to owners who want a sportier period look. Confirm wheel width and the intended Excel fitment first, because sharing a rim diameter does not make the two sizes interchangeable in every situation.

For a 1987 Hyundai, the first question is which Excel fitment your car actually uses, since both sizes belong to the model but are not simply cosmetic substitutes. The 155/80R13 is a taller, narrower radial and is available in several whitewall styles, while the 175/70R13 is a wider, lower-profile radial offered here as a blackwall Avon. Both are radial constructions, so this is more about correct fitment and visual character than about choosing between bias-ply and radial technology.

If your goal is a stock-looking compact with period whitewall styling, 155/80R13 will usually be the more natural starting point. If your Excel is meant to lean toward a sportier 1980s appearance, 175/70R13 may suit it better, provided the wheel width and the car’s original fitment support it. Matching the tire to the car’s intended look is worthwhile, but fitment confirmation should come first.

1987 Hyundai tires span several sidewall styles across the two Excel sizes. The 155/80R13 size is available in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall form, while the 175/70R13 is available as a blackwall radial. That gives owners a choice between a more conservative stock-style presentation and a cleaner, more sporting sidewall appearance.

On a late-1980s Hyundai, sidewall style affects the car’s look more than its fitment basics. Whitewalls can echo the showroom flavor many entry-level cars still carried in that era, especially on small sedans and hatchbacks sold to economy-minded buyers. Blackwalls tend to look more restrained and performance-oriented. Once your size is confirmed, sidewall style becomes one of the clearest ways to tune the car’s finished appearance.

Five brands cover 1987 Hyundai fitments across the two Excel sizes. The 155/80R13 is available from Travelstar, BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel, while the 175/70R13 is available from Avon. All of the products here are radial tires, but they differ in sidewall styling, rim width range, and in some cases speed rating detail.

That brand spread gives a buyer room to choose by presentation as well as fitment. BFGoodrich, Maxxis, and Tornel each offer whitewall-oriented choices in the narrower size, while Avon covers the lower-profile blackwall option. When comparing brands, it helps to look past name recognition alone and focus on the exact size, sidewall style, and wheel-width compatibility that make sense for your particular 1987 Hyundai Excel.

Rim width guidance for 1987 Hyundai tires varies by size and, in the 155/80R13 category, by brand. The 155/80R13 is approved across ranges of 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 4.50 to 5.50 inches, or 4.00 to 5.00 inches depending on the tire chosen. The 175/70R13 Avon fits rims from 4.5 to 6.0 inches. Both sizes use a 13-inch rim diameter.

That range is important because two tires with the same nominal size may not share the same preferred wheel width spread. Measuring the actual wheel before ordering is especially useful on older cars that may have had replacements installed over the years. Staying within the tire maker’s approved rim width range helps preserve the intended tread shape, sidewall behavior, and overall fit on a 1987 Hyundai Excel.

The available 1987 Hyundai tire options here do not carry tube-type markings in the size field, and they are modern radial products commonly used in tubeless form on suitable wheels. That applies to both 155/80R13 and 175/70R13 offerings. A tire alone, however, does not determine the full answer, because wheel condition and wheel design still matter.

On a 1987 Hyundai Excel, the practical step is to inspect the wheel and valve area before installation rather than assuming every older wheel should automatically receive a tube. If the wheel is sound and intended for tubeless service, a tubeless radial is generally the expected setup. If the wheel has corrosion, damage, or unusual history, resolve that first before deciding how the tire should be mounted.

Original 1987 Hyundai Excel wheels can potentially be used with both tire sizes because both 155/80R13 and 175/70R13 are built for 13-inch rims. Rim diameter compatibility is the shared point between the two fitments. Wheel width still has to be checked against the exact tire you choose, since the approved ranges are not identical across every product.

That means the decision is not simply whether the tire will go on a 13-inch wheel, but whether it belongs on your specific 13-inch wheel. A narrower factory wheel may favor one 155/80R13 product over another, while the 175/70R13 wants at least a 4.5-inch rim. Measuring the wheel and comparing it to the tire’s approved range is the cleanest way to avoid a mismatch.

A 1987 Hyundai should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, chargers, and other ozone sources that age rubber. Because these are radial tires, they generally tolerate normal collector storage well, but long static periods can still create temporary flat-spotting and accelerate sidewall aging if the car sits under load for months at a time.

Rolling the car periodically or supporting it in a way that relieves some load can help if the Excel will be parked for an extended season. Moisture control matters too, especially in garages with damp concrete or wide temperature swings. A simple storage routine does more for tire longevity than most owners expect, particularly on lightly used 1980s collector cars that spend more time parked than driven.

Tires on a 1987 Hyundai should be judged more by age and condition than by miles alone. A sensible rule for collector use is to begin close inspection around five to seven years and to treat ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the reference point for tire age.

That approach matters because an Excel that sees occasional weekend use may never wear out a tread in the usual sense. Rubber hardens, sidewalls crack, and internal materials age even when the car is driven very little. If the car has older-looking tires of uncertain age, checking the date code is one of the fastest ways to decide whether you are dealing with a usable set or a set that has simply aged out.

Tires on a 1987 Hyundai should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, foreign objects in the tread, and pressure loss. On a lightly driven Excel, visual condition is especially important because time-related deterioration can appear long before tread wear becomes a concern.

A monthly close inspection is a good baseline for a stored collector car, with a more thorough check before highway use or seasonal first drives. Pay attention to valve stems as well, since they age alongside the tires and can become a hidden cause of air loss. Catching those small issues early is one of the simplest ways to keep a vintage Hyundai dependable on short and long drives alike.

A 1987 Hyundai Excel would have been fitted with radial tires as standard-era equipment, which aligns with both available sizes for this year and model: 155/80R13 and 175/70R13. The exact fitment can vary within the Excel range, so the original tire size should be confirmed from the car’s placard, handbook, or surviving original-spec references. No single original equipment brand should be assumed without that additional vehicle-specific confirmation.

For restoration purposes, the biggest authenticity questions are usually size and sidewall appearance rather than brand alone. A whitewall radial can suit a stock-leaning presentation, while a blackwall radial may fit a sportier trim or owner preference from the period. If you are restoring a particularly original car, marque groups and period Hyundai literature are the best next step for narrowing the exact factory presentation.

Correct tire fitment does matter when a 1987 Hyundai is prepared for judging, especially if the event emphasizes factory-correct presentation. Judges often notice whether the tire size, radial construction, and sidewall style look appropriate to the period and the specific model’s original character. On a late-1980s car, an obviously mismatched profile or an off-theme sidewall can stand out quickly even if the tire physically fits the wheel.

That does not mean every event will apply the same standard, but it does mean tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration, not an afterthought. If the car is intended for marque judging, confirm whether the event values strict factory appearance or a broader period-correct look. Choosing the right size first, then matching the whitewall or blackwall style to the car’s presentation, usually gets you much closer.

For a 1987 Hyundai in 155/80R13, the BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial and the Maxxis Classic Whitewall MA-1 differ most clearly in sidewall presentation and approved wheel range. The BFGoodrich uses a wide whitewall and fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, while the Maxxis uses a narrower 0.625-inch whitewall and fits 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims. Both carry the same 959-pound load figure at 35 psi.

That makes the BFGoodrich the stronger choice when a wider whitewall is central to the look you want, while the Maxxis suits owners who prefer a subtler white stripe. Wheel width can also decide the issue, especially if your Excel uses a narrower 4.00-inch rim that falls within the BFGoodrich range but not the Maxxis range. The better fit is the one that matches both your wheel and your visual target.

1987 Hyundai tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, properly mounted, properly inflated, and in sound condition. The available speed-rated examples include a T-rated 155/80R13, which carries a 118 mph ceiling, and an H-rated 175/70R13, which carries a 130 mph ceiling. Those ratings are well above normal U.S. highway speeds, although real-world safety also depends heavily on the car’s brakes, suspension, alignment, and overall condition.

On an older Excel, the larger concern is often the age of the tire and the condition of the vehicle rather than whether the tire’s speed symbol is high enough for ordinary road use. A fresh, correctly fitted radial is only one part of a safe highway car. Before any sustained freeway driving, make sure the tires are evenly worn, the pressures are correct, and the car itself is mechanically ready for the trip.

Inflation pressure for a 1987 Hyundai should follow the vehicle’s factory recommendation first, with the tire maker’s maximum load-and-pressure figure used as a rating reference rather than a blanket running pressure. In 155/80R13, several products carry a 959-pound maximum load at 35 psi. The correct operating pressure for your Excel may be lower or otherwise tuned by Hyundai for ride, handling, and wear.

That is why pressure should never be copied casually from one size or one product to another. Use the owner’s manual or tire placard to establish the baseline, then confirm that the tire you choose is compatible with that application. If your car has been modified, or if wheel and tire sizes have changed from original fitment, it is wise to revisit pressure settings rather than relying on assumptions.

Before taking a 1987 Hyundai on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, punctures, and signs of air loss. Check inflation pressures cold, confirm the spare is serviceable, and make sure valve stems are in good shape. Since these cars are now firmly in collector territory, tire condition should be part of a broader inspection that includes brakes, cooling system, belts, hoses, and fluid levels.

A longer drive puts more heat into the tires and exposes any weak point that short local use may not reveal. It also gives you a chance to notice whether the car pulls, vibrates, or wanders, all of which can hint at tire, wheel, or alignment issues. Spending a few extra minutes on that pre-drive check is especially worthwhile on an older Hyundai that may have gone long stretches between outings.