1987 Subaru Tire Fitment Guide

1987 Subaru vehicles use six sizes across the model range: 155R13 for the DL, 165R13 for the DL and XT, 175/70R13 for the GL, GL-10, and XT, 185/70R13 for the GL, GL-10, RX, and XT, 145R12 for the Justy, and 165/65R13 for the Justy. Most of the range uses 13-inch wheels, while the Justy also introduces a 12-inch fitment. Rim-width guidance is available for several of the active product sizes, including 4.00 to 5.50 inches for 155R13, 4.50 to 6.00 inches for 165R13, 4.5 to 6.0 inches for 175/70R13, 4.5 to 6.5 inches for 185/70R13 depending on tire, and 4.5 inches for 145R12.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly for a 1987 Subaru. Start by identifying the exact model, then confirm whether the car has 12-inch or 13-inch wheels and compare the present tire size to the wheel on the car. That is especially important on XT and Justy models, where more than one size family appears. Once the size is confirmed, the remaining choice is mainly about brand, sidewall appearance, and the character you want from the tire.

On a 1987 Subaru, 155R13 is a euro-metric radial size. The 155 refers to an approximate 155-millimeter section width, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. When no aspect ratio is printed in this style of size, it is conventionally treated as an 80-series profile. On 1987 Subaru applications, 155R13 belongs to the DL and mounts on a 13-inch wheel.

That code tells you this is a relatively narrow, tall-profile radial compared with the 70-series 13-inch sizes used on some GL, GL-10, RX, and XT models. It helps preserve the lighter, simpler look expected on an entry-level Subaru of the era. If your DL already wears a different 13-inch size, confirm that the wheels and present fitment are correct before switching back, because some 1987 Subaru models used wider 13-inch tires that are not interchangeable by default.

On a 1987 Subaru, 175/70R13 is a metric radial size. The 175 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 70 is the aspect ratio, R denotes radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Within the 1987 Subaru range, this size applies to the GL, GL-10, and XT, all on 13-inch wheels. It is a lower-profile format than the older-style 155R13 or 165R13 sizes.

That lower profile changes the look and stance of the car even when the wheel diameter remains the same. A buyer considering 175/70R13 should treat it as a model-specific size rather than a general 13-inch Subaru tire, because the DL and Justy used different fitments and the RX stayed with 185/70R13. Checking the exact model and present tire placard or wheel setup first helps keep the car in the right visual and mechanical range for its original application.

No, 1987 Subaru models use several different tire sizes. The DL uses 155R13 or 165R13, the GL uses 175/70R13 or 185/70R13, the GL-10 uses 185/70R13 or 175/70R13, the Justy uses 145R12 or 165/65R13, the RX uses 185/70R13, and the XT spans 165R13, 175/70R13, and 185/70R13. Most of the lineup stays on 13-inch wheels, but the Justy also has a 12-inch fitment, so there is not one universal 1987 Subaru tire size.

Practically, that means a buyer should identify the model before doing anything else. The difference is not just width; in some cases the wheel diameter changes too, and that affects whether the tire will mount at all. Subaru's 1987 range was broad enough that a compact Justy, a value DL, and a sporty RX should be treated as separate fitment categories. If the car has been restored or modified over the years, compare the existing wheel and tire combination to the intended original size before choosing a replacement.

1987 Subaru tire sidewall choices depend heavily on size. The 155R13, 165R13, 175/70R13, and 145R12 are available in blackwall form, while 185/70R13 expands the options with blackwall, redline, and wide whitewall versions. All of these fitments are radials, but the sidewall appearance can shift the personality of the car quite a bit. On a period-correct late-1980s Subaru, blackwalls are the most natural visual fit for mainstream restoration work.

Redline and wide whitewall versions of 185/70R13 appeal more to owners who want a custom look rather than a stock 1987 Subaru appearance. That can make sense on a personalized build, but a factory-faithful RX, GL, GL-10, or XT usually looks most at home on a blackwall radial. If appearance matters as much as fitment, choose the tire size first and then narrow the sidewall style to match the way the car will be presented, whether that is original, mildly personalized, or more overtly styled.

1987 Subaru tire coverage comes from Michelin, Dunlop, Avon, and BFGoodrich, depending on size. Michelin and Dunlop cover the 155R13 category, Michelin and Dunlop also cover 165R13, Avon covers 175/70R13, BFGoodrich, Avon, and Dunlop cover 185/70R13, and Michelin covers 145R12. Brand choice is therefore tied closely to the exact fitment rather than being the same across the full Subaru range.

That matters because some Subaru owners arrive at the page thinking in terms of brand first, when size really needs to come first. A DL owner with 155R13 has a different brand pool than an RX owner needing 185/70R13, and a Justy owner on 145R12 has a narrower selection than most of the 13-inch cars. Once the size is confirmed, you can compare the available brands by sidewall style, speed rating, and overall visual character to find the right match for the way your 1987 Subaru is used.

For 1987 Subaru fitments in 185/70R13, BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial and Avon CR6ZZ serve different buyer priorities. The BFGoodrich version comes in redline and wide whitewall forms, carries a maximum load figure of 1,135 pounds at 35 psi, and fits 5.00 to 6.50 inch rims. The Avon CR6ZZ comes as a blackwall radial with an 86H speed rating, fits 4.5 to 6.0 inch rims, and weighs slightly less than the BFGoodrich examples in this size.

A buyer choosing between them should think first about appearance and wheel compatibility. The BFGoodrich options are the obvious route if the goal is a stylized sidewall treatment, while the Avon keeps a cleaner blackwall look with an H speed rating suited to an 80s compact performance or touring presentation. Since both share the same 185/70R13 fitment, the decision is less about basic compatibility and more about the combination of sidewall style, rim-width range, and the kind of visual statement you want the car to make.

Rim-width guidance for 1987 Subaru tires varies by size. The 155R13 tires fit 4.00 to 5.50 inch rims, 165R13 fits 4.50 to 6.00 inch rims, 175/70R13 fits 4.5 to 6.0 inch rims, 185/70R13 fits either 4.5 to 6.0 inches or 5.00 to 6.50 inches depending on the tire, and 145R12 fits a 4.5-inch rim. Those ranges all pair with the correct wheel diameter for the size, either 12 or 13 inches.

That is why checking both diameter and width matters before choosing a tire for a 1987 Subaru. A tire may mount on the correct 13-inch wheel diameter but still call for a wheel width outside the range that particular tire was designed around. This comes up most often on 185/70R13 because different brands in the same size span slightly different wheel-width windows. Matching the actual wheel to the tire's approved width range helps preserve proper tread shape and predictable road manners.

Some 1987 Subaru fitments are clearly tubeless, while others should be confirmed product by product. The 145R12 Michelin MX is marked TL, and the Michelin 155R13 and 165R13 offerings are also marked TL. Other 155R13, 165R13, 175/70R13, and 185/70R13 products are radial tires without a tube marker in the size description, so the safest approach is to confirm the exact tire's sidewall marking and the wheel condition before deciding on tube use.

That distinction matters most on older wheels or on cars that have had wheels swapped over the years. Even when a tire itself is tubeless, a wheel's design or condition may still influence whether a tube is appropriate. On a 1987 Subaru that sees regular road use, clean bead seats, sound valve holes, and the tire's own tube-type or tubeless marking all deserve a close look. Treat tube use as a tire-and-wheel combination question rather than a simple year-and-make rule.

Original 1987 Subaru wheels can only be used with tire sizes that match their wheel diameter. Most of the range uses 13-inch sizes, including 155R13, 165R13, 175/70R13, and 185/70R13, while the Justy also has a 145R12 fitment for a 12-inch wheel. A 12-inch tire cannot be mounted on a 13-inch wheel, and a 13-inch tire cannot be mounted on a 12-inch wheel. Wheel width also needs to fall within the approved range for the exact tire chosen.

Within the 13-inch Subaru group, some models used multiple tire widths and profiles, so sharing diameter alone does not automatically make every original wheel ideal for every tire. That is especially relevant when moving from a narrower euro-metric size to a wider 70-series radial. If your 1987 Subaru still wears its factory wheels, verify both wheel diameter and wheel width before changing sizes. If the car has aftermarket or later Subaru wheels, measure rather than assume.

A 1987 Subaru should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone sources. Radial tires generally tolerate storage better than older bias-ply designs, but they still age from heat, ozone, and long static loading. If the car will sit for extended periods, rolling it occasionally to change the contact patch or supporting it carefully can help reduce flat-spotting and stress on one section of the tire.

That advice applies whether the car is a regularly used GL or a low-mileage RX, XT, or Justy kept as a hobby vehicle. Keep the tires off damp dirt floors, clean away petroleum residues, and avoid dressing products that can accelerate sidewall aging. A Subaru that sits through the winter should also have tire pressures checked before going back on the road, because a tire that has lost pressure in storage can develop hidden sidewall strain even if the tread still looks fresh.

Tires on a 1987 Subaru should be judged more by age and condition than by tread depth alone. Collector and hobby vehicles often wear out their tires chemically long before they wear them out mechanically, so a close evaluation around five to seven years is sensible, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as tires approach about ten years from their date code. Sidewall cracking, hardening, persistent vibration, and poor pressure retention matter more than mileage on a lightly used older Subaru.

That is especially important because many 1987 Subaru cars are used occasionally, not as daily commuters. A tire can look visually acceptable in the garage while already losing the pliability and stability that made it roadworthy when new. Check the DOT date code when present, compare all four tires rather than only the worst one, and remember that the spare ages too. If one tire is much older than the others, treat the set as a system rather than replacing only the obvious problem.

Tires on a 1987 Subaru deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more careful inspection before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, embedded objects, and changes in pressure retention. Also inspect valve stems closely, especially on a car that has spent long periods parked, because rubber stem aging can create failures that look like tire problems. A compact, older Subaru often reveals suspension or alignment issues early through visible tire wear patterns.

A more thorough check every few months is worthwhile even if the car is driven only occasionally. Put your hands on the tread and sidewalls, not just your eyes, because stiffness, rippling, or localized flat-spotting can show up before obvious tread wear does. On longer drives, include the spare in the inspection and confirm that it still holds air. Making tire inspection part of the pre-drive routine is one of the easiest ways to keep a 1987 Subaru dependable and pleasant on the road.

Many 1987 Subaru tire options are suited to highway use when the tires are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to the wheel and vehicle. Speed-rated examples include S-rated 145R12 tires up to 112 mph, H-rated 155R13, 165R13, 175/70R13, and some 185/70R13 tires up to 130 mph, plus a V-rated 185/70R13 Dunlop option up to 149 mph. Those ratings exceed normal U.S. highway speeds by a healthy margin. Tire age, condition, and inflation remain more important than the top-speed letter by itself.

A 1987 Subaru's overall roadworthiness also depends on the rest of the car. Brakes, bushings, wheel bearings, alignment, and shocks can shape highway confidence just as much as the tire choice, especially on a car that has been parked for years. The safer approach is to treat the speed rating as a ceiling, not a target, and to evaluate the entire vehicle before asking it to cover sustained distance. A fresh, properly matched radial on a well-sorted Subaru is a very different experience from an old tire on a neglected chassis.

Inflation pressure on a 1987 Subaru should follow the vehicle's factory recommendation for the original application, then be checked against the tire's own rated limits where those are stated. In the current size coverage, 185/70R13 BFGoodrich examples carry a maximum load of 1,135 pounds at 35 psi. Other load figures include 937 pounds for one 155R13 Dunlop, 1,047 pounds for one 165R13 Dunlop, and 1,047 pounds for one 185/70R13 Dunlop, but those figures should not be transferred from one size to another as a blanket inflation recommendation.

The practical way to handle an older Subaru is to begin with the pressure specification intended for the car, then verify that the tire itself is in a healthy operating range and adjust only within the manufacturer's guidance. Front-to-rear balance can matter on compact front-drive and four-wheel-drive Subarus, so avoid using guesswork or generic pressures borrowed from another model. If the car is carrying a size different from what it left the factory with, confirm the wheel, tire, and application together before settling on a final pressure.

Before a longer drive in a 1987 Subaru, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and stable cold pressure. Check the sidewalls and tread carefully, confirm the spare is inflated, and inspect valve stems for age or cracking. If the car uses a fitment where tubeless marking must be confirmed product by product, verify the wheel and valve setup while the car is stationary rather than discovering a sealing problem on the road. A tire that looks acceptable in the garage can still be a weak point on a highway trip.

Tires are only one part of the checklist on a car of this age, so include wheel-bearing noise, brake feel, shock control, and alignment behavior in the pre-trip review. An XT or RX that has sat for long periods may also reveal flat-spotting or vibration in the first few miles, and that should be taken seriously rather than driven through. The goal is not only avoiding a roadside problem, but also making sure the car feels stable, predictable, and comfortable at the speeds and distances you plan to cover.