1988 Mitsubishi Tire Fitment Guide

1988 Mitsubishi vehicles use eight different tire sizes across six models: 195/60R14 for Cordia and Tredia, 195/60R15 for Galant, 155/80R13 for Mirage and Precis, 185/60R14 for Mirage, 175/70R13 for Precis, 205/55R16 for Starion, 225/50R16 for Starion, 245/45R16 for Starion, and 185/70R13 for Tredia. Rim diameters span 13, 14, 15, and 16 inches, so this year does not center around one common wheel size.

That spread means fitment starts with identifying the exact model and then confirming the wheel diameter already on the car. Some cars, including Mirage, Precis, Tredia, and Starion, can appear with more than one size depending on version or wheel package, so reading the existing sidewall or checking the wheel itself is the safest first step before moving on to sidewall style or brand preference.

On a 1988 Mitsubishi, 155/80R13 is a metric radial size. The 155 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 80 is the aspect ratio, the R means radial construction, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Within the 1988 Mitsubishi range, that size is used on Mirage and Precis models that were fitted with the smaller 13-inch package.

For a buyer, that code matters because a 155/80R13 is not interchangeable with the other 13-inch sizes on overall dimensions or appearance just because the wheel diameter matches. It is a narrower, taller-profile compact-car size, so the best approach is to match it to the actual model and wheel package rather than choosing by diameter alone.

No. The 1988 Mitsubishi lineup uses different tire sizes by model, and several models have more than one fitment within the same nameplate. Cordia and Tredia share 195/60R14, Mirage and Precis share 155/80R13, Galant stands alone on 195/60R15, Tredia also uses 185/70R13, Precis also uses 175/70R13, Mirage also uses 185/60R14, and Starion uses 16-inch performance sizes including 205/55R16, 225/50R16, and 245/45R16.

That means year and make are only the starting point for a 1988 Mitsubishi tire search. If you own a common model such as a Mirage, Precis, or Tredia, confirming the exact version and wheel package can prevent choosing a tire that mounts to the wrong wheel diameter or changes the car's intended stance and proportions.

1988 Mitsubishi tire choices include Blackwall, Narrow Whitewall, Wide Whitewall, Redline, and RWL depending on size. The broadest sidewall variety appears in 195/60R15 for the Galant and in 185/70R13 for the Tredia, while 155/80R13 for Mirage and Precis also offers both narrow and wide whitewall treatments. Starion's 16-inch sizes stay in Blackwall form, which suits the late-1980s performance character of that car.

The right sidewall comes down to the look you want from the car as much as the fitment itself. A Blackwall is usually the most natural visual match for a stock 1988 sport coupe or sedan, while whitewalls and redlines can create a more customized or period-personalized appearance on economy and midsize models that were often styled differently by owners over time.

1988 Mitsubishi coverage comes from Michelin, BFGoodrich, Travelstar, Maxxis, Tornel, Avon, and Dunlop, depending on size. Michelin appears in 195/60R14, 195/60R15, 185/60R14, 205/55R16, and 225/50R16. BFGoodrich covers 195/60R15, 155/80R13, 205/55R16, 225/50R16, and 185/70R13, while Travelstar, Maxxis, and Tornel appear in 155/80R13, Avon in 175/70R13 and 185/70R13, and Dunlop in 185/70R13.

Brand choice should follow size and intended character rather than reputation alone. A compact Mirage or Precis owner may be deciding among whitewall-oriented 13-inch options, while a Starion owner is choosing among Blackwall performance radials in 16-inch sizes. Narrowing the decision that way keeps the search tied to the car's actual fitment and visual style.

For the 1988 Mitsubishi Galant in 195/60R15, BFGoodrich offers several specialty looks including Wide Whitewall, RWL, and Redline, while Michelin offers a Blackwall Primacy 3. BFGoodrich's RWL version carries an S speed rating at 112 mph, and Michelin's Primacy 3 carries a V speed rating at 149 mph. Both brands also show a 15-inch rim fitment with a 5.5- to 7-inch rim-width range on products where rim-width guidance appears.

That makes the BFGoodrich-versus-Michelin decision largely a question of appearance and intended character. If the goal is a more period-styled custom look, the BFGoodrich sidewall options stand out. If the goal is a straightforward blackwall radial presentation with a higher marked speed category, the Michelin option takes the Galant in that direction.

Rim-width guidance varies by size on 1988 Mitsubishi applications. 195/60R15 fits 5.5 to 7.0 inches, 155/80R13 fits from 4.0 to 5.5 inches depending on product, 185/60R14 fits 5.0 to 6.0 inches, 175/70R13 fits 4.5 to 6.0 inches, 205/55R16 fits 5.5 to 7.5 inches, 225/50R16 fits 6.0 to 8.0 inches, and 185/70R13 ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 inches depending on product.

Those ranges are important because matching the tire to the correct wheel width affects sidewall shape and how the tire sits on the rim. If your 1988 Mitsubishi has aftermarket wheels or a wheel package from a different trim, measure or confirm the wheel width before ordering rather than assuming the tire size alone tells the whole story.

Most 1988 Mitsubishi tire options here are radial passenger-car tires, and some clearly carry a TL tubeless marking, including the Michelin 195/60VR14, Michelin Primacy 3 in 195/60R15, Michelin Pilot Exalto in 185/60R14, Michelin SX MXX3 in 205/55ZR16, and Michelin Pilot Sport in 225/50ZR16. Other sizes and brands do not carry a tube marking in every product description, so tube status varies by product rather than staying uniform across the whole year and make.

The practical move is to check the exact sidewall marking on the tire you plan to use and the condition of the wheel it will mount on. Even with a tubeless tire, an original wheel must still be sound and suitable for tubeless service. If the car has older wheels, consult the wheel condition first rather than treating the tire marking as the only factor.

No, not across the full 1988 Mitsubishi range. These cars use multiple wheel diameters: 13 inches on Mirage, Precis, and one Tredia fitment; 14 inches on Cordia, Mirage, and Tredia; 15 inches on Galant; and 16 inches on Starion. A tire must match the wheel diameter exactly, so a 13-inch Mitsubishi wheel cannot take a 14-, 15-, or 16-inch tire.

Original wheels can usually continue to be used when you stay within the exact tire size family intended for that model and wheel package. The one area that still needs attention is width, especially on cars that may have been changed over the years. Confirming wheel diameter first and rim width second is the cleanest way to avoid a mismatch.

A stored 1988 Mitsubishi should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, compressors, and welders. Clean, dry floors and stable temperatures help preserve the rubber, and the car benefits from being rolled periodically so the same section of tread does not carry the load for months at a time. Radials generally tolerate storage better than old bias-ply tires, but they still age from environment and inactivity.

If the car will sit for a long season, bring the tires to the correct cold pressure first and consider stands or cradles if storage is very long term. Collector cars such as a Starion, Cordia, or low-mileage Galant often age their tires long before they wear them out, so storage habits have a direct effect on service life and ride quality.

On a 1988 Mitsubishi, tire life is usually limited by age more than mileage. A good rule is to begin evaluating older tires closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat around ten years from the DOT date code as a serious replacement point, even if tread remains. That applies whether the car uses compact 13-inch tires, a Galant 15-inch fitment, or Starion 16-inch performance radials.

Collector vehicles often see short trips, long storage periods, and fewer heat cycles, which can hide age-related hardening and cracking. The tread may still look healthy while the casing and sidewalls are no longer ideal for regular road use. Reading the date code and matching it with a visual inspection is more useful than estimating life by miles alone.

Tires on a 1988 Mitsubishi should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, foreign objects in the tread, and changes in pressure retention. On higher-speed sizes such as the Starion's 16-inch radials, it is especially wise to inspect after any long storage period because age and sitting can be as important as wear.

A quick visual check in the garage catches many problems before they become road issues. Add a closer inspection at least a few times each season, including valve stems, spare condition, and wheel-seal areas where slow leaks can begin. If the car has not moved in months, drive only after rechecking pressure and looking for any temporary flat-spotting or sidewall deterioration.

1988 Mitsubishi tire options here are all radial designs, and where speed ratings appear they range from T to Y. That includes T at 118 mph on some 155/80R13 products, H at 130 mph on 175/70R13 and some 185/70R13 products, S at 112 mph on one 195/60R15 product, V at 149 mph on several 14- and 13-inch products, W at 168 mph on some 16-inch Starion sizes, and Y at 186+ mph on certain Michelin performance fitments.

Those ratings are more than adequate for normal highway use when the tire is in good condition and the rest of the car is equally sound. On a 1988 Mitsubishi, real-world safety often depends just as much on alignment, suspension condition, brakes, and tire age as on the speed letter itself. The safest approach is to match the tire to the car's intended use and keep pressures and condition checked.

Inflation pressure on a 1988 Mitsubishi should be set according to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation for the car and size you are running, not borrowed from a different model or tire size. Some tire products also show their maximum load at a stated pressure, including 1190 pounds at 35 psi for some 195/60R15 tires, 959 pounds at 35 psi for some 155/80R13 tires, 1356 pounds at 51 psi for one 205/55ZR16, 1389 pounds at 51 psi for one 225/50ZR16, and 1135 pounds at 35 psi for some 185/70R13 tires.

Those figures are load-and-pressure limits for the tire itself, not a blanket recommendation for day-to-day inflation on every 1988 Mitsubishi. Start with the factory vehicle specification for your exact model and then compare it with the tire maker's guidance for the product you choose. Keeping front and rear pressures where the car was intended to run usually matters more than chasing the highest pressure shown on the sidewall.

Before a longer drive in a 1988 Mitsubishi, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, abnormal wear, punctures, and correct cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is usable, and make sure the wheel fasteners are secure. On cars with performance-oriented tires such as the Starion, pay extra attention to age and pressure consistency because a low-profile radial can feel fine in town and still be compromised by age or storage.

Tires are only one part of the trip check on a car from this era. It also makes sense to look over brakes, belts, hoses, fluids, and suspension before heading out, especially if the car is driven seasonally. A longer drive places steady heat and load into the tires, so small issues that go unnoticed on short local trips can become much more obvious once the car is on the road for an hour or more.