1991 Ferrari Tire Fitment Guide

1991 Ferrari vehicles use nine sizes across five models. The 348 TB and 348 TS use 215/50R17 and 255/45R17, the F40 uses 235/45R17, 245/40R17, and 335/35R17, the Mondial t uses 205/55R16 and 225/55R16, and the Testarossa uses 225/50R16 and 255/50R16. The 348 and F40 families are built around 17-inch rims, while the Mondial t and Testarossa use 16-inch rims. Rim width ranges vary by size, from 5.5-7.5 inches on 205/55R16 up to 11.0-13.0 inches on 335/35R17.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly. You need to identify the exact model first, then confirm whether you are shopping for the front or rear axle, because most 1991 Ferrari applications are staggered. A 348 owner and a Testarossa owner are both buying radial tires, but they are working with different rim diameters and different size families. Verifying the tire already on the car or the wheel diameter before ordering is the fastest way to avoid crossing 16-inch and 17-inch fitments.

On a 1991 Ferrari tire, 215/50R17 is a metric radial size. The 215 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 50 is the aspect ratio, the R indicates radial construction, and 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. On 1991 Ferrari models, that size belongs to the 348 TB and 348 TS. Products in this size use 17-inch rims and fit rim widths from 6.0 to 7.5 inches.

The practical value of reading the code correctly is that it tells you both the tire’s general shape and the wheel size it must mount on. A 215/50R17 is not interchangeable with the 16-inch sizes used on a Mondial t or Testarossa, and it is not the rear size for a 348. If you are comparing options within 215/50R17, your real choices are brand, tread character, and exact tire specification rather than a different construction type.

No, 1991 Ferrari models do not use the same tire size. The 348 TB and 348 TS share one staggered 17-inch pair, the F40 uses its own 17-inch sizes, the Mondial t uses a separate 16-inch pair, and the Testarossa uses another 16-inch pair. Even within the 17-inch group, the F40 sizes are not the same as the 348 sizes. Every fitment on this page is radial, but the sizes are still strongly model-specific.

That model split matters because Ferrari tuned each car around a different combination of weight distribution, body style, and intended use. If you are unsure which 1991 Ferrari you have, start there before comparing brands or sidewall treatments. Owners of 348 TB and TS models can compare directly because those cars share the same size pair, but F40, Mondial t, and Testarossa owners need to stay within their own model’s size family.

Most 1991 Ferrari tire sizes are available in Blackwall form, which is the only sidewall style offered across the 16-inch sizes and most of the 17-inch sizes. The main exception is 255/45R17 for the 348 TB and 348 TS, where Blackwall, Redline, and RWL options exist. That makes the 348 rear size the only place in the 1991 Ferrari range where sidewall appearance changes materially within the same size.

For a factory-style exotic Ferrari presentation, Blackwall is usually the conservative choice. Redline and raised white letter styling change the visual character more than they change basic fitment, so they are better suited to an owner who wants a custom look rather than a stock appearance. If authenticity matters for shows or period presentation, match the sidewall style to the look you want before narrowing the brand and series.

1991 Ferrari tire sizes are covered by BFGoodrich, Nitto, Pro-Trac, and Michelin, depending on the size. BFGoodrich appears across most of the range, Nitto is present in 255/45R17 and 235/45R17, Pro-Trac appears in 255/45R17, and Michelin covers sizes including 335/35R17, 205/55R16, 225/50R16, and 255/50R16. Brand choice is therefore tied closely to the exact model and tire size, not just the year and make.

A 348 owner shopping the rear 255/45R17 has a wider visual and brand mix than someone shopping the F40’s 335/35R17 rear size, where the choice is much narrower. That is why identifying the precise size first is so important on a Ferrari page like this one. Once you know your front and rear sizes, you can compare whether you want to stay with a single brand pair or prioritize a specific tire series for one axle.

For 1991 Ferrari Testarossa sizes, BFGoodrich and Michelin overlap in both 225/50R16 and 255/50R16, but they differ in exact tire specification. In 225/50R16, BFGoodrich options carry W-rated sizing while the Michelin Pilot Sport is marked 92Y TL. In 255/50R16, BFGoodrich is marked 99W with a max load figure of 1,709 pounds at 51 psi, while the Michelin Pilot Sport is marked 99Y TL. Both brands use Blackwall radial construction in these sizes.

That means the comparison is less about basic fitment and more about the exact tire character you want within the correct Testarossa size pair. Michelin brings a Y-rated, tubeless-marked option in both sizes, while BFGoodrich stays with W-rated sizing in the examples here. If your goal is to keep the front and rear matched within one brand family, compare both axles together rather than choosing one size in isolation.

Rim width depends on the exact 1991 Ferrari tire size. 215/50R17 fits 6.0-7.5 inches, 255/45R17 fits 8.0-9.5 inches, 235/45R17 fits 7.5-9.0 inches, 335/35R17 fits 11.0-13.0 inches, 245/40R17 fits ranges from 7.0-8.0 inches on one option to 8.0-9.5 inches on others, 205/55R16 fits 5.5-7.5 inches, 225/55R16 fits 6.0-8.0 inches, 225/50R16 fits 6.0-8.0 inches, and 255/50R16 fits 7.0-9.0 inches.

Those ranges are a reminder that size alone does not answer every wheel question. Two tires with the same nominal size can still have slightly different approved rim-width windows depending on the manufacturer and series. Before committing to a tire, compare the wheel width on the car to the approved range for the exact product you want, especially on unusual applications such as the F40 or on any Ferrari wearing non-original wheels.

1991 Ferrari tires are all radial, but tube status varies by product in some sizes rather than staying uniform across the whole range. Michelin 205/55R16, 225/50R16, and 255/50R16 examples are marked TL for tubeless use, while many other sizes are not marked that way in the tire description. Nothing here points to a year-wide tube-type requirement across the 1991 Ferrari range.

The practical step is to confirm the exact tire’s sidewall marking and then confirm the wheel itself is appropriate for that tire type. Original wheel condition, valve stems, and how the rim seals are often just as important as the tire marking on a low-production exotic car. If you are refreshing wheels at the same time, treat tubeless suitability as a tire-and-wheel system question instead of assuming all 1991 Ferrari products are identical in setup.

No, original 1991 Ferrari wheels cannot be treated as universal across all tire sizes because the model range uses both 16-inch and 17-inch rim diameters, and the width requirements vary widely. A Mondial t or Testarossa 16-inch wheel will not accept the 17-inch 348 or F40 sizes, and a narrow front wheel is not suitable for a very wide rear size such as 335/35R17. Ferrari’s staggered setups also separate front and rear duties clearly.

Original wheels can still be used successfully when they match the exact model and axle position the tire was designed for. The key is to verify diameter first, then wheel width, and only then compare tire options within that size. That matters even more on cars like the F40, where the rear fitment is extremely wide, and on cars that may have changed hands enough times to pick up aftermarket wheels along the way.

A 1991 Ferrari should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber quickly. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and avoid letting the car sit for long periods on one footprint without movement. Radials generally resist flat-spotting better than old bias-ply designs, but any high-performance low-profile tire can still develop temporary flat spots after extended storage.

If the car will sit for weeks or months, roll it periodically or place it on properly positioned stands if your storage routine allows. That reduces stress on one section of the casing and helps preserve both tire shape and wheel finish. For a collector Ferrari, storage habits affect more than tire life; they also influence how smoothly the car feels on the first drive back out.

On a 1991 Ferrari, tire age matters more than mileage for most owners because many of these cars are driven sparingly. A good rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the sidewall is the easiest way to confirm age.

That approach is especially important on Ferraris that spend long periods parked, because heat cycling, storage conditions, and time can harden the rubber even when the tread still looks healthy. A low-mile Testarossa, Mondial t, or 348 with old tires may still feel sharp at casual speeds, but age-related grip loss and cracking can become the real issue. Tread depth alone is not enough for judging service life on a collector car.

Tires on a 1991 Ferrari should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Check air pressure, sidewall cracking, tread wear, cuts, bulges, and signs of impact damage, especially on low-profile 16-inch and 17-inch performance sizes that can be sensitive to curb or pothole contact. If you are running a tubeless-marked tire, include the valve stems and bead area in that inspection.

A quick visual walk-around is not enough on a car that may sit for extended periods between drives. Put your hands on the tread and sidewalls, look at the inner shoulder if you can, and inspect the spare if the car carries one. Catching a pressure loss or sidewall issue in the garage is far better than finding it after the car has warmed up on the road.

1991 Ferrari tires can be appropriate for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their speed rating. Many sizes here carry W-rated sizing, which is capped at 168 mph, while some Michelin or BFGoodrich examples in certain sizes carry Y-rated sizing, capped at 186 mph. Those limits exceed normal U.S. highway speeds by a wide margin, so condition, inflation, alignment, and the car’s own mechanical health matter more in real-world driving than headline speed potential.

A 348, Mondial t, Testarossa, or F40 may be capable of serious speed, but safe road use begins with basics: correct front and rear sizes, fresh rubber, stable pressures, and suspension and brake systems that are up to the task. An old exotic on aged tires is a greater concern than a fresh tire with a lower of the available speed ratings. Use the rating as a capability marker, not a reason to ignore age or maintenance.

Inflation pressure for a 1991 Ferrari should be set from the vehicle’s factory guidance for the exact model and axle position, then checked against the tire manufacturer’s rated pressure information for the specific tire you choose. Some sizes here include load-and-pressure references such as 1,521 pounds at 50 psi, 1,653 pounds at 51 psi, 1,709 pounds at 51 psi, and 1,874 pounds at 50 psi, but those figures are tire capacity references rather than a universal Ferrari operating pressure.

That distinction matters because front and rear pressures on a staggered Ferrari are often different, and a pressure tied to one tire’s maximum load should not be transferred automatically to another size. Start with the owner’s manual or factory placard for the car, then fine-tune only within the tire maker’s approved range. If the car is used mainly for spirited road driving, recheck pressures cold and consistently rather than chasing hot readings.

Before taking a 1991 Ferrari on a longer drive, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Confirm that the front and rear sizes match the model, especially on staggered cars like the 348, Mondial t, Testarossa, and F40. Check valve stems, look for any slow leaks, and verify the spare or emergency tire plan if the car has one.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive routine on a 1991 Ferrari, but they are one of the easiest places to prevent trouble. A long-stored exotic should also have its brakes, fluids, belts, and cooling system reviewed before a trip, because those systems often age alongside the tires. Taking ten extra minutes in the garage can make the difference between a confidence-inspiring drive and a roadside interruption.