Does anyone know the original tire size for an '86 SE? I have been checking the tire websites and some say it would be a 215/60-14 while others say it was 195/70-14. It looks like BF Goodrich is the only manufacturer making the 215/60, but there are several choices with the 195/70. I'm getting these as a Christmas present so I need to get it right. Thanks for any info you can give!

Tire rack shows two different sizes... where did you get your info?

They had 215/60/14's at all four corners.

Pretty sure they had both, depending on options.
You might find the info on a sticker, either on the door or doorjamb, or on the RPO sticker on the left front wheel well.

I'd go with the 215/60s.

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Raydar
88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550

Praise the Lowered!

How wide are the wheel/rim?
Take tire off and look on back. Many wheels have markings that shows size...
14x6 or 6.5 either will fit. 215 is measured on 6.5, 195 is measured on 6, both are within limits. Example see tire rack and look a specs for a given tire...
also see www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html Choosing "wrong" one can mess with speedo... 2.4% error...

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

if it is the V6 86 SE buy 215/60R15's as thats what they are suppose to have
the 4 cylinders were the only 1986 models optioned with the 195 size.

Look on the sticker on the front fenderwell.

QPU and QPV were the codes for the 215-60x14
QDX and QDY were the codes for the 195-70x14

Whatever it says, if you have the 14" hi-tech cast aluminum wheels, go with the 215-60x14.

Joe

quote Originally posted by gtxbullet: if it is the V6 86 SE buy 215/60R15's as thats what they are suppose to have the 4 cylinders were the only 1986 models optioned with the 195 size.

15? You mean 14

Yes, these look best on the 14" rims.... Of course, the car is easier to turn with the narrower tires, but they don't look as good.

My SE came with the 215-60R14's and I found a source of a good gripping tire. The brand is Nexen and the model is CP641. Unidirectional tires and I have yet to be able to get them to break loose in heavy rain.

I bought mine from a place called Fletcher's Tire in Phoenix but you should be able to find a local vendor.

quote Originally posted by A4SixtyNineRR: Does anyone know the original tire size for an '86 SE? I have been checking the tire websites and some say it would be a 215/60-14 while others say it was 195/70-14....I'm getting these as a Christmas present so I need to get it right.

A4SixtyNineRR, I see you've a good deal of conflicting information from some of the replies you've received so far, which I imagine could be very frustrating.


However, not to worry. This will resolve things:

1. First and foremost, you DON'T want to be getting the following tire size for a Christmas present, because these tires would be for 15-inch-diameter wheels, and can't fit the 14-inch-diameter wheels with which all `86 SEs originally were equipped with from the factory:
   
   

   quote if it is the V6 86 SE buy 215/60R15's as thats what they are suppose to have

   
   
   
2. Second, Raydar's reply, as well as olejoedad's more specific reply regarding the 215/60R14s or the 195/70R14s which originally came with `86 SEs, are both correct:
   
   

   quote Originally posted by Raydar: Pretty sure they had both, depending on options. You might find the info on a sticker, either on the door or doorjamb, or on the RPO sticker on the left front wheel well.

   
   

   quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Look on the sticker on the front fenderwell. QPU and QPV were the codes for the 215-60x14 QDX and QDY were the codes for the 195-70x14

   
   
   
3. Third, and more specifically still, be aware that the tire size with which an `86 SE originally was equipped depended upon the engine with which an `86 SE originally was equipped:
   
   
   • The V6 `86 SEs were equipped with 215/60R14s all around.
     
   • The 4-cylinder `86 SEs were equipped with 195/70R14s all around.
   
   If you are not the car's original owner, and don't know with which engine an `86 SE originally was equipped (possibly because of a later engine swap, for example), perhaps the quickest and easiest way to determine the tire size with which an `86 SE originally was equipped is to look at the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the driver's side of the dash near the windshield.
   
   If the 8th character of the 17-character VIN for an `86 SE is a "9", that `86 SE originally came equipped with a V6 engine and therefore, also with 215/60R14 tires all around.
   
   If the 8th character of the 17-character VIN for an `86 SE is an "R", that `86 SE originally came equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and therefore, also with 195/70R14 tires all around.

quote Originally posted by A4SixtyNineRR Does anyone know the original tire size for an '86 SE? I have been checking the tire websites and some say it would be a 215/60-14 while others say it was 195/70-14....I'm getting these as a Christmas present so I need to get it right.

Now you hopefully can be assured of doing just that, A4SixtyNineRR.


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Source for original tire size specs: Page 34 of Enthusiasts Guide to the Pontiac Fiero, a publication of Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts, Inc.

@Project34

I thinkk you have probably given the best explanation for this question by far. I was confused when I went places and they told me my tires weren't the ones that came with the car. Thank you for providing the information in a manner that was easier to ingest

Trevor

quote Originally posted by bulldog85043: @Project34 I thinkk you have probably given the best explanation for this question by far. I was confused when I went places and they told me my tires weren't the ones that came with the car. Thank you for providing the information in a manner that was easier to ingest Trevor

I agree 100% with Trevor. Thank you so much for such a complete and accurate answer to my question. The digit in question is in fact a 9 so the car would have originally had the wider tires to accompany its V6 engine. That's great news for performance and handling, but bad news for tire selection. There seems to be VERY little choice on manufacturer. It looks as their BF Goodrich is one of the only name brand companies still producing this size. Oh well, at least I now know the correct size to buy

quote Originally posted by A4SixtyNineRR: There seems to be VERY little choice on manufacturer. It looks as their BF Goodrich is one of the only name brand companies still producing this size. Oh well, at least I now know the correct size to buy

Check out availability of the Nexen tires at Tire Discounters. I got mine here for around $77 a tire.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: 15? You mean 14 Yes, these look best on the 14" rims.... Of course, the car is easier to turn with the narrower tires, but they don't look as good.

no 15 that is what says on my sticker

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.

Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

Steve, the only notchback that came with 15" wheels was the Formula. All other notchbacks had either 13" or 14" wheels. If your notchback says 15", then the door has been replaced.

My 86 SE V6 (well..it was) currently has 215/60/14s, and that's what it had from the factory. They are Gold rims, but the rear tires are nearly brand new, fronts are 50%. I'm selling them to get bigger rims my buddy has, if interested.

[This message has been edited by mattwa (edited 01-01-2012).]

I don't know if the year makes a difference. My 1985 SE V-6 4 speed has QDX on the fenderwell, and the sticker on the end of the door says R70-195/14. So, the 1986 V-6's bumped up to the 215/60-14s? That's good to know. I need to replace these tires this year. I'll go to the 215's. Thanks.

quote Originally posted by fierofool: Steve, the only notchback that came with 15" wheels was the Formula. All other notchbacks had either 13" or 14" wheels. If your notchback says 15", then the door has been replaced.

Not the one on the door, haven't been able to read that in years. the one under the hood on the inerfender well. The option listing all the stuff put on the car at the factory. I had a picture of it in my old computer but that crashed. So i can't find it right now but I will take a new picture in the morning.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.

Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

quote Originally posted by sledcaddie: I don't know if the year makes a difference. My 1985 SE V-6 4 speed has QDX on the fenderwell, and the sticker on the end of the door says R70-195/14. So, the 1986 V-6's bumped up to the 215/60-14s?

On an SE, yes.

More specifically...

• All '85 Fiero SEs came with 195/70R14s all around --- whether V6-equipped or not.
  
  
• The '86 Fiero SEs came with 195/70R14s all around if equipped with the 4-cylinder engine, but came with 215/60R14s all around if equipped with the V6.

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Source for original tire size specs: Page 34 of Enthusiasts Guide to the Pontiac Fiero, a publication of Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts, Inc.