Toyota Carina Tyres
Toyota Carina 1600 GT
Toyota Carina 1970–2001
- The Toyota Carina fitted 165-13 size tyres, the tyres that we recommend in this size are the 165R13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36.
- There is also a low profile alternative for this size, 185/70 R13. For this size, we recommend the 185/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36.
- For 165-13 tyres we suggest fitting Michelin 13D.
- For 185/70 - 13 tyres we suggest fitting Michelin 13E.
- Our period Innertube Guides inform when Carina variants switched to tubeless tyres, see below to find your year and model.
Toyota Carina II Tyres
- In 1983 the Toyota Corona and Carina were replaced by a rebadged version of Corona called the Toyota Carina II in european exports. The Carina II fitted 165-13 aside from the Exec model which fitted 175/70 - 13. The best tyre in this size is 175/70 VR 13 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36.
- For 175/70 - 13 tyres we suggest fitting Michelin 13E tubes.
- Rather confusingly the Carina II was renamed to Carina E in 1992 and moved onto 14" wheels fitting 175/70 - 14 on 1.6L models and 185/65 R 14 on 2.0L models. unfortunately, no classic tyre manufacturer currently makes a tyre in either of these sizes.
History of the Toyota Carina
The Toyota Carina was introduced as the Celica's Saloon twin sibling, as they were launched at the same time on the same platform and built in the same factory in Europe. The Carina was made to be the smaller sedan of the Toyota range, while the Crown was larger. It was similar in size to the Corona, featuring either a 1407cc or 1588cc overhead valve engine on the original first-generation models. There were a few re-stylings over the first generation, mostly featuring minor changes to the trim, but in the mid-70s a dual-line braking system and sealed cooling system were added. In 1975 Toyota produced a Van variation of the Carina. It had the rear end cargo door of the 30-series Corolla wagon and an odd opera window in the cargo area. This model stayed in Japan, for the most part, seeing little export.
In 1977 the second generation of Carina was released in Japan and in Europe in 1978. An estate model was introduced in this generation, the high-end models of Carina were equipped with fuel injection, and a lower emission 1600 2T-GEU engine was added, but in the ST and SR EFI models, a 1770cc engine was installed in place. This generation of Carina also led to the Celica Camry, as it was the basis for the Camry to come.
The third generation of Carina came in 1981 and featured the boxy and angular square design that was all the rage for 80's saloons. This generation was the first to offer a diesel engine, this being a 1839cc Inline 4 engine. This would also be the last generation to offer the Carina van, as production for them ended in 1987. Carina's fourth generation was largely similar to the previous, albeit with trim changes and an introduction of sports models of Carina. The entire range would later add more minor trim changes. The Carina 2 was released in Europe, however, this was actually, a rebadged Corona T150. The Carina ED was produced in 1985 as an alternative to the Toyota Crown hardtop that was smaller and did not have the tax obligations of a larger non-"compact" car class.
Following 1983, the Carina was just a name for the European export models of Corona, it would be the Carina II until 1992 when it became the Carina E until production ceased in Europe in 1997, making way to be replaced by the Toyota Avensis. In 2001 the Carina E ended production in Japan.