AC Saloon Tires

AC Saloon uses three tire sizes across the years covered here. Models from 1947 through 1950 use 550-17 on 17-inch rims. Models from 1954 through 1960 use 16-inch rims and show two size choices: 185R16 in radial construction and 670-16 in bias-ply construction.

The practical takeaway is to identify the year first, then confirm the wheel diameter on the actual car. Early AC Saloon models belong to the 17-inch group, while later cars belong to the 16-inch group. Once that is settled, the later cars still require a second choice between period-style bias-ply and radial construction depending on how authentic or road-oriented you want the finished car to be.

On AC Saloon, 550-17 is a numeric bias-ply tire size used on 1947 through 1950 cars. The 550 portion represents a nominal section width of about 5.50 inches, and the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. All listed products in this size are bias-ply tires built for 17-inch rims.

That matters because a modern buyer may assume every older size works like a metric radial code, but this one does not. If your AC Saloon still carries its early wheel set, 550-17 is the size family to compare against the tire already on the car and the wheel diameter stamped or measured on the rim. Since the available products are bias-ply, tube-type fitment should be part of the installation plan.

AC Saloon uses two rim diameters across the years listed here. The 1947 through 1950 cars use 17-inch rims with 550-17 tires. The 1954 through 1960 cars use 16-inch rims with either 185R16 radials or 670-16 bias-ply tires.

Wheel diameter is the first fitment check because neither a 17-inch tire nor a 16-inch tire can be safely adapted to the other rim. Many collector cars have had wheels changed during their lives, so it is wise to inspect the wheels on the car rather than rely only on registration year or family history. Once the rim diameter is confirmed, the later AC Saloon cars can be narrowed further by construction preference.

AC Saloon bias-ply sizes in this range should be treated as tube-type fitments. The 550-17 and 670-16 offerings are bias-ply constructions, and those sizes are presented in older numeric formats typically installed with tubes. The 185R16 radial products include tube-type marking on at least one listing, so tube fitment remains an important detail even on the radial option.

Installation practice on a collector car depends on the exact wheel design, condition, and the tire chosen. If your AC Saloon still uses original-style wheels, have the rims inspected for surface condition, bead-seat integrity, and valve stem suitability before mounting. Matching the tire to the proper tube and flap arrangement where required is as important as choosing the right nominal size.

AC Saloon offers both paths on the later 1954 through 1960 16-inch fitment. The 670-16 options are bias-ply, often called crossply in period language, while the 185R16 options are radial. Early 1947 through 1950 AC Saloon fitment remains bias-ply only in the sizes listed here.

The decision comes down to how you use the car and how closely you want to preserve original driving character. A bias-ply tire generally suits a more period-correct appearance and feel, while a radial is often chosen by owners who want later-style road manners on touring or regular use. The key is to choose one construction deliberately, not casually, after confirming the car is in the later 16-inch group.

Yes, radial tires can change how a later AC Saloon feels on the road because they are a different construction from the 670-16 bias-ply alternatives listed for 1954 through 1960. The 185R16 radial choices use a more modern casing design than the numeric bias-ply options. That construction difference usually affects steering feel, ride behavior, and general road response.

Many owners choose radials for a more relaxed driving experience, especially if the car sees regular secondary-road use. Others stay with bias-ply tires because they want the period stance, appearance, and response that suit a restoration-minded AC Saloon. Before making the switch, consider the condition of the suspension, alignment settings, and how closely you want the finished car to reflect its original-era driving character.

Mixing crossply and radial tires on an AC Saloon is not a sound approach. The later 16-inch years list both 670-16 bias-ply and 185R16 radial options, but those are alternative constructions rather than tires meant to be combined on the same car. Their carcass behavior and road response differ in ways that can upset handling balance.

A collector car benefits from a matched set with the same size family and construction at all four corners. If your AC Saloon currently has a mixed set because of old replacement history, treat that as a temporary condition and plan toward uniform tires. When changing construction type, it is also wise to evaluate wheel condition, alignment, and overall chassis health so the car performs consistently.

A 1954 through 1960 AC Saloon falls into the 16-inch wheel group, but two tire sizes are listed for those years: 185R16 radial and 670-16 bias-ply. That means the correct choice is not determined by year alone. The right selection depends on the wheel diameter already being 16 inches and on whether the car is being kept on period-style bias-ply tires or fitted with radials.

Start by reading the size on the existing tire, then verify the wheel diameter itself so you are not relying on assumptions from old service work. After that, decide whether your AC Saloon is being restored for authenticity or prepared for regular road use. Original paperwork, period photos, and advice from AC marque specialists can help settle which of the two later 16-inch choices best suits the individual car.

AC Saloon tire offerings here include multiple sidewall styles, but only in the 550-17 early fitment. That size is available as Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall. The later 185R16 and 670-16 sizes listed for 1954 through 1960 are shown in Blackwall form.

Sidewall choice affects both appearance and restoration tone. An early AC Saloon owner has room to choose between a restrained blackwall look and a stronger whitewall presentation, while later 16-inch fitments lean toward blackwall selections. If the goal is show-oriented authenticity, compare the sidewall style to period photos of the specific car or to accepted AC restoration practice before settling on the final look.

Five brands appear across the AC Saloon sizes listed here: BFGoodrich, Michelin, Avon, Vredestein, and Firestone. BFGoodrich covers the 550-17 early fitment, Michelin and Vredestein appear in 185R16 radial form, Avon appears in both 185R16 radial and 670-16 bias-ply related offerings, and Firestone appears in 670-16 bias-ply form. That gives AC Saloon owners both period-style and later-construction options depending on the year group.

Brand choice should come after the basic fitment questions are settled. Once you know whether your AC Saloon is in the 17-inch or 16-inch group, and whether you want bias-ply or radial where both exist, the remaining comparison becomes one of tread style, sidewall presentation, and restoration intent. It is usually more important to get the right size family and construction than to choose by brand name alone.

AC Saloon tires here span several distinct series: Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Michelin X Radial, Turbosteel CR6D, Sprint Classic, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Turbospeed Mk4. Those names reflect different construction approaches and market intentions, with classic bias-ply series serving period-style fitments and the radial series serving later road-use preferences. The split is especially clear on the 1954 through 1960 16-inch applications, where both bias-ply and radial choices exist.

Series choice matters because it changes more than the brand on the sidewall. A buyer preserving the original character of an AC Saloon may gravitate toward one of the classic bias-ply series, while a buyer building a more road-oriented touring car may prefer one of the radial series in 185R16. Compare the series only after the year, wheel diameter, and intended use of the car are already settled.

An AC Saloon should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Keep the tires inflated to an appropriate storage pressure for the size and construction fitted, and avoid leaving the car in one position for very long periods. For a collector car with bias-ply tires, reducing prolonged static loading is especially helpful.

Many owners use tire cradles, move the car slightly at intervals, or support the car in a way that avoids flat spotting during long storage. The important point is consistency: stable conditions, clean wheels, and regular visual checks. If your AC Saloon is stored for a season or more, include a pre-drive inspection in the recommissioning routine instead of simply airing the tires up and heading out.

Tires on an AC Saloon should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly several times through the season, even if the car covers very little mileage. Collector cars age their tires through time, storage conditions, and static load, not just tread wear. Inspection should include sidewalls, tread surface, valve stems, inflation, bead area, and any signs of cracking, impact damage, or irregular wear.

A short routine in the garage can prevent a long recovery on the roadside. If the car has older bias-ply tires, look closely for casing distortion and age-related brittleness as well as simple air loss. When an AC Saloon is driven infrequently, owners sometimes notice problems only after months of inactivity, so a fresh inspection before each outing is more useful than relying on the last drive's condition.

An AC Saloon tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, sidewall separation, or persistent air loss appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out. That principle applies to both the early 550-17 bias-ply fitment and the later 16-inch bias-ply or radial options.

Tread depth alone is a poor guide on a low-mileage historic car. If a tire's age is uncertain, or if the car has spent long periods parked, a specialist inspection is a sensible next step before further road use. Replacement becomes especially important when the car is expected to run at modern traffic speeds, where an old-looking but apparently unused tire can still be the weakest part of the vehicle.

AC Saloon shows more than one original-era style of fitment across the years covered here. Early cars from 1947 through 1950 use 550-17, while later cars from 1954 through 1960 appear with both 670-16 bias-ply and 185R16 radial options in the available range. That tells you the answer depends heavily on the year group and on the period in which the individual car was configured or used.

For restoration work, the safest path is to match the tire to the exact year and surviving evidence from the car itself. Period photographs, owner history, wheel markings, and AC club knowledge can help determine whether a later Saloon should remain on bias-ply construction or reflect a radial-equipped road-going setup. Authenticity questions on low-production British cars are often decided car by car rather than by broad assumptions.

Correct tire fitment can matter to both the appearance and judged presentation of an AC Saloon. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks convincingly of its period. A 1940s AC Saloon on the wrong rim diameter or a later car wearing an obviously mismatched construction can stand out quickly to knowledgeable observers.

That does not mean every owner must chase the same result. A preservation-minded or concours-focused AC Saloon may benefit from period-correct size and sidewall details, while a touring car can reasonably prioritize road manners within the proper fitment range. If judging matters, check the standards used by AC clubs or event organizers, since authenticity expectations often go beyond simple tire dimensions.

AC Saloon sidewall options in the available range differ by size group. The early 550-17 fitment is offered in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall, while the later 16-inch sizes shown for 1954 through 1960 are Blackwall offerings. That means sidewall correctness is tied to both the year group and the visual style of the individual restoration.

For a careful restoration, sidewall choice should support the car's era rather than simply add contrast. An early AC Saloon gives more latitude for whitewall presentation, while later 16-inch fitments point more clearly toward blackwall appearance in the available choices. Owners chasing show accuracy should compare the final choice to period photos and accepted marque practice so the tire complements the body and trim rather than distracting from them.

A properly matched, correctly installed tire can make an AC Saloon suitable for normal collector-car road use, but safety depends on more than size alone. The car must have the correct rim diameter, sound wheels, proper inflation, and a full chassis and brake system in good condition. Later AC Saloon models also need a deliberate choice between bias-ply and radial construction, since each changes the driving character.

Public-road use should begin with a realistic assessment of the entire car, not just the tire sidewall. A freshly restored AC Saloon with old steering joints, weak brakes, or neglected wheel hardware is not made safe simply by fitting new tires. Treat the tires as one part of a system and match your use to the car's mechanical condition, era, and the construction type you have chosen.

Before driving an AC Saloon, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread surface, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any sign of rubbing or uneven wear. Confirm that all four tires match in size family and construction, especially on later 16-inch cars where both bias-ply and radial options exist. A quick under-car look for fluid leaks and a brake pedal check belong on the same pre-drive routine.

That simple inspection is particularly valuable on a collector car that may sit for long intervals between outings. AC Saloon models can look ready after storage yet still have a soft tire, a cracked valve stem, or a wheel issue that only becomes obvious under motion. A few minutes in the garage before each drive is far easier than troubleshooting a preventable failure away from home.

An AC Saloon should always be driven at speeds appropriate to the age of the car, the condition of its tires, and the overall health of its suspension, steering, and brakes. Even with new tires in the correct size, a postwar collector car is not meant to be treated like a modern high-speed sedan. Bias-ply and radial constructions also feel different at speed, particularly on roads with ruts, crowns, or heavy crosswinds.

The sensible approach is to build speed gradually and stay within the comfort zone of the car rather than the posted limit alone. Owners of AC Saloon models on bias-ply tires should be especially attentive to steering response and road surface changes, while radial-equipped cars may feel calmer but still remain bound by the capabilities of a historic chassis. Conservative cruising is part of preserving both the car and its tires.