Allard Safari Tires

The Allard Safari uses two listed tire sizes across its 1953 to 1956 run. A 1953 Allard Safari uses 6.25-16, while 1954, 1955, and 1956 Allard Safari models use 650-16. Both sizes are 16-inch fitments, and the available products for 650-16 are built around that rim diameter.

The practical step is to identify the year of the specific Allard Safari first, then confirm the wheel itself still matches the expected 16-inch setup. Cars that have been restored or modified over the years can carry replacement wheels, so the safest approach is to compare the car's existing wheel diameter and period paperwork before settling on a final tire choice.

On an Allard Safari, 650-16 is an older numeric bias-ply size. The 650 indicates a nominal section width with the decimal omitted, roughly 6.50 inches, and the 16 indicates a 16-inch rim diameter. It is the listed size for 1954 through 1956 Allard Safari models and appears across a broad range of blackwall, whitewall, passenger, and truck-pattern products.

That older size code does not behave like a modern metric radial marking, so it helps to read it as a period bias-ply designation rather than trying to translate it directly into current passenger-car sizing. If your Allard Safari is a later production car, this is the key size to look for, but tread style and casing type should still match how the car will actually be used.

On an Allard Safari, 6.25-16 is also an older numeric bias-ply size. The 6.25 refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 refers to the rim diameter. Within the listed year range for the Allard Safari, this size is tied specifically to 1953.

That makes 6.25-16 the size to investigate first if your Allard Safari is an early example from the first year shown here. Because older numeric sizing can be confused with later bias-ply notations, it is worth checking the wheel diameter stamped on the rim and comparing the car against period references before choosing between the early and later Safari fitments.

The Allard Safari sizes listed here are period numeric bias-ply sizes, and tube use is the normal expectation for that type of fitment. The 650-16 offerings are overwhelmingly bias-ply products, and only one truck-oriented 650-16 item is specifically marked tubeless. For the 6.25-16 fitment, tube-type use is the correct assumption unless a wheel and tire combination is clearly engineered otherwise.

Inner tube choice should follow the tire size and the wheel's actual condition, especially on older rims that may not seal reliably as tubeless assemblies. If the car still carries original-style or restored wheels, tubes are usually the conservative route for collector use and help keep the fitment aligned with the period construction these Safari sizes were built around.

Start with the model year, because the Allard Safari splits neatly into two fitment periods. A 1953 Allard Safari uses 6.25-16, while 1954 through 1956 Allard Safari models use 650-16. Both are 16-inch applications, so the difference is not wheel diameter alone but the actual size specification assigned to the year.

After confirming the year, inspect the wheels on the car and compare them with any restoration records, old tire markings, and factory literature you may have. That extra step matters on collector cars because replacement wheels, mixed spare tires, and long-ago repairs can blur what belongs on the car today versus what was intended for that specific Safari.

Allard Safari tires in 650-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. The listed whitewall variants include several branded styles with different whitewall widths, while blackwall options appear across standard passenger-style bias-ply and heavier truck-oriented tread patterns. That gives the Safari owner a meaningful appearance choice within the same basic size family.

For a restoration-minded Allard Safari, sidewall choice should match the period look you want the car to present rather than being treated as a purely cosmetic add-on. Blackwalls generally suit a more restrained appearance, while wide whitewalls create a stronger mid-century visual statement, so photographs, period advertisements, and marque references are the best guides for a car being restored to a specific presentation.

The listed Allard Safari tire offerings include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel in the 650-16 size. Those brands cover classic passenger-style bias-ply products as well as truck and military-oriented patterns in the same nominal size. The mix gives Safari owners both restoration-style and utility-style choices within a 16-inch fitment.

Brand selection should come after the size has been settled, because the right year fitment matters more than the sidewall name. Once the size is correct, the brand can help you fine-tune the car's final look and intended use, whether that means a traditional blackwall, a whitewall suited to show presentation, or a more rugged tread pattern for a specialty application.

The Allard Safari's 650-16 offerings span several series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, and Firestone Classic Truck. Some series are clearly passenger-car bias-ply designs, while others are truck, highway, military, or traction-oriented patterns. All remain period-style constructions rather than modern radial replacements.

That variety matters because a series choice changes the look and likely the road character of the tire even when the size is the same. An Allard Safari being restored for show presentation usually points toward a classic passenger series, while a vehicle set up for a more utilitarian look may lean toward the truck or military-pattern offerings if wheel and use requirements support that direction.

An Allard Safari should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tire pressures should be maintained even during storage, because underinflation can distort a collector tire's casing over time. Clean floors and stable temperatures help preserve both the rubber and the appearance of blackwall or whitewall sidewalls.

If the Allard Safari will sit for long periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces flat spotting and prolonged loading in one contact patch. Many collectors also use tire cradles or increase air pressure within safe limits for storage, then reset to the intended running pressure before use so the car does not spend months resting on one section of the casing.

Tires on an Allard Safari should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees limited mileage. Collector cars age their tires by time, storage conditions, and inactivity as much as by tread wear, so visible cracking, sidewall distortion, uneven wear, and pressure loss matter more than mileage alone. Bias-ply tires also deserve close attention to bead area, tube condition, and any signs of casing separation.

A practical routine is to check air pressure, sidewalls, tread, and valve stems every time the Safari comes out of storage, then have the tires examined more closely during seasonal service. That habit catches age-related issues early and is especially important on a short-run specialty car, where maintaining predictable road manners depends as much on tire condition as on selecting the correct size.

Tires on an Allard Safari should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, tread separation, flat spotting that does not recover, or repeated air loss show the casing is no longer sound, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often reach replacement age long before they wear out. Time and storage history matter as much as miles on a low-use Safari.

An old tire can appear attractive on a restored car yet still be unsuitable for road use, so replacement decisions should be conservative. If a tire's age is uncertain, or if the car carries an older spare or long-stored period casing, specialist inspection is wise before relying on it beyond display or very limited movement.

The listed Allard Safari fitments show an early 6.25-16 application for 1953 and a 650-16 application for 1954 through 1956. Within the later 650-16 size, the available products span several classic bias-ply series and sidewall treatments, including blackwall and wide whitewall designs. That means the correct restoration direction starts with matching the car's year and then narrowing the visual and construction style from there.

Because Allard was a low-volume marque and surviving cars may differ from one another, original literature, period photos, and marque-club knowledge are the best way to settle what a specific Safari carried when new. Restorers usually get the most authentic result by first locking in the correct year-specific size, then choosing the series and sidewall style that best matches the car's intended presentation.

Correct tire fitment can influence both the appearance and the credibility of an Allard Safari restoration. Judges and informed buyers notice whether the tire size matches the car's production year, whether the sidewall style suits the period, and whether the tread type looks appropriate for the way the car is being presented. Tires that are visually out of period can change the whole stance of the car.

For a Safari being shown or sold into the collector market, the best approach is to treat tire selection as part of the restoration specification rather than as a final accessory choice. Marque clubs, period photography, and show standards provide the most useful benchmark when deciding between blackwall, whitewall, and more utilitarian tread patterns in the correct year-specific size.

The Allard Safari's listed 650-16 options include both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Either can suit a mid-1950s restoration depending on how the particular car was delivered or how it is being interpreted within period practice. Blackwalls generally present a more restrained sporting look, while wide whitewalls create a more decorative and distinctly period-correct mid-century appearance.

The right answer for a specific Allard Safari comes from the car's intended restoration goal rather than from size alone. If the aim is factory-style authenticity, period photos and original sales material should guide the choice; if the aim is a tasteful driver restoration, the sidewall can be selected to complement the car's color, trim, and overall presentation without changing the underlying fitment size.

A properly sized, correctly mounted, and sound-condition tire can be suitable for public-road use on an Allard Safari, but the answer depends on more than tread depth. The car's wheel condition, tube setup where applicable, alignment, brakes, steering, and suspension all affect whether the tire can perform as intended. Most listed Safari products are period-style bias-ply tires, which drive differently from modern radials and should be treated accordingly.

Road use is most sensible when the Safari has been sorted as a complete mechanical system rather than just fitted with fresh rubber. Owners should expect collector-car manners, allow longer braking distances, and avoid treating a bias-ply equipped Allard Safari like a modern highway car even when the tires are new and the appearance is excellent.

Before driving an Allard Safari, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel hardware, valve stems, and any sign of tube leakage or bead-area trouble. Look for cracking, flat spotting after storage, bulges, or rubbing that could suggest a mismatch between tire, wheel, and chassis setup. On a collector car, tire condition is only one part of the readiness check.

A complete pre-drive inspection should also include brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, suspension joints, and the age of any spare tire you might rely on. That routine matters on an Allard Safari because even a correct size tire cannot compensate for mechanical issues elsewhere, and a short inspection before each outing often catches small problems before they become roadside failures.

An Allard Safari on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible collector-car speeds that respect the age and design of both the vehicle and the tire construction. Even when the tire is new, a bias-ply casing does not respond like a modern radial in lane changes, sustained high-speed cruising, or abrupt braking. The safest mindset is to drive the Safari well within the car's and tire's comfort zone rather than near any theoretical maximum.

In practice, that means building speed gradually, avoiding aggressive corner entry, and giving the car time to settle after steering inputs. Heat, road crown, tire age, storage history, and the condition of the wheel and suspension all matter, so the appropriate speed is the one that keeps the Allard Safari feeling stable and predictable rather than hurried.