Amphicar Amphicar Tires

The Amphicar Amphicar uses two listed tire sizes across the 1964 through 1968 model years: 640-13 and 650-13. Both are numeric bias-ply sizes for 13-inch rims. The 640-13 products are specified for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim widths, while the 650-13 products are specified for 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim widths.

That means year alone does not settle the question, because both sizes appear throughout the full production run. The practical approach is to inspect the tires and wheels already on the car, measure or verify the wheel width, and match the tire size to the rim range the wheel actually requires. That extra step matters on Amphicar Amphicar restorations because a 13-inch diameter match alone is not enough.

On an Amphicar Amphicar, 640-13 is an older numeric bias-ply size code. The 640 portion represents a nominal section width of about 6.40 inches, with the decimal omitted in period sizing practice, and the 13 identifies the rim diameter in inches. The listed 640-13 tire is intended for a 13-inch wheel in the 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim-width range.

That code matters because it is describing an older tire sizing system rather than a modern metric radial equivalent. If your Amphicar Amphicar currently wears 640-13 tires, confirm that the wheel width falls in the correct range before staying with that size. On a collector car of this type, preserving the intended wheel-and-tire relationship is usually more important than simply finding any tire that mounts on a 13-inch rim.

On an Amphicar Amphicar, 650-13 is also an older numeric bias-ply size. The 650 indicates a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches, again using the period convention that drops the decimal point, and the 13 identifies the rim diameter in inches. The listed 650-13 tires fit 13-inch wheels with a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim-width range.

The key difference from 640-13 is not the rim diameter but the intended tire width and matching wheel width. If your Amphicar Amphicar has wheels at the wider end of the range, 650-13 may be the more appropriate fit. Matching the tire to the actual wheel helps preserve proper profile and stance, which is especially important on a compact specialty car with distinctive period proportions.

The available Amphicar Amphicar tires are all bias-ply products in older numeric sizes, and a tube is required. Both 640-13 and 650-13 are offered in bias-ply construction only in the current selection. That makes tube-type installation the correct approach for the listed options.

Tube selection should match the tire size and the wheel condition should be checked carefully before mounting. On a collector Amphicar Amphicar that may spend long periods parked, proper tube installation and a clean, smooth wheel interior are important to reduce the chance of pinching, slow leaks, or other age-related issues. It is wise to treat tubes as a normal part of the tire service rather than an optional extra.

The first step for any 1964-1968 Amphicar Amphicar is to determine whether the car is set up for 640-13 or 650-13, because both sizes are associated with every model year in the range. Each size uses a 13-inch rim, but the wheel-width ranges differ: 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 640-13 and 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-13. Looking at the tire currently fitted and confirming the wheel width will usually settle the question.

That matters more than relying on the model year alone. A careful buyer should compare the existing setup with restoration records, period photos, or marque-club guidance if the car has changed hands or been restored in the past. Amphicar Amphicar examples often live long collector lives, so what is on the car now should be verified rather than assumed to be original.

The listed Amphicar Amphicar tire options include both wide whitewall and narrow whitewall styles. The 640-13 offering is a wide whitewall, while the 650-13 range includes both wide whitewall and narrow whitewall choices. Those options give owners some flexibility in matching the look of the car to a particular restoration style or long-held appearance preference.

For a period car from the mid-1960s, sidewall appearance has a strong effect on the vehicle’s finished character. Owners aiming for a more formal or highly styled presentation often lean toward a wider whitewall, while a narrower whitewall can give the Amphicar Amphicar a slightly later or cleaner visual tone. The right answer is usually the one that matches the car’s established presentation and supporting period references.

Three brands are represented in the current Amphicar Amphicar tire selection: BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and US Royal. BFGoodrich appears in 640-13, while Coker Classic and US Royal both offer 650-13 options. All of the listed products are bias-ply tires built in period-style sizing.

Brand choice on an Amphicar Amphicar usually comes down to the exact size you need and the sidewall look you want. Once size and wheel width are settled, it makes sense to compare the available whitewall treatments and series style rather than treating every product as interchangeable. On a collector car this distinctive, appearance and correct proportions often matter just as much as the brand name on the sidewall.

The Amphicar Amphicar listings include Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, and US Royal Classic Bias Ply series. All three are bias-ply offerings in period-style numeric sizing, so the main distinction here is brand and presentation rather than a shift from one tire technology to another. The available products also vary by sidewall treatment, with wide whitewall and narrow whitewall styles represented.

For most Amphicar Amphicar owners, the practical decision is to choose the series that matches the correct size first and the preferred visual style second. Since these are all bias-ply collector tires, the driving feel will remain in the period-correct range compared with a modern radial conversion. That keeps the decision focused on fitment, restoration goals, and the specific look you want under the car.

An Amphicar Amphicar should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with standing moisture. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from stable inflation pressure and periodic rolling or repositioning so one part of the casing does not carry the vehicle load for months at a time. Clean wheels and tires also help reduce hidden deterioration around beads and valve areas.

Long stationary periods are common with specialty collector vehicles, and that makes storage habits especially important. If the Amphicar Amphicar is displayed more than driven, regular pressure checks and occasional movement can help reduce flat spotting and casing stress. Owners who keep the car indoors should still avoid electric motors, heaters, or equipment that generates ozone near the tires.

Tires on an Amphicar Amphicar should be inspected before any road use and at regular intervals even when the car is mostly parked. A proper check includes inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, bead condition, valve stem condition, and any evidence that the tube or casing has shifted or begun to fail. Bias-ply tires on collector cars deserve closer attention than daily-driver tires because age often matters more than mileage.

A good routine is to give the Amphicar Amphicar a quick visual inspection every time it comes out of storage and a more careful hands-on inspection several times a year. If the car is driven infrequently, deterioration can advance quietly between outings. Any vibration, pull, loss of pressure, or unusual shape change should be treated as a reason for immediate evaluation.

Tires on an Amphicar Amphicar should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, repeated air loss, or casing damage appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector cars often accumulate very low mileage, so tread depth alone is not a reliable measure of remaining service life. Tube-type bias-ply tires can look acceptable at a glance while still needing replacement because of age-related internal decline.

That is why service history matters as much as appearance. If the age of the Amphicar Amphicar tires is unclear, or if the car has spent years sitting, a specialist inspection is wise before any meaningful road use. Replacing older tires before they visibly fail is usually the more conservative choice on a collector vehicle that may have unique handling characteristics and limited recovery options if a tire lets go.

The available Amphicar Amphicar fitments point to two period-style numeric bias-ply sizes, 640-13 and 650-13, both used during the 1964 to 1968 production run. The listed products are all classic bias-ply tires rather than modern radial replacements. That tells a restorer that period-style bias-ply construction is central to the way Amphicar Amphicar tire fitment is represented today.

Choosing between the two sizes still requires attention to the individual car. Since both sizes appear throughout the same years, original paperwork, surviving tires, wheel measurements, and marque-club guidance remain the best references for a restoration intended to mirror factory-era practice. The more original the car, the more worthwhile that extra verification becomes.

Correct tire fitment can affect both presentation and perceived quality on an Amphicar Amphicar. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall stance look appropriate for the period and for the specific vehicle configuration. A car wearing the proper style of bias-ply tire generally reads as more carefully finished than one wearing an obviously mismatched modern substitute.

That does not mean every restored Amphicar Amphicar must look identical, but it does mean the tire choice should be intentional. If the car will be shown, compare your choice against period images, club standards, and other respected restorations. Even outside formal judging, the right tire fitment tends to support value because it signals that the restoration was approached with discipline.

The available Amphicar Amphicar options include both wide whitewall and narrow whitewall styles. Wide whitewalls are offered in both 640-13 and 650-13, while narrow whitewalls appear in 650-13. Each can suit a mid-1960s presentation, but they create noticeably different visual character on the finished car.

The most correct choice for a particular Amphicar Amphicar depends on how that individual car was equipped or how closely the restoration is following a specific period look. Wide whitewalls generally emphasize a more formal, classic presentation, while narrow whitewalls can appear a touch later and cleaner. When authenticity matters, period photos and marque references should guide the final decision more than personal preference alone.

The listed Amphicar Amphicar tires are modern-production collector bias-ply tires in period-style sizes, and they can be appropriate for public-road use when they are properly matched to the correct wheels, mounted with tubes, and maintained in sound condition. They are not modern high-speed performance radials, so they should be treated as specialty tires for a historic vehicle. Their operating character is tied to the original-era design of the car.

Safe road use depends as much on the condition of the Amphicar Amphicar as it does on the tires themselves. Before regular driving, make sure the steering, suspension, brakes, wheel condition, and tire pressures are all in proper order. A careful owner should drive within the limits of a mid-1960s bias-ply-equipped collector car rather than expecting modern-car responses.

Before driving an Amphicar Amphicar, check the tire size against the wheel, confirm inflation pressure is appropriate for the installed tire, and inspect the sidewalls and tread for cracking, distortion, or impact damage. Since the available tires are tube-type bias-ply products, valve condition and any sign of slow leakage also matter. Wheel width should match the tire’s intended range as well.

A short pre-drive inspection is especially worthwhile on a specialty collector vehicle that may sit for extended periods between outings. If the Amphicar Amphicar has recently come out of storage, drive gently at first and pay attention to vibration, pull, or changes in feel as the tires begin to roll. Anything unusual should be checked before continuing on the road.

An Amphicar Amphicar fitted with period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds consistent with the character of a mid-1960s collector car rather than at the pace expected of modern traffic flow in every situation. The tire construction, steering feel, and overall chassis behavior are all part of that equation. Even when the tires are new, the experience is designed around historical driving manners, not modern high-speed stability.

The right approach is to let the car’s condition, road surface, traffic environment, and your confidence in the complete vehicle determine cruising speed. If the Amphicar Amphicar is newly restored or newly fitted with tires, build speed gradually and assess how it tracks and responds. Conservatism is part of responsible collector-car operation, especially on a vehicle as specialized as this one.