Austin A 95 Tires

Austin A 95 uses three listed tire sizes across the 1956 through 1962 run: 670-15, 640-15, and 185R15. The 670-15 size appears from 1956 to 1959, 640-15 appears from 1957 to 1962, and 185R15 appears from 1957 to 1962. All three sizes are tied to 15-inch rims in the available products, but they are not the same type of tire because 670-15 and 640-15 are bias-ply sizes while 185R15 is radial.

That means year alone is not always enough to choose correctly, especially for 1957 through 1959 when all three sizes can appear. Start by checking the size already on the car, then confirm whether the car is set up for a bias-ply or radial fitment. If the car is being restored, compare the current setup with original paperwork, period photographs, or advice from an Austin specialist before settling on a final size.

A 670-15 on an Austin A 95 is a period numeric bias-ply size. The 670 portion represents a nominal section width of about 6.70 inches, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Every listed product in this size is built for a 15-inch rim and uses bias-ply construction, which places it firmly in the traditional postwar tire family rather than the later radial format.

A buyer usually encounters 670-15 on earlier Austin A 95 cars or on restorations that want a fuller, period-correct bias-ply look. It is wise to inspect the wheel width as well as the rim diameter, since products in this size are offered around period-correct 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims, with some variation. If your car currently wears a radial size, do not assume 670-15 is interchangeable without checking overall fit and intended restoration direction.

A 1958 Austin A 95 can show 670-15, 640-15, and 185R15 because that year sits in the overlap between two numeric bias-ply sizes and one radial size. All three use 15-inch rims, so the difference is not wheel diameter. The real split is construction type and period sizing convention, with 670-15 and 640-15 representing bias-ply fitments and 185R15 representing a radial fitment.

That makes the specific car more important than the calendar year by itself. Check the existing tire size, wheel width, and whether the car has long been driven on bias-ply or radial tires. If the goal is authenticity, research how your exact Austin A 95 was delivered; if the goal is road use, be sure the full set stays consistent rather than mixing different construction types or assuming all listed sizes behave the same.

Austin A 95 bias-ply sizes do require tubes in the available listings. Both 670-15 and 640-15 are offered as bias-ply tires, and for these period-style fitments a tube is required. The 185R15 listings are radial products and do not carry the same tube-required note, so they belong to a different construction approach than the two numeric sizes.

Tube choice should follow the tire construction you actually install, not simply the model name. If your Austin A 95 is on a bias-ply setup, make sure the tubes, flaps if needed, and wheel condition are all addressed at the same time. On a low-use collector car, aging tubes can create problems even when tread looks healthy, so tube inspection deserves the same attention as the outer tire.

Austin A 95 is listed with both crossply and radial choices, so the right answer depends on how the car is configured and how you want it to present. The bias-ply options are 670-15 and 640-15, both traditional inch-sized fitments on 15-inch rims. The radial option is 185R15, also on a 15-inch rim, and it represents the more modern construction type available within this model range.

Choose bias-ply if your priority is period appearance and the car is already set up around that style of tire. Choose radial if the car is using the 185R15 fitment and you want to stay with the listed radial construction. What matters most is consistency across the car and a clear decision about authenticity versus later driving manners, rather than treating all three listed sizes as interchangeable substitutes.

Austin A 95 can be fitted with either bias-ply numeric sizes or a 185R15 radial, and those two constructions do not behave the same way on the road. Radials generally deliver a different feel in steering response, ride behavior, and straight-line stability than traditional crossply tires. That difference is part of why the Austin A 95 size listing needs to be treated as a construction choice as well as a size choice.

If your Austin A 95 has been driven on bias-ply tires for years, moving to radials may make the car feel noticeably different even though the rim diameter remains 15 inches. That can be a welcome change for some owners and a drawback for others pursuing originality. Before changing construction type, consider the car’s suspension condition, alignment, and how closely you want the driving experience to resemble period practice.

Austin A 95 is offered with both crossply and radial tire options, but mixing those constructions on one car is not a sound approach. The listed bias-ply sizes, 670-15 and 640-15, flex and respond differently than the 185R15 radial. Even with the same 15-inch rim diameter, the car will not react consistently if different construction types are installed at opposite corners or opposite axles.

The practical rule is to commit to one construction type for the full set unless a knowledgeable specialist has a very specific reason to do otherwise. If your Austin A 95 is currently mixed, treat that as a temporary situation and plan toward a matched set. A uniform set makes the steering, braking feel, and overall behavior easier to predict, which matters on any large 1950s saloon.

A 1959 Austin A 95 can legitimately fall into three listed sizes: 670-15, 640-15, or 185R15. Because all three are tied to 15-inch rims, the deciding factors are the actual tire size the car is wearing, the wheel width, and whether the car is set up for bias-ply or radial construction. That makes 1959 one of the years where a quick glance at the model name is not enough.

Begin with the sidewall on the current tire, then inspect the wheel and compare that information with any original handbook, build records, or established Austin references you have. A restored car may have been converted from one style to another over time, so present condition matters. If the car is being judged or returned to factory character, marque-club guidance is often the final tie-breaker.

Austin A 95 tire listings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline sidewall styles. The widest variety appears in the bias-ply 670-15 and 640-15 sizes, where blackwalls and several whitewall widths are offered. The 185R15 radial listings are shown in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and redline form, giving later-style radial fitments a few appearance directions as well.

Sidewall style should follow the character of the car you are building. A conservative restoration often leans toward blackwall or period-appropriate whitewall treatment, while redlines are a more specialized visual choice within the radial offerings. Matching the sidewall style to the car’s trim level, market presentation, and the look shown in period photographs usually produces a more convincing result than choosing solely by preference.

Austin A 95 tires are available from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, Universal Vintage Tire, BFGoodrich, Excelsior, Avon, Goodyear, STA, and Michelin. Those brands span both bias-ply and radial offerings, with the broadest selection appearing in the 670-15 bias-ply size. The 185R15 radial choices are concentrated among Coker Classic, Michelin, Avon, and Universal Vintage Tire.

Brand selection comes after size and construction are settled. Once you know whether your Austin A 95 needs 670-15, 640-15, or 185R15, compare sidewall style, series, and visual character within that exact size. On a collector car, appearance can matter just as much as dimensions, so the brand that fits your restoration goals may not be the same one another owner would choose for a driver.

Austin A 95 tire listings include several distinct series names, including Firestone Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Universal Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Super Cushion, Custom Super Cushion, Super Cushion Deluxe, Super Transport, Coker Classic Radial, Michelin XVS, Universal Sport, Turbosteel CR3B, and Super Safety Crossply. The main differences are construction family and visual era, with classic bias-ply lines grouped separately from modern-style radial lines. Some series also reflect specialty use or a distinct tread and sidewall presentation.

For an Austin A 95 owner, the first divide is simple: choose within the bias-ply series if the car is staying with 670-15 or 640-15, and choose within the radial series if the car uses 185R15. After that, compare sidewall treatment and the overall look you want from the finished car. The series name often signals whether a tire is aimed at a traditional restoration appearance, a sporting radial presentation, or a more utility-oriented bias-ply application.

An Austin A 95 should be stored clean, dry, and out of direct sunlight, with the tires kept away from ozone sources such as electric motors, welders, and battery chargers. Proper inflation matters even when the car is parked, because underinflated tires can develop flat spotting and sidewall stress over long periods. If the car is on bias-ply tires with tubes, storage conditions matter even more because both the casing and the tube age with time.

Many owners place an Austin A 95 on tire cradles or move it slightly from time to time to reduce prolonged loading in one spot. If the car will sit for months, inspect inflation before and after storage rather than assuming the tires held their pressure. Clean wheels, valve stems, and surrounding suspension parts also make it easier to catch leaks or rubbing before the next drive.

Tires on an Austin A 95 should be visually inspected before every drive and examined more closely several times each season. Look for cracking, bulges, uneven wear, cuts, sidewall scuffing, embedded debris, and any sign that the tire is shifting on the rim. On bias-ply sizes such as 670-15 and 640-15, tube-related air loss or flap issues can also show up as changes in pressure or odd wear patterns.

A collector car that is driven infrequently can hide tire problems because tread wear accumulates slowly while age continues to advance. Keep a pressure gauge in the garage and make inspection part of the routine before the car leaves the driveway. If the Austin A 95 has recently changed from one tire construction to another, watch the wear pattern closely until you know the chassis is responding evenly.

Tires on an Austin A 95 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, sidewall distress, repeated air loss, or structural irregularities appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on low-mileage cars that spend long periods parked. A tire that looks presentable in a garage can still be unsuitable for road use once the casing has aged.

Do not judge an Austin A 95 tire by tread depth alone. If the car is on older bias-ply tires, include the tubes in the replacement decision rather than reusing them automatically. Any vintage tire that shows age-related deterioration should be removed from driving service promptly, with the old set kept only for display if that suits the restoration and the tires are clearly separated from road-use duty.

Austin A 95 is associated here with three size families across its production years: 670-15, 640-15, and 185R15. The available products show both classic bias-ply series and radial series, which tells you the model range spans more than one period tire approach. What that does not do is reduce every Austin A 95 to a single original-equipment answer, because multiple sizes and constructions appear during the run.

For a true restoration, use the year range as a starting point and then verify the exact tire specification for your car through factory literature, marque-club material, or period photos. That is especially important for 1957 through 1959, when more than one size appears. The closer the restoration is to concours standards, the more important it becomes to confirm the original specification rather than choosing by appearance alone.

Correct tire fitment can affect both judged authenticity and overall presentation on an Austin A 95. Judges and knowledgeable buyers tend to notice whether the tire size, construction type, and sidewall treatment suit the age and character of the car. A large 1950s British saloon on the wrong style of tire may still drive, but it can look visually off and raise questions about the thoroughness of the restoration.

That does not mean every owner must make the same choice, only that the choice should be intentional. A touring car may reasonably prioritize a listed radial fitment, while a show-focused Austin A 95 may lean toward one of the period bias-ply options with an era-appropriate sidewall. If the car will be judged, compare your planned tire with marque-club standards and period reference material before final assembly.

Austin A 95 tire offerings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline styles. For a late-1950s to early-1960s saloon, blackwall and whitewall treatments are the most naturally period-aligned choices within the available range, while redline is a more specialized appearance tied here to some radial offerings. The right answer depends on how the specific car was delivered and how strictly original the restoration is meant to be.

Use period photos, sales literature, and regional market references to decide whether your Austin A 95 should carry blackwalls or a particular whitewall width. Whitewall width can noticeably change the car’s stance and visual weight, so small differences matter. If the car is being restored for judging, consistency between tire style, wheel finish, trim level, and the rest of the exterior presentation is usually more persuasive than choosing the flashiest option.

Austin A 95 tires can be suitable for public-road use when the tires are the correct size, properly mounted on the correct 15-inch rims, and matched as a full set by construction type. Safety depends on condition and correctness, not simply on whether the tire physically mounts. An aged, cracked, or mismatched set on an Austin A 95 is a greater concern than whether the sidewall says 670-15, 640-15, or 185R15.

Before regular road use, make sure the Austin A 95 has sound wheels, proper inflation, no rubbing issues, and a chassis that has been checked for steering and suspension wear. A radial-equipped car and a bias-ply-equipped car may feel different in service, so the tire choice should match the setup and expectations. Any collector car returning to road use after long storage deserves a careful recommissioning inspection, not just a quick air check.

Before driving an Austin A 95, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any signs of contact between the tire and the body or suspension. Confirm that all four tires match in size and construction, especially on cars from 1957 through 1959 where more than one listed size can apply. If the car is on bias-ply tires, verify that the tubes are holding pressure consistently.

The tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that also includes brakes, steering, fluid leaks, and lighting. A collector Austin A 95 often spends more time parked than driven, and that can hide tire deterioration until the car is moving at speed. A few minutes of inspection before each outing is one of the simplest ways to reduce trouble on the road.

An Austin A 95 should always be driven at speeds appropriate to the exact tire fitted, the age and condition of that tire, and the mechanical condition of the car as a whole. A fresh, correctly fitted radial and a period-style bias-ply tire do not deliver the same feel, and an older collector car should never be driven as though modern tire and chassis limits automatically apply. The safe operating pace is the one that respects the weakest part of the combination.

For practical use, keep the Austin A 95 within a comfortable cruising speed where the steering feels settled, the car tracks cleanly, and the tires are not generating unusual heat or vibration. If the car is on bias-ply tires, a more measured pace is usually prudent than on a modern daily driver. Any vibration, wandering, or heat buildup is a signal to stop and inspect before continuing.