Citroen CV Tires

Citroen CV fitments in this year range include 125-400 for 1956 to 1957, 155-380 and 155R15 for 1958 to 1961, and 125-380 plus 135-380 for 1962. The 125-400 size uses a 400mm wheel, the 155-380, 125-380, and 135-380 sizes use 380mm wheels, and 155R15 uses a 15-inch rim. That means the correct tire is tied not only to the model year, but also to the wheel fitted to the car.

A Citroen CV owner should start by reading the size on the old tire and then confirming the wheel diameter directly on the wheel or against trusted vehicle records. The overlap from 1958 through 1961 is especially important, because a 380mm tire and a 15-inch tire are not interchangeable even if the section width looks similar.

On a Citroen CV, 125-400 is an older metric-style size used on 1956 and 1957 cars. The 125 identifies the nominal tire width, while 400 refers to the wheel diameter in millimeters. It is a very different fitment from later Citroen CV sizes that use 380mm wheels or 15-inch rims.

A Citroen CV owner looking at 125-400 should treat it as an early-wheel specification first and a tire width second. The practical step is to verify that the car still carries its proper 400mm wheels, because a later wheel swap can move the car into a completely different tire family even though the vehicle itself is still within the same model line.

Citroen CV wheel diameter varies across this range. The earliest cars here, 1956 and 1957, use 400mm wheels with 125-400 tires. From 1958 onward, the listings move to 380mm wheels with 155-380, 125-380, or 135-380 tires, while 1958 to 1961 also show a separate 15-inch radial fitment in 155R15.

That makes wheel measurement one of the most important checks on a Citroen CV. A 380mm wheel is not the same as a 15-inch wheel, and neither is the same as the earlier 400mm wheel. Before choosing a tire, verify the wheel size physically so the tire bead diameter matches the rim exactly.

A 1958 Citroen CV can fall into two listed tire sizes: 155-380 or 155R15. The first uses a 380mm wheel and the second uses a 15-inch rim, so the correct answer depends on the wheel actually fitted to the car rather than the year alone. That same split continues through 1961.

The most reliable approach is to inspect the tire sidewall already on the car, then confirm the wheel diameter itself if there is any doubt. A Citroen CV that has been restored, repaired, or converted over time may not still wear its original wheel type, and that is exactly where a mistaken tire selection usually starts.

Current products listed for Citroen CV fitment in 155R15 come from Firestone, Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein. The available radial series include Firestone F560 Radial, Michelin X, Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, Avon CR6ZZ, Vredestein Snow Classic, and Vredestein Sprint Classic. All of those listed products use blackwall sidewalls.

A Citroen CV owner choosing among these brands should match the tire first to the wheel diameter and then to the intended use of the car. Some options are more touring oriented and others are more performance or seasonal in character, but all remain secondary to getting the basic 15-inch radial fitment correct.

Citroen CV products in the available radial size include several distinct series: Firestone F560 Radial, Michelin X Radial, Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, Avon CR6ZZ, Vredestein Snow Classic, and Vredestein Sprint Classic. All are radial tires, but they reflect different tread and performance approaches within the 155R15 fitment. Some are traditional road radials, while others are more specialized in character.

For a Citroen CV owner, the key is to separate fitment from intended use. Once the car is confirmed to need 155R15 on a 15-inch wheel, the series choice can follow the way the car is driven, whether that means general road use, a more period-European feel, or occasional specialized use such as colder-weather driving.

A Citroen CV should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Proper inflation matters even during storage, because an underinflated collector tire can develop flat spotting or sidewall stress while the car sits. Clean floors and moisture control also help protect both the tires and the wheels.

If a Citroen CV will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally or use appropriate supports to reduce concentrated load on one contact patch. Owners of cars with uncommon wheel diameters such as 380mm or 400mm should be especially careful, because preserving the existing tires and wheels during storage can make future replacement decisions much easier.

Tires on a Citroen CV should be visually inspected before regular driving and given a more thorough inspection at least several times during the season. Check for sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, uneven wear, valve condition, and any sign that the tire is not seated correctly on the wheel. Collector cars often age out tires long before they wear them out.

A Citroen CV that is driven only occasionally can still develop tire issues quietly while parked. Regular inspections matter even more on a lightweight vintage car because narrow tires, older-style wheel standards, and long storage intervals can hide problems until the car is put back on the road.

Tires on a Citroen CV should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, or internal deterioration appear, even if tread depth still looks serviceable. Collector tires often see little mileage, so visual age and condition are more important than tread wear alone. Any tire with persistent vibration, sidewall checking, or signs of structural distress deserves immediate attention.

A Citroen CV owner should think of replacement as condition-based rather than mileage-based. Cars that spend long periods parked can have tires that look acceptable at a glance but are no longer suitable for road use, so periodic professional evaluation is wise even when the car is used gently and infrequently.

Citroen CV fitment within this range includes several period-appropriate sizes rather than one single tire across all years. Early cars here use 125-400, 1958 to 1961 cars list either 155-380 or 155R15, and 1962 cars list 125-380 or 135-380. That spread shows why the correct original-style fitment depends on the specific year and wheel configuration.

For restoration work, a Citroen CV owner should match the car to its exact production year and verify that the present wheels correspond to the intended specification. If the car is being judged or restored to a particular delivery condition, period photos, factory literature, and marque experts remain the best references for settling the final choice among the listed size options.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Citroen CV is viewed in restoration, concours, and collector settings. Size, wheel diameter, sidewall appearance, and construction style all influence whether the car presents as coherent and period-appropriate. A visibly incorrect wheel-and-tire combination can change the stance and dilute authenticity even if the car remains drivable.

A Citroen CV being restored for serious judging should have its tire choice checked against the standards used by the relevant club or event. Even outside formal judging, the right dimensions matter because they preserve the look, ride height, and visual proportions that make a small postwar Citroen appear properly sorted.

The currently listed Citroen CV products in 155R15 all use blackwall sidewalls. That blackwall presentation suits the practical, understated character most buyers expect from a modest postwar European small car. No whitewall or other sidewall treatment appears in the present product range for this fitment.

For a Citroen CV restoration, sidewall style should support the year, market character, and overall finish of the car rather than overpower it. If originality is the goal, keep the sidewall treatment conservative and focus first on getting the wheel diameter and tire size right, since those two details affect authenticity more immediately than tread branding or minor cosmetic differences.

A Citroen CV can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size for the wheel, are in sound condition, and are matched to the way the car is used. The key safety point on this model is correct bead diameter, because 400mm, 380mm, and 15-inch fitments all appear across the range. Even narrow differences in wheel standard matter greatly here.

Before road use, a Citroen CV owner should make sure all four tires match the wheel specification exactly and that there are no age-related defects. A professionally inspected vintage car with properly selected tires can be enjoyable and usable, but safety starts with fitment accuracy rather than appearance.

Before driving a Citroen CV, check inflation pressure, visible tire condition, valve stems, tread and sidewall integrity, and whether the tire size matches the wheel diameter on the car. Also look for signs of long-term storage damage such as flat spotting or cracking. Because this model spans multiple wheel standards, the size marking itself deserves a close look.

A short pre-drive walkaround goes a long way with a Citroen CV. If anything feels unusual once underway, such as vibration, wandering, or a pull to one side, stop and inspect the tires again before continuing, since vintage tire problems often show up first as subtle changes in how the car feels.

A Citroen CV should be driven at speeds that suit both the car's mechanical condition and the exact tires fitted to it. Narrow vintage-size tires, especially on older wheel standards, are best treated with restraint even when the car itself is mechanically sound. The safer mindset is preservation and stability, not sustained high-speed use.

Owners should let the Citroen CV's tire type guide their pace. A modern-style radial 155R15 in good condition may support more relaxed road use than an older specialty fitment, but any collector car benefits from moderate speeds, smooth inputs, and extra space for braking and evasive maneuvers.