Fairthorpe Electron Tires

Fairthorpe Electron applications use four tire sizes across the 1958 to 1963 production run: 155R13 and 560-13 for 1958 and 1963, and 155R15 and 560-15 for 1959 through 1962. The 155R13 and 560-13 sizes are both for 13-inch rims, while 155R15 and 560-15 are for 15-inch rims. The radial options are the 155R sizes, and the numeric 560 sizes are bias-ply.

That means year alone narrows the field, but wheel diameter still matters most. If a Fairthorpe Electron has had wheels changed at some point in its life, the correct tire is the one that matches the actual rim diameter and the style of setup you want to run, whether that is a radial road tire or a more period-looking bias-ply tire.

On a Fairthorpe Electron, 560-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 560 refers to a nominal section width of about 5.60 inches, and the 15 refers to the rim diameter in inches. Available products in this size are all bias-ply constructions for 15-inch wheels, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall versions.

That size is the choice for a 1959 through 1962 Fairthorpe Electron when the goal is a period-correct bias-ply presentation on 15-inch wheels. Because it is a bias-ply application in this range, a tube is required, and it is wise to confirm the wheel width as well since the listed products span several approved rim-width ranges.

Fairthorpe Electron applications use both 13-inch and 15-inch rim diameters. The 13-inch sizes appear in 1958 and 1963, while the 15-inch sizes appear from 1959 through 1962. In the metric radial sizes, the rim diameter is the final number in the size code, and in the numeric bias-ply sizes the rim diameter is also the final number.

That makes wheel verification the first check before choosing any tire for a Fairthorpe Electron. A car with 13-inch wheels needs either 155R13 or 560-13, while a car with 15-inch wheels needs either 155R15 or 560-15. Measuring the wheel or reading the wheel stamp is a better guide than assuming all Electrons used the same diameter.

Fairthorpe Electron bias-ply sizes in this range do require tubes. That applies to both 560-13 and 560-15, which are numeric bias-ply constructions. The radial options, 155R13 and 155R15, are separate radial products and are not described the same way as the numeric bias-ply tires.

For a practical restoration or service decision, tube use follows the construction and size family rather than the model name alone. If the Fairthorpe Electron is being fitted with one of the 560-series bias-ply tires, plan the installation around proper tubes and correct wheel condition. If you are considering a radial conversion, review the exact product specification for the chosen radial tire and the wheel it will be mounted on.

Fairthorpe Electron fitments in this range support both choices. The 560-13 and 560-15 sizes are bias-ply options, while 155R13 and 155R15 are radial options. Bias-ply tires favor a period appearance, especially where whitewall styles are desired, while the radial offerings are blackwall tires built in a more modern construction.

The right answer depends on how the Fairthorpe Electron is used and how original you want it to look. A show-oriented restoration often leans toward the numeric bias-ply sizes, while a road-driven car may benefit from staying with the matching radial size for its wheel diameter. The key is to keep the choice consistent with the wheel size and with the overall character you want from the car.

A Fairthorpe Electron fitted with radial tires instead of bias-ply tires will usually feel different because the construction type changes, not just the tread. The radial options listed here are 155R13 and 155R15, while the bias-ply alternatives are 560-13 and 560-15. Those are fundamentally different tire families, even when they fit the same rim diameter.

For an owner, the practical takeaway is that tire choice influences the car's character as much as appearance. A Fairthorpe Electron being preserved for period feel may be better served by the numeric bias-ply route, while an owner who values radial construction can choose the corresponding 155R size for the correct wheel diameter. It is best to fit a complete matching set rather than changing only one axle.

A Fairthorpe Electron should be treated as a vehicle that benefits from one construction type across the full set. The available choices divide cleanly into bias-ply sizes, 560-13 and 560-15, and radial sizes, 155R13 and 155R15. Mixing those constructions changes how the car responds because the tires flex and track differently.

The safest practical approach is to choose one construction family that matches the wheel diameter on the car and fit it consistently. If the Fairthorpe Electron is moving from a period-style bias-ply setup to radials, do the change as a complete set and inspect wheel condition, alignment, and clearances at the same time so the car remains balanced in feel and response.

The fastest way to confirm the correct Fairthorpe Electron tire size is to identify the year and then verify the actual wheel diameter on the car. A 1958 or 1963 Electron uses 13-inch sizes, either 155R13 or 560-13, while 1959 through 1962 cars use 15-inch sizes, either 155R15 or 560-15. After that, the remaining choice is between radial and bias-ply construction.

That process matters because many collector cars have had wheels changed over time. Check the wheel stamping, measure the rim, and compare the tire type already on the car if it has a matched set. If originality matters, compare the current setup against factory literature, period photos, or a Fairthorpe specialist before settling on either the 155R radial family or the 560 bias-ply family.

Fairthorpe Electron tire options in this range include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The radial sizes, 155R13 and 155R15, are blackwall products, while the bias-ply 560-13 and 560-15 sizes include blackwall and whitewall choices depending on brand and series. That gives the car both understated sporting and more period-styled visual directions.

For a practical selection, sidewall style should follow the look you want from the completed Fairthorpe Electron. Blackwalls generally suit the radial offerings and a cleaner sports-car presentation, while whitewalls belong to the bias-ply side of the catalog and create a more overt vintage appearance. Matching all four tires in the same sidewall style usually gives the car the most coherent finished look.

Fairthorpe Electron tire options here come from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Avon, Vredestein, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Pro-Trac. The brand mix depends on size and construction: the metric radial sizes are represented by brands such as Michelin, Dunlop, Firestone, Avon, and Vredestein, while the numeric bias-ply sizes include BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Pro-Trac.

That brand spread gives Fairthorpe Electron owners several ways to balance period look, tread style, and construction type. The first filter should still be wheel diameter and correct size, because not every brand appears in every fitment. Once that is settled, compare the available sidewall styles and tire series within the correct size rather than trying to choose a brand before the fitment is pinned down.

Fairthorpe Electron tires in this range include series such as Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, F560 Radial, Michelin X Radial, Michelin XAS, CR6ZZ, Snow Classic, Sprint Classic, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, and Street Pro Front Runner. The main difference is construction family: the metric series are radial road tires, while the Classic Bias Ply series are period-style bias-ply offerings. Sidewall style also separates them, with whitewall choices appearing in several bias-ply series and blackwalls covering both radial and bias-ply categories.

For a Fairthorpe Electron owner, the series name matters after the correct size has been identified. A radial series will suit buyers looking for a radial driving feel on the proper rim diameter, while the classic bias-ply series better support an original-era visual presentation. Compare the series within the same size first, then use sidewall style and intended use to narrow the final choice.

A Fairthorpe Electron should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, and ozone sources. If the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally so the tires do not rest on the same contact patch for months at a time. Clean floors and stable temperatures help any collector tire age more gracefully.

That matters on a lightweight sports car because even low mileage does not stop tires from aging. If the Fairthorpe Electron is stored for the season, inspect for cracking, deformation, and pressure loss before the next drive. Owners using bias-ply tires should be especially careful about inflation checks and visual inspection after long storage, since collector-use patterns can hide age-related deterioration.

Tires on a Fairthorpe Electron should be inspected before regular road use and again after any long storage period. Check inflation, tread condition, sidewall cracking, bead area condition, and signs of uneven wear. On a collector car that is driven infrequently, time and storage conditions can be as important as miles in determining tire health.

A good routine is to look over the tires every time the Fairthorpe Electron is prepared for a drive, then perform a more careful inspection at least seasonally. If the car has wire wheels, older rims, or bias-ply tires with tubes, be even more deliberate about checking for leaks and mounting issues. Any new vibration, pull, or unusual handling feel deserves immediate investigation.

Tires on a Fairthorpe Electron should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, flat spotting that does not recover, structural irregularity, or repeated air loss appears, even if tread depth still looks acceptable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out. A tire that looks presentable in the garage can still be too old or too compromised for dependable road use.

The practical rule is to judge the Fairthorpe Electron tires by condition and age as much as by miles traveled. Any collector tire with visible sidewall deterioration or a long, uncertain service history deserves close scrutiny. If the car is being recommissioned after years off the road, replacing old tires is usually wiser than trusting tread appearance alone, especially when the vehicle may still carry older tubes or aging wheels.

Fairthorpe Electron fitments across 1958 to 1963 include both metric radial sizes, 155R13 and 155R15, and numeric bias-ply sizes, 560-13 and 560-15. The available tire families also separate into radial road-tire series and classic bias-ply series, which shows that more than one period-appropriate direction exists within the overall model range. Original fitment on a specific car depends on its year, wheel diameter, and how closely the restoration follows its original specification.

For an accurate restoration, the best path is to start with the actual year and wheel size on the Fairthorpe Electron, then compare that against factory literature, period photography, or marque-club guidance. The tire category matters as much as the nominal size. A car restored for strict originality may call for a different visual and construction choice than one restored for regular historic road use.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Fairthorpe Electron is viewed in restoration judging and by knowledgeable buyers. Size, sidewall style, construction type, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks properly resolved for its period. A 13-inch Electron on the wrong visual style of tire or a 15-inch car on an inconsistent construction can stand out immediately.

That does not mean every Fairthorpe Electron must wear the same tire, but it does mean the tire should match the year, wheel diameter, and restoration goal. Buyers and judges tend to reward coherence. If the car is intended for shows, consult Fairthorpe references and club members before final selection so the finished tire choice supports both authenticity and presentation.

Fairthorpe Electron options here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Blackwalls dominate the radial sizes, while the bias-ply 560-series sizes offer both blackwall and whitewall versions. That means the visually correct choice depends not just on year but also on whether the restoration is aiming for a sporting road-car look or a stronger mid-century period presentation.

For most Fairthorpe Electron restorations, the sidewall should be chosen as part of the whole car's character rather than as an isolated detail. Blackwalls give the cleanest sports-car appearance, especially with radial construction, while whitewalls move the look toward a more stylized period expression within the available bias-ply range. Period photos and marque-specific guidance are the best tie-breakers when more than one style looks plausible.

A Fairthorpe Electron can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size for the wheel diameter, are in sound condition, and are mounted on wheels that are equally sound. The available choices include both radial and bias-ply constructions, and either can be appropriate when fitted as a complete, properly matched set. Tire age and condition matter just as much as the name on the sidewall.

Road safety with a Fairthorpe Electron starts with inspection rather than assumption. Verify that the car has the right 13-inch or 15-inch tire family, inspect for age-related cracking or deformation, and make sure steering, brakes, and suspension are up to the same standard as the tires. A lightweight classic can feel lively on the road, so it rewards a careful, conservative approach.

Before driving a Fairthorpe Electron, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel security, and whether all four tires match in size and construction. Also confirm that the car is on the correct rim diameter, since Fairthorpe Electron applications span both 13-inch and 15-inch wheels. Bias-ply setups should also be checked for proper tube-related air retention and any signs of bead or valve-stem trouble.

That pre-drive routine helps catch the issues collector cars develop while sitting. A Fairthorpe Electron that has been stored for even a few weeks can lose pressure or develop minor flat spotting, and a newly acquired car may have a mismatched set from an earlier owner. Five careful minutes in the garage is far better than discovering a fitment or condition problem once the car is already moving.

A Fairthorpe Electron should always be driven at speeds appropriate to the age, condition, and construction of the tires actually fitted to it. A fresh, correctly fitted radial set and a period-style bias-ply set may both suit the car, but they do not feel or respond the same way. The practical limit is set by the complete condition of the car and tires, not by enthusiasm alone.

For real-world use, treat a Fairthorpe Electron as a light historic sports car rather than a modern car with modern margins. Build speed gradually, pay close attention to steering response and stability, and stay conservative if the car is on bias-ply tires or has an uncertain service history. Any vibration, wandering, or heat buildup is a signal to stop and inspect before continuing.