Ford Consul Tires

Ford Consul uses six sizes across the 1957 to 1964 range, all on 13-inch rims. The 1957 to 1961 cars use 165R13 radial or 590-13 bias-ply. The 1962 cars use 145R13 radial or 520-13 bias-ply. The 1963 and 1964 cars list four options: 145R13 and 155R13 in radial construction, plus 520-13 and 560-13 in bias-ply construction.

That means year alone gets you close, but not always all the way there. A 1963 or 1964 Ford Consul especially needs a closer look at the car’s current wheel width, existing tire size, and whether the goal is period-correct bias-ply appearance or radial road use. Use the year grouping first, then match the exact size already fitted or verify against marque references for the specific car.

590-13 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size used on 1957 through 1961 Ford Consul models. In that older sizing system, 590 is the nominal section width code rather than a modern metric width, and 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. The listed 590-13 option is a bias-ply tire built for a 13-inch rim and represents the more period-style choice for those early cars.

A modern Ford Consul owner usually sees 590-13 as the authentic-looking alternative to 165R13 radial fitment on the same years. If appearance, sidewall profile, and original-era presentation matter more than modern driving feel, this is the size family to examine first. Check that the wheel matches the bias-ply rim width range before making your final selection.

A 1963 Ford Consul can correctly show four sizes because that year includes both radial and bias-ply alternatives in two width groups. The radial choices are 145R13 and 155R13, while the bias-ply choices are 520-13 and 560-13. All four use 13-inch rims, so the split is not a wheel diameter change but a combination of construction type and narrower versus wider fitment.

That makes 1963 one of the years where a quick look at the car is essential. Start by reading the size on the current tire or measuring the wheel width, then decide whether you want the handling character of radial tires or the stance and appearance of bias-ply. If the car is restored, period photos, owner history, or marque-club guidance can help narrow the correct configuration.

Ford Consul bias-ply sizes in this range do require tubes. That applies to 590-13, 520-13, and 560-13, all of which are listed in bias-ply construction. The radial sizes 165R13, 145R13, and 155R13 are listed in tubeless-style radial form and are not presented the same way as the period numeric bias-ply options.

If your Ford Consul is being fitted with one of the numeric bias-ply sizes, include tubes as part of the installation plan rather than treating them as optional extras. Tube fitment affects service work, wheel preparation, and the overall authenticity of a period-style setup. A car converted to radial sizes should be checked for wheel condition and suitability before installation.

Ford Consul is one of those late-1950s to mid-1960s cars that appears here with both bias-ply and radial choices, depending on year and configuration. Bias-ply sizes are 590-13, 520-13, and 560-13, while radial sizes are 165R13, 145R13, and 155R13. The right choice depends on whether your priority is period-correct appearance and feel or more modern radial driving characteristics on the road.

A restoration-minded Ford Consul owner will usually look first at the bias-ply options, especially when whitewall styling is part of the car’s presentation. A driver-focused owner may prefer radial construction for more familiar road manners. The best approach is to decide the car’s mission first, then choose the size that matches its year, wheel width, and intended use.

Yes, radial tires can change the driving character of a Ford Consul compared with bias-ply tires. The radial options listed for Ford Consul are 165R13, 145R13, and 155R13, while the bias-ply options are 590-13, 520-13, and 560-13. Radials generally give a more modern on-road feel, while bias-ply tires preserve the period character associated with cars of this era.

That difference matters most if you regularly drive your Ford Consul rather than displaying it. A car set up with radials may feel more familiar to a modern driver, while a bias-ply-equipped car tends to retain more of its historical personality. If authenticity is central to the build, stay close to the original-type construction for the year and configuration you are restoring.

Mixing bias-ply and radial tires on a Ford Consul is not a good practice. The available sizes for Ford Consul clearly separate into two construction families, with numeric sizes in bias-ply form and metric-style sizes in radial form. Each construction behaves differently on the road, so combining them on one car can produce inconsistent response and upset the balance of the chassis.

A better plan is to choose one construction type for the full set and then match the correct size to the car’s year and wheel width. If you are converting a Ford Consul from bias-ply to radial, treat it as a complete change rather than replacing one axle at a time with a different construction. That keeps the car’s handling more predictable and the fitment easier to evaluate.

A 1964 Ford Consul can use 145R13, 155R13, 520-13, or 560-13, all on 13-inch rims. The radial choices are 145R13 and 155R13, while the bias-ply choices are 520-13 and 560-13. That means the correct size is tied not only to model year but also to the car’s configuration, wheel width, and whether it is running period-style bias-ply tires or radial replacements.

The most practical check is to inspect the tire currently on the car and compare the wheel width to the size you are considering. If the car is restored, review period photos, service records, or club guidance to see whether it should sit on the narrower or wider late-production fitment. For a regularly driven car, your construction choice may narrow the field just as much as the model year does.

Ford Consul tire options here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. The radial sizes are presented in blackwall form, while the bias-ply sizes include blackwall and whitewall variations, especially in 520-13 and 560-13. That gives Ford Consul owners a wider styling range than many single-fitment collector cars, particularly for later-year bias-ply applications.

Sidewall choice should follow the character of the car you are building. A blackwall radial setup suits a more understated driver-oriented Ford Consul, while narrow or wide whitewalls can better support a period-correct restoration or a custom presentation. Before deciding, look at the car’s trim level, wheel covers, and overall era styling so the sidewall width feels appropriate rather than visually out of place.

Ford Consul tires in this range are available from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Premium Sport. Michelin and Dunlop appear in the radial sizes, while BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Premium Sport cover the period-style bias-ply options. The available tire series also vary by brand, including Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Premium Sport Lowrider.

Brand choice often follows the goal of the car as much as the size itself. A Ford Consul owner pursuing road use may focus on the radial offerings, while a restoration or custom build may lean toward one of the bias-ply lines with the desired whitewall treatment. Once the correct size and construction are settled, brand becomes a matter of style, series preference, and how original or custom you want the finished car to appear.

Ford Consul tires here span several series with distinct purposes. Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF, along with Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet and Firestone F560 Radial, cover the radial side of the range in blackwall form. Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Classic Bias Ply provide more traditional period-style bias-ply fitments, while Premium Sport Lowrider adds narrow whitewall bias-ply choices that suit a more customized look.

The practical difference is construction, appearance, and presentation. If your Ford Consul is being restored to a factory-era look, the classic bias-ply series will usually be the first place to look, especially where whitewalls are desired. If the car is intended for road driving with a more modern feel, the radial series are the logical comparison set within the correct year-specific size range.

A stored Ford Consul should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires clean and protected from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long periods of standing on damp concrete. Tire pressures should be checked before storage and rechecked periodically, whether the car is on radial or bias-ply tires. If the car sits for extended periods, moving it slightly or supporting it to reduce prolonged flat-spotting can help preserve tire shape.

Collector cars age their tires differently from daily drivers because time, not mileage, often becomes the bigger factor. A Ford Consul that only comes out for occasional use still benefits from regular air-pressure checks and gentle repositioning during long storage periods. Bias-ply tires especially can show storage effects sooner, so careful environment control is just as important as how often the car is driven.

Tires on a Ford Consul should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times each season. Check inflation, visible cracking, tread condition, sidewall damage, valve stems, and any signs that the car is wearing one tire differently from the others. On a collector car with mixed use patterns, long idle periods can hide aging issues that may not show up simply by looking at tread depth.

That inspection routine is especially important when a Ford Consul spends more time parked than driven. A bias-ply car should also be watched for tube-related air loss and casing changes, while a radial-equipped car should still be reviewed for age and sidewall condition. Frequent visual checks give you a chance to catch problems early, before the car is back on the road after a long period in storage.

Ford Consul tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, sidewall damage, or irregular wear suggest the casing is no longer trustworthy, even if plenty of tread remains. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, particularly on cars that see limited annual mileage. That principle applies to both radial and bias-ply tires because visible tread depth alone does not measure the health of the tire structure.

A Ford Consul that is driven infrequently can lull its owner into thinking the tires are still sound because they look lightly used. Replacement decisions should be guided by age, inspection results, and real condition rather than mileage alone. If the car has older specialty tires or has sat for years, a careful hands-on evaluation is wise before returning it to regular road use.

Ford Consul appears here with both period-style numeric bias-ply sizes and radial metric-style alternatives, depending on year. Early cars from 1957 to 1961 list 590-13 bias-ply alongside 165R13 radial, 1962 lists 520-13 and 145R13, and 1963 to 1964 expand to 520-13, 560-13, 145R13, and 155R13. That tells you the correct original-type answer depends on the specific year and configuration rather than a single size that fits the entire run.

For restoration work, the most convincing result usually comes from matching the tire type and visual style to the exact car rather than choosing by year alone. A Ford Consul with surviving records, photographs, or long-term ownership history may point clearly toward one of the bias-ply sizes or sidewall treatments. Marque clubs and original literature are the best tie-breakers when several period-appropriate options exist.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect how a Ford Consul is judged and how authentic it appears to knowledgeable enthusiasts. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all influence whether the car looks consistent with its production era and intended presentation. A Ford Consul on the right bias-ply whitewall can communicate something very different from the same car on blackwall radials, even when both fit the wheel correctly.

That matters most when the car is being restored for shows, marque events, or resale to a serious collector. Judges and buyers often notice whether the tire profile and sidewall treatment support the rest of the restoration. If authenticity is the goal, choose the tire setup that matches the car’s year, stance, and trim presentation rather than simply selecting the most modern-looking option available.

Ford Consul restoration choices here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall depending on the size and series selected. Radial offerings are blackwall, while the bias-ply range includes blackwall as well as several narrow and wide whitewall treatments. That means the correct sidewall style for a Ford Consul restoration is tied to the exact look you are trying to recreate, not just the basic wheel diameter.

A conservative restoration often looks most natural on a blackwall or modest whitewall, while a more ornate period presentation may justify a wider whitewall if it suits the trim and stance of the car. The key is visual harmony. Study surviving photos of comparable Ford Consul restorations and compare whitewall width to wheel cover size, body color, and ride height before making the final choice.

Ford Consul can be driven on public roads when the tires fitted are the correct size, properly installed, and in sound condition for the car’s intended use. The range here includes both radial and bias-ply construction, and each can be appropriate when matched correctly to the car. Safety depends less on appearance alone and more on condition, age, inflation, wheel compatibility, and whether the full set is consistent in size and construction.

A Ford Consul used for steady road driving should be treated like any vintage car: inspect it carefully and avoid assuming that low mileage means low risk. Bias-ply setups call for a more period-minded driving approach, while radial-equipped cars may feel more familiar but still require vintage-car caution. Roadworthiness starts with careful fitment and honest condition assessment rather than simply choosing a tire that looks right.

Before driving a Ford Consul, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread wear, valve stems, wheel security, and whether all four tires match in size and construction. If the car is on one of the bias-ply numeric sizes, make sure tube-type service items are also in proper condition. Any vibration, pulling, repeated pressure loss, or cracking should be addressed before the car is put back into normal road use.

That pre-drive check is especially worthwhile on a Ford Consul that sits for long periods between outings. Vintage cars often reveal problems only after storage, when rubber has aged or pressures have dropped. A quick walk-around before each drive and a more careful inspection at the start of each season can prevent avoidable trouble and help preserve both the car and the tires.

A Ford Consul on original-type tires should be driven at speeds that respect both the car’s vintage chassis design and the construction of the tires fitted. Bias-ply tires call for a more conservative road pace than most modern drivers expect, while radial options may feel steadier at ordinary road speeds when the car is otherwise in proper condition. In either case, the tire setup should be viewed as part of an older overall vehicle system rather than an isolated upgrade.

The practical rule is to drive a Ford Consul smoothly and conservatively, especially if it runs one of the period-style numeric bias-ply sizes. Avoid abrupt steering inputs, sustained high-speed running, and long trips taken on old or questionable tires. If the car is newly restored or newly acquired, begin with shorter local drives until the tire behavior and the condition of the rest of the vehicle are well understood.