Ford Cortina Tires

Ford Cortina uses four tire sizes across the 1962 through 1971 range: 155R13 for 1962 to 1968, 560-13 for 1962 to 1968, 165R13 for 1967 and 1969 to 1971, and 600-13 for 1967 to 1971. Every size listed for Ford Cortina uses a 13-inch rim. The metric sizes are radial tires, while the numeric sizes are bias-ply tires.

That means the right choice is not only about year, but also about whether your Ford Cortina is set up for a radial or bias-ply fitment. Early cars often overlap between 155R13 and 560-13, while later cars overlap between 165R13 and 600-13. Checking the size on the current tire, the wheel width, and any factory literature or restoration records will usually point you to the correct family.

On a Ford Cortina, 560-13 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 560 refers to a nominal section width of about 5.60 inches, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. It is a period-style size used on Ford Cortina models from 1962 through 1968 and is paired with bias-ply construction rather than a modern radial layout.

That size matters most to owners restoring an earlier Ford Cortina to a period-correct appearance and driving character. Available 560-13 products also come with different whitewall treatments, which can influence the look of the finished car. Because this is a bias-ply application, tube-type installation should be part of your planning when preparing the wheels and selecting the complete tire setup.

A 1967 Ford Cortina can show 155R13, 560-13, 165R13, and 600-13 because that year sits at an overlap point between earlier and later fitments. All four sizes use 13-inch wheels, so the split is not a wheel-diameter change. Instead, it reflects different configurations within the Ford Cortina line, along with the period transition between radial and bias-ply tire choices.

For a 1967 Ford Cortina, the year alone is not enough to pick a tire. You will want to identify the exact wheel width, the existing tire size if it is known to be correct, and the specific version of the car you are restoring or maintaining. That extra verification helps you avoid choosing an earlier narrow fitment for a car that needs the later width, or vice versa.

Ford Cortina requires inner tubes when it is fitted with the listed bias-ply sizes 560-13 or 600-13. Those sizes are traditional numeric bias-ply tires, and tube use is part of the correct installation approach for those applications. The listed radial sizes, 155R13 and 165R13, are a different construction type and are not described the same way in the available products.

If your Ford Cortina is being restored on bias-ply tires, plan the tire, wheel, and tube package together rather than treating the tube as an afterthought. Wheel condition matters, especially on older rims that may have seen rust, paint buildup, or long storage. A careful inspection of the wheel interior and valve area is worthwhile before mounting any new tire on a collector car.

Ford Cortina appears with both bias-ply and radial tire sizes in this year range, so either construction can be correct depending on the specific year and configuration. The bias-ply choices are 560-13 and 600-13, while the radial choices are 155R13 and 165R13. All are 13-inch fitments, but they represent different periods in tire technology and different visual and driving character.

Choose bias-ply for a more period-authentic look and feel, especially if restoration accuracy matters. Choose radial when your Ford Cortina is already set up for the corresponding metric radial size and you want the road manners associated with period radial technology. The key is to match the construction to the car’s intended use and the correct size family rather than selecting only by appearance.

Yes, radial tires can change how a Ford Cortina feels compared with bias-ply tires because the construction differs even when the rim diameter stays at 13 inches. The listed radial sizes for Ford Cortina are 155R13 and 165R13, while the listed bias-ply sizes are 560-13 and 600-13. That difference can affect steering response, ride character, and the overall period feel of the car.

Owners who drive their Ford Cortina regularly often prefer to keep the car on the tire type that suits its current setup and intended use. A judged restoration may lean toward bias-ply, while a road-driven car that originally used or now wears radial-compatible sizing may point the other direction. Changing construction type is best treated as a complete fitment decision, not just a tire swap.

A Ford Cortina should not be treated casually when mixing bias-ply and radial tires because the listed sizes represent two different construction types with different behavior. The radial options are 155R13 and 165R13, and the bias-ply options are 560-13 and 600-13. Even though they all share a 13-inch wheel diameter, construction differences can affect handling balance and predictability.

The practical approach is to keep all four tires on your Ford Cortina in one construction type and in the correct size family for the car. That gives you a more consistent driving feel and preserves the intended stance and appearance. If the car came to you with a mixed setup, it is wise to treat that as a temporary condition and plan for a matched set.

The most reliable way to confirm the correct tire size for a Ford Cortina is to start with the model year, then narrow it by the actual wheel and the tire family already fitted to the car. Early years use 155R13 or 560-13, later years use 165R13 or 600-13, and 1967 to 1968 are overlap years where more than one size appears. Every listed fitment uses a 13-inch wheel.

For a Ford Cortina in an overlap year, inspect the current tire markings, measure wheel width, and compare the car against original manuals, restoration records, or marque-club guidance. That extra step matters because the choice is not simply radial versus bias-ply; it is also earlier narrow sizing versus later wider sizing. Taking a few minutes to verify those details usually prevents an expensive mismatch.

Ford Cortina tire options in this group include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The radial sizes 155R13 and 165R13 are offered in blackwall form, while the bias-ply sizes 560-13 and 600-13 are offered with narrow or wide whitewall treatments. That gives Ford Cortina owners a clear visual choice between a sportier later look and a more period-decorative bias-ply appearance.

Sidewall style should match the way your Ford Cortina is being presented. Blackwall radials generally suit a cleaner late-1960s road-car appearance, while whitewall bias-ply tires can be appropriate for a more period-styled restoration. If originality matters, compare your car’s trim level, market style, and existing historical photos before settling on narrow versus wide whitewall.

Ford Cortina tires in these listed sizes come from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Michelin and Dunlop cover the radial sizes 155R13 and 165R13, while BFGoodrich and Firestone appear in the numeric bias-ply sizes 560-13 and 600-13. The available product mix therefore follows the construction split within the Ford Cortina size range.

Brand choice on a Ford Cortina often comes down to whether you are preserving a radial-driving character or a bias-ply restoration look. It can also be influenced by sidewall appearance, since the radial products here are blackwall and the bias-ply products include whitewall variations. Once you have the correct size family identified, brand selection becomes a matter of presentation and intended use.

Ford Cortina tires here appear in several series, including Michelin XAS-FF, Michelin XAS, Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply. The Michelin and Dunlop series are radial offerings in the metric 13-inch sizes, while the Silvertown and Firestone Classic Bias Ply series cover the numeric bias-ply applications. The distinction is both visual and structural, not just a brand label.

That means a Ford Cortina owner should think about tire series in terms of the kind of car being built. A radial series suits a car being maintained around period radial fitment, while a classic bias-ply series supports a more traditional restoration style with whitewall choices. Pick the series only after you have established the correct size family, because the series follow the fitment rather than replacing it.

A stored Ford Cortina benefits from a clean, dry, dark environment with stable temperatures and tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and chemical exposure. If the car sits for long periods, maintaining proper inflation and moving the car occasionally can help reduce flat-spotting and sidewall stress. Bias-ply and radial tires both benefit from those basics, but older collector-car tires especially dislike long static storage under load.

For a Ford Cortina that is only driven seasonally, many owners place the car on stands or relieve some load from the tires during long storage periods. If you prefer to keep the car on the ground, rolling it slightly every few weeks is useful. Clean wheels and correct valve condition should also be part of storage prep, especially on older tube-type bias-ply setups.

Tires on a Ford Cortina should be inspected before driving after storage and then at regular intervals throughout the season. Look for age cracking, sidewall damage, tread separation, punctures, uneven wear, and inflation loss. On a collector car, visual inspection is not enough by itself, because long periods of inactivity can age a tire internally even when tread wear remains low.

A practical routine for Ford Cortina ownership is a close inspection at the start of each driving season and a brief pressure and condition check before any longer outing. Bias-ply tires also deserve a careful look at tube-related components and wheel condition during service. If the car develops a new vibration, pull, or change in steering feel, inspect the tires immediately rather than waiting for the next scheduled check.

A Ford Cortina tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulging, impact damage, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector cars often age out their tires long before they wear them out. That matters with both radial and bias-ply Ford Cortina tires, because low mileage does not protect a tire from time and storage-related deterioration.

For a Ford Cortina that sees occasional use, replacement decisions should be driven by condition and age rather than tread depth alone. Any tire of uncertain history deserves extra caution, especially if the car has been dormant for years. If ride quality, balance, or sidewall appearance changes noticeably, treat that as a signal to have the tires professionally evaluated and likely replaced.

Ford Cortina appears here with both metric radial sizes and traditional numeric bias-ply sizes, depending on year. The listed original-style fitment families are 155R13 and 560-13 for 1962 to 1968, then 165R13 and 600-13 for the later years, with overlap in 1967 and 1968. That tells you Ford Cortina sits in a period when both construction approaches can be relevant to originality.

For a specific Ford Cortina restoration, the most accurate path is to match the year and then verify the exact configuration through factory literature, survivor evidence, or marque-club sources. That is especially important in the overlap years, where more than one size can be correct within the broader model line. Once the correct size family is confirmed, sidewall style becomes the next authenticity decision.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Ford Cortina is viewed in restoration judging and by knowledgeable buyers. The right size family, construction type, and sidewall style all contribute to whether the car looks historically coherent for its year and presentation. On a model that spans both numeric bias-ply and metric radial fitments, those details are more visible than many owners first expect.

A Ford Cortina prepared for concours or serious club judging should have tires that match the era and configuration of the car as closely as possible. Even outside formal judging, proper fitment supports the stance and character that enthusiasts expect to see. Marque clubs and period literature are the best referees when choosing between overlapping fitments or deciding whether a blackwall radial or whitewall bias-ply better suits the restoration.

Ford Cortina tire choices here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall options are tied to the radial sizes 155R13 and 165R13, while the whitewall options appear in the bias-ply sizes 560-13 and 600-13. That means sidewall correctness depends on both the year range and the style of restoration you are pursuing.

A Ford Cortina restored with a later radial road-car character will usually look most natural on blackwalls, while a bias-ply presentation can support narrow or wide whitewall styling depending on the car’s trim and intended period look. Historical photos, dealer literature, and survivor cars are useful references here. Sidewall style is one of the quickest visual cues, so it is worth matching carefully to the rest of the car.

Ford Cortina can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition. The listed options include both radial and bias-ply construction, and each must be treated according to its own characteristics. Road safety starts with condition and correct fitment, not simply with the presence of tread.

Before regular use, a Ford Cortina should have its tires inspected along with the wheels, suspension, steering, and brakes, since all of those systems affect how the car behaves on the road. A collector car that has sat for long periods deserves extra caution on its first outings. Smooth, moderate driving is wise until you know the car and tire setup are behaving properly.

Before driving a Ford Cortina, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and any signs of air loss or impact damage. Make sure all four tires match the intended size family for the car, especially if the car came from a prior owner. On bias-ply setups, wheel and tube condition should also be part of the inspection mindset.

A short walkaround before each drive can catch most problems early on a Ford Cortina. If the steering feels different, the car wanders, or one corner looks low, stop and inspect rather than continuing to drive. Collector-car tires often spend more time aging than wearing, so condition checks before use are one of the simplest and most effective safety habits.

Appropriate speed for a Ford Cortina depends on the exact tire fitted, its condition, and whether the car is on radial or bias-ply construction. A sound, properly selected tire is still part of an older vehicle system that includes period brakes, steering, and suspension. Sensible road use means respecting the age and overall mechanical character of the car rather than driving it like a modern compact.

In practice, a Ford Cortina should be driven at moderate speeds that match the road, the condition of the tires, and the confidence of the car’s overall chassis and braking system. Freshly inspected tires and a well-sorted car can support more relaxed touring than a long-stored survivor on aged rubber. If there is any doubt about tire age or structure, reduce speed and have the car evaluated before further road use.