Ford-Taunus 15M Tires

Ford-Taunus 15M applications from 1955 through 1958 use two listed tire sizes: 155R13 and 560-13. The 155R13 products are radial tires on a 13-inch rim, while the 560-13 products are bias-ply tires that also fit a 13-inch rim. That means the year range stays the same for both sizes, but the construction type and size format differ.

The practical decision is whether the specific Ford-Taunus 15M is being kept with period-style bias-ply behavior and appearance or updated to radial construction while staying on 13-inch wheels. Check the wheel width as well, since the listed products show different approved rim-width ranges between the radial and bias-ply offerings.

On a Ford-Taunus 15M, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 560 is the nominal section width written without a decimal, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. In the available products, this size appears in classic bias-ply construction with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall sidewall styles.

That makes 560-13 the more period-correct choice for an owner restoring the original mid-1950s character of a Ford-Taunus 15M. Because it is a bias-ply format rather than a modern tubeless radial code, tube use should be part of the fitment plan when selecting this size.

The listed Ford-Taunus 15M tire options all use a 13-inch rim diameter. Both the 155R13 radial products and the 560-13 bias-ply products are built around 13-inch wheels, even though the two sizes use very different naming systems. There is no wheel-diameter change across the 1955 to 1958 range covered here.

That means most fitment questions on a Ford-Taunus 15M come down to construction type, tire profile, and wheel width rather than a change in wheel diameter. It is still wise to confirm the wheel itself, especially on cars that may have been modified or fitted with replacement wheels during past ownership.

Ford-Taunus 15M fitment depends on which size and construction you choose. The 560-13 offerings are bias-ply tires, and that style should be treated as a tube-required application. The 155R13 products are radial tires and are listed in tubeless-style metric sizing, so the tube question mainly applies to the bias-ply option.

Owners restoring a Ford-Taunus 15M on 560-13 tires should plan the tire, tube, and wheel condition together rather than treating the tire alone as the whole fitment. If the car has been converted to radial tires, confirm that the wheel condition and dimensions are appropriate for radial use before finalizing the setup.

Ford-Taunus 15M listings include both bias-ply and radial choices for the same 1955 to 1958 year range. The 560-13 options are bias-ply, while the 155R13 options are radial. Bias-ply generally suits a more original period presentation, and radial construction suits owners who want a later-style tire format while keeping the 13-inch wheel diameter.

The right choice depends on the role of the car. A restoration aimed at period appearance usually points toward 560-13, while a driver-focused Ford-Taunus 15M may justify 155R13 if the wheels and overall setup support radial use. Keep all four tires matched in type and size once the decision is made.

A Ford-Taunus 15M fitted with 155R13 radial tires can feel different from one running 560-13 bias-ply tires because the two constructions flex and respond differently. Radials generally bring a more modern on-road feel, while bias-ply tires preserve the period character associated with 1950s suspension and steering behavior.

That difference matters most if the car is used regularly rather than only for display. If you value historical driving character, stay with the bias-ply size; if you value a more contemporary response while keeping the original wheel diameter, the radial option may be the better match for your Ford-Taunus 15M.

A Ford-Taunus 15M should not be set up with a mixed combination of 560-13 bias-ply tires and 155R13 radial tires on the same car. The two constructions behave differently under steering, braking, and cornering loads, even though they share the same 13-inch rim diameter.

The safer and more predictable approach is to choose one construction type and keep it consistent at all four corners. If a Ford-Taunus 15M is being converted from one type to the other, make the change as a complete set rather than one axle at a time.

A 1955 Ford-Taunus 15M can use either 155R13 radial tires or 560-13 bias-ply tires, and the same two choices continue through 1958. Since both fit 13-inch rims, the deciding factors are usually the current wheel setup, the intended restoration style, and whether the car is already configured for radial or bias-ply use.

Start with the wheel diameter and wheel width on the actual car, then compare that against the rim-width ranges shown for the available products. If the goal is authenticity, the numeric bias-ply size usually aligns more closely with period presentation; if the goal is road use with radial construction, the 155R13 path is the clearer choice.

Ford-Taunus 15M tires are available here in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The 155R13 radial products are blackwall, while the 560-13 bias-ply products include both a 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and 2.25-inch wide whitewall versions. That gives buyers a clear split between a more understated radial appearance and more period-style bias-ply whitewall looks.

Sidewall choice affects the personality of the finished car almost as much as the size itself. A cleaner, later-style presentation leans toward blackwall radials, while a restoration with stronger 1950s visual character often points toward one of the whitewall 560-13 options on the Ford-Taunus 15M.

Ford-Taunus 15M tire offerings here come from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Michelin and Dunlop cover the 155R13 radial size, while BFGoodrich and Firestone cover the 560-13 bias-ply size. That means brand choice follows size and construction choice rather than standing apart from it.

Owners usually narrow the decision by first choosing radial versus bias-ply, then selecting among the brands available in that format. For a Ford-Taunus 15M restoration, sidewall style and series type may matter just as much as brand name once the correct size path has been established.

Ford-Taunus 15M products include Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply series. The Michelin and Dunlop series are radial offerings in 155R13, while the Silvertown and Firestone series are classic bias-ply offerings in 560-13. The main difference is construction technology first, then appearance details such as available sidewall style.

That makes series selection part of a bigger fitment strategy rather than a purely cosmetic choice. A Ford-Taunus 15M built for period-correct presentation will usually center on the classic bias-ply series, while a car intended for more modern radial behavior will naturally move toward the radial series in the 155R13 size.

A Ford-Taunus 15M should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Tires age from time and environment as well as mileage, so a collector car that sits for long periods still needs protection. Keeping the car out of prolonged contact with moisture and petroleum products is especially important.

If the Ford-Taunus 15M will remain parked for extended periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term flat spotting and casing stress. Owners using 560-13 bias-ply tires should be especially careful about inflation maintenance and general storage discipline because older-style constructions are less forgiving of neglect.

Tires on a Ford-Taunus 15M should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees very limited mileage. Look for cracks, bulges, irregular wear, weathering around the sidewall, and any sign of air loss. Collector cars often accumulate age faster than tread wear, so visual inspection matters as much as mileage-based maintenance.

A practical routine is a quick walkaround before every outing and a more deliberate inspection during seasonal maintenance. On a Ford-Taunus 15M running bias-ply tires and tubes, include the valve stems, wheel condition, and signs of tube-related leakage in that inspection rather than checking the tread surface alone.

A Ford-Taunus 15M tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, vibration, or other condition issues appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out. That is true for both radial and bias-ply construction, and especially important on cars that spend much of their life parked.

Treat appearance as only one part of the decision. If a Ford-Taunus 15M has tires of uncertain age, a specialist inspection is worthwhile before regular road use, and any tire showing structural deterioration should be retired even if the car is driven only occasionally.

Ford-Taunus 15M listings here include both 560-13 bias-ply tires and 155R13 radial tires across the 1955 to 1958 range. That means the available choices cover more than one construction approach rather than pointing to a single universal original-equipment answer. The bias-ply size is the more period-style format, while the radial size reflects a later-style construction in the same wheel diameter.

For a strict restoration, the best reference is the specific car’s factory literature, surviving original wheel-and-tire evidence, or a marque specialist familiar with Ford-Taunus 15M variations. Use the listed sizes as the starting point, then match the construction and sidewall style to the restoration standard you are trying to meet.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the presentation and judged authenticity of a Ford-Taunus 15M. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all influence whether the car looks historically coherent for the period. A radial blackwall and a wide-whitewall bias-ply create very different impressions even though both fit the same 13-inch wheel diameter.

For value-minded restorations, the tire choice should support the car’s intended lane: preserved original, sympathetic driver, or show-level restoration. Marque clubs and event judging standards are the best references for deciding whether a Ford-Taunus 15M should wear a blackwall radial or one of the available whitewall bias-ply options.

Ford-Taunus 15M tire offerings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall choices appear in the 155R13 radial size, while the whitewall choices appear in the 560-13 bias-ply size. That gives restorers a range from restrained postwar European appearance to a stronger mid-1950s whitewall look.

The correct choice depends on how the individual Ford-Taunus 15M was equipped and how authentic the restoration is meant to be. Owners pursuing a period-biased presentation usually focus first on the 560-13 bias-ply options, then choose narrow or wide whitewall according to the car’s surviving details and restoration objective.

A Ford-Taunus 15M can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, in sound condition, properly mounted, and suitable for the wheels on the car. The listed options include both radial and bias-ply constructions, and either approach can be serviceable when used as a complete, correctly maintained set.

Road safety depends on the whole condition of the car, not the tire alone. Before regular use, make sure the Ford-Taunus 15M has sound brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel condition, then match the driving style to the tire type fitted rather than assuming a vintage tire behaves like a modern high-performance replacement.

Before driving a Ford-Taunus 15M, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, and any signs of air loss or distortion. Confirm that all four tires match in size and construction, especially because this model can be found with either 155R13 radials or 560-13 bias-ply tires. Wheel fasteners and valve stems deserve attention as well.

That routine is especially important on a collector car that may sit for weeks between outings. A Ford-Taunus 15M should also be eased back into use after storage, since age-related tire issues often reveal themselves in the first few miles rather than while the car is standing still.

A sensible speed for a Ford-Taunus 15M on period-style tires is one that respects the car’s age, tire construction, and overall mechanical condition rather than chasing modern traffic pace. Bias-ply 560-13 tires should be treated with more restraint than a modern car, and even radial-equipped examples remain vintage automobiles with 1950s chassis design.

The best approach is to build speed gradually, pay close attention to stability and steering feel, and avoid sustained high-speed use unless the entire Ford-Taunus 15M has been thoroughly inspected and prepared for it. Conservative road manners are part of preserving both the tires and the car.