Ford-Taunus 17M Tires

Ford-Taunus 17M uses four tire sizes across the 1957 to 1968 range: 165R13 for 1957 through 1964, 590-13 for 1957 through 1964, 640-13 for 1961 through 1968, and 175R13 for 1965 through 1968. Every listed size fits a 13-inch rim, but the products show different wheel-width ranges, with 590-13 on narrower 3.50 to 4.00 inch rims, 640-13 on 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, and 165R13 on 4.50 to 6.00 inch rims.

The practical issue is not wheel diameter but choosing between overlapping bias-ply and radial fitments within the same year range. Start with the year, then verify the actual tire size on the car, the wheel width, and whether the car is being kept period-correct or driven on radial tires.

On a Ford-Taunus 17M, 590-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 590 is the nominal section width expressed without a decimal point, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. The available product in this size is a bias-ply wide whitewall tire for 13-inch rims and narrower 3.50 to 4.00 inch wheel widths.

That matters because 590-13 is not the same kind of sizing system as 165R13, even though both appear in the same early Ford-Taunus 17M years. If your car currently wears metric radial tires, do not assume a numeric bias-ply size is a direct like-for-like replacement without checking wheel width and intended appearance.

A 1961 Ford-Taunus 17M can show 165R13, 590-13, and 640-13 because that model year sits in an overlap period where more than one 13-inch fitment was used. The split is not a wheel-diameter change, since all three use 13-inch rims. It reflects configuration differences within the same year, along with the coexistence of bias-ply and radial-era sizing conventions.

The right approach is to identify the specific car rather than rely on the year alone. Check the tire size already fitted, measure the wheel width, and compare the car’s presentation goals—period bias-ply wide whitewall versus radial blackwall—before choosing among the listed sizes.

Ford-Taunus 17M bias-ply sizes in this range do require tubes. The 590-13 and 640-13 products are bias-ply tires, and those non-radial numeric sizes should be treated as tube-type applications here. The radial metric offerings in 165R13 are marked TL, which identifies tubeless radial construction for those products.

Tube choice should follow tire type and wheel condition, not just the model name. If your Ford-Taunus 17M is staying on the original-style bias-ply setup, plan on tubes and make sure the wheels are in sound condition before mounting.

Ford-Taunus 17M is listed with both bias-ply and radial tire options, depending on year and configuration. The bias-ply choices are 590-13 and 640-13 wide whitewalls, while the radial choices are 165R13 and 175R13 blackwalls. That means the right answer depends on whether you want period appearance and feel, or a later-style radial driving experience.

A restoration aiming for a mid-century presentation will usually favor the numeric bias-ply sizes where they apply. A driver-oriented Ford-Taunus 17M may be better matched to the radial size listed for its year range, but the wheel width and the tire size already on the car should be checked before making the switch.

Yes, radial tires can change how a Ford-Taunus 17M feels on the road. The radial options listed here use metric sizing and modern radial construction, while the bias-ply options use traditional numeric sizing and a different carcass design. Those differences usually affect steering feel, tracking, ride character, and overall road manners.

That change can be welcome on a regularly driven car, but it also alters the period-correct character many collectors want to preserve. If your Ford-Taunus 17M is judged, shown, or kept historically faithful, compare the driving benefit of radials against the visual and behavioral authenticity of the listed bias-ply options.

Mixing bias-ply and radial tires on a Ford-Taunus 17M is not a good practice. The two constructions flex differently, respond differently under load, and can change how the car steers and brakes. Since this model already has separate size paths for bias-ply and radial applications, keeping one construction type on the car is the sounder approach.

If your Ford-Taunus 17M currently has a mixed set, treat that as a temporary condition and plan toward a matched set in the correct listed size family. Consistency across all four corners matters more than simply matching the 13-inch wheel diameter.

Start by narrowing your Ford-Taunus 17M by year, then compare the actual tire size marking on the car with the sizes listed for that year. Early cars can use 165R13 or 590-13, overlap years can add 640-13, and later cars can use 175R13 or 640-13. Every option fits a 13-inch rim, but wheel width and construction type still matter.

The most useful checks are the wheel width, the style of tire already fitted, and whether the car is being restored or driven regularly. If the car has changed hands or wheels over the years, original paperwork, period photos, and marque specialists can help settle the correct direction.

Ford-Taunus 17M tires in this range are available in blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The radial metric choices in 165R13 are blackwall, while the bias-ply 590-13 and 640-13 options are wide whitewalls. That creates a clear visual split between a later-style radial presentation and a more period-looking bias-ply appearance.

Sidewall choice affects the character of the car as much as the construction type. A Ford-Taunus 17M restored to a distinctly early-1960s look may suit a wide whitewall bias-ply setup, while a cleaner blackwall radial look often aligns better with a driver-focused car.

Ford-Taunus 17M tires in the listed sizes are available from Michelin, Dunlop, and BFGoodrich. Michelin covers 165R13 through XAS and XAS-FF radial offerings, Dunlop provides a 165R13 SP Sport Aquajet radial, and BFGoodrich supplies the 590-13 and 640-13 bias-ply wide whitewall options.

Brand choice should follow the size and construction your Ford-Taunus 17M actually needs. Once that is settled, the remaining decision is usually whether you want the radial road manners of Michelin or Dunlop, or the period bias-ply appearance and feel associated with the BFGoodrich options.

Ford-Taunus 17M uses several distinct tire series across its listed sizes: Michelin XAS-FF, Michelin XAS, Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet, and BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply. The Michelin and Dunlop lines are radial designs in 165R13, while the BFGoodrich line covers the numeric 590-13 and 640-13 sizes in bias-ply form with wide whitewall styling.

The important difference is not just the brand name but the type of driving character and presentation each series supports. Match the series to the size family your Ford-Taunus 17M requires first, then use tread style, sidewall appearance, and period-correctness goals to refine the choice.

A stored Ford-Taunus 17M should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, solvents, and standing moisture. Tires age from time and environment as much as mileage, and collector cars often sit long enough for that aging to matter. Clean wheels and properly inflated tires also reduce stress during storage.

If the car will sit for months, move it occasionally to avoid creating one contact patch on the same spot, or support it in a way that reduces long-term load on the tires. That is especially important on a Ford-Taunus 17M running bias-ply tires, which can take a temporary set more readily than modern daily-driver radials.

Tires on a Ford-Taunus 17M should be inspected before every drive and given a more careful condition check several times a year. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, irregular wear, air loss, and signs of age around the bead and shoulder areas. Bias-ply wide whitewalls also deserve close attention for weathering and casing fatigue.

Collector cars often cover few miles, so visible wear is not the only measure that matters. A Ford-Taunus 17M that seems fine at a glance may still have age-related issues, especially if it has sat under load or outdoors, so routine inspection needs to be part of the ownership habit.

A Ford-Taunus 17M tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, vibration, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires can age out long before they wear out, and that applies to both the radial and bias-ply options listed for this model. Tread depth alone is not enough to judge serviceability on a lightly used classic.

Any tire on a Ford-Taunus 17M that shows visible deterioration should be treated as suspect until inspected by a knowledgeable tire professional. Replacement intervals depend on storage, climate, use, and construction type, so condition and age should guide the decision more than mileage.

Ford-Taunus 17M used more than one size family across its production run, including 590-13 and 640-13 bias-ply sizes as well as 165R13 and 175R13 radial metric sizes. The listed products show both classic bias-ply and radial series, which reflects the model’s long production span and overlap years. There is no single one-size answer that covers every Ford-Taunus 17M.

For a restoration, the best path is to match the tire to the specific year and configuration rather than the model name alone. Original owner literature, surviving period photos, and model-specific club knowledge are the right references when deciding whether the car should wear a numeric bias-ply whitewall or a metric radial blackwall.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both presentation and judging for a Ford-Taunus 17M. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall style match the era and overall restoration intent. A wide whitewall bias-ply tire gives a different impression from a blackwall radial, even when both fit the same 13-inch wheel diameter.

That does not mean every Ford-Taunus 17M must be restored the same way. A touring or driver-quality car may reasonably prioritize radial behavior, while a show-focused restoration often benefits from period-looking size and sidewall choices that align with the car’s year and trim.

Ford-Taunus 17M restoration choices here center on blackwall and wide whitewall sidewalls. The radial metric offerings are blackwall, while the listed bias-ply 590-13 and 640-13 tires are wide whitewalls. Either can be appropriate depending on the specific year, market presentation, and the restoration goal for the individual car.

A careful restoration should choose sidewall style together with size and construction, not as a separate cosmetic decision. If the car is being presented as an early-1960s period piece, the wide whitewall bias-ply look may be the stronger fit, while a later-use or road-oriented Ford-Taunus 17M may suit blackwall radials better.

A Ford-Taunus 17M can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, properly mounted to the correct 13-inch rims, in sound condition, and matched as a full set by construction type. The listed radial and bias-ply options are both legitimate fitment paths, but they should not be mixed on the same car. Tire age and condition matter as much as size.

Road safety also depends on the rest of the car. Before regular use, make sure the Ford-Taunus 17M has sound suspension, steering, brakes, and wheel hardware, because a freshly mounted tire cannot compensate for neglected chassis condition.

Before driving a Ford-Taunus 17M, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel fasteners, and whether all four tires are the same size family and construction type. On cars using 590-13 or 640-13 bias-ply tires, tube condition and bead seating also deserve attention. A quick visual walkaround can catch many problems before the car moves.

A classic Ford-Taunus 17M should also be checked for age-related mechanical issues beyond the tires, especially if it has been sitting. Short local drives after inspection are the right way to reintroduce a stored car to road use rather than heading straight onto faster roads.

Appropriate speed for a Ford-Taunus 17M depends on the tire construction, tire condition, and the overall state of the car. A radial-equipped car in sound condition will generally feel more settled than a bias-ply-equipped car, while an older bias-ply setup asks for more conservative driving. Age, storage history, and the health of the suspension and brakes are as important as the tire size itself.

The sensible approach is to treat a classic Ford-Taunus 17M with mechanical sympathy rather than drive it like a modern car. Build speed gradually, pay attention to steering feel and vibration, and keep road use within the limits of the tire type and the condition of the car.