Lloyd LT Tires

Lloyd LT models from 1953 through 1958 use either 135R15 radial tires or 500-15 bias-ply tires, both built for 15-inch rims. Lloyd LT models from 1959 through 1962 use either 155R13 radial tires or 560-13 bias-ply tires, both built for 13-inch rims. Those four sizes cover the full year range shown for the Lloyd LT.

The practical choice starts with the wheel diameter on the actual car, because a 15-inch tire will not fit a 13-inch wheel and vice versa. After that, decide whether you want a radial for more modern road manners or a period-style bias-ply for a more original look and feel. If the car has changed wheels during restoration, match the tire to the wheel actually installed rather than the model year alone.

On a Lloyd LT, 500-15 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size used on 1953 through 1958 cars. The 500 refers to a nominal section width of about 5.00 inches, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. The available products in this size are bias-ply tires built for 15-inch rims.

That means 500-15 is the period-style option for early Lloyd LT models running 15-inch wheels rather than the metric radial alternative. Buyers restoring a more original appearance often choose this style, especially when sidewall presentation matters. Because the listed products in this size are bias-ply tires, plan on tube-type fitment when preparing the wheel and tire package.

Lloyd LT rim diameter depends on the year group. Cars from 1953 through 1958 use 15-inch rim fitments with either 135R15 or 500-15 tires, while cars from 1959 through 1962 use 13-inch rim fitments with either 155R13 or 560-13 tires. The production change to 13-inch wheels begins in 1959.

Rim diameter is the first measurement to verify because it decides which pair of tire sizes even belongs on the car. Check the wheels already installed, especially if the car has been restored, imported, or modified decades after production. Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, you can narrow the choice to radial versus bias-ply and then to sidewall style where applicable.

Inner tubes are required for the bias-ply Lloyd LT sizes listed here, which are 500-15 and 560-13. Those sizes are offered as bias-ply constructions, and tube-type fitment is appropriate for that style of tire. The radial sizes, 135R15 and 155R13, are modern radial offerings and are not presented in the same tube-required way.

Tube choice matters because it affects how the tire seats, seals, and behaves in service on a collector car that may spend long periods parked. If you are fitting a bias-ply Lloyd LT tire, make sure the wheel condition, valve hardware, and tube specification all match the application. That extra attention is especially important on older wheels where corrosion, paint build, or previous repairs can create mounting problems.

Lloyd LT fitments include both bias-ply and radial choices, but the correct decision starts with the wheel diameter and year group. Early 1953-1958 cars use either 500-15 bias-ply or 135R15 radial tires on 15-inch rims, while 1959-1962 cars use either 560-13 bias-ply or 155R13 radial tires on 13-inch rims. Both construction types are represented within the listed Lloyd LT sizes.

Choose bias-ply if your priority is period appearance and a more original-era driving feel, especially for show-focused restorations. Choose radial if your priority is more modern road behavior within the correct rim diameter for your car. The best result comes from keeping all four tires the same construction type and making sure the wheel width and wheel condition suit the tire you intend to fit.

Yes, radial tires can noticeably change how a Lloyd LT feels compared with bias-ply tires. The Lloyd LT sizes listed here show radial options in 135R15 and 155R13, while the period-style alternatives in 500-15 and 560-13 are bias-ply. That means a radial-equipped Lloyd LT will typically deliver a different steering and road feel than the same car on bias-ply tires.

For many owners, the main effect is that the car feels more settled and modern in ordinary driving, while bias-ply tires preserve a more authentic mid-century character. The choice should match how you intend to use the car: touring, local driving, display, or judged restoration. Make the change as a complete set rather than experimenting corner by corner, and keep the tire size matched to the correct 15-inch or 13-inch wheel group.

A Lloyd LT should not be treated casually when it comes to mixing bias-ply and radial construction. The listed fitments show that the model can use either type within the proper year and wheel-diameter group, but they are distinct constructions with different behavior. A mixed set can produce inconsistent steering response and road manners that are harder to predict on a light, small-displacement collector car.

The better practice is to fit the Lloyd LT with one construction type at all four corners and to stay within the correct size family for the car’s wheel diameter. If a car currently has mismatched tires, use that as a prompt to inspect the wheels and verify what the restoration or prior owner was trying to accomplish. Consistency usually delivers the most confidence, whether the goal is authenticity or practical road use.

A 1959 Lloyd LT falls into the later production group that uses 13-inch wheels, so the listed sizes are 155R13 for radial fitment and 560-13 for bias-ply fitment. That year marks the change away from the earlier 15-inch setup used through 1958. The year alone points you toward the later size family, but the wheel on the car still needs to match.

Start by checking the stamping or actual diameter of the wheel, then compare that with the tire already mounted if the car has an existing usable reference. From there, decide whether you want a radial driving character or a more period-style bias-ply presentation. If the car has been altered in the course of restoration, the wheel diameter on the car takes priority over assumptions tied only to the calendar year.

Lloyd LT tire offerings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall styles depending on the size selected. The radial sizes listed here are blackwall only, while the bias-ply sizes include blackwall as well as whitewall choices such as 1.00-inch, 2.00-inch, and 2.25-inch whitewall treatments. Sidewall styling therefore depends as much on construction and period presentation as it does on size.

That matters because sidewall appearance strongly influences how finished the car looks, especially on a compact 1950s-1960s design where the tire sits visually close to the body. A blackwall radial suits a practical driver or later-road-use presentation, while a whitewall bias-ply can support a more period-authentic restoration look. Match the sidewall style to the era you are representing and to the wheel diameter your Lloyd LT actually uses.

Lloyd LT tire options here come from Michelin, Firestone, BFGoodrich, and Dunlop. Michelin appears in the 135R15 and 155R13 radial sizes, Firestone appears in both radial and bias-ply offerings, BFGoodrich appears in the bias-ply sizes, and Dunlop appears in 155R13 radial fitment. That gives Lloyd LT owners multiple period-appropriate and road-use-oriented directions depending on size and construction choice.

Brand matters most after the fitment basics are settled, not before. First confirm whether your Lloyd LT uses 15-inch or 13-inch wheels, then decide whether you want bias-ply or radial construction, and only then compare brand and sidewall presentation within that group. That sequence helps avoid the common mistake of picking a favorite brand first and only later discovering the size belongs to the wrong wheel diameter.

Lloyd LT tire series listed here include Michelin X M+S 89, Michelin ZX, F560 Radial, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Dirt Track, Michelin XAS-FF, and SP Sport Aquajet. The main difference is construction approach: some are metric radial road tires, some are classic bias-ply street tires, and one 500-15 option is a Dirt Track ribbed front tire rather than a standard passenger-road presentation. Those series names tell you whether the tire is aimed at modernized road use, period-correct restoration, or a specialized use case.

For most Lloyd LT owners, the real decision is between standard road-going radial and standard road-going bias-ply designs. The more specialized series should be selected only when its intended character matches the project. A show restoration usually centers on classic bias-ply street patterns and suitable sidewall style, while a driver-oriented Lloyd LT often makes better sense on the radial choices within the correct wheel diameter group.

A Lloyd LT should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Tire pressure should be checked before storage, and the car should not be left for long periods with one corner overloaded or with obvious flat spotting beginning to form. Both radial and bias-ply Lloyd LT tires benefit from a stable environment and regular attention during off-season storage.

If the car will sit for months, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one patch of tread, especially with bias-ply tires that can develop temporary flat spots more readily. Keep petroleum products off the sidewalls and tread. Good storage habits matter as much as mileage on a collector car, because age and environment often do more to shorten tire life than actual road use.

Tires on a Lloyd LT should be inspected before every meaningful drive and at regular intervals even when the car is not being used often. Check pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, uneven wear, valve condition, and any signs that the tire has shifted on the wheel or suffered impact damage. On a collector car, long periods of inactivity can hide deterioration that is not obvious at a quick glance.

A hands-on routine works best: look closely, feel for bulges or distortion, and inspect the inside sidewall when the wheel is off the car. Bias-ply setups deserve extra attention because tube, flap, and rim condition all influence serviceability. If the Lloyd LT has been parked for an extended period, inspect the tires before moving the car at road speed rather than assuming low mileage means they remain healthy.

A Lloyd LT tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, impact damage, cord exposure, or persistent air-loss issues appear, even if tread depth still looks acceptable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on low-mileage cars used mostly for shows or occasional drives. The decision should be driven by condition and age, not tread alone.

That principle is important on a Lloyd LT because a small, lightweight car still depends heavily on tire integrity for braking, steering, and stability. If the rubber feels stiff or the sidewalls show weathering, replacement is usually wiser than trying to stretch service life. Keep a record of installation dates, inspect annually at minimum, and treat any older spare with the same skepticism you would apply to the tires carrying the car.

Lloyd LT fitment during 1953-1962 spans both bias-ply and radial-style size families, with 135R15 and 500-15 used on 1953-1958 cars and 155R13 and 560-13 used on 1959-1962 cars. The available tire series include classic bias-ply offerings and several radial designs, which shows that more than one restoration direction is possible depending on the specific car and the phase of production. Originality therefore depends on the exact year, wheel diameter, and restoration goal.

For a strict restoration, the strongest approach is to begin with the wheel diameter and period appearance you are trying to represent, then compare that against factory literature, surviving cars, and marque-club guidance. A whitewall bias-ply may be visually right for one presentation, while a blackwall radial may suit another. The Lloyd LT changed enough over its run that authenticity should be tied to the individual car rather than assumed across the whole model span.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and perceived value of a Lloyd LT, especially in judged or enthusiast circles. Wheel diameter, construction type, sidewall style, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks faithful to its era. A Lloyd LT wearing the wrong rim diameter or an obviously mismatched tire style can look out of period even to casual observers.

That does not mean every owner needs a concours-perfect solution, but it does mean the tire choice should match the car’s purpose. A touring car can justify a practical radial approach, while a judged restoration may benefit from a more era-consistent bias-ply and sidewall treatment. If the car will be shown, review club standards and period photos before finalizing the tire package, because tires are one of the most visible finishing details on the vehicle.

Lloyd LT tire offerings here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Blackwalls appear on the radial options and also on one 500-15 bias-ply, while the bias-ply selections also include whitewall variations in both 15-inch and 13-inch sizes. That means the visually correct sidewall for a Lloyd LT restoration depends on which year group, wheel diameter, and presentation standard you are aiming to recreate.

A practical way to decide is to work from period photos, sales literature, and the look of similarly restored cars rather than choosing by preference alone. Whitewalls can transform the character of a small postwar car, but they need to suit the rest of the restoration to look intentional. If your Lloyd LT is being restored to a clean, driver-oriented appearance, a blackwall may be more convincing than a whitewall chosen simply for contrast.

A Lloyd LT can be driven on public roads when the tires fitted are the correct size for the wheel diameter, are in sound condition, and match the way the car is intended to be used. The listed choices include both radial and bias-ply tires, and each can be appropriate when properly fitted to the correct 15-inch or 13-inch wheel group. Safety depends more on correct fitment and condition than on style alone.

Before regular road use, make sure the tire age, inflation, wheel condition, brakes, steering, and suspension all deserve confidence. A small vintage car can feel stable and enjoyable when sorted, but a poor tire choice or an aged tire will undermine every other mechanical improvement. Treat the tire decision as part of a complete roadworthiness review rather than as an isolated cosmetic choice.

Before driving a Lloyd LT, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel security, and whether all four tires are the same size family and appropriate construction for the car. Also confirm that a 1953-1958 car is on 15-inch fitment or that a 1959-1962 car is on 13-inch fitment unless the wheels have been intentionally changed. Any visible cracking, bulging, or unexplained loss of pressure deserves attention before the car moves at speed.

Once the tire basics are covered, give equal attention to brakes, steering play, suspension wear, and wheel bearings, because old-car road manners depend on the whole system working together. A short driveway roll is not enough to judge readiness after storage. Build a habit of checking the Lloyd LT before each outing, especially if the car is used only occasionally and spends long periods parked between drives.

A Lloyd LT should be driven at modest, sensible speeds that match its vintage design, tire construction, and mechanical condition. Bias-ply tires such as 500-15 and 560-13 generally encourage a more conservative pace than the radial options, and even a radial-equipped Lloyd LT remains a small mid-century collector car rather than a modern highway machine. The appropriate speed is the one that keeps the car composed, predictable, and within the comfort of its tires and chassis.

The best approach is to build speed gradually after confirming tire pressure and overall condition, then stay within the limits suggested by steering feel, braking confidence, and road surface quality. If the car feels unsettled, wanders, or reacts sharply to grooves and bumps, reduce speed and inspect the setup. Collector cars reward mechanical sympathy, and the Lloyd LT is happiest when driven in a way that respects both its engineering era and its tire choice.