Mercury Comet Tires

Mercury Comet fitments in this range include 600-13 and 650-13 for 1961-1963; 6.50-14, 700-14, and 750-14 for 1964; 695-14 and 735-14 for 1965; 695-14, 735-14, and 775-14 for 1966; 735-14, 775-14, and F70-14 for 1967; 6.45-14 and B78-14 for 1971; 6.45-14, B78-14, and D70-14 for 1972; 6.45-14, C78-14, and D70-14 for 1973; 6.45-14, C78-14, D70-14, and D78-14 for 1974; CR78-14, DR78-14, and DR70-14 for 1975; BR78-14, CR78-14, DR70-14, and DR78-14 for 1976; and CR78-14, DR78-14, and DR70-14 for 1977. The 1961-1963 sizes use 13-inch rims, while all listed 1964-1977 sizes use 14-inch rims.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not always enough to choose correctly, especially in years where Mercury Comet offered three or four listed sizes. Start by confirming the wheel diameter on the car, then compare the tire size stamped on any existing tire, the wheel itself, and original service literature or build records for that specific car.

On a Mercury Comet, 600-13 is an early numeric bias-ply size. The 600 indicates a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 13 indicates the rim diameter in inches. The same logic applies to other early numeric Mercury Comet sizes such as 650-13, 700-14, 735-14, and 775-14, where the first number reflects nominal width and the second number is the wheel diameter.

That matters because a numeric bias-ply size can look unfamiliar to buyers used to modern radial sizing. If your Mercury Comet still has its original-style wheels, numeric sizes usually point to a period-correct bias-ply setup, and those applications commonly use tubes. Matching the width range and the correct 13-inch or 14-inch rim is more important than trying to translate the size directly into a modern passenger tire equivalent.

A 1974 Mercury Comet can show four listed sizes because different configurations used different 14-inch fitments in the same model year. The sizes listed for 1974 are 6.45-14, C78-14, D70-14, and D78-14. Since those all stay on the same 14-inch rim diameter, the split is not a wheel-size change but a configuration difference tied to the specific car.

That means a 1974 Mercury Comet owner should not choose a tire by year alone. Check the wheel width, any surviving original tire information, and the car’s trim or equipment level before deciding. If the car has already been restored or modified, verify what is actually on the vehicle now rather than assuming the current wheel and tire package reflects original fitment.

Mercury Comet uses two rim diameters across the years listed here: 13-inch and 14-inch. The 1961 through 1963 sizes, 600-13 and 650-13, fit 13-inch rims. Beginning in 1964, the listed Mercury Comet fitments move to 14-inch wheels, including both numeric bias-ply sizes such as 700-14 and alphanumeric sizes such as F70-14, D70-14, and the later CR78-14 and DR78-14 radial codes.

That wheel-diameter change is the first thing to verify on any Mercury Comet because an otherwise similar-looking tire cannot be mounted to the wrong rim size. If the car is an early-1960s Comet, confirm whether it still carries its original 13-inch wheels. If it is a 1964 or later car, confirm whether the present wheels match the year and configuration before narrowing the exact tire size.

Mercury Comet spans both bias-ply and radial-era sizing in the years listed here. Early and mid-period sizes such as 600-13, 650-13, 700-14, 695-14, 775-14, F70-14, B78-14, C78-14, and D70-14 are bias-ply formats, while later sizes such as BR78-14, CR78-14, DR78-14, and DR70-14 are radial formats. The correct choice depends first on which size family your specific Mercury Comet uses.

If your goal is restoration accuracy, stay with the construction type associated with the original size family for your year and configuration. If your Mercury Comet is a later car listed with radial sizes, use the radial fitment specified for that application. The safest approach is to avoid treating bias-ply and radial fitments as interchangeable just because they share the same nominal 14-inch wheel diameter.

A Mercury Comet fitted with a radial-size application such as CR78-14, DR78-14, BR78-14, or DR70-14 will have a different driving character than one on earlier bias-ply sizes. Radial and bias-ply tires are built differently, and the later alphanumeric radial sizes listed for 1975-1977 reflect a different tire technology than the earlier numeric and non-R alphanumeric bias-ply fitments used through 1974.

For the owner, that means steering feel, ride quality, and visual stance can differ depending on which original fitment family the car belongs to. A late Mercury Comet meant for radial sizing should be kept within that radial family, while a restoration of an earlier bias-ply Comet should preserve the tire type that matches the car’s period and intended appearance.

Mercury Comet fitments in these years are separated into bias-ply and radial size families, and they should be treated as distinct systems rather than mixed casually. Early numeric and non-R alphanumeric sizes are bias-ply, while later sizes with an R in the code such as CR78-14 and DR78-14 are radial. Mixing those construction types on the same Mercury Comet is not a sound approach for a collector car expected to drive predictably.

Keep all four tires matched in size family and construction type. If your Mercury Comet is a 1975-1977 radial-era application, use a matched radial set in the correct listed size. If it is an earlier car built around bias-ply sizing, keep the set consistent front to rear and side to side, especially if the car is being restored to original driving feel and appearance.

A 1966 Mercury Comet has three listed sizes: 695-14, 735-14, and 775-14, all on 14-inch rims. That means the correct fitment depends on the exact configuration rather than the year alone. The size should be verified against the wheel diameter, the wheel width, any surviving original tire placard information, and marque or service literature for that specific Mercury Comet.

In the garage, begin with what the car physically has today: check the wheel diameter and measure or confirm the wheel width if needed. Then compare that with the tire size family associated with your car’s trim, engine package, and restoration goals. That process is more reliable than simply selecting the widest listed tire or copying a different Comet from the same model year.

Mercury Comet tire offerings here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, goldline, blueline, pin white stripe, raised white letter, and raised white letter with blue streak styling. The available sidewall treatments vary by size and by era. Earlier 1960s Mercury Comet bias-ply sizes lean heavily toward blackwall and whitewall options, while some mid- and late-1960s and early-1970s sizes add performance-era stripe treatments.

That gives a restorer room to match the car’s personality more closely. A simple compact or family-oriented Mercury Comet often looks most natural with blackwalls or whitewalls, while sportier mid-1960s applications may call for redline, goldline, or other period performance sidewalls. Always choose the sidewall style only after the correct base tire size and construction type have been established.

The Mercury Comet products listed here come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, US Royal, Firestone, Universal Vintage Tire, and Goodyear. Brand coverage varies by size. Some sizes are limited to one or two makers, while others such as 750-14, 695-14, 775-14, and F70-14 have a broader spread of period-style choices across multiple brands and series.

Brand choice matters most after the fitment is settled. Once you know the correct Mercury Comet size, you can compare brands by sidewall styling, series character, and how closely the tire matches the look you want for a preservation car, a judged restoration, or a driver-focused collector car. The key is to treat brand as the final decision, not the starting point.

Mercury Comet tires in these listings include series such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Custom Super Cushion, Blue Streak, Power Cushion, Wide Oval, Custom Wide Tread, Speedway Wide Tread, and Universal Classic Bias Ply. Those series reflect different period styles and intended character, from standard classic bias-ply replacements to more performance-oriented lines with raised white letters or stripe treatments.

For a buyer, the series choice is mainly about matching the look and personality of the car once the correct size has been identified. A stock early Mercury Comet may call for a straightforward classic bias-ply whitewall or blackwall, while a later sporty Comet may suit a Wide Oval, Blue Streak, or Wide Tread presentation. Keep the series consistent with the era the car represents.

A Mercury Comet should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Tires on collector cars age as much from environment and inactivity as from mileage. Bias-ply Mercury Comet tires especially benefit from proper inflation during storage and from minimizing long periods of concentrated load on one contact patch.

For practical care, keep the car on a clean surface, move it periodically if it will sit for months, and maintain inflation appropriate to the tire and vehicle setup. If the Mercury Comet will be down for an extended restoration or winter layup, many owners also reduce stress on the tires by using stands in a way that supports the car correctly and safely.

Tires on a Mercury Comet should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times during the season. Collector cars often spend long stretches parked, which can hide aging, cracking, flat spotting, and pressure loss until the car is put back into use. On older bias-ply Mercury Comet fitments, sidewall condition and bead area condition deserve especially careful attention.

A good routine is to check inflation, tread condition, sidewall condition, and any signs of separation or impact damage each time the car comes out of storage or before highway use. Also look for uneven wear that may indicate suspension, alignment, or wheel issues. Regular inspection matters just as much on lightly driven cars as it does on cars that see frequent road miles.

Mercury Comet tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out. Any tire showing sidewall cracking, persistent flat spotting, vibration, impact damage, or signs of internal deterioration has reached the point where replacement should take priority over remaining tread depth.

That is especially true for a Mercury Comet that is driven infrequently, because low mileage can create a false sense of security. A tire can look visually respectable and still be unsuitable for road use. Treat age and condition as seriously as tread wear, and have any questionable older tire evaluated before relying on it for touring, regular road miles, or sustained-speed driving.

Mercury Comet used multiple original-style tire families across the years covered here, including early 13-inch numeric bias-ply sizes, later 14-inch numeric bias-ply sizes, muscle-era alphanumeric bias-ply sizes, and later alphanumeric radial sizes. The size changed by year and configuration, and several years list more than one possible fitment. The available series also reflect different period styles, including classic bias-ply, Wide Oval, Blue Streak, and other era-specific lines.

For a restoration, the right answer is the tire size and style that matches your exact Mercury Comet year and configuration, not simply any tire that fits the wheel. Original brochures, factory service literature, period photographs, and marque-club expertise are the best references when you want to match the car’s factory-delivered appearance closely.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the appearance and the judged authenticity of a Mercury Comet. Size, sidewall treatment, construction type, and overall stance all influence how accurate the finished car looks. On collector vehicles, judges and knowledgeable buyers often notice whether the tire belongs to the right era and whether the wheel-and-tire combination matches the character of the specific car.

That does not mean every Mercury Comet needs a concours-level tire choice, but it does mean the tire should support the restoration’s goal. If the car is intended for high-level judging, verify the correct size family and sidewall style for the exact year and configuration. If it is a driver-quality restoration, period-appropriate appearance is still worth preserving because it shapes first impressions immediately.

The correct sidewall style for a Mercury Comet restoration depends on the year, the size, and the character of the car. Available styles in these fitments include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, redline, dual-redline, goldline, blueline, pin white stripe, and raised white letter variations. Early 1960s Mercury Comet restorations usually align more naturally with blackwall or whitewall presentations, while some later 1960s and 1970s applications support sportier stripe or lettered styles.

The best approach is to decide the sidewall style after you have settled the exact size and construction type. A family-oriented compact restored to showroom flavor will often look right with understated blackwalls or whitewalls, while a sporty Mercury Comet may warrant a redline or raised-white-letter treatment. Period photos and marque references help settle the finer points.

A Mercury Comet can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, in sound condition, properly mounted to the correct rim diameter, and appropriate to the car’s year and setup. The major fitment concerns here are the early 13-inch to later 14-inch wheel change and the distinction between bias-ply and radial-era applications. Safety depends on condition and correctness more than appearance alone.

Before regular road use, confirm that all four tires match in size and construction family, that pressures are set appropriately, and that the car’s steering and suspension are in good order. A collector Mercury Comet should also be driven within the limitations of its tire type, especially if it retains period-style bias-ply tires that will not behave like modern performance radials.

Before driving a Mercury Comet, inspect tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and overall age-related condition. Confirm that the tires match the wheel diameter and that the set is consistent in size family and construction. On an older Mercury Comet, it is also wise to check for flat spotting from storage and for any vibration or pulling that could point to tire or suspension issues.

A practical pre-drive routine only takes a few minutes and can prevent a roadside problem. Walk around the car, look for cracking or bulges, confirm inflation, and make sure the wheels and lug hardware are secure. If the Mercury Comet has been sitting for a long period, take the first miles gently and pay close attention to how the car tracks, steers, and brakes.

A Mercury Comet on original-style tires should be driven at speeds appropriate to the tire’s construction, age, and the overall condition of the car. Early and mid-period Mercury Comet bias-ply tires are best treated with more restraint than a modern radial-equipped car, even when they are new reproductions. The goal is steady, measured road use rather than demanding the kind of sustained-speed behavior expected from modern performance tires.

In practice, keep speed in line with road conditions, vehicle condition, and the tire type fitted to the car. A later Mercury Comet on correct radial-era sizing may feel more settled than an earlier bias-ply car, but either one deserves conservative use by modern standards. If the car will be driven beyond local show and cruise use, regular inspection and realistic speed discipline matter greatly.