Metropolitan 1500 Tires

Metropolitan 1500 uses two listed tire sizes across the 1955 through 1962 model years: 520-13 and 560-13. Both are bias-ply sizes for 13-inch rims. The 520-13 products are listed for 3.5-inch or 3.50 to 4.00-inch rim widths, while the 560-13 products are listed for 3.50 to 4.50-inch rim widths depending on the tire.

That means the key fitment decision is not the model year, since both sizes appear through the full production span, but which wheel width and visual profile your specific Metropolitan 1500 has. A narrower 520-13 gives one period look, while 560-13 provides a wider stance. Measure the wheel, read any markings on the existing tire if present, and compare the car's appearance goals before choosing.

On Metropolitan 1500, 520-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 520 identifies a nominal section width of about 5.20 inches, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. The available 520-13 products are built for 13-inch rims and are paired with listed rim widths of 3.5 inches or 3.50 to 4.00 inches.

Modern owners often expect a more detailed metric code, but older domestic sizes are much simpler and depend on wheel width and vehicle appearance as much as raw dimensions. If your Metropolitan 1500 already wears a 520-13 and the wheel width matches the listed range, that is a strong starting point. Because these are bias-ply applications, tube use is part of the normal fitment approach.

A 1957 Metropolitan 1500 has two sizes listed because every Metropolitan 1500 year from 1955 through 1962 carries both 520-13 and 560-13 as supported fitments. The split is not a wheel diameter change, since both sizes use 13-inch rims, and it is not a construction split because the listed products are all bias ply. It is best understood as a same-era fitment variation within the same overall wheel diameter.

For an owner, that means a single model year does not automatically answer the fitment question. Look at the wheels actually on the car, check the width range the tire is designed to fit, and decide whether you are preserving an existing setup or aiming for a specific restoration look. That extra step matters more than the calendar year on Metropolitan 1500.

Metropolitan 1500 is listed here only with numeric bias-ply tire sizes, and the available products are all bias-ply construction. In that type of collector-car fitment, a tube is required. That applies to both 520-13 and 560-13 in the available range.

Inner tubes are part of the overall assembly, not an afterthought, so they should be matched to the tire size and installed carefully with the rest of the wheel hardware in sound condition. When a Metropolitan 1500 has sat for long periods, it is also wise to inspect the rim interior, valve area, and any old flap or tube components before refitting tires for regular use.

A 1960 Metropolitan 1500 can use either 520-13 or 560-13, and both sizes are listed on 13-inch rims. The practical differences are section width and the rim-width range each tire supports. The 520-13 options are listed for 3.5-inch or 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, while the 560-13 options span 3.50 to 4.50-inch rims depending on the product.

Start by measuring the wheel width and checking what the car wears now if the setup appears settled and properly centered in the wheel opening. Then decide whether your goal is a narrower original-style look or a slightly fuller bias-ply profile. If the car is a restoration, compare against period photos, prior ownership records, or marque-club guidance so the final choice suits the car rather than just the year.

Metropolitan 1500 tires are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles within the listed products. The 520-13 offerings include blackwall, 5/8-inch whitewall, 1.25-inch whitewall, and 2.00-inch whitewall choices. The 560-13 offerings include 1.00-inch whitewall and 2.25-inch whitewall versions.

That range gives a Metropolitan 1500 owner room to tune the finished look from modest and understated to more period-accessory oriented. Narrow whitewalls generally preserve a restrained small-car appearance, while wide whitewalls push the car toward a more stylized late-1950s presentation. If originality matters, compare the sidewall treatment to surviving photos of your own car or the restoration standard you are trying to match.

Three brands appear in the available Metropolitan 1500 tire range: Firestone, Premium Sport, and BFGoodrich. Firestone products appear in both 520-13 and 560-13 sizes. Premium Sport appears in 520-13 offerings, and BFGoodrich appears in 560-13 offerings.

Brand choice on a collector car like Metropolitan 1500 is often about balancing appearance, sidewall style, and the period character you want the car to show. One owner may prefer a blackwall or classic branded whitewall, while another may want a narrower lowrider-style whitewall presentation. After confirming the correct size, compare the brand and sidewall combination to the look you want the car to carry at shows and on the road.

Metropolitan 1500 products appear in three tire series: Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Premium Sport Lowrider, and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply. All of them are bias-ply constructions, but they differ in brand identity and sidewall presentation. Firestone Classic Bias Ply and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply emphasize traditional period-style passenger-car fitment, while Premium Sport Lowrider focuses on whitewall styling options within the same small-diameter format.

For a Metropolitan 1500 owner, the series choice is mainly about the finished visual character rather than switching to a different construction technology. A classic bias-ply series may suit a more factory-minded restoration, while the Premium Sport options can lean into custom or boulevard styling. Once the size and wheel width are settled, the tire series helps define whether the car presents as stock, accessorized, or more individualized.

Metropolitan 1500 should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large swings in temperature. Keep the tires properly inflated, roll the car occasionally if it will remain on the ground, and avoid letting one spot of the tread carry the car's weight for months at a time. Clean tires with mild soap and water rather than dressings that can leave residues on older-style sidewalls.

A small collector car can develop flat spotting or sidewall stress surprisingly quickly if it is left untouched in one position. If your Metropolitan 1500 is parked for extended periods, periodic movement or careful support under the chassis can help reduce strain. Storage habits matter as much as mileage on collector tires, especially when the car is driven only seasonally.

Tires on a Metropolitan 1500 should be inspected at the start of each driving season and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, uneven tread wear, embedded debris, loss of inflation, valve issues, and signs that the tube or bead area may be causing trouble. Because these are bias-ply applications, inspect for shape changes or bulges as carefully as you inspect tread depth.

Collector cars often age their tires by time and storage conditions rather than by accumulated miles. A Metropolitan 1500 that feels fine on short local drives can still have age-related issues that show up only under heat and sustained running. Regular visual checks, plus occasional professional inspection, help catch problems before they become a roadside failure or wheel-damaging event.

Tires on a Metropolitan 1500 should be replaced when they show sidewall cracking, hardening, weather checking, persistent air loss, impact damage, tread separation signs, or any distortion that suggests structural age rather than simple wear. Collector tires can look usable long after their materials have begun to deteriorate. Tread depth alone is not a reliable measure of serviceability on a low-mileage classic car.

That is especially important on a Metropolitan 1500 that spends much of its life parked, displayed, or driven only occasionally. Replace on condition and age, not just miles, and inspect tubes and wheel condition at the same time so the whole assembly is refreshed together. When in doubt, err toward replacement before road use rather than trying to stretch the life of an aging set.

Metropolitan 1500 is represented here by two period-style bias-ply sizes, 520-13 and 560-13, across the 1955 to 1962 model years. The available products also span multiple classic-style series and several sidewall treatments, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall. That tells a restorer that more than one historically appropriate presentation exists within the overall Metropolitan 1500 range.

For a specific Metropolitan 1500, the best restoration result comes from matching the tire to the car's own history rather than assuming one universal original fitment. Period photos, surviving old tires, factory literature, and marque-club guidance can help separate a true original-style setup from a later replacement choice. Use the listed sizes as the fitment framework, then refine the final selection around authenticity goals.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Metropolitan 1500 is viewed in restoration judging and by knowledgeable buyers. Size, sidewall style, and overall profile all contribute to whether the car looks properly sorted for its era. A Metropolitan 1500 on the wrong width tire or an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment can change the stance and visual balance enough to stand out immediately.

For owners concerned with show scoring or long-term value, tire selection should be treated as part of the restoration, not as a final accessory. Matching the car's intended standard—factory-style, period dealer look, or tasteful custom presentation—usually matters more than choosing the most visually dramatic whitewall available. Marque clubs and period photography are useful references when the goal is judged authenticity.

Metropolitan 1500 tires are available here in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall forms, so the correct sidewall style depends on the presentation you want to restore. Blackwall suits a plain, functional look, while narrow whitewalls fit many period passenger-car restorations. Wide whitewalls create a stronger late-1950s visual statement and can be appropriate when the car's history or style direction supports it.

A good restoration decision starts with the car's trim level, original appearance if known, and the era-specific look you are trying to preserve. Metropolitan 1500 is a small car, so sidewall width changes its personality quickly and visibly. Before deciding, compare the available whitewall widths against period images of comparable cars so the finished result looks intentional rather than oversized for the car.

Bias-ply tires in the listed Metropolitan 1500 sizes can be suitable for public-road use when they are new, correctly fitted, properly inflated, and mounted on sound wheels. The available sizes are traditional 13-inch bias-ply applications, and they should be treated as classic-car tires rather than modern high-speed touring tires. Their behavior and limits are different from modern radial passenger tires.

That means a Metropolitan 1500 should be driven with the expectations appropriate to a small vintage car on period-style rubber. Keep speeds moderate, allow more time for steering response and braking feel, and inspect the entire tire-and-wheel assembly regularly. Safe road use depends as much on the condition of the wheels, suspension, and brakes as it does on the tire itself.

Before driving a Metropolitan 1500, check inflation pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and any sign that the tire is rubbing or sitting oddly on the wheel. Confirm that the tire size matches the wheel width range and that the car is carrying a consistent set rather than a mix of unrelated sizes. On a bias-ply setup, even small irregularities in shape or inflation are worth taking seriously.

A short pre-drive walkaround is especially important if the Metropolitan 1500 has been parked for weeks or months. Collector cars often reveal age-related tire issues only after storage, temperature change, or the first few miles of use. If anything looks questionable, inspect it before driving farther rather than assuming the tire will round out or settle in on its own.

A Metropolitan 1500 on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible, moderate speeds that respect the limits of older tire construction and the car itself. These tires are intended to preserve classic handling character and appearance, not to duplicate modern radial performance at sustained highway pace. Smooth inputs and conservative cruising suit the tire type far better than aggressive lane changes or prolonged high-speed running.

In practical terms, treat your Metropolitan 1500 as a vintage small car first and a modern traffic participant second. Build speed gradually, leave extra stopping distance, and avoid using the car in ways that demand emergency handling from an older-style bias-ply setup. If long-distance road use is planned, inspect the tires beforehand and recheck them during the trip while they are still cool and clean.