Saab 750 & 850 GT Tires

The listed tire size for Saab 750 & 850 GT models from 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967 is 155R15. All available products for this fitment use a 15-inch rim diameter, and the product range shown is entirely radial construction. Several examples also specify compatible wheel widths in roughly the 4.0- to 5.5-inch range, depending on the tire series.

That makes size selection relatively straightforward, but the correct choice still depends on how the individual car is equipped today. Check the wheel diameter stamped on the wheel or confirm it against original Saab literature, then compare wheel width and whether the tire is marked tube-type or tubeless before settling on a specific tire.

On a Saab 750 & 850 GT, 155R15 is a euro-metric radial size. The 155 refers to the tire’s nominal section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 15 refers to the rim diameter in inches. Some of the listed products add service markings such as 82T, 82H, 82S, TL, or TT, which distinguish load, speed, and whether the casing is intended for tubeless or tube-type use.

For a collector Saab owner, that means two tires with very similar-looking size markings can still differ in how they should be mounted and used. Once the basic 155R15 size is confirmed, compare the rest of the sidewall code so the tire matches the wheel, intended driving style, and the level of originality you want from the finished car.

The Saab 750 & 850 GT fitment shown here uses a 15-inch rim diameter throughout the listed years. Every available product tied to this application is built for a 15-inch wheel, even when the full sidewall marking varies slightly from 155R15 to 155HR15 or 155SR15. The wheel width ranges attached to those products generally run from about 4.0 inches to 5.5 inches.

Rim diameter is the first measurement to confirm because a tire can only seat on the correct wheel diameter. After that, verify the actual wheel width on the car, especially if the Saab has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life.

For the years covered here, Saab 750 & 850 GT models use one listed size: 155R15 on a 15-inch rim. That simplifies the initial fitment question, but there are still important differences among the available tires, including rim-width range, service description, and whether the casing is marked tubeless or tube-type. Those differences matter even when the basic size stays the same.

Start with the wheel already on the car and verify its diameter and width, then compare the sidewall marking of the old tire if it is still present. If the car is being restored to a specific period appearance, use original Saab literature, a trusted restorer, or a marque club reference to decide which of the available radial versions best suits the car.

The available Saab 750 & 850 GT tires shown here are blackwall tires. That includes the Firestone, Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein products in the 155R15 family. No whitewall or specialty sidewall treatment appears in this fitment group.

Blackwall styling is consistent with the practical, sporting character most enthusiasts associate with early Saab applications. If your goal is a period-correct restoration or a restrained driver-quality presentation, staying with a blackwall radial keeps the appearance in line with the car’s original character while preserving the correct overall fitment direction.

Five brands appear in the Saab 750 & 850 GT tire selection: Firestone, Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein, with Michelin represented by multiple tire series. Within those brands, the listed series include Firestone F560 Radial, Michelin X, Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, Avon CR6ZZ, Vredestein Snow Classic, and Vredestein Sprint Classic. All are 15-inch radial offerings for the same basic fitment.

Brand choice on a collector Saab usually comes down to how you plan to use the car and how closely you want the tire’s look and driving character to match the period. Some owners prioritize a classic touring feel, while others want a more performance-oriented radial or a seasonal tread pattern better suited to occasional driving conditions.

Saab 750 & 850 GT fitments here include several distinct radial tire series: Firestone F560 Radial, Michelin X, Michelin XAS, Michelin XAS-FF, Avon CR6ZZ, Vredestein Snow Classic, and Vredestein Sprint Classic. They share the same basic 15-inch fitment family but differ in tread design, intended driving character, service markings, and in some cases tube-type versus tubeless designation. That means they are not simply duplicates with different brand names.

Choosing among them depends on whether your Saab is being restored for touring, spirited road use, winter-capable seasonal driving, or a more period-evocative presentation. Once the 155R15 fitment is confirmed, compare the tire series carefully so the tread pattern, construction details, and mounting requirements align with how the car will actually be used.

A Saab 750 & 850 GT should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires inflated to an appropriate pressure for storage, and if the car will sit for long periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged flat spotting. Clean, dry wheels and tires also help preserve the casing and sidewall.

Collector Saabs are often driven infrequently, which can age tires differently from daily-driver use. Good storage habits help preserve ride quality and appearance, and they also reduce the chance that a tire which looks fine at a glance has quietly deteriorated from age, environmental exposure, or long static loading.

Tires on a Saab 750 & 850 GT should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, flat spotting, punctures, irregular wear, bead damage, and any signs that a tube-type installation or tubeless installation has been mismatched. Inflation pressure should also be checked with the tires cold.

Because collector cars often spend long stretches parked, age-related issues can develop even when tread wear is minimal. A careful inspection routine is especially important on a lightweight, early Saab, where tire condition has a strong influence on steering feel, braking consistency, and confidence at normal road speeds.

Tires on a Saab 750 & 850 GT should be replaced when they show age cracking, hardening, sidewall deterioration, impact damage, tread separation, or any structural irregularity, even if the tread still appears deep. Collector tires can age out long before they wear out. Tube-type tires and tubeless tires alike deserve replacement when their condition raises doubt about casing integrity.

Low annual mileage often gives owners a false sense of security, especially on a car used mainly for shows and occasional fair-weather driving. If the Saab has spent years parked or the age of the tires is uncertain, replacement is usually wiser than trying to stretch service life from rubber that no longer matches the demands of road use.

The fitment range shown for Saab 750 & 850 GT centers on 155R15-sized radial tires on 15-inch wheels, with multiple radial series available from Firestone, Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein. Because several tire series appear within the same basic fitment, the exact original tire specification for a particular Saab 750 & 850 GT can depend on year, market, and how the car was equipped when new.

For an accurate restoration, use the listed 155R15 fitment as the starting point, then verify details against period owner’s literature, road tests, or Saab club resources. That approach helps you select a tire that respects the car’s original engineering while also matching the look and driving character you want from the finished restoration.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Saab 750 & 850 GT is judged, presented, and valued. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall stance match the car’s era and intended specification. Even when the basic size is right, an obviously modern-looking alternative can change the impression of an otherwise carefully restored Saab.

That does not mean every owner must pursue the same standard. A preservation car, touring car, and concours restoration may each justify a different choice within the proper 155R15 family, but the most successful results come from matching the tire to the car’s purpose and verifying details with marque-specific references when authenticity matters.

The available Saab 750 & 850 GT tire selection here is entirely blackwall. That makes blackwall the appropriate sidewall style within this fitment group for owners who want a period-sympathetic restoration look. It also suits the understated, functional design language associated with Saab’s early small-displacement and GT models.

If your restoration goal is visual authenticity, blackwall is the natural place to start for this application. From there, focus on the tire series, tread character, and any tube-type or tubeless requirement so the finished car not only looks right at a glance, but is also assembled in a way that respects how these early Saabs were intended to be driven.

A properly sized, properly mounted, and sound-condition tire can be suitable for public-road use on a Saab 750 & 850 GT, provided the rest of the car is equally roadworthy. The listed fitment is radial and uses a 15-inch wheel, but safety depends on more than size alone. Tire age, inflation, mounting method, wheel condition, alignment, brakes, steering, and suspension all matter.

For a collector Saab, the safest approach is to treat the tire as one part of a complete mechanical system. Before regular driving, have the car inspected with special attention to wheel integrity and whether the installed tires are being used in the correct tube-type or tubeless configuration for that specific product.

Before driving a Saab 750 & 850 GT, check cold tire pressure, visible tread and sidewall condition, wheel security, valve stems, and any signs of rubbing or uneven wear. Also verify that the tire fitted to the car matches the wheel diameter and that any tube-type tire is installed as a proper tube-type assembly. On a lightly used collector car, a visual check alone is not enough if the tires are old.

A short pre-drive inspection helps catch the issues that appear most often on cars that spend time parked between outings. It is also wise to pay attention during the first few miles for vibration, pull, thumping, or unusual steering feel, all of which can signal flat spotting, pressure loss, or a mounting problem that needs immediate attention.

A Saab 750 & 850 GT should be driven at speeds appropriate to the exact tire fitted, the tire’s age and condition, and the car’s overall mechanical state. Some of the listed tires carry service descriptions such as 82T, 82H, 82S, or 82Q, but a collector car’s practical road speed should still be governed by caution rather than by sidewall markings alone. Age, storage history, and chassis condition all influence what is prudent.

For most vintage Saab use, moderate touring speeds are the sensible choice unless the car has been thoroughly inspected and sorted for longer road use. Even then, smooth steering response, stable braking, and consistent tire temperature matter more than chasing modern traffic pace in a small, early GT designed in a very different motoring era.