Triumph Sports Six Tires

Triumph Sports Six models from 1962 through 1968 are listed with two tire sizes: 155R13 and 560-13. Both sizes use a 13-inch rim diameter, but they represent different construction approaches. The 155R13 options are radial tires, while the 560-13 options are bias-ply tires offered in period-style whitewall configurations.

That means the right choice for a Triumph Sports Six depends on how the car is equipped and how you want it to drive. If the goal is a more original mid-century feel, the 560-13 bias-ply size is the period-style direction. If the car is being driven more regularly and is set up for radials, 155R13 may be the better match. Check wheel width as well as rim diameter, since the listed products are built for different width ranges.

On a Triumph Sports Six, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 560 is a nominal section width with the decimal omitted, corresponding to roughly 5.60 inches in width, and the 13 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is a traditional bias-ply sizing format rather than a modern metric radial code.

That matters because a 560-13 tire on a Triumph Sports Six is usually chosen for period-correct appearance and driving character rather than for modern radial behavior. The listed bias-ply products in this size fit 13-inch wheels, but their recommended rim-width ranges vary slightly by brand. If the car is a restoration, compare the wheel width and the visual look you want, especially if you are deciding between narrow and wide whitewall styles.

Triumph Sports Six tires in the 560-13 size are bias-ply tires, and a tube is required with that size. The 155R13 radial products are listed in a tubeless-style radial format and are not described the same way as the bias-ply offerings. Tube use therefore depends on which size and construction type the car is running.

For a Triumph Sports Six kept on period-style bias-ply tires, tube fitment should be treated as part of the tire package rather than an afterthought. If the car has been converted to radial tires, confirm the wheel condition and suitability before assuming the same tube practice applies. A careful look at the wheel, valve arrangement, and the intended tire construction will keep the installation aligned with the car's present setup.

Triumph Sports Six owners can choose between 560-13 bias-ply tires and 155R13 radial tires within the listed fitments. Bias-ply tires preserve a more period-correct look and driving character, while radial tires represent a later construction style with different road manners. Both fit a 13-inch rim, but they are not simply cosmetic alternatives.

The choice comes down to the role of the Triumph Sports Six. A restoration or show car often benefits from the visual profile and feel of bias-ply construction, especially with whitewall options. A car driven more regularly may suit radial construction better if the wheels are appropriate for it. Decide first whether authenticity or road-driving behavior is the priority, then match the tire to the wheel width actually on the car.

Yes, a Triumph Sports Six on 155R13 radial tires can feel different from the same car on 560-13 bias-ply tires because the constructions are fundamentally different. Radials typically bring a different steering response, tread behavior, and ride character than period bias-ply tires. That change is part of why both sizes appear for the same model years.

For a Triumph Sports Six used on modern roads, that difference may be welcome, but it also shifts the car away from the feel many restorers want to preserve. If you are accustomed to vintage tire behavior, a move to radials may make the car feel less original even when the wheel diameter remains the same. Keep the tire choice consistent with the suspension condition, alignment, and the kind of driving the car actually sees.

A Triumph Sports Six should not be treated casually when it comes to mixing 560-13 bias-ply tires with 155R13 radial tires. The two constructions flex and respond differently, so combining them can upset the car's balance and steering feel. The listed fitments show that both types are available for the model, but that does not make them ideal to combine on one car.

For practical use, the safest approach is to keep the Triumph Sports Six on one construction type at all four corners unless a marque specialist has a very specific reason to do otherwise. Matching tires preserves more predictable handling and makes the car easier to evaluate and maintain. If the car currently has a mixed setup, treat that as a prompt to inspect the wheels, suspension, and long-term restoration plan before replacing anything.

A 1962 Triumph Sports Six is listed with both 155R13 and 560-13, and the same two sizes continue through 1968. Since both fit a 13-inch rim, the deciding factors are the tire construction you want and whether the wheel width matches the tire's recommended range. The radial and bias-ply options are serving different goals rather than marking different model years.

Start by checking the actual wheel width on the car, then decide whether the Triumph Sports Six is being restored to a more period-correct presentation or prepared for more regular road driving. Narrower wheel ranges appear with the 560-13 bias-ply tires, while the listed 155R13 radials cover a wider wheel-width spread. That physical wheel check usually settles the choice faster than the model year alone.

Triumph Sports Six tire listings include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. The 155R13 radial options are blackwall tires, while the 560-13 bias-ply options include both 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and 2.25-inch wide whitewall versions. That gives the model a clear split between sportier radial presentation and more period-themed bias-ply styling.

For a Triumph Sports Six restoration, sidewall choice can change the car's visual character almost as much as the wheel itself. Blackwall radials suit owners who want a cleaner sporting look, while whitewall bias-ply tires lean more heavily into period presentation. If originality matters, compare your intended look with factory literature, period photos, and club-accepted restoration practice before deciding between narrow and wide whitewalls.

Triumph Sports Six tires in the listed sizes are available from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Michelin and Dunlop appear in the 155R13 radial fitment, while BFGoodrich and Firestone appear in the 560-13 bias-ply fitment. Those brands cover both construction styles offered for the model years shown.

Brand choice on a Triumph Sports Six is best made after you settle the construction and visual style first. Once you know whether the car needs a radial blackwall or a bias-ply whitewall, the brand list becomes much easier to narrow. Owners concerned with driving character, show presentation, or period flavor often start with the tire format and sidewall style, then choose among the available brands within that lane.

Triumph Sports Six tire offerings span three named series: Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, and classic bias-ply lines from Silvertown and Firestone. Michelin XAS-FF and SP Sport Aquajet are radial-series offerings in the 155R13 fitment, while Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Classic Bias Ply cover the 560-13 fitment. The key difference is not just brand identity, but radial versus bias-ply construction and the sidewall styles associated with each.

That series split helps a Triumph Sports Six owner sort choices by intent. If the car is meant to retain a period look with whitewalls and vintage-style stance, the classic bias-ply series are the natural place to focus. If the car is driven more like a road car and the owner wants a radial setup, the Michelin and Dunlop radial-series options are the better fit. Decide on use first, then compare series within that construction type.

A stored Triumph Sports Six should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tire pressure should be checked before storage and again during lay-up so the carcass is not left underinflated. Clean tires and wheels also make it easier to spot cracking, sidewall damage, or slow air loss early.

If the Triumph Sports Six sits for long periods, move the car occasionally or use methods that reduce sustained loading on one contact patch. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to taking a temporary set when left in one position, though radials also benefit from careful storage. Collector cars age their tires through time as much as mileage, so storage conditions matter nearly as much as road use.

Tires on a Triumph Sports Six should be inspected before regular driving and at set intervals even when the car is rarely used. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, uneven wear, pressure loss, valve-stem issues, and any signs of impact damage or age-related hardening. A collector car that accumulates few miles can still develop serious tire issues simply from time and storage conditions.

That routine matters even more when a Triumph Sports Six alternates between show use and occasional road use, because long idle periods can hide problems until the car is suddenly driven again. Bias-ply and radial tires should both be checked closely, but the owner should also inspect tube-related hardware when running the 560-13 bias-ply fitment. A disciplined inspection habit is one of the simplest ways to protect both the car and its occupants.

A Triumph Sports Six tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, structural change, or repeated air-loss issues appear, even if tread depth still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, especially on lightly driven cars. Visible condition alone is not enough if the rubber has become stiff or the casing shows signs of deterioration.

For a Triumph Sports Six, replacement timing should be guided by regular inspection and the car's real use, not just appearance. A show car that sees only short drives can still need new tires because age affects grip, flexibility, and reliability. If the car is running tubes with bias-ply tires, evaluate the tube and flap condition at the same time, since the whole assembly works together and should be judged as one system.

Triumph Sports Six listings include both 560-13 bias-ply tires and 155R13 radial tires across 1962 through 1968, so there is more than one period-appropriate path represented here. The available products show classic bias-ply series as well as radial series, which reflects the fact that the model sits in an era where owners may encounter both traditional and later tire choices. No single brand can be treated as universal across every car from the listings alone.

For a restoration-minded Triumph Sports Six owner, the best next step is to compare the car against factory literature, period road tests, and marque-club guidance. That helps separate what is era-correct in general from what is correct for a specific individual car. Once that reference point is clear, choosing between 560-13 bias-ply presentation and 155R13 radial fitment becomes much more straightforward.

Yes, correct tire fitment can influence both presentation and credibility on a Triumph Sports Six, especially in judged restoration settings. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall stance all affect whether the car looks consistent with its era and intended specification. A visibly modern-looking tire choice can change the character of the car even when the wheel diameter remains correct.

For owners concerned with show results or long-term collector value, tire selection should be part of the restoration plan rather than a last-minute decision. A Triumph Sports Six wearing the right profile and sidewall style often looks more settled and convincing to experienced enthusiasts. Marque clubs, period photos, and surviving unrestored examples are usually the best references when authenticity matters as much as drivability.

Triumph Sports Six tires are offered here in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall forms, and the right look depends on the restoration goal. The radial 155R13 options are blackwalls, while the 560-13 bias-ply choices include both 1.00-inch and 2.25-inch whitewalls. Each creates a noticeably different visual impression on a compact British sports car.

A Triumph Sports Six restored toward a more sporting appearance will often lean toward blackwalls, while an owner aiming for a stronger period accent may prefer one of the whitewall bias-ply options. The narrow versus wide whitewall decision should be made with the car's trim level, intended presentation, and period imagery in mind. Consistency with the rest of the restoration usually matters more than choosing the boldest sidewall treatment.

Triumph Sports Six tires can be suitable for public-road driving when the size, construction type, wheel condition, inflation, and overall vehicle condition are all correct. The listed options include both radial and bias-ply designs, and each brings different driving characteristics. Safe use depends on the complete setup rather than on the tire size name alone.

Before regular road use, make sure the Triumph Sports Six has sound wheels, proper pressures, even wear, and suspension and steering parts in good condition. Bias-ply tires should be driven with the understanding that they do not behave exactly like modern radials. Collector cars often feel mechanically healthy at low speed while still hiding issues that become obvious only once they are driven more seriously.

Before driving a Triumph Sports Six, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign of flat spotting or age-related cracking. Also confirm that all four tires match in size and construction type unless the car has a very specific specialty setup. On a vintage sports car, tire inspection should be part of every general pre-drive walkaround.

That quick inspection becomes especially important if the Triumph Sports Six has been sitting for days or weeks between outings. A collector car can lose pressure or develop visible cracking without accumulating any mileage at all. If the car runs 560-13 bias-ply tires, remember that tube-related leaks and age-related casing changes deserve the same attention as tread wear.

A Triumph Sports Six on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven with more restraint than the same car on modern-style radials, even when the size is correct. Original-style construction asks the driver to respect the age of the vehicle, the tire design, and the limits of a lightweight 1960s sports car. Appropriate speed is therefore a matter of the full mechanical condition and tire type, not simply the posted limit.

For practical use, keep a Triumph Sports Six within the comfort zone of its tires, steering, brakes, and suspension rather than trying to drive it like a modern car. A well-sorted radial-equipped example may feel calmer at road speeds, while a bias-ply car often rewards a smoother, more measured pace. The goal is confident, predictable operation that suits the car's design and the condition of the complete chassis.