The 1952 Lancia Aurelia sits at the beginning of one of Italy’s most sophisticated postwar grand touring lines, a car prized for its advanced engineering and refined road manners. Early Aurelias attract buyers who care as much about authenticity of feel and proportion as they do about simple replacement fitment. For this model year, tire selection centers on millimetric radial sizing, with 165-400 and 165R400 associated with the Aurelia on 400mm wheels. Current choices focus on Michelin radial offerings with either blackwall or narrow whitewall presentation. The key is matching the tire to the car’s existing wheel setup and the owner’s balance of restoration appearance and road-use expectations.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1952 Lancia Aurelia
The 1952 Lancia Aurelia is associated with two closely related primary tire sizes, 165-400 and 165R400, and both are radial millimetric fitments for 400mm wheels. Because the covered Aurelia sub-model grouping uses both sizes, the first step is confirming the exact wheel and the size already fitted to the car. From there, the decision becomes choosing the right radial tire style and wheel-compatible product rather than sorting through unrelated modern inch-based sizes.
The 165-400 size is a classic millimetric radial format in which 165 refers to nominal section width in millimeters and 400 identifies the wheel diameter in millimeters. On a 1952 Lancia Aurelia, that means the tire belongs to a period European radial fitment rather than a later inch-based American size system. Its importance is mainly fitment confirmation, since the Aurelia’s wheel must match the 400mm standard used by this size family. Buyers considering this size should verify the exact wheel already on the car before selecting a replacement radial tire with the right appearance and wheel-width compatibility.
The 165R400 size uses a classic Euro-metric radial format: 165 is the nominal section width in millimeters, R indicates radial construction, and 400 is the wheel diameter in millimeters. For a 1952 Lancia Aurelia, this is the more familiar way the millimetric radial fitment may appear in modern tire labeling. Available choices include Michelin radial products in blackwall and narrow whitewall form, both intended for 400mm wheels. This size is worth focusing on when the goal is to keep the car on a proper millimetric radial while still choosing a sidewall treatment that suits the car’s presentation.
Fitment is straightforward across the covered 1952 Lancia Aurelia sub-model grouping, as the same pair of millimetric radial sizes is associated with Alle Typen. Even so, checking the exact wheel and existing tire marking still matters because 400mm fitment must be matched correctly before choosing a replacement tire.
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1952 Lancia Aurelia Alle Typen
The 1952 Lancia Aurelia Alle Typen uses the same millimetric radial fitment family, centered on 165-400 and 165R400 for 400mm wheels. That keeps size selection fairly consistent, leaving the real choice to wheel confirmation, sidewall appearance, and selecting a radial tire that suits the car’s restoration character and driving plans.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1952 Lancia Aurelia Tires for Sale
Available 165R400 choices center on Michelin millimetric radials, including Michelin X Radial and X-Stop options. The main differences are sidewall style, with blackwall and narrow whitewall presentations, along with rim-width specifications that should be matched to the wheel on the car.
These FAQs for the 1952 Lancia Aurelia focus on millimetric tire sizing, 400mm wheel fitment, available radial choices, restoration-minded appearance, and the checks that matter before putting a collector car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1952 Lancia Aurelia?
The 1952 Lancia Aurelia is associated with two closely related millimetric radial sizes: 165-400 and 165R400. Both point to a 165-millimeter section-width tire for a 400mm wheel, and both belong to the classic European radial sizing conventions used on the Aurelia.
The practical step is confirming which marking is already on the car and making sure the wheel is in fact a 400mm rim. A buyer should not substitute an inch-based size just because it looks similar on paper, since millimetric wheel fitment is the controlling factor on this Aurelia.
What size rim does a 1952 Lancia Aurelia use?
The applicable tire sizes for the 1952 Lancia Aurelia use a 400mm rim diameter. That is a millimetric wheel standard, not a 15-inch or 16-inch inch-based rim, and it is central to choosing the correct tire for the car.
Wheel confirmation matters before anything else, especially on collector cars that may have had wheels changed over time. Checking the existing wheel and current tire markings helps prevent ordering a tire for the wrong diameter, and it also helps narrow the choice between the available 165R400 radial products.
Does the 1952 Lancia Aurelia Alle Typen use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1952 Lancia Aurelia Alle Typen grouping shares the same millimetric radial fitment family, using 165-400 and 165R400. That keeps sub-model fitment consistent instead of splitting the Aurelia into different inch-based or construction-specific tire sizes.
Even with shared fitment, the owner should still inspect the actual wheels on the car and confirm the installed size marking before choosing a replacement. That is especially important on older European cars, where the right millimetric wheel match matters more than simply choosing a tire with a similar section width.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 165R400 tire for a 1952 Lancia Aurelia?
Start with the basics: confirm that the car has 400mm wheels and that 165R400 is the size already fitted or intended for the current setup. From there, selection comes down to choosing the radial tire that matches the wheel width, sidewall appearance, and the kind of road use the Aurelia will see.
A restoration-minded owner may prefer a traditional look, while another buyer may focus on the clean presentation of a blackwall radial. Rim-width range is worth checking carefully, since the available Michelin options do not share the same wheel-width specification, and that detail can guide the most suitable product choice.
What sidewall styles are available for 1952 Lancia Aurelia tires?
Current 165R400 tire choices for the 1952 Lancia Aurelia include both blackwall and narrow whitewall sidewall styles. That gives the car owner a meaningful appearance choice without moving away from the correct millimetric radial size family used on the Aurelia.
The sidewall decision is largely about presentation rather than basic fitment, so it should be made after confirming wheel diameter and the right 165R400 application. A narrow whitewall can lean toward a more formal period-style look, while a blackwall keeps the visual focus on the wheel and body lines.
What tire series are available for the 1952 Lancia Aurelia?
The available 165R400 offerings for the 1952 Lancia Aurelia center on Michelin’s classic radial line, including Michelin X Radial and Michelin X-Stop products. Both stay within the car’s millimetric radial format, so the comparison is more about product character and specification details than about changing size families.
A buyer comparing these options should look at sidewall style and rim-width specification first, then consider secondary details such as tire weight. Since both are part of the same size family, the right choice depends on the wheel on the car and whether the goal is a more understated blackwall look or a more decorative narrow whitewall presentation.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1952 Lancia Aurelia?
A period-style starting point for a 1952 Lancia Aurelia is staying with the car’s millimetric radial sizing, centered on 165-400 or 165R400 for 400mm wheels. That keeps the tire within the sizing language and general visual proportions associated with an early postwar European grand touring car.
From there, the appearance choice becomes more specific. A narrow whitewall can add a formal vintage presentation, while a blackwall offers a cleaner, more restrained look. If exact historical originality matters, it is wise to compare the car against marque references, period photography, or restoration documentation before settling on a sidewall style.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1952 Lancia Aurelia?
On the 1952 Lancia Aurelia, construction is less about choosing between bias-ply and radial than about preserving the car’s correct millimetric radial fitment. Keeping the Aurelia on the proper 165-400 or 165R400 radial format helps maintain the visual character created by its 400mm wheel setup and slender classic proportions.
Appearance is then shaped by details such as sidewall treatment and how the tire sits on the wheel. A tire that matches the proper millimetric format generally supports a more coherent restoration result than an improvised modern substitute, especially on a design-conscious Italian car where wheel and tire proportion strongly influence the finished look.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1952 Lancia Aurelia?
Yes. Any changes to wheels, suspension height, brake components, or body clearance can affect tire fitment on a 1952 Lancia Aurelia, even when the intended tire size remains 165-400 or 165R400. On a millimetric-wheel car, the first concern is still whether the wheel itself remains the correct 400mm type.
Aurelias that have been altered over the years should be inspected carefully before a replacement tire is chosen. Wheel width, steering clearance, and the relationship between the tire and the fender opening all deserve a closer look, because older collector cars often carry modifications that are not obvious until the tire is mounted.
What should I inspect before driving a 1952 Lancia Aurelia on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for condition and correct 400mm fitment, then check valve hardware, balance, and proper mounting of the new tire. It also makes sense to look over suspension and steering components, since a refined car like the 1952 Lancia Aurelia depends on a stable chassis to feel right on the road.
The tire itself should be checked for inflation, seating, and any early signs of air loss after installation. A short initial drive followed by a second inspection is a sensible habit on collector vehicles, especially one that may have spent long periods parked and is now returning to regular use.
How should 165R400 tires on a collector 1952 Lancia Aurelia be maintained?
165R400 tires on a collector 1952 Lancia Aurelia should be kept at the correct inflation for the chosen tire and inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow air loss. Since collector cars often cover limited mileage, age and storage conditions can matter just as much as tread depth.
The car should be stored away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone-producing equipment when possible. It also helps to move the car periodically or drive it enough to avoid long-term flat spotting, and to recheck the tires before any longer outing rather than assuming low mileage means they are road-ready.
