The 1956 Lancia Aurelia sits in a special place among postwar Italian cars, blending advanced engineering with the refined road manners that made the Aurelia name so respected. Whether the car is a B12 or a B24 & GT2500, tire choice matters because this is a millimetric-wheel application rather than a more familiar inch-based fitment. The 1956 Lancia Aurelia uses 165-400 and 165R400 radial sizes, both tied to the traditional 400mm wheel format. Available choices center less on changing size and more on selecting the right Michelin-style presentation, including blackwall or narrow whitewall. For restoration-minded ownership and road use alike, confirming the wheel setup is the first step.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1956 Lancia Aurelia
The 1956 Lancia Aurelia uses two primary tire size expressions, 165-400 and 165R400, and both belong to the same millimetric radial fitment family. Because the covered sub-models share these sizes, the real decision is usually not sub-model variation but confirming that the car still has its 400mm wheels and then choosing the tire style and product characteristics that best suit the car.
165-400 is a classic millimetric radial size in which 165 refers to nominal section width in millimeters and 400 refers to the millimetric wheel diameter. On a 1956 Lancia Aurelia, that sizing format points to a period European radial fitment rather than a later inch-based American system. It is closely related in presentation and intent to 165R400, which modern buyers may recognize more easily. This size is most useful for owners who want to stay with the traditional millimetric-wheel setup and evaluate replacements with close attention to wheel type, tire appearance, and overall fitment compatibility.
165R400 is a Euro-metric radial size where 165 is the nominal section width in millimeters, R identifies radial construction, and 400 is the wheel diameter in millimeters. For the 1956 Lancia Aurelia, it represents the same essential millimetric-wheel fitment family and is the size tied to the available Michelin products. Choices within this size include Michelin X Radial and Michelin X-Stop, with blackwall and narrow whitewall sidewall treatments and differing rim-width ranges. It is the practical size to focus on when selecting an actual road-use tire for an Aurelia that remains on 400mm wheels.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1956 Lancia Aurelia sub-models because both use the same millimetric radial size family. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car has retained its intended wheel setup before choosing between available tire styles and specifications.
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1956 Lancia Aurelia B12
The 1956 Lancia Aurelia B12 uses the same 165-400 and 165R400 radial fitment family found elsewhere in the covered range. That keeps the focus on verifying the 400mm wheel application and then selecting the product style, sidewall treatment, and rim-width suitability that match the car's intended use.
The 1956 Lancia Aurelia B24 & GT2500 also uses the 165-400 and 165R400 radial millimetric fitment. For these cars, tire selection comes down to staying within the correct 400mm format and choosing between available Michelin-style options based on appearance, wheel compatibility, and restoration goals.
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 1956 Lancia Aurelia Tires for Sale
Available 165R400 choices center on Michelin, with Michelin X Radial and Michelin X-Stop options in blackwall or narrow whitewall form. The product grid is most useful for comparing sidewall presentation, rim-width compatibility, and other millimetric-radial specifications within the correct 400mm fitment.
Owners of a 1956 Lancia Aurelia usually need clarity on millimetric tire sizing, 400mm wheel fitment, Michelin product choices, restoration-oriented appearance, and the basic checks that matter before road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1956 Lancia Aurelia?
The 1956 Lancia Aurelia uses 165-400 and 165R400 radial tire sizes. These are millimetric-fitment sizes tied to a 400mm wheel rather than a conventional 15-inch or 16-inch rim, and both covered sub-model groupings use the same fitment family.
That means the first check is not simply width or construction, but whether the car still has its proper 400mm wheels. Once that is confirmed, the next step is choosing among the available 165R400 tire options based on sidewall appearance, rim-width suitability, and how closely the tire matches the car's restoration or driving goals.
What size rim does a 1956 Lancia Aurelia use?
The available 1956 Lancia Aurelia tire fitment is built around a 400mm rim diameter. That millimetric wheel size is integral to both 165-400 and 165R400, so the tire choice depends on retaining the correct wheel format rather than substituting a common inch-based rim size.
Aurelias that have been changed over to different wheels need extra attention before any tire is selected. Checking the actual wheel markings, wheel width, and the car's current setup matters because a 400mm tire is not the same thing as a modern inch-diameter application, even when the tire size appears visually similar at first glance.
Do all 1956 Lancia Aurelia sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1956 Lancia Aurelia B12 and 1956 Lancia Aurelia B24 & GT2500 applications share the same 165-400 and 165R400 radial size family. There is no separate primary tire size split between those sub-model groupings in this fitment range.
That shared fitment simplifies shopping, but it does not remove the need to inspect the car itself. A long-restored or modified Aurelia may have different wheels than expected, so confirming the 400mm rim setup remains important before choosing a tire based on sidewall style, rim-width range, or restoration-oriented appearance.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 165R400 tire for a 1956 Lancia Aurelia?
Start with the correct millimetric size and wheel format, because 165R400 is specific to a 400mm rim. From there, compare the available Michelin options by sidewall style, rim-width range, and how the tire's overall presentation suits the character of a 1956 Lancia Aurelia.
A narrow whitewall can change the visual tone of the car compared with a blackwall, even when the basic size remains the same. It also helps to confirm the wheel width on the car, since the available 165R400 products cover different rim-width ranges and should be matched to the actual wheel before installation.
What sidewall styles are available for 1956 Lancia Aurelia tires?
The available 165R400 choices for a 1956 Lancia Aurelia include blackwall and narrow whitewall sidewall styles. Both keep the car in the correct millimetric radial fitment family, but they create noticeably different visual presentations once mounted on the vehicle.
Choosing between them usually comes down to the look you want from the car rather than a change in primary fitment. A blackwall tends to give a restrained European appearance, while a narrow whitewall adds a more dress-oriented period feel, so the best choice depends on the car's restoration direction and wheel details.
What brands offer tires for the 1956 Lancia Aurelia?
The available products for this 1956 Lancia Aurelia fitment come from Michelin. Within 165R400, the choices include Michelin X Radial and Michelin X-Stop, both built around the correct radial millimetric format used with the Aurelia's 400mm wheel application.
Since the brand selection is focused, the important comparison is within the Michelin range rather than between multiple manufacturers. Looking at sidewall treatment, rim-width compatibility, and the intended use of the car will usually be more helpful than searching for brand variety on a specialty fitment like this one.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1956 Lancia Aurelia?
A period-style 1956 Lancia Aurelia tire choice starts with the proper millimetric radial fitment, 165-400 or 165R400, on the correct 400mm wheel. Staying within that original-style sizing family preserves the visual proportions and wheel relationship that suit the car's mid-1950s European design.
From there, the decision usually becomes one of appearance and intended use. A buyer comparing Michelin X Radial and Michelin X-Stop options should focus on sidewall style, wheel compatibility, and the overall presentation desired, while exact originality questions are best checked against marque-specific historical references for the individual car.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1956 Lancia Aurelia?
On a 1956 Lancia Aurelia, construction is less of a bias-ply-versus-radial debate because the primary fitment here is radial. The larger appearance issue is preserving the car's proper millimetric sizing language and 400mm wheel relationship, which strongly influences how authentic the finished stance and tire profile look.
Sidewall treatment then becomes the visible choice most owners notice first. Blackwall and narrow whitewall versions can give the same Aurelia a different period impression, so selecting the right presentation matters almost as much as selecting the right size when the goal is a restoration-oriented result rather than simple road service.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1956 Lancia Aurelia?
Yes. A 1956 Lancia Aurelia can be affected by wheel changes, suspension work, or body modifications just like any other collector car, and those changes matter even more on a millimetric-wheel application. The correct Aurelia tire fitment depends on retaining a 400mm rim setup or accurately matching any altered wheel arrangement.
A careful owner should confirm wheel diameter, wheel width, and available clearance at the fenders and steering components before mounting tires. Cars that have been restored over many decades sometimes carry non-original wheels, so measuring the actual setup on the car is more useful than relying on assumptions about what should be there.
What should I inspect before driving a 1956 Lancia Aurelia on new tires?
Before driving a 1956 Lancia Aurelia on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct 400mm fitment, verify that the tire is seated properly, and check inflation, valve condition, and overall clearance. On a collector car, it also makes sense to look over the brakes, suspension joints, and steering components before the first serious road miles.
Initial road use should be conservative until the car proves stable and free of rubbing or vibration. A short drive followed by another pressure and visual check is worthwhile, especially on an older vehicle where wheel condition, alignment, or long periods of storage may influence how the new tires behave.
How should 165R400 tires on a collector 1956 Lancia Aurelia be maintained?
165R400 tires on a 1956 Lancia Aurelia should be maintained with regular pressure checks, routine visual inspection, and clean, dry storage conditions when the car is not in use. Collector vehicles often accumulate miles slowly, so sidewall condition, age, and any signs of cracking, cuts, bulges, or persistent air loss deserve close attention.
Periodic inspection matters even when tread wear looks minimal, because time and storage can affect specialty tires long before the tread is worn out. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and occasional movement can reduce flat spotting during extended periods of inactivity.
