1956 Nash Statesman Tires

The primary tire size for a 1956 Nash Statesman is 670-15. This is a numeric bias-ply size used on a 15-inch rim, and the covered 6-cylinder sub-model uses that same fitment. For most owners, the basic size question is straightforward because there is one main size to start from.

The next step is choosing the version of 670-15 that suits the car and the way it will be used. Sidewall style, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and whether you want to remain with bias-ply construction or compare a radial equivalent are the real points to sort out before making a final selection.

The 1956 Nash Statesman uses a 15-inch rim with its 670-15 tire size. That rim diameter is the constant to confirm first, especially on a collector car that may have seen wheel changes over the years. The tire size and wheel diameter need to stay in agreement before any other comparison matters.

Wheel width also deserves attention because available 670-15 products do not all share the same rim-width specification. If the car has original wheels, that usually keeps the choice simpler, but aftermarket or replacement wheels should be measured so the selected tire matches both the diameter and the wheel's usable width.

On a 1956 Nash Statesman, 670-15 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size. The 670 portion refers to a nominal section width of about 6.70 inches, while the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing system, so it looks different from modern metric sizes even though it serves the same basic fitment purpose.

That older size format matters because it helps guide the kind of tire you are considering. Staying with 670-15 keeps the car in a traditional bias-ply format, while metric and bias-look radial equivalents move into a different construction and sizing language that should be checked carefully against the wheel and vehicle setup.

For the 1956 Nash Statesman, 670-15 is the primary bias-ply tire size. The available products in that main fitment are bias-ply designs, which matches the period character of the car and keeps the appearance in line with a mid-1950s passenger-car presentation.

That does not prevent a radial alternative from being considered, but it does mean bias-ply is the original-style construction starting point for this page. Owners comparing constructions should think about wheel width, road-use expectations, and whether the goal is a traditional restored look or a different driving feel from a radial-equivalent setup.

Radial equivalents for 670-15 include 195R15, P205/75R15, P215/70R15, and 670R15. Those choices cover an 80-series metric radial, a 75-series P-metric radial, a 70-series P-metric radial, and a bias-look radial. Each one gives a different way to compare a modern radial format against the original-size bias-ply fitment.

A recommended rim-width range of 5 to 7 inches applies to those radial equivalents, which makes wheel verification especially important. Diameter, section width, steering clearance, and fender clearance should also be checked on the actual car, particularly if it has replacement wheels, suspension changes, or a stance that differs from stock.

Start by confirming the actual wheel diameter and wheel width on the car, then compare those measurements with the radial-equivalent size you are considering. For a 670-15 Nash Statesman, the available radial equivalents are 195R15, P205/75R15, P215/70R15, and 670R15, and each should be treated as an alternative rather than an automatic substitute.

Clearance at the fenders, suspension, and steering should be checked carefully once the wheel setup is known. It also helps to consider the car's intended use, since a restoration-oriented Statesman may prioritize period-style appearance while a regularly driven car may lead you to evaluate the bias-look radial or a metric radial option more closely.

Begin with the basics: 670-15 is the primary size, and it needs to match a 15-inch wheel with suitable width for the specific tire being considered. From there, the decision usually comes down to construction, sidewall style, brand, tire series, and whether the car is being finished for restoration appearance, occasional local driving, or more regular road use.

Load figures and rim-width specifications can vary within the size, so it is worth comparing those details rather than assuming every 670-15 is the same. A blackwall gives a more restrained look, while narrow and wide whitewalls shift the visual character noticeably on a 1956 full-size Nash.

The 1956 Nash Statesman has 670-15 tire choices in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall form. That range gives the car a broad appearance spread, from a plain service-style presentation to a brighter mid-1950s look with a more prominent whitewall band.

Selecting among those styles depends on how you want the car to read visually. A restoration-oriented sedan may lean toward one of the whitewall treatments, while a more understated or utilitarian look may point to blackwall. It also helps to compare sidewall style alongside tire series and brand so the final choice feels cohesive.

670-15 tires for the 1956 Nash Statesman are available from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, Universal Vintage Tire, BFGoodrich, Excelsior, Avon, Goodyear, and STA. Those brands appear across several classic bias-ply series, giving the Statesman owner more than one path to a traditional-size replacement.

The useful way to compare them is not by assuming one brand is universally better, but by looking at sidewall style, rim-width specification, load figures where stated, and the overall presentation you want on the car. Some choices lean heavily into period passenger-car styling, while others take on a more specialized character.

A period-style 1956 Nash Statesman usually starts with the original-size 670-15 bias-ply format. That keeps the car in the sizing system and construction style associated with its mid-1950s character, and it allows you to choose among blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall presentations depending on the finish you want.

The right choice depends on the story of the car as much as the fitment itself. Owners aiming for a more exact restoration appearance should compare tire details with period photos, marque-club guidance, or surviving reference material, while drivers wanting the right overall look can treat 670-15 bias-ply as the proper visual starting point.

Tire construction changes the look of a restored 1956 Nash Statesman even when the overall size remains close. A 670-15 bias-ply keeps the car in a traditional vintage format, while a modern radial equivalent shifts the presentation into a newer construction style that may look different in profile and sidewall character.

That visual difference matters on a car with broad fenders and a distinctly mid-century stance. A bias-look radial such as 670R15 can be useful when the goal is to retain more traditional visual cues, but appearance should still be weighed alongside wheel compatibility and the car's actual road-use plans.

Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1956 Nash Statesman even when the tire size seems correct on paper. Changes to wheel width, wheel offset, suspension height, steering components, or body clearance can alter how a 670-15 bias-ply or any radial equivalent sits and moves within the wheel opening.

A Statesman that has aftermarket wheels or suspension work deserves a full clearance check at ride height and through steering travel. That is especially important if you are comparing a radial equivalent, since the car's actual wheel setup becomes just as important as the published tire size when deciding what belongs on it.

Before driving a 1956 Nash Statesman on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage or excessive rust, confirm the wheel diameter and width, and make sure the tires are mounted in the correct size and construction for the plan you have chosen. Lug hardware, valve stems, and inflation should also be checked before the car goes back on the road.

Once installed, look closely at fender and steering clearance and recheck the tires after the first short drive. Collector cars that sit for long periods also benefit from a broader road-readiness check, including brakes, steering feel, alignment symptoms, and any signs of rubbing that would suggest the wheel-and-tire package needs another review.

670-15 tires on a collector 1956 Nash Statesman should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, bulges, cuts, and uneven wear, and watched for slow air loss after storage. Because collector cars often spend more time parked than driven, tire age and condition matter just as much as tread depth.

Storage habits have a real effect on long-term tire health. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone-producing equipment helps preserve the sidewalls, and moving the car periodically can reduce flat spotting. A careful inspection before each driving season is a good practice for a mid-1950s sedan.