The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII occupies a distinctive corner of postwar sports car history, blending Bristol mechanical roots with Italian-influenced coachwork in a low-production Anglo-American special. Buyers looking after one today are usually balancing collector authenticity, road manners, and the visual character that suits a hand-built car of this era. The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII uses a 550-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim. Within that size, choices include blackwall and wide whitewall tires from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone across several classic bias-ply series. The important decision is usually less about size than about appearance, brand preference, and staying true to a traditional bias-ply presentation.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII
The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII uses one primary tire size: 550-16, a bias-ply fitment for a 16-inch rim. Both the Coupe and Roadster share that same basic size, so the main decision is choosing the right period-style tire within the size, including brand, sidewall treatment, and how closely the tire's presentation matches the car's restoration goals and intended road use.
A 550-16 size uses the older numeric bias-ply system, where the 5.50 figure refers to a nominal section width of about 5.5 inches and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. On the 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII, that means a traditional bias-ply tire suited to the car's original-era sizing and proportions. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall styles from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone, with series such as Excelsior Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply. It is the size to evaluate when preserving a vintage look and confirming compatibility with narrow 16-inch wheels.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII sub-models. The Coupe and Roadster share the same basic tire size, so sub-model selection matters less than choosing the right bias-ply tire style and confirming the wheel setup on the car itself.
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1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII Coupe
The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII Coupe uses the same 550-16 bias-ply fitment as the rest of the covered range. That keeps tire selection focused on period-style presentation, sidewall preference, and checking that the installed 16-inch wheels remain appropriate for the tire being considered.
The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII Roadster also uses the 550-16 bias-ply size. For most owners, the choice comes down to blackwall versus wide whitewall appearance, brand and series preference, and verifying wheel condition before putting a collector sports car back on the road.
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 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII Tires for Sale
Available 550-16 tires for the 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII span Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone, with classic bias-ply series in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The product grid is most useful for comparing appearance, brand, and narrow-wheel compatibility.
Owners of a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII usually want clear answers on 550-16 fitment, 16-inch rim compatibility, bias-ply tire choice, restoration-minded appearance, and the checks worth making before driving a rare collector sports car on fresh tires.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII?
The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII uses a 550-16 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply size fitted to a 16-inch rim, and it applies to both the Coupe and Roadster covered here.
That makes the first decision fairly simple, because the question is not which of several primary sizes fits the car. The real work is confirming that the wheels on the vehicle are still the proper 16-inch setup and then choosing among the available 550-16 tires by sidewall style, brand, and restoration goals.
What size rim does a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII use?
The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII uses a 16-inch rim with its 550-16 tire size. Product offerings in this fitment include narrow-wheel applications, with some 550-16 tires built for rim widths in the 3.25- to 4.00-inch range.
Rim diameter is the critical first check, but wheel width still matters before mounting a replacement tire. Many collector cars have had wheels changed over the years, so it is worth measuring the actual wheel on the car and checking condition, bead area integrity, and overall suitability for a bias-ply tire of this type.
Do all 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII Coupe and 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII Roadster both use the same 550-16 bias-ply tire size. There is no separate primary size split between those two covered sub-models.
That consistency simplifies shopping, especially for owners comparing period-style tire options rather than sorting through different fitments. Even so, a rare hand-built sports car should still be checked individually for wheel changes, body clearance issues, or other long-ago modifications that could affect how a replacement tire sits once mounted and inflated.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 550-16 tire for a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII?
Start with the correct 550-16 size and a true bias-ply construction, since that is the primary fitment for the 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII. From there, the main differences are brand, tire series, sidewall appearance, and wheel-width compatibility within the available products.
A blackwall tire gives a restrained sporting look, while a wide whitewall changes the car's visual character considerably. It also helps to compare any stated rim-width range, weight, and load figure where available, especially if the car sees regular road use rather than static display or occasional low-speed event driving.
What sidewall styles are available for 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII tires?
The available 550-16 tires for a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII include blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Both treatments are offered within classic bias-ply selections, giving owners a meaningful appearance choice without changing the basic tire size.
Blackwall tires usually suit a more understated sports-car presentation, while wide whitewalls create a brighter vintage look. Since sidewall style can shift the car's personality more than many buyers expect, it helps to choose one that matches the vehicle's trim, restoration direction, and how closely the finished car is meant to reflect a specific period appearance.
What brands offer tires for the 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII?
The 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII has 550-16 tire options from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Those tires appear across several classic bias-ply lines, including Excelsior Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply.
Brand choice is best treated as part of the overall package rather than the only decision. Compare each option by sidewall style, any stated rim-width requirement, and the kind of presentation you want on the car, since a rare collector sports car often calls for a tire that looks right as well as fits the intended wheel setup properly.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII?
A 550-16 bias-ply tire is the natural starting point for a period-style 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII because it preserves the car's original-era sizing format and traditional tire construction. Within that size, the best choice depends on whether the restoration is aiming for a restrained sporting look or a more decorative vintage presentation.
Blackwall options tend to keep the focus on the body and stance, while wide whitewalls make a much stronger visual statement. When exact historical appearance matters, it is smart to compare the tire choice against photos, marque-club guidance, and restoration records for the specific car rather than assuming any one sidewall treatment is universally correct.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII?
Tire construction affects both stance and visual character on a restored 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII, and the primary fitment here is bias-ply. A bias-ply tire usually supports the narrower, more upright profile that many collectors expect to see on a hand-built sports car from the 1950s.
Appearance is only part of the equation, but it matters on a car with such distinctive proportions. Keeping the correct numeric size and traditional construction helps preserve the period impression, while details such as blackwall or wide whitewall treatment can then be used to fine-tune the final look without departing from the basic vintage fitment.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII?
Yes. Even though the 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII uses a 550-16 tire on a 16-inch rim, modifications can still affect practical fitment. Wheel-width changes, different wheel offsets, brake updates, suspension work, or body repairs can alter how that tire sits and clears the car.
That is especially important with low-production collector cars, where past repairs and parts substitutions are common. Checking the actual wheel dimensions, steering clearance, and tire-to-body space before mounting replacement tires helps avoid surprises, particularly if the car has been restored over many years or assembled with parts that differ from its earlier setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII on new tires?
Before driving a 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage, confirm the wheel size, and make sure the tires are mounted and inflated properly. On the tires themselves, look for any sign of shipping damage, improper bead seating, or immediate air loss after installation.
A broader road-readiness check matters just as much on a seldom-driven sports car. Look over wheel bearings, brakes, suspension bushings, steering components, and alignment condition, then verify that the tires clear through full steering travel. A careful short test drive is the safest way to confirm that the setup behaves normally before any longer trip.
How should 550-16 tires on a collector 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII be maintained?
550-16 tires on a collector 1957 Arnolt-Bristol MKII should be checked regularly for air pressure, cracking, bulges, cuts, tread condition, and any change in how the car sits after storage. Bias-ply tires deserve special attention on low-use cars because aging can matter even when tread wear is minimal.
Good storage habits help preserve both appearance and service life. Keep the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources, and inspect the tires before every meaningful drive rather than assuming a rarely used collector car is ready to go. Regular visual checks are especially important when the car spends long periods parked.
