The 1957 Facel Vega Excellance came from a brief but fascinating period when French coachbuilt luxury met big V8 grand touring ambition. Its dramatic proportions, formal styling, and hand-built character make it a car where tire choice affects both stance and authenticity of presentation. For this model, bias-ply fitment centers on 15-inch tires in 8.45-15 and 815-15 sizing, so the first step is confirming which of those two sizes matches the car's wheel and setup. Available 815-15 choices include traditional narrow whitewall and whitewall-redline treatments in BFGoodrich's Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series. That makes the decision less about modernizing and more about preserving the Excellance's intended roadgoing character and visual balance.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1957 Facel Vega Excellance
The 1957 Facel Vega Excellance uses two primary tire sizes, both in bias-ply construction on 15-inch rims. Because the same sub-model can appear with either 8.45-15 or 815-15, the first job is confirming which size is already on the car, along with actual wheel width and overall clearance. Once size is verified, the decision becomes selecting the right period-style tire presentation within that fitment.
An 8.45-15 tire is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which 8.45 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 15 identifies the wheel diameter. That sizing convention belongs to the era of large luxury and grand touring cars like the 1957 Facel Vega Excellance, where bias-ply construction is part of the vehicle's original tire character. This size is useful for owners keeping the car in a traditional fitment range and wanting to stay true to period construction. Before choosing it, verify the actual wheel setup on the car, since the Excellance is also associated with 815-15 sizing.
An 815-15 tire is also a vintage numeric bias-ply size, with 8.15 indicating nominal section width and 15 indicating the rim diameter in inches. On a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance, this keeps the car in a traditional bias-ply fitment while opening the door to visible style choices within the same basic size. Available 815-15 products include BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires with either a narrow whitewall or a whitewall-redline sidewall treatment. That makes 815-15 especially relevant when the goal is to match the car's upscale late-1950s appearance as closely as possible.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the 1957 Facel Vega Excellance Base is the covered configuration. The important detail is that this sub-model is associated with two bias-ply tire sizes, so confirming the exact size on the car matters before comparing tire options.
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1957 Facel Vega Excellance Base
The 1957 Facel Vega Excellance Base is associated with both 8.45-15 and 815-15 bias-ply tires on 15-inch rims. That means tire selection starts with verifying the wheel and tire setup already on the car, then choosing the sidewall style and period-style presentation that best suits the restoration or driving plan.
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 Facel Vega Excellance Tires for Sale
Available 815-15 choices focus on period-style bias-ply presentation rather than construction changes. BFGoodrich options in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series give the Excellance buyer a choice between narrow whitewall and whitewall-redline sidewall treatments, with the same 15-inch rim diameter and a 5.00 to 6.50 inch rim-width range.
Owners researching tires for a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance usually need to sort out the correct size first, then compare period-style sidewall choices, wheel fitment, and basic road-use checks before putting the car back into service.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance?
The 1957 Facel Vega Excellance is associated with two primary tire sizes: 8.45-15 and 815-15. Both are vintage numeric bias-ply sizes designed for 15-inch rims, and both are tied to the Excellance Base sub-model.
That means the key question is not simply the year and model, but which wheel and tire setup is actually on the car today. Confirm the size already fitted, measure wheel width if needed, and check clearance before choosing a replacement, especially on a collector car that may have seen wheel changes over the years.
What size rim does a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance use?
The 1957 Facel Vega Excellance uses a 15-inch rim diameter with its primary tire fitments. Both 8.45-15 and 815-15 are 15-inch tire sizes, so rim diameter remains consistent even though the section-width designation changes.
Rim diameter is only one part of fitment, so it should be checked along with wheel width before mounting new tires. A tire can share the correct 15-inch diameter and still need the proper wheel-width range and vehicle clearance to work as intended on a large, hand-built grand touring car like the Excellance.
What does 815-15 mean on a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance?
An 815-15 size is a vintage numeric bias-ply designation. The 8.15 figure refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, while the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches.
That older sizing system differs from modern metric radial markings, so it helps to read the code in period terms rather than compare it loosely to a current passenger-car tire. On a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance, 815-15 points toward a traditional bias-ply fitment and should be matched to the car's actual wheel width and existing setup before replacement.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 815-15 tire for a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance?
Start with the basics: confirm that 815-15 is the size already fitted to the car and that the wheel is a 15-inch rim within the appropriate width range. In this size, the available tires are bias-ply BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply products with the same load figure and similar core specifications.
The real choice comes down to presentation and compatibility. Compare sidewall treatment, verify that the wheel falls within the 5.00 to 6.50 inch rim-width range, and think about whether the car is being preserved as a formal grand tourer, shown at events, or driven regularly enough that appearance consistency across all four tires matters.
What sidewall styles are available for 1957 Facel Vega Excellance tires?
For the 815-15 fitment on a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance, available sidewall styles include a narrow whitewall and a whitewall-redline treatment. Both are offered within the BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series, so the main visual difference is the sidewall presentation rather than the basic construction.
That gives the owner an appearance decision that can noticeably change the car's look without changing tire size. A narrow whitewall tends to suit a formal late-1950s luxury presentation, while a whitewall-redline treatment adds a more stylized period feel. Matching all four tires and keeping sidewall treatment consistent usually produces the most coherent result.
What brands offer tires for the 1957 Facel Vega Excellance?
The available products in the 815-15 fitment for the 1957 Facel Vega Excellance come from BFGoodrich. Those tires are part of the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series and keep the car in a traditional bias-ply construction.
Since brand choice is narrow here, selection is less about comparing competing manufacturers and more about confirming the correct size, wheel-width compatibility, and sidewall appearance. For an Excellance owner, the practical comparison is whether the narrow whitewall or whitewall-redline look better suits the car's restoration direction and how the vehicle will be presented.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1957 Facel Vega Excellance?
A period-style approach for a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance starts with retaining one of its primary bias-ply sizes, either 8.45-15 or 815-15, depending on the car's actual setup. That keeps the tire choice aligned with the construction type associated with the model and preserves the visual character expected on a late-1950s grand touring car.
Once the correct size is confirmed, the next decision is visual treatment rather than modernization. On the available 815-15 products, narrow whitewall and whitewall-redline styles create different period impressions. If exact originality is important, compare those choices against marque references, historic photos, and vehicle-specific documentation before settling on a final presentation.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters on a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance because the tire has a strong effect on stance, wheel opening fill, and the overall balance of a formal coachbuilt body. Using one of the proper 15-inch bias-ply sizes keeps the restoration grounded in the fitment style associated with the car.
Appearance is only part of the equation. Proper size and wheel compatibility also influence clearance, steering behavior at low speeds, and how the car sits when viewed from the front and side. Even on a cosmetically focused restoration, it is worth confirming wheel width, matching all four tires, and checking that the chosen sidewall treatment supports the intended visual character.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance?
Yes. Even when a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance is associated with 8.45-15 or 815-15 bias-ply tires on 15-inch rims, aftermarket wheels, altered wheel widths, suspension work, or body changes can affect how a replacement tire sits and clears.
A collector car should never be assumed to still have its original wheel setup. Check actual rim diameter and width, inspect fender and steering clearance, and look for signs of previous modification before ordering tires. That is especially important on a low-production hand-built car, where small changes can have a noticeable effect on fitment and appearance.
What should I inspect before driving a 1957 Facel Vega Excellance on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for damage or excessive corrosion, confirm that all tires are the same size and properly seated, and set inflation to the tire maker's specification for the tire being used. It is also wise to check valve stems, lug hardware, and basic suspension condition.
A short test drive should follow a visual clearance check at full steering lock and through normal suspension movement. On a seldom-driven Excellance, also watch for brake pull, wandering, vibration, or air loss after the first few outings. Those early checks help catch wheel, alignment, or installation issues before the car goes on a longer drive.
How should 815-15 tires on a collector 1957 Facel Vega Excellance be maintained?
815-15 tires on a collector 1957 Facel Vega Excellance should be inspected regularly for cracking, flat spotting, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and gradual air loss. Collector cars often age tires through time and storage conditions rather than mileage, so visual condition matters as much as tread depth.
Storage habits also play a major role. Keep the car away from prolonged sunlight, heat, standing moisture, and ozone sources such as electric motors when possible, and move it occasionally to avoid long-term stress in one contact patch area. Regular pressure checks and periodic professional inspection help keep a low-use grand touring car ready for safer road use.
