The 1958 Allard Palm Beach comes from a brief and unusual chapter in British sports-car history, blending compact roadster character with the hand-built individuality that makes limited-production specialty cars so interesting today. That rarity makes tire choice more than a routine maintenance decision, especially when preserving the car’s stance and period feel matters. This model uses 590-15 and 600-15 bias-ply tires on 15-inch rims, so the first step is confirming which size suits the car’s current wheel setup. Blackwall and wide whitewall choices are available, and modern radial equivalents exist for owners considering a different road-use approach. Getting the size, construction, and appearance right helps balance restoration priorities with practical drivability.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1958 Allard Palm Beach
The 1958 Allard Palm Beach uses two primary tire sizes, and both are bias-ply fitments for 15-inch rims. Because the Palm Beach Base is associated with both 590-15 and 600-15, the key decision is confirming the wheel setup on the car now, then choosing the tire size and sidewall style that best suits its stance, appearance, and intended road use.
A 590-15 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which the 590 refers to an approximate 5.90-inch nominal section width and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter. On a 1958 Allard Palm Beach, this size keeps the car in a traditional bias-ply format that suits period-style restoration and classic presentation. Available choices include BFGoodrich and Avon, with blackwall options and a wide whitewall version, along with tire series such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Turbospeed Mk4. This size is worth considering when maintaining a narrower traditional look and checking compatibility with the car’s current 15-inch wheel width.
A 600-15 is also a vintage numeric bias-ply size, with the 600 indicating an approximate 6.00-inch nominal section width and the 15 showing the rim diameter. For the 1958 Allard Palm Beach, it remains a correct-format bias-ply choice for owners staying with the car’s vintage construction style. BFGoodrich offers this size in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply line with both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments. This size makes sense when the goal is to keep a traditional 15-inch bias-ply fitment while verifying wheel width, clearance, and the visual balance you want on the car.
Fitment for the covered 1958 Allard Palm Beach sub-model is straightforward in one sense and still worth checking in another. The Palm Beach Base is associated with both primary tire sizes, so confirming the actual wheel setup on the car matters before choosing between them.
1
1958 Allard Palm Beach Base
The 1958 Allard Palm Beach Base is associated with both 590-15 and 600-15 bias-ply tires on 15-inch rims. That means tire selection is less about trim differences and more about verifying which wheel width and overall setup are on the car before choosing a blackwall, wide whitewall, or radial-equivalent path.
Bias-Ply to Radial Tire Conversion for the 1958 Allard Palm Beach
For the 1958 Allard Palm Beach, both 590-15 and 600-15 have three radial-equivalent options. Each size can be compared with 165R15 as an 80-series metric radial, P165/75R15 as a 75-series P-metric radial, and P175/70R15 as a 70-series P-metric radial. That gives a progression from a classic Euro-metric radial format to lower-profile P-metric alternatives. The recommended rim-width range is 4 to 5 inches, and any conversion should be checked against wheel dimensions, overall tire proportions, and vehicle clearance.
Modern Radial Equivalents
165R15
Equivalent 80-series Metric Radial (590-15)
P165/75R15
Equivalent P-metric 75-series Radial (590-15)
P175/70R15
Equivalent P-metric 70-series Radial (590-15)
165R15
Equivalent 80-series Metric Radial (600-15)
P165/75R15
Equivalent P-metric 75-series Radial (600-15)
P175/70R15
Equivalent P-metric 70-series Radial (600-15)
Important Considerations When Replacing Bias Ply With Radial
Compare overall diameter and section width carefully to ensure proper fit.
Verify recommended rim range (4-5 in) and load needs match your vehicle specifications.
Check fender clearance, steering clearance, and stance before installation.
Consider suspension condition and intended road use when choosing equivalents.
Important Fitment Notes
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 1958 Allard Palm Beach Tires for Sale
Available 1958 Allard Palm Beach tires center on 590-15 and 600-15 bias-ply fitments from BFGoodrich and Avon. The product grid includes Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Turbospeed Mk4 options with blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments, plus some variation in rim-width specification and load capacity.
These FAQs focus on the 1958 Allard Palm Beach tire decisions that matter most: choosing between 590-15 and 600-15, understanding bias-ply fitment, evaluating radial equivalents, and checking wheel, clearance, and maintenance details before road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
The 1958 Allard Palm Beach uses two primary tire sizes: 590-15 and 600-15. Both are bias-ply sizes for 15-inch rims, and the Palm Beach Base is associated with both, so the car is not limited to a single numbered fitment across every setup.
The practical step is to confirm which wheel width and tire size are already on the car before replacing anything. On a specialty sports car like the Palm Beach, previous restorations or wheel changes can affect what works best, so matching the current setup and checking clearance is more useful than assuming one size belongs on every example.
What size rim does a 1958 Allard Palm Beach use?
The primary tire fitments for a 1958 Allard Palm Beach are built around a 15-inch rim diameter. Both 590-15 and 600-15 use that same rim diameter, which simplifies the basic wheel-diameter question even though there are two tire sizes associated with the car.
Rim diameter is only one part of fitment, so it still helps to verify wheel width before choosing a tire. Some 590-15 and 600-15 products carry different rim-width specifications, and that can influence which tire is the better match for the wheel currently on the car as well as the look you want to preserve.
What does 590-15 mean on a 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
On a 1958 Allard Palm Beach, 590-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 590 refers to an approximate 5.90-inch nominal section width, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches, so it is a vintage size format rather than a modern metric radial designation.
Understanding that format helps when comparing replacement choices, especially if the car is being restored or updated for road use. A buyer looking at 590-15 should focus on keeping the correct 15-inch rim diameter, then compare sidewall style, rim-width compatibility, and whether staying with bias-ply construction or moving to a radial equivalent better suits the car.
Bias-Ply & Radial Options
Is 590-15 a bias-ply or radial tire for the 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
For the 1958 Allard Palm Beach, 590-15 is a bias-ply tire size. It uses a vintage numeric sizing system and is offered here in bias-ply construction, which aligns with the traditional tire format associated with the car’s original-era fitment approach.
That matters because a bias-ply tire affects both the look and setup decisions on a restoration-minded sports car. Anyone considering a change should compare the current wheel width, overall tire proportions, and intended road use before moving away from the original construction style, especially on a hand-built car where small fitment differences can matter.
What radial tire sizes are equivalent to 590-15?
Radial equivalents for 590-15 include 165R15, P165/75R15, and P175/70R15. Those represent an 80-series metric radial, a 75-series P-metric radial, and a 70-series P-metric radial, giving several modern-format comparison points while keeping the same 15-inch wheel diameter.
The recommended rim-width range for those equivalents is 4 to 5 inches, which makes wheel measurement important before any conversion. It is also smart to compare the car’s actual wheel and body setup, since an equivalent size is an alternative to evaluate rather than something that should be treated as automatically interchangeable.
What should I check before converting my 1958 Allard Palm Beach from bias-ply to radial tires?
Start by confirming the car’s present tire size, wheel diameter, and wheel width, then compare those measurements with the radial equivalent under consideration. For the Palm Beach, 590-15 and 600-15 both have radial alternatives in 165R15, P165/75R15, and P175/70R15, with a recommended rim-width range of 4 to 5 inches.
A careful conversion also means checking steering clearance, fender clearance, and the condition of suspension and alignment components before road use. Since the Palm Beach is a specialty British sports car and many examples have lived through restoration work or wheel changes, the actual setup on the car deserves more attention than the model name alone.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 590-15 tire for a 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
Choosing a 590-15 tire for a 1958 Allard Palm Beach starts with staying in the correct size and confirming that the wheel suits the tire’s rim-width specification. From there, the main differences are construction style, sidewall appearance, brand, tire series, and product details such as load rating and weight.
A narrower vintage sports car often rewards careful attention to presentation as much as basic fitment. Blackwall and wide whitewall options create very different visual results, and BFGoodrich and Avon give different period-style paths within the same size, so the best choice depends on whether the goal is restoration character, traditional looks, or broader road-use flexibility.
What sidewall styles are available for 1958 Allard Palm Beach tires?
The available sidewall styles for 1958 Allard Palm Beach tires are blackwall and wide whitewall. Those styles appear across the applicable 590-15 and 600-15 bias-ply offerings, giving owners a meaningful appearance choice even while staying within the correct vintage tire format.
That sidewall decision can change the car’s presentation as much as the size choice itself. A blackwall usually gives a more restrained sports-car look, while a wide whitewall pushes the Palm Beach toward a brighter period-style appearance, so it helps to consider the car’s paint, trim, and restoration theme before choosing between them.
What brands offer tires for the 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
BFGoodrich and Avon both offer applicable tires for the 1958 Allard Palm Beach. BFGoodrich appears in 590-15 and 600-15 through the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply line, while Avon appears in the 590-size range with the Turbospeed Mk4, giving buyers more than one period-oriented brand path.
Brand alone should not decide the purchase, though, because size, sidewall style, and wheel compatibility still come first. It is more useful to compare which brand offers the appearance and specification mix that fits the car’s current setup, especially since some Palm Beach owners may want blackwall simplicity while others prefer a wide whitewall presentation.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
A period-style 1958 Allard Palm Beach usually starts with one of its primary bias-ply sizes, either 590-15 or 600-15, depending on the wheel setup on the car. Staying with a bias-ply construction preserves the vintage sizing format and keeps the visual character closer to what enthusiasts expect from a late-1950s specialty roadster.
The finer choice comes down to stance and presentation, especially when comparing blackwall and wide whitewall options. Anyone pursuing exact originality should still cross-check marque-specific historical references and restoration records, but for many owners the right approach is selecting the proper size first and then choosing the sidewall treatment that suits the car’s finished look.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
Tire construction changes the look of a restored 1958 Allard Palm Beach as well as its road manners. A bias-ply tire keeps the car in its traditional vintage format, while a radial equivalent introduces a more modern sizing convention even when the rim diameter remains the same.
That difference matters visually because restorations often depend on proportion and sidewall character as much as paint and trim. Owners who want the Palm Beach to retain a distinctly late-1950s presentation often stay with bias-ply construction, while those considering radial alternatives should weigh the appearance change alongside wheel compatibility and the car’s intended use.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1958 Allard Palm Beach?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1958 Allard Palm Beach. Even though the primary fitments are 590-15 and 600-15 on 15-inch rims, aftermarket wheels, suspension changes, brake updates, or body work can alter the space available around the tire and influence which size works best on the car.
That is especially important on low-production specialty cars, where individual examples may have been restored or altered differently over time. A smart check includes wheel width, wheel diameter, steering movement, and fender clearance at ride height, rather than relying on a catalog size alone to answer every fitment question.
What should I inspect before driving a 1958 Allard Palm Beach on new tires?
Before driving a 1958 Allard Palm Beach on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and width, make sure the tires are seated properly, and confirm there is no interference at full steering lock. It also helps to look over suspension, steering, and brake components so the new tires are not masking another issue.
Collector cars often spend long periods parked, so the rest of the road-use check should include tire pressure, lug security, and a close look at any old spare or remaining older tires on the car. A short, cautious test drive is a sensible final step to confirm tracking, clearance, and general behavior before longer use.
How should 590-15 or 600-15 tires on a collector 1958 Allard Palm Beach be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1958 Allard Palm Beach should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and careful storage habits. Whether the car wears 590-15 or 600-15 tires, watch for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, or air loss, especially if the car is driven infrequently or stored for long stretches.
Good collector-car tire care also means keeping the Palm Beach away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, and ozone-producing equipment during storage. Occasional movement helps avoid flat spotting, and periodic inspections remain worthwhile even when tread looks good, because age and storage conditions can matter as much as mileage on a seldom-driven sports car.