The 1958 Lancia Flaminia arrived as Lancia’s new flagship, bringing postwar Italian engineering sophistication to a grand-touring sedan designed for refinement as much as road manners. On a car like this, tire selection is closely tied to preserving its original character, because the Flaminia uses millimetric radial sizing rather than a more familiar inch-based American fitment. The primary sizes associated with the 1958 Lancia Flaminia are 165-400 and 165R400, both radial formats tied to a 400mm wheel. Available choices center more on sidewall presentation and Michelin millimetric radial offerings than on changing size, so the real priority is confirming the wheel setup and choosing the look and road-use character that suits the car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1958 Lancia Flaminia
The 1958 Lancia Flaminia uses two closely related primary tire size notations, 165-400 and 165R400, both in radial construction and both tied to a 400mm wheel. Because the Base sub-model is associated with both sizes, the key step is confirming exactly how the tire is marked on the car now and matching that to the wheel before comparing sidewall style, rim-width suitability, and product details.
165-400 is a classic millimetric radial size in which 165 refers to nominal section width in millimeters and 400 refers to the wheel diameter in millimeters. For a 1958 Lancia Flaminia, this format reflects the car’s European radial-era fitment rather than a later inch-based American sizing system. It is best understood as part of the Flaminia’s original-style wheel and tire package, so the practical concern is verifying that the car still carries the correct 400mm wheels. This size makes the most sense when preserving the Flaminia’s proper millimetric fitment is the main goal.
165R400 uses a classic Euro-metric radial format: 165 is the nominal section width in millimeters, R indicates radial construction, and 400 identifies the wheel diameter in millimeters. On the 1958 Lancia Flaminia, this is the size with current Michelin product availability, including both blackwall and narrow whitewall presentations within the Michelin X Radial family. Rim-width compatibility varies by product, so selection is less about changing the car’s fitment and more about matching the tire to the actual wheel and the appearance the car is meant to carry.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the 1958 Lancia Flaminia Base is associated with the same millimetric radial sizing family. Checking the exact sub-model still matters, but the larger decision is confirming the 400mm wheel and choosing the tire presentation that fits the car’s intended use and appearance.
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1958 Lancia Flaminia Base
The 1958 Lancia Flaminia Base uses the Flaminia’s millimetric radial fitment, with both 165-400 and 165R400 associated with the car. That keeps size choice fairly focused, so attention shifts to wheel confirmation, sidewall appearance, and selecting the Michelin radial option that best suits a road car or restoration-oriented presentation.
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 Lancia Flaminia Tires for Sale
Current 165R400 choices for the 1958 Lancia Flaminia center on Michelin millimetric radials, with both Michelin X Radial and X-Stop offerings. The visible differences are sidewall style, blackwall or narrow whitewall, along with rim-width compatibility and other product-level specifications.
Owners usually want to confirm the correct millimetric tire size, understand how 165-400 and 165R400 relate, and choose between available Michelin radial options. The questions below also cover wheel fitment, appearance choices, and the checks worth making before road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1958 Lancia Flaminia?
The 1958 Lancia Flaminia is associated with two closely related millimetric radial size notations: 165-400 and 165R400. Both point to a 165-millimeter-wide tire for a 400mm wheel, and the Flaminia Base is associated with both of those markings.
The practical step is confirming what is actually stamped on the wheel and how the existing tire is marked, because a 400mm wheel is not the same as a 15-inch or 16-inch rim. Once that is verified, the decision becomes choosing the right radial product and sidewall style rather than moving between unrelated tire sizes.
What size rim does a 1958 Lancia Flaminia use?
The 1958 Lancia Flaminia uses a 400mm rim with its millimetric radial tire fitment. That rim diameter is tied directly to the 165-400 and 165R400 size family and should be treated as part of the car’s core tire specification.
That matters because a 400mm wheel sits outside the inch-based sizing most modern buyers expect. A tire marked 165R400 belongs on a 400mm wheel, not on a similarly sized inch-diameter rim, so wheel measurement and wheel marking should be checked carefully before comparing products or trying to reuse existing wheels.
Does the 1958 Lancia Flaminia Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1958 Lancia Flaminia Base is associated with the same millimetric radial fitment family used on this model, specifically 165-400 and 165R400. That keeps fitment fairly consistent within the covered sub-model rather than splitting the car into different wheel-diameter groups.
Even with shared fitment, it is still worth checking the actual wheel and current tire markings on the car, especially on a collector vehicle that may have seen wheel changes over time. After that, the main choices are product style, sidewall appearance, and matching the tire’s rim-width suitability to the wheels being used.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 165R400 tire for a 1958 Lancia Flaminia?
Start with the fundamentals: the tire must match the Flaminia’s 400mm wheel, remain in radial construction, and suit the actual wheel width on the car. Within 165R400, the available options stay close to the car’s original millimetric radial concept while varying in sidewall presentation and product specifications.
From there, selection usually comes down to how the car will be used and how it should look. A narrow whitewall changes the visual character noticeably, while a blackwall gives a more restrained presentation. It also helps to compare the tire’s rim-width specification against the wheel before making a final decision.
What sidewall styles are available for 1958 Lancia Flaminia tires?
The visible sidewall styles available in 165R400 for the 1958 Lancia Flaminia are blackwall and narrow whitewall. Both are Michelin millimetric radial offerings, so the difference is primarily visual rather than a change to the car’s basic tire size or wheel diameter.
That choice can strongly influence the finished look of the car. A narrow whitewall tends to complement a more formal, restoration-oriented presentation, while a blackwall gives a simpler and often more understated appearance. The right decision depends on how authentic-looking or understated the Flaminia is meant to appear once on the road.
What tire series are available for the 1958 Lancia Flaminia?
The available 165R400 products for the 1958 Lancia Flaminia center on Michelin’s classic millimetric radial offerings, including the Michelin X Radial family and the Michelin X-Stop. Both stay within the Flaminia’s proper radial and 400mm wheel format rather than moving into a different sizing system.
Series choice is useful when comparing how each tire is presented and what wheel-width range it supports. It is less about changing the vehicle’s fitment and more about choosing the product that best matches the car’s wheel setup, visual style, and intended driving use as a preserved collector automobile.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1958 Lancia Flaminia?
A period-style 1958 Lancia Flaminia should stay with its millimetric radial fitment family, using 165-400 or 165R400 on the proper 400mm wheel. That keeps the car aligned with the kind of European radial presentation that suits a late-1950s Lancia flagship.
After the size and wheel are confirmed, the appearance decision becomes more specific. A Michelin millimetric radial with a blackwall or narrow whitewall can shift the car’s visual tone without changing its fitment family. If exact originality matters, marque references and restoration records are worth checking before settling on sidewall style.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1958 Lancia Flaminia restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1958 Lancia Flaminia because the car uses a specialized millimetric radial size tied to a 400mm wheel. Using the right fitment helps preserve the car’s stance, wheel relationship, and the visual character expected of a sophisticated Italian sedan from this period.
Restoration value is not only about appearance at a glance. A tire that belongs to the proper sizing family also avoids the visual and practical mismatch that can come from confusing metric millimetric wheels with inch-based rims. Confirming wheel markings and tire notation is one of the first worthwhile checks on any Flaminia project.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1958 Lancia Flaminia?
Yes. Any change to wheels, suspension height, steering components, or body clearance can affect tire fitment on a 1958 Lancia Flaminia, even when the tire remains in the correct 165-400 or 165R400 family. On a millimetric-wheel car, wheel substitution deserves especially careful attention.
A Flaminia with aftermarket wheels or suspension changes should be checked for wheel diameter, wheel width, clearance at full steering lock, and room around the fender openings. Collector cars are often altered over time, so the fact that a tire belongs to the right sizing family does not remove the need to verify the actual setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1958 Lancia Flaminia on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for correct 400mm sizing, make sure the tires are seated properly, and check overall condition around the valve area and sidewalls. It also makes sense to look over the suspension, steering, and brake components on a 1958 Lancia Flaminia that may have spent long periods parked.
A short test drive should begin with careful attention to air retention, steering response, and any signs of rubbing or interference. Collector cars often reveal old alignment or wheel issues only after they begin moving again, so an early recheck of pressure and visible clearance is a sensible part of putting the car back on the road.
How should 165R400 tires on a collector 1958 Lancia Flaminia be maintained?
165R400 tires on a collector 1958 Lancia Flaminia should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspection for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and periodic review of how the car sits on its wheels after storage. Low-mileage collector use does not eliminate tire aging.
Storage conditions matter almost as much as mileage on a car like this. Keeping the Flaminia away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources can help preserve tire condition over time. It is also wise to inspect the wheels themselves occasionally, since the millimetric fitment depends on the correct wheel being retained.
