The 1959 AC Ace sits in a special place among British sports cars, combining light weight, clean roadster lines, and a direct, nimble character that rewards careful mechanical choices. For many owners, preserving that feel matters just as much as preserving the car’s appearance. Tire selection starts with one primary fitment: a 550-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice, including blackwall and wide whitewall presentations from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone across several period-style bias-ply series. The key is choosing a tire that suits the car’s intended look, wheel setup, and road use without losing sight of proper vintage fitment.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1959 AC Ace
The 1959 AC Ace uses one primary tire size: 550-16 in bias-ply construction on a 16-inch rim. The 1959 AC Ace Base uses that same fitment, so the main decision is not which size fits, but which 550-16 tire best matches the car’s appearance, brand preference, and restoration or driving goals.
A 550-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which the 5.50 designation refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, while 16 identifies the wheel diameter. On a 1959 AC Ace, this preserves the traditional bias-ply construction associated with many period sports cars and keeps the fitment centered on a 16-inch rim. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall versions from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone, along with series such as Excelsior Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply. The right choice within 550-16 often comes down to visual style, wheel compatibility, and how restoration-oriented the finished car needs to look.
Fitment is straightforward for the covered 1959 AC Ace sub-models because the same primary tire size is used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car remains on its intended wheel and tire setup before selecting among available 550-16 options.
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1959 AC Ace Base
The 1959 AC Ace Base uses the same 550-16 bias-ply fitment that defines the core tire setup for this model. That keeps the decision focused on choosing the right brand, sidewall treatment, and period-style presentation rather than sorting through multiple primary sizes.
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 1959 AC Ace Tires for Sale
Available 550-16 tires for the 1959 AC Ace span Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone, with period-style bias-ply series offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. Product differences also include rim-width compatibility, weight, and select load specifications.
Owners researching 1959 AC Ace tires usually want clarity on the 550-16 fitment, 16-inch rim use, bias-ply construction, sidewall choices, and what to inspect before putting a vintage roadster back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1959 AC Ace?
The 1959 AC Ace uses a 550-16 tire size in bias-ply construction. That is the primary fitment for this model and it is also the size used by the 1959 AC Ace Base, keeping the tire-size decision fairly straightforward compared with vehicles that vary by trim or wheel package.
The next step is confirming that the car still has 16-inch wheels in the proper vintage width range for the tire being considered. Many collector cars have changed wheels over the years, so checking the actual wheel dimensions on the car matters before choosing among blackwall, wide whitewall, or different brand and series options.
What size rim does a 1959 AC Ace use?
The 1959 AC Ace uses a 16-inch rim with its 550-16 tire fitment. That 16-inch measurement refers to the wheel diameter where the tire bead seats, and it must match the tire size exactly for proper mounting.
Wheel width is also worth checking, especially on an older sports car that may have seen restoration work or wheel changes. Some available 550-16 products are built around a 3.25- to 4.00-inch rim-width range, so diameter alone is not the whole fitment story when selecting a vintage-style replacement tire.
Does the 1959 AC Ace Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1959 AC Ace Base uses the same 550-16 bias-ply tire size as the main 1959 AC Ace fitment. That means there is no sub-model split here that forces a different primary size, rim diameter, or construction type.
Even with shared fitment, the actual tire choice can still vary by appearance and product details. A buyer can compare blackwall versus wide whitewall presentation, look at period-style series from different brands, and confirm wheel width and general clearance if the car has been altered from its original-style setup.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 550-16 tire for a 1959 AC Ace?
Start with the correct 550-16 size and bias-ply construction, since that is the primary fitment for the 1959 AC Ace. From there, compare the tire’s intended look, brand, series, sidewall style, and any wheel-width guidance that applies to the particular product.
A roadster like the Ace often rewards careful attention to proportion and presentation, so sidewall treatment can matter almost as much as the size itself. It also helps to confirm the actual wheel width on the car, review any available load information, and match the tire choice to whether the goal is touring use, show presentation, or a restoration-minded appearance.
What sidewall styles are available for 1959 AC Ace tires?
The 1959 AC Ace’s 550-16 tire choices include both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. That gives owners the option to stay with a more understated sporting look or choose a more decorative period-style presentation depending on how the car is being finished.
Sidewall style changes the visual character of the car without changing the primary tire size, so the decision is mostly about appearance rather than fitment category. Buyers focused on restoration should compare the look they want against period photos, marque-club references, and the car’s overall trim before settling on a blackwall or wide whitewall setup.
What brands offer tires for the 1959 AC Ace?
The 1959 AC Ace’s 550-16 fitment is available from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Those options appear across several bias-ply series, including Excelsior Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply.
Brand choice should be considered alongside sidewall style, wheel compatibility, and the kind of presentation the car is meant to have. Rather than treating one brand as the answer for every Ace, it makes more sense to compare the available tire series, product details such as rim-width guidance, and how each option complements the car’s intended use and finish.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1959 AC Ace?
A period-style 1959 AC Ace starts with the correct 550-16 bias-ply fitment. From there, the decision usually shifts to sidewall presentation and brand or series preference, since blackwall and wide whitewall versions are both available within the proper vintage size.
Bias-ply construction helps maintain a traditional visual profile and suits owners who want the car to retain a distinctly mid-century sports-car character. When exact historical originality matters, it is wise to compare the tire choice against photos, restoration records, and AC marque references rather than assuming every tire sold in 550-16 matches a specific factory-delivery appearance.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1959 AC Ace restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters because the 1959 AC Ace is a light, visually delicate sports car whose stance depends heavily on proper tire size and construction. Staying with the 550-16 bias-ply fitment keeps the restoration anchored to the vehicle’s intended vintage wheel-and-tire relationship.
Appearance is only part of the equation. The wrong diameter, incorrect wheel width, or an altered wheel setup can affect how the car sits and how much clearance it has at the fenders and steering components, so restoration work should include a careful check of the wheels already on the car before mounting new tires.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1959 AC Ace?
Yes. Even though the primary fitment is 550-16 on a 16-inch rim, modifications can change what actually works on a particular 1959 AC Ace. Wheel swaps, altered wheel widths, suspension changes, ride-height adjustments, or bodywork changes can all influence clearance and how the tire sits on the car.
A modified Ace should be checked at the wheel, not just by model name. Verifying wheel diameter and width, then looking at steering travel, fender space, and suspension condition, helps avoid choosing a tire solely by catalog size when the car itself may no longer match a stock-style wheel and chassis setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1959 AC Ace on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for damage or corrosion, confirm the tires are mounted to the correct 16-inch rims, and make sure the valve stems, balance, and inflation are all addressed properly. It also helps to look over suspension and steering components so the new tires are not being asked to compensate for worn chassis parts.
A vintage sports car that has spent time parked deserves a broader once-over before a serious drive. Check for rubbing at full steering lock, verify there are no sidewall cuts or shipping damage, and confirm that the car tracks cleanly during the first miles rather than assuming that new tires alone solve every road-use issue.
How should 550-16 tires on a collector 1959 AC Ace be maintained?
Collector-car tires should be checked regularly for pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, and slow air loss, even when mileage is low. On a 1959 AC Ace, that matters because long storage periods can age tires quietly while the car still appears ready for the road.
Good maintenance also includes storing the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources such as electric motors or battery chargers. Rolling the car periodically, keeping the tires properly inflated, and inspecting them before each driving season helps preserve both the tires themselves and the road manners of a lightweight vintage roadster.
