The 1959 Maserati 5000 belongs to a rare era of grand touring cars that blended exotic Italian coachwork with serious high-speed road manners. Cars from this period place a premium on tire choice because appearance, ride character, and wheel compatibility all matter to the finished result. For the 1959 Maserati 5000, the key fitment question centers on two 16-inch tire paths: a 650-16 bias-ply option and a 185R16 radial option. That opens the door to very different choices in construction, brand, and sidewall presentation, from traditional wide whitewalls to blackwall European-style radials. The right selection depends on whether the goal is restoration-minded character, road touring, or a careful balance of both.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1959 Maserati 5000
The 1959 Maserati 5000 uses two primary tire sizes, and both fit a 16-inch rim. The real decision is not just size, but whether the car is being kept on a traditional 650-16 bias-ply setup or moved to a 185R16 radial-style setup. Since the same sub-model can appear with either size, identifying the wheel and the intended driving character comes before choosing a tire.
650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size, with the 650 representing an approximate 6.50-inch nominal section width and the 16 identifying the rim diameter. For the 1959 Maserati 5000, this size preserves a traditional bias-ply approach and opens up the broadest range of period-style tire presentations. Choices include blackwall and wide whitewall designs from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Garfield, Excelsior, and Lester across several classic bias-ply series. This size makes sense when vintage appearance, traditional construction, and restoration-oriented presentation are higher priorities than a radial conversion.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the covered 1959 Maserati 5000 Gran Turismo can use the same two 16-inch tire sizes. The important step is confirming which construction the car is set up for, since the choice is between a radial 185R16 and a bias-ply 650-16 rather than between different trims.
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1959 Maserati 5000 Gran Turismo
The 1959 Maserati 5000 Gran Turismo can be fitted with either a 185R16 radial or a 650-16 bias-ply on a 16-inch rim. That means tire selection should focus on the car’s current wheel setup, the desired driving feel, and whether the goal is a more traditional bias-ply look or a classic radial 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 1959 Maserati 5000 Tires for Sale
Available 1959 Maserati 5000 tire choices cover two distinct directions: 185R16 blackwall radials from Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein, and a much broader 650-16 bias-ply range with blackwall and wide whitewall options across several classic series. Construction, sidewall style, and rim-width requirements are the main comparison points.
These 1959 Maserati 5000 tire FAQs focus on the two correct 16-inch sizes, the difference between bias-ply and radial fitment, available sidewall and brand choices, and the checks worth making before road use or changes in wheel setup.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1959 Maserati 5000?
The 1959 Maserati 5000 uses two primary tire sizes: 185R16 in radial construction and 650-16 in bias-ply construction. Both sizes fit a 16-inch rim, but they represent two different tire formats and two different approaches to how the car looks and drives.
Choosing between them starts with confirming what is actually on the car now, especially if it has been restored or changed over time. A 650-16 suits a more traditional bias-ply presentation, while 185R16 points toward a classic radial setup. Wheel width, tire clearance, and the overall restoration goal should be checked before changing from one type to the other.
What size rim does a 1959 Maserati 5000 use?
The 1959 Maserati 5000 uses a 16-inch rim diameter with both of its primary tire sizes, 185R16 and 650-16. That shared rim diameter simplifies one part of the fitment question, since the buyer does not have to sort through multiple wheel diameters for this model.
Rim diameter is only the first check, though. Tire selection should also take wheel width into account, since the available radial and bias-ply products do not all share the same rim-width requirements. On a collector car, it is smart to verify the wheel dimensions directly rather than assuming the current wheels are original to the vehicle.
Does the 1959 Maserati 5000 Gran Turismo use the same tire size?
The 1959 Maserati 5000 Gran Turismo can use the same two tire sizes found on the model core: 185R16 in radial construction and 650-16 in bias-ply construction. The fitment question is therefore not about a different sub-model size, but about which of those two construction paths the car is using.
That matters because the choice affects more than the sidewall stamp. A radial 185R16 and a bias-ply 650-16 create different buying decisions around wheel width, period-style appearance, and intended road use. Looking closely at the car’s present wheels and how it is meant to be driven will usually point to the better direction.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1959 Maserati 5000?
Start with the correct primary size and construction for the car: 185R16 if it is set up for radial tires, or 650-16 if it is staying with a bias-ply format. Both use a 16-inch rim, but the two options differ in sizing system, available brands, sidewall treatments, and rim-width compatibility.
After size and construction, think about how the car will be used and presented. A restoration-oriented car may favor the traditional look of a 650-16, especially with blackwall or wide whitewall choices, while a touring-minded car may lean toward the blackwall radial options. Product weight, load figures where stated, and wheel dimensions are all worth comparing.
What sidewall styles are available for 1959 Maserati 5000 tires?
The 1959 Maserati 5000 has blackwall and wide whitewall choices, depending on the tire size and construction selected. The 185R16 radial options are blackwall tires, while the 650-16 bias-ply range includes both blackwall and wide whitewall versions across several classic tire series.
That makes sidewall style an important appearance decision, especially on a restoration-minded grand touring car. Blackwalls tend to suit a more restrained sporting presentation, while wide whitewalls create a more formal period-style look. Since sidewall treatment changes the visual balance of the entire car, it helps to choose that look before narrowing the field by brand or series.
What brands offer tires for the 1959 Maserati 5000?
The available brands for the 1959 Maserati 5000 include Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein in 185R16 radial form, along with BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel in 650-16 bias-ply form. That gives the model a broad mix of European-style radial and traditional bias-ply choices.
Brand alone should not decide the purchase. It is more useful to compare each tire by the correct size, construction, sidewall style, tire series, and wheel-width suitability. On this Maserati, the strongest dividing line is usually radial versus bias-ply, then blackwall versus wide whitewall, and only after that the individual brand and series preferences.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1959 Maserati 5000?
A period-style 1959 Maserati 5000 usually starts with deciding whether the car should retain a traditional 650-16 bias-ply look or wear a 185R16 radial in a more classic European touring format. The bias-ply size offers the broader visual range, including blackwall and wide whitewall choices across several vintage-style series.
That said, period-style does not always mean one identical answer for every restored car. Some owners prioritize a more formal presentation, while others want a restrained sporting look. When exact originality matters, vehicle-specific historical references and marque knowledge are worth consulting, but the first practical step is still choosing the correct size and construction path.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1959 Maserati 5000?
Tire construction changes both the stance and the visual character of a restored 1959 Maserati 5000. A 650-16 bias-ply setup delivers a more traditional vintage presentation, especially with wide whitewall or classic blackwall styling, while a 185R16 radial gives the car a later classic European road-going appearance.
That difference matters because the tires frame the entire body shape and wheel opening. On a grand touring Maserati, the tire choice can subtly shift the car toward formal restoration style or toward road-use practicality. Matching construction to the intended finish of the car usually creates a more cohesive result than selecting by brand name alone.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1959 Maserati 5000?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1959 Maserati 5000 even when the tire size itself is correct. Aftermarket wheels, changes in wheel width, suspension work, altered ride height, or body repairs can all influence how a 185R16 or 650-16 tire sits within the car’s available space.
A modified car should be checked for steering clearance, fender clearance, and wheel compatibility before a final tire decision is made. That is especially important when moving between radial and bias-ply construction, since the two formats do not always behave the same way on the same wheel. Measuring the actual setup on the car is more reliable than assuming stock dimensions remain.
What should I inspect before driving a 1959 Maserati 5000 on new tires?
Before driving a 1959 Maserati 5000 on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and condition, confirm that the chosen tire matches the wheel setup, and check for proper clearance at full steering lock and through suspension movement. Tire pressure should also be set correctly, and the car should be examined for any obvious alignment or suspension issues.
A careful first road test matters on a collector car, especially one that may not see frequent mileage. Listen for rubbing, watch for unusual steering feel, and recheck air pressure after the initial drive. It is also wise to inspect lug hardware, valve stems, and any tubes or tubeless-related details that apply to the specific tire and wheel combination.
How should tires on a collector 1959 Maserati 5000 be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1959 Maserati 5000 should be inspected regularly for cracking, flat spotting, bulges, cuts, irregular wear, and slow air loss, even if the car is driven only occasionally. Low annual mileage can hide age-related deterioration, so condition matters at least as much as tread depth on a car from this era.
Proper storage helps preserve both bias-ply and radial tires. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources can slow sidewall aging, and maintaining correct inflation reduces stress while the car sits. Before a longer outing, a fresh inspection of pressure, visible tire condition, and wheel security is a sensible routine.
