1959 Opel Olympia Tires

The 1959 Opel Olympia uses two tire sizes: 560-13 in bias-ply construction and 155R13 in radial construction. Both are 13-inch fitments, so the main distinction is not wheel diameter but tire construction, sizing format, and the style of replacement you want for the car.

That means the first decision is whether the Olympia is being kept in a traditional bias-ply setup or moved to a radial-format setup. Once that is established, the next checks are wheel width, overall tire dimensions, and clearance, especially if the car has been modified or is no longer running its original wheel arrangement.

The tire sizes used on the 1959 Opel Olympia are both built around a 13-inch rim diameter. That applies to the 560-13 bias-ply fitment as well as the 155R13 radial fitment, so rim diameter remains consistent even though the construction types differ.

Rim diameter is only part of the fitment picture, though. Wheel width also matters, particularly when comparing a narrow bias-ply application to a radial alternative, so it is worth measuring the actual wheels on the car before choosing tires. That is especially important if the Olympia has replacement wheels from a later vehicle or restoration work that changed the setup.

The covered 1959 Opel Olympia Base & Rekord fitment stays consistent in the sense that the same two sizes are associated with the car: 560-13 bias-ply and 155R13 radial. There is not a separate tire-size split here that forces one sub-model into a different rim diameter.

That simplifies the search, but the owner still needs to determine which construction the car is actually set up to use. A restoration focused on period appearance may lean toward the bias-ply size, while a car already running radial-format tires may call for the 155R13 approach, with wheel width and clearance checked before any change.

560-13 is the bias-ply tire size used on the 1959 Opel Olympia. It is a vintage numeric size, and its proportions and sidewall profile suit owners who want the more traditional look and construction associated with mid-century compact cars.

Keeping that size means choosing within the bias-ply category rather than treating it as the same thing as a modern radial. A radial equivalent can be considered, but wheel width, tire dimensions, and clearance should still be verified first. That helps avoid assuming that a change in construction will behave the same on the car or on the existing wheels.

Radial equivalents for 560-13 include 155R13 as the 80-series metric radial option, P155/75R13 as the P-metric 75-series alternative, and P155/70R13 as the P-metric 70-series alternative. There is no bias-look radial equivalent tied to 560-13 in this fitment group.

These options give a useful range of radial sizing formats, but they should be treated as alternatives rather than automatic replacements. The recommended rim-width range for the equivalents is 4 to 5 inches, so the actual wheel width on the Olympia should be confirmed, along with tire clearance and the overall visual effect you want on the finished car.

Start by confirming the wheel diameter and the actual wheel width on the car, then compare the intended radial size against the current 560-13 setup. For this Olympia fitment, radial alternatives tied to the bias-ply size include 155R13, P155/75R13, and P155/70R13, with a recommended rim-width range of 4 to 5 inches.

A construction change can also alter the car’s appearance and the way it sits on the wheel, so the decision should not be made by size code alone. Steering clearance, fender clearance, suspension condition, and any non-stock wheels deserve a close look before conversion, especially on a lightly used collector car that may have an unknown setup history.

Choosing a 560-13 tire for a 1959 Opel Olympia starts with confirming that the car is staying with the bias-ply fitment rather than moving to a radial alternative. Within 560-13, the meaningful differences are sidewall treatment, brand, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility rather than a change in rim diameter.

This is where appearance goals become important. A narrow whitewall and a wide whitewall can give the same car a very different presentation, and BFGoodrich and Firestone options also carry slightly different rim-width specifications. Looking at the car’s wheels, the style of restoration, and how often it will be driven usually points to the most sensible choice.

The 1959 Opel Olympia has blackwall radial options in 155R13 and whitewall bias-ply options in 560-13. Within the bias-ply choices, both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall styles are available, which gives the owner a broader appearance range without changing the basic 13-inch fitment.

Sidewall style should be matched to the car’s presentation rather than treated as a purely cosmetic afterthought. A blackwall radial creates a restrained European look, while narrow and wide whitewalls push the car in a more distinctly vintage direction. It also helps to confirm the intended tire construction first, since the sidewall choices vary with the size and type.

Tires for the 1959 Opel Olympia are available from Michelin and Dunlop in the 155R13 radial size, and from BFGoodrich and Firestone in the 560-13 bias-ply size. Those brands also separate naturally by tire character, since the radial offerings are blackwall while the bias-ply choices focus on whitewall presentation.

Brand choice should follow the size and construction that belong on your car rather than the other way around. Once that is sorted out, compare the tire series, sidewall appearance, and wheel-width specifications tied to the individual products. That approach keeps the search centered on fitment and style instead of assuming every brand is available in every Olympia tire format.

For a period-style 1959 Opel Olympia, the 560-13 bias-ply size is the natural starting point because it preserves the vintage sizing format and the traditional sidewall shape associated with the car’s era. In this fitment, that size is also where the whitewall choices appear, which matters for owners shaping the car’s finished visual character.

The exact look still depends on the restoration direction. A narrow whitewall gives a different impression than a wide whitewall, and not every restored Olympia was presented the same way when new or later in life. When exact originality matters, checking model-specific period photos or marque references is the best way to narrow the final appearance choice.

Tire construction changes the look of a restored 1959 Opel Olympia more than many owners expect. A 560-13 bias-ply tire gives the car a more traditional profile and opens the door to narrow or wide whitewall styling, while the 155R13 radial choices are blackwall tires with a later, more restrained visual presentation.

That difference is why construction choice should be part of the restoration plan from the beginning. A bias-ply setup often supports a more vintage stance, while a radial setup can shift the car toward a cleaner driver-oriented look. Matching the tire type to the wheel setup and the overall finish of the car usually produces the most coherent result.

Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1959 Opel Olympia even when the tire size itself is correct on paper. Aftermarket wheels, changes in wheel width, altered ride height, suspension work, or body repairs can all influence how either a 560-13 bias-ply tire or a 155R13 radial sits in the car.

That is why a modified Olympia should be measured rather than assumed. Clearance at the fenders and steering components deserves attention, and actual wheel dimensions should be checked before changing construction or sidewall style. Small vintage cars do not leave much room for casual assumptions once wheel or suspension geometry has been altered.

Before driving a 1959 Opel Olympia on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and width, make sure the tires are seated properly, and verify that inflation is set appropriately for the tire being used. It also helps to check for any obvious interference at the fenders, suspension, and steering points.

A collector car deserves a broader walk-around before road use. Look for fluid leaks that could reach the tires, confirm that the suspension is stable, and recheck lug hardware after installation. A short, cautious test drive followed by another inspection can reveal rubbing, air loss, or alignment-related issues before the car is taken on a longer run.

Tires on a collector 1959 Opel Olympia should be checked regularly for air loss, tread wear, sidewall cracking, bulges, and cuts, whether the car runs 560-13 bias-ply tires or 155R13 radials. Low annual mileage does not prevent aging, so condition matters just as much as miles traveled.

Storage habits also play a big role in tire life. Keeping the Olympia away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, heat, and ozone-producing equipment helps preserve both rubber and appearance. It is also wise to inspect the tires before each outing rather than waiting for a seasonal check, since collector cars often sit long enough for problems to develop unnoticed.