The 1960 Citroen DS stood apart from other luxury sedans of its era, combining advanced engineering, futuristic styling, and the kind of ride quality that made it one of the most distinctive European cars on the road. Tire choice matters on a car like this because its character is tied closely to proper stance, rolling diameter, and road manners. The 1960 Citroen DS uses a 165-400 radial tire, a classic metric millimetric size rather than a more familiar inch-based American format. That means selection is less about choosing among several primary sizes and more about preserving the correct look and fit while confirming compatibility for restoration and driving use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1960 Citroen DS
The 1960 Citroen DS uses one primary tire size: 165-400, and it is a radial fitment. On this car, the main question is not which primary size fits, but how to understand the unusual millimetric sizing format and choose a tire that preserves the DS's intended proportions, appearance, and road behavior. The covered DS 19 Sedan uses this same size.
The 165-400 size is a classic metric radial format in which 165 represents nominal section width in millimeters and 400 refers to the rim diameter in millimeters rather than inches. That millimetric rim specification is the key detail, because it sets the DS apart from many vintage vehicles that use inch-based wheel diameters. As a radial fitment, 165-400 suits the car's original-era European tire sizing approach and helps maintain the correct visual balance. For a restoration-oriented owner, understanding that this is a millimetric radial size is essential before comparing wheels, replacement tires, or any modified setup.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the covered 1960 Citroen DS range. The DS 19 Sedan uses the same 165-400 radial tire size, so the focus stays on confirming the correct millimetric wheel setup and choosing the right tire for the car's intended use and presentation.
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1960 Citroen DS 19 Sedan
The 1960 Citroen DS 19 Sedan uses the 165-400 radial tire size. That keeps tire selection centered on preserving the proper metric fitment and making sure the car still has the correct wheel specification before replacing aged tires or evaluating any non-original wheel setup.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Owners researching tires for a 1960 Citroen DS usually need clarity on the 165-400 millimetric radial size, wheel fitment, restoration-minded selection, and the checks worth making before putting a seldom-driven collector sedan back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1960 Citroen DS?
The 1960 Citroen DS uses a 165-400 radial tire. For the covered fitment, that is the primary size associated with the car, including the DS 19 Sedan sub-model, so the fitment question is mostly about recognizing the correct metric tire and wheel standard rather than sorting through multiple original sizes.
The important detail is that 400 is a millimetric rim diameter, not a 15-inch or 16-inch wheel. A 1960 DS owner should confirm that the car still has the proper millimetric wheels in place, especially if the car has changed hands, been restored, or received later wheel substitutions at some point in its life.
What size rim does a 1960 Citroen DS use?
A 1960 Citroen DS uses a 400-millimeter rim with its 165-400 tire size. That wheel diameter is part of the classic Citroen millimetric tire format, so it should be treated as its own specification rather than converted casually into a more familiar inch-based wheel size.
Rim confirmation matters before buying tires because the tire must match the wheel's actual bead-seat diameter. On a collector car, it is smart to inspect the wheels themselves and verify whether the car still carries the intended metric setup, especially if older replacements, aftermarket wheels, or mixed spare-tire arrangements are part of the vehicle.
Does the 1960 Citroen DS 19 Sedan use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1960 Citroen DS 19 Sedan uses the same 165-400 radial tire size. That makes sub-model fitment straightforward for the covered DS configuration, with no separate primary size to sort out before beginning the tire search.
Even with shared fitment, the owner should still verify the car's present wheel and tire setup before replacement. A vintage DS may have replacement wheels, mismatched tires, or an older spare from a different era, so checking what is physically on the car helps prevent confusion when ordering a correct 165-400 radial.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 165-400 tire for a 1960 Citroen DS?
Start with the correct size and construction: the 1960 Citroen DS uses a 165-400 radial. Because this is a millimetric vintage size, the first concern is maintaining the proper wheel match and preserving the proportions that suit the DS's distinctive body and chassis layout.
Selection should also reflect how the car will be used. A restoration-minded owner may focus on traditional appearance, while a driver may place equal emphasis on road manners and the condition of the existing wheels. Tire age, wheel condition, and whether the car still has its intended metric setup all deserve attention before installation.
How do I choose between the available 165-400 tires for a 1960 Citroen DS?
The best way to compare 165-400 tires for a 1960 Citroen DS is to begin with fitment basics, then narrow the choice by appearance and intended use. Since there is one primary size, the real differences usually come from how closely a tire suits a restoration goal or a regularly driven collector car.
A careful comparison should include wheel compatibility, tire age if buying older stored stock is ever part of the discussion, and the overall presentation you want on the car. The DS has a very specific visual character, so even within the correct size, owners often benefit from choosing a tire that supports both the car's stance and usage plan.
Why is the 165-400 size on a 1960 Citroen DS different from more familiar vintage tire sizes?
The 165-400 size is different because it uses a metric radial format with a millimetric wheel diameter. Instead of ending in an inch-based rim size such as 15 or 16, it uses 400, which refers to the wheel diameter in millimeters and reflects the DS's European design approach.
That difference matters in practical terms because a tire for a 400-millimeter wheel cannot be chosen as though it were a typical inch-based American collector-car size. Owners should treat the wheel and tire as a matched system, especially when dealing with restored cars, imported vehicles, or any DS that may have received non-original wheels during past service.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1960 Citroen DS?
A period-style approach for a 1960 Citroen DS starts with the proper 165-400 radial size. Keeping the original sizing format matters because the DS depends heavily on its tire proportions and wheel specification to maintain the visual balance and road-going character that make the car feel true to its era.
When originality matters at a higher level, it is worth comparing the tire's appearance with marque references, period photography, and restoration guidance specific to the car. The goal is not simply finding any tire that mounts, but selecting one that supports the DS's distinctive stance without drifting away from the correct metric fitment.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1960 Citroen DS restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1960 Citroen DS restoration. The car's advanced design and unusual wheel-and-tire specification mean that the proper 165-400 radial size is part of both its appearance and its intended road presence, not just a basic maintenance item.
Using the wrong wheel standard or an ill-matched substitute can change how the car sits and complicate future service. A restoration-minded owner should verify the existing wheels, check for mismatched tires or spares, and make sure the final setup respects the DS's original metric tire format before the car returns to regular road use.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1960 Citroen DS?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1960 Citroen DS. Even though the primary tire size is 165-400, changes such as replacement wheels, altered ride height, brake conversions, or long-ago service substitutions can change what is actually on the car and whether the intended metric tire setup remains in place.
A careful inspection should include wheel diameter standard, wheel condition, and clearance around suspension and body components. Since the DS uses a millimetric rim specification, owners should be especially cautious about assuming that any vintage-looking wheel matches the original system just because it appears to fit at a glance.
What should I inspect before driving a 1960 Citroen DS on new tires?
Before driving a 1960 Citroen DS on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage or corrosion, confirm that the wheel diameter matches the 165-400 metric requirement, and check that the tires are mounted evenly and inflated properly. It also helps to look over the suspension and steering for wear that could affect how the car tracks.
A short shakedown drive should be paired with a second inspection for air loss, unusual rubbing, or any sign that the car's setup is not as expected. Collector cars often spend long periods parked, so even fresh tires perform best when the surrounding wheel, suspension, and alignment conditions are ready for road use.
How should 165-400 tires on a collector 1960 Citroen DS be maintained?
165-400 tires on a collector 1960 Citroen DS should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and attention to age-related condition. Even when tread looks healthy, a low-use collector car can develop cracking, flat spotting, or air loss simply from long storage and infrequent exercise.
Good maintenance also includes keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources when stored, and checking the tires before every meaningful drive. Since the DS uses a specialized metric tire format, preserving the condition of both the tires and the correct wheels helps avoid replacement complications later.
