The 1962 Citroen ID belongs to the same distinctive French family that made Citroen's mid-century sedans and wagons stand apart for their advanced engineering and unmistakable silhouette. Whether in ID 19 Sedan or ID 19 Wagon form, this is a car that rewards owners who pay attention to authentic mechanical details, and tire fitment is part of that character. The 1962 Citroen ID uses a 165-400 radial tire, a millimetric-size fitment that differs from the more familiar inch-based sizing found on many American classics. For most owners, the real decision is choosing the right period-minded radial tire in the correct millimetric size and confirming the wheel setup remains true to the car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1962 Citroen ID
The 1962 Citroen ID uses one primary tire size: 165-400 radial. That fitment is shared across the covered ID 19 Sedan and ID 19 Wagon models, so the main question is not which size applies, but selecting the right tire within that uncommon millimetric radial size and confirming the car still has the proper wheel setup for it.
165-400 is a classic metric millimetric radial size, with 165 referring to nominal section width in millimeters and 400 referring to the wheel diameter in millimeters rather than inches. Radial construction is part of the intended fitment story for the 1962 Citroen ID, making this size especially important to preserve the car's proper wheel-and-tire relationship. Because this is not a common modern inch-based size, selection tends to focus on getting the correct millimetric fitment rather than choosing among many alternate formats. It is the size to verify first on any ID 19 Sedan or Wagon before evaluating tire condition, wheel originality, or prior modifications.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1962 Citroen ID sub-models. Both the ID 19 Sedan and ID 19 Wagon use the same 165-400 radial size, so the key step is confirming that the car still retains the proper millimetric wheel setup.
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1962 Citroen ID 19 Sedan
The 1962 Citroen ID 19 Sedan uses the same 165-400 radial fitment as the rest of the covered ID range. That keeps tire selection centered on obtaining the correct millimetric radial size and checking that the sedan has not been converted to a different wheel standard over time.
The 1962 Citroen ID 19 Wagon also uses the 165-400 radial tire size. For wagon owners, the practical focus is the same: preserve the proper millimetric fitment, inspect the condition of the wheels and tires carefully, and confirm the vehicle has not been altered from its intended wheel arrangement.
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
These FAQs focus on 1962 Citroen ID tire size, millimetric wheel fitment, radial construction, restoration-minded tire selection, and the checks worth making before putting a low-use collector car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1962 Citroen ID?
The 1962 Citroen ID uses a 165-400 radial tire. That same primary size applies to the covered ID 19 Sedan and ID 19 Wagon models, making fitment relatively straightforward as long as the car still has the correct wheel setup for this millimetric-size tire.
The important detail is that 165-400 is not an inch-based size like many vintage American applications. The 400 in the size refers to wheel diameter in millimeters, so owners should confirm the actual wheels on the car before ordering tires, especially if the vehicle has had wheel changes, long-term storage, or restoration work at some point in its life.
What size rim does a 1962 Citroen ID use?
A 1962 Citroen ID fitted with 165-400 tires uses a 400-millimeter wheel diameter, not a 15-inch or 16-inch rim. That millimetric wheel dimension is fundamental to the car's tire fitment and is part of why this Citroen uses a less familiar sizing convention than many other collector vehicles.
Checking wheel diameter matters before any tire purchase because a millimetric radial will not simply substitute onto a common inch-designated wheel. Measure the wheel, inspect any markings, and verify that a previous owner did not change the wheels during restoration or service. On a collector Citroen, correct wheel standard is just as important as the tire size itself.
Do all 1962 Citroen ID sub-models use the same tire size?
The covered 1962 Citroen ID sub-models use the same tire size. Both the ID 19 Sedan and the ID 19 Wagon are fitted with 165-400 radial tires, so the fitment question does not change from one of these body styles to the other.
That shared size simplifies the search, but it does not remove the need to inspect the actual car. A vintage Citroen may have had wheel substitutions, stored spare-wheel changes, or older mismatched tires fitted over the years. Matching the car back to a proper 165-400 radial setup starts with confirming the wheels and then checking age, condition, and clearance before road use.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 165-400 tire for a 1962 Citroen ID?
Start with the correct size and construction: the 1962 Citroen ID uses a 165-400 radial. Because this is a millimetric fitment, the first priority is staying with the proper sizing standard rather than trying to match the car to a more familiar inch-based vintage size.
After size is confirmed, focus on condition and compatibility. Make sure the wheels are the correct 400-millimeter type, inspect for prior modifications, and consider whether the car is being maintained as a restoration-oriented vehicle or primarily for regular road use. On a specialty-fitment Citroen, preserving the intended wheel-and-tire relationship is usually the most important part of choosing wisely.
How do I choose between the available 165-400 tires for a 1962 Citroen ID?
The main selection filter for a 1962 Citroen ID is getting a true 165-400 radial rather than comparing a wide spread of alternate primary sizes. Because the fitment is specialized, the right choice usually begins with correct millimetric sizing, suitable construction, and a tire that matches the character of a mid-century Citroen.
From there, compare details that matter to your goals. A restoration-minded owner may care most about traditional appearance, while a road-use owner may focus on overall condition, matching tires at all four corners, and wheel integrity. It also helps to inspect the spare and confirm that any older service replacements did not introduce a different size standard into the car's setup.
Why is 165-400 an unusual tire size for a 1962 Citroen ID?
165-400 stands out because it is a millimetric radial size rather than the inch-based sizing many collectors expect to see on older vehicles. In this format, 165 refers to nominal width in millimeters and 400 refers to wheel diameter in millimeters, which makes the fitment distinct from common 15-inch or 16-inch applications.
That unusual format is exactly why wheel verification matters so much on a 1962 Citroen ID. Owners should not assume that a visually similar inch-size wheel or tire can substitute for the proper setup. Any car with replacement wheels, mixed old tires, or incomplete restoration history deserves a careful inspection before new tires are selected.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1962 Citroen ID?
For a period-style 1962 Citroen ID, the strongest starting point is the correct 165-400 radial size. Keeping the original millimetric fitment format preserves the car's proper visual proportions and maintains the distinctive wheel-and-tire relationship that belongs with this early-1960s Citroen design.
Owners pursuing a more exact restoration should also compare the tire's overall presentation against marque-club guidance, period photos, and other vehicle-specific references. Exact originality claims should be grounded in that kind of documentation. Even when appearance is the priority, the wheel itself still needs close inspection for condition, size accuracy, and compatibility before the car returns to service.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1962 Citroen ID restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1962 Citroen ID because the car uses a specialized 165-400 millimetric radial rather than a more generic inch-based vintage size. Tire fitment affects not only how the car drives, but also how convincingly the finished restoration presents as an authentic period vehicle.
Using the proper size helps avoid a look that appears slightly off at the wheel openings or on the rim itself. It also reduces confusion later when servicing the car. Before finalizing any restoration tire choice, inspect the wheels carefully and confirm that prior repairs, substitutions, or long-ago conversions did not move the car away from its intended millimetric setup.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1962 Citroen ID?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1962 Citroen ID, especially because the car uses a 165-400 millimetric radial rather than a common inch-based size. Changes to wheels, suspension height, brake components, or body clearance can complicate what might otherwise seem like a straightforward replacement.
A modified collector car should be checked carefully before new tires are chosen. Confirm the actual wheel diameter, inspect wheel width and condition, and look for interference around suspension and bodywork through the steering range. Even subtle changes made years ago can alter what works on the car, so assumptions based only on model year are risky.
What should I inspect before driving a 1962 Citroen ID on new tires?
Before driving a 1962 Citroen ID on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct 400-millimeter fitment, verify the tires are matched in size and condition, and check inflation, bead seating, and visible clearance. A collector vehicle that has spent long periods parked also deserves close attention to brakes, steering response, and suspension condition.
Road readiness involves more than fresh rubber. Look for sidewall cracking on any older spare, uneven wear patterns that suggest alignment or suspension issues, and any rubbing at full steering lock. A cautious test drive at low speed helps confirm the car tracks properly and that nothing in the wheel wells or undercarriage contacts the tires.
How should 165-400 tires on a collector 1962 Citroen ID be maintained?
165-400 tires on a collector 1962 Citroen ID should be maintained with regular pressure checks, periodic visual inspections, and careful storage habits. Because many vintage cars see limited mileage, age and environment can matter as much as tread depth when judging whether the tires are still suitable for continued road use.
Inspect for cracking, flat spotting, bulges, cuts, and slow air loss, and keep the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources when stored. It also helps to move the vehicle occasionally so one part of the tire is not carrying weight for months at a time. Any sign of deterioration deserves prompt professional evaluation.
