1955 Allard Tire Fitment Guide

1955 Allard vehicles use three sizes, and they are model-specific. The Palm Beach uses 590-15 or 600-15, both on 15-inch rims, while the Safari uses 650-16 on a 16-inch rim. Listed rim-width guidance appears on several products: 590-15 commonly fits 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims, 600-15 fits 4.00 to 5.00-inch rims depending on the tire, and 650-16 commonly fits 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims where that detail is supplied.

That means the first step is identifying the model and confirming the wheel diameter already on the car. A Palm Beach owner may still need to choose between two 15-inch sizes, while a Safari owner should be looking only at 16-inch fitments. If the car has changed hands or been restored long ago, checking the existing wheel and sidewall marking before selecting a replacement is the smart way to avoid chasing the wrong size.

On a 1955 Allard, 590-15 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 590 portion is the old nominal section-width style code, and the 15 means the tire mounts on a 15-inch rim. It is not a metric radial size and does not decode the same way a modern P-metric or Euro-metric tire would.

That matters because buyers sometimes read an older numeric size as if it were a modern width-and-aspect-ratio code, which it is not. For a Palm Beach, 590-15 is one of the correct 15-inch bias-ply directions and is typically chosen by owners who want a traditional vintage fitment. It should always be matched to the proper 15-inch wheel and checked against the specific tire’s approved rim-width range before installation.

No, 1955 Allard models do not all use the same tire size. The Palm Beach uses 590-15 or 600-15, both on 15-inch rims, while the Safari uses 650-16 on a 16-inch rim. That split means there is no single year-wide Allard size for 1955.

For buyers, that changes the process completely. If you start with only the year and make, you can narrow the choices, but you still need the model before selecting a tire. The Safari’s 16-inch fitment is clearly distinct from the Palm Beach’s 15-inch fitments, and even within the Palm Beach range, the difference between 590-15 and 600-15 can affect the visual stance and overall look of a restoration.

For a 1955 Allard Palm Beach, both 590-15 and 600-15 are correct bias-ply directions, so the choice is within the model rather than across the whole make. Both fit 15-inch wheels, but 600-15 is the larger of the two traditional numeric sizes. Each keeps the car in period-correct bias-ply construction rather than introducing a modern radial alternative.

The practical decision usually comes down to the look you want and the wheel you have. A 590-15 maintains a narrower vintage presentation, while a 600-15 gives a slightly fuller visual footprint and has product options with different approved rim-width ranges. If authenticity is the priority, compare your car’s current sidewall marking, restoration goals, and wheel width before settling on one or the other.

1955 Allard tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, depending on size. The Palm Beach’s 590-15 can be found in blackwall and wide whitewall, and the 600-15 is also offered in both. The Safari’s 650-16 has blackwall and wide whitewall choices as well, with several brand options in that larger size.

For a mid-1950s British specialty car, sidewall style is as much about presentation as fitment. Blackwalls generally suit a more sporting, restrained look, while wide whitewalls lean toward a dressed-up period appearance that can change the entire visual character of the car. Owners focused on show presentation should match the sidewall style to the way their particular car was restored and to the judging expectations of the event they plan to attend.

Several brands cover 1955 Allard applications, and the brand mix changes by size. The 590-15 size includes BFGoodrich and Avon, the 600-15 choices are BFGoodrich, and the 650-16 Safari size includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield among the available options. All listed choices for these applications are bias-ply tires.

That spread gives owners some flexibility depending on the model and the look they want. A Palm Beach buyer choosing 590-15 can compare two brands within the same size, while a Safari owner has a broader set of brand choices in 650-16, especially if sidewall appearance matters. Brand selection should be made after confirming the model and size, since the available makers are not the same across all 1955 Allard fitments.

Rim-width guidance for 1955 Allard tires depends on the size and, in some cases, the specific product. The 590-15 size is listed for 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims on BFGoodrich products. The 600-15 size appears on 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims for one version and 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims for another, while 650-16 commonly fits 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims where rim-width information is given.

That overlap is helpful, but it should not be treated as a blanket rule across every tire in the catalog. Older specialty cars are often restored with replacement wheels or refinished originals, so measuring the wheel and matching it to the exact tire being considered is the right approach. A tire may share the correct diameter with another option yet still have a different approved rim-width range.

The available 1955 Allard tire listings do not use tube-type or tubeless markings consistently across every product, so inner-tube requirements should be confirmed on the exact tire and wheel combination you plan to use. All of the listed fitments are bias-ply tires, and many collector-car wheel and tire combinations from this era are commonly run with tubes depending on wheel design and tire construction.

The safest course is to inspect the wheel itself and verify the sidewall marking on the specific tire before mounting. Original-style wheels, riveted rims, and older wheel surfaces can influence whether a tube is appropriate even when the size is correct. A restorer or marque specialist familiar with 1950s British sports cars can help confirm the right setup if the car has non-original wheels or a mixed restoration history.

Original 1955 Allard wheels can only be shared between sizes when the rim diameter matches the tire. On the Palm Beach, both 590-15 and 600-15 use 15-inch wheels, so they are diameter-compatible with the same basic wheel size. The Safari’s 650-16 requires a 16-inch wheel, so it is not interchangeable with the Palm Beach’s 15-inch sizes.

Even when diameter matches, wheel width still needs to be checked against the exact tire chosen. That is especially important for Palm Beach owners deciding between 590-15 and 600-15, because approved rim-width ranges vary by product. A wheel that accepts one 15-inch bias-ply tire may not be ideal for every other 15-inch option, so measuring before mounting is worthwhile.

A 1955 Allard should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone sources that accelerate rubber aging. Bias-ply tires can develop flat-spotting more readily during long static storage, so keeping the car at proper inflation and moving it periodically helps reduce shape set. Clean, dry floors and stable temperatures are better than damp garages or outdoor covers.

If the car will sit for an extended season, rolling it occasionally or supporting it in a way that reduces continuous load can help preserve the tire casing. Owners who prepare a collector car carefully for storage usually get better ride quality when the car returns to the road. A quick visual check when bringing the car out again should include sidewalls, tread, valve stems, and the spare.

Tires on a 1955 Allard should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often see limited use. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating them closely once they are five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age.

That approach matters because an older bias-ply tire can still look presentable while the rubber and casing are no longer at their best. Sidewall cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, vibration, and irregular wear are all signs that age may be catching up with the tire. For a low-use sports car like an Allard, replacing on age prevents a false sense of security that can come from tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1955 Allard should be inspected before every drive and especially before any longer outing. Look for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and low pressure, and make sure the tread is sound across the full width. On a collector car, it is also wise to inspect the spare, because it may be far older than the four tires on the ground.

Frequent inspection matters because a specialty car can spend weeks parked and then go straight onto a road trip or event route. Small issues that would be caught during regular commuting can go unnoticed on low-use vehicles. If your setup uses tubes, include the valve stems and any signs of slow air loss in your routine, since tube-related problems may show up first as a pressure issue rather than obvious tread damage.

A 1955 Allard Palm Beach would have been a bias-ply car when new, which aligns with the available 590-15 and 600-15 bias-ply fitments offered for that model today. Both sizes are period-appropriate directions within the Palm Beach range, and sidewall appearance could vary depending on presentation and market taste. Original-equipment branding should be verified separately for a specific car, especially on a low-volume British specialty model.

For restoration work, the key point is getting the size family, construction type, and sidewall treatment aligned with the car’s intended finish level. A concours-oriented owner should compare the car against period photos, surviving examples, and marque-club guidance before finalizing the selection. That extra step is worthwhile on an Allard because production was limited and surviving cars often reflect individual restoration choices made decades later.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1955 Allard, especially in judged classes that emphasize period accuracy. Size, construction, overall stance, and sidewall style all influence how authentic the finished car appears, and a visibly incorrect diameter or an out-of-period sidewall treatment can stand out quickly. Because 1955 Allard fitment differs between Palm Beach and Safari models, the right model-specific size is part of that presentation.

Show standards are not identical from one event to another, so owners should treat marque clubs and event rule books as the final word. A blackwall may suit one restored car better, while a wide whitewall may better match another car’s period presentation. Getting those details right is often what separates a broadly correct restoration from one that feels truly coherent and era-appropriate.

In 590-15 for the 1955 Allard Palm Beach, BFGoodrich and Avon both offer bias-ply fitments, but they differ in presentation and listed specifications. BFGoodrich appears in blackwall and wide whitewall forms with a listed load figure of 1,050 pounds at 32 psi and a stated 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim-width range. Avon’s 590H15 81H is offered in blackwall form with a listed 1,018-pound load figure.

That means the comparison is less about basic compatibility and more about the look and exact product character you want on the car. A buyer seeking a whitewall appearance in this size is naturally pushed toward the BFGoodrich option, while a blackwall buyer can compare the two brands more directly. As always with a vintage sports car, matching the tire to the wheel width and intended restoration style should come before brand preference alone.

1955 Allard tire choices are all bias-ply fitments, and they can be suitable for normal road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and inflated appropriately for the vehicle and load. One 590-size Avon option carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to 130 mph, while the numeric bias-ply listings in the other sizes do not consistently show speed symbols. On a 1950s specialty car, overall roadworthiness depends as much on brakes, steering, suspension, and alignment as on the tire alone.

In real use, highway safety comes down to the full condition of the car, not simply whether the sidewall looks fresh. Bias-ply tires also drive differently from modern radials, with more sensitivity to road crown and different steering feel. Before extended highway running, make sure the car tracks correctly, the tires are age-appropriate and pressure-checked, and the chosen size matches the model and wheel diameter.

Several 1955 Allard tire listings include maximum load and pressure figures, but those numbers are not the same thing as the vehicle’s recommended running pressure. The 590-15 and 600-15 BFGoodrich tires list 32 psi with their load ratings, and several 650-16 options also list 32 psi at their stated loads. Those figures are tire-rating references and should not automatically be treated as the best operating pressure for every Allard.

The right way to set pressure is to begin with the car’s factory guidance if available, then compare that with the tire maker’s recommendations for the exact reproduction tire being used. Pressure should also reflect the car’s actual load, driving conditions, and how the tire is wearing in service. Avoid transferring a pressure figure from one size to another, because 590-15, 600-15, and 650-16 are separate applications.

Before a longer drive in a 1955 Allard, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and correct cold pressure. Confirm that the tires match the model’s required size, that the valve stems look healthy, and that the spare is present and usable. On an older hand-built sports car, a tire check should be part of a broader mechanical inspection that includes wheel fasteners, brakes, fluids, cooling, and steering.

That routine matters because vintage cars often sit for stretches and then get asked to cover real distance in one outing. A tire that seemed fine in the garage can reveal age, pressure loss, or casing issues once it sees heat and speed. Taking a few minutes to inspect the full set, including the spare and any tube-related hardware if fitted, greatly improves peace of mind before the trip starts.