1955 Ford-Taunus Tire Fitment Guide

1955 Ford-Taunus vehicles use two tire sizes across the full model range: 155R13 and 560-13. Both the 1955 Ford-Taunus 12M and 1955 Ford-Taunus 15M use those same sizes, and both mount on 13-inch rims. For rim width, the listed 155R13 radial products fit 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, while the 560-13 bias-ply products are listed for 3.50 to 4.50-inch rims depending on the brand and product.

That means year and make alone are enough to narrow the fitment, but the final choice still comes down to the tire type you want and the actual wheel width on the car. A narrow original-style wheel may favor the bias-ply range, while a wider 13-inch wheel may open the door to the radial option. Checking the wheel before ordering keeps the decision simple and prevents choosing a size that is right in diameter but wrong for the rim width.

On a 1955 Ford-Taunus, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 560 designation is the nominal section width code used in period American-style sizing, and the 13 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is a bias-ply construction rather than a radial, and the available versions include narrow whitewall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments.

A 560-13 is the size most closely aligned with the look and feel many restorers expect from a mid-1950s car. It is especially appealing if your priority is period sidewall styling and traditional response on a narrow 13-inch wheel. Owners comparing it to 155R13 should think less about basic fit and more about whether they want an original-style presentation or a later radial driving character.

On a 1955 Ford-Taunus, 155R13 is a metric radial size. The 155 is the nominal section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the rim diameter in inches. In this older Euro-metric style, the aspect ratio is not written in the size itself and is conventionally treated as an 80-series radial format.

That makes 155R13 a more modern type of sizing than 560-13 even though both fit 13-inch wheels. The available 1955 Ford-Taunus products in this size are blackwall radials from Michelin and Dunlop, and both carry H speed ratings. If your Taunus will spend more time on regular roads than on a show field, this size often becomes the one buyers investigate first.

For a 1955 Ford-Taunus, the choice between 155R13 and 560-13 is mostly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction, since both sizes are used on the 12M and 15M and both fit 13-inch rims. The 155R13 options are blackwall radials, while the 560-13 options are bias-ply tires available with narrow or wide whitewalls. That puts appearance, driving feel, and wheel-width compatibility at the center of the decision.

Owners restoring a car to a more period-authentic visual standard often lean toward 560-13, especially when whitewall styling is part of the finished look. Owners planning more frequent road use often prefer the 155R13 radial format. The right answer depends on how the car will be presented and driven, so confirm the wheel width and decide whether originality or radial road manners matters more for your specific 1955 Ford-Taunus.

1955 Ford-Taunus tires are available in more than one sidewall style. The 155R13 radial options are blackwall only, while the 560-13 bias-ply options are offered as both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions. That gives the Taunus owner a clear visual split between a cleaner later-style radial appearance and a more decorative mid-1950s bias-ply presentation.

For a German Ford of this era, blackwalls usually suit a restrained factory-style look, while whitewalls create a more stylized period presentation that some restorers prefer. The choice is less about fitment than about what image you want the finished car to project. If appearance is a major part of the project, compare the sidewall style to period photos, surviving cars, and the standards used by the clubs or events that matter to you.

Three brands appear in the available 1955 Ford-Taunus fitments. The 155R13 radial size is offered by Michelin and Dunlop, while the 560-13 bias-ply size is offered by BFGoodrich and Firestone. Those brand choices also align with the construction split, since the radial offerings are blackwall metric tires and the bias-ply offerings focus on more traditional whitewall styling.

That brand mix gives buyers a practical way to narrow the field. If you know you want a radial, your comparison is between Michelin and Dunlop in 155R13; if you want a bias-ply tire, you are comparing BFGoodrich and Firestone in 560-13. Start with size and construction first, then compare the visual style and wheel-width compatibility of the brand options within that size.

Rim width requirements for 1955 Ford-Taunus tires depend on the size you choose. The listed 155R13 radial products fit rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches wide. The listed 560-13 bias-ply products fit narrower rims, with approved ranges of 3.50 to 4.00 inches on some BFGoodrich versions and 4.00 to 4.50 inches on the Firestone version.

That spread is important because two tires can share a 13-inch diameter and still favor different wheel widths. A car wearing its original narrow wheels may naturally line up with a bias-ply offering, while a wider 13-inch wheel can better accommodate the radial fitment. Measure the wheel before making the final choice instead of assuming that every 13-inch tire is equally suitable for every 13-inch Taunus wheel.

Inner-tube requirements for 1955 Ford-Taunus tires depend on the specific product. One 155R13 radial product is explicitly marked TL, indicating a tubeless tire, while another 155R13 product is not marked the same way. The 560-13 bias-ply listings also do not all carry the same tube-style notation in the size description, so tube status can vary by product rather than by size alone.

That means the wheel itself matters just as much as the tire marking. Original 1950s wheels, wheel condition, and the way the rim was designed can influence whether a tube is appropriate even when a tire is tubeless-rated. Check the actual sidewall marking on the product you choose and confirm compatibility with the wheel before mounting, especially if the car is being returned to service after years off the road.

Original 1955 Ford-Taunus wheels can often be used with both listed tire sizes because both 155R13 and 560-13 are 13-inch fitments. The key point is that matching rim diameter alone does not settle the question, since the approved wheel-width ranges differ between the radial and bias-ply offerings. A 13-inch wheel that is acceptable for one size may sit at the edge of the range for the other.

That makes wheel-width confirmation the decisive step before changing from one construction type to the other. If your Taunus still has its original wheels, measure them carefully and compare that measurement to the approved range for the specific tire you want. This is especially important when moving from a narrow-wheel restoration setup to a radial tire intended for more regular driving.

A 1955 Ford-Taunus should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, standing water, heaters, electric motors, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires at proper inflation and move the car periodically so one section of the tread is not loaded in the same spot for months at a time. Bias-ply tires such as 560-13 tend to flat-spot more readily in storage, while both bias-ply and radial sidewalls can suffer from age cracking if the environment is poor.

Long-term storage is easier on the tires when the car is clean, the floor is dry, and the weight is not left unchanged for an entire season. Some owners use tire cradles or stands during extended off-road periods, but even simple periodic movement helps. A little storage discipline protects both appearance and service life, which matters on a collector car that may see more sitting than driving.

Tires on a 1955 Ford-Taunus should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often cover very few miles each year. A practical rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat about ten years as a serious replacement point even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT or manufacturing date code, sidewall condition, and storage history all matter.

That age-based approach is especially important on a car that may appear fine in the garage but sees only occasional use. A lightly driven tire can still harden, crack, or lose reliability with time. If the age is creeping up and the car is expected to make regular road trips or sustained-speed runs, replacing old tires before failure becomes far cheaper than dealing with roadside damage to a restored 1955 Ford-Taunus.

Tires on a 1955 Ford-Taunus should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, visible cords, and signs that the tire is losing pressure. On cars using products that may involve tubes, pay close attention to valve stems, rim condition, and any hint of slow leakage that could point to a mounting or tube-related issue.

Frequent inspection matters because collector cars often go from weeks of inactivity to immediate road use, and problems can develop while the car is parked. A quick visual check plus a pressure check catches most issues early. It is also wise to inspect the spare, since an aged or neglected spare is a poor backup on a longer drive in a 1955 Ford-Taunus.

A 1955 Ford-Taunus 12M would have been a bias-ply-era car when new, and the 560-13 size aligns with that period construction type. The available bias-ply offerings for the year and make include traditional whitewall presentations, while the 155R13 options are radial tires that reflect a later construction approach. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so size, construction, and sidewall appearance are usually the more reliable starting points.

For a restoration focused on factory-correct presentation, most buyers begin by evaluating the 560-13 bias-ply options first and then refining the sidewall style to suit the car’s intended look. If the car will be judged, consult Ford Taunus specialists or marque clubs for market-specific expectations before committing to a sidewall treatment. That extra step is worthwhile because a small visual detail can matter on a carefully restored 12M.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1955 Ford-Taunus, especially in events that emphasize originality. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size, construction type, and sidewall treatment suit the era of the car. A radial blackwall can be an intelligent driving choice, but it presents differently from a period-style bias-ply and may not match the expectations of a strict restoration class.

The practical question is what kind of event the car is headed to. A driver-focused local show may care far less than a marque-specific concours or authenticity-based judging field. Before finalizing the tire choice, compare the class rules and the visual standard used by that event so the 1955 Ford-Taunus is judged against the look you intended to present.

Within the 560-13 size for the 1955 Ford-Taunus, BFGoodrich and Firestone differ mainly in sidewall presentation and approved wheel-width range. BFGoodrich offers both a 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and a 2.25-inch wide whitewall, each listed for 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims. Firestone offers a 2.25-inch wide whitewall listed for 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims, and the listed load figure is 850 pounds at 30 psi.

That means the choice is not just visual. If your wheel is on the narrower side, a BFGoodrich option may align better with the approved range; if the wheel is slightly wider, the Firestone range may be the more natural match. For a restoration, the whitewall width is also a styling decision, so compare both the wheel measurement and the look you want before choosing between the two brands.

1955 Ford-Taunus tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their ratings. The available 155R13 radial products carry H speed ratings, which correspond to a 130 mph ceiling. The 560-13 bias-ply products are more traditional in construction and should be approached with the expectations appropriate to a mid-1950s car, where braking, suspension design, and overall mechanical condition often matter as much as the tire itself in normal highway use.

Safety on the road depends on the full combination of tire condition, inflation, wheel integrity, alignment, and the car’s own mechanical health. A fresh tire on a neglected chassis does not make an old car ready for long-distance speed. If your 1955 Ford-Taunus is being returned to regular use, treat the tires as one part of a broader roadworthiness check rather than the only item that needs attention.

Inflation pressure for a 1955 Ford-Taunus should be matched to the exact tire size and product you are using rather than borrowed from another size. The listed 560-13 bias-ply products show a maximum load of 850 pounds at 30 psi. The radial 155R13 listings do not all present the same pressure detail here, so the correct baseline is the factory recommendation for the car combined with the tire manufacturer’s guidance for that specific product.

Use the owner’s manual or period service literature for the car’s original operating pressures, then compare that information with the rating and recommendations for the reproduction or modern tire being installed. Do not assume that a pressure suitable for 560-13 bias-ply tires is automatically correct for 155R13 radials. Pressure affects wear, handling, and ride, so this is one place where a size-specific check is worth the effort.

Before a longer drive in a 1955 Ford-Taunus, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Check the valve stems, and if the setup uses tubes or may use tubes depending on product and wheel, watch for any sign of slow leakage or heat-related pressure loss. The spare should also be inspected and inflated, since a vintage spare is often older and more neglected than the four tires on the ground.

A longer trip also calls for a broader mechanical review. Wheel fasteners, brakes, steering play, shocks, and fluid levels all deserve attention on a mid-1950s car before sustained use. Tires are the most visible part of that preparation, but the real goal is making sure the entire 1955 Ford-Taunus is ready to support the speed, distance, and road conditions you have planned.