1955 Ford Tire Fitment Guide

1955 Ford vehicles use eight sizes across six model lines: 145R13 and 520-13 for the Anglia and Prefect, 165R13 and 590-13 for the Consul Eotta, 175R13 and 640-13 for the Zephyr, 670-15 for the Customline and some Thunderbird applications, and 710-15 for Thunderbird applications. The 13-inch sizes fit 13-inch wheels and the 15-inch sizes fit 15-inch wheels. Where rim-width guidance is available, it ranges from 3.5 inches on some 520-13 products up to 5.00-6.00 inches on some 670-15 products, depending on the size and tire chosen.

Model identification matters on a 1955 Ford because the lineup spans both British and American designs with very different wheel diameters and tire proportions. If you own an Anglia, Prefect, Consul Eotta, or Zephyr, you are looking at 13-inch fitments, often with both a radial-format and bias-ply path. If you own a Customline or Thunderbird, you are in the 15-inch bias-ply group, and the next step is confirming whether the car takes 670-15 or 710-15 before comparing brands or sidewall styles.

On a 1955 Ford, 520-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.20 figure represents the nominal section width in inches, written without a decimal point, and the 13 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. That format belongs to the traditional bias-ply sizing system used widely in the 1950s, so it reads very differently from a later radial size such as 145R13.

That matters most on Anglia and Prefect applications, where 520-13 sits alongside a radial-format alternative. Choosing 520-13 keeps you in the vintage bias-ply category and also opens the door to blackwall and narrow whitewall versions depending on the product. Before settling on one, compare the actual wheel width on the car against the tire's recommended rim width when that information is given, especially if the car has had wheels changed over the years.

No, 1955 Ford models do not all use the same tire size. The smallest British Fords share 145R13 and 520-13, the Consul Eotta uses 165R13 and 590-13, the Zephyr uses 175R13 and 640-13, the Customline uses 670-15, and the Thunderbird uses 670-15 or 710-15. Even when two sizes share the same rim diameter, they are not automatically interchangeable across every model in the lineup.

The practical takeaway is that year and make are only the starting point for a 1955 Ford tire search. You need the exact model, and on Thunderbird applications it is wise to verify the existing wheel and tire setup on the car as well. Once the model is nailed down, the remaining decision usually becomes much easier, whether that means choosing between a bias-ply and radial 13-inch fitment or narrowing a 15-inch bias-ply choice by sidewall style and brand.

For a 1955 Ford Anglia or Prefect, the choice between 145R13 and 520-13 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. The 145R13 options are radial blackwalls from Michelin and Firestone, while 520-13 is a bias-ply size offered in blackwall and narrow whitewall styles. The two sizes are both associated with those models, but they represent different eras of tire design and a different visual character on the car.

Owners focused on a period-correct small-Ford appearance usually gravitate toward 520-13 because it preserves the traditional bias-ply look. Owners planning more frequent road use often look closely at 145R13 because it keeps the 13-inch fitment while moving into radial construction. The right answer depends on how the car will be used and presented, so it helps to decide that first before comparing the individual products available in each size.

1955 Ford tires are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles depending on the size. The radial 145R13 and 165R13 offerings are blackwall, while 520-13 includes both blackwall and narrow whitewall versions. The 590-13 and 640-13 products shown are wide whitewalls, and the 15-inch 670-15 and 710-15 options include both blackwall and wide whitewall choices.

Sidewall style changes the car's visual character almost as much as the size itself, especially on a mid-1950s Ford. A blackwall usually gives a plainer or more understated appearance, while a whitewall reads more overtly period-correct for many 1950s American and British restoration themes. If your car is being prepared for judged events, compare the whitewall width and overall look against period photography, club guidance, and the market where your particular model was sold.

Several brands cover the 1955 Ford range, but they are spread across different sizes. Michelin and Firestone appear in 145R13, Michelin and Dunlop appear in 165R13, BFGoodrich covers 590-13, 640-13, and 710-15, Firestone appears in 520-13, 670-15, and 710-15, Premium Sport appears in 520-13, and US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire appear in 670-15. Brand choice is therefore tied closely to the exact model and tire size rather than to the Ford name alone.

That mix gives 1955 Ford owners room to prioritize different goals. Some sizes offer only one or two brands, while others, especially 670-15, provide a broader field with multiple sidewall looks. A sensible approach is to confirm the correct size first, then compare the available brands within that size by construction type, sidewall style, rim-width guidance, and any listed load information rather than trying to choose a brand before the fitment question is settled.

Rim-width guidance for 1955 Ford tires varies by size and sometimes by product within the same size. Examples include 145R13 at 4.00-5.00 inches, 165R13 at 4.50-6.00 inches, 520-13 at 3.5 inches or 3.50-4.00 inches depending on the tire, 590-13 at 3.50-4.00 inches, 640-13 at 4.00-4.50 inches, 670-15 at 4.50-5.00 inches or 5.00-6.00 inches depending on the product, and 710-15 at 5.00-5.50 inches.

Those ranges are important because two tires with the same nominal size do not always call for the exact same wheel width. That is especially true in a collector-car world where aftermarket wheels, later service replacements, or decades-old swaps are common. Measure the wheel actually on the car and compare it with the tire you are considering, especially if you are choosing among multiple 670-15 or 520-13 products where the allowable rim-width window changes by brand or series.

Inner-tube status on 1955 Ford tires depends on the specific size and product. The 145R13 and 165R13 radial selections include listings marked TL, which indicates tubeless, but not every radial product states tube status the same way. The bias-ply products shown in 520-13, 590-13, 640-13, 670-15, and 710-15 do not carry a uniform tube marking here, so tube requirements should be confirmed against the actual tire and wheel combination being used.

The wheel matters just as much as the tire because an original rim, a restored rim, and a later replacement wheel can call for different setup decisions. If the car still uses its original-style wheels, inspect the wheel condition and valve-stem arrangement closely and check the sidewall marking on the exact tire you plan to fit. That extra step helps avoid assumptions, especially on cars moving between vintage bias-ply products and later-style radial offerings.

A stored 1955 Ford should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Clean concrete is fine if the area stays dry, but many owners prefer a barrier under the tires and periodic movement to avoid one spot carrying the load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage, while all collector tires benefit from stable inflation pressure.

If the car will sit for an extended period, roll it occasionally or use properly placed stands so the tires are not carrying full weight indefinitely. Keep the tires inflated, but do not guess at pressure just because the car is in storage. A quick monthly walkaround to look for cracking, pressure loss, or moisture issues does far more for tire life on a low-use 1955 Ford than simply covering the car and leaving it untouched.

On a 1955 Ford, tire age usually matters more than tread depth because collector cars often see limited mileage. A good rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat roughly ten years from the date code as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if the tread still looks usable. That principle applies to both radial and bias-ply tires because aging happens in the casing and sidewall as much as in the tread surface.

Mileage alone can be misleading on an older Ford that spends most of its life parked, trailered, or driven to local events. Read the DOT date code if present, inspect for cracking, hardening, bulges, or chronic air loss, and consider how the car is used before deciding to stretch the service life further. A forty-mile fair-weather cruise puts very different demands on tires than repeated higher-speed highway use, even when the tire looks acceptable at first glance.

Tires on a 1955 Ford should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Check inflation, visible cracking, cuts, tread wear, and bulges, and look for signs that one tire is losing air more quickly than the others. If the car uses a setup that may involve tubes, inspect the valve stems and pay attention to any slow leak or sudden pressure drop rather than assuming it is only normal age-related seepage.

Older cars amplify small tire issues because their suspension, steering, and braking systems are far less forgiving than those of a modern vehicle. A tire that feels merely a little off around town can become much more noticeable on a highway or a two-lane road after the car has warmed up. It is also smart to inspect the spare on a 1955 Ford, since emergency use often reveals problems that were hidden by years of trunk storage.

A 1955 Ford Thunderbird would have been associated with bias-ply tire construction in period, and the fitments appearing here are 670-15 and 710-15, both bias-ply sizes on 15-inch rims. That matches what buyers expect from a mid-1950s American personal car, before radial tires became the normal American standard. Sidewall style could vary by market presentation and owner preference, so blackwall versus whitewall should be checked against period photos, surviving cars, and Thunderbird-specific club guidance.

For restoration work, the safest approach is to start with the size that belongs to your exact car and then narrow the look by sidewall treatment. A whitewall may be visually correct for many 1950s display themes, but the correct width and overall presentation still matter. If your goal is judged authenticity rather than general period flavor, compare your tire choice with marque-club references and the actual wheel-and-tire combination the car carried when it entered service.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1955 Ford, especially at events where judges pay attention to authenticity. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect how right the car looks for its era. A small British Ford wearing a modern-looking radial where a bias-ply presentation is expected, or a full-size American Ford with the wrong whitewall treatment, can stand out quickly even to casual observers.

Judging standards vary, so the right level of correctness depends on whether the car is being built for concours competition, club touring, or a visually faithful driver restoration. The closer the event is to factory-authentic presentation, the more important it becomes to confirm the exact size and sidewall style associated with your model. Marque clubs and event rule books are the best places to confirm whether a radial substitution or a different whitewall treatment will cost points.

For a 1955 Ford using 670-15, the Firestone example shown is a blackwall bias-ply tire with a listed load capacity of 1450 pounds at 32 psi and a recommended rim-width range of 4.50-5.00 inches. The Coker Classic example shown is a wide whitewall bias-ply tire with a listed load capacity of 1550 pounds at 32 psi and a recommended rim-width range of 5.00-6.00 inches. Both are 15-inch bias-ply tires, but they differ in appearance and wheel-width compatibility.

That means the choice is not only cosmetic. A blackwall Firestone may suit a plainer Customline or a less dressy restoration theme, while the wide whitewall Coker Classic may better match a more upscale presentation. At the same time, the wheel on the car has to fit the tire's allowed rim-width range, so it is important to compare the wheel itself before choosing by sidewall style alone.

1955 Ford tires can be safe for highway driving when the size, condition, inflation, and setup are correct for the car and the actual tire being used. The 165R13 radial products shown carry H speed ratings, which correspond to a 130 mph ceiling, while some other sizes here are classic bias-ply reproductions without the same kind of speed-letter emphasis in the size marking. In real use, a well-sorted 1955 Ford is usually limited more by age, brakes, suspension, steering, and the condition of the vehicle as a whole than by reaching those headline speed thresholds.

The bigger question is whether the tire matches how the car will actually be driven. A fair-weather local cruiser, a British small Ford used on secondary roads, and a Thunderbird asked to cover long modern highway distances all put different demands on their tires. Inspect the tires closely, keep speeds sensible for the car, and match construction type to your intended use rather than assuming every 1955 Ford should be treated like a modern interstate commuter.

Inflation pressure for 1955 Ford tires should not be copied from one size to another just because the cars share the same make and year. Several products list their rated load and pressure, including 520-13 at 770 pounds at 32 psi or 1100 pounds at 60 psi depending on the product, 590-13 at 970 pounds at 32 psi, 640-13 at 1045 pounds at 32 psi, 670-15 at 1450 pounds at 32 psi or 1550 pounds at 32 psi depending on product, and 710-15 at 1550 pounds at 32 psi. Those are tire ratings, not universal vehicle inflation recommendations.

Use the owner's manual or period Ford guidance for the vehicle's intended inflation target, then compare that with the tire manufacturer's specifications for the exact reproduction or radial tire you are using. That is especially important when moving between bias-ply and radial constructions or between different brands in the same nominal size. A pressure that supports one tire's rated load is not automatically the correct running pressure for every 1955 Ford application.

Before a longer drive in a 1955 Ford, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, and make sure each tire is holding pressure consistently. Check the spare as well, because an unused spare may be old enough to fail when finally called into service. If the car uses a setup where tubes may be involved, look over the valve stems carefully and do not ignore a slow leak that has become part of the car's routine.

Tires are only one part of a proper pre-drive check on a car of this age, but they are among the easiest places to catch a problem before it becomes a roadside event. A quick road test near home can also reveal vibration, pull, or flat-spotting that a visual inspection misses. Once the tires pass that check, it makes sense to give the rest of the car the same attention, including brakes, fluids, steering response, and wheel fastener security.