1958 Allard Tire Fitment Guide

1958 Allard vehicles use two tire sizes: 590-15 and 600-15. Those same two sizes apply across the Jag, Palm Beach, Tourist, and Zepher, and both mount on 15-inch rims. Where rim width guidance is listed, 590-15 is paired with 4.00-4.50-inch rims, while 600-15 appears with 4.00-4.50-inch and 4.50-5.00-inch fitment ranges depending on the specific tire.

That means a 1958 Allard owner usually does not need to solve a model-specific size puzzle first, but does need to verify which of the two sizes belongs on the actual wheels fitted to the car. If the car has been restored, modified, or changed over the years, measuring the wheel and checking the existing tire can save time before narrowing the choice to blackwall or wide whitewall products.

On a 1958 Allard, 590-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The leading number identifies the tire’s nominal section width in the older numeric sizing system, and the final number identifies the 15-inch rim diameter. In the available 1958 Allard fitments, this size appears only as a bias-ply construction rather than a radial conversion size.

That older numeric code matters because it reflects the way many British and American collector cars of the period were originally sized. If you are evaluating a 590-15 for a 1958 Allard, the main follow-up questions are whether you want a blackwall or wide whitewall appearance and whether your wheel width falls within the listed rim range for the specific tire you are considering.

Yes. The 1958 Allard Jag, Palm Beach, Tourist, and Zepher all share the same two listed tire sizes: 590-15 and 600-15. There is no model split here where one Allard model takes one rim diameter and another takes a different one; both sizes are tied to 15-inch rims throughout the year’s lineup.

That shared fitment simplifies research, but it does not make every tire choice interchangeable without checking the wheel itself. The practical step is to identify which size is already fitted or intended for the car’s restoration, then compare the available sidewall style and rim-width compatibility of the individual products instead of assuming any 15-inch bias-ply tire will be the right match.

Both sizes are correct fitments within the 1958 Allard range, and both are bias-ply tires for 15-inch rims. The difference is not a bias-ply-versus-radial decision here, but a choice between two period-style sizes with different nominal section widths. 590-15 is the narrower numeric size, while 600-15 is the larger of the two shared options.

For a 1958 Allard owner, the best choice usually comes down to what is already on the car, the wheel width actually fitted, and the visual stance you want to preserve. If the car is being restored toward a specific period look, stay consistent with the established size. If you are starting from scratch, confirm wheel width first and then choose the size that aligns with the car’s present setup rather than guessing from model name alone.

1958 Allard tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. In 590-15, blackwall choices appear from BFGoodrich and Avon, and a wide whitewall option is available from BFGoodrich. In 600-15, BFGoodrich offers both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, giving both listed sizes a period-appropriate visual choice.

Sidewall style affects how the finished car reads at a glance, especially on a rare British specialty car where wheel and tire proportions are highly visible. Blackwalls suit a more restrained sporting appearance, while wide whitewalls lean more heavily into period styling. If the car is already restored, matching the existing visual theme often matters as much as the size itself.

BFGoodrich and Avon both make tires for 1958 Allard applications. The 590-15 size is available from BFGoodrich and Avon, while 600-15 is represented by BFGoodrich. Across those offerings, the available construction remains bias-ply, with sidewall choices including blackwall and wide whitewall depending on the size and brand.

Brand choice on a 1958 Allard often comes down to the specific size you need and the appearance you want. If you are focused on 590-15, you have a broader brand spread; if you need 600-15, the available options are narrower but still cover both major sidewall looks. Comparing the individual tire’s load marking, rim-width guidance, and sidewall presentation is more useful than choosing by brand name alone.

Rim-width guidance is listed for both 1958 Allard tire sizes. The 590-15 BFGoodrich bias-ply tire is paired with 4.00-4.50-inch rims. In 600-15, one BFGoodrich option is paired with 4.00-4.50-inch rims and another with 4.50-5.00-inch rims, so the exact acceptable width depends on the specific tire chosen within that size.

That variation is why wheel measurement matters before ordering a replacement for a 1958 Allard. Two tires can share the same nominal size and rim diameter but still call for different rim-width ranges. If your car has non-original wheels or if the wheel width is not already known, measure the wheel and match it to the tire you plan to run rather than relying only on the sidewall size.

The listed 1958 Allard products do not carry TT or TL markings in the size descriptions, so tube use should be confirmed from the individual tire’s sidewall marking and the wheel type fitted to the car. Because these are vintage-style bias-ply applications on a 1958 collector car, tube questions are especially important when original-style wheels are involved.

A 1958 Allard owner should treat tube choice as part of the full wheel-and-tire setup, not as an afterthought. Original wheels, restored wheels, and later replacement wheels may not all call for the same approach. Confirm the wheel condition, valve-stem arrangement, and the specific tire’s construction details before final assembly, especially if the car will be driven regularly rather than displayed.

Both listed 1958 Allard sizes use a 15-inch rim diameter, so the original wheels can often accept either size from a diameter standpoint. Rim width still matters, though, because 590-15 is paired with 4.00-4.50-inch rims and 600-15 appears with ranges that extend from 4.00 inches up to 5.00 inches depending on the exact tire.

That means the answer is often yes in principle, but only after the wheel width is checked against the individual tire selected. On a 1958 Allard, original wheels may also have been refinished, repaired, or replaced over time, so measuring the actual rim is more reliable than assuming all factory-type wheels are identical. Diameter gets you in the ballpark; width determines whether the pairing is appropriate.

A 1958 Allard should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls prematurely. Because the listed tire options are bias-ply, long stationary periods can encourage flat-spotting more readily than many modern radials. Keeping the tires properly inflated and moving the car periodically helps reduce stress in one contact patch area.

If the car will sit for months, owners often either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading, while still protecting the suspension and chassis appropriately. Tire covers and a clean storage surface also help. Collector cars such as a 1958 Allard benefit from storage habits that protect rubber just as carefully as paint, trim, and upholstery.

Tire life on a 1958 Allard is usually judged more by age than mileage. Collector-car tires should be evaluated closely once they are around five to seven years old, and many owners treat ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if the tread still looks healthy. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the easiest way to establish age.

That age-based approach matters because a seldom-driven 1958 Allard can wear out very little tread while the rubber still hardens, cracks, or loses flexibility over time. A car that only comes out for fair-weather drives is not immune to aging. If the tires are older and the car is being prepared for longer trips, replacement often makes more sense than trying to stretch service life from visually acceptable but aged rubber.

Tires on a 1958 Allard should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Check for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and look closely at the valve stems and bead area. On an older sports car, small tire issues can become more noticeable because the chassis gives more direct feedback than a modern luxury vehicle.

A more thorough inspection several times each season is wise, especially if the car spends much of the year parked. Remove road debris from the tread, verify that the spare is still serviceable, and pay attention to any vibration or pull that develops on the road. Frequent inspection is inexpensive insurance on a 1958 Allard, where tire age and storage history often matter as much as visible tread depth.

A 1958 Allard Jag would have been associated with bias-ply tire construction in period, which aligns with the listed 590-15 and 600-15 options available for the 1958 Allard range. Both sizes are vintage numeric bias-ply fitments on 15-inch rims, which is consistent with the era. No specific original-equipment brand should be assumed without car-specific history, export-market information, or surviving factory literature.

For a restoration, the most accurate path is to start with the car’s current wheel size, any surviving old tires or photographs, and then compare that evidence with marque-club guidance. Because Allard production was low and individual cars can have long, varied histories, market-specific details may matter. The safest authenticity approach is to confirm size, bias-ply construction, and sidewall style before worrying about brand preference.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters when a 1958 Allard is judged for authenticity. On a period British specialty car, judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall appearance suit the era. A vintage numeric bias-ply size is more in keeping with a 1958 presentation than a visibly modern alternative, and sidewall style can also influence whether the car looks properly finished for its intended market and theme.

That does not mean every event applies identical standards, so a 1958 Allard owner should check the rules of the specific show or club. Some events care primarily about overall period correctness, while others scrutinize finer details. If the car is built for concours-style presentation, choosing the right size and a sidewall style that fits the restoration can matter almost as much visually as paint, trim, and wheel finish.

Within the 590-15 size for a 1958 Allard, BFGoodrich and Avon differ in the available product details. BFGoodrich offers blackwall and 2.625-inch wide whitewall versions, both with a listed max load of 1050 lbs at 32 psi and a 4.00-4.50-inch rim-width range. Avon’s 590H15 81H Turbospeed Mk4 appears as a blackwall only, with a listed max load of 1,018 lbs and a lighter stated weight than the BFGoodrich versions.

For the owner, that makes the decision less about broad fitment and more about presentation and specification. BFGoodrich gives you the whitewall option and a clearly stated rim-width range, while Avon offers a blackwall alternative with its own load and weight profile. On a 1958 Allard restoration, the right choice depends on whether visual authenticity, wheel compatibility, or a particular product character is the leading priority.

The listed 1958 Allard tires are bias-ply products, and one 590-size Avon tire carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to 130 mph. The BFGoodrich listings in these sizes do not show a speed letter in the size description. For normal highway use, the larger safety picture on a 1958 Allard usually includes the car’s age, braking ability, suspension condition, steering health, and wheel integrity just as much as the tire itself.

In practice, a properly fitted, correctly inflated, and age-sound tire can be suitable for regular road use within sensible limits, but a rare 1958 Allard is still an older performance car with vintage design expectations. If the car will be driven at sustained higher speeds, inspect the full chassis carefully and match your expectations to the vehicle as a whole, not just to the tire’s sidewall markings.

For 1958 Allard tire options, the listed BFGoodrich 590-15 is shown with a max load of 1050 lbs at 32 psi, and the BFGoodrich 600-15 is shown with a max load of 1150 lbs at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not universal vehicle-setting instructions. They show the pressure tied to the tire’s stated load capacity, but they should not automatically be treated as the running pressure for every 1958 Allard.

Use the original owner’s literature or marque guidance for the vehicle’s recommended operating pressure, then compare that with the tire maker’s limits for the exact tire you are using. Pressure should never be copied from one size to another without checking the specific tire. On a light, responsive sports car such as a 1958 Allard, even modest pressure differences can affect ride quality, steering feel, and tread wear.

Before a longer drive in a 1958 Allard, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any sign of age-related hardening. Confirm pressure when the tires are cold, look over the valve stems, and make sure the spare is still usable. Since all listed options are bias-ply tires on a vintage chassis, the wheel condition and lug security deserve the same attention as the tread and sidewall.

A longer trip also calls for a broader mechanical check, because a 1958 Allard’s reliability at speed depends on more than tires alone. Brakes, steering, cooling, wheel bearings, and lighting all deserve a look before heading out. Starting with the tires is wise, but the safest touring habit is to treat them as one part of a complete pre-drive inspection on an uncommon collector car.