1958 Daimler Tire Fitment Guide

1958 Daimler vehicles use three tire sizes across two models. The DK400 uses 750-16 bias-ply tires, while the One-O-Four uses either 650-16 bias-ply or 185R16 radial tires. All three sizes mount on 16-inch rims. Published rim width ranges vary by size and product, with 750-16 commonly shown for 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims, 650-16 for 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims, and 185R16 products appearing on ranges from 4.50 to 6.50 inches depending on brand.

That means year and make alone are not enough to select the right tire for a 1958 Daimler. Start by confirming whether you have a DK400 or a One-O-Four, then match the tire size to the wheel already on the car and the type of driving you expect to do. A One-O-Four owner may also need to decide whether preserving a bias-ply setup or moving to a radial arrangement better suits the car's current restoration and use.

On a 1958 Daimler, 750-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The 7.50 figure refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric code and it does not identify a radial construction. Within the 1958 Daimler range, this size applies to the DK400.

That older numeric format matters because it points you toward period-style construction and appearance, not just a wheel diameter. If you are working with a DK400, 750-16 keeps you in the correct family of large bias-ply tires for a formal late-1950s luxury car. Whitewall width, blackwall versus whitewall appearance, and exact rim-width compatibility should still be confirmed product by product before making a final choice.

On a 1958 Daimler, 185R16 is a radial metric tire size used on the One-O-Four. The 185 is the section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. When no aspect ratio is written into this older metric format, it is conventionally treated as an 80-series profile. In the currently available products for this size, speed ratings include S and V depending on the brand.

That code tells you immediately that 185R16 belongs to a different tire-design era than 650-16, even though both fit a 16-inch wheel. A One-O-Four owner choosing between them is usually deciding whether to stay with a more original bias-ply presentation or move to a radial setup more familiar to modern drivers. Tube markings also deserve attention here, since one 185R16 offering is listed as tube type while others are not marked the same way.

No. 1958 Daimler models do not all use the same tire size. The DK400 uses 750-16 bias-ply tires, while the One-O-Four uses either 650-16 bias-ply or 185R16 radial tires. Although every size here is built for a 16-inch rim diameter, the section width, construction, and published rim-width ranges are not the same from one size to another.

That split is typical of a make with both a large formal luxury model and a more conventional saloon in the same year. A DK400 owner should not assume that a One-O-Four size is interchangeable simply because both cars use 16-inch wheels. If you are buying for a One-O-Four, verify whether the car is presently set up around a bias-ply or radial fitment before narrowing the product selection further.

If your 1958 Daimler is a One-O-Four, the choice between 650-16 and 185R16 is primarily a choice between bias-ply and radial construction. The 650-16 options are traditional bias-ply tires offered in blackwall and wide whitewall styles, while the 185R16 options are radial blackwalls from Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein. Both sizes use 16-inch rims, but they represent different approaches to how the car is presented and driven.

Owners pursuing a restoration-minded look usually stay with 650-16, especially if sidewall appearance is part of the car's visual character. Owners planning more regular road use often look at 185R16 because it keeps the One-O-Four in a radial format familiar to modern drivers. Before deciding, confirm the wheel width on the car and make sure the size you choose matches the way the car has been set up, rather than mixing tire types casually.

1958 Daimler tires are available in more than one sidewall style, but the choices depend on size. The 750-16 DK400 range includes both blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply options. The 650-16 One-O-Four range also includes blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply tires. The 185R16 radial offerings for the One-O-Four are blackwall only.

That means sidewall appearance is part of the buying decision, especially on a car from the late 1950s where whitewalls can strongly influence the finished look. A restoration built around period presentation may call for a whitewall bias-ply tire, while a driver-focused One-O-Four running radial tires will keep a more understated blackwall appearance. If show standards matter, check the expected sidewall treatment for your specific market and event before finalizing the choice.

Several brands cover 1958 Daimler fitments, and the lineup changes by size. The 750-16 DK400 size is available from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. The 185R16 One-O-Four radial size is offered by Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein. The 650-16 One-O-Four bias-ply size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield.

Brand choice often comes down to the combination of construction, sidewall style, and the exact character you want the car to present. A buyer looking at a One-O-Four has the broadest spread because both bias-ply and radial paths are open, while a DK400 owner is choosing within a more traditional large bias-ply category. Once you narrow the size correctly, compare the individual tires by sidewall appearance, listed rim-width compatibility, and any load or speed markings that matter to your driving habits.

Rim-width requirements for 1958 Daimler tires vary by size. Published 750-16 products commonly show a 5.00 to 6.00-inch rim-width range. Published 650-16 products commonly show a 4.50 to 5.00-inch range. The available 185R16 radial products span broader ranges where listed, including 4.50 to 6.00 inches on one product and 5.0 to 6.5 inches on another.

Those ranges are the reason wheel diameter alone is not enough to confirm a fit. If your car already has wheels fitted, measure or verify the wheel width before choosing a tire, especially if you are considering a One-O-Four conversion between bias-ply and radial sizes. A 16-inch wheel may accept more than one size in principle, but the specific tire still needs to match the rim-width range published for that product.

Inner-tube requirements for 1958 Daimler tires depend on the size and the specific product. The 185R16 radial offerings do not all read the same: the Michelin X is marked 92S TT, indicating tube type, while the Avon and Vredestein radial products are listed differently. The bias-ply 750-16 and 650-16 listings here do not all carry an explicit tube marker in the size line, so tube practice should be checked against the tire and wheel combination you are actually using.

That variation means a One-O-Four owner should never assume that every 185R16 radial is set up the same way. Before fitting any tire, confirm the sidewall marking on the exact product and consider the wheel construction as well, since an older wheel may influence whether tube use is appropriate. If you are preserving original wheels on a collector Daimler, tube choice is worth settling before mounting day rather than after the tires arrive.

All listed 1958 Daimler tire sizes share a 16-inch rim diameter, so wheel diameter compatibility is present across the range. That said, the DK400's 750-16, the One-O-Four's 650-16, and the One-O-Four's 185R16 do not all publish the same rim-width ranges. A wheel that accepts one 16-inch size by diameter may still fall outside the preferred width range for another.

That is especially important on a One-O-Four if you are considering moving between 650-16 bias-ply tires and 185R16 radials. Original wheels may work, but the correct answer depends on the actual wheel width and on the specific tire brand you select. Confirming the wheel first is the cleanest way to avoid a mismatch and helps keep the car's steering feel, footprint, and overall stance in the range intended by the tire maker.

A stored 1958 Daimler should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors and welders, and in a space that stays dry and reasonably stable in temperature. Tires should be kept at proper inflation during storage, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long static loading. Bias-ply tires, which appear on the DK400 and on one One-O-Four fitment, are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting after long periods parked.

Collector cars often spend more time standing still than driving, so storage habits affect tire condition as much as road mileage does. If your One-O-Four runs radial tires, long-term storage is still a concern, but bias-ply tires generally show static-storage effects more quickly. A clean, cool environment and occasional movement will help preserve sidewalls, maintain shape, and reduce the chance of finding a rough-riding tire when the car comes back into service.

On a 1958 Daimler, tire age usually matters more than mileage because many collector cars see limited annual use. A sensible rule is to evaluate tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat about ten years from the date code as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread remains. That guidance applies whether the car is fitted with bias-ply or radial tires.

A low-mileage appearance can be misleading on a seldom-driven luxury car that spends much of its life parked indoors. Sidewall checking, hardening rubber, loss of pressure retention, and changes in ride quality can all show up before the tread is worn out. When inspecting an older set, read the date code, consider how the car has been stored, and weigh replacement on age and condition rather than waiting for traditional high-mileage wear indicators.

Tires on a 1958 Daimler should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weathering around the whitewall or blackwall edge, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure. If your exact tire setup uses tubes, the valve stem and the tire's ability to hold pressure deserve extra attention as part of that routine.

That quick habit is especially valuable on collector cars because they may sit for weeks and then be asked to run at sustained speed without much recent use. A two-minute walkaround can catch age-related issues long before they become roadside problems. If the car feels different after storage, do not assume it will drive out of it; recheck pressures and condition before deciding the issue is only a temporary flat spot.

For a 1958 Daimler One-O-Four, bias-ply construction is the period-correct starting point for most originality-focused research, and 650-16 is the bias-ply size associated with the model here. The same model also appears with 185R16 radial fitment, which reflects how some late-1950s British cars could be encountered in radial form as the market evolved. Original-equipment branding should be verified carefully before making a concours-level claim.

If your goal is faithful restoration, begin with the car's market history, surviving paperwork, and the standards used by the club or event judging the car. A restored One-O-Four can look quite different depending on whether it is presented as a bias-ply car with optional whitewalls or as a blackwall radial-equipped driver. Marque clubs and period factory literature are the right places to settle that final layer of authenticity.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when a 1958 Daimler is judged seriously. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect whether the car presents as era-appropriate. A DK400 shown on the wrong overall tire family, or a One-O-Four wearing a modern-looking radial presentation when the class expects original-style bias-ply specification, can stand out immediately to knowledgeable judges.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard. Some touring-oriented shows are more relaxed, while higher-level concours judging may look closely at whether the tire's construction and whitewall treatment suit the model and market. Before committing to a show set, check the expectations of the event and the guidance of Daimler specialists so the car's tire choice supports the rest of the restoration instead of undermining it.

For the 1958 Daimler One-O-Four in 185R16, the Michelin X, Avon Turbosteel, and Vredestein Sprint Classic are all blackwall radial choices, but their published details are not identical. The Michelin is listed as 185R16 92S TT, making it the only one in this group clearly marked tube type and carrying an S speed rating of 112 mph. The Avon and Vredestein are listed in 93V form, which raises the speed rating to 149 mph, and the Vredestein also publishes a 5.0 to 6.5-inch rim-width range.

Those differences matter less as bragging rights than as setup details. A buyer preserving a wheel-and-tube arrangement may focus first on the Michelin marking, while a buyer comparing radial options for road use may pay attention to the broader speed rating and fitment details shown on the Avon and Vredestein. The right comparison is not only brand versus brand, but also how each tire's published markings line up with the wheel and driving plan for your One-O-Four.

1958 Daimler tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and used within their rated limits. The 185R16 radial offerings include S-rated products at 112 mph and V-rated products at 149 mph, depending on brand. The bias-ply 650-16 and 750-16 products listed here do not show separate modern speed-letter markings in the same way, so road use should be approached with the expectations appropriate to a traditional bias-ply collector tire.

On a late-1950s Daimler, the car's own braking, suspension, steering, and overall condition are often just as important as the tire's published capability. A sound radial-equipped One-O-Four may feel more familiar at sustained road speed, while a bias-ply setup asks for more period-minded driving habits. Safety comes from the whole package: correct fitment, good condition, proper inflation, and using the car with mechanical sympathy rather than driving it like a modern sedan.

Inflation pressure for 1958 Daimler tires should be set with the vehicle maker's recommendation and the individual tire's published limits in mind rather than copying one number across all sizes. Some listed products include load-and-pressure figures such as 750-16 tires at 1660 pounds at 40 psi or 1850 pounds at 48 psi, 650-16 tires at 1580 pounds at 32 psi, and one 185R16 radial at 1,433 pounds at 51 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not universal vehicle settings.

The practical approach is to begin with the Daimler factory recommendation for your exact model and then make sure that pressure falls within the tire maker's permitted range for the tire you selected. A DK400 and a One-O-Four should not be treated interchangeably, and a 650-16 bias-ply should not inherit the settings of a 185R16 radial. If the car's manual and the tire's sidewall seem to point in different directions, resolve that before extended driving.

Before a longer drive in a 1958 Daimler, inspect all five tires if a spare is carried, not just the four on the road. Check for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure, and make sure the spare is usable rather than simply present. If your setup uses tubes, pay close attention to valve stems and to any history of slow pressure loss.

A longer trip is also the wrong time to discover that a tire is old, mismatched, or mounted on a wheel outside the recommended width range. After the tires are checked, treat them as one part of a broader pre-drive inspection that also covers brakes, fluids, steering, and cooling. Vintage Daimlers reward careful preparation, and a few minutes in the garage usually does more for confidence than any extra tool packed in the boot.