1958 Humber Tire Fitment Guide

1958 Humber vehicles use four sizes split across two models. The Humber Hawk uses 175R15 in radial form or 640-15 in bias-ply form, while the Humber Super Snipe uses 185R15 in radial form or 775-15 in bias-ply form. All of these sizes mount on 15-inch rims. Where product fitment details are published, 640-15 appears on rims from 4.00 to 5.00 inches wide depending on the tire, 185R15 appears on rims from 4.5 to 6.5 inches, and 775-15 appears on rims from 4.50 to 6.00 inches.

The practical takeaway is that a 1958 Humber owner should confirm the model first, then match the wheel width to the specific tire being considered. Hawk and Super Snipe sizes are not interchangeable just because both cars use 15-inch wheels. Once the model is identified, the next step is deciding whether you want a bias-ply tire for a more period-oriented setup or a radial for a more modern driving character.

On a 1958 Humber, 640-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The first number is the nominal section width in the older numeric system, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On this year and make, 640-15 is associated with the Humber Hawk rather than the Super Snipe. Available products in that size use traditional bias-ply construction and come in whitewall variations that suit a late-1950s restoration theme.

That size code matters because it tells you both the construction era and the intended wheel diameter at a glance. A Hawk owner choosing 640-15 is usually preserving the feel and appearance expected of the period, while a Hawk owner preferring a radial would look instead at 175R15. Before final selection, compare the tire's published rim-width range against the actual wheel on the car.

No. The 1958 Humber Hawk and 1958 Humber Super Snipe use different tire sizes even though both are 15-inch-wheel cars. The Hawk uses either 175R15 or 640-15, while the Super Snipe uses either 185R15 or 775-15. The split is by model, not by one universal Humber size for the year.

That means year and make alone are not enough to order confidently. Owners who know they have a Humber but are not certain whether it is a Hawk or Super Snipe should verify the model before moving further, since choosing the wrong model sends you into the wrong size family. Once the model is confirmed, the bias-ply versus radial decision becomes much more straightforward.

For a 1958 Humber Hawk, the choice is between 175R15 radial and 640-15 bias-ply. For a 1958 Humber Super Snipe, the choice is between 185R15 radial and 775-15 bias-ply. The radial options use later-style construction and the bias-ply options use period construction, so the decision is less about wheel diameter and more about how you want the car to present and behave.

Owners building a car around originality, show presentation, or an era-correct driving feel often lean toward the bias-ply sizes. Owners who expect more regular road use often prefer the radial alternatives available for the same model. Either route still requires matching the specific tire's rim-width requirements to the wheel on the car, since construction choice does not cancel the need for proper fitment.

1958 Humber tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The Hawk's 640-15 bias-ply options include wide whitewall and narrow whitewall versions. The Super Snipe's 185R15 radial options include redline, narrow whitewall, and blackwall, while 775-15 bias-ply options include redline, narrow whitewall, and goldline. That gives Humber owners more visual flexibility than a single blackwall-only or whitewall-only catalog.

Sidewall appearance can change the whole look of a late-1950s British saloon, especially on a formal car like a Humber. Whitewall styles generally align well with period restoration themes, while blackwall or redline choices may appeal to owners tailoring the car to a specific presentation. If show authenticity matters, confirm what is accepted by the club, registrar, or event where the car will be judged.

Several brands cover 1958 Humber fitments. The 640-15 Hawk bias-ply size is offered by BFGoodrich and Firestone, the 185R15 Super Snipe radial size is offered by Coker Classic and Michelin, and the 775-15 Super Snipe bias-ply size is also offered by BFGoodrich and Firestone. Brand choice therefore depends partly on which model and size family your Humber uses.

That brand spread gives owners room to balance visual preference and construction type without leaving the correct size group for their model. A Michelin radial offering in 185R15, for example, is a very different proposition from a BFGoodrich or Firestone bias-ply in 775-15 even though they serve the same car model family. Narrow the decision by identifying the model first, then compare the sidewall style and published fitment details within that size.

Published rim-width ranges vary by 1958 Humber tire size and sometimes by product within the same size. The Hawk's 640-15 bias-ply tires appear on rims from 4.00 to 5.00 inches wide depending on brand and sidewall version. The Super Snipe's 185R15 radial tires fit rims from 4.5 to 6.5 inches, and 775-15 bias-ply tires fit rims from 4.50 to 6.00 inches in the listed products. All of these fitments use a 15-inch rim diameter.

Rim width is worth checking before you settle on sidewall style or brand, because two tires with the same nominal size can still have different approved wheel ranges. Measure the actual wheel if there is any doubt, especially on a restored car with replacement or non-original rims. Matching the tire to the proper wheel width helps preserve intended shape, contact patch, and steering response.

Original 1958 Humber wheels can only be considered across the sizes intended for the same model, not across the entire Humber range. Every listed size uses a 15-inch rim diameter, so diameter compatibility is shared. The remaining question is wheel width: 640-15, 185R15, and 775-15 have different approved rim-width ranges, and those ranges vary by product in some cases.

That means a Hawk owner can compare 175R15 and 640-15 only after confirming the actual wheel width on the car, and a Super Snipe owner should do the same when comparing 185R15 and 775-15. Shared diameter does not automatically mean every 15-inch Humber wheel is suitable for every 15-inch Humber tire. Verify the wheel first, then choose the tire that falls within its approved range.

A stored 1958 Humber should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Tires should be kept at proper inflation while the car sits, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces prolonged static loading. Bias-ply tires are generally more prone to temporary flat-spotting during storage than radials, so that matters if your Humber spends long periods parked.

Good storage habits protect both appearance and drivability. They help slow sidewall cracking, keep the tread from taking a set, and reduce the chance of finding age-related damage just before an event or touring weekend. If the car is driven only seasonally, add a pre-season pressure check and a close visual inspection before putting it back on the road.

Tire life on a 1958 Humber is usually judged more by age than by miles because collector cars often cover limited annual distance. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating closely once tires reach roughly five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire is the usual starting point for tracking age, even on reproduction or specialty tires used on vintage cars.

That timeline matters because a Humber can look well preserved while its tires have quietly aged out. Cracking, hardening, vibration, and reduced wet-weather confidence may show up long before the tread appears worn. If the car's history is unclear, checking the date code is often more useful than judging by appearance alone.

Tires on a 1958 Humber should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or touring event. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, embedded debris, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure. A pressure check should be routine, and the spare deserves the same attention because many collector cars still rely on a spare that sees little use but ages right along with the road tires.

Frequent inspection is especially important on an older British car that may spend time parked between drives. Small problems are much easier to catch in the garage than on the shoulder after a failure. If the car uses older valve hardware or long-stored wheels, include the stems and wheel sealing surfaces in the inspection process as part of regular upkeep.

A 1958 Humber Hawk or 1958 Humber Super Snipe would have been associated with bias-ply construction in period, since radial use was still market-dependent and far from universal in late-1950s British saloons. Within the available size families here, 640-15 represents the period-style bias-ply option for the Hawk and 775-15 does the same for the Super Snipe. Radial alternatives in 175R15 and 185R15 are available for owners who want a different roadgoing setup.

Owners pursuing historical accuracy should treat those bias-ply sizes as the starting point, then confirm market-specific expectations with marque clubs or Humber specialists if the car is being judged. Export-market and replacement-tire histories can complicate what any individual car wore over its lifetime. That is why construction type, sidewall style, and model identification all matter together on a restoration.

Correct tire fitment does matter when a 1958 Humber is judged for originality. Show standards often consider whether the size suits the exact model, whether the construction matches the era, and whether the sidewall presentation fits what would be expected on a late-1950s British saloon. A Hawk wearing a Super Snipe size, or a car judged for factory-style presentation wearing an obviously modern-looking alternative, can attract unwanted scrutiny.

That does not mean every owner needs the same answer, because touring use and concours use are not the same mission. It does mean that owners entering judged events should settle the size, construction, and sidewall question before the car is finished cosmetically. Event-specific standards vary, so club judging guides and Humber enthusiasts are the right final reference point.

Within the 1958 Humber Super Snipe radial size, Michelin XVS appears in several 185R15-family versions. One version is a narrow whitewall 185HR15 93H TL, another is a blackwall 185HR15 93H TL, and another is a blackwall 185VR15 93V TL. The H-rated versions carry a 130 mph speed rating, while the V-rated version carries a 149 mph speed rating. Listed rim-width ranges span from 4.5 to 6.5 inches depending on the specific tire.

The most useful difference for most Super Snipe owners is not outright speed potential but the combination of appearance and fitment details. A whitewall changes the car's visual character, while the blackwall versions keep a plainer look. Compare the exact wheel width on the car and decide which sidewall style best matches your restoration or touring goals before settling on one XVS version over another.

1958 Humber tires can be suitable for highway driving when the tire is in good condition, properly fitted, and used within its construction and speed-rating limits. The published radial options in 185R15 include H-rated tires to 130 mph and V-rated tires to 149 mph, while the listed bias-ply products are traditional collector-car tires without modern high-speed positioning. On a late-1950s Humber, the car's own braking, suspension, steering, and general mechanical condition are often just as important as the tire itself at normal highway speeds.

Highway use starts with realism about the car, not only the numbers on the sidewall. A well-sorted Humber on fresh, correctly fitted tires is a very different proposition from a long-stored car with aged rubber and deferred maintenance. Inspect the tires closely, set appropriate pressure, and keep cruising expectations aligned with the vehicle's age and overall condition.

Inflation pressure for a 1958 Humber should follow the vehicle's original recommendations first and the tire manufacturer's published limits second. Among the available tires here, 640-15 products include ratings such as 1190 pounds at 32 psi and one 970-pound version at 32 psi, 185R15 includes a listed 1355 pounds at 35 psi on one product, and 775-15 products include 1490 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are load-and-pressure ratings for specific tires, not universal pressure instructions for every Humber application.

The safest approach is to treat the owner's handbook and factory vehicle guidance as the baseline, then confirm that the chosen reproduction or specialty tire is being used within its rated capacity and pressure range. Do not transfer a pressure figure from 640-15 to 775-15 or from a radial to a bias-ply simply because both fit 15-inch wheels. Construction and size differences matter.

Before a longer drive in a 1958 Humber, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, irregular wear, and proper inflation. Check that the spare is usable, not just present, and make sure the valve stems and wheel sealing areas look sound. If the car has been parked for an extended period, drive a short local loop first to feel for vibration, pull, or flat-spotting before committing to a longer run.

Tires are only one part of pre-trip preparation on a car of this age, but they are among the easiest items to verify and one of the most important for avoiding roadside trouble. Add a basic mechanical walkaround for brakes, fluids, lights, and cooling condition so the Humber is ready as a whole system. A careful inspection is especially worthwhile before club tours or sustained highway use.