1958 Riley Tire Fitment Guide

The 1958 Riley range covered here centers on the Two Point Six, and it uses two tire sizes: 195R15 and 670-15. Both sizes are associated with the same model rather than being divided across separate Riley models, and both are built for 15-inch wheels. For 670-15 products, listed rim-width ranges include 4.50 to 5.00 inches on some tires and 5.00 to 6.00 inches on others, so wheel width should be checked against the specific tire selected.

That means a 1958 Riley owner usually starts by deciding on tire construction and appearance rather than trying to sort through multiple model-specific fitments. A 670-15 bias-ply tire keeps the car in a more traditional late-1950s format, while 195R15 is the radial alternative. If your car has had wheels changed over the years, verify both the 15-inch diameter and the wheel width before committing to a tire.

On a 1958 Riley, 670-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.70 figure refers to the nominal section width, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing convention commonly seen on mid-century cars, and in this case it corresponds to the bias-ply fitment used on the Riley Two Point Six.

That size matters because it points you toward the more traditional construction choice for the car, along with the sidewall styling options associated with classic bias-ply tires such as Blackwall and Wide Whitewall versions. When comparing individual 670-15 products, check the approved wheel-width range and the specific load-and-pressure marking on the tire you are considering rather than assuming every 670-15 is built exactly the same.

A 195R15 tire for a 1958 Riley is a radial size with a nominal width of 195 millimeters and a 15-inch rim diameter. The R indicates radial construction, which distinguishes it from the 670-15 bias-ply fitment. Because no aspect ratio is written into the size, it follows the traditional euro-metric convention used on many earlier radial tire sizes.

For a Riley owner, that code tells you this is the radial path for the Two Point Six rather than a different model-specific fitment. It is useful when you want to compare tire construction and driving character without changing away from a 15-inch wheel diameter. Always confirm that the actual wheel on the car matches the intended tire's diameter and approved width requirements before installation.

Both sizes fit the 1958 Riley Two Point Six, but they represent two different construction types. The 670-15 is the bias-ply choice and aligns with the way a late-1950s British saloon would originally have been equipped, while 195R15 is the radial alternative. The decision is less about model fitment and more about whether you want the car to retain its traditional tire character or move toward a more modern radial setup.

Owners focused on authenticity, period appearance, and a more era-correct presentation generally gravitate toward 670-15. Owners planning more frequent road use often look at 195R15 because radial construction changes the feel of the car in day-to-day driving. Either way, keep the choice tied to your actual wheel dimensions and the kind of use the Riley will see, not just the fact that both sizes share a 15-inch rim diameter.

For the 1958 Riley bias-ply 670-15 size, available sidewall styles include Blackwall and Wide Whitewall. Firestone and Universal Vintage Tire offerings appear in Blackwall form, while US Royal and Coker Classic examples are offered with Wide Whitewall styling. Those choices give the Riley owner more than one visual direction even within the same nominal size and construction type.

A Blackwall tire usually suits a restrained British saloon appearance, especially for owners aiming at a cleaner, less flamboyant period look. A Wide Whitewall creates a stronger visual statement and can change the car's presence substantially without changing wheel diameter. Sidewall style can matter for restoration judging and for overall presentation, so it is worth matching the look of the tire to the specific way you want your 1958 Riley to read.

Brands offered for 1958 Riley fitment in the 670-15 size include Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. All of those listings are bias-ply products for the Two Point Six, with differences in sidewall styling and some variation in listed load-and-pressure markings. That gives the Riley owner several routes within the traditional 670-15 format rather than a single-brand solution.

Brand choice on a collector car like a 1958 Riley often comes down to presentation as much as fitment. One owner may prefer a straightforward Blackwall look, while another may want a Wide Whitewall with stronger visual period flavor. Once you have chosen the correct size and construction, compare the individual tire's sidewall treatment, approved wheel-width range, and load marking to make sure the brand you select suits both the car and your intended use.

For 1958 Riley applications in the 670-15 size, listed approved rim-width ranges include 4.50 to 5.00 inches on some tires and 5.00 to 6.00 inches on others. All of the listed 670-15 products use a 15-inch rim diameter, but the acceptable wheel width is not identical from one tire to the next. That makes wheel-width verification an important part of choosing the right individual tire.

A car that still wears its original-style wheels may fall neatly into one of those ranges, but a restored or modified car can easily differ. Rather than assuming any 15-inch wheel will work with any 670-15 product, match your measured wheel width to the specific tire's approved range. That step is especially worthwhile on a British collector car where replacement wheels may have been fitted at some point in its life.

Both 195R15 and 670-15 are 15-inch tire sizes for the 1958 Riley Two Point Six, so they share the same wheel diameter. That means an original 15-inch wheel can often serve as the starting point for either fitment path. Wheel diameter alone is not the whole story, though, because the tire still needs to be approved for the wheel's actual width.

For practical purposes, a Riley owner can usually compare these two sizes as alternatives on the same wheel diameter rather than as completely different wheel packages. The next step is to confirm the wheel width and compare it to the range approved for the exact tire under consideration. That check is the simplest way to avoid choosing a tire that is technically the right diameter but mismatched to the wheel itself.

A 1958 Riley should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing sources that can accelerate rubber aging. Keep the tires properly inflated and move the car periodically so weight does not rest on the same footprint for months at a time. Bias-ply tires such as 670-15 are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage compared with radial construction.

If the Riley will sit for an extended season, many owners place the car on stands or at least roll it occasionally to change the contact patch. Clean, dry floors are preferable to damp ground, and indoor covers should remain breathable rather than trapping moisture. Good storage habits will do more for the life and appearance of collector-car tires than low annual mileage alone.

On a 1958 Riley, tire age usually matters more than mileage because collector cars tend to be driven sparingly. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire is the practical way to establish age.

That timeline applies even to tires that look cosmetically good, because internal aging can progress long before a seldom-driven classic uses up its tread. Heat, sunlight, and improper storage can shorten service life further. If you have recently acquired a Riley and do not know how old the tires are, checking the date code is one of the first maintenance steps worth taking before regular road use.

Tires on a 1958 Riley should be inspected before every drive, and more carefully before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, tread separation, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between uses. Because collector cars often sit longer than modern daily drivers, these issues can appear even when tread depth still looks generous.

A quick walk-around before each drive and a deeper inspection at the start of each season is a good rhythm for a low-use British saloon. Include the spare in that routine, since it may be the oldest tire on the car. Pressure checks should be part of the same habit, especially if the car has been parked for weeks at a time or is heading onto faster roads.

A 1958 Riley Two Point Six would originally have been associated with bias-ply construction, which was still the standard format for most cars of that era even as radials were becoming more familiar in some markets. Within the fitments listed here, 670-15 is the bias-ply size tied to that period-correct construction approach. No specific original-equipment brand should be assumed from that alone, since market and delivery details could vary.

For a faithful restoration, start with the 670-15 format and then narrow the choice by sidewall appearance to suit the presentation you want. Owners pursuing club judging or marque-level authenticity should compare their car against factory literature, period photographs, and Riley specialist guidance before settling on the final sidewall treatment. That extra step is worthwhile because authenticity expectations can differ by market and event.

Correct tire fitment can matter a great deal when showing a 1958 Riley, especially in preservation or judged restoration settings. Size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all contribute to whether the car reads as authentically restored. A radial tire may be entirely sensible for road use, but it can stand out on a car being judged for originality if the event expects a period-type bias-ply presentation.

That does not mean every show has the same standard, only that tire choice is part of the visual and historical story of the car. A Blackwall versus Wide Whitewall decision can also affect how authentic the car appears for a particular market style or restoration theme. Marque clubs and the rules for the specific event remain the best guides when points or authenticity standards are at stake.

For a 1958 Riley in 670-15, the listed Firestone example is a Blackwall bias-ply tire with a 1450-pound maximum load at 32 psi, a 15-inch rim diameter, and an approved rim-width range of 4.50 to 5.00 inches. The listed Coker Classic example is a Wide Whitewall bias-ply tire with a 1550-pound maximum load at 32 psi, the same 15-inch rim diameter, and an approved rim-width range of 5.00 to 6.00 inches.

Those differences mean the choice is not only visual. The sidewall treatment changes the car's period look, while the approved wheel-width range means one product may suit your actual wheel better than the other. On a restoration-minded Riley, that combination of appearance and wheel compatibility usually matters more than simply choosing a familiar brand name.

A properly sized, correctly mounted, and well-maintained tire can be used for highway driving on a 1958 Riley, but safety depends on matching the tire to the car, the wheel, and the condition of the vehicle as a whole. The 1958 Riley Two Point Six can be fitted with either a 670-15 bias-ply tire or a 195R15 radial tire, and the construction type influences road feel and response. On a car of this age, brakes, steering, suspension, and alignment are often just as important to real-world highway confidence as the tire itself.

That is why a highway-use decision should include an honest look at how the Riley is maintained and how it will be driven. A collector car that is mechanically fresh and conservatively driven is a very different proposition from one that has been dormant for years. Before any sustained highway trip, confirm tire age, pressure, visible condition, and wheel compatibility rather than assuming the tire size alone answers the question.

For 1958 Riley 670-15 products, listed maximum load and pressure markings include 1450 pounds at 32 psi on some tires and 1550 pounds at 32 psi on another. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to run every Riley at the maximum marked pressure all the time. Inflation for actual use should take into account the vehicle's recommended settings and the specific tire's construction and load rating.

The best approach is to consult the original owner's literature or marque reference for the car's intended operating pressure, then compare that with the reproduction tire's own stated limits. Do not transfer one tire's pressure figure to another size or product just because both fit a 15-inch wheel. Matching pressure to the exact tire and the way the car is loaded will give better results than inflating solely by the sidewall's maximum number.

Before taking a 1958 Riley on a longer drive, inspect all five tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign of tread or carcass distress. Check cold inflation pressure, confirm that the spare is serviceable, and make sure each tire still matches the wheel diameter and the intended use of the car. On a collector vehicle, tire condition should be treated as one part of a larger pre-drive inspection that also includes brakes, steering, cooling, and fluid levels.

Longer drives expose weaknesses that short local outings may never reveal, especially on an older British saloon that has spent time in storage. A tire that holds air around town may behave very differently after sustained heat and speed, so a careful inspection beforehand is worthwhile. If anything about the sidewall, age, or wheel match looks questionable, sort that out before the trip rather than trusting a low-mileage appearance.