1958 Simca Tire Fitment Guide

1958 Simca vehicles use different tire sizes by model. The Arlane uses either 185R15 radial or 6.50-15 bias-ply on 15-inch rims, the Aronde uses either 155R14 radial or 560-14 bias-ply on 14-inch rims, and the Vedette uses either 165R15 radial or 165-15 bias-ply on 15-inch rims. Where rim width guidance is available, 185R15 appears on wheels from 4.5 to 6.5 inches wide depending on product, 155R14 on 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 560-14 on 3.50 to 4.00 inches, and 165R15 on 4.50 to 6.00 inches.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a correct choice on a 1958 Simca. Start by identifying whether your car is an Arlane, Aronde, or Vedette, then confirm whether you want the radial or bias-ply fitment associated with that model before comparing sidewall style, brand, or load and pressure markings.

On a 1958 Simca, 560-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 portion is the nominal section width in inches, written without a decimal in many period references, and the 14 is the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1958 Simca range, that size belongs to the Aronde and mounts on 14-inch rims, with listed fitment ranges of 3.50 to 4.00 inches in rim width on the available products.

Modern buyers often read 560-14 as if it were a metric size, but it is an older bias-ply designation and should be treated as such when comparing replacements. If your goal is an original late-1950s appearance and feel on an Aronde, 560-14 keeps you in the correct construction family, while the radial alternative for that same model is 155R14.

No. The 1958 Simca Arlane, Aronde, and Vedette each use their own pair of sizes, and those sizes are not interchangeable across the full model range as a group. Arlane fitments are 15-inch sizes, Aronde fitments are 14-inch sizes, and Vedette fitments return to 15-inch sizes, with each model having one bias-ply option and one radial option.

That distinction matters because a buyer who only knows the car is a 1958 Simca can still end up looking at the wrong rim diameter and the wrong tire family. Confirm the model name from the body, title, or factory identification first, then compare the two sizes used on that model rather than browsing the full year-make range as if every option fits every car.

Every 1958 Simca model here has both a bias-ply option and a radial option, but the exact size pair depends on the model. Arlane uses 6.50-15 or 185R15, Aronde uses 560-14 or 155R14, and Vedette uses 165-15 or 165R15. Bias-ply tires are the traditional construction associated with the period, while the radial alternatives reflect the European transition toward more modern road behavior.

Choose the bias-ply size when originality, show presentation, and period-correct driving character are the priority. Choose the radial size when the car will spend more time on public roads and you want the manners that come with radial construction, but still verify the exact model first because the Aronde’s radial and bias-ply choices use different rim widths than the larger 15-inch Simca fitments.

Sidewall choices vary by size on 1958 Simca tires. The 185R15 radial for the Arlane is available in redline, narrow whitewall, and blackwall; the 155R14 radial for the Aronde is offered in blackwall; the 560-14 bias-ply for the Aronde comes in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall; and the 165R15 radial for the Vedette appears in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall.

That gives you room to match the car’s restoration style rather than treating every Simca the same. Blackwalls are the most understated choice, while whitewall treatments can better suit a more dressed-up presentation, especially on a larger car like the Vedette; for judged originality, it is wise to compare your chosen sidewall style against period photos, market literature, or marque-club guidance.

Several brands cover the available 1958 Simca sizes. The 185R15 Arlane radial size is offered by Coker Classic and Michelin, the 155R14 Aronde radial size by Michelin and Firestone, the 560-14 Aronde bias-ply size by BFGoodrich, and the 165R15 Vedette radial size by Coker Classic, American Classic, Firestone, and BFGoodrich. Those brands span both reproduction-style collector tires and radial lines aimed at vintage fitments.

Brand choice matters most after you have settled on the correct size and construction for your Simca. Once that is established, compare the available sidewall style, rim-width range, and any speed or load markings within that size, since the useful differences between brands here tend to show up in presentation and specification details rather than in a one-brand-fits-all answer.

Rim width guidance differs by 1958 Simca size. For the Arlane’s 185R15 radial, listed products span 4.5 to 6 inches on some versions and 5.00 to 6.50 inches on others. The Aronde’s 155R14 radial fits 4.00 to 5.50 inch rims where that specification is given, while its 560-14 bias-ply fits 3.50 to 4.00 inch rims. The Vedette’s 165R15 radial appears on a 4.50 to 6.00 inch rim-width range.

Use those ranges to verify the wheel already on the car before choosing among tire options in the same nominal size. A 1958 Simca may still wear replacement wheels after decades of service, so checking actual wheel width is just as important as checking diameter, especially when comparing narrow bias-ply fitments to radial products that often allow a broader rim-width span.

Tube use varies by 1958 Simca size and product. The Michelin 185R15 and 155R14 radial products shown are marked TL for tubeless use, while some other products in those sizes do not carry the same marking in the size description. The available 560-14 and 165R15 listings do not all state tube notation in the same way, so tube status should be treated as product-specific rather than assumed across the whole size family.

The practical step is to match the tire not only to the car, but also to the wheel design and the exact sidewall marking on the tire you choose. If your 1958 Simca still has original-style wheels, especially on a restoration, confirm whether the wheel condition and design support tubeless service or whether an inner tube is the appropriate setup for that specific tire-and-wheel combination.

For each 1958 Simca model, the bias-ply and radial alternatives share the same rim diameter within that model: Arlane uses 15-inch sizes, Aronde uses 14-inch sizes, and Vedette uses 15-inch sizes. That means the original wheel diameter generally aligns with both tire choices offered for that specific model. Rim width, however, still needs to be checked against the chosen tire’s acceptable range.

Diameter compatibility is only the first half of the decision. A narrow original wheel may suit a period bias-ply size but sit at the edge of the approved range for a radial, so measure the actual wheel and compare it to the tire’s listed fitment range before mounting, particularly on cars that may have changed wheels during their lives.

A stored 1958 Simca should be kept away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, compressors, and battery chargers. Tires should be kept at proper inflation, the car should be moved periodically if practical, and long stationary periods are easier on the tires if the load is reduced with stands placed correctly under the chassis. Bias-ply tires on a 1958 Simca can flat-spot more readily during long storage than radials.

Good storage practice protects both appearance and drivability on a collector car that sees intermittent use. If your Simca spends much of the year parked, a cool, dark, clean environment and occasional rolling movement will do more for tire life than simply covering the car, and it is worth checking pressures before and after every extended storage cycle.

On a 1958 Simca, tire age matters more than mileage in most collector-car use. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat the ten-year mark as a strong replacement consideration even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the most reliable way to determine actual age.

That approach is especially important on low-mileage classics because a 1958 Simca can spend long periods parked, and time-related hardening or cracking often appears before wear does. If the tires are older but the car is seeing more road use now than before, replacing on age rather than waiting for tread wear is usually the more prudent path.

Tires on a 1958 Simca should be checked before every drive and inspected more thoroughly before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, punctures, and pressure loss, and make sure the spare is usable as well. If your setup uses tube-type service, the valve stems and any signs of slow leakage deserve extra attention because age-related issues can show up there first.

Frequent inspection is part of normal collector-car ownership, not a sign that anything is wrong with the tire. A short walk-around before driving helps catch storage damage, low pressure, or sidewall deterioration early, which is especially important on a lightly used 1958 Simca that may sit for weeks between drives and then head straight onto secondary roads or highway connectors.

For a 1958 Simca Aronde, the period-correct construction family is bias-ply, represented here by 560-14. Radials were becoming increasingly important in Europe by the late 1950s, and the Aronde also has a 155R14 radial fitment in today’s vintage-tire market, but owners pursuing strict originality usually begin with the bias-ply option unless period market evidence for their exact car says otherwise.

Original fitment details can vary by market, trim, and how a car was delivered, so the best next step for a serious restoration is to compare surviving factory literature, period photos, and Simca club guidance for your exact Aronde. Construction type, size, and sidewall treatment all influence whether the finished car looks convincingly correct to an informed eye.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1958 Simca, especially in events that emphasize factory-correct restoration. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will notice whether the car is wearing the right size family for its model, whether the construction suits the era, and whether the sidewall style looks appropriate for the car’s presentation. A modern-looking mismatch can stand out quickly on a compact late-1950s French car.

For that reason, show-oriented owners should decide early whether the car is being restored for strict authenticity or for enjoyable road use with sympathetic appearance. If the event has detailed judging standards, check with the hosting club or marque experts before final selection, since some venues are more accepting of radials while others expect period-correct bias-ply construction and era-appropriate sidewall styling.

Within the 1958 Simca Arlane’s 185R15 radial size, Michelin XVS and Coker Classic differ in presentation and specification detail. The Coker Classic example appears as a redline tire with a 5.00 to 6.50 inch rim-width range and a listed maximum load of 1355 pounds at 35 psi. Michelin XVS appears in narrow whitewall and blackwall forms, with H-rated 112 mph and V-rated 149 mph TL versions and rim-width ranges spanning 4.5 to 6 inches or 5.00 to 6.50 inches depending on the exact tire.

That means the decision is less about one tire being universally right and more about matching the product to the look and specification you want. An Arlane owner drawn to a sporting or custom period look may focus on the redline presentation, while an owner seeking a more European touring-style radial may lean toward the Michelin offerings and choose among their sidewall and speed-rating variations.

1958 Simca tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly matched to the car, and used within their construction and speed limits. Among the available radial products, Michelin examples in 185R15 include H and V ratings, corresponding to 112 mph and 149 mph, and the Michelin 155R14 listing includes a T rating at 118 mph. Those ratings exceed normal U.S. highway cruising speeds, but they do not override the age, condition, or mechanical limits of a late-1950s vehicle.

The larger safety picture includes brakes, suspension, steering condition, alignment, and the driver’s expectations for a vintage car. A 1958 Simca in sound mechanical condition can be driven confidently at sensible road speeds, but owners should treat tire condition and inflation as part of an overall roadworthiness check rather than assuming a modern-style speed rating alone settles the question.

Inflation pressure on 1958 Simca tires depends on the exact size and tire you choose. Available examples include 185R15 at 1355 pounds max load at 35 psi, 560-14 at 906 pounds max load at 30 psi, 165R15 at 1168 pounds max load at 35 psi on some products and 1170 pounds at 36 psi on another, and 155R14 at 990 pounds max load at 44 psi on one listed product. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal operating pressure for every Simca application.

Use the vehicle’s factory literature as the starting point for recommended service pressures, then make sure your chosen tire’s own maximum rating is respected. Do not transfer a pressure from one 1958 Simca size to another just because both belong to the same make, since the Aronde, Arlane, and Vedette use different fitments with different load and pressure characteristics.

Before a longer drive in a 1958 Simca, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, and uneven wear, and verify cold inflation pressures before the car leaves the garage. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, and pay attention to valve stems and any tube-related leakage concerns if your particular tire-and-wheel setup uses tubes. On a vintage car, an old-looking spare is not much help when it is finally needed.

A longer-trip check should also include the wider mechanical basics that matter on a 1958 Simca: wheel fasteners, brakes, steering response, fluid levels, and whether the car tracks straight without vibration. Tires are one part of the system, but they are the part most exposed to age and storage effects, so a careful pre-drive inspection is one of the smartest habits an owner can develop.