1959 Arnolt-Bristol Tire Fitment Guide

The 1959 Arnolt-Bristol model range uses one tire size: 550-16. That size applies to the 1959 Arnolt-Bristol MKII, and the available tires mount on 16-inch rims. Where rim-width guidance is provided, 550-16 products are intended for 3.25- to 4.00-inch rims, so the wheel should be checked against that range before choosing a specific tire.

That makes year-and-make identification simple, but wheel verification still matters on a hand-built, low-production sports car that may have seen changes over time. If your MKII still carries its correct 16-inch wheels, the remaining choice usually comes down to brand, sidewall style, and whether you want a more understated blackwall look or a period whitewall presentation.

A 550-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.50 portion refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, while the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial size, it does not include a metric width, aspect ratio, or radial construction marker, because it belongs to an earlier sizing system used widely on period cars.

That matters because a 550-16 should be evaluated as a classic bias-ply fitment, not as a direct equivalent to a modern metric code. For a 1959 Arnolt-Bristol owner, understanding the older size language helps keep wheel diameter, construction type, and period appearance aligned before moving on to individual brand and sidewall choices.

Yes. The 1959 Arnolt-Bristol MKII uses 550-16, so there is no split within the year and make between multiple factory size groups. Every available fitment for this page centers on that single 16-inch bias-ply specification rather than a model-by-model size change.

That simplifies the search compared with larger makes that spread several sizes across sedans, wagons, and sports models in the same year. On a 1959 Arnolt-Bristol, the more meaningful choice is whether the finished car should present with blackwalls or wide whitewalls, and which brand best suits the car’s restoration style and intended driving pattern.

1959 Arnolt-Bristol tires in 550-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall choices are offered by Excelsior and Avon, while wide whitewall versions are available from BFGoodrich and Firestone. All of them stay within the same vintage bias-ply size, so the difference is primarily visual presentation rather than a change in basic fitment.

Blackwalls usually suit owners who want a more understated sports-car appearance, while wide whitewalls create a more stylized late-1950s show presentation. Because the Arnolt-Bristol is such a rare specialty car, sidewall choice can strongly influence the car’s overall personality, so it is worth deciding whether your goal is a restrained road-car look or a more formal restoration finish.

Four brands offer 550-16 tires for 1959 Arnolt-Bristol fitment: Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Each stays with bias-ply construction, but they differ in presentation, with some offered as blackwalls and others as wide whitewalls. That gives owners a useful spread of choices without changing the original-style size or moving away from period construction.

Brand selection on a car like the Arnolt-Bristol often comes down to the look you want and how closely you want the finished car to reflect a particular restoration theme. An owner building a more sporting, understated car may lean toward blackwalls, while someone emphasizing a polished, show-oriented finish may prefer one of the wide whitewall offerings.

Both the BFGoodrich and Firestone 550-16 options for the 1959 Arnolt-Bristol are bias-ply tires with a wide whitewall sidewall style. The Firestone version uses a 2.50-inch whitewall and includes a listed maximum load of 840 pounds at 32 psi, along with a 3.25- to 4.00-inch rim-width range. The BFGoodrich version uses a 2.25-inch whitewall, creating a slightly different visual proportion on the car.

That means the decision is largely about appearance first, with the whitewall width creating a noticeably different period look. If you are trying to match an existing restoration, compare the white stripe already on the car or any reference photos you trust, then confirm your wheel width so the specific tire aligns with the wheel as well as the visual style.

Available 550-16 tires for the 1959 Arnolt-Bristol mount on 16-inch rims, and where rim-width guidance is listed, the supported range is 3.25 to 4.00 inches. That range applies to specific products in this size, so the wheel should be measured rather than assumed. A tire can share the correct diameter yet still need the right rim width to sit properly and perform as intended.

Owners of specialty cars like the Arnolt-Bristol should be especially careful here, because replacement wheels or older restorations can introduce mismatched hardware. Before choosing a tire, confirm the wheel is truly 16 inches in diameter and falls within the stated width range for the product you are considering, especially if the car’s wheel history is not fully known.

The available 550-16 tires for the 1959 Arnolt-Bristol are all vintage-style bias-ply fitments, but tube marking is not consistently called out in the size descriptions. That means the safest approach is to verify the exact tire’s sidewall designation and consider the wheel’s construction before deciding on tube use. Older wheels, especially on collector cars, often have different sealing characteristics than modern tubeless rims.

A buyer should treat tube use as a product-and-wheel combination question rather than a blanket yes-or-no rule for every 550-16 tire. If your wheels are original or older restored pieces, inspect their condition carefully and confirm the intended setup before installation so the tire, wheel, and valve arrangement all work together correctly.

A 1959 Arnolt-Bristol should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber prematurely. Bias-ply tires also tend to develop temporary flat-spotting more readily during long static storage than later radial designs, especially if the car sits in one position for months.

Keeping the tires properly inflated, moving the car periodically, and avoiding long-term contact with damp surfaces all help preserve the casing and sidewalls. For longer storage periods, many collectors use tire cradles or place the car on stands to reduce sustained load, but the key idea is to limit environmental exposure and repeated stress on the same tread area.

Tires on a 1959 Arnolt-Bristol should be evaluated by age as much as by tread wear, because collector cars often see limited mileage. A practical rule is to inspect them closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if the tread still looks presentable. The DOT date code, if present, is the quickest way to confirm age.

That matters more on a low-production sports car than many owners expect, since appearance alone can hide hardening rubber, internal aging, or small cracks starting in the sidewall. If the car has spent years in storage or only comes out for occasional events, age-based replacement thinking is usually more useful than waiting for the tread to wear out.

Tires on a 1959 Arnolt-Bristol should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, cuts, tread separation, uneven wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure over time. On a specialty car that may sit between drives, a brief visual and pressure check is far more important than assuming the tires are fine because the mileage is low.

A longer trip calls for an extra check of the spare, the valve stems, and the overall condition of each casing after the car has been rolled out and driven a short distance. Frequent inspection helps catch age-related issues early and reduces the chance that an otherwise healthy vintage touring day is interrupted by a preventable tire problem.

A 1959 Arnolt-Bristol MKII would have been fitted in period with bias-ply tires, and the size used here is 550-16. That aligns with what was typical for specialty sports and sporting road cars of the era, before radial fitments became common across the market. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, delivery arrangement, or later ownership history, so construction type and size are usually the first restoration checkpoints.

For most owners, the closest path to an era-appropriate look is to stay with a 550-16 bias-ply tire and then decide whether the car should wear blackwalls or whitewalls based on the restoration style. If you are preparing for judged events, compare your car against marque references and club guidance, especially because rare cars like the Arnolt-Bristol can have very specific community expectations.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1959 Arnolt-Bristol, especially because rare cars are often judged by owners and specialists who notice details quickly. Size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all shape whether the car looks authentically finished. A modern-looking substitute, an incorrect wheel diameter, or a sidewall style that clashes with the period presentation can stand out even to casual observers.

That does not mean every event uses the same standards, but originality-minded shows typically reward consistency in the overall presentation. If your goal is concours-level accuracy, settle the tire decision early in the restoration so the wheel finish, stance, and sidewall look all work together rather than treating the tires as a last-minute cosmetic choice.

Both the Excelsior and Avon 550-16 options for the 1959 Arnolt-Bristol are blackwall bias-ply tires, so they stay within the same vintage size and construction type. The Avon Tourist is marked 550-16 80L and carries a listed maximum load of 992 pounds, while the Excelsior listing includes a 3.25- to 4.00-inch rim-width range. Each presents a more restrained sidewall appearance than the wide whitewall choices in the same size.

That makes them natural candidates for owners who want the car to read more as a purposeful sporting machine than as a dressed-up 1950s show car. When comparing the two, focus on the exact wheel on your car, the sidewall look you prefer, and whether you want a tire whose published specifications align closely with your restoration priorities.

1959 Arnolt-Bristol tires in 550-16 can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly fitted, and used within the limits of their construction and any speed marking shown on the individual tire. The available fitments are bias-ply designs, and one listed option carries an L speed symbol, which corresponds to 75 mph. On a car of this era, overall roadworthiness depends on much more than the tire alone.

A well-sorted vintage sports car still asks the driver to respect older braking, suspension, steering, and chassis behavior, especially on modern roads. Highway confidence comes from treating the tires as one part of a complete system: proper inflation, sound wheels, stable tracking, and a mechanical condition that matches the speeds you realistically plan to drive.

Inflation pressure for 1959 Arnolt-Bristol tires should follow the original vehicle guidance first, then be checked against the individual tire’s own rated information. One available Firestone 550-16 lists a maximum load of 840 pounds at 32 psi, while another 550-16 option lists a 992-pound maximum load. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to inflate every 550-16 tire on every car to the same pressure.

The right approach is to start with the car’s factory recommendation if you have it, then make sure the chosen reproduction tire is being used within its own published limits. Do not transfer a pressure number from one brand or construction to another just because the size matches, since ride quality, wear pattern, and handling balance can all be affected.

Before taking a 1959 Arnolt-Bristol on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check that the spare is usable, the valve stems are sound, and the wheels themselves are free from obvious damage or looseness. A longer outing in a rare vintage sports car also calls for a broader look at fluids, brakes, steering, cooling, and charging health.

That routine matters because collector cars often spend more time resting than running, and age-related issues can show up even when the car seemed fine on the last short outing. A careful pre-drive inspection helps you catch tire and wheel problems early, while also giving the rest of the car the same level of attention a specialty 1959 Arnolt-Bristol deserves.