1959 Aston Martin Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Aston Martin fitment centers on two sizes: 175R16 radial and 600-16 bias-ply. Both sizes apply to the 1959 Aston Martin Mark, and both mount on 16-inch rims. Within the 600-16 offerings, listed rim-width guidance is 4.00 to 4.50 inches on the products that publish that specification.

That means the first step is not choosing between different models, but choosing which tire construction belongs on your particular car and how you plan to use it. If your Aston Martin is being restored with an emphasis on earlier appearance and feel, the 600-16 route will usually be the first place to look. If your car is already set up around the radial size, the 175R16 route is the one to confirm against the wheel and the car's existing fitment.

On a 1959 Aston Martin, 600-16 is a classic numeric bias-ply size. The "600" identifies the nominal section-width class, while the "16" is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not use the same coding logic you would see on later radial tires.

That older sizing format matters because it points you toward a bias-ply construction and the period look many restorers want on a late-1950s British grand tourer. When you compare products in this size, pay attention not only to brand but also to sidewall treatment, since blackwall and wide whitewall versions are both available. If your car is being judged or photographed regularly, that appearance choice can be nearly as important as the size itself.

On a 1959 Aston Martin, 175R16 is a radial metric-style size. The "175" is the nominal section width in millimeters, the "R" identifies radial construction, and the "16" is the rim diameter in inches. Because no aspect ratio is printed in the code, this style of sizing is conventionally treated as an 80-series type format rather than a low-profile tire.

That makes 175R16 easy to distinguish from 600-16 even though both fit a 16-inch wheel. One is a later-style radial designation and the other is an older numeric bias-ply format. If your Aston Martin already wears radial tires, confirm the existing wheel and clearance setup before staying with that approach, especially if the car has changed hands or has seen restoration work over the years.

For a 1959 Aston Martin, the difference between 175R16 and 600-16 is primarily about construction and driving character, since both use a 16-inch rim. The 600-16 is a bias-ply fitment in a traditional numeric format, while 175R16 is a radial metric-style size. Owners usually choose between them according to how original they want the car to feel and present.

A concours-minded or historically themed restoration will often favor the bias-ply route because it aligns more naturally with the period. A car that sees regular road miles may be kept on the radial size if that is the setup the owner prefers and the wheels are appropriate for it. The smartest approach is to decide your goal first, then verify the actual wheels on the car before committing to either size.

1959 Aston Martin tires in 600-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. The blackwall choices include Coker Classic and Avon, while wide whitewall versions appear under BFGoodrich and Firestone. That gives the Mark owner a meaningful visual choice even within the same size and construction type.

For many British sporting cars of the period, blackwall tends to be the more natural visual direction, especially if the goal is a restrained grand touring look. Whitewalls can create a more stylized presentation and may suit a car restored to a particular market flavor or personal taste. If appearance matters as much as fitment, decide on sidewall style early so you are comparing the right products from the start.

The listed 1959 Aston Martin products in 600-16 come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. All of those entries are bias-ply products, but they differ in sidewall treatment and, in the case of the Avon Turbospeed, in the way speed capability is marked. Brand choice here is closely tied to the look and character you want from the finished car.

Avon is a familiar name to many British-car owners, while BFGoodrich and Firestone carry strong period American styling associations through their whitewall offerings. Coker Classic provides a straightforward blackwall bias-ply alternative in the same size. Rather than treating one brand as universally right for every Aston Martin, compare them by sidewall appearance, construction marking, and how closely each one matches the personality of your restoration.

For 1959 Aston Martin fitment in 600-16, published rim-width guidance appears at 4.00 to 4.50 inches on the products that include that specification. All listed 600-16 products use a 16-inch rim diameter. The 175R16 fitment also uses a 16-inch rim diameter, which keeps wheel diameter consistent between the two sizes.

Rim diameter alone is not enough to confirm a tire choice on a collector car. Width, wheel profile, and the wheel actually fitted to the car all need to agree with the tire you select. Before mounting anything on a 1959 Aston Martin, measure or verify the wheel itself rather than assuming that any 16-inch wheel will automatically suit either size.

A 1959 Aston Martin Mark uses two sizes that both mount on 16-inch wheels, so the wheel diameter requirement is shared. That means an original 16-inch wheel can potentially remain part of the plan whether the car is set up with 600-16 bias-ply tires or 175R16 radials. Diameter compatibility, however, is only one part of the fitment question.

Original wheels should be checked for width, condition, and suitability for the specific tire being considered. Collector cars often pass through decades of repairs, wheel swaps, and restoration work, so the car in front of you matters more than assumption. If you are changing construction types, take the extra step of verifying the actual wheels and consulting a marque specialist if the car has any non-stock history.

A 1959 Aston Martin should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing sources that can age sidewalls prematurely. Clean, dry concrete is better than damp ground, and a stable indoor temperature is ideal. Bias-ply tires are also more prone to taking a temporary flat spot during long static storage than radial tires.

If the car rests for extended periods, move it periodically or use stands in a way that supports the chassis correctly and avoids leaving the full vehicle weight on one contact patch for months at a time. Keep the tires inflated to an appropriate stored condition and inspect them before the first drive of the season. Good storage habits protect both appearance and drivability on a low-mileage Aston Martin.

On a 1959 Aston Martin, age usually matters more than mileage because collector cars often cover relatively few miles each year. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a strong replacement consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire is the starting point for that age check.

Aston Martins that appear lightly used can still be running on old rubber that has hardened or begun to crack with time. Storage conditions, inflation habits, and long idle periods can shorten useful life even further. If the car's tires are already several years old, a pre-season inspection by a tire professional familiar with vintage vehicles is often more valuable than looking only at tread depth.

Tires on a 1959 Aston Martin should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and any sign that the tire is not holding pressure consistently. The spare deserves the same attention, since it may be decades old even when the road tires are newer.

Regular checks are especially important on a collector car because long parked intervals can hide age-related damage until the car is back at speed. If your Aston Martin is fitted with bias-ply tires, pay close attention to sidewall condition and any vibration that does not settle after a short warm-up drive. Catching problems early is far easier than dealing with a failure once the car is out on the road.

For a 1959 Aston Martin Mark, bias-ply construction is the historically natural starting point for original-style fitment research, and 600-16 is the period-style size listed here for that model. Radials were beginning to gain wider acceptance in Europe by the late 1950s, but a buyer pursuing strict originality should begin with the bias-ply path rather than assuming a later radial setup is equivalent.

Original delivery details could still vary by market, body style, and how a specific car was supplied when new, so event-level authenticity should be confirmed through factory records, marque clubs, and Aston Martin specialists. That matters most when a car is being judged closely. For many owners, the right answer is to decide whether the goal is exact period presentation or a sympathetic road-use configuration that still respects the car's era.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1959 Aston Martin, especially in concours or marque-judged settings. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall style suit the era of the car. A radial tire on a car presented as factory-original, or an eye-catching sidewall treatment that does not match the intended presentation, can change how authentic the car appears.

That does not mean every show car must wear the exact same tire configuration, because standards vary by event and class. Some owners prioritize touring usability, while others build to a stricter restoration target. The key is consistency: choose a size, construction, and sidewall style that align with the story your Aston Martin is meant to tell, then verify class-specific expectations with the club or event organizing the judging.

For a 1959 Aston Martin in 600-16, the Avon Turbospeed and Coker Classic are both blackwall bias-ply choices, but they are presented differently. The Avon is marked 600H16 93H and carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling, along with a listed maximum load of 1,433 pounds. The Coker Classic is a 600-16 blackwall bias-ply with a listed maximum load of 1400 pounds at 32 psi and a published 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim-width range.

That makes the comparison less about appearance and more about the character of the individual product. An owner choosing between them should weigh the value of the Avon's explicit speed marking against the Coker's clearly published rim-width range and straightforward period-style presentation. Either way, the final choice should match the wheel on the car and the role the Aston Martin will actually play, whether that is judged display, occasional touring, or regular fair-weather road use.

1959 Aston Martin tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition for their age. Within the listed 600-16 options, the Avon Turbospeed carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling. Other products in the size are bias-ply tires without that same published speed marking in the available listings, so they should be treated according to their own manufacturer guidance.

Tire speed capability is only part of the highway question on a late-1950s Aston Martin. Brakes, suspension condition, steering accuracy, wheel condition, and the age of the rest of the car often matter just as much at real-world road speeds. Before any sustained highway use, make sure the entire car is sorted mechanically and that the tires are chosen for the way the car will actually be driven rather than for appearance alone.

Inflation pressure for a 1959 Aston Martin should follow the vehicle's factory guidance for the exact application and the tire maker's limits for the specific product fitted. Within the listed 600-16 products, several carry a maximum load of 1400 pounds at 32 psi, while the Avon entry shows a maximum load of 1,433 pounds. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to inflate every Aston Martin tire to the same pressure in service.

The practical approach is to start with the car's original recommendation when available, then confirm that it remains appropriate for the reproduction or replacement tire now on the car. Never transfer one pressure assumption from one size or product to another just because the wheel diameter matches. If you are switching between radial and bias-ply constructions, verify the recommendation carefully rather than treating them as interchangeable.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Aston Martin, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any change in pressure retention. Check that the wheels and valve stems are in good condition and that the spare is inflated and usable. A long-idled collector car should also be watched for vibration or steering pull that may point to an aging tire or wheel issue.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that includes brakes, cooling system, steering, fuel system, and basic fluid checks. On a hand-built grand touring car from this era, reliability comes from verifying the whole package rather than focusing on one component in isolation. If the Aston Martin has been sitting for months, a short local shakedown run before a full-day outing is a smart step.