1959 Daimler Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Daimler vehicles use three sizes across two model lines. The DK400 uses 750-16, while the Majestic appears with either 670-16 or 185R16. All three fitments are built around a 16-inch rim diameter. Where rim-width guidance is published, 750-16 products fall in the 5.00 to 6.00 inch range, 185R16 products span 4.50 to 6.50 inches depending on brand, and 670-16 products fit 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims on the products that list that specification.

That means the first step is identifying whether you have a DK400 or a Majestic, because year and make alone are not enough here. A Majestic owner also needs to decide whether the car is being kept in a traditional bias-ply format or fitted with a radial-size alternative. Before ordering, compare the tire size on the car now, the wheel diameter, and the actual rim width so the product matches both the vehicle and the wheel.

On a 1959 Daimler, 750-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.50 portion refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this year and make, that size belongs to the DK400. Available products in 750-16 are bias-ply tires rather than radials, and they appear in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles.

That code matters because it points you toward a traditional tire construction and a more formal, original-looking presentation on the car. It also separates the DK400 from the Majestic, which uses different sizes. If your car is a limousine or formal saloon carrying the 750-16 fitment, confirm your wheel diameter and rim width, then decide whether you want a blackwall or a whitewall look to match the restoration style.

On a 1959 Daimler, 185R16 is a radial size used on the Majestic. The 185 denotes a nominal section width of 185 millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. Because there is no stated aspect ratio in the size itself, it is conventionally treated as an 80-series metric radial format. Products in this size are blackwalls and include S- and V-rated examples depending on brand.

That makes 185R16 the size to focus on if your Majestic is running a radial-format tire while keeping its 16-inch wheels. It is not interchangeable as a model-wide rule with the DK400's 750-16, and it is a different construction path from the Majestic's 670-16 bias-ply option. Check the exact sidewall marking on the product you choose, because tube designation and speed rating are not identical across every 185R16 offering.

No, 1959 Daimler models do not share one universal tire size. The DK400 uses 750-16, while the Majestic uses either 670-16 or 185R16. Even though all of those sizes mount on 16-inch rims, they are not simply one-size-fits-all substitutions across the entire make. The split is model-specific, and in the Majestic's case it also reflects a choice between bias-ply and radial construction formats.

That distinction is important because many buyers begin with only the year and make, but a 1959 Daimler needs to be narrowed to the actual model before a sensible tire choice can be made. If you own a Majestic, the next question is whether you are aiming for an original-style bias-ply setup or a radial-format tire. If you own a DK400, the path is much narrower and centers on the dedicated 750-16 fitment.

For a 1959 Daimler Majestic, the choice between 670-16 and 185R16 is mainly a construction and use-case decision. The 670-16 options are bias-ply, while the 185R16 options are radial. Both fit the Majestic's 16-inch wheel diameter, but they represent different tire types rather than just different ways of writing the same size. The DK400 is outside this comparison because it uses 750-16 instead.

A Majestic being restored with an emphasis on period presentation will usually stay with the 670-16 bias-ply route, especially if the rest of the car is being kept close to late-1950s specification. A Majestic intended for more regular road use may lead its owner toward 185R16 radial choices. Whichever direction you take, keep the decision consistent across the axle and verify the actual wheel width before committing to a product.

1959 Daimler tire sidewall styles vary by size. The 750-16 fitment for the DK400 is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while the 185R16 and 670-16 sizes used on the Majestic appear in blackwall form. That means the broadest cosmetic choice sits with the DK400's larger numeric bias-ply size. The Majestic's currently available options are more restrained in appearance.

For a late-1950s British luxury car, sidewall style affects the visual tone of the restoration almost as much as the wheel itself. A wide whitewall can lean more formal and ceremonial, while a blackwall often suits a cleaner European saloon presentation. Match the sidewall to the character you want the car to project, but also keep the size and construction correct for the model so appearance does not come at the expense of proper fitment.

Several brands cover 1959 Daimler fitments, but the lineup changes by size. In 750-16, available names include Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. In 185R16, the Majestic's radial choices include Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein. In 670-16, available bias-ply options include Firestone and Avon.

That brand spread gives owners different paths depending on model and tire format rather than one shared catalog for the entire make. A DK400 owner shopping 750-16 is choosing among traditional bias-ply offerings and sidewall appearances, while a Majestic owner may be comparing either radial makers in 185R16 or bias-ply makers in 670-16. Narrow your search by size first, then compare the brand's sidewall style, load information, and any published rim-width guidance.

Published rim-width guidance for 1959 Daimler tires varies by size and, in some cases, by product. The 750-16 fitment for the DK400 is listed at 5.00 to 6.00 inches on products that provide that detail. The 185R16 Majestic fitment spans 4.50 to 6.00 inches on one product and 5.0 to 6.5 inches on another. The 670-16 Majestic fitment is listed at 4.50 to 5.00 inches on the product that provides a rim-width range.

Those ranges show why wheel measurement matters even when the rim diameter is correct. A 16-inch wheel can still be unsuitable if its width falls outside the published range for the tire you want to use. Before mounting, measure the wheel or verify it with a specialist, especially if the car has replacement wheels or a long restoration history where original components may have been changed at some point.

Inner-tube status on 1959 Daimler tires depends on the exact size and product. One 185R16 Majestic radial is explicitly marked TT, meaning tube type, while the other 185R16 offerings are not marked the same way. The 750-16 and 670-16 bias-ply products shown here do not all carry a clear tube notation in the size marking, so tube status can vary by product rather than following one universal rule across the full year and make.

That makes it important to read the exact sidewall designation on the tire you plan to use instead of assuming every 16-inch classic tire is set up the same way. Tube choice also has to match the wheel design and valve stem arrangement, especially on older collector cars. If you are replacing only one component in an older setup, inspect the tube, flap if applicable, and valve stem condition at the same time.

All three 1959 Daimler tire sizes covered here use a 16-inch rim diameter, so they share the same basic wheel diameter requirement. That means original 16-inch Daimler wheels can often serve as the starting point for either DK400 or Majestic fitments. The catch is width: 750-16, 185R16, and 670-16 do not all publish the same acceptable rim-width range.

Diameter compatibility is only half of the setup question. Before moving between sizes, especially on a Majestic that may be considered in either 670-16 or 185R16 form, verify the wheel width against the published range for the exact tire. A wheel that suits one 16-inch tire may sit at the edge of the acceptable range for another, and that is worth confirming before mounting.

A 1959 Daimler should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone sources that accelerate sidewall aging. Keep the car in a cool, dry space, maintain inflation, and move it periodically so the tires do not sit in one position for months at a time. Bias-ply tires such as 750-16 and 670-16 are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage than radial tires like 185R16.

Collectors who put a Daimler away for a season often benefit from rolling the car occasionally or using stands correctly so weight is not continuously concentrated on one patch of tread. Clean, dry floors are preferable to damp ground, and tire dressings that leave a harsh chemical film are best avoided. A little storage discipline preserves both appearance and the driving feel you expect when the car returns to the road.

On a 1959 Daimler, tire age usually matters more than tread wear because many collector cars accumulate mileage slowly. A sensible rule is to inspect closely once tires reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years from the DOT date code as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if the tread still looks usable. That principle applies to both bias-ply and radial tires.

Low annual mileage can create a false sense of security, especially on luxury collector cars that are driven only to shows or occasional tours. Rubber hardens, internal materials age, and sidewalls can crack long before the tread is worn out. When evaluating an older set on a Daimler, look at the manufacturing date, storage history, and visible condition together rather than deciding by mileage alone.

Tires on a 1959 Daimler should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough check before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and make sure the tread is free of age-related separation or damage from long storage. If your setup uses a tube-type tire or tube-type assembly, pay attention to valve stem condition and any signs of slow leakage around the stem.

That routine matters because collector cars often spend long periods parked and then go straight onto public roads at modern traffic speeds. A quick walkaround catches many problems early, while a longer inspection before touring reduces the chance of being sidelined by an avoidable tire issue. Include the spare in the check, since an old spare can be just as unusable as a worn tire on the car.

A 1959 Daimler Majestic sits in an era when bias-ply construction was still the standard original-equipment pattern for most luxury cars, even as radial technology was becoming more visible in parts of the market. The Majestic fitments covered here are 670-16 bias-ply and 185R16 radial. For strict originality research, the bias-ply route aligns most closely with what buyers generally expect from a late-1950s British saloon, while the radial size reflects a later-style construction path that also fits the 16-inch wheel diameter.

If your goal is concours-level accuracy, confirm the car's market history, surviving paperwork, and club guidance before making a final call. Event standards can differ, and imported or later-updated cars sometimes carry fitments that are historically plausible but not original to build date. A marque club or Daimler specialist is the best way to settle market-specific questions while using the available 670-16 and 185R16 options as your practical starting points.

Correct tire fitment does matter when a 1959 Daimler is judged seriously. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect whether the car looks appropriate for its era and model. A DK400 on 750-16 with a period-appropriate sidewall presentation reads very differently from a Majestic on blackwall radials, and judges in originality-focused settings often notice those distinctions quickly. Using the wrong size or an obviously mismatched sidewall style can stand out even to non-specialists.

The level of importance depends on the event. A touring class or local show may care mainly that the car is tidy and well presented, while a concours or marque event may be much stricter about whether a late-1950s Daimler should be on bias-ply tires and what sidewall appearance is historically credible. Before finalizing a show car, compare your plan with club standards so the tire choice supports the restoration instead of undermining it.

Within the 750-16 fitment used on the 1959 Daimler DK400, Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer bias-ply tires, but they are not identical in presentation and published figures. Firestone appears in blackwall and wide whitewall form, with listed load capacity of 1660 pounds at 40 psi on the products carrying that spec and a 5.00 to 6.00 inch rim-width range. BFGoodrich is offered here as a 4.125-inch wide whitewall, with a listed load capacity of 1850 pounds at 48 psi and the same 5.00 to 6.00 inch rim-width range.

For a DK400 owner, the practical difference is less about changing the tire size and more about choosing the visual effect and the exact published specifications that best suit the car's restoration goals. A blackwall Firestone gives a more restrained look, while the BFGoodrich and whitewall Firestone options lean more formal. Because they share the same nominal size, compare the sidewall treatment, rated figures, and the wheel you plan to use before deciding.

1959 Daimler tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, and in sound condition, but the exact capability varies by product. Among the sizes here, the 185R16 radial offerings include an S rating at 112 mph and V ratings at 149 mph. The 670-16 Majestic fitment also includes an H-rated example at 130 mph. Those figures are comfortably above typical U.S. highway speeds, although the car's own brakes, suspension, steering, and age often become the more meaningful limit before the tire does.

The important point is to match the tire's rating and condition to the way the car will actually be used, not to chase top-speed potential on paper. A well-sorted Daimler on fresh, correctly inflated tires is a very different proposition from one on aged rubber, even if the tread looks decent. For longer or faster touring, pay special attention to age, pressure retention, and how the car feels at speed before settling into sustained highway running.

Inflation on 1959 Daimler tires should start with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation for the car and then be checked against the tire's own published limits. The available tires here show different rated figures by size and product: 750-16 examples include 1660 pounds at 40 psi and 1850 pounds at 48 psi, 670-16 includes 1130 pounds at 30 psi, and one 185R16 product is listed at 1,433 pounds at 51 psi. Those numbers are load-and-maximum-pressure references, not a blanket instruction to inflate every tire to the same setting.

Use them as guardrails rather than as a substitute for the car's recommended operating pressure. A DK400 and a Majestic do not automatically want the same pressure simply because they share a 16-inch wheel diameter. Check the owner's literature or a trusted marque source for the vehicle-side recommendation, then make sure your chosen tire's rated pressure range supports that setup safely.

Before taking a 1959 Daimler on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, and do not forget the spare. Confirm that the size on the car matches the model's intended fitment, whether that is 750-16 on a DK400 or 670-16 or 185R16 on a Majestic. If the assembly uses tubes, make sure the valve stems look healthy and are not splitting or leaning. A quick wheel-nut and tread-surface check is worthwhile as well.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine for a late-1950s luxury car. Brakes, cooling, steering play, and fluid leaks can matter just as much once miles start adding up. The goal is not just avoiding a flat, but making sure the car is ready for sustained road use as a complete system. A Daimler that has sat for months deserves a more careful once-over than one driven regularly.