1959 Facel Vega Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Facel Vega vehicles use three tire sizes across two models: the Excellance uses 8.45-15 and 815-15, while the HK 500 uses 670-15. All of those sizes mount on 15-inch rims. Published rim width ranges are available for 815-15 at 5.00 to 6.50 inches and for 670-15 at either 4.50 to 5.00 inches or 5.00 to 6.00 inches, depending on the specific tire chosen.

That means the first fitment question is not wheel diameter but model identification. An Excellance owner should stay within the Excellance sizes, while an HK 500 owner should start with 670-15. Once the model is confirmed, the next step is matching the wheel’s actual width and the desired sidewall appearance to the specific tire, especially on a restoration where stance and presentation matter as much as basic fitment.

On a 1959 Facel Vega, 815-15 is an older numeric bias-ply tire size. The 815 portion is the period section-width designation, and the 15 identifies the rim diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size and it does not read the same way as a later radial code such as 205/75R15.

That older sizing convention matters because the tire should be chosen as a reproduction bias-ply fitment rather than cross-referenced casually to a modern passenger-car tire. For a 1959 Facel Vega Excellance, 815-15 is one of the model-specific choices and is available with different sidewall treatments, so owners often use it when they want the car to keep an unmistakably late-1950s visual character.

No. The 1959 Facel Vega Excellance uses 8.45-15 and 815-15, while the 1959 Facel Vega HK 500 uses 670-15. All are bias-ply sizes on 15-inch rims, but the sizing itself is tied to the specific model rather than being shared across the full make lineup for the year.

That distinction is important because a Facel Vega owner cannot safely choose by year and make alone. The Excellance and HK 500 were very different cars in layout and character, and the tire choice follows that split. Verifying the model first will narrow the search quickly and keep the final selection focused on the correct size family, wheel-width range, and sidewall look for the car.

That choice only applies to the 1959 Facel Vega Excellance, because the HK 500 uses 670-15. Both 8.45-15 and 815-15 are bias-ply, 15-inch fitments, so this is not a bias-versus-radial decision. The practical difference is that 815-15 has listed product availability with BFGoodrich sidewall options, while 8.45-15 remains a model-specific size that should be matched carefully to the car’s wheels and restoration direction.

An Excellance owner should start by checking the tire size already on the car, the wheel width, and the look the finished car is meant to carry. If the goal is a traditional late-1950s presentation and the wheel dimensions align, 815-15 gives a clear route with available sidewall choices. If the car has long been associated with 8.45-15, staying with that size may better preserve fitment continuity and visual proportion.

1959 Facel Vega tires are available in several sidewall styles, depending on size. The 815-15 size used on the Excellance is offered with Narrow Whitewall and Whitewall-Redline styling. The 670-15 size used on the HK 500 is offered in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall form, giving that model a broader range from restrained to distinctly formal late-1950s presentation.

Sidewall style can change the personality of a Facel Vega even when the size stays the same. A whitewall usually suits the luxury image these cars carried when new, while a blackwall can create a cleaner, more understated look. Owners preparing a judged car should compare the chosen sidewall treatment against period photos, marque references, and the car’s market history, since appearance choices are often as visible as the wheel itself.

Brand availability for 1959 Facel Vega tires depends on the size. The 815-15 size is offered by BFGoodrich. The 670-15 size is available from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire, all in bias-ply construction and with sidewall styling that ranges from blackwall to wide whitewall.

That brand spread gives owners room to choose the look and presentation that fits the car without moving away from period-style construction. A buyer with an HK 500 may compare blackwall and whitewall offerings across several brands, while an Excellance owner working with 815-15 has a narrower but still visually meaningful set of choices. Staying within the correct size first is more important than chasing a brand name alone.

Available rim width guidance for 1959 Facel Vega tires depends on the size and the exact product. The 815-15 tires used on the Excellance list a 5.00 to 6.50 inch rim width range. The 670-15 tires used on the HK 500 list either 4.50 to 5.00 inches or 5.00 to 6.00 inches, depending on the tire. All of these fitments use a 15-inch rim diameter.

That makes wheel-width verification just as important as matching the nominal tire size. A Facel Vega that has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels over the years may no longer be carrying the same wheel dimensions it left with. Measure the wheel that is actually on the car and compare it to the specific tire’s approved range before settling on a product, especially if the sidewall profile and stance are important to the build.

The listed 1959 Facel Vega products shown in these sizes are bias-ply tires, but none of the available examples here carry a tube-type or tubeless marker in the size description. That means tube fitment should be confirmed by the actual tire marking and by the wheel design being used, rather than assumed from the size code alone. Older collector-car wheels often have their own tube requirements regardless of tire appearance.

A Facel Vega owner should check the wheel construction, valve-stem arrangement, and the exact sidewall designation on the tire being considered before final assembly. If the car still uses original-style wheels, tube use may be part of a correct setup even when a reproduction tire looks visually familiar. This is a good point to involve an experienced installer who regularly works with vintage bias-ply tires and older wheel designs.

The three tire sizes used on 1959 Facel Vega models all share a 15-inch rim diameter, so wheel diameter is consistent across the year. That does not make the sizes interchangeable across every car, because the Excellance uses 8.45-15 or 815-15 while the HK 500 uses 670-15. Published rim width ranges also differ by size and, in the case of 670-15, by the exact tire selected.

An original wheel can remain part of the plan, but it still needs to be matched to the correct model-specific tire size and to the product’s approved width range. The safest approach is to confirm the wheel width physically and then keep the tire choice within the intended model family. That preserves the car’s stance and avoids forcing a vintage tire onto a wheel that is technically the right diameter but the wrong width.

A 1959 Facel Vega should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires can flat-spot more readily during long static storage, so periodic movement helps, and some owners use stands to reduce sustained loading during longer off-season periods. Moisture control matters just as much as temperature stability.

Collector cars benefit from a storage routine rather than simple parking. Rolling the car occasionally changes the tire contact patch and helps avoid one area carrying the full weight month after month. If the Facel Vega will sit for a full season, inspect pressures before and after storage, keep the tires off contaminated concrete when possible, and treat the spare with the same care because it often goes untouched the longest.

Tire life on a 1959 Facel Vega should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Most collector-car owners begin evaluating tires closely once they are five to seven years old, and around ten years is a common point to consider replacement regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code, overall rubber condition, and any signs of sidewall aging are more important than the limited miles many Facel Vega cars accumulate annually.

That approach is especially important on a grand touring car that may spend much of its life parked and then be asked to run at sustained road speeds on occasional outings. A low-mile bias-ply tire can still be too old for comfortable use if the rubber has hardened or cracked. Age, storage history, and visual condition should guide the decision more than tread depth alone on a collector car like a 1959 Facel Vega.

Tires on a 1959 Facel Vega should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Check for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any loss of pressure, and take a careful look at the valve stems as well. On a collector car that may sit for stretches, these quick checks matter because age-related changes can happen even when the car sees very little road use.

A more thorough inspection several times a year is wise, especially before tours or show-season driving. Look at the inside sidewalls if the car is on a lift, verify that the spare is still usable, and pay attention to vibration or pull once the car is moving. Small signs of age or setup trouble are easier to address in the garage than on the shoulder of the road in a heavy, fast 1950s grand tourer.

A 1959 Facel Vega Excellance would have been equipped in period with bias-ply tires, which aligns with the sizes used here: 8.45-15 and 815-15. Those are both 15-inch bias-ply fitments appropriate to the era and to the car’s formal late-1950s luxury character. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, delivery destination, and dealer practice, so the construction type and size family matter more than assuming one universal brand for every car.

Owners restoring an Excellance for authenticity should usually begin by keeping the car in one of its correct bias-ply sizes and then choosing the sidewall appearance that best matches period photos and the car’s history. If the car has an early ownership trail or surviving factory paperwork, use that as a guide. For concours-level confirmation, a Facel Vega marque specialist or club resource can help settle market-specific details beyond basic size and construction.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1959 Facel Vega because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall presentation almost immediately. A model-specific bias-ply size in the proper 15-inch format supports the car’s authenticity, while an obviously incorrect size or a sidewall style that clashes with the period can distract from an otherwise careful restoration. Visual balance is part of the impression these cars make.

For a show car, the tire should match the car’s intended standard of restoration rather than simply fill the wheel opening. An Excellance with a formal whitewall treatment can present very differently from an HK 500 on blackwalls, even when both remain true to period practice. Event-specific judging can vary, so owners aiming for top-level points should compare their tire choice with marque references and the standards used by the organization judging the car.

For a 1959 Facel Vega, BFGoodrich and Firestone options appear in different model-specific sizes rather than as direct alternatives in the same fitment. BFGoodrich is represented in 815-15 for the Excellance with Narrow Whitewall and Whitewall-Redline styles, a 1610-pound maximum load at 32 psi, and a 5.00 to 6.50 inch rim width range. Firestone appears in 670-15 for the HK 500 as a Blackwall tire rated at 1450 pounds at 32 psi on a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim range.

That means the comparison is mainly useful for understanding character and application, not for deciding between two interchangeable products. The BFGoodrich 815-15 options emphasize sidewall presentation on the Excellance, while the Firestone 670-15 option is part of the HK 500’s correct size family. A Facel Vega owner should choose by model and size first, then use brand and sidewall details to refine the final appearance and setup.

1959 Facel Vega tires in these fitments are bias-ply designs, and no speed ratings are shown for the available examples here. A properly stored, correctly fitted, and well-maintained bias-ply tire can be suitable for normal road use, but it will not feel the same as a modern radial in tracking, flat-spot recovery, or overall road manners. On a car from this era, the condition of the suspension, steering, brakes, and alignment is every bit as important as the tire itself.

Highway use should be approached with the whole vehicle in mind. Facel Vegas were powerful, high-speed luxury cars in period, but age, weight, and vintage chassis systems still call for restraint and preparation. If the tires are fresh, correctly inflated, and matched to sound wheels, they can serve well for touring and event driving, but owners should build speed gradually and pay attention to vibration, wander, and braking behavior before committing to longer highway stretches.

Available load-and-pressure figures for 1959 Facel Vega tires vary by size and product. The listed 815-15 examples show 1610 pounds at 32 psi. The listed 670-15 examples include 1450 pounds at 32 psi and 1550 pounds at 32 psi, depending on the tire. Those numbers are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to run every Facel Vega tire at the same pressure in service.

Use the car’s original handbook or marque literature for the factory pressure target, then compare that with the tire maker’s rated pressure and load information for the exact tire being installed. Do not transfer one size’s pressure assumption to another simply because all of them use 15-inch rims. On a collector car, the right pressure supports not just wear but also steering feel, stability, and the way the car sits visually on its tires.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Facel Vega, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, uneven wear, and signs of slow leakage. Confirm cold inflation pressure, examine the valve stems, and make sure the spare is serviceable and properly inflated. Because these are bias-ply fitments on a valuable collector car, it is also wise to verify that the wheels are in good condition and that no tire has shifted or aged unevenly during storage.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-tour check that includes brakes, steering, cooling, and lighting. A Facel Vega that has sat for months may reveal issues only once heat and speed build up, so a short local test drive before a major outing is smart. If the car pulls, vibrates, or feels unsettled, address that before heading onto faster roads, since early symptoms are often the warning sign that prevents a roadside problem.