1959 Humber Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Humber vehicles use four sizes across two models. The Humber Hawk uses either 175R15 in radial construction or 640-15 in bias-ply construction, while the Humber Super Snipe uses either 185R15 in radial construction or 775-15 in bias-ply construction. All four sizes mount on 15-inch wheels, and the listed rim-width recommendations where available are 4.00 to 5.00 inches for 640-15, 5.00 to 6.50 inches for most 185R15 products with one Michelin fitment starting at 4.5 inches, and 4.50 to 6.00 inches for 775-15 depending on the tire.

That means the first fitment question on a 1959 Humber is model identification, not just year and make. Once you know whether you have a Hawk or a Super Snipe, you can narrow the choice to the two sizes used on that model and then decide whether you want a bias-ply presentation or a radial construction. Checking the actual wheel width before ordering is especially important when more than one product exists within the same nominal size.

On a 1959 Humber, 640-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 640 portion identifies the tire's nominal section width in the older numeric system, and the 15 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is the bias-ply size associated here with the 1959 Humber Hawk, and the available products in that size are built as traditional bias-ply tires rather than radials.

A buyer looking at 640-15 should think in period-correct terms rather than trying to compare it directly to a modern metric code by appearance alone. Numeric bias-ply sizing belongs to the era and gives the Hawk the visual stance and construction style many restorers want. The next step is to choose among the available sidewall treatments and confirm that the wheel falls within the published rim-width range for the specific tire.

On a 1959 Humber, 175R15 and 185R15 are older Euro-metric radial sizes. The first number is the nominal section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this older style of metric sizing, the aspect ratio is conventionally understood rather than printed in the short code, which is why it looks simpler than a later modern size such as 185/80R15.

The practical difference is model fitment first and product character second. The Hawk uses 175R15, while the Super Snipe uses 185R15, so those two radial sizes are not interchangeable across the 1959 Humber range just because both fit 15-inch wheels. Once you are in the correct model-specific size, you can compare sidewall appearance, rim-width range, and any speed-rating differences between individual radial products.

A 1959 Humber owner should start by matching the size to the model and then deciding between the two construction types offered for that model. The Hawk pairs 640-15 bias-ply with 175R15 radial, while the Super Snipe pairs 775-15 bias-ply with 185R15 radial. Bias-ply tires keep the period construction style associated with late-1950s fitment, while radial tires bring the construction format most drivers look for when they expect more contemporary road manners.

That choice usually comes down to how the car will be used. A restoration focused on era-correct appearance often leans toward the numeric bias-ply size, especially when whitewall, goldline, or redline styling matters to the finished look. A Humber intended for more regular road use often leads buyers toward the radial option, but the right starting point is always the model-specific size rather than a blanket choice across the whole Humber range.

1959 Humber tires are available in several period-style sidewall treatments depending on size. The 640-15 Hawk bias-ply offerings include wide whitewall and narrow whitewall styles. The 185R15 Super Snipe radial offerings include redline, narrow whitewall, and blackwall, while the 775-15 Super Snipe bias-ply offerings include redline, narrow whitewall, and goldline.

Sidewall choice affects both the visual character of the car and how closely it matches a restoration goal. A formal British saloon like a Humber often looks most traditional with blackwall or whitewall styling, while redline and goldline treatments create a more personalized period look. If show authenticity matters, confirm the finish against period photos, market-specific references, and club guidance before settling on a style just because it fits the wheel.

Several brands cover 1959 Humber fitments, but they are split by size. The 640-15 Hawk bias-ply size is offered by BFGoodrich and Firestone, the 185R15 Super Snipe radial size is offered by Coker Classic and Michelin, and the 775-15 Super Snipe bias-ply size is offered by BFGoodrich and Firestone. That gives Humber owners a mix of American heritage bias-ply lines and European-style radial offerings within the applicable sizes.

Brand choice should be made only after the model and size are settled, because no single brand spans every 1959 Humber fitment listed here. Once you are in the right size, compare the brand's available sidewall treatments, wheel-width range, and any speed-rating differences if you are looking at 185R15 radial products. The best comparison is between products within the correct size, not between unlike sizes from different models.

Rim-width requirements for 1959 Humber tires depend on the exact size and product. The listed 640-15 tires fit wheels from 4.00 to 5.00 inches wide depending on brand, the listed 185R15 tires span from 4.5 to 6.5 inches wide depending on product, and the listed 775-15 tires range from 4.50 to 6.00 inches wide. All of these fitments use a 15-inch rim diameter, but width still matters to how the tire sits and performs.

A wheel can have the correct 15-inch diameter and still be a poor match if the width falls outside the tire maker's approved range. That is especially relevant when comparing products within the same size, because one brand may allow a narrower wheel than another. Measuring the actual wheel before purchase is the cleanest way to avoid forcing a tire onto a rim that is technically the right diameter but the wrong width.

Tube requirements on 1959 Humber tires depend on the size and the individual tire. The listed 185R15 Michelin radial products are marked TL, meaning tubeless, while the 640-15 and 775-15 bias-ply entries shown here are not marked with a tube designation in the size line. Because tube status can differ by tire design and wheel type, it should be confirmed on the specific tire and wheel combination being used.

Older wheels, especially on collector cars, sometimes lead owners to use tubes even when a tire itself may be offered in a tubeless configuration. The important point is not to assume that all 1959 Humber tires follow the same rule simply because they share a 15-inch rim. Match the tire's sidewall marking to the wheel construction and inspect the valve-stem setup at the same time so the installation is handled correctly from the start.

Original 1959 Humber wheels can only be considered within the size family that belongs to the specific model, even though every listed tire uses a 15-inch rim diameter. The Hawk sizes are 175R15 and 640-15, while the Super Snipe sizes are 185R15 and 775-15. Diameter compatibility is straightforward across the listings, but wheel width still has to match the chosen tire's approved range.

That means a 15-inch wheel is only the first half of the answer. A buyer considering a switch from bias-ply to radial on the same Humber should verify the wheel width against the published range for the radial they want, rather than assuming any original wheel is automatically suitable. Staying inside the tire maker's width range helps preserve the intended tread shape, sidewall behavior, and overall fit.

A 1959 Humber should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, heaters, and other ozone sources that accelerate sidewall aging. Proper inflation matters during storage, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long-term loading on one spot of the tread. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting during long static periods, while any tire can suffer from age cracking if the storage environment is harsh.

Good storage habits preserve both appearance and drivability on a collector Humber that may sit for long stretches between outings. If the car remains on the ground, rolling it occasionally changes the contact patch and helps minimize temporary set in the casing. Owners who use fitted covers should make sure they do not trap moisture around the sidewall, because a dry environment is just as important as keeping UV exposure low.

Tires on a 1959 Humber should be judged more by age and condition than by miles traveled. A collector car can wear very little tread yet still need replacement because the rubber and casing have aged, which is why many owners begin evaluating more closely after about five to seven years and treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement threshold regardless of remaining tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the reference point for age.

That approach is especially important on a low-use Humber that may look fine at a glance but has spent long periods parked. Storage conditions, inflation habits, and exposure to heat or ozone can shorten useful life even further. A tire that still carries tread but shows cracking, hardening, vibration, or repeated air-loss problems has reached the point where age matters more than appearance.

Tires on a 1959 Humber deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more careful check before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracks, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven tread wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure between drives. If your installation uses tubes, the valve stems and the tire's ability to hold pressure consistently deserve extra attention because small leaks can show up there first.

Frequent inspection is one of the easiest habits that improves reliability on a collector car. A Humber that spends time parked may reveal age-related issues only when it is finally put back on the road, so catching them in the garage is far better than discovering them on a tour. It also helps to inspect the spare on the same schedule, since an old spare is often forgotten until it is suddenly needed.

A 1959 Humber Hawk would have been associated in period with bias-ply construction rather than a modern radial as factory-standard thinking, and the listed bias-ply size for the model here is 640-15. The radial 175R15 option reflects a later construction choice within the correct model family rather than the default late-1950s tire type. Original-equipment branding can vary by market and history, so the most reliable authenticity baseline is the correct size, construction style, and sidewall treatment rather than assuming a single universal brand.

For a restoration, that means the safest authenticity path starts with 640-15 bias-ply and then narrows to the sidewall appearance that suits your car's presentation. If the car is being judged, whitewall width and overall period look can matter almost as much as the nominal size itself. Marque clubs, factory literature, and period photographs are the right tools for confirming whether your particular Hawk should wear blackwall or a specific whitewall treatment.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1959 Humber because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the car carries the right size family, the right construction era, and an appropriate sidewall look. A Humber shown as an accurate late-1950s restoration is more convincing on its proper model-specific size than on a visually similar tire borrowed from another Humber model. Construction differences are also easy to spot to anyone familiar with period restoration standards.

What counts as acceptable depends on the event. Some shows tolerate radial substitutions on touring restorations, while stricter concours settings may favor the original-style bias-ply format and sidewall style that best matches the market the car was sold in. Before preparing a 1959 Humber for judging, compare the tire choice with the standards used by the sponsoring club or the marque specialists who know how Humbers were typically presented in competition.

A 1959 Humber Super Snipe belongs to an era when bias-ply tires were still the expected original construction type, and the listed bias-ply size tied to that model here is 775-15. The radial 185R15 option is the alternate construction within the Super Snipe's fitment family rather than the baseline period format. Sidewall appearance can vary widely among reproduction tires, so originality is better judged by matching the correct model-specific size and era-appropriate construction first.

That gives restorers a clear starting point if authenticity is the priority. From there, the choice between narrow whitewall, redline, goldline, or blackwall should be guided by period references and the car's intended presentation, because not every style would have been equally appropriate on a formal Humber saloon. If your Super Snipe has market-specific history, a Humber club or period sales literature can help refine the final cosmetic choice.

1959 Humber tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and used within the limits shown on the tire itself. The listed 185R15 radial products include H- and V-rated examples, corresponding to 130 mph and 149 mph ceilings, while the bias-ply listings here do not show separate speed letters in the provided product names. In normal collector-car use, the Humber's own braking, suspension, and overall age are often more important practical limits than the tire's theoretical top-speed capability.

Safety on the road depends less on chasing the highest rating and more on choosing the correct tire for the model, then making sure the whole car is ready for sustained driving. A freshly restored Humber on old or cracked tires is still not road-ready, and a strong speed rating does not override fifty-year-old chassis components or poor alignment. Think of the tire as one part of a complete roadworthiness check rather than the only criterion.

Inflation pressure on 1959 Humber tires should follow the vehicle's factory guidance for the original application and the tire maker's maximum-rated pressure information for the specific reproduction tire. The listed 640-15 tires show 1190 pounds at 32 psi on most examples, with one 640-15 example listed at 970 pounds at 32 psi. The listed 185R15 radial products include one example at 1355 pounds at 35 psi, and the listed 775-15 bias-ply products show 1490 pounds at 32 psi.

Those figures are tire capacity references, not blanket instructions to run every Humber at the same pressure. A pressure suitable for one size should never be transferred automatically to another, especially when moving between bias-ply and radial constructions or between Hawk and Super Snipe fitments. The best practice is to start with the car's recommended operating pressure, then confirm that the chosen tire and wheel combination is being used within the tire manufacturer's published limits.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Humber, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is usable as well. Check valve stems closely, especially if the car uses tube-type components, and pay attention to any vibration, pull, or slow air loss that has shown up during shorter local trips. Tire condition should be considered alongside the rest of the car's age-sensitive systems, including brakes, cooling, steering, and charging.

A Humber prepared for touring is one that has been looked at as a whole, not just filled with fuel and sent onto the highway. Even a correct-size tire can become the weak point if it is old, underinflated, or damaged from storage. Spending a few minutes on a thorough pre-drive walkaround reduces the chance that a preventable tire issue will interrupt a trip or put added stress on a vintage car that may already be working harder at modern road speeds.