1959 Lancia Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Lancia vehicles use several different tire sizes depending on model. The Appia uses 155R15, 165R14, or 560-14; the Aurelia uses 165-400 or 165R400; the Flaminia uses 165-400, 165R400, 175-400, or 175R400; and the Flavia uses 165R15. Rim diameters span 14-inch, 15-inch, and 400mm fitments, so there is no single year-wide size that fits every 1959 Lancia.

The practical takeaway is to identify the model first and then verify the wheel itself before choosing a tire. An Appia owner may be comparing a 14-inch bias-ply to a 14-inch or 15-inch radial, while Aurelia and Flaminia owners need to be especially careful about metric 400mm wheel fitment. The Flavia is simpler, but even there, sidewall style still affects the final choice.

On a 1959 Lancia, 560-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure is the nominal section width in inches, and the 14 indicates a 14-inch wheel diameter. In the available 560-14 offerings, the tire is a bias-ply construction and appears in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall versions, all carrying the same listed load figure of 906 pounds at 30 psi.

That size matters most to Appia owners who want the traditional look and behavior associated with a period-style bias-ply tire. It should not be confused with modern metric radial sizing, even when the wheel diameter appears similar. If your Appia currently wears a different style of marking, compare the sidewall and wheel carefully before treating 560-14 as an interchangeable substitute.

No, 1959 Lancia models do not use the same tire size. The Appia alone spans three different fitments, including both radial and bias-ply choices on inch-diameter wheels. Aurelia and Flaminia use metric 400mm wheel-based sizes, while the Flavia uses 165R15 on a 15-inch rim.

That variation means a buyer should avoid choosing by year and make alone. Lancia’s 1959 range included small sedans and more upscale touring cars, and their tire fitments reflect those differences. If you are unsure which model-specific size applies, start with the existing sidewall markings and confirm the wheel diameter before narrowing the choice to sidewall style, brand, or construction.

On a 1959 Lancia Appia, the choice between 165R14 and 560-14 is mainly a construction and presentation decision, provided your car actually uses a 14-inch wheel and that exact size family. The 165R14 options are radial blackwalls from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein, while 560-14 is a bias-ply offering from BFGoodrich with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles.

Owners leaning toward a restoration-focused appearance usually gravitate toward the bias-ply option, while owners planning more frequent road use often prefer the radial path. The key is not to assume they are interchangeable across all Appias, because the model also appears with 155R15 fitment. Check the current wheel diameter and existing tire marking before treating either size as the correct choice.

1959 Lancia tire choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles, depending on size. The 560-14 Appia fitment is available in all three, 165R400 appears in blackwall and narrow whitewall, 165R15 is offered in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall, while 155R15 and 165R14 are listed in blackwall only.

For a late-1950s European car, blackwalls usually align with the cleanest factory-style appearance, while whitewall choices can create a more stylized period presentation depending on market taste and the car’s restoration direction. Sidewall style does not override fitment, so size and wheel diameter still come first. Once those are settled, sidewall treatment becomes the finishing detail that shapes the car’s visual character.

Brands represented in 1959 Lancia sizes include Firestone, Michelin, Pirelli, Vredestein, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and American Classic. Availability depends on size: 155R15 is offered by Firestone and Michelin, 165R14 by Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein, 560-14 by BFGoodrich, 165R400 by Michelin, and 165R15 by Coker Classic, American Classic, Firestone, and BFGoodrich.

That spread gives owners different ways to match the personality of the car. A metric-wheel Aurelia or Flaminia owner has a narrower brand path than a Flavia owner in 165R15, where several sidewall looks are available. The right starting point is still the size stamped on the tire and wheel family on the car, because brand choice only matters after the fitment is narrowed correctly.

Available rim width guidance for 1959 Lancia tires varies by size. 155R15 is listed for 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims on several products, 165R14 ranges from 4.0 to 6.0 inches depending on product, 560-14 uses 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, 165R400 ranges from 4.50 to 7.0 inches depending on product, and 165R15 is listed for 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims.

Those ranges are a useful check before mounting, especially on cars that may have had wheels swapped during restoration or long-term ownership. A shared diameter does not automatically mean every wheel width is equally suitable for every product. Confirm the wheel width on the car and compare it to the exact tire you are considering instead of assuming all tires in the same nominal size share identical fitment windows.

Inner tube requirements on 1959 Lancia tires depend on the exact size and product. The listed 165R400 products are tube-type, while 155R15 includes both tube-type and tubeless products. Some 165R14 products are marked tubeless, and others are not explicitly marked, so tube status can vary by product even within radial sizes that appear similar at first glance.

That is why the individual sidewall marking matters more than a blanket rule for all 1959 Lancia tires. Metric-wheel cars such as Aurelia and Flaminia deserve extra attention because their listed 165R400 products are explicitly tube-type. Before final installation, confirm the wheel design, the tire’s tube designation, and the valve hardware so the finished setup matches the product you actually chose.

A stored 1959 Lancia should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone sources that accelerate sidewall aging. Maintain inflation, keep the car off damp ground, and move it periodically so one part of the casing is not loaded continuously. The Appia’s bias-ply 560-14 fitment is especially prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage compared with the radial options used elsewhere in the range.

If the car will sit for an extended period, many collectors either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load without leaving suspension components in an unnatural state. Clean tires with mild soap and water rather than dressings that can dry the rubber. Good storage habits matter as much as mileage on a collector Lancia, because age and environment shape tire condition more than distance traveled.

Tire life on a 1959 Lancia is usually judged by age and condition rather than mileage alone. Collector vehicles often cover few miles, so a tire can look usable while still aging internally. A sound rule is to inspect closely beginning around five to seven years of service and to treat the ten-year point as a serious replacement threshold regardless of remaining tread, using the DOT date code and overall condition as guides.

That approach is especially important on older European cars that may spend long stretches parked between events and seasonal drives. Heat cycles, storage conditions, and inflation history all influence service life. If a tire shows cracking, persistent pressure loss, bulging, or vibration that does not resolve with proper balancing and setup, the age-based schedule should give way to immediate replacement planning.

Tires on a 1959 Lancia should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, embedded debris, irregular wear, and signs of underinflation or slow air loss. Cars using tube-type metric radials such as the listed 165R400 products also deserve a close look at valve stems and any evidence of chafing or leakage around the tube-related hardware.

A quick pre-drive walkaround is often enough to catch issues that develop while the car sits. On low-use collector cars, problems appear from age and storage at least as often as they do from road wear. A more detailed inspection at seasonal intervals, including pressure checks when the tires are cold, helps keep the car ready for touring, shows, and local drives without surprises.

A 1959 Lancia Appia would have been associated with period European sizing and, depending on application, could align with either bias-ply or early radial practice reflected in the sizes used on the model. The available Appia fitments here include 560-14 bias-ply as well as 155R15 and 165R14 radial sizes. In late-1950s Europe, radial adoption was already well established on many cars, but exact original fitment can still vary by body style, market, and wheel package.

For a restoration, the smartest approach is to match the tire size and construction to the car’s current wheels, surviving records, and the standards of the event where it will be judged. Sidewall appearance also matters, especially on a smaller Lancia where proportions are visually obvious. Marque clubs and model-specific references are still the best final check if you are aiming for strict authenticity rather than a sympathetic driver-focused restoration.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1959 Lancia, especially in preservation or concours settings. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the car wears the proper size family, the appropriate construction type for its restoration goal, and a sidewall style that suits the era. A metric-wheel Aurelia or Flaminia wearing the wrong inch-based replacement, or an Appia restored for originality but fitted with an obviously modern-looking alternative, can stand out quickly.

The standard is not identical at every event, but tire size, construction, and visual presentation are common points of scrutiny. Some owners intentionally choose a radial for driving while accepting that it may not match strict show expectations on a car judged for authenticity. If trophies matter, confirm your event’s standards through marque clubs or judging guidelines before finalizing the tire choice.

For a 1959 Lancia using 165R400, Michelin X Radial and Michelin X-Stop share the same basic radial size, both are tube-type, and both carry an S speed rating to 112 mph. The visible difference in the listed offerings is sidewall treatment, with Michelin X Radial shown as a narrow whitewall and Michelin X-Stop shown as a blackwall. Their listed rim width ranges also differ, with the narrow-whitewall version shown for 6.0 to 7.0-inch rims and the blackwall version for 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims.

That makes the choice partly visual and partly wheel-related rather than a simple matter of one being newer or more capable. If your Aurelia or Flaminia is being restored with a particular presentation in mind, the sidewall may decide it. If your wheel width is near the edge of one product’s range, confirm that detail before treating the two as interchangeable versions of the same tire.

1959 Lancia tires can be appropriate for highway driving when the correct size, construction, and condition are matched to the car. The listed 165R400 products carry S ratings to 112 mph, 155R15 includes T-rated products to 118 mph and H-rated products to 130 mph, and 165R14 includes H-rated products to 130 mph. Those speed ceilings are well above normal U.S. highway use, although the car’s own brakes, suspension, steering, and age-related mechanical condition matter just as much.

A healthy touring-speed margin on paper does not override old shock absorbers, worn bushings, poor alignment, or aged brake hydraulics. Bias-ply and radial tires also deliver different road feel, especially on crowned pavement and during longer drives. For real-world safety, choose the correct size first, maintain proper inflation, and make tire condition part of a complete pre-drive mechanical evaluation.

Inflation pressure on a 1959 Lancia depends on the exact tire size and product. Listed examples include 560-14 at 906 pounds at 30 psi, 155R15 at 1045 pounds at 44 psi on one product, and 165R15 at 1168 pounds at 35 psi or 1170 pounds at 36 psi depending on product. Those are tire ratings, not universal vehicle settings, and they should not be transferred from one size to another or from one model to another.

Use the car’s original handbook or factory placard for the vehicle’s intended cold inflation baseline, then confirm that choice against the specific reproduction or modern tire you are using. A light Appia and a larger Flaminia are not the same case, even when both wear period-style tires. Pressure should support proper load, tread shape, and handling without assuming the tire’s maximum-rated figure is the everyday operating target.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Lancia, inspect every tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, exposed cord, irregular wear, and proper cold pressure. Confirm that the spare is usable, not just present, and check the valve stems closely. On cars using tube-type 165R400 tires, be especially attentive to air retention and any signs of valve or tube-related leakage after the car has been sitting.

Tires are only one part of the equation on a late-1950s Lancia, so pair that inspection with a broader check of brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluid levels, and charging system health. Older grand touring cars invite longer drives, but preparation is what makes them enjoyable. A careful pre-trip routine reduces the chance that a tire issue will become the first sign of a larger roadside problem.