1959 Lloyd Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Lloyd vehicles use five sizes across three models. The Lloyd Alexander uses 4.25-15 in bias-ply form on 15-inch wheels. The Lloyd Arabella uses either 145R13 radial or 520-13 bias-ply on 13-inch wheels. The Lloyd LT uses either 155R13 radial or 560-13 bias-ply on 13-inch wheels. Rim-width guidance appears on some products, including 4.00 to 5.00 for 145R13, 4.00 to 5.50 for 155R13, 3.50 to 4.00 for some 520-13 and 560-13 products, and 4.00 to 4.50 for one 560-13 application.

Model identification matters more than make and year alone on a 1959 Lloyd because there is no single size shared by the whole lineup. Once you confirm whether the car is an Alexander, Arabella, or LT, the next step is deciding whether you want the model's bias-ply size for a more period-style presentation or its radial option where one exists. Checking the actual wheel diameter and matching the product's rim-width recommendation to the wheel already on the car will prevent the most common ordering mistakes.

145R13 is a euro-metric radial size used on the 1959 Lloyd Arabella. The 145 indicates a nominal section width of 145 millimeters, the R denotes radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. When no aspect ratio is printed in this older metric style, it is conventionally treated as an 80-series metric radial. Products in this size appear as blackwalls and include H-rated versions, which carry a 130 mph speed ceiling.

That code tells an Arabella owner two important things before any product choice is made: the tire is meant for a 13-inch wheel, and it belongs to the later radial sizing family rather than earlier numeric bias-ply sizing. If your car currently wears 520-13 tires, moving to 145R13 changes both construction and sidewall presentation, not just the lettering on the sidewall. It is wise to verify the wheel width before switching, especially on a restored car that may no longer be on its original rims.

No, 1959 Lloyd models do not use the same tire size. The Alexander is alone with 4.25-15 bias-ply on a 15-inch wheel, while the Arabella uses 145R13 radial or 520-13 bias-ply on a 13-inch wheel. The LT also uses 13-inch fitments, but in its own pair of sizes: 155R13 radial or 560-13 bias-ply. Each of those sizes is tied to a specific model rather than shared across the whole make.

That means year and make are only the starting point for tire selection on a Lloyd. A buyer comparing all 1959 Lloyd options should first narrow the car to the correct model, then decide whether the correct path is the model's original-style bias-ply size or its radial alternative where one exists. The Alexander's separate 15-inch fitment makes this especially important, since an assumption that every 1959 Lloyd used a 13-inch tire would immediately send you in the wrong direction.

That choice applies to the 1959 Lloyd Arabella, and it comes down mainly to construction and presentation rather than a universal Lloyd fitment question. The 145R13 is a radial on a 13-inch wheel, while the 520-13 is a numeric bias-ply size on the same basic wheel diameter. Blackwall radial choices are available in 145R13, while 520-13 bias-ply products appear in blackwall and narrow whitewall styles. The radial option brings a more modern tire format, while the bias-ply option better reflects period construction practice.

Arabella owners who prioritize vintage look, restoration character, and the feel associated with late-1950s tire construction often stay with 520-13. Owners who plan to drive the car more regularly and prefer a radial format often lean toward 145R13 instead. Either way, the decision should be made after confirming the actual wheel width and the visual style you want, since switching construction can change both the driving impression and the car's finished appearance.

1959 Lloyd tire sidewall choices depend on the model and size. The radial 145R13 and 155R13 options are offered in blackwall form. The 520-13 bias-ply size used on the Arabella appears in blackwall and narrow whitewall versions, while the 560-13 bias-ply size used on the LT is available with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall styling. The Alexander's 4.25-15 appears here only as a size reference rather than with a listed sidewall assortment.

For a late-1950s European economy car, blackwall often looks the most understated and market-correct, especially on cars restored in a factory-minded style. Whitewall choices can still make sense if the goal is a stronger period-custom look or a brighter visual contrast, particularly on a show-oriented vehicle. The key is to match the sidewall style to the role you want the car to play, because sidewall treatment changes the car's personality almost as much as the construction choice does.

Several brands cover 1959 Lloyd applications, but they are split by size. Michelin and Firestone appear in 145R13 for the Arabella, Michelin and Dunlop appear in 155R13 for the LT, Firestone and Premium Sport cover 520-13 for the Arabella, and BFGoodrich and Firestone cover 560-13 for the LT. Each brand lineup reflects the size's construction and style emphasis, with radial blackwalls concentrated in the metric sizes and whitewall-heavy offerings showing up in the bias-ply 13-inch sizes.

Brand choice on a 1959 Lloyd is usually a second-step decision after you settle the correct model and tire size. Once the fitment is narrowed down, the brand differences become more about sidewall appearance, product family, and the exact specifications carried by that tire. A good approach is to choose the size and construction first, then compare brands within that size for the visual style and product details that best suit how your Lloyd will actually be used.

Rim-width guidance varies by size and by the specific product chosen for a 1959 Lloyd. In 145R13, one radial product lists a 4.00 to 5.00 inch rim-width range. In 155R13, one radial product lists 4.00 to 5.50 inches. In the bias-ply 13-inch sizes, some 520-13 and 560-13 products list 3.50 to 4.00 inches, while one 560-13 product lists 4.00 to 4.50 inches. The Alexander's 4.25-15 fitment is separate, but no rim-width figure is included here for that size.

Those ranges show why wheel measurement should come before final tire selection, especially on older cars that may have had wheel swaps at some point in their lives. A 13-inch wheel can still be too narrow or too wide for a particular product, even when the diameter is correct. Measuring the wheel and matching it to the exact tire you want is the safest way to preserve handling balance, sidewall shape, and the overall look of the car.

Inner-tube requirements on 1959 Lloyd tires depend on the exact size and product. The 145R13 Michelin radial is explicitly marked TL, indicating tubeless construction, and the 155R13 Michelin radial is also marked TL. Other products in those radial sizes do not carry the same marking in the listed size line, so tube status can vary by product. The bias-ply 520-13 and 560-13 offerings shown here are not identified with a TL marking, so owners should verify the individual tire and wheel combination before deciding on tube use.

The wheel matters just as much as the tire, because an older rim's condition, bead design, and valve-stem arrangement can influence whether a tubeless installation is appropriate. If you are restoring a car on original wheels, inspect the wheels carefully for rust, pitting, or damage and confirm the setup with the tire's sidewall marking and manufacturer guidance. That extra step is especially valuable on collector cars that see long periods of storage between drives.

The 1959 Lloyd Arabella and 1959 Lloyd LT each pair a radial size and a bias-ply size that share the same 13-inch rim diameter. For the Arabella, that means 145R13 and 520-13 are both 13-inch fitments. For the LT, 155R13 and 560-13 are also both 13-inch fitments. Diameter compatibility is the easy part of the comparison, but the wheel still needs to fall within the rim-width range listed for the specific tire you intend to use.

That shared diameter gives owners some flexibility when deciding between a more traditional look and a later-style radial format. It does not mean every original wheel is automatically suitable for every available product, especially on a car with replacement wheels or mixed components from past repairs. Before mounting anything, confirm the wheel width and inspect the rim condition so the new tire matches both the wheel and the role the car will play.

A 1959 Lloyd should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that accelerate sidewall aging. Clean, stable inflation pressure matters, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that avoids long-term loading in one spot. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting after extended sitting, while any vintage-style tire can suffer from age-related cracking if the environment is poor.

Good storage habits preserve more than just the tread. They help the tires keep their shape, reduce cosmetic deterioration, and make the car more pleasant to drive when it comes back out for the season. If your Lloyd sits for months at a time, check pressures before and after storage and inspect the sidewalls closely before the first drive. A few preventive steps in the garage can add far more life than low annual mileage alone.

Tires on a 1959 Lloyd should be judged more by age and condition than by miles traveled, because collector cars often age out their tires long before they wear them out. A practical rule is to begin evaluating them closely around five to seven years of service and to treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code, if present on the tire, is the quickest way to establish age.

That approach matters on a lightly driven Lloyd because a tire can look decent at first glance and still be too old for comfortable use. Sidewall cracking, hardening, chronic pressure loss, and vibration after storage are signs that age is becoming the limiting factor. Owners who drive only to shows are sometimes tempted to stretch tire life indefinitely, but age management is one of the simplest ways to keep a collector car predictable and enjoyable.

Tires on a 1959 Lloyd should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between uses. Check tread condition, confirm inflation, and pay close attention to valve stems and, where applicable, the condition of any tube-related hardware. A spare should get the same inspection, since many vintage cars still rely heavily on an older spare assembly.

Frequent inspection matters because collector cars often spend more time parked than moving, which can hide age-related issues until the day you finally head out on the road. A five-minute walkaround before departure is much easier than dealing with a failure miles from home. On a 1959 Lloyd, where tire size and construction can vary significantly by model, that quick inspection also gives you a chance to confirm all four corners still match the setup you intended to run.

For a 1959 Lloyd Arabella, the period-correct construction expectation is bias-ply, and the size used in that format is 520-13. Radial 145R13 options are available today for the Arabella, but a late-1950s economy car of this type would have been associated with bias-ply construction in original-era practice rather than with later radial replacement thinking. The exact sidewall treatment can vary depending on market preference and the way the individual car is being restored.

Owners pursuing strict authenticity usually start with 520-13 and then refine the choice by deciding whether a blackwall or narrow whitewall look suits the specific restoration goal. If the car is being judged, the event's standards may care about construction, size, and sidewall appearance separately. A Lloyd marque club or period sales literature can help settle market-specific details, especially if the car has a unique export history or a restoration that mixes parts from different years.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1959 Lloyd because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall style immediately. A radial on an Arabella or LT may be entirely sensible for road use, but it can look out of place on a car judged for factory-style originality if the expected presentation is a bias-ply stance and period sidewall treatment. Even within a correct size, a whitewall width that does not suit the era or market can affect the car's visual authenticity.

Show standards vary widely, so the best approach is to match the tire choice to the level of authenticity you are trying to achieve. Local display cars can tolerate more personal preference, while serious concours-style events may expect closer adherence to original construction conventions. Selecting the correct model-specific size first, then the right sidewall look, usually does more for a Lloyd's credibility than chasing small cosmetic details elsewhere on the car.

Both the Michelin XAS-FF and Firestone F560 cover the 145R13 radial application for the 1959 Lloyd Arabella, and both are blackwall radials for 13-inch wheels. The Michelin is listed as 145HR13 74H TL and weighs 18 pounds, while the Firestone is listed as 145R13, weighs 12.7 pounds, carries a rim-width range of 4.00 to 5.00 inches, and lists a maximum load of 825 pounds at 44 psi. The Michelin's listed size line includes an H speed rating and a TL tubeless marking.

For an Arabella owner, the comparison is less about one being universally preferable and more about which specification set aligns with the wheel and intended use. The Michelin presents a more explicitly detailed speed and tubeless marking in the listed size, while the Firestone provides a clear load-and-pressure figure and wheel-width range. If you are narrowing a radial choice for an Arabella, compare the wheel width first and then weigh the importance of those listed specification details.

1959 Lloyd tires can be suitable for highway driving when the correct size is chosen, the tires are in sound condition, and their construction type matches the owner's expectations. The listed radial sizes, 145R13 and 155R13, include H-rated products with a 130 mph speed ceiling, which is well beyond the real-world operating range of a small late-1950s Lloyd. Bias-ply 520-13, 560-13, and 4.25-15 options remain viable for vintage use, but they deliver an older-style road feel that should be respected.

On a 1959 Lloyd, the car's own age, braking capability, suspension condition, and steering precision are usually more important highway limits than the speed letter on the tire. Safety comes from the complete package: correct inflation, matching tires side to side, healthy wheels, and an honest understanding of what a lightweight period car is comfortable doing. If you plan regular highway use, a careful inspection routine matters at least as much as the choice between brands.

Inflation pressure on a 1959 Lloyd depends on the exact size and tire selected, and the listed maximum figures should not be treated as a blanket operating recommendation for every setup. Examples include 520-13 at 770 pounds at 32 psi on one Firestone product, another 520-13 product at 1100 pounds at 60 psi, 560-13 at 850 pounds at 30 psi on the listed bias-ply products, and 145R13 at 825 pounds at 44 psi on one Firestone radial. Those figures are tied to specific products and load capacities, not interchangeable across the entire Lloyd range.

The best approach is to start with the vehicle's original handbook or marque reference for factory operating pressure, then compare that guidance against the tire maker's stated limits for the exact reproduction or radial product you are using. Never transfer a pressure number from an Arabella radial to an LT bias-ply tire just because both fit 13-inch wheels. Pressure has a major effect on ride, wear, and stability, so treat it as a size-and-product-specific setup item.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Lloyd, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Make sure the tires are the correct model-specific size, confirm the valve stems are sound, and pay extra attention to wheels or hardware that have been sitting unused for long periods. If the car runs bias-ply tires, allow for the possibility of temporary flat-spotting after storage and make sure that any vibration clears as the tires warm up.

The tire check should be part of a broader vintage-car pre-trip routine that also covers brakes, steering, lights, fluid levels, and wheel fastener security. Lloyds are light, simple cars, but their age means small issues can become larger ones quickly once miles begin to add up. A methodical inspection before departure is the best way to catch age-related problems in the garage instead of on the roadside.