1959 Metropolitan Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Metropolitan vehicles use two tire sizes: 520-13 and 560-13. Both sizes apply to the Metropolitan 1500, and both are bias-ply tires that mount on 13-inch wheels. Within the available products, 520-13 appears with approved 13-inch wheel widths around 3.5 inches and 3.50 to 4.00 inches, while 560-13 products cover 3.50 to 4.00 inches and 4.00 to 4.50 inches depending on the tire.

That means year and make alone are not quite enough to choose a tire for a 1959 Metropolitan; you also need to decide which of the two period-style sizes belongs on your car and confirm the actual wheel width. Owners restoring a car to a particular visual standard often start with the size already on the car, then compare it against factory literature, marque references, and the wheel they intend to keep.

A 520-13 tire for a 1959 Metropolitan uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system. The 520 portion is the nominal section-width designation in the period style, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not carry an aspect ratio in the way a later radial tire would.

Reading the code correctly helps you avoid substituting a modern-looking size that changes the car's appearance or wheel compatibility. On a Metropolitan, 520-13 is the smaller of the two available numeric sizes, so it is often the starting point for owners who want a compact, era-appropriate tire profile and who are matching a narrow original-style wheel.

A 560-13 tire for a 1959 Metropolitan is also an older numeric bias-ply size. The 560 indicates a nominally wider section designation than 520, and the 13 again identifies a 13-inch wheel diameter. Some available 560-13 products include an S speed-rating suffix, which means a 112 mph speed ceiling for that specific tire.

The practical point is that 560-13 is still a period-correct bias-ply format, but it gives you a broader size option within the same wheel diameter family. Many owners consider it when they want a fuller tire look or a larger whitewall presentation, but the wheel still needs to match the approved width range of the specific product you choose.

Both 520-13 and 560-13 fit the 1959 Metropolitan 1500, and both are bias-ply choices on 13-inch wheels. The difference is mainly size appearance and product selection rather than a switch between bias-ply and radial construction. The 520-13 range includes blackwall and narrow whitewall offerings, while 560-13 brings narrow whitewall and wide whitewall choices, including several fuller whitewall presentations associated with late-1950s styling.

Choosing between them usually comes down to how you want the car to sit and look, plus what wheel width you have. If your priority is a compact original-style presentation, 520-13 is the more conservative starting point. If you want a more substantial period look with broader whitewall options, 560-13 deserves a close look. Compare the tire already on the car, the wheel width, and the restoration standard you are aiming for before you decide.

1959 Metropolitan tires are available in several sidewall styles across the two sizes. In 520-13, you can find blackwall and narrow whitewall versions. In 560-13, the choices include narrow whitewall and wide whitewall styles. All of them stay within a period-style bias-ply presentation suited to a late-1950s compact.

Sidewall style has a major effect on how a Metropolitan reads visually, because the car's proportions and bright trim make tire appearance especially noticeable. A blackwall usually gives the car a plainer, utilitarian look, while narrow and wide whitewalls move it further into showroom-era styling. If the car will be judged, check the event's standards and period reference photos so the whitewall width matches the look you want to recreate.

Three brands appear in the available 1959 Metropolitan fitments: Firestone, Premium Sport, and BFGoodrich. Firestone appears in both 520-13 and 560-13, Premium Sport appears in 520-13, and BFGoodrich appears in 560-13. All of the listed options are bias-ply tires, but the brands differ in series, sidewall styling, and individual wheel-width or load listings.

Brand choice on a small collector car like the Metropolitan is often as much about presentation as fitment. Some owners prioritize a familiar American heritage brand for a traditional restoration feel, while others focus on finding the exact whitewall treatment that suits the car. Once you narrow down the correct size, compare the specific brand's sidewall style, approved rim width, and any speed-rating suffix before making the final selection.

Available 1959 Metropolitan tires all fit 13-inch rims, but approved rim width depends on the tire size and product. In 520-13, listed fitments include 3.5 inches and 3.50 to 4.00 inches. In 560-13, available products cover 3.50 to 4.00 inches and 4.00 to 4.50 inches. The same nominal size does not always carry exactly the same wheel-width allowance from one product to another.

That is why the wheel should be measured before choosing a tire, especially on an older car that may have had wheel changes during its life. A Metropolitan running original-style narrow wheels may naturally steer you toward certain products within each size. If the wheel width falls at the edge of a tire's approved range, it is wise to verify the actual wheel and the exact tire rather than assume all 13-inch bias-ply products behave the same.

Both available tire sizes for the 1959 Metropolitan use a 13-inch rim diameter, so original 13-inch wheels can often work with either 520-13 or 560-13. The remaining question is wheel width, because the available products do not all share the same approved rim-width range. Some 520-13 and 560-13 tires overlap at 3.50 to 4.00 inches, while one 560-13 option is intended for 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims.

In practical terms, diameter alone is not enough to approve the swap from one size to the other. If your Metropolitan still wears its factory-style wheels, measure them and compare that width with the specific tire you want. That approach lets you keep the original wheel while avoiding a mismatch that can affect appearance, bead seating, and the way the tire sits on the car.

A stored 1959 Metropolitan should be kept in a cool, dry, dark environment away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing temporary flat-spotting when they sit in one position for long periods, and prolonged exposure to ozone and UV can accelerate sidewall cracking. Keeping the car clean and the tires properly inflated also helps preserve the casing shape during storage.

Many collectors either move the car periodically or support it in a way that reduces static load during long inactive stretches. If the Metropolitan will sit for a season, inflate the tires appropriately, park on a clean surface, and cover the car if the storage area admits light. Those simple steps do more to preserve an older bias-ply tire than occasional short starts without actually driving the car.

Tire age matters more than mileage on a lightly used 1959 Metropolitan. A collector-car tire should be evaluated regularly once it reaches about five to seven years of age, and replacement is commonly considered around the ten-year mark regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age, while visual condition helps show how storage, climate, and use have affected the casing.

A Metropolitan may cover very few miles each year, but low use does not stop rubber from aging. Sidewall cracks, hardening, vibration, and chronic pressure loss are stronger replacement signals than worn tread on a hobby car. If the car came with older tires of unknown history, treating age as a first-level screening tool is a smart way to decide whether they are suitable for continued road use.

Tires on a 1959 Metropolitan should be checked before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and signs that the tire is not holding pressure correctly. On an older bias-ply car, it also makes sense to watch the valve stems closely and to inspect the spare, since a neglected spare is often as old as the road tires.

Frequent inspection matters because collector cars often spend long periods parked and then go directly into service for a show, tour, or weekend drive. That use pattern can hide problems until the car is back on the road. A quick walkaround and pressure check takes only a few minutes and can reveal aging, storage damage, or a slow leak before it turns into a roadside problem.

A 1959 Metropolitan 1500 would have been a bias-ply car when new, which matches the available 520-13 and 560-13 fitments offered today. Both sizes remain within the correct period numeric bias-ply family for a late-1950s Metropolitan. Original-equipment branding can vary by market and period sourcing, so the most reliable starting point is the correct size, construction type, and sidewall presentation rather than assuming one universal original brand.

For restoration work, that means the safest historical path is to stay with a numeric 13-inch bias-ply tire and then refine the choice from there. If you are aiming for strict authenticity, compare your car against factory literature, surviving original cars, and Metropolitan club resources. Those references can help settle whether your particular restoration should wear the narrower or fuller-looking size and what whitewall treatment best matches the car's intended presentation.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when a 1959 Metropolitan is shown in authenticity-focused judging. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size family, construction type, and sidewall style because tires strongly influence the car's stance and period appearance. On a late-1950s compact, a modern-looking substitute or an obviously mismatched whitewall treatment can change the visual balance of the whole car.

That does not mean every event uses identical standards, but it does mean tire choice should be part of the restoration plan rather than an afterthought. If the Metropolitan will be judged, match the tire to the class and the car's intended presentation. Marque clubs and event rulebooks are the best places to confirm whether a certain whitewall width, brand appearance, or one of the two period numeric sizes will be viewed as correct.

Both BFGoodrich and Firestone offer 560-13 bias-ply fitments for the 1959 Metropolitan, but they differ in sidewall presentation and wheel-width listing. BFGoodrich appears in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions with a listed 850-pound load at 30 psi, an S speed rating, and a 3.50 to 4.00-inch rim-width range. Firestone appears as a wide whitewall with the same listed 850-pound load at 30 psi, but with a 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim-width range.

The practical difference is that the two brands may suit different restoration goals and wheel setups even though the nominal size is the same. A Metropolitan owner deciding between them should compare not only whitewall appearance, but also whether the existing wheel is closer to the narrower or wider approved range. That makes brand choice part of the fitment decision, not just a matter of style.

1959 Metropolitan tires can be suitable for normal highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and inflated properly for the tire and the car. The available fitments here are all bias-ply, and some 560-13 options carry an S speed rating, which corresponds to a 112 mph ceiling. In real-world use, the Metropolitan's own age, braking system, steering, and suspension condition usually matter more than the tire's published speed limit at ordinary road speeds.

Highway safety on a collector car starts with realistic expectations. A properly sorted Metropolitan on fresh, correctly fitted tires can be enjoyable on modern roads, but it should still be driven like a late-1950s compact rather than a contemporary small car. Before longer highway use, confirm tire age, pressure, condition, and wheel compatibility, then make sure the rest of the chassis and brake system are equally ready for sustained travel.

Inflation pressure for 1959 Metropolitan tires should be matched to both the car's recommended operating pressure and the tire's own rated limits. Among the listed products, 520-13 examples include 770 pounds at 32 psi and 1100 pounds at 60 psi depending on the tire, while 560-13 products list 850 pounds at 30 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to inflate every Metropolitan tire to the same pressure.

The best approach is to begin with the vehicle's factory guidance for normal use, then confirm that the chosen reproduction tire's pressure range and load capability suit the application. Avoid copying a pressure from one size to another just because both fit the same car. If you are changing from 520-13 to 560-13 or switching brands, recheck the tire's own markings and the car's manual before setting final pressures.

Before a longer trip in a 1959 Metropolitan, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded objects, unusual wear, and correct pressure. Pay close attention to valve stems, because older collector-car tires often fail at the stem or lose air slowly long before tread becomes an issue. Also check that the wheel and tire combination is the one you intended to run, especially if the car has changed hands or undergone restoration work.

Tire inspection is only one part of a proper pre-drive routine on a vintage compact. A Metropolitan headed out for a day trip should also have its brakes, steering, fluids, cooling system, and lights checked so the whole car is ready for sustained use. Starting with the tires is smart, though, because they are the only part of the car that actually touches the road and they give fast visual clues about broader storage or maintenance issues.