1959 Singer Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Singer vehicles use two tire sizes: 155R15 and 560-15, and both apply to the 1959 Singer Gazelle. Each size fits a 15-inch rim. Rim-width guidance is more specific once you narrow down the tire size: 155R15 commonly fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, while 560-15 products appear on 4.5-inch rims and on 4.50 to 5.50-inch rim ranges depending on the tire.

That means a 1959 Singer buyer does not need to identify between multiple model families first, but does need to decide which tire type matches the car's purpose. A radial 155R15 gives the Gazelle a more modern tire format, while a 560-15 keeps the car in the traditional bias-ply world. Before ordering, verify the actual wheel width on the car and compare it to the rim-width range of the exact tire you plan to use.

On a 1959 Singer tire, 560-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure is the nominal section width, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a metric radial code and it does not describe the tire the same way a modern P-metric or Euro-metric size would.

For a 1959 Singer Gazelle, that code points you toward a traditional mid-century tire format with bias-ply construction and period-style sidewall treatments such as narrow or wide whitewalls. If your goal is a restoration-oriented look, 560-15 is the size family that aligns with that older sizing language. If you want a more modern format, the other route for 1959 Singer is 155R15, which follows radial sizing convention instead.

On a 1959 Singer tire, 155R15 is a Euro-metric radial size. The 155 indicates a 155-millimeter nominal section width, the R identifies radial construction, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this older metric style, the aspect ratio is not printed, but it is conventionally treated as an 80-series radial format.

That makes 155R15 the more modern-coded option for a 1959 Singer Gazelle even though it still fits the same 15-inch wheel diameter as 560-15. A buyer comparing the two should think less about wheel diameter and more about driving character, sidewall appearance, and whether tube-type or tubeless construction matters for the exact tire chosen. The individual 155R15 products also vary in speed rating, so it is worth checking the sidewall marking before making a final selection.

For a 1959 Singer Gazelle, the choice between 155R15 and 560-15 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 155R15 is a radial size offered in blackwall form, while the 560-15 is a numeric bias-ply size offered with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall styling. Both fit 15-inch wheels, so the question is usually how you want the car to look and feel rather than which diameter wheel you have.

A 560-15 generally makes the most sense for an owner chasing period character and traditional presentation. A 155R15 is the stronger choice for someone who wants a radial-format tire for regular road use while staying within a compact, era-appropriate overall size range. If the Gazelle is judged for originality, consult your club or event standard before switching constructions, because tire type and sidewall appearance can influence how authentic the car reads.

1959 Singer tires are available in distinctly different sidewall treatments depending on size. The 155R15 radial range is blackwall only. The 560-15 bias-ply range includes both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall options, giving the Gazelle owner a broader period-style visual palette.

That split matters because sidewall style changes the car's appearance almost as much as the wheel itself. A blackwall 155R15 tends to suit a more restrained, driver-oriented presentation, while a whitewall 560-15 leans into the late-1950s visual language that many restorers want. If authenticity is the priority, compare your car's market, trim presentation, and old photos or literature before choosing between narrow and wide whitewall styles.

1959 Singer tire coverage comes from Firestone, Michelin, and US Royal. In 155R15 radial form, the available brands are Firestone and Michelin. In 560-15 bias-ply form, the available brands are Firestone and US Royal.

That gives a 1959 Singer owner a useful spread between well-known historic names and different tire personalities within the same basic fitment. Brand selection should come after the bigger decision about size and construction, since the radial and bias-ply options serve different goals. Once you have narrowed that down, compare the exact sidewall style, tube marking, speed symbol, and rim-width range of the brand and series that best fits your Gazelle.

Rim-width requirements for 1959 Singer tires depend on the size you choose. The 155R15 radial commonly fits rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches wide. The 560-15 bias-ply appears in versions intended for a 4.5-inch rim and in versions with a 4.50 to 5.50-inch approved range.

That overlap is helpful because both sizes share a 15-inch wheel diameter, but rim width still needs to be verified before making the switch from one construction type to the other. An original wheel may accept more than one tire option, yet the exact product still has to fall within its approved width range. Measuring the wheel or confirming its stamped dimension is the cleanest way to avoid a mismatch.

Inner-tube requirements for 1959 Singer tires depend on the exact tire chosen. Within the 155R15 radial range, tube status varies by product: some versions are tubeless, while at least one H-rated Michelin XAS version is tube-type. The 560-15 bias-ply products do not carry TT or TL markings in the size field here, so the practical next step is to confirm the exact tire's sidewall marking and match it to the wheel type being used.

That matters because a 1959 Singer owner may be working with original wheels, restored wheels, or replacement rims, and the wheel itself can influence whether a tube is appropriate. Do not assume every tire in the same nominal size handles tubes the same way. When you have narrowed the choice to a specific product, check the sidewall designation and make sure the valve stem, wheel condition, and mounting hardware are suitable for that setup.

In most cases, the original 1959 Singer Gazelle wheels can be candidates for both available tire sizes because both 155R15 and 560-15 mount on 15-inch rims. That shared diameter is the key point of compatibility. The remaining question is wheel width, since each tire must be matched to a rim within its approved width range.

A careful owner should treat the original wheel as compatible in diameter first, then verify width and overall condition before selecting a product. This is especially important when moving between radial and bias-ply construction, because the wheel may physically accept both sizes yet still need to fall within the specific tire's rim-width recommendation. Original wheels should also be checked for straightness, corrosion, and bead-seat condition before use.

A 1959 Singer should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires clean, properly inflated, and off damp soil or bare concrete when possible. If the car sits for long periods, periodic movement or the use of stands can help reduce flat-spotting stress, which is especially relevant with bias-ply construction.

That advice matters because a collector car often ages its tires by time and environment more than by mileage. A 560-15 bias-ply can take a temporary set more readily during long static storage, while any tire on a 1959 Singer can suffer sidewall weathering if it lives near heat or ozone sources. Good storage habits preserve ride quality, protect appearance, and make the first drive of the season much easier on both tire and chassis.

Tires on a 1959 Singer are usually judged by age and condition more than by miles driven. A sound collector-car practice is to inspect tires carefully once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if tread depth still looks acceptable. The DOT date code on the sidewall is the quickest way to establish the tire's age.

That rule is especially important on a lightly used Gazelle because old tires can appear healthy while the rubber has already hardened or begun to crack internally. A radial 155R15 and a bias-ply 560-15 both need the same age-awareness, even if the car only attends local shows or occasional weekend drives. If the tire's age is unclear or the date code cannot be confidently read, replacement is often the safer long-term decision.

Tires on a 1959 Singer should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, embedded debris, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between drives. If your chosen tire setup uses tubes, inspect the valve stems and watch for slow leaks that can be mistaken for normal pressure loss.

Frequent inspection is worthwhile because a car like the Gazelle may spend weeks parked and then go straight onto secondary roads or highway stretches without much warm-up time. Short pre-drive checks catch age-related issues before they become roadside problems. A quick visual inspection, pressure check, and glance at the spare can do more for confidence than any amount of tread-depth guessing on a low-mileage collector car.

A 1959 Singer Gazelle would have been delivered in an era when bias-ply construction was still the normal original-equipment standard for compact British saloons. For that reason, the 560-15 bias-ply size is the closest match to period tire practice among the options available for 1959 Singer. The 155R15 radial is a valid fitment choice today, but it reflects a later tire evolution rather than the most typical factory-era construction.

That distinction matters most if the car is being restored to a period-correct presentation. Size, construction type, and sidewall treatment all influence how authentic the finished car appears. If you are chasing exact market-specific or trim-specific originality, compare factory literature, surviving cars, and Singer or Rootes marque resources before deciding whether a blackwall radial or a whitewall bias-ply better suits your particular Gazelle.

Correct tire fitment can matter quite a bit when showing a 1959 Singer, especially in preservation or concours-style judging. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire's size language, construction type, and sidewall style fit the car's era. On a late-1950s British saloon, a modern-looking radial or an overly stylized sidewall can change the visual impression even if the tire physically fits the wheel.

For a Gazelle built around period proportions, authenticity usually comes from the combination of the right overall look and the right construction family. A 560-15 bias-ply generally reads more period-correct than a 155R15 radial, while blackwall versus whitewall presentation may depend on the exact restoration goal. Event standards vary, so owners pursuing judged competition should review the rules and ask a Singer or broader British-car club what would be considered acceptable.

For the 1959 Singer in 560-15 bias-ply form, both Firestone and US Royal offer narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions, and both carry a 970-pound load capacity at 32 psi where load figures are shown. The practical differences come from styling details and wheel-fit range. Firestone examples here are paired with a 4.5-inch rim, while US Royal examples cover a broader 4.50 to 5.50-inch rim range.

That means the decision is less about raw specification and more about which sidewall look you prefer and how your wheel width lines up with the tire you want. A restorer trying to match a certain visual theme may choose by whitewall width first, while a driver confirming wheel compatibility may care more about the approved rim range. Looking at both factors together usually narrows the best 560-15 choice quickly.

1959 Singer tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in good condition, properly mounted, and operated within their rated limits. In the 155R15 radial range, available speed ratings include T, which carries a 118 mph ceiling, and H, which carries a 130 mph ceiling. The 560-15 bias-ply options here do not show a speed symbol, so they should be treated with the normal caution appropriate to traditional bias-ply collector-car tires.

In real use, the mechanical condition of a 1959 Singer Gazelle often matters as much as the tire itself. Brakes, steering, suspension, alignment, and wheel condition all influence highway confidence on a small late-1950s car. For owners planning regular faster-road use, a radial 155R15 may be the more natural choice, but any highway trip should begin with a full vehicle check rather than relying on speed rating alone.

Inflation pressure on a 1959 Singer should be set with the exact tire size and tire model in mind, not borrowed from a different size. Among the available products, 560-15 bias-ply tires show a maximum load capacity of 970 pounds at 32 psi, while the Firestone 155R15 radial shows 1,045 pounds at 44 psi. Those figures describe each tire's rated load-and-pressure relationship, not necessarily the carmaker's recommended everyday running pressure.

The best practice is to start with the factory recommendation for the car when available, then make sure the chosen tire is being used within the manufacturer's load and pressure limits. A 1959 Singer running 560-15 should not automatically use the same pressure as one running 155R15. Keeping the sizes separate in your thinking preserves ride quality, tread wear, and safety while avoiding overinflation or underinflation mistakes.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Singer, inspect each tire for cracking, bulges, cuts, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, and if your chosen setup uses tube-type tires, pay extra attention to any sign of slow leakage or heat-related pressure loss. The spare should also be aired up and inspected, because a decades-old collector-car spare is often overlooked until it is urgently needed.

A sensible road-trip check goes beyond the tires, but the tires are where age and neglect often show up first. On a 1959 Singer Gazelle, a quick review of wheel hardware, brake feel, steering response, and suspension condition belongs on the same checklist. Tire preparation is not a substitute for broader maintenance, yet it is one of the simplest ways to reduce the odds of a roadside interruption on an older British car.