1960 AC Tire Fitment Guide

1960 AC vehicles use three sizes in total: 550-16 for the AC Ace, and 185R16 or 670-16 for the AC Saloon. All three mount on 16-inch wheels, but they are not interchangeable across the full 1960 AC range simply because the model applications differ. Rim-width ranges are available for several products within those sizes, including 3.25 to 4.00 inches for some 550-16 applications, 4.50 to 6.00 or 5.0 to 6.5 inches for 185R16 products, and 4.50 to 5.00 inches for at least one 670-16 application.

The practical takeaway is that year and make alone are not enough for 1960 AC fitment. Ace owners can focus on one dedicated bias-ply size, while Saloon owners need to decide whether they are keeping a traditional 670-16 crossply setup or using a 185R16 radial configuration. Checking the actual wheel before purchase is still wise, especially on older British cars that may have had wheels changed during restoration or long-term ownership.

On a 1960 AC, 550-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.50 figure is the nominal section width in inches, written without a decimal point, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. There is no R in the code, which aligns with bias-ply construction rather than radial construction. On 1960 AC applications, that size belongs to the Ace.

That decoding helps separate format from fitment. A 550-16 tells you the tire family and wheel diameter, but it does not mean every 16-inch AC wheel for 1960 uses that size. It is the right starting point for an Ace owner who wants the traditional crossply look and behavior associated with an early British sports car, while a Saloon owner should look at either 670-16 or 185R16 instead.

On a 1960 AC, 185R16 is a euro-metric radial size. The 185 is the tire’s section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this format, an aspect ratio is not spelled out in the size itself, but the designation is commonly treated as an 80-series radial convention. For 1960 AC fitment, 185R16 is used on the Saloon rather than the Ace.

That makes 185R16 the easiest size on this page for a modern buyer to recognize, but it still needs to be tied to the correct model. It points to a Saloon setup using radial construction, not a universal AC fitment for 1960. If your car has been restored or converted over the years, comparing the sidewall marking on the current tire and confirming wheel width before replacement will keep you from mixing formats by mistake.

For a 1960 AC, that choice applies to the Saloon, not the Ace. The 185R16 is a radial size, while the 670-16 is a bias-ply size, and both mount on 16-inch wheels. A radial Saloon setup points toward a more modern tire construction, while a 670-16 keeps the car in a more traditional crossply format. The Ace follows a separate path with 550-16 bias-ply tires.

The decision usually comes down to how closely you want to preserve original-era tire character versus how you intend to use the car on today’s roads. Owners pursuing period presentation often stay with the bias-ply route, while drivers who prioritize a radial construction on a Saloon may prefer 185R16. Before making the switch either way, confirm what is on the car now and make sure the wheel width supports the specific tire you are considering.

1960 AC tire sidewall styles vary by size. The 550-16 used on the Ace is available in blackwall and wide whitewall forms, while the 185R16 radial and 670-16 bias-ply sizes used on the Saloon are available in blackwall form. That gives the Ace owner more room to tune appearance, while the Saloon choices stay visually restrained and in keeping with a formal British car from the period.

For restoration-minded owners, sidewall style matters almost as much as size and construction. A blackwall presentation is generally the safer visual choice for a British sporting or sporting-luxury application of this era, while a wide whitewall creates a more stylized look that may appeal to some builds more than strict originality. If show judging is part of your plan, compare your target sidewall style against period photos and club guidance before choosing.

1960 AC tire coverage includes Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Michelin, and Vredestein. For the Ace’s 550-16 size, choices come from Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. For the Saloon’s 185R16 radial size, options come from Michelin, Avon, and Vredestein, while the Saloon’s 670-16 bias-ply size comes from Firestone and Avon.

That brand spread gives a 1960 AC owner several ways to balance period appearance, construction type, and personal preference without stepping outside the correct size family. British-car owners often recognize Avon and Michelin as natural fits in the period European context, while Firestone, BFGoodrich, Excelsior, and Vredestein broaden the choice depending on size and sidewall style. The best way to narrow the field is to start with the exact model and size, then compare the available tire series within that fitment.

Rim width requirements for 1960 AC tires depend on the size. In 550-16, some products fit 3.25- to 4.00-inch rims. In 185R16, published ranges include 4.50 to 6.00 inches on one tire and 5.0 to 6.5 inches on another. In 670-16, at least one product fits a 4.50- to 5.00-inch rim. All of them share a 16-inch diameter, but width support is not identical across sizes or across products within the same size.

That matters most when a car has replacement wheels, altered wheel widths, or a long restoration history. A tire can have the right diameter and still be a poor match for the wheel if the rim is too narrow or too wide for that specific product. Measuring the wheel you actually have, instead of assuming it is original, is the safest way to narrow your options before committing to a particular 1960 AC tire.

Inner-tube use on 1960 AC tires depends on the size and the exact product. The Michelin 185R16 is marked TT, meaning tube type, while the other 185R16 options do not carry the same marking in the same way. The 550-16 and 670-16 offerings here do not show a universal tube-type or tubeless pattern across every product, so tube use can vary by product and by wheel design rather than by size alone.

That makes wheel construction especially important on an older British car. A tube-type tire on the proper wheel is one thing, but a tube added to compensate for a wheel issue is a different question entirely. Check the sidewall marking on the exact tire you are considering, then confirm whether your wheel was designed for tube-type service before deciding how to set up a 1960 AC for road use.

Original 1960 AC wheels can only be shared across all three tire sizes at the most basic diameter level, because 550-16, 185R16, and 670-16 all mount on 16-inch rims. That does not mean every original wheel is automatically correct for every one of those tires. Rim-width needs vary by size and sometimes by product, and the model split still matters because the Ace uses 550-16 while the Saloon uses 185R16 or 670-16.

In practice, wheel diameter compatibility is the easy part here. The harder part is confirming whether the width and construction of your actual wheel suit the exact tire you want to run. A Saloon owner considering a switch between 670-16 and 185R16 should pay particular attention to wheel width, while an Ace owner should stay focused on 550-16 rather than assuming another 16-inch AC tire is an acceptable substitute.

A 1960 AC should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires clean, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and maintain proper inflation during storage. Bias-ply tires such as 550-16 and 670-16 are more prone to flat-spotting during long static periods than radial tires, so occasional movement or carefully supporting the car can help reduce shape distortion.

Storage habits matter because collector cars often age their tires more by time than by mileage. If your 1960 AC sits for months at a stretch, make tire care part of the same routine as battery maintenance and fuel stabilization. A short roll every few weeks, or taking weight off the tires during longer storage, can be especially worthwhile on bias-ply setups where temporary flat spots are more noticeable on the first miles back out.

Tires on a 1960 AC should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than tread depth alone. A good working rule is to begin close inspection once a tire reaches roughly five to seven years of age, and to treat around ten years as a strong point for replacement consideration even if the tire still looks presentable. The DOT date code, where present, helps establish age, and collector-car tires often time out before they wear out.

That is especially true on lightly used British collector cars that spend long stretches parked indoors. A 1960 AC may only cover a few hundred or few thousand miles a year, but sidewall rubber still hardens and ages. If steering feel changes, cracking appears, or the tire no longer inspires confidence at speed, age should carry more weight than remaining tread depth when deciding whether to keep using it.

Tires on a 1960 AC should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look closely for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, objects in the tread, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure. If your setup uses tube-type service, include the valve stem and any signs of tube-related leakage in that check, since a sound carcass alone does not guarantee the assembly is ready for the road.

Frequent inspection is one of the simplest ways to avoid turning a pleasant vintage drive into a roadside problem. Old cars communicate a lot through steering feel and ride quality, but it is better not to wait for those signals. A few minutes with a pressure gauge and a careful visual walkaround can catch age-related issues early, especially on a 1960 AC that sees occasional use rather than regular commuter mileage.

The 1960 AC Ace uses a 550-16 fitment, and for a car of that era and type, bias-ply construction is the historically appropriate starting point. That aligns with the size family used on the Ace here, and it suits the period in which radial adoption had not displaced crossply construction across every specialist British sports car application. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so the most reliable path is to confirm details through period photos, factory literature, or marque-club references.

For most restorers, the important thing is matching the car to the correct size family, construction type, and visual presentation before worrying about finer brand questions. If your 1960 AC Ace is being restored for judged events, judges are more likely to notice an obviously modern construction or a dramatically off-period sidewall style than a nuanced brand substitution within the correct vintage type. That makes 550-16 bias-ply fitment the right foundation for authenticity research.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1960 AC, especially in concours or marque-specific judging. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall visual stance all affect whether the car reads as authentically restored. On a 1960 AC Ace, a bias-ply 550-16 preserves the expected period look, while a 1960 AC Saloon may be judged differently depending on whether the event favors strict originality or period-appropriate alternatives.

The practical point is that a tire can be mechanically usable and still look wrong in a judged setting. A modern-looking radial on a car entered for originality, or a sidewall treatment that clashes with period photographs, may draw attention even if the dimensions are close. Before finalizing a show setup for any 1960 AC, compare your target tire against club standards and event rules so the restoration goal and the tire choice stay aligned.

For a 1960 AC Saloon running 185R16, the Michelin X Radial and Vredestein Sprint Classic differ in setup details even though both are blackwall radials on 16-inch rims. The Michelin is marked 185R16 92S TT, making it an S-rated tube-type tire with a 112 mph ceiling, and it supports a 4.50- to 6.00-inch rim range. The Vredestein is marked 185VR16 93V, carries a V rating with a 149 mph ceiling, and supports a 5.0- to 6.5-inch rim range.

Those differences can matter as much as brand preference. A Saloon owner working with a narrower wheel or aiming for a tube-type radial setup may gravitate toward the Michelin, while someone with a wider compatible wheel may prefer the Vredestein’s specification envelope. Neither choice should be made on size code alone, because the sidewall marking, speed category, and wheel-width support all shape how the tire fits into a correct 1960 AC Saloon setup.

1960 AC tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and used within their construction and speed rating. Among the 185R16 radial choices for the 1960 AC Saloon, S-rated tires carry a 112 mph ceiling and V-rated tires carry a 149 mph ceiling. The 670-16 range includes an H-rated option at 130 mph, while some bias-ply offerings in other sizes are presented without a speed letter. Tire capability is only one part of the equation on a vintage car.

On a 1960 AC, the broader mechanical condition of the car often matters more than the tire’s maximum speed category at normal road speeds. Brakes, suspension, steering, and alignment all influence how confidently the car travels on modern highways. A careful owner should think less about top-speed potential and more about whether the full vehicle system is healthy, stable, and correctly set up for the kind of driving the car will actually see.

Inflation pressure on a 1960 AC depends on the exact size and product. Among the available choices, one 550-16 Firestone carries a load figure of 840 pounds at 32 psi, one 670-16 Firestone carries 1,130 pounds at 30 psi, and one 185R16 Vredestein carries 1,433 pounds at 51 psi. Those numbers are tire ratings, not blanket vehicle settings, and they should not be transferred from one size or product family to another.

The best practice is to start with the original vehicle literature for baseline running pressure guidance, then compare that against the markings and recommendations associated with the exact reproduction or modern tire you are using. A 1960 AC Ace on 550-16 bias-ply tires should not be treated the same as a 1960 AC Saloon on 185R16 radials simply because both happen to use 16-inch wheels. Size, construction, and product design all affect the correct pressure conversation.

Before a longer drive in a 1960 AC, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracks, tread separation, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Make sure the valve stems are sound, and if your setup uses tube-type service, pay close attention to any sign of slow leakage or aging around the stem area. A tire that looks fine in the garage can reveal weaknesses quickly once heat and sustained speed enter the picture.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive checklist, but they are one of the easiest places to catch trouble early. On a 1960 AC, it is wise to pair tire inspection with checks of wheel fasteners, brakes, steering play, and fluid levels before setting out. A thoughtful once-over takes little time and suits the reality of older specialist cars, where prevention is almost always easier than solving a problem on the shoulder.