1960 Allard Tire Fitment Guide

1960 Allard vehicles use two tire sizes: 590-15 and 600-15, and both apply to the Palm Beach. Each size mounts on a 15-inch rim. Rim-width guidance appears within the available products, with 590-15 using 4.00-4.50 inch rims on the BFGoodrich versions, while 600-15 spans 4.00-4.50 inches on one product and 4.50-5.00 inches on another.

That means the first step for a 1960 Allard owner is not choosing between different models in the lineup, but confirming which of the two sizes is already fitted or intended for the car. If the car is being restored, compare the existing wheel width and the visual stance you want before deciding. If the wheels have been changed at some point in the car’s life, measure the actual rim rather than assuming either size will be equally appropriate.

On a 1960 Allard, 590-15 is an older numeric bias-ply size. The 590 portion refers to the tire’s nominal section width in a period sizing system, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not describe the tire in the same way a P-metric radial code would.

For a Palm Beach owner, that matters because 590-15 should be evaluated as a vintage bias-ply fitment, not translated loosely into a modern passenger-car size. It also helps explain why period-style reproductions focus on sidewall appearance and original overall character as much as raw dimensions. If your car already carries 590-15 tires, staying within that same size family is usually the cleanest starting point for restoration research.

Within the 1960 Allard range covered here, the Palm Beach is the model in question, and it uses two possible tire sizes rather than a single universal fitment. Those sizes are 590-15 and 600-15, both in bias-ply construction and both for 15-inch rims. So the year and make alone narrow the field, but they do not settle the size by themselves.

That is important for anyone buying tires from the top down. A 1960 Allard owner still needs to identify whether the car is set up for 590-15 or 600-15 before moving ahead. The most reliable path is to inspect the tire size currently on the car, confirm the wheel width, and compare that with the car’s restoration objective, especially if the Palm Beach has seen wheel or suspension changes over time.

For a 1960 Allard, both 590-15 and 600-15 are period-style bias-ply choices for the Palm Beach, so the decision is mainly about matching the car’s existing fitment and wheel setup. The 600-15 is nominally wider and carries higher published load figures in the BFGoodrich offerings, while the 590-15 includes both BFGoodrich and Avon choices and an Avon version with an H speed rating.

A Palm Beach being restored for historical appearance should usually stay with the size that matches the car’s established fitment history and wheel width. A Palm Beach meant for regular road use still needs that same size confirmation, because these are not interchangeable modern equivalents chosen only by preference. Think of the choice as a fitment-and-presentation decision first, then a brand and sidewall-style decision second.

1960 Allard tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The 590-15 offers blackwall choices from BFGoodrich and Avon, plus a BFGoodrich 2.625-inch whitewall. The 600-15 also comes in blackwall and in a BFGoodrich 2.625-inch wide whitewall, giving Palm Beach owners two distinct visual directions within period bias-ply construction.

That sidewall choice has a major effect on how a Palm Beach presents. Blackwalls lean toward a cleaner sporting look, while a wide whitewall creates a more formal late-1950s and early-1960s visual statement. For a judged restoration, sidewall treatment can matter nearly as much as the size itself, so owners who care about originality should compare the car’s market, photos from its era, and club guidance before settling on the final appearance.

1960 Allard vehicles are covered by BFGoodrich and Avon in the Palm Beach sizes. The 590-15 is available from both BFGoodrich and Avon, while the 600-15 is available from BFGoodrich. All of those choices stay within vintage-style bias-ply construction rather than moving into a modern radial fitment for this year and make.

That split gives Palm Beach owners a little more flexibility in 590-15 than in 600-15, especially if brand heritage or appearance matters to the project. BFGoodrich gives access to both blackwall and wide whitewall presentations across the two sizes, while Avon brings an alternative sporting name and an H-rated 590H15 option. Once the correct size is confirmed, brand selection becomes more about presentation and product character than about changing the car’s basic fitment category.

Rim-width guidance for 1960 Allard tires varies by size and, in one case, by product. The BFGoodrich 590-15 fits 4.00-4.50 inch rims. In 600-15, the BFGoodrich wide whitewall fits 4.00-4.50 inch rims, while the BFGoodrich blackwall fits 4.50-5.00 inch rims, so the acceptable range depends on which 600-15 version you choose.

That makes wheel measurement especially important on a Palm Beach. Even though both sizes are 15-inch fitments, the tire and wheel need to match in width as well as diameter. Before selecting a tire, confirm the actual wheel width at the bead seat rather than relying on appearance alone. That extra step helps avoid choosing a size or sidewall style that looks right on paper but is mismatched to the wheel actually on the car.

A 1960 Allard Palm Beach uses 15-inch tire sizes in both 590-15 and 600-15 form, so the wheel diameter is compatible across the two choices. That means an original 15-inch wheel can potentially accept either size in principle. The deciding factor is wheel width, because the published rim-width ranges are not identical across every product within those two sizes.

For an owner working with original Palm Beach wheels, the practical approach is to verify that the wheel width falls within the approved range for the exact tire being considered. A 15-inch wheel alone is not enough information. This is especially important if the car’s wheels have ever been replaced, widened, or refinished without clear records. Diameter gets you into the right family; width confirms whether the specific tire is a suitable match.

A 1960 Allard should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber prematurely. Because the Palm Beach uses bias-ply tires in these sizes, long static storage can encourage flat-spotting more readily than many radials. Clean floors, steady inflation pressure, and periodic movement all help protect the carcass and sidewalls.

If the car will sit for an extended period, rolling it occasionally or supporting it in a way that reduces sustained load can help preserve tire shape. Owners should also avoid parking on oil-soaked concrete or damp surfaces that trap moisture around the tread and lower sidewall. Good storage practice matters on a low-use collector car because tire age and condition often become limiting factors long before tread wear does.

On a 1960 Allard, tire life is usually governed more by age, storage conditions, and inspection results than by mileage. A sensible collector-car guideline is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code, when present on the tire, is the starting point for that age check.

Palm Beach owners often drive fewer miles than modern daily-use drivers, so a tire can look lightly used and still be old enough to warrant replacement. Sidewall cracking, persistent air loss, vibration, or visible weathering all matter more than odometer totals. If the car’s service history is uncertain, age-based thinking is the safest way to plan. A handsome vintage tire is still a consumable part, not a permanent component of the restoration.

Tires on a 1960 Allard should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or event. Look closely for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, objects in the tread, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure between uses. Since collector cars often sit for stretches, a quick visual check after storage is just as important as a check after active driving.

A Palm Beach owner should also pay attention to changes in steering feel, vibration, or how the car tracks on the road, because those can point to tire or wheel issues before a defect becomes visually obvious. Include the spare in the inspection routine if the car carries one. Consistent inspection habits are one of the easiest ways to catch age-related tire problems early on a vintage sports car that may not be driven every week.

A 1960 Allard Palm Beach would have been a bias-ply car in its original tire era, and the two fitment families here, 590-15 and 600-15, both reflect that period construction. That makes bias-ply the correct general starting point for an authentic restoration. Original-market details can still vary by destination, equipment changes over time, and the car’s own history, so exact factory-delivery confirmation should be tied back to the individual chassis when possible.

For a restoration-minded owner, the key takeaway is that a modern-looking substitute in an unrelated sizing system would change the car’s presentation quickly. Staying with a proper 15-inch bias-ply size preserves the right visual proportions and period feel. If the goal is high-level authenticity, compare the car against period photos, surviving examples, and Allard club knowledge before settling on 590-15 versus 600-15 and before choosing blackwall versus wide whitewall treatment.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1960 Allard, especially on a niche British specialty car where overall presentation is closely scrutinized. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall treatment suit the car’s era. On a Palm Beach, a proper 15-inch bias-ply tire supports the period look in a way that a visibly modern substitute may not.

That does not mean every event applies the same standard, but it does mean tires are part of the restoration story, not an afterthought. A wide whitewall and a blackwall can give the same car very different personalities, and one may be more appropriate than the other depending on the car’s intended presentation. Owners preparing for judged events should check with the relevant Allard or British sports-car community for event-specific expectations.

For a 1960 Allard Palm Beach in 590-15, BFGoodrich and Avon approach the size a little differently. BFGoodrich offers blackwall and 2.625-inch wide whitewall versions, both with a 1,050-pound load figure at 32 psi and a 4.00-4.50 inch rim-width range. Avon’s 590H15 81H comes as a blackwall, weighs less at 16 pounds, and carries an H speed rating with a 130 mph ceiling.

That means the choice is not simply brand preference. BFGoodrich is the path if a Palm Beach owner wants either a traditional blackwall or a substantial period whitewall look within one tire family. Avon becomes especially interesting for owners who want a sporting blackwall presentation and value the published H rating. Both remain bias-ply choices, so the decision stays within authentic vintage construction rather than changing the car into a radial-fitment project.

1960 Allard tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly matched to the wheel, and used within their construction and speed limits. The Palm Beach sizes here are bias-ply, and one 590-15 option from Avon carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling. The BFGoodrich products include load figures but do not all carry a speed letter in the same visible format, so the exact sidewall marking on the tire should be checked before sustained high-speed use.

In practice, the car’s own age, brakes, suspension condition, steering accuracy, and overall mechanical health usually matter as much as the tire when planning modern road use. A well-prepared Palm Beach can certainly be enjoyed on public roads, but highway confidence starts with realistic speeds and careful setup rather than chasing the highest theoretical number on paper. Safe use comes from condition, maintenance, and matching expectations to a 1960 specialty sports car.

Inflation pressure on a 1960 Allard should be set with reference to the car’s original recommendations and the tire maker’s published limits for the exact size you choose. Among the available products, BFGoodrich 590-15 tires carry a 1,050-pound load figure at 32 psi, and BFGoodrich 600-15 tires carry a 1,150-pound load figure at 32 psi. Those figures describe rated load at that pressure for those specific tires, not a blanket instruction to use the same pressure in every situation.

A Palm Beach owner should avoid copying pressure from one size to another or from one car to another without checking the tire and vehicle combination carefully. Start with the original vehicle guidance if available, then confirm that the chosen reproduction tire’s own pressure parameters align with that use. Pressure tuning on a lightweight vintage sports car can influence ride and response noticeably, so it is worth approaching methodically rather than by guesswork.

Before a longer drive in a 1960 Allard, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and stable inflation pressure, and confirm that the size on the car matches the wheel correctly. Check the valve stems, confirm that the spare is usable, and look for any sign of age-related hardening in the sidewalls. Because the Palm Beach is a low-volume 1960 sports car, it also makes sense to include a broader once-over of brakes, steering, cooling, and fluid levels.

Tire preparation is especially important on collector cars that may feel fine on short local trips but reveal weaknesses only after heat builds over distance. A careful pre-drive routine also gives you time to catch mismatched wheel widths, old rubber, or pressure loss before they become roadside problems. On a specialty car like a 1960 Allard, prevention is usually far easier than dealing with a failure far from home.