1960 Metropolitan Tire Fitment Guide

1960 Metropolitan vehicles use two tire sizes: 520-13 and 560-13. Both sizes apply to the Metropolitan 1500, and both mount on 13-inch wheels. Rim-width guidance appears within the available products for these sizes, including 3.5 inches and 3.50 to 4.00 inches for 520-13, plus 3.50 to 4.00 inches and 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 560-13 depending on the tire.

That means a 1960 Metropolitan owner does not need to sort between multiple models, but still does need to choose between two different widths and sidewall presentations. Checking the size already on the car, the wheel width, and the visual style you want is the best first step before moving on to a specific tire.

On a 1960 Metropolitan, 520-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.20 figure refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 13 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing format that was common on compact American and imported cars of the period, long before modern metric radial sizing became standard.

For a 1960 Metropolitan buyer, that code matters because it points you toward a narrower bias-ply option with a distinctly period look. It also tells you to confirm the wheel diameter first, then make sure the specific tire's approved rim-width range matches your wheel before choosing between blackwall and whitewall versions.

On a 1960 Metropolitan, 560-13 is also a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.60 figure refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Compared with 520-13, it represents a wider tire format while staying on the same 13-inch wheel diameter.

That wider numeric size often changes the car's visual character more than buyers expect, especially on a small-bodied car like the Metropolitan. It is also the size where sidewall presentation broadens into both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall choices, so appearance and wheel-width compatibility should be checked together rather than treated as separate decisions.

1960 Metropolitan fitment is simple on the model side because the year is covered by the Metropolitan 1500, but that model uses two tire sizes rather than one. Both 520-13 and 560-13 fit the 1960 Metropolitan 1500, and both are bias-ply sizes on 13-inch wheels. The difference is in width, sidewall style availability, and the overall look you want on the car.

That means year and make alone are not quite enough to settle the decision. A buyer still needs to check the tire size already fitted, compare it with the wheel width, and decide whether the goal is a narrower compact presentation or a wider look with more whitewall styling options.

For a 1960 Metropolitan, both 520-13 and 560-13 are bias-ply sizes, so the choice is not a bias-versus-radial decision. The 520-13 is the narrower option, while 560-13 is wider and offers more whitewall variety, including both narrow and wide whitewall styles. Both fit 13-inch wheels, but their approved rim-width ranges differ by product.

Most owners choose between these sizes based on appearance, wheel match, and how they want the car to sit visually. If originality research, old photos, or the tires already on the car point clearly to one size, follow that lead; if not, compare your wheel width and decide whether a trimmer or fuller sidewall presentation better suits your Metropolitan.

1960 Metropolitan tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 520-13 comes in blackwall and narrow whitewall versions, while the 560-13 comes in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions. That gives Metropolitan owners meaningful room to shape the car's finished look without moving away from period-style bias-ply construction.

A blackwall usually delivers the cleanest utilitarian appearance, while narrow and wide whitewalls move the car toward a more decorative late-1950s and early-1960s presentation. For show-oriented restoration work, the sidewall style should match the look appropriate to your intended market presentation and judging standard, especially on a car as design-driven as the Metropolitan.

1960 Metropolitan tires are available from Firestone, Premium Sport, and BFGoodrich. The 520-13 size appears from Firestone and Premium Sport, while the 560-13 appears from BFGoodrich and Firestone. All of the available choices for this year and make remain within bias-ply construction, which keeps the overall character appropriate to the car's era.

Brand selection on a 1960 Metropolitan often comes down to the sidewall style you want and the exact size you plan to run. Once you narrow the decision to 520-13 or 560-13, the brand picture becomes much clearer, and you can compare the visual effect, rim-width match, and any load or speed-marking details attached to that specific tire.

Rim-width guidance for 1960 Metropolitan tires varies by size and sometimes by the individual tire. In 520-13, fitments include 3.5 inches and 3.50 to 4.00 inches where stated. In 560-13, some tires suit 3.50 to 4.00 inches, while others suit 4.00 to 4.50 inches, even though all of them mount on 13-inch wheels.

That is why wheel diameter alone is not enough when choosing a tire for a 1960 Metropolitan. Before ordering, measure the wheel or verify its width through a trusted source, then match that width to the exact tire you want rather than assuming every 13-inch tire in these sizes fits every original wheel equally well.

A 1960 Metropolitan can use both 520-13 and 560-13 on 13-inch wheels, so the wheel diameter itself does not prevent either size. The real question is wheel width, because some 520-13 tires are suited to 3.5-inch and 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, while 560-13 tires may call for either 3.50 to 4.00-inch or 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims depending on the tire.

In practical terms, many original Metropolitan wheels will physically accept either size diameter-wise, but you should still confirm the actual rim width before switching from one size family to the other. That check is especially important if the car has replacement wheels, years of undocumented changes, or a restoration history that is not fully known.

A 1960 Metropolitan stores best in a cool, dry, dark garage away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls. Because the car uses bias-ply tires, long static periods can encourage flat-spotting more readily than modern radials. Clean floors, stable temperature, and proper inflation all help reduce stress on the tires during storage.

If the car sits for extended periods, move it occasionally or use stands appropriately so the same portion of each tire is not carrying the load month after month. A breathable car cover helps the body, but the tire environment matters just as much on a low-use collector car like a 1960 Metropolitan.

Tire life on a 1960 Metropolitan is usually governed more by age than by mileage. Collector cars often cover few miles, so tread depth can look healthy even when the rubber has hardened or the casing has aged. A good rule is to begin evaluating collector tires closely around five to seven years and to consider replacement as they approach ten years, using the DOT date code and the tire's overall condition together.

That age-based approach is especially important on a small vintage car that may spend long periods parked between outings. Sidewall checking, irregular stiffness, slow pressure loss, or visible cracking can matter more than tread wear, so treat calendar age as a key maintenance factor rather than waiting for mileage alone to tell the story.

Tires on a 1960 Metropolitan should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, irregular wear, and any sign that the tire is not holding pressure normally. Bias-ply tires also deserve a careful look after the car has sat for a long time, since temporary flat-spotting or age-related stiffness can reveal themselves as soon as the car moves.

A quick walk-around is not enough for a collector car that may spend weeks or months between drives. Check pressure with a gauge, inspect the spare, and pay attention to valve stems as part of the same routine so the 1960 Metropolitan is ready for a short local outing or a longer drive with fewer surprises.

A 1960 Metropolitan Metropolitan 1500 would have been associated with bias-ply tire construction in period, not modern radial fitment. The year-make fitment for this model uses 520-13 and 560-13, both bias-ply sizes on 13-inch wheels, which aligns with what buyers would expect from a compact car of this era. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so size and construction are the more dependable authenticity markers.

For restoration work, start with the size that matches your car's surviving evidence, period photography, or marque-club guidance, then choose the sidewall treatment that best matches the intended presentation. If the car is being judged, market-specific details and factory literature can matter, so a Metropolitan specialist club is the right next step for final confirmation.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1960 Metropolitan, especially because the car's proportions make tire choice visually prominent. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will notice the size, the bias-ply construction, and the sidewall style, all of which affect whether the car presents as authentically period-correct. A wide whitewall where a narrower look is expected, or a visibly modern construction on an originality-focused car, can stand out quickly.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard, but it does mean tire choice should be made with the target event in mind. If the Metropolitan is being restored for concours-style display, confirm what your marque club or judging body considers appropriate before settling on the final size and whitewall treatment.

Within the 560-13 size for the 1960 Metropolitan, BFGoodrich offers both 1.00-inch and 2.25-inch whitewall versions with an S speed rating and a maximum load of 850 pounds at 30 psi, fitted to 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims. Firestone offers a 2.25-inch whitewall 560-13 with the same 850-pound maximum load at 30 psi, but on a 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim range. All of these choices are bias-ply and carry a similar 17-pound weight figure.

The practical difference is not simply brand name; it is also sidewall look, speed marking, and wheel-width compatibility. A 1960 Metropolitan owner comparing these options should verify the wheel width first, then decide whether a narrower or wider whitewall presentation better suits the car's restoration direction.

1960 Metropolitan tires can be appropriate for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and used within the limits of their construction and speed rating. The available fitments are bias-ply, and some 560-13 products carry an S speed rating, which corresponds to a 112 mph ceiling. On a car like the Metropolitan, the vehicle's own age, braking system, suspension condition, and overall mechanical state are often more important to normal highway confidence than an extreme top-speed figure.

Highway use still calls for realistic expectations, especially with a compact early-1960s car on bias-ply tires. Keep speeds sensible, inspect the tires before longer trips, and make sure steering and suspension are properly sorted so the 1960 Metropolitan feels stable and predictable rather than asking the tires to mask unrelated mechanical issues.

Inflation pressure for a 1960 Metropolitan should be matched to the exact tire, not assumed across both sizes. Among the available options, 520-13 examples include ratings such as 770 pounds at 32 psi and 1100 pounds at 60 psi, while 560-13 examples include 850 pounds at 30 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated load relationship at that pressure, not necessarily the vehicle manufacturer's recommended running pressure.

For real-world setup, use the original owner's manual or factory service information as your first guide for the car, then compare that with the reproduction tire maker's recommendations for the exact size and series you choose. Do not transfer one pressure figure from 520-13 to 560-13, or from one product line to another, without checking the tire itself.

Before a longer drive in a 1960 Metropolitan, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of age-related hardening, then verify pressures when the tires are cold. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, since an old spare can be unusable when you finally need it. On a bias-ply setup, also pay attention to how the car feels in the first miles after sitting, since temporary flat-spotting can influence the initial ride.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader vintage-car routine that includes brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, fluid levels, and lights. A 1960 Metropolitan is a light, engaging car when properly sorted, but longer drives are much more enjoyable when the tire condition has been confirmed before the trip instead of discovered during it.