1960 MG Tire Fitment Guide

1960 MG vehicles covered here use two tire sizes: 155R15 and 560-15. Both the 1960 MG MG and 1960 MG MGA use both sizes, and both sizes mount on 15-inch rims. The 155R15 radial fits rim widths from 4.00 to 5.50 inches where that range is stated, while 560-15 bias-ply products fit either a 4.5-inch rim or a 4.50 to 5.50 inch range depending on the product.

That means a 1960 MG owner usually starts by choosing tire construction rather than chasing a model-exclusive size. A radial and a bias-ply can both be correct choices in this year and make, but they serve different goals. It is still smart to verify the wheel on the car before ordering, especially if the wheels have been changed during past restoration work.

On a 1960 MG, 560-15 is a classic numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure refers to the nominal section width, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial size, it does not use the same style of aspect-ratio code, and the absence of an R means it is bias-ply rather than radial construction.

That size reads as period-correct to buyers and restorers because it matches the way many mid-century tires were marked. It is the better place to look when authenticity of construction and vintage sidewall appearance matter most. If your goal is easier highway manners and a more modern driving feel, the radial 155R15 is the other size to compare before making a final choice.

Yes. Both 1960 MG models covered here, the MG and the MGA, use the same two tire sizes: 155R15 and 560-15. There is no model split in which one car takes a different diameter or a unique year-make-only size. Both options stay on a 15-inch wheel, so the difference comes from construction type and the character you want from the car.

That shared fitment makes the year-make comparison simpler than on many other collector cars. Once you know you have a 1960 MG or 1960 MGA, you can move on to deciding whether the car is being restored toward a more period look or prepared for more regular road use. Wheel width and the exact tire product are the next items to confirm.

For a 1960 MG, the choice between 155R15 and 560-15 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 155R15 is a radial size available in blackwall form from Firestone and Michelin, while the 560-15 is a bias-ply size available from Firestone and US Royal with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styling. Both fit 15-inch wheels used by the MG and MGA covered here.

Owners aiming for a traditional restoration appearance usually start with 560-15, while owners who expect more regular road use often consider 155R15 first. Neither decision should be made on size code alone, because the tire's construction changes the driving character as much as the sidewall look. Confirm your wheel width, then choose the size that best matches how the car will actually be used.

1960 MG tires are available with more than one sidewall treatment. The 155R15 radial options are blackwall only, while the 560-15 bias-ply size is available as blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall. That gives MG owners a broader styling range within the bias-ply size than within the radial size.

For many British sports car restorations of this era, blackwalls are the most natural visual starting point, especially if the goal is a restrained factory-type appearance. Whitewalls change the personality of the car and may suit a particular market look or owner preference, but they should be chosen carefully if show authenticity matters. Sidewall style is worth deciding early because it changes the car's overall visual impression even when the wheel diameter stays the same.

1960 MG tires are available from Firestone, Michelin, and US Royal. In 155R15 radial form, the brands are Firestone and Michelin. In 560-15 bias-ply form, the brands are Firestone and US Royal. That gives a 1960 MG owner access to both long-established American collector-tire names and Michelin's historically important radial offerings.

Brand choice should be made after you settle on size and construction, not before. Michelin is especially relevant if you want a radial with European character, while Firestone and US Royal cover both period-style and vintage-appearance interests depending on size. Comparing the exact sidewall treatment, tube marking, and speed rating within your chosen size is the best way to narrow the final selection.

For a 1960 MG, the 155R15 radial size fits 4.00 to 5.50 inch rim widths where the approved range is stated. The 560-15 bias-ply size is matched either to a 4.5-inch rim or to a 4.50 to 5.50 inch range, depending on the specific product. Both sizes use a 15-inch rim diameter, but width approval is still important because it affects how the tire sits and performs on the wheel.

That is why wheel measurement matters even when the car still wears original-looking 15-inch rims. A car that has had wheel changes over the years can still have the correct diameter but the wrong width for the product you prefer. Checking the wheel before ordering helps avoid a tire that technically matches the diameter but is not ideal for the rim itself.

Inner-tube requirements on a 1960 MG depend on the exact tire product. Within the 155R15 radial size, tube status varies by product: Michelin XAS appears in TT form, Michelin XAS-FF appears in TL form, and Michelin X is also marked TL. The 560-15 products here do not carry a TT or TL marking in the size description, so the practical next step is to confirm the sidewall marking on the exact tire and verify whether the wheel itself is suitable for tubeless use.

That matters because tube choice is not only about the tire but also about the wheel design and condition. Many collector cars have seen wheel repairs, repaints, or replacements over the decades, and those details can affect whether a tubeless setup is appropriate. When in doubt, confirm the product marking first and then match that to the actual wheel on the car.

A 1960 MG wheel can often be used with both 155R15 and 560-15 because both sizes mount on a 15-inch rim. Rim diameter compatibility is straightforward in that sense, and the two sizes are shared by both MG models covered here. The key point is that rim width still needs to fall within the approved range for the exact tire product you choose.

That makes this a wheel-width verification job rather than a wheel-diameter problem. Original wheels, reproduction wheels, and later replacements can all differ enough to affect whether a particular radial or bias-ply is the right match. Measuring the wheel and comparing it to the tire's approved rim-width range is the sensible final check before mounting.

A 1960 MG stores best in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Clean, properly inflated tires resist storage damage better than underinflated ones, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long-term static loading. Bias-ply tires such as 560-15 are especially prone to flat-spotting during long storage, while any older-style sidewall is vulnerable to ozone checking over time.

Collector cars that sit for long periods often age their tires faster than they wear them. Good storage habits preserve appearance and help the car drive better when it comes back out in the spring. If the car spends months off the road, inspect sidewalls and tread before the next outing instead of assuming the tires are fine because the mileage is low.

On a 1960 MG, tire life is usually limited by age more than by tread wear. A good working rule is to begin close inspection once tires are around five to seven years old and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even on a lightly driven collector car. The DOT date code on the tire remains the best quick reference for age.

That age-based approach matters because many classic sports cars cover very little mileage each year. A tire can still look usable from a distance while the rubber hardens or the sidewall begins to deteriorate. If the car has been stored indoors and driven sparingly, inspection still matters just as much as on a more frequently used MG.

Tires on a 1960 MG should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, tread separation, and pressure loss, and do not forget the spare if the car carries one. If your chosen tire is tube-type, the condition of the valve stem and the tire's ability to hold pressure deserve extra attention.

A short pre-drive walkaround is one of the best habits a collector-car owner can develop. Older sports cars are sensitive to changes in tire shape and inflation, and small problems become much more noticeable at speed than they do in the garage. Frequent inspection also helps you spot suspension or alignment issues early if one tire starts wearing differently from the others.

A 1960 MG MGA would have been associated with bias-ply construction in period, and the 560-15 size is the clearest match to that era's tire language and appearance. The radial 155R15 is also a historically familiar European-size format, but on a strict originality question, a bias-ply tire is usually the safer starting point unless a specific market, owner history, or later-period usage is being judged. Original-equipment brand should be confirmed through marque references rather than assumed.

That makes restoration intent especially important. A driver-focused MGA may end up on radials without changing the car's visual proportions very much, while a concours-minded car is more likely to be judged on whether the construction and sidewall treatment suit the period. MG clubs, marque registries, and factory literature are the best places to confirm market-specific details before finalizing a show car.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters when showing a 1960 MG, especially in classes that emphasize factory authenticity. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often pay attention to size, construction type, and sidewall appearance, not just whether the tire physically fits the wheel. A radial where a bias-ply look is expected, or an eye-catching whitewall treatment on a car that would more naturally wear blackwalls, can change how authentic the car appears.

The standard is not identical at every event, which is why event rules and marque-club guidance matter. Some owners willingly accept a small authenticity tradeoff for easier touring, while others want the car to look exactly right on the field. Deciding that goal before you buy tires keeps the restoration consistent and avoids replacing a nearly new set later.

For a 1960 MG in 155R15 radial form, both the Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF use a 155HR15 size with an H speed rating, which carries a 130 mph ceiling. Both fit 15-inch rims and share a stated 4.00 to 5.50 inch rim-width range. The key difference here is tube marking: the XAS appears in TT form, while the XAS-FF appears in TL form.

That distinction matters most when matching the tire to the wheel and to your preferred setup. If your wheel condition and design support a tubeless configuration, the TL-marked XAS-FF becomes the more natural comparison point. If you are preserving a setup that relies on tubes, the TT-marked XAS may align more closely with that plan, provided the rest of the wheel system is in suitable condition.

1960 MG tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly fitted, and used within their construction and speed limits. In the 155R15 radial size, the available speed ratings include T, which is rated to 118 mph, and H, which is rated to 130 mph. The 560-15 bias-ply products here do not show a speed letter in the size description, so a conservative, era-appropriate approach to road speed is sensible, especially since a 1960 MG's brakes, suspension, and overall vintage design are often more limiting than the tire itself in normal driving.

The practical question is not whether the tire can exceed modern traffic speed, but whether the whole car is prepared for sustained road use. Fresh rubber, stable inflation, sound steering components, and good brake condition matter at least as much as the sidewall brand. For long highway trips, many owners naturally gravitate toward radial construction, while bias-ply use rewards a more traditional driving style.

Inflation pressure on a 1960 MG should be set with both the car and the tire in mind. The 155R15 Firestone F560 radial carries a maximum load of 1045 pounds at 44 psi, while the 560-15 bias-ply products shown here carry a maximum load of 970 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to run every 1960 MG at the tire's maximum pressure.

The right working pressure should be confirmed against the original owner's manual or factory specification for the car, then checked against the tire manufacturer's guidance for the reproduction or radial product you are actually using. Do not transfer a pressure figure from the radial to the bias-ply or vice versa. Construction type, load rating, and the way the car is driven all influence the correct final setting.

Before a longer drive in a 1960 MG, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, abnormal wear, and proper inflation. Check that each valve stem is in good condition, and pay extra attention if the tire setup uses tubes. If the car has been parked for weeks or months, look for flat-spotting on bias-ply tires and verify that the tires are holding air normally before leaving.

Tires are only one part of a sensible pre-trip inspection on a 1960 sports car. Wheel security, brake feel, steering play, fluid levels, and lighting all deserve attention before a longer outing. Starting with a careful tire inspection is worthwhile because it can reveal age, storage, or suspension problems before they turn into a roadside interruption.