1960 Opel Tire Fitment Guide

1960 Opel vehicles use six sizes across four models. The 1200 and Olympia use either 165R13 radial or 590-13 bias-ply on 13-inch rims. The Caravan & Wagon uses either 175R13 radial or 640-13 bias-ply on 13-inch rims. The Kapitan uses either 185R14 radial or 700-14 bias-ply on 14-inch rims. Rim width coverage where available runs from 3.50-4.00 inches for 590-13, 4.00-4.50 inches for 640-13, 4.50-6.00 inches for 165R13 products that publish a range, 4.00-6.50 inches for 185R14, and 5.00-5.50 inches for 700-14.

The key point is that year and make alone are not enough for a 1960 Opel tire choice. You need to identify whether you have a 1200, Olympia, Caravan & Wagon, or Kapitan first, then decide whether you want the period-correct bias-ply size or the radial companion size for that model family. That approach keeps you from crossing 13-inch and 14-inch fitments or mixing smaller-car and larger-car sizes.

On a 1960 Opel, 590-13 is a period numeric bias-ply size. The final number, 13, is the wheel diameter in inches, while the leading 590 is the traditional section-width style used in mid-century bias-ply sizing rather than a modern metric width. For 1960 Opel applications, 590-13 belongs to the 1200 and Olympia and appears in a bias-ply whitewall offering with a 3.50-4.00 inch approved rim-width range.

That makes 590-13 less of a mystery code and more of an era marker. If your goal is an authentic early-1960s visual character on a small Opel, this is the type of sizing language you would expect to see. If you are accustomed to modern radial codes, do not assume a 590-13 can be compared directly number-for-number with a metric size without checking the actual model application first.

On a 1960 Opel, 165R13 and 185R14 are euro-metric radial sizes. The first number is the nominal section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the last number is the wheel diameter in inches. When no aspect ratio is printed in this style, it is conventionally treated as an 80-series radial. In the 1960 Opel range, 165R13 fits the 1200 and Olympia, while 185R14 fits the Kapitan.

Those codes matter because they identify not only dimensions but also construction. A metric radial will usually appeal to an owner who wants a more modern tire layout for road use, while the corresponding numeric bias-ply size keeps the car visually and structurally closer to its period configuration. The correct code still depends on the model, since a Kapitan's 14-inch fitment is not interchangeable with the 13-inch fitments used on smaller Opels.

For a 1960 Opel 1200 or Olympia, the choice between 165R13 and 590-13 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 165R13 is a radial blackwall fitment available from Michelin and Dunlop, while the 590-13 is a bias-ply wide whitewall from BFGoodrich. Both belong to the same small Opel model pair, but they present the car very differently in both appearance and driving feel.

Choose 590-13 when the goal is an early-1960s restoration look with the visual character of a period bias-ply tire. Choose 165R13 when you want to stay within the correct size family for the car while moving to a radial construction better suited to frequent road use. The most important step is to confirm whether your car is a 1200 or Olympia, because that size pair does not carry over to the Caravan & Wagon or the Kapitan.

1960 Opel tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 165R13 radial choices are blackwall only, while the 590-13 and 640-13 bias-ply sizes appear as wide whitewalls. The Kapitan's 185R14 radial fitment comes in blackwall and narrow whitewall versions, and the 700-14 bias-ply fitment also appears in blackwall and narrow whitewall form.

That variation matters because sidewall style is one of the quickest ways to shift the car's visual message. Smaller, economy-oriented Opels often look most restrained in blackwall radial form, while a wide whitewall or narrow whitewall can push the presentation toward a stronger period-restoration aesthetic. If show authenticity matters, match the sidewall style to the model's market presentation and consult Opel marque sources for event-specific judging expectations.

1960 Opel tires are available from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Phoenix, and Vredestein, depending on size. Michelin and Dunlop cover the 165R13 radial fitment, BFGoodrich covers the 590-13, 640-13, and 700-14 bias-ply sizes, and Michelin, Phoenix, and Vredestein cover the 185R14 radial fitment for the Kapitan. Brand choice changes with the model and with the construction you want to run.

That means the first filter should be fitment, not brand loyalty. Once the correct model-specific size is established, you can narrow the field by sidewall style, radial versus bias-ply construction, and whether you want a blackwall or whitewall presentation. On a 1960 Opel, the broader your model's product coverage, the more freedom you have to balance restoration appearance against the kind of driving you plan to do.

Rim-width requirements for 1960 Opel tires depend on the size. The 590-13 bias-ply size fits 3.50-4.00 inch rims, the 640-13 bias-ply size fits 4.00-4.50 inch rims, and 700-14 bias-ply fits 5.00-5.50 inch rims. Among radial sizes, 165R13 products that publish a range fit 4.50-6.00 inch rims, while 185R14 radial products cover 4.00-6.50 inches or 4.5-6.0 inches depending on the tire.

That range is why wheel measurement matters before you commit to a specific tire. A 13-inch Opel wheel may still be too narrow or too wide for a given size even when the diameter is correct, and a larger radial can carry a broader approved rim-width span than its bias-ply counterpart. Measure the actual wheel, not just the nominal tire size on the car now, especially if the car has been restored or modified over time.

Within each 1960 Opel model family, the paired radial and bias-ply sizes share the same rim diameter. The 1200 and Olympia use 13-inch sizes, the Caravan & Wagon also uses 13-inch sizes, and the Kapitan uses 14-inch sizes in both its radial and bias-ply options. That means the original wheel diameter does not change when you choose between the two construction types for a given model.

Wheel diameter compatibility is only the first check, though. Rim width still needs to be confirmed against the tire you want, because a radial may accept a wider range than a period-style bias-ply tire. If your 1960 Opel still has its original wheels, verify their width before switching constructions, and if the car has aftermarket or replacement wheels, treat that measurement as essential rather than optional.

A stored 1960 Opel should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors or ozone-producing equipment, and off damp ground whenever possible. Tires stay healthier in a cool, dry, stable environment, with the car rolled occasionally so the contact patch is not carrying the same load for months at a time. On cars wearing bias-ply tires, temporary flat-spotting during storage is more common than on radials.

That means a collector Opel benefits from a storage routine, not just a parking spot. Keep inflation pressures checked during the off-season, consider tire cradles or occasional repositioning for long idle periods, and inspect whitewalls or blackwalls before the first drive of the year for age cracking and surface dryness. Good storage habits protect both appearance and ride quality, especially on a lightly used vintage car.

On a 1960 Opel, tire life is usually judged by age and condition more than by miles traveled. Collector vehicles often cover very little annual mileage, so the more useful benchmark is routine evaluation beginning around five to seven years of service, with replacement strongly considered as tires approach roughly ten years old regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code and the tire's visual condition should guide that decision.

A vintage Opel can look ready for the road while still riding on old rubber that has hardened or cracked with time. Sidewall checking, loss of flexibility, vibration, and poor pressure retention are all signs that age has become the dominant issue. If the car's service history is unclear, checking the date code is one of the simplest ways to avoid trusting a tire that appears usable but is well beyond its ideal service window.

Tires on a 1960 Opel should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, irregular tread wear, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, and signs that the tire has been run underinflated. Pressure retention matters just as much as visible condition, since a car that sits for long periods can lose air slowly without obvious warning.

That habit is especially important on a collector Opel because long gaps between drives can hide developing issues. Include the spare in the inspection routine, and if the car uses a tube-type setup or an older wheel arrangement, pay close attention to valve stems and any repeated air-loss pattern. A two-minute pre-drive check is often enough to catch the age-related problems that matter more on an occasional-use classic than simple tread depth does.

A 1960 Opel 1200 would have been a bias-ply car when new, because bias-ply construction was still the standard fitment approach for most passenger cars of the period. Within the 1960 Opel 1200 size family, that period-style fitment is 590-13, while 165R13 represents the later radial alternative in the same model application. Original-equipment branding can vary by market, so construction type and size are the more dependable starting points than a specific brand name.

For a restoration, that means the closest visual and historical path usually starts with the numeric bias-ply size rather than the radial companion size. If your goal is concours-level accuracy, also pay attention to sidewall treatment and market-specific presentation details, since those can differ between export and home-market cars. Opel clubs and model-specific registries are the best places to confirm details that go beyond the basic size and construction family.

Correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1960 Opel because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size family, construction type, and sidewall style immediately. A small Opel wearing a modern radial code when the car is being judged for strict originality can draw the same scrutiny as an incorrect whitewall treatment or an obviously wrong overall stance. On a larger Kapitan, the distinction between narrow whitewall and blackwall can also change the car's authenticity cues.

The practical takeaway is to match the tire to the standard of the event, not only to your personal taste. A touring-class or driver-quality Opel may be perfectly at home on radials, while a preservation or concours-minded car benefits from period-correct bias-ply construction and era-appropriate sidewall styling. Before a judged event, compare your tire choice with model-specific references and the expectations of the club or organization running the show.

For the 1960 Opel Kapitan's 185R14 fitment, Michelin MXV and Vredestein Sprint Classic are both radial options, but they differ in published details. Michelin MXV appears in blackwall and narrow whitewall versions with approved rim-width coverage up to 6.5 inches, while Vredestein Sprint Classic appears as a blackwall with a 4.5-6.0 inch rim-width range and a published maximum load of 1,323 pounds at 51 psi. Both include H-rated versions, which carry a 130 mph ceiling.

That makes the choice more about presentation and wheel compatibility than about basic fitment category. If you want a radial for a Kapitan and prefer a whitewall look, Michelin offers that path in this size, while Vredestein keeps the look more understated. Check your actual wheel width before deciding, since approved rim range can matter just as much as sidewall style on a larger Opel sedan.

1960 Opel tires can be appropriate for highway use when the correct size, condition, and construction are matched to the car and the way it is driven. Radial offerings in 165R13 and 185R14 include H-rated versions, which carry a 130 mph ceiling, while the 590-13 bias-ply tire carries an S rating with a 112 mph ceiling. Those speed figures are well above normal U.S. highway travel, but the age and mechanical condition of the car remain just as important as the tire's rating.

A sound tire does not turn a 1960 automobile into a modern freeway car. Suspension condition, brake performance, steering play, wheel alignment, and how long the tire has been in service all affect real-world safety more than the catalog speed ceiling alone. For many owners, the more useful question is whether the whole car is prepared for sustained road use, not simply whether the tire's printed rating exceeds expected cruising speed.

Inflation pressure for a 1960 Opel should follow the vehicle's factory recommendation first, then be checked against the tire's own rated limits where those are published. Among the available sizes, 590-13 carries 970 pounds at 32 psi, 640-13 carries 1045 pounds at 32 psi, 700-14 carries 1360 pounds at 32 psi, Phoenix 185R14 carries 1323 pounds at 35 psi, and one Vredestein 185R14 application carries 1,323 pounds at 51 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not universal operating pressures for every Opel.

The important part is not to transfer one pressure from one size to another simply because the cars are all 1960 Opels. A small 1200, a wagon, and a Kapitan have different tire sizes and different operating needs, and radial and bias-ply constructions can respond differently as well. Start with the original owner's manual or period placard, then confirm that your chosen tire is being used within the manufacturer's stated load and pressure limits.

Before a longer drive, a 1960 Opel should have every tire checked for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation. Inspect the sidewalls closely, make sure the spare is usable, and confirm that each tire is holding air consistently. If the car has period-style wheels or a tube-type arrangement, include the valve stems and any recurring pressure loss in the inspection rather than focusing on tread alone.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-trip routine on a car of this age. Wheel bearing condition, brake adjustment, steering response, and basic fluid checks all deserve the same attention before sustained driving. Tires are often the first visible clue that a vintage car has been sitting too long, so a careful walk-around can help you catch broader maintenance issues before they become a roadside problem.