1961 Allard Tire Fitment Guide

1961 Allard vehicles use two tire sizes: 590-15 and 600-15, and both apply to the Palm Beach. Both are bias-ply tires built for 15-inch wheels. The 590-15 fits 15-inch rims in the 4.00 to 4.50 inch range where that information is available, while the 600-15 appears on 15-inch rims with 4.00 to 4.50 inch and 4.50 to 5.00 inch fitment depending on the specific tire.

That means a 1961 Allard buyer should confirm more than just year and make before choosing a tire. Check the size already on the car, inspect the wheel diameter, and compare the wheel width to the tire you are considering. On a low-production British specialty car like the Palm Beach, small differences in prior restoration work can matter, so the tire on the car and the wheel it mounts to deserve a careful look before ordering.

On a 1961 Allard, 590-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.90 portion is the nominal section-width designation in the traditional numeric system, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial size, and it should be read as an older bias-ply sizing convention typical of sports and specialty cars from the period.

That distinction matters because a 590-15 should be matched with products built to that older sizing language, not converted casually from a modern metric size by appearance alone. If your Palm Beach currently wears 590-15 tires, staying within that same size family helps preserve intended proportions and steering character. It also keeps your search focused on the correct 15-inch bias-ply options instead of mixing eras or constructions without a clear reason.

On a 1961 Allard, 600-15 is another numeric bias-ply size. The 6.00 indicates the nominal section-width class in the older numeric system, and the 15 again refers to a 15-inch wheel. Compared with 590-15, it represents the next wider traditional size family rather than a modern aspect-ratio-based radial code.

For a Palm Beach owner, that means 600-15 should be treated as its own fitment choice, not as a styling variation of 590-15. The tire may influence stance, clearance, and the car’s overall period look, so it is worth checking the size already fitted, the wheel width, and any body or suspension clearances before switching. Keeping the size decision clear at the start usually prevents a lot of confusion later in the selection process.

A 1961 Allard Palm Beach can use either 590-15 or 600-15 depending on the car’s existing fitment, and both choices remain bias-ply, period-style tires on 15-inch wheels. The main difference is size rather than construction. The 590-15 appears in BFGoodrich and Avon offerings, while the 600-15 is available in BFGoodrich form, so the decision starts with the actual size your Palm Beach is set up to use.

Owners restoring a car to a known prior configuration should usually follow the size already established for that car unless they have a strong reason to change. If your Palm Beach is apart or newly acquired, compare the current wheel width, the old tires if they are still present, and any original paperwork or marque-club guidance. On a hand-built sports car, confirming the intended size first is more important than choosing a brand first.

1961 Allard tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The 590-15 comes in blackwall and wide whitewall form, and the 600-15 does as well. Both sidewall looks are offered within period-style bias-ply construction, so the appearance choice does not force you into a different tire type for the Palm Beach.

Blackwall tires usually suit a sportier, more understated presentation, which many owners prefer on British roadgoing performance cars of the era. Wide whitewalls create a stronger visual statement and may fit a specific restoration theme or owner preference, especially on cars restored for show-field presence. If authenticity is important, compare your choice against period photos, restoration history, and the standards of the club or event that matters most to you.

1961 Allard tires come from BFGoodrich and Avon in the sizes used by the Palm Beach. BFGoodrich covers both 590-15 and 600-15, while Avon appears in 590-15. All of these are bias-ply offerings, which keeps the available choices aligned with the kind of construction a specialty sports car from this era would have used when new.

Brand choice on a 1961 Allard often comes down to the exact size you need and the look you want on the sidewall. If you need 600-15, your options are narrower than they are in 590-15, so starting with the confirmed size prevents wasted effort. Once that is settled, compare visual style, load rating, and wheel-width compatibility rather than assuming every tire in the right diameter serves the same purpose.

1961 Allard Palm Beach tires mount on 15-inch rims, and rim-width guidance varies by size and product. For 590-15, the fitment range is 4.00 to 4.50 inches where that figure is available. For 600-15, one version fits 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims and another fits 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims, so the tire you choose can change the acceptable wheel-width range even within the same nominal size.

That makes wheel measurement an important step before final selection. On a restored or long-owned Palm Beach, wheels may have been replaced at some point, and a 15-inch diameter alone is not enough to settle the issue. Measure the wheel width accurately and compare it to the intended tire, especially if you are moving between 590-15 and 600-15 or choosing among products with different wheel-width allowances.

Inner-tube status is not uniform across 1961 Allard tires from the size code alone, so tube use should be confirmed against the specific tire and wheel combination you plan to run. The Palm Beach uses bias-ply tires in older numeric sizes, and those are often paired with collector-car wheels where tube decisions depend on both tire design and wheel construction rather than on size alone.

The practical step is to inspect the wheel itself and verify the tire’s sidewall marking before installation. If the wheel is an older design or has features that do not support modern tubeless practice, tube use may still be appropriate even when a buyer assumes otherwise. That is especially important on a low-volume British specialty car, where originality and later modifications can affect what the safest, cleanest setup looks like.

Original 1961 Allard Palm Beach wheels can potentially be used with both 590-15 and 600-15 because both sizes mount on 15-inch rims. Diameter compatibility is the easy part here. The more important question is wheel width, since 590-15 commonly fits 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, while 600-15 can call for either 4.00 to 4.50 inch or 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims depending on the tire.

In practice, that means a Palm Beach owner should not assume that every original wheel automatically suits every 15-inch tire choice. Measure the wheel, compare it to the tire’s approved range, and check clearances if the car’s setup has changed over time. A same-diameter wheel does not settle the whole fitment question, particularly on a hand-built marque where replacement parts and prior restoration decisions may differ from car to car.

A 1961 Allard should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall cracking. Because the Palm Beach uses bias-ply tires, long periods of static storage can also encourage temporary flat-spotting more readily than many modern radials. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation all help preserve the tire casing.

If the car will sit for extended periods, roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Many collector owners also keep the tires out of standing moisture and avoid tire dressings that can do more harm than good over time. Good storage habits matter just as much as mileage on a rarely driven sports car, especially when preserving older-style bias-ply construction.

Tires on a 1961 Allard should be judged more by age, condition, and storage history than by miles driven. A sensible collector-car rule is to begin evaluating them closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat ten years as a serious replacement point even if the tread still looks usable. The DOT date code and the tire’s visible condition matter more than odometer readings on a low-use Palm Beach.

That approach fits the way specialty collector cars are actually used. A Palm Beach may cover very few miles each season, yet heat cycles, ozone exposure, and long stationary periods still age the rubber and casing. If the tires are older, cracking, losing air, or showing any separation or distortion, replacement moves from cosmetic concern to mechanical necessity, even when the car has not been driven enough to wear the tread down.

Tires on a 1961 Allard deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more careful inspection before any longer outing. Check inflation, look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and signs that the tire has begun separating or losing its shape. On a collector car that may sit for weeks at a time, these checks are more valuable than assuming the tires are fine because the car has not traveled far.

Before a tour or highway run, add a closer look at the spare, the valve stems, and the wheel itself. If your Palm Beach uses a tube-type setup, valve hardware and tube condition deserve the same attention as the outer tire. A pre-drive inspection takes only a few minutes and is one of the easiest ways to avoid problems that can sideline an otherwise well-kept vintage sports car.

A 1961 Allard Palm Beach would have been associated with bias-ply construction in period, and the two sizes used on the model today are 590-15 and 600-15. Both are traditional numeric bias-ply sizes on 15-inch wheels, which aligns with what a low-volume British sports car from 1961 would be expected to use. No single original-equipment brand should be assumed without car-specific evidence.

If originality matters, start with the size currently on the car, old photos, service receipts, and any factory or club literature tied to your specific Palm Beach. Marque specialists can help sort out regional delivery differences or prior owner changes that may have altered the fitment over time. For most authentic restorations, getting the size, construction, and sidewall look right matters more than chasing a brand name without proof.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1961 Allard, especially in classes that value period appearance and restoration accuracy. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts tend to notice whether the car wears the proper type of construction, an appropriate numeric size, and a sidewall treatment that looks right for the era. On a niche British sports car, tires are part of the overall visual language of the restoration.

For a Palm Beach, the biggest authenticity questions are usually whether the tire remains a period-style bias-ply and whether the chosen size and sidewall suit the car’s restoration theme. A modern-looking substitute or an overly flashy sidewall can stand out quickly on a subtle early-1960s body. Event standards vary, so serious show preparation should include checking with the relevant club, registrar, or judging manual before the car is finalized.

For the 1961 Allard Palm Beach, BFGoodrich covers both 590-15 and 600-15, while Avon appears in 590-15. BFGoodrich offers blackwall and wide whitewall choices in these sizes, and the 590-15 BFGoodrich versions carry a 1,050-pound load rating at 32 psi. The Avon 590H15 81H is also a bias-ply tire and carries a 1,018-pound load figure, giving Palm Beach owners a second approach within the smaller size family.

That means the comparison is less about one brand being universally right and more about what your car needs in size and appearance. If you want a whitewall, BFGoodrich is the path in both sizes. If you need 590-15 and prefer a different brand character in a blackwall presentation, Avon enters the conversation. Once the proper size is established, those differences become meaningful in a restoration or driving plan.

1961 Allard tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and operated within their design limits. The Palm Beach uses bias-ply tires, and one 590-size option carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling. Even so, a vintage Allard’s real-world road behavior depends just as much on suspension condition, alignment, brakes, and the age of the tire itself as on the rating molded into the sidewall.

For normal road use, condition and setup matter more than theoretical maximum speed. A fresh, properly inflated bias-ply tire on a well-sorted Palm Beach can be entirely appropriate for touring, but the driver should still respect the feel and response of an early-1960s specialty sports car. If the car has been sitting, inspect everything carefully before sustained highway travel rather than assuming a good-looking tire is automatically road-ready.

Inflation pressure on a 1961 Allard should begin with the factory recommendation for the car, then be checked against the maximum load-and-pressure figures on the tire itself. The 590-15 BFGoodrich versions carry 1,050 pounds at 32 psi, the Avon 590H15 carries 1,018 pounds, and the 600-15 BFGoodrich versions carry 1,150 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire capacities, not automatic one-pressure-for-all instructions.

The right approach is to use the car maker’s guidance as your baseline and the tire maker’s sidewall information as your limit reference, not to copy one tire’s pressure onto another size without thought. A Palm Beach running 590-15 may want different pressures than one on 600-15, and load distribution or use can influence the final setting. Check pressures cold and recheck them regularly, especially after seasonal storage.

Before taking a 1961 Allard on a longer drive, inspect each tire for visible cracking, cuts, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and any signs of age-related separation. Confirm cold inflation pressure, look over the valve stems, and make sure the spare is usable. Because the Palm Beach uses older-style bias-ply sizes, any tire that has sat for a long time deserves especially close attention before a sustained run.

That tire check should be part of a broader once-over that includes brakes, steering, suspension, cooling, and fluid condition. A specialty British sports car can be perfectly enjoyable on the road when prepared properly, but age magnifies the effect of small oversights. If anything about the tires feels uncertain, from age to wheel compatibility, sort that out before the trip rather than treating the drive as the test.