1962 Alvis Tire Fitment Guide

1962 Alvis vehicles use two tire sizes: 640-15 and 670-15, and both apply to the TD 21. Each size mounts on a 15-inch wheel. The 640-15 works with rim widths from 4.00 to 5.00 inches depending on the tire chosen, while the 670-15 works with rim widths from 4.50 to 6.00 inches depending on brand and construction details within that size.

That means year and make alone are not quite enough to choose a tire for a 1962 Alvis. You should confirm the size already fitted to the car, check the actual wheel width, and decide whether the visual look you want is a narrower or fuller period bias-ply presentation. On a TD 21, those details matter more than simply knowing the car uses a 15-inch wheel.

On a 1962 Alvis, 640-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.40 portion refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 15 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it should be read as an older bias-ply sizing convention rather than compared directly to a later P-metric tire by section numbers alone.

That matters because a 640-15 is chosen for a 1962 Alvis TD 21 as part of an era-correct bias-ply fitment, not as a modern equivalent-size shortcut. If your car already wears 640-15 tires, the next step is to confirm rim width and sidewall preference, since that size appears in more than one whitewall treatment and with slightly different fitment windows depending on the brand.

On a 1962 Alvis, 670-15 is also a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.70 indicates a nominal section width in inches, and the 15 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. Compared with 640-15, it represents a larger numeric bias-ply fitment within the same 15-inch wheel family rather than a different construction type.

For a 1962 Alvis TD 21, that means the decision between 640-15 and 670-15 is mainly about matching the car's established setup and proportions. A 670-15 can also bring a wider range of sidewall appearances, including blackwall and wide whitewall choices, so owners restoring a specific period look should verify both the size and the sidewall style before making a final selection.

A 1962 Alvis TD 21 can use either 640-15 or 670-15 depending on how the car is set up, and both are bias-ply sizes on 15-inch wheels. The choice is not between bias-ply and radial here; it is between two period-style numeric sizes with different proportions, rim-width windows, load figures, and sidewall offerings.

Choose by confirming what is already on the car or what the restoration is targeting, then compare the wheel width to the tire's accepted range. The 640-15 leans toward a slightly narrower period presentation, while the 670-15 opens the door to a fuller look and a broader spread of sidewall styles. On a hand-built touring car like a 1962 Alvis, getting that visual balance right is often as important as the raw size code.

1962 Alvis tires are available in several period-appropriate sidewall styles depending on size. The 640-15 comes in wide whitewall and narrow whitewall versions, while the 670-15 is available in blackwall and wide whitewall form. That gives TD 21 owners a meaningful visual choice even when staying within correct bias-ply construction.

Sidewall style can change the character of a 1962 Alvis dramatically. A blackwall generally creates a more restrained sporting look, while a wide whitewall emphasizes formal touring elegance that suits many British luxury cars of the period. If the car is being restored for judged events, the safest route is to match the sidewall treatment to period photos, surviving original examples, or guidance from an Alvis club familiar with your market and body style.

1962 Alvis tires are available from BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. The 640-15 size appears from BFGoodrich and Firestone, while the 670-15 size appears from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. All of these options are bias-ply tires that suit the period character of the TD 21.

Brand choice on a 1962 Alvis often comes down to the combination of size, sidewall appearance, and wheel-width compatibility you need. Some brands focus on whitewall presentations, while others offer blackwall choices that better fit a more understated restoration. Narrow your choice by locking in the tire size first, then compare the brand options within that size rather than trying to choose a brand before the fitment details are settled.

Rim width depends on the tire size and, in some cases, the brand. For a 1962 Alvis using 640-15 tires, approved rim widths run from 4.00 to 5.00 inches across the available products. For 670-15 tires, approved rim widths run from 4.50 to 6.00 inches across the available products. Both sizes mount on 15-inch wheels.

That range is important because two 1962 Alvis tires with the same nominal size can still expect slightly different wheel widths. Measure the actual wheel before ordering, especially if the car has been restored, re-bodied, or altered during past ownership. A tire may share the correct 15-inch rim diameter and still be a poor match if the wheel is too narrow or too wide for the specific product.

A 1962 Alvis TD 21 uses 15-inch wheels with both 640-15 and 670-15 tires, so the wheel diameter is compatible across both sizes. That does not automatically mean every original wheel is equally suitable for every product, because accepted rim width changes by size and by brand within the size.

If you are moving from 640-15 to 670-15 on a 1962 Alvis, verify the wheel's actual width before assuming the change is straightforward. A wheel that works well with one bias-ply size may sit near the edge of the approved range for another. Confirming that detail protects ride quality, tread shape, and the overall stance of a car whose appearance depends heavily on proper tire proportion.

A 1962 Alvis should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid parking long-term on damp ground, and move the car periodically if possible. Bias-ply tires can flat-spot more readily during long static storage than modern radials, so regular repositioning helps.

For a collector car like a 1962 Alvis TD 21, careful storage preserves both appearance and drivability. If the car will sit for an extended period, many owners either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term stress on the tires. Good storage habits also help protect whitewalls from discoloration and sidewalls from the age-related cracking that can spoil an otherwise high-quality restoration.

On a 1962 Alvis, tire life should be judged more by age and condition than by miles driven. Collector-car tires are often evaluated closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration by around ten years regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire tells you when it was made.

That approach is especially important on a lightly used 1962 Alvis TD 21 because a tire can look respectable yet still age internally. A bias-ply tire that spends long periods parked may harden, crack, or lose confidence-inspiring road behavior well before the tread is gone. If the car is driven only occasionally, treat calendar age, visible condition, and pressure retention as the main indicators rather than mileage alone.

Tires on a 1962 Alvis should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, and any change in how well the tires hold pressure. On an older touring car, a few minutes of inspection can reveal problems before they become roadside issues.

A 1962 Alvis TD 21 deserves the same pre-drive discipline as any other low-production collector car. Include a check of the spare, confirm that the valve stems are sound, and make sure all four tires match the size and style you expect on the car. Frequent inspection is one of the simplest ways to protect bodywork, trim, and road confidence on a valuable vintage automobile.

A 1962 Alvis TD 21 would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the two applicable sizes here are 640-15 and 670-15. Both are period-style numeric bias-ply fitments on 15-inch wheels, which is consistent with the construction commonly used on luxury British cars of the early 1960s. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery details, so the most reliable path is to verify against period literature or marque-specific club resources.

For restoration work, the most important thing is matching the car's size, construction type, and sidewall appearance to the standard you are trying to meet. A 1962 Alvis judged for authenticity may draw attention if it wears the wrong numeric size or a sidewall treatment that does not suit the car's original presentation. If the car has a known ownership history, period photos can be just as useful as factory references.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1962 Alvis because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall style very quickly. A TD 21 wearing the proper bias-ply format and an appropriate period sidewall treatment generally looks right in a way that modern substitutions often do not. Even when the wheel diameter is correct, the wrong proportions can change the car's stance and overall visual balance.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard, but authenticity usually starts with the tire's basic visual language. On a 1962 Alvis, a blackwall versus a whitewall can alter the car's personality almost as much as the size itself. Before a judged showing, compare your car with period images and ask an Alvis club or event organizer what they consider acceptable for your body style and market.

For a 1962 Alvis in 640-15, BFGoodrich appears as a 3.00-inch wide whitewall option with a 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim-width range and a 1,190-pound load rating at 32 psi. Firestone offers 2.75-inch and 2.125-inch wide whitewalls plus a 1.00-inch narrow whitewall, generally with a 4.50 to 5.00-inch rim-width range. Firestone's narrow whitewall version carries a lower 970-pound load rating at 32 psi, while its wider whitewall versions are rated at 1,190 pounds at 32 psi.

That gives a 1962 Alvis TD 21 owner a real choice in visual effect and wheel compatibility within the same tire size. If your car has a narrower wheel, the BFGoodrich fitment window may be useful; if it has a slightly wider wheel, the Firestone options open up more whitewall-width choices. This is a good example of why brand comparison on a vintage tire should include rim-width and load details, not just sidewall appearance.

1962 Alvis tires in these sizes are bias-ply products, and no speed-rating markings appear here for either 640-15 or 670-15. That means highway use should be approached with the normal expectations that come with a vintage bias-ply touring tire rather than the feel of a modern high-speed radial. On a car like the TD 21, the mechanical condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel bearings is often just as important as the tire itself.

A well-sorted 1962 Alvis can certainly be driven on modern roads, but sensible speeds and careful inspection matter. Bias-ply tires tend to follow road crown differently and respond differently to steering input than later radial designs, so drivers should allow for that character. Before regular highway use, make sure the tires are age-sound, properly inflated, and matched to wheels that fall within the correct width range.

For 1962 Alvis tires, the published maximum load and pressure figures vary by size and by product. In 640-15, examples include 1,190 pounds at 32 psi and 970 pounds at 32 psi. In 670-15, examples include 1,450 pounds at 32 psi and 1,550 pounds at 32 psi. Those are tire ratings, not a universal inflation setting for every TD 21.

Use the original Alvis owner's literature as your starting point for vehicle-specific inflation, then confirm the tire maker's guidance for the exact product on the car. Do not transfer a pressure figure from 640-15 to 670-15 or from one brand to another just because the wheel diameter is the same. Vintage cars respond noticeably to pressure changes, and correct inflation affects steering feel, tread wear, and ride quality.

Before a longer drive in a 1962 Alvis, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation. Confirm that the tires match the size your car is set up to use, and make sure the wheel width is appropriate for that tire. On a bias-ply-equipped TD 21, any sign of age-related sidewall deterioration deserves attention before the trip begins.

Tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive check on a 1962 Alvis that also includes brakes, cooling system, steering, fluid levels, and lighting. Long-distance comfort and confidence depend on the whole car, not just the tires. Still, the tires are your only contact with the road, so verifying their age, pressure, and overall condition is one of the most important steps you can take before setting off.