1962 Fairthorpe Tire Fitment Guide

1962 Fairthorpe vehicles use six sizes spread across three models. The Electrina uses 155R13 or 560-13 on 13-inch wheels, the Electron uses 155R15 or 560-15 on 15-inch wheels, and the Zeta uses 185R15 or 6.50-15 on 15-inch wheels. Where rim-width guidance appears, 155R13 fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 560-13 fits 3.50 to 4.50-inch rims depending on brand, 155R15 fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 560-15 fits 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims depending on brand, and 185R15 fits roughly 4.5 to 6.50-inch rims depending on product.

The practical takeaway is that 1962 Fairthorpe fitment starts with model identification, not just year and make. Electrina owners need 13-inch fitment, while Electron and Zeta owners need 15-inch fitment, and the Zeta’s radial option is wider than the Electron’s. Once the model is confirmed, the next step is deciding whether you want the bias-ply size associated with period presentation or the radial size associated with more modern road behavior.

On a 1962 Fairthorpe, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.60 figure refers to nominal section width in inches, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On this year and make, that size belongs to the Electrina and represents the bias-ply alternative to the Electrina’s 155R13 radial fitment.

That matters because numeric bias-ply sizing is an older convention than the metric radial system many owners are more familiar with today. If your 1962 Fairthorpe Electrina is being restored toward a period look, 560-13 is the size family to examine first, especially when whitewall style is part of the finished appearance. It should still be matched to the actual wheel and appropriate rim-width range before final selection.

No, 1962 Fairthorpe models do not share one common tire size. The Electrina uses 155R13 or 560-13, the Electron uses 155R15 or 560-15, and the Zeta uses 185R15 or 6.50-15. Each model has its own radial and bias-ply pairing, so even the two 15-inch Fairthorpe models are not using the same equivalent size combination.

That makes the model name more important than many buyers expect when they first land on a year-and-make page. A 15-inch wheel alone does not narrow things enough, because the Electron and Zeta diverge in width and overall fitment character. If the car has been in long-term ownership or has had wheel changes over the years, checking the actual sidewall marking and wheel diameter before replacing anything is the safest starting point.

For a 1962 Fairthorpe Electron, the choice between 155R15 and 560-15 is primarily a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 155R15 options are blackwall radials from Firestone and Michelin, while 560-15 options are bias-ply tires from Firestone and US Royal with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall variations. Tube marking and speed rating also vary within the 155R15 radial group, so the product details matter after the size decision is made.

Owners usually lean toward 560-15 when visual authenticity and period feel are the priority, especially on a restoration where sidewall presentation matters. The 155R15 route generally appeals to drivers who want radial construction on the proper 15-inch wheel and who are less concerned with keeping a bias-ply appearance. Either way, the decision should follow confirmation that the car is in fact an Electron and that the wheel width matches the tire’s approved range.

1962 Fairthorpe tires cover several sidewall styles depending on size. The radial sizes 155R13 and 155R15 are available in blackwall form, while 185R15 adds blackwall, narrow whitewall, and redline choices. The bias-ply sizes 560-13 and 560-15 center on narrow whitewall and wide whitewall options, which suit the early-1960s presentation many restorers want from a British specialty car of this era.

Sidewall style can change the look of a Fairthorpe almost as much as wheel finish or ride height, especially because these cars are small and visually tire-forward. A blackwall radial tends to create a cleaner, more understated sports-car appearance, while whitewalls push the look toward a stronger period statement. Zeta owners also have a redline option in 185R15, which can appeal to buyers seeking a sportier visual accent without moving away from a 15-inch radial fitment.

1962 Fairthorpe vehicles are covered by Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, and Coker Classic depending on size. Michelin and Dunlop cover 155R13, Firestone and Michelin cover 155R15, BFGoodrich and Firestone cover 560-13, Firestone and US Royal cover 560-15, and Coker Classic plus Michelin cover 185R15. The spread is broad enough that brand choice often follows the combination of size, construction, and sidewall style you want rather than a single brand being present across the entire model range.

That variety is useful because Fairthorpe owners are often balancing restoration priorities against real-world driving plans. Some buyers will start with the model and construction they need and then compare brands within that narrow group, while others begin with a preferred visual style such as blackwall, whitewall, or redline and work backward from there. The key is to keep the brand discussion secondary to getting the correct model-specific size and wheel diameter first.

Rim-width guidance for 1962 Fairthorpe tires varies by size. 155R13 works with 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 560-13 spans 3.50 to 4.50 inches depending on brand, 155R15 spans 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 560-15 spans 4.50 to 5.50 inches depending on brand, and 185R15 spans approximately 4.5 to 6.50 inches depending on the tire. Those ranges are not interchangeable across all six sizes, even where two tires share the same wheel diameter.

That means wheel diameter alone is not enough when setting up a 1962 Fairthorpe. An Electron and a Zeta may both use 15-inch wheels, but their radial options are not aimed at the same rim-width window or the same visual result. Measuring the actual wheel before purchase is worthwhile on a specialty British car, especially if the car’s wheels may have been changed at some point in its life.

Inner-tube requirements on 1962 Fairthorpe tires depend on the exact size and product. The 185R15 radial options that carry a tube marking are tubeless, while 155R13 includes at least one tubeless example and other products in that size do not all carry the same tube notation. The 155R15 radial group clearly varies by product, with tubeless and tube-type examples both appearing within that same size family.

Because tube status is not uniform across every 1962 Fairthorpe tire choice, it is worth checking the actual sidewall marking and the wheel type before finalizing your setup. Tube-type and tubeless products should not be treated as interchangeable without that verification, particularly on older specialty wheels. If originality or wheel condition is a concern, a marque specialist or experienced vintage tire installer can help confirm the most appropriate approach.

A 1962 Fairthorpe should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate rubber aging. Keeping the tires clean and dry matters, and moving the car periodically helps reduce long-term flat spotting. Bias-ply tires generally show storage-related flat spotting more readily than radials, so the issue can be more noticeable if your Fairthorpe is on one of its bias-ply sizes.

If the car will sit for an extended period, maintaining proper inflation and either rolling it occasionally or supporting it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch can help. Collector cars such as a 1962 Fairthorpe often spend more time parked than driven, which makes storage conditions just as important as mileage. Tire covers and a stable indoor environment go a long way toward preserving both appearance and service life.

On a 1962 Fairthorpe, tire age is usually a more important limit than tread wear because many collector cars accumulate low annual mileage. A sensible rule is to inspect tires closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code, along with visible cracking, hardening, and changes in ride quality, gives a better picture than mileage alone.

That age-based approach matters especially on lightly used sports cars that may still look fine at a glance. A Fairthorpe that comes out only for weekend drives or events can age its tires quietly while the tread remains deep. Keeping a maintenance log with installation dates, pressure checks, and annual inspections makes it much easier to decide when replacement is prudent instead of waiting for obvious deterioration.

Tires on a 1962 Fairthorpe should be checked before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and pressure loss, and make sure the valve stems are in good condition. If your tire setup uses tube-type construction, the valve area and any signs of slow leakage deserve extra attention because those issues may appear before major tread wear does.

Frequent inspection matters because a low-use vintage sports car can develop age-related issues between drives rather than through heavy mileage. Catching a pressure drop or sidewall defect in the garage is far easier than discovering it on the road. It is also wise to inspect the spare at the same time, since a period-correct spare is often forgotten until the moment it is needed.

For a 1962 Fairthorpe Electrina, the period-correct construction type would ordinarily be bias-ply, and the Electrina’s bias-ply size in this range is 560-13. The Electrina also has a 155R13 radial option, but a 1962 British specialist sports car would have been born into an era when bias-ply fitment was still the normal starting point. No original equipment brand should be assumed without model-specific historical verification.

That means an Electrina restored for originality will usually begin with 560-13 and then narrow the choice by sidewall appearance, especially if whitewall width affects the finished look. Owners building a driver may still prefer the radial alternative, but that moves the car away from strict construction authenticity. For market-specific or event-specific confirmation, Fairthorpe specialists and marque clubs remain the right source for the final word.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters when showing a 1962 Fairthorpe, particularly in events that value authenticity. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size suits the exact model, whether the construction matches the period, and whether the sidewall style fits the era and presentation of the car. On a small British specialty sports car, tire appearance is visually prominent, so an incorrect whitewall treatment or an obviously modern construction can stand out quickly.

For that reason, owners should think about authenticity in layers: correct model-specific size first, then construction type, then sidewall treatment. A radial on a car prepared for road use may be completely sensible, but a concours-oriented entry may call for the bias-ply counterpart instead. Event rules vary, so it is wise to compare your intended setup against marque-club guidance and the standards of the specific show you plan to enter.

For a 1962 Fairthorpe Zeta, the period-correct construction would generally point toward the bias-ply size 6.50-15 rather than the radial 185R15 alternative. That follows the broader industry reality of the early 1960s, when bias-ply tires remained standard on many sports and specialty cars even as radial technology was becoming more visible. Original brand attribution should still be verified through factory literature or marque-specific references rather than assumed.

In practical terms, a Zeta owner concerned with authenticity will usually treat 6.50-15 as the baseline and then consider details such as overall appearance and wheel suitability. A 185R15 radial can be an excellent road-use choice, but it serves a different goal from a restoration judged on period correctness. If your car has a long ownership history or export-market background, club archives can help resolve whether any market-specific deviations applied.

1962 Fairthorpe tires can be suitable for highway driving when the tire’s condition, inflation, and speed rating match the intended use. Within the radial sizes here, H-rated products carry a 130 mph ceiling, T-rated products carry a 118 mph ceiling, and V-rated products carry a 149 mph ceiling. Those figures are well above ordinary U.S. highway speeds, although real-world safety in a 1962 Fairthorpe also depends heavily on the car’s brakes, suspension condition, steering, and overall mechanical health.

The key distinction is that a safe highway setup is not just about the number on the sidewall. A well-sorted Fairthorpe on fresh, correctly chosen tires is very different from a seldom-driven car on aged rubber, even if the tread still looks usable. Before any sustained highway run, confirm the tire age, pressure, visible condition, and speed rating, then weigh those factors against the capabilities of a lightweight early-1960s sports car.

Inflation pressure on 1962 Fairthorpe tires depends on the exact size and tire chosen. Among the sizes with published load-and-pressure figures, 560-13 carries 850 pounds at 30 psi, 560-15 carries 970 pounds at 32 psi, 155R15 includes an example rated at 1045 pounds at 44 psi, and 185R15 includes an example rated at 1355 pounds at 35 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not blanket vehicle recommendations that should be transferred from one size or model to another.

For actual use, start with the factory vehicle recommendation when you have access to the owner’s manual or trusted marque literature, then compare that against the tire manufacturer’s published guidance for the exact product. A small Fairthorpe can respond noticeably to pressure changes, so guessing often leads to compromised ride and handling. Keeping pressures consistent side to side and rechecking them cold before longer drives is just as important as the target number itself.

Before a longer trip in a 1962 Fairthorpe, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual tread wear, and proper cold inflation. Check valve stems closely, and if your chosen product is tube-type, pay added attention to any sign of leakage or stem movement. The spare should be inspected as well, since an aged or deflated spare can turn a minor roadside issue into a much larger one.

Tires are only one part of preparing an older British sports car for distance, but they are the part in constant contact with the road. Once the tires pass inspection, it makes sense to continue with the broader vintage-car checklist: brakes, steering, cooling, fluids, lights, and wheel fastener security. A careful pre-drive routine is especially worthwhile on a Fairthorpe because these cars reward preparation and do not hide neglect particularly well.