1962 Sunbeam Tire Fitment Guide

1962 Sunbeam vehicles use six sizes split by model. The Alpine uses 155R13, 560-13, 165R13, and 600-13, all on 13-inch rims. The Rapier uses 155R15 and 560-15, both on 15-inch rims. Rim-width guidance by size includes 4.00 to 5.50 inches for 155R13, 3.50 to 4.50 inches across the available 560-13 products, 4.50 to 6.00 inches for 165R13, 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 600-13, 4.00 to 5.50 inches for 155R15, and about 4.50 to 5.50 inches for 560-15.

That means year and make alone are not enough for 1962 Sunbeam fitment. You need to confirm whether the car is an Alpine or Rapier first, because the wheel diameter changes with the model. After that, the decision usually becomes bias-ply versus radial within the same rim diameter, plus whether you want a blackwall or whitewall presentation that fits your restoration goals.

On a 1962 Sunbeam, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure is the nominal section width in inches, written without a decimal point between the first two digits, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a metric radial code and it does not describe a modern low-profile tire. On the Alpine, 560-13 is one of the period-style 13-inch bias-ply fitments.

That code matters because it points you toward both the construction and the visual character of the tire. A 560-13 typically keeps the tall-section, early-1960s look many restorers want, and it often appears with whitewall styling rather than the blackwall look seen on the metric radials. If your Alpine is being restored for authenticity, this size is often where the conversation begins.

On a 1962 Sunbeam, 155R13 is a metric radial size. The 155 is the nominal section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. Because no aspect ratio is printed in the size itself, this format is conventionally treated as an 80-series radial. For 1962 Sunbeam applications, 155R13 belongs to the Alpine.

That decoding helps separate a later-style radial replacement from a period numeric bias-ply tire. A metric radial like 155R13 usually appeals to owners who drive their Alpine more regularly and want a tire that still looks appropriately slender for a compact British sports car. It is still important to match the exact size to the wheel and compare it with the car’s existing tire before making a change.

For a 1962 Sunbeam Alpine, the 560-13 and 155R13 serve different priorities even though both fit 13-inch wheels. The 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size and leans into period-correct appearance, especially with whitewall options. The 155R13 is a metric radial blackwall size with H-rated options to 130 mph. Both belong to the Alpine, but they express the car very differently.

A restored show-focused Alpine usually looks more authentic on the bias-ply size, while a regularly driven Alpine often benefits from staying with a radial layout that feels more familiar to modern drivers. The choice is less about which one is universally better and more about what role your car plays. Confirm your wheel width, your preferred sidewall look, and whether the car is restored to factory style or prepared for frequent road use.

1962 Sunbeam tires span both blackwall and whitewall presentations, and the sidewall style depends heavily on size and model. The radial sizes for both Alpine and Rapier are blackwalls. The bias-ply Alpine sizes 560-13 and 600-13 are available with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall treatments, while the Rapier’s 560-15 is available in both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions as well.

That gives you a clear visual fork in the road. A blackwall radial tends to match the understated sporting look many British cars wore in regular use, while whitewall bias-ply tires can push the car toward a more formal or show-oriented presentation. The right answer depends on whether you want your 1962 Sunbeam to read as a driver, a preserved original-style car, or a restoration with a more dressed-up period look.

1962 Sunbeam fitments are covered by several established names, with brands varying by size. The radial 13-inch Alpine sizes are available from Michelin and Dunlop, while the radial 15-inch Rapier size is available from Firestone and Michelin. The bias-ply 13-inch Alpine sizes come from BFGoodrich and Firestone, and the bias-ply 15-inch Rapier size comes from Firestone and US Royal.

Brand choice often becomes a matter of sidewall appearance, series preference, and whether you want a distinctly American-style whitewall bias-ply presentation or a European-flavored blackwall radial look. It also helps to compare the exact size markings within a brand, because speed symbols and tube designations can differ even when the nominal size stays the same. That is especially relevant on the 155R15 Rapier radial fitment.

1962 Sunbeam rim-width guidance varies by size. Alpine 155R13 tires fit rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 560-13 tires span 3.50 to 4.50 inches depending on brand, 165R13 fits 4.50 to 6.00 inches, and 600-13 fits 4.00 to 4.50 inches. Rapier 155R15 tires fit 4.00 to 5.50 inches where stated, while 560-15 bias-ply tires fit about 4.50 to 5.50 inches, with some versions centered at 4.5 inches.

Those ranges matter because the same rim diameter does not automatically mean the same rim width works equally well for every size. A narrow bias-ply fitment and a wider metric radial can both be 13-inch tires for an Alpine, yet ask for different wheel widths. Before changing sizes, measure the actual wheel or confirm it against factory references or a trusted marque source rather than relying only on what is currently mounted.

Inner-tube requirements for 1962 Sunbeam tires depend on the exact size and product. The 155R13 and 165R13 Alpine radials include tubeless-marked versions, while the Rapier’s 155R15 radial fitment varies by product because both tube-type and tubeless markings appear in that size. The bias-ply sizes 560-13, 600-13, and 560-15 do not carry tube markings in the same way here, so the wheel design itself remains part of the decision.

That makes the wheel just as important as the tire. Many vintage wheels were designed in an era when tube use was common, and some owners keep tubes as part of a restoration-minded setup even when a tire carries a tubeless marking. If your 1962 Sunbeam still wears original wheels, confirm whether the wheel is suitable for tubeless service and match the final decision to both the tire sidewall marking and the wheel condition.

Within each 1962 Sunbeam model family, the available bias-ply and radial options share the same wheel diameter. Alpine choices remain on 13-inch rims, and Rapier choices remain on 15-inch rims. That means the original wheels can often stay in service when moving between a model’s bias-ply and radial options, provided the wheel width falls inside the approved range for the exact size you choose.

The main caution is width, not diameter. An Alpine wheel that works well with a 560-13 may not be the ideal match for a 165R13 radial, even though both are 13-inch tires. The safest approach is to verify the wheel width before changing from a narrower period-style fitment to a broader radial option, especially on a lightly modified car with unknown wheel history.

A 1962 Sunbeam stores best in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone sources that can age rubber prematurely. Keep the tires properly inflated, roll the car periodically if possible, and avoid letting it sit for long periods on damp concrete. Bias-ply tires on a 1962 Sunbeam are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during storage than radial tires, especially after long static periods.

If the car will sit through a full season, many collectors either move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term stress on the tires. Tire covers also help when the garage has windows or bright ambient light. Good storage habits protect sidewalls and casing shape, which matters just as much on a low-mile collector Sunbeam as tread depth does.

On a 1962 Sunbeam, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. A collector car can wear very little tread yet still need tire replacement because the rubber has aged. A sensible rule is to evaluate the tires carefully once they reach about five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point, regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code is the best starting point for that timeline.

That matters because many vintage cars spend far more time parked than driven. Heat cycles, ozone exposure, and storage conditions can age a tire that still looks usable at a glance. If your Sunbeam has older tires with unknown age, inspect the date code, sidewalls, and overall flexibility before planning any extended driving. A fresh-looking tread pattern does not override the calendar on a collector car tire.

Tires on a 1962 Sunbeam should be checked before every drive and inspected more thoroughly before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, embedded objects, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure between drives. If your setup uses tube-type service, include the valve stems and any tube-related leakage symptoms in the routine. A quick pressure check is part of the same habit.

Vintage cars often reveal tire problems only after sitting, not after daily commuting the way a modern car does. A Sunbeam that has been parked for several weeks can develop low pressure, flat spotting, or age-related cracks without much warning. Making tire inspection part of every pre-drive walkaround helps catch issues early and gives you time to address them before they become a roadside problem.

A 1962 Sunbeam Alpine would have been associated most naturally with bias-ply construction in period, even though radial options are common and highly appropriate for later service use on vintage British cars. Within current Alpine fitments, the period-style numeric sizes are 560-13 and 600-13, while 155R13 and 165R13 are radial alternatives on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. No single original-equipment brand should be assumed without a factory source for your market and specification.

For restoration work, the safest path is to treat the numeric bias-ply sizes as the most era-appropriate starting point, then confirm the exact original fitment through a factory handbook, marque club archive, or surviving unrestored car. Market differences and owner changes over six decades can blur what is truly original. If authenticity matters, sidewall style and overall stance deserve just as much attention as the size code itself.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1962 Sunbeam because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall presentation immediately. A radial blackwall and a whitewall bias-ply can each be attractive, but they communicate very different restoration choices. On an originality-focused car, a modern-looking construction or an overly dramatic sidewall treatment can stand out as a departure from period expectations even when the wheel diameter is correct.

The practical takeaway is to match the tire to the level of authenticity your event expects. Local shows may reward cleanliness and overall presentation, while marque judging can be stricter about whether the tire looks right for a British car of the early 1960s. If your 1962 Sunbeam is being prepared for formal judging, confirm standards with the relevant Sunbeam club or event rules before settling on size and sidewall style.

For 1962 Sunbeam radial fitments, Michelin XAS-family tires and Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet tires overlap in the same general period-sporting blackwall space, but they are not identical in size coverage and markings. In 155R13 and 165R13, both brands appear with H-rated versions up to 130 mph. On the Rapier’s 155R15 fitment, Michelin options include both T-rated 118 mph and H-rated 130 mph examples, and tube marking can differ by product within the Michelin range.

That means the choice should go beyond the brand name alone. Compare the exact sidewall marking, speed symbol, and tube designation for the specific tire you are considering, then weigh that against how the car will be used. For a carefully restored 1962 Sunbeam that also sees road miles, those details often matter more than broad assumptions about one brand versus another.

1962 Sunbeam tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, properly installed, and in good condition. The radial fitments include T-rated options capped at 118 mph and H-rated options capped at 130 mph, which is more than adequate for normal highway use in a healthy vintage Sunbeam. Bias-ply options do not carry the same modern speed-symbol presentation here, so they should be approached with the more measured driving style appropriate to a period tire and a 1960s chassis.

Tire capability is only one part of the equation on a car of this age. Brakes, suspension condition, steering play, wheel bearings, and overall mechanical freshness are often more limiting than the tire itself at everyday road speeds. If your 1962 Sunbeam is being returned to regular driving after storage, a full mechanical inspection should accompany the tire decision rather than treating the tire as the only safety variable.

Inflation pressure for 1962 Sunbeam tires depends on the exact size and tire design, so one pressure should not be copied across the whole range. Load-and-pressure markings shown on these fitments include 560-13 at 850 pounds at 30 psi, 600-13 at 1,010 pounds at 32 psi, 560-15 at 970 pounds at 32 psi, and 155R15 at 1,045 pounds at 44 psi on one radial example. Those figures describe a tire’s rated capacity point, not necessarily the pressure your Sunbeam should run in service.

The best approach is to start with the factory recommendation for your exact model and then compare it with the tire manufacturer’s guidance for the reproduction or radial tire you are using. That is especially important when switching between bias-ply and radial construction, because the car’s original pressure advice may have been written around a different tire type. Keep all four tires matched and check pressures cold.

Before a longer trip in a 1962 Sunbeam, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, because an old but unused spare may be the weakest tire on the car. If your chosen tire or wheel setup involves tube-type service, inspect valve stems closely and watch for slow leaks before departure. A quick look at wheel balance weights and lug security is also worthwhile.

Tires should be part of a wider pre-drive routine on any early-1960s British car. Brake fluid condition, cooling system health, charging output, and fuel system freshness can matter just as much on a trip as tread condition does. A well-prepared 1962 Sunbeam is a very different experience from one pulled out of storage at the last minute, and tire inspection is one of the easiest ways to start that preparation correctly.