1962 Vauxhall Tire Fitment Guide

1962 Vauxhall vehicles use four tire sizes across two model groupings. The Victor uses either 165R13 radial or 590-13 bias-ply, while the Victor & VX 4/90 grouping uses either 155R13 radial or 560-13 bias-ply. All four sizes mount on 13-inch rims. Approved rim-width ranges appear on several products: 165R13 fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims, 155R13 fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 590-13 fits 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, and 560-13 fits 3.50 to 4.50 inches depending on the brand and product.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident tire choice on 1962 Vauxhall models. Start by identifying whether your car follows Victor fitment or Victor & VX 4/90 fitment, then match the tire size to the actual wheel width on the car. Since every option uses a 13-inch diameter, the biggest differences are model application, construction type, and sidewall appearance rather than wheel diameter.

On a 1962 Vauxhall, 590-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.90 portion refers to the nominal section width in the older inch-based naming system, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On the Victor application, 590-13 is available as a bias-ply whitewall tire and carries a load figure of 970 pounds at 32 psi in the available BFGoodrich version.

Numeric bias-ply sizing is typical of the early 1960s and reads very differently from later radial codes. If your Victor is being restored to an era-correct look and feel, this is the size family to examine first. It also makes wheel-width confirmation especially important, because the available 590-13 product is intended for a narrower 13-inch rim than the radial alternative used on the same model.

No, 1962 Vauxhall models do not all use the same tire size. The Victor uses 165R13 or 590-13, while the Victor & VX 4/90 grouping uses 155R13 or 560-13. Each model grouping has both a radial and a bias-ply path, but the size family itself changes between the two applications even though every option remains a 13-inch tire.

That split matters because a buyer can easily assume that all small British Vauxhall models from the same year share one interchangeable tire recommendation. They do not. Before you compare brands, sidewalls, or construction types, confirm the exact model fitment and check the wheel already on the car. That step narrows the decision quickly and keeps you from choosing the wrong width family.

For a 1962 Vauxhall Victor, the choice between 165R13 and 590-13 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. 165R13 is the radial option, offered in blackwall form by Michelin and Dunlop, while 590-13 is the bias-ply option, offered as a BFGoodrich wide whitewall. Both mount on 13-inch wheels, but they are intended for different rim-width ranges and deliver a distinctly different period feel.

A Victor built for originality, show presentation, or an unmistakably early-1960s driving character usually points toward 590-13. A Victor driven more regularly on modern roads may point toward 165R13 because of the radial construction. The key is not choosing by appearance alone. Match the tire to the exact wheel width on the car, and decide early whether your priority is restoration accuracy or a more contemporary road-going setup.

1962 Vauxhall tires are available in both blackwall and whitewall styles, depending on the size. The radial sizes 165R13 and 155R13 come in blackwall form. The bias-ply sizes carry the whitewall choices: 590-13 appears as a wide whitewall, while 560-13 is available as a narrow whitewall or wide whitewall depending on brand and product.

That variety gives owners room to match the tire to the look they want from the car. Blackwall radials suit drivers who want a more understated touring appearance, while whitewall bias-ply tires align more closely with the styling expectations many people associate with early-1960s family and sporting sedans. If appearance is central to the restoration, choose the sidewall style only after confirming the correct size family for your exact model grouping.

Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, and Firestone all make tires that fit 1962 Vauxhall applications in this size range. Michelin and Dunlop cover the radial sizes 165R13 and 155R13 in blackwall form, while BFGoodrich covers both bias-ply sizes and Firestone also offers 560-13 in a wide whitewall bias-ply version. Brand choice therefore depends heavily on whether your car uses the Victor size family or the Victor & VX 4/90 size family.

A practical way to compare brands is to narrow the decision in stages. First identify the correct model grouping, then decide on radial or bias-ply construction, then compare the sidewall look you want. Once that is done, details such as rim-width range, load figure where published, and the presence of whitewall versus blackwall options become far more useful than simply starting with a favorite brand name.

Rim-width requirements for 1962 Vauxhall tires vary by size. The 165R13 radial fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims, and the 155R13 radial fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims. The 590-13 bias-ply fits 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims. The 560-13 bias-ply spans 3.50 to 4.00 inches in BFGoodrich form and 4.00 to 4.50 inches in the Firestone version, so that size has some product-specific variation.

That spread is an important reminder that a 13-inch diameter match is only the starting point. A tire can be the correct nominal size for the car and still be a poor match for the wheel if the rim is outside the approved width range. Measure the actual wheel before ordering, especially if the car has been restored, modified, or changed from its original wheels at some point in its life.

Tube requirements vary by product on 1962 Vauxhall tires. Michelin's 165R13 and 155R13 radial products are marked TL, meaning tubeless. The available bias-ply products in 590-13 and 560-13 do not carry a TL marking in the size description, so tube use should be confirmed against the exact tire and wheel combination being used. The Dunlop radial descriptions also do not state TL in the same way Michelin does.

That means you should not assume every radial in these sizes is handled exactly the same, and you should not assume every bias-ply installation automatically follows one rule either. Check the sidewall marking on the exact tire, inspect the wheel type and condition, and make sure the valve-stem and tube decision matches the product and wheel together. That matters just as much as choosing the right size.

Original 1962 Vauxhall wheels can only be used with all tire sizes in the broad sense that every size here shares a 13-inch rim diameter. The more important question is width. Radial and bias-ply options in this year's Vauxhall range are approved for different rim-width bands, and 560-13 even varies by brand within that size. Diameter compatibility alone is not enough to confirm that every 13-inch Vauxhall wheel suits every tire option.

If your car still has its original wheels, confirm their measured width before moving from a bias-ply setup to a radial or from one model-group size family to another. If the wheels have been changed over the years, that step becomes even more important. Keeping the original 13-inch diameter is straightforward, but matching the tire's approved width range to the actual wheel is what prevents setup problems.

A 1962 Vauxhall should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires properly inflated, keep the car off wet concrete when possible, and move it periodically so one contact patch is not carrying the load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires such as 590-13 and 560-13 are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage compared with the radial 165R13 and 155R13 sizes.

Collectors who store a car for an entire season often use wheel cradles or jack stands placed correctly under the car to reduce stress on the tires, though the suspension should never be left hanging carelessly. A stored spare deserves the same attention as the road tires. Clean conditions, stable inflation, and reduced ozone exposure do more for tire life on a seldom-driven Vauxhall than simply watching tread depth.

Tire life on a 1962 Vauxhall is usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage. Collector cars often cover very few miles, yet the rubber still ages from time, heat cycling, sunlight, and storage conditions. A sensible practice is to start evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to give serious replacement consideration as they approach ten years, using the DOT date code and overall condition as part of the decision.

That approach matters because a lightly used Vauxhall can wear tires very slowly while still aging them out. Sidewall cracking, hardening, tread separation signs, vibration, or repeated pressure loss all matter more than how much tread appears to remain. If the age is uncertain, replacing older tires often makes more sense than trying to stretch them through another driving season simply because the tread still looks acceptable.

Tires on a 1962 Vauxhall should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracks, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, embedded debris, and signs of pressure loss. If the car uses a tube-type setup or a product that requires tubes with the wheel in question, inspect valve stems and watch for slow leaks that can be mistaken for ordinary pressure drift.

Frequent checks matter because older collector cars often sit longer than modern daily drivers and may only be driven when a problem has already had time to develop. A quick inspection also helps you catch alignment or suspension issues early, since unusual wear patterns often appear at the tire first. On a vintage Vauxhall, a two-minute walkaround before driving is one of the simplest and most valuable maintenance habits.

For a 1962 Vauxhall Victor, the period-correct construction style is bias-ply, and the relevant bias-ply size in this fitment family is 590-13. Radial options such as 165R13 are also available today and reflect the growing importance of radial technology in European motoring during the era, but a factory-fresh early-1960s presentation generally centers on a bias-ply tire unless a particular market or owner preference clearly points elsewhere.

That distinction matters most for restoration goals. If the car is being judged for originality, size, construction type, and sidewall appearance can all influence how authentic it looks. For market-specific and trim-specific confirmation, especially on export or late-production cars, a Vauxhall marque club or original handbook is still the best final check. Start with the correct size family, then refine the choice around how original you want the car to appear.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1962 Vauxhall. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire has the right size family for the model, the right construction type for the restoration goal, and a sidewall style that suits the period. A radial blackwall on a car restored for strict originality can stand out just as quickly as an oversized or incorrect whitewall treatment.

That does not mean every restored Vauxhall must wear the same tire. It means your tire choice should match the standard you are building toward. A touring restoration and a concours-focused restoration can justify different decisions. If the car will be shown, review event-specific expectations before final selection, because some clubs and judging systems are stricter than others about radial substitutions and sidewall appearance.

For the 1962 Vauxhall Victor & VX 4/90 fitment, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer 560-13 bias-ply tires, but they differ in sidewall choices and approved rim widths. BFGoodrich offers both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions on 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, while Firestone offers a wide whitewall version on 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims. Their published load figure is the same at 850 pounds at 30 psi.

That makes the comparison less about capacity and more about appearance and wheel compatibility. If your wheel measures toward the narrower end, the BFGoodrich versions may align more naturally with that setup, while the Firestone version covers a slightly wider rim band. For a restoration, the narrow-versus-wide whitewall decision can change the personality of the car almost as much as the brand name itself.

1962 Vauxhall tires can be safe for highway driving when they are the correct size, properly mounted, in sound condition, and used within their intended limits. The radial sizes 165R13 and 155R13 available here carry H speed ratings, which correspond to a 130 mph ceiling. The bias-ply sizes 590-13 and 560-13 do not carry the same modern-style speed designation in the available examples, so they should be treated with the expectations appropriate to vintage bias-ply construction.

In real-world use, the tire is only one part of the equation on a 1962 Vauxhall. Brakes, steering, suspension condition, wheel balance, and the car's age all matter at least as much as the tire's label. For regular road driving, a well-maintained car on the correct tires is the goal. Choose a tire that matches how the car will actually be driven, and keep speeds sensible for the whole vehicle, not just the tire.

Inflation pressure for 1962 Vauxhall tires should follow the vehicle's factory guidance first, then be checked against the reproduction tire's own rated information. The available load-and-pressure figures are size-specific: 590-13 reaches 970 pounds at 32 psi, and 560-13 reaches 850 pounds at 30 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated load at a stated pressure and should not be transferred casually to the radial sizes or from one size family to another.

That is especially important on a car where both radial and bias-ply options exist, because the construction type changes how the tire behaves even when rim diameter stays the same. Use the owner's manual or marque literature for the baseline vehicle recommendation, then confirm the exact tire's sidewall or manufacturer guidance. A pressure that suits one 1962 Vauxhall size can be inappropriate for another, even within the same year and make.

Before a longer drive in a 1962 Vauxhall, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, abnormal wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is usable and aired up. If your setup uses tubes or requires them with the wheel you are running, pay close attention to valve stems and any signs of slow leakage. Also confirm that the wheels are secure and that the tires have not developed storage flat spots after sitting.

A longer-trip check should go beyond the tires, because a vintage Vauxhall depends on the whole chassis being healthy. Brake function, steering play, fluid levels, cooling condition, and lighting all deserve attention before the trip begins. From the tire standpoint, the goal is simple: leave with tires that are sound, correctly inflated, and matched to the wheels, rather than discovering an age-related issue once the car is already miles from home.