1964 Ford Tire Fitment Guide

1964 Ford vehicles use fourteen sizes across nine model families: 145R13 and 520-13 for Anglia; 155R13, 560-13, 145R13, and 520-13 for Consul; 155R13 and 560-13 for Cortina; 6.50-14, 700-14, and 750-14 for Fairlane; 650-13, 600-13, and 700-13 for Falcon; 700-14, 750-14, and 800-14 for full-size Ford cars; 800-14 and 850-14 for Ford Wagons; 640-13 and 650-13 for Mark III; and 710-15 for Thunderbird. Rim diameters span 13, 14, and 15 inches, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer for the entire make.

That spread means the first checkpoint is always the exact model, followed by the wheel diameter on the car now. Rim-width guidance also changes by size where it is published, running from narrow 3.5-inch applications on smaller 13-inch tires up to 5.50- to 6.00-inch applications on the biggest 14-inch wagon sizes. Once the model and wheel diameter are confirmed, you can narrow the choice to the correct size and sidewall style much more confidently.

On a 1964 Ford, 145R13 is an older Euro-metric radial size. The 145 refers to section width in millimeters, the R denotes radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. In period metric sizing like this, the aspect ratio is typically treated as an 80-series convention unless another profile is stated. Anglia and Consul use this size rather than the larger 155R13 seen on Consul and Cortina.

That matters because 145R13 is not just a generic modern compact-car size dropped into the page; it is part of the correct period sizing language for smaller European Fords. If your car is an Anglia or a Consul already wearing radial-size markings, 145R13 is the metric code you want to recognize before comparing products. It also keeps you from confusing a radial replacement path with the smaller cars' bias-ply alternatives such as 520-13.

No, 1964 Ford models use very different tire sizes depending on the model family. The small British Fords stay in 13-inch fitments, Fairlane and the full-size cars use 14-inch bias-ply sizes, and Thunderbird moves to a 15-inch fitment. Even within a single model line, more than one size can apply, as seen on the Consul, Fairlane, Falcon, and full-size Ford ranges.

That is why identifying the model is more important on a 1964 Ford page than on a year-and-make page where every vehicle shared the same wheel and tire package. A buyer with a full-size Ford cannot safely start from Anglia or Cortina sizes, and a Falcon owner still needs to distinguish between its 600-13, 650-13, and 700-13 applications. Treat year and make as the starting point, then narrow by model before choosing a tire.

For a 1964 Ford Anglia or Consul, the choice between 145R13 and 520-13 is mainly a construction decision. The 145R13 is a radial in older Euro-metric sizing, while the 520-13 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. Both mount on 13-inch wheels, but they deliver different period character. The radial route is usually the better match for owners who intend to drive the car more regularly, while the bias-ply route better preserves the look and feel many restorers expect from an early-1960s small Ford.

The best approach is to confirm what is already on the car and what you want from it. If originality in stance and historical presentation matters most, 520-13 is the natural place to start. If your Anglia or Consul spends more time on modern roads and you want a period-style radial format, 145R13 is the more appropriate comparison. The same logic applies to the Consul's larger 155R13 versus 560-13 pairing.

1964 Ford tires cover a wide spread of sidewall treatments depending on size. Blackwalls appear in sizes such as 145R13, 155R13, 520-13, 700-14, 800-14, and 710-15. Narrow whitewalls, wide whitewalls, and even a redline are also available in several bias-ply sizes, especially 560-13, 650-13, 600-13, 750-14, 800-14, 850-14, 640-13, and 710-15. The broadest sidewall variety tends to appear on the larger American-market bias-ply sizes.

For a 1964 Ford, the right sidewall is often as much about presentation as fitment. A small British Ford on blackwall radials reads differently than a full-size Ford or Thunderbird on a wide whitewall bias-ply. If the car is being restored for show, sidewall width and color can matter nearly as much as the size itself. If the car is being driven more casually, the sidewall choice can be guided by the look you want to preserve.

1964 Ford tire coverage includes Michelin, Firestone, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, US Royal, Premium Sport, and Universal Vintage Tire. The radial 13-inch sizes are covered by Michelin, Firestone, and Dunlop depending on width, while many of the bias-ply American sizes are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, US Royal, and Firestone. Premium Sport appears on 520-13, and Universal Vintage Tire appears on 800-14.

Brand choice often narrows naturally once the correct size is identified. A buyer choosing 155R13 will be comparing Michelin and Dunlop blackwall radials, while a buyer choosing 750-14 has access to a broader range of classic American bias-ply brands and sidewall styles. That makes the size decision more important than the brand decision at first. Once the size is locked in, brand and sidewall details become the next meaningful comparison.

Rim-width guidance for 1964 Ford tires changes by size. Examples include 145R13 on 4.00 to 5.00 inches, 155R13 on 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 520-13 on 3.5 or 3.50 to 4.00 inches depending on the product, 560-13 on 3.50 to 4.50 inches, 600-13 on 4.00 to 4.50 inches, 650-13 on 4.50 to 5.00 inches, 700-13 on 4.00 to 5.00 inches, 700-14 and 750-14 on 5.00 to 5.50 inches, 800-14 on 5.00 to 6.00 inches, 850-14 on 5.50 to 6.00 inches, and 710-15 on 5.00 to 5.50 inches.

That range is why wheel diameter alone is not the whole story. Two tires may both fit a 13-inch or 14-inch wheel, but they can still expect different wheel widths for proper support and profile. Before choosing a tire for a 1964 Ford, measure the actual wheel or verify the wheel width through the car's existing hardware and restoration records. That is especially important on cars that may have had wheels swapped decades ago.

Inner-tube requirements on 1964 Ford tires depend on the exact product and size. The 145R13 Michelin example is marked TL for tubeless, while the Firestone 145R13 is not marked the same way, so tube status can vary by product in that size. The 155R13 Michelin example is also marked TL. Many of the bias-ply products do not carry a TL marking in the size string, so buyers should confirm the individual tire's sidewall marking and the wheel's construction before deciding on tube use.

On collector cars, tube decisions are really a wheel-and-tire pairing issue rather than a year-and-make rule. Original-style wheels, especially older bias-ply applications, may call for a more careful setup review than a later tubeless-style wheel. If your 1964 Ford still wears original wheels, confirm whether the wheel itself is suited to tubeless service and match that to the specific tire you are considering. That prevents assumptions that can complicate mounting and long-term air retention.

Original 1964 Ford wheels cannot be treated as universal across all tire sizes because the range spans 13-, 14-, and 15-inch rim diameters. An Anglia or Cortina wheel will not accept a Fairlane or Thunderbird size, and a Thunderbird's 15-inch 710-15 fitment stands apart from the rest of the lineup. Even within the same diameter, published rim-width ranges change from one size to another.

The practical takeaway is to think in model families rather than in year and make alone. A Falcon owner can compare among 13-inch Falcon sizes, and a full-size Ford owner can compare among the 14-inch sizes used on that platform, but crossing from one family to another needs careful wheel verification first. When a car has had aftermarket or replacement wheels fitted over the years, measuring the wheel becomes the safest way to avoid an expensive mismatch.

A stored 1964 Ford should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors and ozone sources, and in a dry, stable environment. Clean tires and correct inflation help preserve the casing during long periods of inactivity. Bias-ply tires, which dominate the 1964 Ford range, are generally more prone to temporary flat-spotting from static storage than radials, so occasional movement or the use of stands during longer layups can help reduce that effect.

Storage habits matter because many collector Fords cover limited annual mileage yet spend months parked. A Thunderbird on 710-15 bias plies and a Cortina on 560-13 bias plies will both benefit from the same careful approach, even though their sizes differ. If the car is stored for a season, recheck pressure before it goes away and again before it returns to service. That simple routine does as much for longevity as careful driving does.

On a 1964 Ford, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, so a good rule is to begin evaluating them closely at around five to seven years and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age, while sidewall cracking, hardening, and repeated air-loss issues often matter more than miles traveled.

That age-based approach is especially important on cars that are driven sparingly, such as restored Fairlanes, full-size Fords, or Thunderbirds that only see fair-weather use. A tire can look visually acceptable and still be past the age when it should inspire confidence on the road. If the age is unknown or the tires came with the car, a close inspection should happen before regular use. Vintage cars reward caution here.

Tires on a 1964 Ford should be checked before every drive and inspected more thoroughly before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and make sure the tread and shoulder areas remain sound. On cars using products that may require tubes, the valve stems deserve special attention because a tube-related leak often shows up there before it is obvious elsewhere.

A quick walkaround catches more problems than many owners expect, especially on cars that sit for stretches between drives. A full-size Ford or wagon on larger bias-ply tires can lose air slowly over time, and a compact British Ford on small 13-inch rubber can age visibly even at low mileage. Before tours or highway runs, add a hands-on pressure check and inspect the spare as well. The spare is often the most overlooked tire on a collector car.

A 1964 Ford Anglia would have been associated historically with narrow 13-inch tires, and bias-ply construction was still entirely normal in that era even as radial adoption was growing in parts of Europe. The Anglia uses 520-13 as its bias-ply size and also appears with 145R13 in radial form. That makes sense for a mid-1960s British Ford, where both period-correct bias styling and early radial replacement logic can exist depending on market history and how the car was delivered or later maintained.

For an authenticity-focused restoration, the right path is to compare your car's market background, surviving placards, and club guidance with the sizes that fit the model. A concours-minded owner will usually care about size, construction, and sidewall appearance together rather than in isolation. If your Anglia is being judged seriously, consult a Ford of Britain or Anglia specialist to confirm whether a bias-ply presentation or an early radial-style fitment best matches the car's intended restoration standard.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1964 Ford because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice more than just whether the tire physically fits the wheel. Size, construction, and sidewall style all influence how authentic the car appears. A Thunderbird on a 15-inch bias-ply wide whitewall reads very differently from a compact British Ford on a blackwall radial, and a mismatch in any of those elements can stand out immediately in a serious restoration setting.

That does not mean every show demands the same standard, but it does mean you should match the tire to the level of authenticity you want to present. Local cruise nights usually allow more flexibility than marque judging or concours events. If the car is being restored for judged competition, verify what the relevant Ford club or event expects for your exact model. Sidewall width and construction are often the details that separate a good restoration from a truly convincing one.

For a 1964 Ford using 750-14, BFGoodrich and US Royal share the same basic bias-ply size and both offer narrow whitewall versions, but their published load ratings differ slightly. BFGoodrich carries a 1,580-pound rating at 32 psi, while the US Royal examples carry a 1,500-pound rating at 32 psi. US Royal also appears in a redline version in this size, while BFGoodrich is represented in narrow whitewall form and Coker Classic adds a wide whitewall option in the same 750-14 fitment family.

That means the comparison is less about one tire replacing a different size and more about the exact visual and specification priorities of your build. If you want a traditional narrow whitewall, either brand belongs in the conversation. If you want a redline look, US Royal becomes especially relevant, and if you want a wide whitewall in 750-14, Coker Classic enters the picture. The right answer depends on the car's style direction and how closely you are matching a period presentation.

1964 Ford tires can be suitable for highway driving when the tires are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to the car's intended use. The radial 145R13 and 155R13 options include H-rated examples with a 130 mph ceiling, while many of the bias-ply sizes publish load and pressure information rather than modern speed symbols. In real-world use, the mechanical condition of a 1964 Ford often matters as much as the tire itself, especially on cars with period brakes, steering, and suspension design.

The smart way to think about highway use is not whether the tire belongs on a modern performance car, but whether the complete vintage vehicle is ready for sustained road speeds. A fresh bias-ply tire on a sound Thunderbird or Fairlane can still be entirely appropriate for normal touring, but it should be driven with the manners of its era in mind. Tire age, inflation, wheel condition, and alignment all deserve attention before any longer highway run.

Inflation pressure on 1964 Ford tires depends on the exact size and product. Published maximum load-and-pressure pairings include 520-13 at 770 pounds at 32 psi on one Firestone example and 1,100 pounds at 60 psi on one Premium Sport example, 560-13 at 850 pounds at 30 psi, 700-14 at 1,360 pounds at 32 psi, 750-14 at 1,500 to 1,580 pounds at 32 psi, 650-13 at 1,150 pounds at 32 psi, 600-13 at 1,010 pounds at 32 psi, 800-14 at 1,620 pounds at 32 psi, 850-14 at 1,740 pounds at 32 psi, and 710-15 at 1,550 pounds at 32 psi.

Those figures are load-rated maximum references, not a universal inflation recommendation for every 1964 Ford. The best practice is to start with the factory guidance for your specific model and then confirm that your chosen reproduction or radial product is being used within its own stated limits. Do not transfer a pressure number from one size to another just because both fit the same make. The Anglia, Falcon, wagon, and Thunderbird all place different demands on their tires.

Before a longer drive in a 1964 Ford, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, and irregular wear, then confirm cold inflation pressure and make sure the spare is serviceable. Pay attention to valve stems, especially on setups where tube use may be part of the final mounting arrangement. Wheel condition also matters on older cars, since corrosion, bent rims, or decades-old repairs can affect how well a tire seals and runs.

A longer trip is also the right time to think beyond the tires. Vintage Fords benefit from a broader pre-drive check that includes brakes, steering, cooling, and suspension, because an old car's road manners come from the whole system working together. Once the tires have been checked, take the car on a short local run to feel for vibration or pull before committing to a full day on the road. That quick shakedown can prevent problems far from home.