1964 Nissan Tire Fitment Guide

1964 Nissan vehicles use seven sizes across six models. The Nissan 1500 uses 165R13 and 560-13, the PL312 uses 155R13 and 560-13, the SPL uses 155R13 and 560-13, the L320 uses 560-14 and 6.00-14, the L520 uses 560-14 and 6.00-14, and the Patrol uses 6.50-15 and 700-15. Rim diameters break out by model family: the passenger-car applications are 13-inch, the compact pickups are 14-inch, and the Patrol is 15-inch.

That means a 1964 Nissan buyer needs to identify the exact model before comparing tires. Within a given model, the next step is deciding whether you are matching a bias-ply restoration look or using a radial size where Nissan offered one of the 13-inch car applications. If your vehicle still has older wheels, confirm the wheel diameter and compare the tire size already on the car or truck before moving ahead.

On a 1964 Nissan, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure is the nominal section width, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. On 1964 Nissan applications, that size belongs to the 1500, PL312, and SPL, and it stays within the period-correct bias-ply construction that would look familiar on a mid-1960s Japanese compact or sports car.

Reading the code correctly matters because a 560-13 is not the same format as a radial 155R13 or 165R13, even though they share the same 13-inch wheel diameter. Buyers comparing them are usually choosing between visual authenticity and later-style driving feel, not just comparing two interchangeable modern sizes. Whitewall treatment also changes the look significantly, especially on a restored show-oriented car.

On a 1964 Nissan, 155R13 and 165R13 are Euro-metric radial sizes. The first number is the section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches; when no aspect ratio is printed, the format is conventionally treated as an 80-series radial. The 155R13 fits the PL312 and SPL, while the 165R13 fits the 1500.

Those codes are useful because they tell you right away that the tire belongs to a different construction family than a numeric bias-ply size. A buyer trying to preserve a factory-era look may stay with the bias-ply option on these cars, while someone driving more frequently may prefer the radial size associated with the same model family. Either way, the wheel still needs to be the correct 13-inch diameter.

For the 1964 Nissan 1500, the comparison is 560-13 versus 165R13. For the 1964 Nissan PL312 and 1964 Nissan SPL, the comparison is 560-13 versus 155R13. The bias-ply 560-13 delivers the period construction and vintage visual character associated with mid-1960s compact cars and roadsters, while the radial alternatives stay on a 13-inch wheel but move into a later tire design with H-rated products reaching 130 mph.

The practical choice usually comes down to how the car will be used. A restoration that emphasizes factory-era appearance often leans toward the numeric bias-ply size, especially when whitewall styling is part of the finished look. A car that sees more road miles may benefit from staying within the radial option attached to its specific model. Match the size to the actual model first, then decide which construction best fits the goal of the vehicle.

1964 Nissan tire options span blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and on larger bias-ply applications, a more utility-oriented blackwall treatment. The 13-inch radial sizes are blackwall only, while 560-13 appears in narrow and wide whitewall versions. The 560-14 truck size is available as blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall, and 700-15 for the Patrol comes in both blackwall and wide whitewall form.

Sidewall style changes the personality of the vehicle as much as the construction does. Sports cars and compact sedans often look most natural with blackwalls or restrained whitewalls depending on the restoration direction, while a bright wide whitewall creates a much more stylized period statement. On work-oriented pickups and Patrols, many owners prefer blackwall for a plainer utility look, but era-themed custom presentation can point another way.

1964 Nissan tire coverage comes from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, and STA. The radial 165R13 and 155R13 sizes are handled by Michelin and Dunlop in blackwall form. Bias-ply passenger and light-truck sizes such as 560-13 and 560-14 are represented by BFGoodrich and Firestone, while the Patrol's 700-15 opens up Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA depending on the look and intended use.

Brand choice matters most after the size and construction are settled. Once those are locked in, buyers can compare sidewall appearance, load figures where published, and whether the tire's overall character fits a sports car, compact truck, or four-wheel-drive utility vehicle. It is usually more useful to compare brands within one correct size than to compare brands across different sizes that belong to different Nissan models.

Several 1964 Nissan sizes carry clear rim width guidance. The 165R13 radials fit 4.50- to 6.00-inch rims, 155R13 radials fit 4.00- to 5.50-inch rims, 560-13 bias-ply products span 3.50- to 4.50-inch rims depending on brand, 560-14 fits 3.50- to 4.00-inch rims, and 700-15 fits 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims on the products that publish rim width. Those ranges should be treated size by size rather than blended together.

Rim width matters because two tires sharing the same wheel diameter do not automatically want the same wheel width. That is especially important when comparing a radial passenger-car size to a numeric bias-ply alternative on the same 13-inch Nissan model. If your wheels have been changed at some point in the vehicle's life, measure the actual wheel before deciding which size family makes the most sense.

Tube requirements on 1964 Nissan tires depend on the exact size and product. The 165R13 and 155R13 radial examples include tubeless markings on some products, while some other products in those same sizes do not spell out tube status the same way. The bias-ply 560-13, 560-14, and 700-15 products here do not carry a universal tube statement across every example, so tube use should be confirmed against the tire marking and the wheel type.

That matters because tube use is tied not only to the tire but also to the wheel's design and condition. Original vintage wheels, especially on collector vehicles that have seen decades of use, may need a different approach than a newer wheel built for tubeless service. Check the sidewall marking on the exact tire you are considering and make sure the wheel itself is appropriate before finalizing the setup.

A stored 1964 Nissan should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors or other ozone-producing equipment, and in a space that stays dry and reasonably stable in temperature. Tire pressures should be kept at a sensible storage level, and the vehicle should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long-term static loading. On 1964 Nissan models that use bias-ply tires, flat-spotting during storage is typically more noticeable than on radial-equipped cars.

The storage plan should match how long the vehicle sits. A regularly driven 1500, SPL, or PL312 may only need periodic movement and pressure checks, while a Patrol or pickup parked for long periods benefits from more deliberate weight management and closer sidewall inspection. Clean tires gently, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and look over the spare as well, since an aging spare often gets overlooked until the day it is needed.

On a 1964 Nissan, tire age usually matters more than mileage. Collector vehicles often accumulate miles slowly, so tread depth can look healthy long after the rubber has begun to harden or age out. A sensible rule is to evaluate tires carefully once they are in the 5-to-7-year range and to treat 10 years as a point where replacement deserves very serious consideration, regardless of how little the vehicle has been driven.

The practical way to judge age is by the tire's date code and by the condition of the casing. Cracks, unusual stiffness, recurring pressure loss, or visible deformation matter more than an odometer reading on a hobby car or truck. If the vehicle has older tires of uncertain age, replacing them before regular road use is often the wiser move than trying to stretch one more season out of them.

Tires on a 1964 Nissan should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, uneven wear, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between trips. If the vehicle uses a setup that requires tubes, the valve stems and any signs of tube-related leakage deserve the same attention as the outer casing.

Frequent inspection is especially important on collector vehicles because they often spend long periods parked, then get asked to run at road speed with little warning. A quick walk-around can catch problems that would never show up during casual garage storage. It is also a good habit to inspect the spare tire, because a spare in poor condition does not provide much security on a longer tour.

A 1964 Nissan 1500 sits in an era when bias-ply construction was still the standard factory fitment on many small sports cars, even though radial technology was becoming increasingly relevant in export markets. Within the 1964 Nissan size family, the 1500 is associated with both 560-13 bias-ply and 165R13 radial sizing. For an originality-minded restoration, the bias-ply size is the more era-typical place to start unless you have model-specific history showing otherwise.

Original fitment details can vary with market, build timing, and how the car was delivered, so serious authenticity work should include period literature and marque-club research. The key judging points usually center on size family, construction type, and sidewall appearance rather than a generic claim that any 13-inch tire is close enough. If your goal is concours presentation, verify those details before settling on a final tire.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1964 Nissan, especially in classes that reward factory-style presentation. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size family, construction type, and sidewall treatment fit the era and the character of the specific model. A radial on a car judged for originality, or an overly stylized sidewall on a plainly restored utility truck, can stand out even if the wheel diameter itself is correct.

That does not mean every show follows the same rules. Some events are relaxed about upgrades for drivability, while others place real emphasis on period-correct details. Before a serious restoration is finalized, compare your planned tire size and sidewall style with the standards used by the clubs or judging bodies relevant to your model. The closer the event is to concours judging, the more important those details become.

For a 1964 Nissan using 560-13, BFGoodrich and Firestone differ most in sidewall choices and rim-width range. BFGoodrich offers the size in both 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and 2.25-inch wide whitewall versions on 3.50- to 4.00-inch rims, while Firestone offers a 2.25-inch wide whitewall on 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims. Published load figures reach the same 850 pounds at 30 psi on the examples that carry load data.

That means the decision is less about raw capacity and more about visual style and wheel compatibility. A buyer preserving a very specific period look may prefer the narrow or wide whitewall treatment that best suits the car, while someone sorting through original or replacement wheels should pay close attention to the published rim-width range. Small details like that can make a big difference in how settled the tire looks on the car.

1964 Nissan tires can be suitable for highway use when the size, condition, pressure, and construction all match the vehicle and the way it is driven. The radial 155R13 and 165R13 products include H-rated examples, which carry a 130 mph ceiling, while the bias-ply sizes here do not show modern speed symbols in the same way. In real-world use, the mechanical limits of a 1964-era Nissan often matter more than the published speed capability of a passenger-car radial.

Safe highway use depends on treating the whole vehicle as a system. Sound brakes, steering, suspension, alignment, and wheel condition matter just as much as the tire itself, especially on older pickups and four-wheel-drive vehicles. If the tires are aged, cracked, or of unknown history, replacing them before routine highway driving is the prudent path even if the tread still appears to have life left in it.

Inflation pressure on a 1964 Nissan should follow the factory recommendation for the vehicle and the operating limits printed for the exact tire. Published load-and-pressure figures include 560-13 at 850 pounds at 30 psi, 560-14 at 906 pounds at 30 psi, and 700-15 at 1,700 pounds at 32 psi on the products that state them. Those figures are tied to those individual sizes and should not be transferred casually to a different size or construction.

The best approach is to use the owner's manual or factory placard as the starting point, then confirm that the tire's own rated pressure and load capacity support the intended use. A light sports car, a compact pickup, and a Patrol do not want to be treated the same way simply because they all wear vintage-style tires. Pressure should also be checked cold, not after a drive.

Before a longer drive in a 1964 Nissan, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and stable cold pressure. Look closely at valve stems, and if your setup uses tubes, make sure there are no signs of leakage or stem damage. The spare tire deserves the same inspection, because a long trip is exactly when an old, neglected spare is most likely to let you down.

Tires are only one part of the preparation, but they are one of the easiest parts to evaluate before leaving. On a car or truck of this age, it also makes sense to include the usual vintage-vehicle checks for brakes, steering play, wheel-bearing condition, and fluid levels. A 10-minute inspection before departure can prevent the sort of roadside problem that turns an enjoyable drive into a recovery job.