1964 Saab Tire Fitment Guide

1964 Saab vehicles use four tire sizes across three model groups. The 750 & 850 GT and the Saab 96 use 155R15 radial tires, the Saab 92 & 93 use 145R15 radial and 5.20-15 bias-ply tires, and the Saab 96 also uses 560-15 bias-ply tires. Every size in the 1964 Saab range mounts on a 15-inch rim. Where rim-width guidance is available, 155R15 works with rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 145R15 works with rims from 3.50 to 5.00 inches depending on the tire, and 560-15 appears on rims from 4.50 to 5.50 inches.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident choice. Start by identifying whether your car is a 92 or 93, a 96, or a 750 & 850 GT, then confirm whether you want the radial size associated with easier road manners or the bias-ply size that preserves a more traditional period feel.

On a 1964 Saab, 145R15 is an older Euro-metric radial size. The 145 means the tire is about 145 millimeters wide, the R indicates radial construction, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. In period-style metric sizing like this, the aspect ratio is commonly treated as an 80-series profile even when it is not written out in modern form.

For a Saab 92 or 93 owner, that decoding matters because 145R15 is not just another way of writing the bias-ply size. It tells you the tire belongs to the radial family, which changes the look and driving feel compared with a numeric bias-ply tire even though both mount on 15-inch wheels.

No, 1964 Saab models do not all use the same tire size. The 750 & 850 GT share 155R15 with the Saab 96, the Saab 92 & 93 use 145R15 and 5.20-15, and the Saab 96 also carries its own bias-ply option in 560-15. All of those tires fit 15-inch rims, but the actual size and construction vary by model group.

That model split is important because a 15-inch wheel alone does not make every size interchangeable in practice. A buyer comparing tires across the year should treat the 15-inch rim as the common starting point, then narrow the choice by model and by whether the car is being restored for authenticity or prepared for more regular road use.

For a 1964 Saab 96, the choice between 155R15 and 560-15 is mostly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 155R15 is a radial metric size available in blackwall form from Firestone and Michelin, while 560-15 is a numeric bias-ply size available from Firestone and US Royal with narrow or wide whitewalls. Both fit 15-inch wheels, but they represent different eras of tire design.

Owners aiming for a more original mid-1960s presentation often gravitate toward the bias-ply route, especially when sidewall appearance matters. Owners who expect more regular road driving usually look first at the radial option, then compare brand, sidewall treatment, tube status, and speed marking within that size before making the final decision.

1964 Saab tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 155R15 radial choices come in blackwall form, 145R15 includes both blackwall and wide whitewall options, and 560-15 bias-ply tires are available with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall styling. That means sidewall appearance changes with both size and construction, not just with brand.

For many Saab restorations, blackwall is the most natural visual fit, especially on sportier or export-market presentations. Whitewall options can still be appealing when a specific period look is desired, but they should be chosen carefully so the sidewall treatment suits the car's market character and the kind of authenticity standard you are trying to meet.

1964 Saab tire coverage includes Firestone, Michelin, BFGoodrich, and US Royal. The 155R15 size is available from Firestone and Michelin, 145R15 comes from Firestone, Michelin, and BFGoodrich, and 560-15 comes from Firestone and US Royal. Each brand approaches the Saab sizes a little differently, with some focusing on blackwall radial offerings and others emphasizing traditional whitewall bias-ply presentation.

That mix gives Saab owners room to choose by purpose as well as by size. A driver comparing radial options may focus on Michelin or Firestone in the metric sizes, while a restorer leaning toward a period bias-ply appearance may spend more time comparing Firestone and US Royal in 560-15.

Rim-width guidance for 1964 Saab tires varies by size. The 155R15 radial size works with rims from 4.00 to 5.50 inches, 145R15 fits ranges from 3.50 to 5.00 inches depending on the product, and 560-15 bias-ply tires fit rims from 4.50 to 5.50 inches, with some examples calling out 4.5 inches directly. Every size in the range uses a 15-inch rim diameter.

That is why wheel diameter alone is only the first checkpoint. Before selecting a tire, measure the wheel or confirm the wheel specification on the car, especially if the Saab has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life.

Inner-tube requirements on 1964 Saab tires depend on the exact product and size. In 155R15, tube status varies by product, with Michelin options appearing in both TT and TL forms. The 145R15 radial range also includes TL-marked products, while tube information is not uniform across every offering. That makes tube choice a product-level decision rather than a blanket rule for the whole year and make.

A Saab owner should match the tire's sidewall marking to the wheel and intended setup instead of assuming every 15-inch tire can be treated the same way. If your car still uses original wheels, it is wise to inspect the rim condition and confirm whether the specific tire you choose is built as tube-type or tubeless before final installation.

Original 1964 Saab wheels can often be used with more than one tire size because every size in the range mounts on a 15-inch rim. That common diameter is what allows the 92 & 93 to span 145R15 and 5.20-15, and the 96 to span 155R15 and 560-15. Rim width still matters, though, because the acceptable width range is not identical across all sizes.

The practical takeaway is to treat 15-inch compatibility as necessary but not sufficient. A wheel that accepts one 15-inch Saab tire may not be ideal for another without checking width, bead condition, and overall suitability, especially when moving between a narrow metric radial and a traditional numeric bias-ply tire.

A stored 1964 Saab should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone-producing equipment, and persistent moisture. Tire pressures should be maintained during storage, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces constant load on one footprint. Because the 1964 Saab range includes both radial and bias-ply tires, storage habits matter even more, as bias-ply construction is generally more prone to flat-spotting during long static periods.

Good storage practice preserves ride quality as much as it preserves appearance. If the Saab will sit for months at a time, occasional rolling and a clean, cool storage environment will do more for the tires than simply covering the car and walking away until the next driving season.

Tires on a 1964 Saab should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. For collector cars, a close evaluation around five to seven years is sensible, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as a tire approaches ten years from its DOT date code, even if tread depth still looks acceptable. Small classic cars often accumulate very little annual mileage, so age-related hardening and cracking matter more than wear bars.

That is especially true on a lightly driven Saab that spends much of its life parked indoors and comes out only for shows or fair-weather drives. A tire that still looks visually decent can be well past its best service life, so date checking should be part of routine ownership rather than something saved for the next restoration cycle.

Tires on a 1964 Saab deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more thorough check before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of pressure loss, then inspect the valve stems and spare as well. If your Saab uses a tube-type tire, the condition of the tube-related hardware becomes part of that same inspection routine.

Regular checks matter because a collector Saab may sit long enough for small issues to develop unnoticed between drives. Catching a weakening valve stem, an aging sidewall, or an air-loss problem in the garage is far better than finding it at speed on a rural road or after the car has been loaded for an event.

A 1964 Saab 96 belongs to an era when bias-ply tires were still familiar equipment, even as radial adoption was gaining ground in Europe. Within the 1964 Saab 96 fitments, both 560-15 bias-ply and 155R15 radial sizes are associated with the model, so original-style restoration choices should begin with the exact market presentation and the car's own history rather than a one-answer assumption.

For an authenticity-focused project, construction type matters just as much as nominal size. If the goal is strict originality for a particular delivery market or event standard, it is smart to confirm the expected tire style with Saab marque specialists or club resources before finalizing the tire, especially when a model has both radial and bias-ply pathways.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1964 Saab. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, sidewall treatment, and overall visual proportion long before they study smaller details. A radial tire on a car judged for strict originality, or a wide whitewall where a more restrained blackwall look would be expected, can change how authentic the car appears even if the tire physically fits.

That does not mean every show Saab must wear the same tire, because standards vary by event and class. A touring-oriented entry may tolerate more practical choices than a concours-style restoration, so the safest route is to match the tire to the judging environment you expect rather than relying on fit alone.

For the 1964 Saab 96, both Firestone and US Royal offer 560-15 bias-ply tires with narrow and wide whitewall presentations. Each carries a maximum load figure of 970 pounds at 32 psi, but the rim-width details differ slightly: Firestone examples call out a 4.5-inch fitment, while US Royal spans 4.50 to 5.50 inches. Weight also differs modestly, with Firestone at 18 pounds and US Royal at 17 pounds in these examples.

That means the real comparison is less about broad capability and more about the details of appearance and wheel match. A restorer choosing between them should compare the desired whitewall look and verify which tire best suits the wheel width already on the car rather than assuming two 560-15 bias-ply tires are identical in every practical respect.

1964 Saab tires can be appropriate for highway use when the tire's condition, inflation, and speed rating match how the car will be driven. In the radial sizes, Michelin products appear with S, T, and H speed ratings, which correspond to 112, 118, and 130 mph ceilings. Bias-ply options in 560-15 are part of the authentic period mix, but they should be approached with the understanding that overall road manners differ from radials even when the tire is in excellent condition.

On a mid-1960s Saab, the tire's rating is only one piece of the highway equation. Brake condition, steering feel, suspension health, and the car's general mechanical state often matter just as much, so a pre-drive check should consider the whole vehicle rather than treating the tire as the only safety variable.

Inflation pressure on a 1964 Saab should start with the factory recommendation for the exact model, then be checked against the tire maker's own rated pressure information for the specific product. Among the sizes here, 155R15 appears with a maximum load of 1045 pounds at 44 psi, 145R15 reaches 935 pounds at 44 psi, and 560-15 carries 970 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not universal running pressures for every Saab application.

The practical rule is not to transfer a pressure from one size to another or from a radial to a bias-ply tire just because the rim diameter is the same. Use the owner's manual as the chassis baseline, then confirm that your chosen tire's operating range and load rating align with the way the car is actually being used.

Before a longer drive in a 1964 Saab, inspect all tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is usable, and, if your chosen tire is tube-type, make sure the overall setup has been assembled and maintained accordingly. A narrow vintage tire can look fine at a glance while still hiding age-related issues that only show up under sustained use.

A longer outing is also the right time to think beyond the tires. Wheel fasteners, brake feel, steering response, and the car's general readiness deserve attention on any older Saab, because reliability on a collector-car trip usually comes from many small checks done in advance rather than one large repair after something goes wrong.