1965 Nissan Tire Fitment Guide

1965 Nissan vehicles use six sizes across four model groups. The Nissan 1500 uses either 165R13 or 560-13 on 13-inch rims. The Nissan L320 and L520 use 560-14 or 6.00-14 on 14-inch rims. The Nissan Patrol uses 6.50-15 or 700-15 on 15-inch rims. Where rim-width guidance is available, 165R13 fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims, 560-13 fits roughly 3.50 to 4.50-inch rims depending on product, 560-14 fits 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, and 700-15 fits 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims.

The practical takeaway is that year and make alone are not enough for a 1965 Nissan. A 1500 roadster, an L-series compact truck, and a Patrol all live in different size families, so the first step is identifying the exact model and checking the wheel diameter already on the vehicle. Once that is settled, you can decide whether you want a restoration-oriented bias-ply look, a radial driving experience where available, or a particular sidewall treatment such as blackwall or whitewall.

On a 1965 Nissan, 560-13 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 portion is the nominal section width, while the 13 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1965 Nissan range, that size belongs to the 1500 and mounts on a 13-inch rim. Products in 560-13 appear in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall form, with load figures of 850 pounds at 30 psi on the examples carrying load information.

That means 560-13 is best understood as a period-style fitment rather than a modern metric replacement size. If your 1965 Nissan 1500 is being restored to a vintage look and feel, 560-13 keeps you in the bias-ply family appropriate to the era. Before committing, compare the actual wheel width on the car against the product's approved rim-width range, since not every 560-13 is built around exactly the same wheel-width window.

No, 1965 Nissan models do not share one universal tire size. The 1500 uses 13-inch fitments, the L320 and L520 pickups use 14-inch fitments, and the Patrol uses 15-inch fitments. Even within those groups, more than one size can apply. The 1500 has both 165R13 radial and 560-13 bias-ply choices, the trucks use 560-14 or 6.00-14, and the Patrol uses 6.50-15 or 700-15.

That spread matters because a buyer can easily end up looking at the wrong section of the catalog if the search starts with only year and make. On a 1965 Nissan, the model determines the wheel diameter first, and in some cases it also determines whether you have a radial option or only period-style bias-ply sizes. If the vehicle has changed hands several times or has aftermarket wheels, verify the sidewall and wheel stamp before replacing anything.

For a 1965 Nissan 1500, the choice between 165R13 and 560-13 is largely a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 165R13 is a metric radial offered in blackwall form, including H-rated examples up to 130 mph. The 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size offered with vintage whitewall treatments. Both are 13-inch fitments for the same model, but they present the car in different ways and deliver a different period character.

A 1500 aimed at show presentation or a closer factory-era visual impression generally points toward 560-13. A 1500 that sees more frequent road use may lead an owner toward 165R13 for a more modern radial feel. The important thing is not to treat the two as interchangeable on appearance alone. Consider how original you want the car to look, then confirm wheel width and sidewall preference before making the final choice.

Sidewall style depends on the size and model of the 1965 Nissan. The 165R13 radial used on the 1500 comes in blackwall form. The 560-13 and 560-14 bias-ply sizes appear in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall variations. The 700-15 used on the Patrol comes in blackwall and wide whitewall form. That gives the 1965 Nissan range a mix of understated utility looks and more dressy period sidewall treatments.

Choosing the sidewall is partly a style question and partly an authenticity question. Compact pickups and utility vehicles often look most natural on blackwalls, while a small roadster or restored passenger vehicle may call for a whitewall treatment if that matches the way the vehicle is being presented. If show judging matters, compare the sidewall style to period photos, sales literature, and marque-club guidance rather than assuming one whitewall width suits every 1965 Nissan.

Several brands cover the 1965 Nissan range, but they vary by size. The 165R13 radial for the 1500 is available from Michelin and Dunlop. The 560-13 size is available from BFGoodrich and Firestone. The 560-14 size is available from BFGoodrich. The 700-15 Patrol size is available from Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. Brand choice therefore depends first on which 1965 Nissan model and tire size you are working with.

That size-by-size spread is useful when narrowing a search. A 1500 owner deciding between radial and bias-ply is also deciding between different brand families, while a Patrol owner in 700-15 has a broader mix of blackwall, whitewall, and utility-oriented options. If your preference starts with a brand name, make sure it exists in the correct size for your model before comparing tread style, sidewall appearance, or period presentation.

Rim-width guidance varies by tire size on a 1965 Nissan. The 165R13 radial fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims. The 560-13 bias-ply size appears on products approved for 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims and others approved for 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims. The 560-14 bias-ply size fits 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, and the 700-15 bias-ply size fits 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims. Those ranges should be treated as product-specific limits, not universal assumptions for every wheel that shares the same diameter.

That matters most on vehicles that may have had wheel changes over the decades. A 13-inch wheel on a 1965 Nissan 1500 still needs the right width for the exact tire chosen, and the same is true for truck and Patrol fitments. Before replacing tires, measure the wheel if there is any doubt, especially on a restoration with mixed parts or a truck that may have seen commercial use and wheel swaps in its working life.

Inner-tube use depends on the exact size and product chosen for a 1965 Nissan. The 165R13 radial examples for the Nissan 1500 include tubeless markings, so that size can be found in tubeless form. The remaining 1965 Nissan sizes here are bias-ply products without a universal tube marking carried across every entry, so tube use should be confirmed against the individual tire and the wheel design rather than assumed from size alone.

Wheel construction is just as important as tire construction when making that decision. Many vintage wheels were originally intended for tube-type service even when a modern reproduction tire may exist in tubeless form. If your 1965 Nissan still has original wheels, inspect the wheel condition, valve-stem area, and bead seat carefully. Matching the tire's marking to the wheel's actual capability is more important than relying on era or appearance alone.

A stored 1965 Nissan should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from electric motors, battery chargers, welders, or other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber prematurely. Clean, dry flooring and stable temperatures help as well. Because much of the 1965 Nissan range uses bias-ply tires, extended static storage can encourage flat-spotting more readily than with radial construction, especially if the vehicle sits for long periods without being moved.

Owners who store a 1500, L-series truck, or Patrol through a season should check pressure periodically and either roll the vehicle occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term tire distortion. The goal is not just preserving tread, but preserving the casing shape and sidewall condition. Collector vehicles age tires through time and environment more often than through mileage, so storage habits have an outsized effect on how well the tires hold up.

On a 1965 Nissan, tire life is usually governed more by age than by miles traveled. A good rule is to begin evaluating collector-car tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age, and sidewall condition often tells more than odometer readings on a low-use vintage vehicle.

That is especially important for roadsters, trucks, and utility vehicles that may spend long periods parked between outings. A tire can still look acceptable at a glance while the rubber has hardened or developed internal age-related issues. If the 1965 Nissan is new to you, checking the date codes should be one of the first steps before any meaningful road use. Age-based replacement is simply more reliable than waiting for visible tread wear on collector vehicles.

Tires on a 1965 Nissan should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and any sign that a tire is losing pressure between uses. Vehicles that may use tube-type service deserve extra attention at the valve stem and around the wheel, since leakage can come from more than the tread area itself.

A quick pre-drive inspection is particularly worthwhile on older vehicles because they may sit for weeks at a time and then return to service without warning signs felt from a daily-use routine. The habit takes only a minute, but it can catch weathering, impact damage, or a slowly failing valve stem before the 1965 Nissan heads onto the road. Pressure checks should be part of that same routine, not something saved only for longer tours.

For a 1965 Nissan 1500, bias-ply construction is the era-correct starting point, and 560-13 fits that historical pattern. The 165R13 radial is a later-style alternative available for the same model, but radial construction was not the default expectation for small mid-1960s sports cars in the same way bias-ply was. That makes 560-13 the more authentic direction when the goal is to echo original period fitment rather than introduce a later driving character.

Original-tire details could still vary by market, dealer practice, and restoration standards, so concours-level owners should compare the car against factory literature and marque-club guidance before making a final choice. The broader point is that construction type matters as much as size when authenticity is the goal. Even when both sizes physically fit a 13-inch wheel, a bias-ply 560-13 and a radial 165R13 tell very different historical stories on a 1965 Nissan 1500.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1965 Nissan, especially in judged classes that value authenticity. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice the size, construction type, and sidewall style before they notice finer mechanical details. A 1500 on radial blackwalls gives a different visual and historical impression than one on period-style bias-ply tires, and a truck or Patrol with an obviously incorrect wheel diameter can stand out immediately.

That does not mean every show uses the same standards, but it does mean tire choice should support the story you want the vehicle to tell. If the Nissan is being prepared for concours-style presentation, verify not just the size but also whether blackwall, narrow whitewall, or wide whitewall is appropriate for the model and class. Marque clubs and event rulebooks remain the best way to sort out what will be accepted versus what will be marked down.

For the 1965 Nissan 1500 in 165R13, both Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF are blackwall radial tires in H-rated 82H form, and both fit 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims. The clearest difference between them here is weight: the XAS is lighter at 9 pounds, while the XAS-FF is 20 pounds. Both stay within the same basic metric radial family and target the same 13-inch fitment for the 1500.

Because the visible format and primary fitment dimensions are so close, this comparison is less about changing size and more about choosing within a specific radial category. A 1500 owner comparing the two should focus on the exact series identity and how it fits the overall build philosophy of the car, then verify any additional product-level details before deciding. The key point is that both remain radial 165R13 options, not two completely different fitment directions.

1965 Nissan tires can be suitable for highway driving when the correct size, age, condition, and construction are all in order. The 165R13 radial choices for the Nissan 1500 include H-rated examples, which carry a 130 mph ceiling. The rest of the 1965 Nissan range here centers on bias-ply construction, where road behavior is more period-correct in feel and should be approached with the expectations appropriate to a mid-1960s vehicle.

In real use, the mechanical condition of the Nissan often matters as much as the tire itself. Brakes, steering, suspension condition, and alignment all shape how comfortable and secure an older roadster, pickup, or Patrol feels at modern traffic speeds. The smartest approach is to match the tire to the intended use, keep speeds sensible for the vehicle as a whole, and avoid assuming that a vintage chassis should be driven like a modern car simply because the tire is new.

Inflation pressure on a 1965 Nissan should start with the factory recommendation for the specific model, then be checked against the tire's own markings and rated figures. Some sizes here carry clear load-and-pressure pairings: 560-13 is rated 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 examples that include load data. Those figures are tire ratings, not blanket instructions to run every 1965 Nissan at one pressure.

That distinction matters because a tire's maximum rated pressure and the vehicle's operating pressure are not always the same thing. A light roadster, a compact truck, and a Patrol will not necessarily want identical inflation even when two tires share the same construction style. Use the owner's manual or factory placard as the baseline for vehicle setup, then make sure the tire chosen is operating within its own approved range and carrying capacity.

Before a longer drive in a 1965 Nissan, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and do not forget the spare. If the vehicle uses tube-type service, check the valve stems and look for slow leakage before departure rather than after the trip has begun. Tire age should also be part of the check, since an older collector tire can have adequate tread and still be a poor candidate for sustained road use.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine suited to a mid-1960s vehicle. Fluids, brake feel, steering play, wheel-bearing condition, and basic electrical reliability all deserve attention alongside the tires. A roadster 1500, an L-series truck, and a Patrol each ask different things from their chassis, but all benefit from the same principle: catch small issues in the garage, not after the trip turns into a roadside repair.