1967 Auto-Union Tire Fitment Guide

1967 Auto-Union vehicles in this range use two tire sizes: 165R13 and 590-13, and both apply to the 1967 Auto-Union Audi. Each size fits a 13-inch wheel, but they are not the same type of tire. The 165R13 is a radial with a 4.50 to 6.00-inch rim-width range on the products available in that size, while the 590-13 is a bias-ply with a 3.50 to 4.00-inch rim-width range.

That means year and make alone are not quite enough to choose correctly if your car has had wheels changed over time. A 1967 Auto-Union owner should confirm both the actual wheel diameter and the wheel width before deciding between the radial and bias-ply option. If originality matters most, the bias-ply size aligns more closely with period construction, while the radial option suits owners who want a later-style driving experience in the same 13-inch diameter.

On a 1967 Auto-Union tire, 590-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.90 portion refers to the tire's nominal section width, and the 13 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial code, it does not include a separate aspect-ratio figure or an "R" for radial construction because it is an older bias-ply format.

That code matters because it tells you more than just diameter. A 1967 Auto-Union owner choosing 590-13 is typically choosing a traditional bias-ply casing and the appearance that comes with it, including the Wide Whitewall version available in this size. It also points you toward a narrower wheel fitment window than the radial option, so wheel width should be checked before treating 590-13 as interchangeable with 165R13.

On a 1967 Auto-Union tire, 165R13 is a metric radial size. The 165 is the nominal section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this older Euro-metric style, the aspect ratio is not written out, and it is conventionally understood as an 80-series profile.

For a 1967 Auto-Union owner, that code signals a more modern tire format than the numeric bias-ply alternative. The available 165R13 products come in Blackwall form and fit a wider wheel-width range than the bias-ply 590-13. If your Audi has already moved toward radial-style road use or spends more time on regular road trips than on authenticity-focused display, 165R13 is the size most likely to align with that goal.

The 165R13 and 590-13 both fit 13-inch wheels on a 1967 Auto-Union Audi, but they represent two different approaches. The 165R13 is a radial tire in modern metric sizing, while the 590-13 is a numeric bias-ply size with a more traditional construction. The radial choices are offered in Blackwall form, and the bias-ply choice is offered as a Wide Whitewall.

A 1967 Auto-Union owner usually makes this choice by deciding what matters more: period-correct presentation or a later-style radial driving feel. Wheel width is an important part of that decision because the radial products suit wider 13-inch rims than the bias-ply product. If the car is being restored to an era look, the 590-13 is the natural place to start. If the car is driven more regularly and already set up for radial fitment, the 165R13 is the stronger candidate.

1967 Auto-Union tires are available in two distinct sidewall styles across the two sizes used by the Audi. The 165R13 radial options come in Blackwall form, while the 590-13 bias-ply option comes as a Wide Whitewall. Those two looks create a clear visual difference even before construction type and wheel-width requirements are considered.

For most 1967 Auto-Union owners, sidewall style is part of the car's personality as much as its tire specification. A Blackwall radial usually suits a cleaner late-1960s European road-car appearance, especially on cars being driven rather than shown for strict originality. A Wide Whitewall creates a more stylized, period-themed presentation, but whether that is truly correct for a particular Audi configuration is best confirmed against period photos, factory literature, or a marque specialist familiar with the market where the car was sold.

Three brands cover 1967 Auto-Union tire fitments across the two sizes used on the Audi. Michelin and Dunlop both offer 165R13 radial tires, while BFGoodrich covers the 590-13 bias-ply size. That means brand choice is tied closely to size and construction, not just to personal preference.

A 1967 Auto-Union owner comparing brands should first decide which size format belongs on the car's current wheels and fits the intended use of the vehicle. Once that is settled, the brand field narrows naturally. Michelin and Dunlop sit in the radial side of the decision, while BFGoodrich serves the traditional bias-ply route. Comparing sidewall style, speed rating, and wheel-width compatibility within your chosen size will usually be more useful than trying to pick a brand before the size itself is settled.

1967 Auto-Union tire fitments use different wheel-width ranges depending on the size. The 165R13 radial products fit 13-inch rims that are 4.50 to 6.00 inches wide, while the 590-13 bias-ply product fits a 13-inch rim that is 3.50 to 4.00 inches wide. Even though both sizes share the same rim diameter, their wheel-width requirements are not the same.

That difference is one of the most important setup checks before ordering for a 1967 Auto-Union Audi. A car that still has narrow original-style wheels may align better with the bias-ply size, while a car with wider 13-inch wheels may be better suited to the radial size. Measure the actual wheel, not just the tire currently mounted on it, because older cars are often changed over the years and the existing tire may not tell the whole story.

1967 Auto-Union tire tube requirements depend on the size and product you choose. The Michelin 165R13 radial products are marked TL, meaning tubeless. The Dunlop 165R13 does not carry a TL marker in the same way, so tube status can vary by product within the radial size. The 590-13 bias-ply product does not include a TL marking, so a buyer should confirm the specific product's sidewall marking and wheel suitability before final installation.

That matters because tube use is not only a tire question; it is also a wheel question on a 1967 Auto-Union. Original wheel design, condition, and the bead-seat profile all affect whether tubeless use is appropriate. If your Audi still wears older wheels, especially wheels restored after long storage, confirm tube guidance from the tire manufacturer and inspect the rims carefully. Matching the tire's marking to the actual wheel is more important than assuming all 13-inch products in this year and make are handled the same way.

Original 1967 Auto-Union wheels can potentially be used with both tire sizes in terms of diameter, because both 165R13 and 590-13 mount on a 13-inch rim. The point that needs careful checking is width, not diameter. The radial 165R13 suits a 4.50 to 6.00-inch rim-width range, while the 590-13 bias-ply suits a narrower 3.50 to 4.00-inch range.

That means some original 1967 Auto-Union wheels may support only one of the two sizes correctly even though both are 13-inch tires. If your car has its factory-style narrow wheels, the bias-ply size may be the more natural fit. If it has wider replacement or later wheels, the radial may be the better match. The safest approach is to measure the wheel and then match the tire to the wheel, rather than assuming any 13-inch Audi wheel accepts both options equally well.

A 1967 Auto-Union should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone sources. Clean concrete is preferable to damp earth or standing moisture, and inflation should be maintained during storage. Bias-ply tires tend to flat-spot more readily during long static periods, while both bias-ply and radial tires can suffer sidewall aging if they sit neglected.

For a collector Audi that does not move often, periodic rolling or placing the car on stands can reduce stress on the carcass and help prevent temporary shape distortion. It is also wise to inspect the spare during storage, because it ages along with the road tires. Cars that are kept indoors but never exercised often show age-related cracking before they show meaningful tread wear, so storage habits matter as much as mileage on a 1967 Auto-Union.

Tires on a 1967 Auto-Union usually age out before they wear out, especially on collector cars driven seasonally or only for events. A sound rule is to begin evaluating them closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat ten years as a serious replacement threshold regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the sidewall, where present, is the practical starting point for age tracking.

That approach is more useful than trying to predict life by mileage, because many vintage cars accumulate very little annual use. A 1967 Auto-Union owner should look at age, sidewall condition, how well the tire holds pressure, and whether the car has spent long periods parked. Even a good-looking older tire can harden internally and lose the flexibility expected from a roadworthy casing, so replacement timing should follow age and condition first, not appearance alone.

Tires on a 1967 Auto-Union should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss. If the car uses a tube-type setup, the valve stems and tube-related sealing points deserve special attention because a slow leak can develop even when the tread still appears healthy.

A brief walk-around is often enough to catch the most common problems before they become roadside issues. On a 1967 Auto-Union that sits for long stretches, inspection matters even more because age-related deterioration is easy to miss between drives. It is also worth checking that the spare is inflated and usable, since many older cars carry a spare that has not been examined in years. Frequent inspection is one of the simplest ways to make a vintage Audi more dependable.

For a 1967 Auto-Union Audi, bias-ply construction was still very much part of the era, even as radial technology was becoming increasingly common in European passenger cars. The two sizes associated with the model are 590-13 in bias-ply form and 165R13 in radial form, so the car sits right in that transition period. Without tying the car to a specific factory brand, those two constructions define the authenticity question more than a modern replacement catalog ever could.

A restorer should treat 590-13 as the period-style construction route and 165R13 as the era-appropriate radial alternative that may reflect later practice or market variation. If the goal is strict originality for a particular delivery market, trim level, or judging standard, confirm the exact tire style through period brochures, surviving original cars, or an Auto-Union and Audi marque specialist. That extra step matters because late-1960s European fitment can vary by market even within the same model family.

Correct tire fitment can matter a great deal when showing a 1967 Auto-Union, especially in authenticity-focused judging. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect whether the car reads as period-correct. A radial Blackwall and a bias-ply Wide Whitewall create very different visual and historical impressions, even though both fit 13-inch wheels for the Audi.

For a judged car, the right answer depends on the rules of the event and the story the restoration is trying to tell. Some venues are more accepting of sympathetic radial upgrades, while others will view a construction change or sidewall style mismatch as a meaningful departure from original presentation. A 1967 Auto-Union owner preparing for show use should confirm the accepted standard with the host organization or marque club before choosing a tire purely for convenience.

For the 1967 Auto-Union in 165R13, both Michelin XAS and Michelin XAS-FF use the same 165HR13 82H sizing, the same H speed rating, Blackwall styling, tubeless marking, radial construction, and the same 4.50 to 6.00-inch rim-width range. The most visible difference in the available specifications is weight, with the XAS-FF shown at 20 pounds and the XAS shown at 9 pounds. That means the comparison is between two tires of the same core size and fitment profile rather than between two different fitments.

A 1967 Auto-Union owner choosing between them should focus on the product family itself and the kind of restoration or driving character each series represents, rather than expecting one to solve a fitment problem the other cannot. Since the basic size, speed rating, and wheel-width range align, either belongs in the same 165R13 decision path. The more important first step remains deciding whether the car should be on a radial 165R13 at all or on the narrower, more traditional 590-13 bias-ply.

1967 Auto-Union tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, properly inflated, and used within the limits of their construction and speed rating. The 165R13 radial options include H-rated versions, which carry a 130 mph ceiling. The 590-13 bias-ply product uses an S rating, which corresponds to a 112 mph ceiling. In real use, the car's braking, suspension, steering, and overall mechanical condition are usually more important constraints than those ceiling numbers.

A 1967 Auto-Union owner should think of highway safety as a full-vehicle question rather than a speed-letter question alone. An older Audi that is rarely driven should be checked for tire age, air retention, and general mechanical readiness before long trips. Radial and bias-ply tires also behave differently on the road, so the car should be driven in a way that matches the construction fitted. Sound condition and realistic speeds matter more than chasing the highest rating available.

Inflation pressure for 1967 Auto-Union tires should begin with the factory recommendation for the car and then be checked against the tire maker's own rated information for the exact product and size. The 590-13 bias-ply carries a maximum load figure of 970 pounds at 32 psi. The 165R13 radial range includes a Dunlop product with a 1,047-pound maximum load capacity, but pressure should not be borrowed from the 590-13 or assumed across all 165R13 products.

That is important because pressure is tied to both tire construction and the way the car was engineered to carry its weight. A 1967 Auto-Union owner should use the owner's manual or factory placard as the baseline and then confirm the tire manufacturer's guidance for the exact radial or bias-ply product being installed. The goal is to support the vehicle properly without overinflating for the sake of convenience or underinflating in pursuit of a softer ride.

Before taking a 1967 Auto-Union on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper cold inflation. Check that the valve stems are sound, and if the car uses a tube-type setup, pay extra attention to slow leaks and heat-related pressure changes. The spare should also be inspected and inflated, because a vintage spare that has aged in the trunk for decades may not be ready for service.

A longer trip in a 1967 Auto-Union also calls for a broader mechanical check that matches the car's age. Brakes, steering components, wheel bearings, and suspension condition all matter alongside the tires. If the car has been sitting, take it on a short shakedown drive first to feel for pull, vibration, or pressure-related behavior before committing to highway miles. Good preparation turns an older Audi from a gamble into a much more relaxed touring car.