1968 Aston Martin Tire Fitment Guide

1968 Aston Martin vehicles use three tire sizes across two model lines. The DB uses either 185R15 radial or 775-15 bias-ply tires, while the DBS uses 205R15 radial tires. All three fitments use a 15-inch rim diameter. Rim width ranges vary by tire size and by product: 185R15 appears on rims from 4.5 to 6.5 inches, 775-15 ranges from 4.50 to 6 inches depending on the tire chosen, and 205R15 appears on rims from 5.50 to 6.00 inches where that specification is stated.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident tire choice on 1968 Aston Martin. You need to identify whether the car is a DB or DBS first, then confirm whether you want the DB's bias-ply look and feel or its radial alternative. Once the size is narrowed down, check the actual wheel width on the car before ordering, especially if the wheels have been changed during restoration or long-term ownership.

On a 1968 Aston Martin, 775-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 7.75 figure refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 15 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial code, this format does not include an aspect ratio or radial construction marking because it belongs to the older bias-ply sizing system commonly used in the era.

For a DB owner, that matters because 775-15 carries the period-correct visual language many restorers want, especially when paired with era-appropriate sidewall treatments such as redline, goldline, or narrow whitewall. It is not interchangeable in meaning with 185R15 even though both mount on 15-inch wheels. If the goal is authenticity and a traditional driving feel, 775-15 is usually the size to investigate first for a 1968 Aston Martin DB.

No. Tire size changes by model on 1968 Aston Martin vehicles. The DB can use either 775-15 bias-ply or 185R15 radial tires, while the DBS uses 205R15 radial tires. Even though all of them fit 15-inch wheels, the sizes are not universal across the make for that year, and the DBS does not share the DB's fitment choices.

That distinction matters because a buyer can easily land on the right year and make but still choose the wrong size if the model is not confirmed first. Aston Martin's 1968 lineup spans an older design family and a newer one, so the tire story follows that divide. If your car has had wheel changes over the years, use the current wheel width and the model identity together rather than assuming every 1968 Aston Martin took the same tire.

If your 1968 Aston Martin is a DB, the choice between 775-15 and 185R15 is mainly a question of construction type and the character you want from the car. The 775-15 is a bias-ply size with a distinctly period-correct look and feel, while the 185R15 is a radial with more modern construction. The radial choices also introduce speed-rated Michelin options in H and V form, while the bias-ply side centers more on traditional appearance.

Owners restoring a DB for authenticity, concours presentation, or an unmistakably late-1960s road feel often lean toward 775-15. Owners planning regular touring or seeking a radial without moving away from a 15-inch fitment often prefer 185R15. Either way, confirm the wheel width on the car before final selection, because the acceptable rim-width range is not identical across every tire built in those two sizes.

1968 Aston Martin tires come in a wide spread of sidewall appearances depending on size. The DB's 185R15 radial size appears in blackwall, redline, and narrow whitewall. Its 775-15 bias-ply size appears in redline, narrow whitewall, and goldline. The DBS's 205R15 radial size appears in blackwall and wide whitewall.

Sidewall choice is often where appearance and vehicle personality come together. Blackwalls usually suit a cleaner, more understated sporting presentation, while redlines, goldlines, and whitewalls can push the car toward a stronger period statement. For a 1968 Aston Martin being judged for originality, size and construction usually matter first, but sidewall style can still influence whether the tire looks appropriate for the way the car is being restored and presented.

Several brands cover 1968 Aston Martin fitments. In 185R15, choices include Coker Classic and Michelin. In 775-15, choices include BFGoodrich and Firestone. In 205R15, choices include Phoenix and Avon. That gives the year a mix of reproduction-oriented American classic tire lines and European-style radial offerings tied to the sizes used by Aston Martin's grand touring models.

Brand selection matters most after the correct size is settled, because the available ranges are different from one fitment to the next. A DB owner choosing 185R15 may be comparing a classic-style redline radial against Michelin blackwall or whitewall radials, while a DBS owner in 205R15 is looking at a narrower two-brand field. Start with the model and size, then compare brand character, sidewall style, and any speed-rating differences within that fitment.

Rim-width requirements for 1968 Aston Martin tires vary by size and sometimes by the specific tire. The 185R15 radial fits rims from 4.5 to 6.5 inches depending on the version. The 775-15 bias-ply spans 4.50 to 6 inches, with some examples centered on 4.50 to 5.00 inches and others built for a 6-inch rim. The 205R15 radial appears on 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims where a width range is specified.

That spread is why wheel measurement matters before choosing a tire, especially on a collector car that may no longer wear its original wheels. Two 15-inch tires can share a rim diameter and still want different wheel widths for proper support and profile. Measure the actual wheel, compare it to the range for the exact tire you want, and avoid assuming one Aston Martin fitment automatically crosses over to another just because the wheel diameter matches.

Tube requirements are not the same across every 1968 Aston Martin fitment. The Michelin 185R15 radial options are marked TL, indicating tubeless construction. The other sizes do not all carry the same type marking, so tube use should be confirmed against the exact tire and the wheel being used rather than assumed from the size alone. Tube decisions also depend on whether the wheel itself is suitable for tubeless service.

That makes wheel condition and wheel design part of the setup conversation, not just the tire choice. Original or restored wheels sometimes benefit from a more careful compatibility check, especially on cars that have been apart for decades or have seen wheel changes over time. Confirm the specific tire's sidewall marking and the wheel's sealing condition before mounting, and use a tube only where the tire and wheel combination actually calls for it.

All 1968 Aston Martin tire sizes here use a 15-inch rim diameter, so the basic wheel diameter is shared across the DB's 775-15 and 185R15 options and the DBS's 205R15 fitment. That means diameter compatibility is not the main question. The real issue is wheel width, because the acceptable rim-width range changes from one size to another and can even change between products in the same size.

A DB owner may be able to use the same 15-inch wheels for either the bias-ply or radial path, but only if the wheel width suits the chosen tire. The DBS's 205R15 radial typically wants a wheel in a narrower width band than the broadest 185R15 offerings. Before reusing original wheels across tire choices, measure the wheel, inspect it for age-related damage, and match it to the tire's approved width range rather than relying on diameter alone.

A 1968 Aston Martin should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Keep the car in a cool, dry environment and maintain proper inflation while it sits. If the car stays parked for long intervals, periodic movement helps avoid flat-spotting, and long-term storage on stands can reduce static loading. Bias-ply tires such as 775-15 tend to show temporary flat spots more readily than radial tires after sitting.

Storage habits matter just as much as tread wear on collector cars because many Astons cover limited annual mileage. A car that looks fine at a glance can still age its tires prematurely if it spends years in bright light or near ozone sources. Before returning a stored car to the road, inspect the sidewalls and tread carefully and bring pressures back into line with the tire and vehicle requirements.

Tires on a 1968 Aston Martin are usually judged by age as much as by mileage. A collector car may wear its tread very slowly, but rubber still hardens and degrades over time. A sound rule is to evaluate tires carefully once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, regardless of remaining tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age.

That age-based approach is especially important for grand touring cars that may look road-ready after long storage but are driven only occasionally. A 1968 Aston Martin can feel stable and composed while still riding on tires that are older than they should be. If you have recently acquired the car and do not know the age of the tires, checking the date code should be part of the first inspection before any longer road use.

Tires on a 1968 Aston Martin should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, irregular tread wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure between drives. A pressure check is part of the inspection, not a separate step, and cars using tube-type arrangements also deserve a close look at valve stems and any slow-leak behavior that may point to tube or wheel issues.

Frequent inspection is especially valuable on collector cars because long parking intervals can hide problems until the car is back at speed. A brief walkaround can catch age-related damage, while a more thorough pre-trip inspection can prevent trouble far from home. If the car develops vibration, pulling, or a fresh wobble after storage, stop and investigate the tires and wheels before assuming the problem lies elsewhere in the chassis.

For a 1968 Aston Martin DB, bias-ply construction remains the traditional original-era fitment direction, and 775-15 reflects that older sizing system. The DB also appears with a 185R15 radial option, which fits the period when radial adoption was becoming more common on higher-end European cars. That means both construction history and market context matter. If absolute originality is the goal, the safest path is to verify the car's market, build period, and restoration target with factory literature or a marque specialist.

In practical terms, many restorers use 775-15 when they want the car to present as a thoroughly period-correct late-1960s Aston Martin, especially for show-oriented work. Others choose 185R15 to reflect later-period radial use or a road-driven interpretation that still suits the car's era. Because original fitment could vary by market and ownership history, concours-minded owners should confirm details through Aston Martin club resources before making a final call.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1968 Aston Martin. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance because those details affect stance and period accuracy immediately. A DB on a bias-ply numeric size reads differently from a DB on a radial, and a DBS should carry the size associated with that model rather than borrowing from the earlier DB fitment path.

What counts as correct can vary by the event and by whether the car is being judged for strict originality or a sympathetic road-use restoration. Sidewall style also enters the discussion, since a bold whitewall or line treatment can change the visual era the car suggests. If the car is headed for formal judging, compare your tire choice against period photos, factory references, and Aston Martin club guidance before the car reaches the field.

Within the 185R15 fitment for the 1968 Aston Martin DB, Michelin XVS and Coker Classic Radial take different approaches. Michelin XVS appears in blackwall and narrow whitewall versions, includes tubeless TL markings, and is offered in both H-rated 112 mph and V-rated 149 mph versions. Coker Classic Radial appears here as a redline 185R15 with a 1355-pound maximum load at 35 psi and a 5.00 to 6.50 inch rim-width range.

The practical difference is less about one being universally better and more about which character suits your car. Michelin XVS leans toward a European sporting radial presentation with clearly defined speed-rated options, while the Coker Classic radial brings a distinct redline appearance to the same basic size category. On a DB, the choice may come down to whether you want an understated blackwall or whitewall look, or a more expressive redline while staying with radial construction.

1968 Aston Martin tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and used within their construction and speed-rating limits. Among the radial options, 185R15 appears in H-rated 112 mph and V-rated 149 mph forms, and 205R15 includes a V-rated 149 mph offering. The 775-15 bias-ply fitment does not carry those radial speed markings here, so its road character should be approached with period expectations rather than modern-touring assumptions.

On a well-kept Aston Martin, the broader mechanical condition of the car often matters as much as the tire itself for real highway confidence. Suspension condition, alignment, braking health, and years of deferred maintenance can affect stability long before a speed rating becomes the limiting factor. The right approach is to match the tire to the car's intended use, then make sure the rest of the chassis is equally ready for sustained road speeds.

Inflation pressure on 1968 Aston Martin tires should be matched to the exact tire size and the vehicle's original pressure guidance, not borrowed from another fitment. In the tires here, 185R15 includes an example rated at 1355 pounds at 35 psi, 775-15 examples carry 1490 pounds at 32 psi, and 205R15 carries 1609 pounds at 34 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated load-and-pressure relationship, not necessarily the factory running pressure Aston Martin recommended for the car.

Use the owner's manual, door-jamb information if present, or marque references for the car's original inflation target, then compare that with the tire manufacturer's guidance for the specific reproduction or modern tire you have chosen. Pressure should also reflect how the car is actually driven and loaded. Do not transfer a 205R15 pressure to a 775-15 or vice versa just because both are mounted on 15-inch wheels.

Before a longer drive in a 1968 Aston Martin, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is equally serviceable. Check valve stems carefully, especially if the wheel and tire setup uses tubes or older hardware. Confirm that the tires are seated correctly on the wheels and that no tire has lost pressure during storage. A brief road test at lower speed can also reveal flat-spotting or vibration before the trip begins.

Tire checks should be part of a larger pre-drive routine on any 1960s grand tourer. Wheel fastener torque, brake feel, fluid levels, steering response, and charging-system behavior deserve attention before committing to distance. Even a premium tire cannot compensate for an underprepared car. If the Aston has been sitting for months, give it a cautious shakedown close to home first, then reassess the tires and chassis before heading farther afield.