1968 Fiat Tire Fitment Guide

1968 Fiat vehicles use a wide range of sizes depending on model. The shared 13-inch sizes are 155R13 and 560-13 for the 1200 & 1500, 124, 1300 & 1500, and some 850 applications. The 124 also uses 6.15-13 and 165R13; the 1500 uses 145R14, 520-14, 165R14, and 5.90-14; the 1600 uses 155R15 and 560-15; the 1800 uses 165R15, 590-15, 175R14, and 6.40-14; the 850 also uses 155R12 and 5.50-12; and the Dino uses 185R14.

That means year and make alone are not enough for most 1968 Fiat purchases. You need to confirm the exact model and, on cars like the 850 and 1800, the actual wheel diameter before narrowing down a tire. Where radial and bias-ply alternatives exist on the same wheel diameter, the decision becomes more about how you want the car to feel and present rather than simply whether the tire will mount.

On a 1968 Fiat, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 portion is the nominal section width in inches, and the 13 identifies the rim diameter in inches. Unlike modern metric sizing, it does not spell out an aspect ratio, and the construction is bias-ply rather than radial.

That format is typical of the era and usually appeals to owners who want a more authentic visual profile. For 1968 Fiat applications that use 560-13, available versions include blackwall-free vintage-style bias construction with whitewall options depending on brand. Rim-width ranges also differ by product, so once you know you need 560-13, the next check is whether your wheel falls within the accepted width range for the exact tire you are considering.

On a 1968 Fiat, 155R13 is an older Euro-metric radial size. The 155 is the nominal section width in millimeters, the R identifies radial construction, and the 13 is the rim diameter in inches. In period European sizing like this, the aspect ratio is commonly treated as an 80-series even when it is not printed in the size itself.

That makes 155R13 familiar to buyers restoring or driving small European cars from the 1960s. For the Fiat models that use it, this size keeps the correct 13-inch wheel relationship while moving to radial construction. If your goal is to keep the car feeling closer to a later road-going setup while retaining an era-appropriate metric size, this is the kind of code you will most often be looking for.

For a 1968 Fiat that accepts both sizes, the real difference is construction and presentation rather than wheel diameter. 155R13 is a radial metric size used on 13-inch wheels, while 560-13 is a 13-inch numeric bias-ply size. The radial choices come in blackwall form, while 560-13 bias-ply options include narrow and wide whitewall styles.

A restoration focused on period look will often lean toward 560-13 because the bias-ply shape and whitewall availability fit the visual language of the era. A car driven more regularly on modern roads may point you toward 155R13 for a more contemporary driving feel while staying within an era-correct type of European size. The best starting point is deciding whether appearance authenticity or road-going manners carries more weight for your Fiat.

1968 Fiat tire choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall depending on size. Many of the radial metric sizes such as 155R13, 165R13, 145R14, 165R14, 155R15, and 175R14 are blackwall only, while bias-ply sizes such as 560-13 and 560-15 offer whitewall variations. The 165R15 radial size for the 1800 and the 185R14 radial size for the Dino also broaden the picture with whitewall radial options.

For most 1968 Fiat restorations, blackwall is the safest visual starting point, especially on sporting and European-market presentations. Whitewalls can still be appropriate depending on model character, export-market flavor, and the overall look you are chasing. If your car is being judged, sidewall style matters alongside size and construction, so it is wise to compare your intended look with period photos or marque-club guidance before making a final call.

1968 Fiat tire sizes are covered by a wide mix of brands, including Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Camac, Premium Sport, Pirelli, Vredestein, US Royal, Coker Classic, American Classic, Avon, and Phoenix. Brand coverage depends heavily on size. For example, 155R13 is available from Michelin and Dunlop, 165R14 from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein, 165R15 from Coker Classic, American Classic, Firestone, and BFGoodrich, and 185R14 from Michelin, Phoenix, and Vredestein.

That spread lets a 1968 Fiat owner choose between strongly European-looking radial offerings and more classic American-style whitewall presentations in certain sizes. The smartest way to compare brands is by first locking in the exact size, then looking at sidewall style, construction, service markings, and wheel-width compatibility within that size. Brand loyalty alone matters less than getting the right combination for the car's intended use and appearance.

Rim-width guidance varies by size on 1968 Fiat applications. 155R13 fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims on products that publish that range, while 560-13 runs on 3.50 to 4.50-inch rims depending on brand. Other examples include 165R13 at 4.50 to 6.00 inches, 145R14 at 4.00 to 5.00, 520-14 at 3.50 to 4.00, 165R14 at 4.0 to 6.00, 155R15 at 4.00 to 5.50, 560-15 at 4.50 to 5.50, 165R15 at 4.50 to 6.00, 590-15 at 4.00 to 4.50, 175R14 at 4.5 to 6.0, and 185R14 at 4.00 to 6.50.

Those ranges show why wheel measurement matters, especially when moving between bias-ply and radial alternatives on the same nominal rim diameter. A 13-inch wheel that works with one Fiat tire size may still be too narrow or too wide for another. Before selecting a tire, verify the actual wheel width on the car rather than assuming every factory-looking steel wheel within the same diameter accepts every size equally well.

Inner-tube requirements on 1968 Fiat tires depend on the exact size and product. Some radial sizes are clearly marked TL for tubeless, including examples within 155R13, 165R13, 165R14, 175R14, and 185R14. Other sizes show variation within the same fitment, such as 155R15, where one Michelin XAS carries a TT marking while another product in the same size carries TL.

That means tube use should never be assumed from the vehicle year alone. The wheel design and the sidewall marking on the specific tire both matter, especially on older European cars that may still wear original-style rims. If you are trying to preserve factory-style setup, inspect the wheel carefully and match your decision to the exact tire's service marking instead of generalizing across the whole 1968 Fiat range.

A 1968 Fiat stores best in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sun, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid long contact with standing moisture, and move the car periodically if it remains on the ground. Bias-ply tires are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during static storage than radials, so mixed use across the Fiat range makes storage habits especially important.

For a car that will sit for months, many owners either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged tire loading without leaving the suspension hanging awkwardly. Tire covers can help in bright storage areas. Good storage will not stop aging, but it slows cracking, preserves sidewall appearance, and helps a collector Fiat feel more settled when it returns to the road.

On a 1968 Fiat, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector cars often age their tires out before they wear them out, so a careful inspection around five to seven years is wise, and around ten years is a common point for serious replacement consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish its age.

That matters even more on lightly used vintage Fiats, where the car may feel fine on short local drives while the rubber is quietly hardening. Sidewall cracking, loss of flexibility, persistent vibration, or difficulty holding pressure are stronger warning signs than tread depth alone. A fresh-looking tire on a seldom-driven classic still needs to be judged by age, storage history, and inspection results rather than appearance only.

Tires on a 1968 Fiat should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough check before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, irregular tread wear, and signs of impact damage, and confirm that all four tires are holding pressure evenly. If the car uses tube-type tires or tube-compatible products, include valve-stem condition in the inspection.

A monthly close look is a good habit even when the car is parked, because collector vehicles can develop issues while sitting. Small European cars are especially sensitive to pressure differences and aging rubber, so catching a problem early improves both ride quality and safety. Do not forget the spare, since a decades-old spare tire can be the weakest tire on the car even when it has never touched the road.

A 1968 Fiat 124 would have been born in an era when bias-ply and early radial fitments could both be relevant depending on market and specification, but bias-ply construction was still deeply tied to original-equipment practice across the broader 1960s. Within the 124 fitment range here, both bias-ply sizes such as 560-13 and 6.15-13 and radial sizes such as 155R13 and 165R13 appear as period-appropriate directions for research.

For a careful restoration, treat the size and construction as part of the car's identity, not just a replacement part. The correct answer can vary by body style, destination market, and how the car was equipped when new. If you are aiming for true factory fidelity, compare the car's surviving labels, handbook references, and wheel setup with Fiat marque-club sources before settling on one 124 tire size as definitive.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1968 Fiat. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the car carries the right general size family, the right construction type for the restoration standard, and a sidewall style that suits the car's period and market character. A modern-looking radial on a car judged for strict originality, or an exaggerated whitewall where a blackwall is expected, can pull attention for the wrong reason.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard. Some shows reward drivability and presentation more than exact factory detail, while marque-oriented judging can be far stricter. The smart approach is to match the tire to the goal of the car: preservation-class authenticity, a tasteful period look, or a road-ready touring build. When in doubt, event rules and Fiat specialist clubs are the right final authority.

For the 1968 Fiat Dino in 185R14, Michelin MXV and Vredestein Sprint Classic share the same general radial size and both appear in blackwall form, while Michelin also offers a narrow whitewall variation. Michelin MXV products fit rims from 4.00 to 6.50 inches depending on version, while the Vredestein Sprint Classic fits 4.5 to 6.0-inch rims. Vredestein also publishes a load figure of 1,323 pounds at 51 psi and carries an H speed rating.

The practical difference comes down to the look you want and the wheel you have under the car. A Dino owner with an originality-minded European appearance may lean toward a blackwall radial, while someone matching a specific export-market visual theme may prefer the narrow whitewall option. Either way, confirm the wheel width first, because that measurement is more likely to settle the choice than brand name alone.

Many 1968 Fiat tire options are suitable for normal highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, in good condition, and inflated correctly. Several radial sizes carry H ratings, which correspond to a 130 mph ceiling, and 155R15 also appears with a T-rated product to 118 mph. Those ratings exceed ordinary highway speeds, but they do not override the limits imposed by the car's brakes, suspension condition, steering, alignment, or the age of the tire itself.

For real-world use, the more relevant question is whether the complete car is ready for highway duty. A healthy radial on a well-sorted Fiat will generally feel different from a bias-ply tire, but either construction still needs to match the wheel and the vehicle's intended use. If the car sees occasional longer trips, start with fresh tires, proper pressures, and a full mechanical inspection rather than relying on speed ratings alone.

Inflation pressure on 1968 Fiat tires should be set by the vehicle's factory recommendation first, then checked against the tire maker's published service information for the exact product. Some tire sizes publish maximum load and pressure figures, such as 560-13 at 850 pounds and 30 psi, 145R14 at 880 pounds and 44 psi, 165R15 at 1,168 to 1,170 pounds and 35 to 36 psi, 590-15 at 1,050 pounds and 32 psi, and 185R14 at 1,323 pounds and 35 to 51 psi depending on product.

Those figures are load-and-pressure capacities, not a blanket recommendation to inflate every tire to the sidewall maximum. A light 850, a family 124, and a Dino do not all use pressure the same way, even when their sizes look related. Use the owner's manual or factory placard as the baseline, then make sure the exact tire you choose is being used within its own service range.

Before a longer drive in a 1968 Fiat, inspect all five tires for cracking, weathering, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Make sure the wheel nuts are secure, the valve stems are sound, and the spare is usable. On any older Fiat running tube-type service, pay extra attention to slow leaks and stem condition, because those issues can stay hidden until sustained road speed and heat build-up expose them.

Tires are only one part of the checklist on a car of this age. Brake feel, wheel-bearing noise, steering play, cooling-system health, and charging performance can matter just as much on a longer outing. Starting with a careful tire inspection gives you the quickest read on whether the car is ready to travel, and it also helps you separate a tire issue from a chassis issue if the car develops shake or wander on the road.