1970 Audi Tire Fitment Guide

1970 Audi vehicles use four sizes across two models. The Audi 100 takes either 165R14 radial or 560-14 bias-ply tires on 14-inch rims, while the Audi Super takes either 165R13 radial or 600-13 bias-ply tires on 13-inch rims. Rim width guidance is available on several products: 165R14 appears on 4.0 to 6.0-inch rims depending on the tire, 560-14 on 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims, 165R13 on 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims where specified, and 600-13 on 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims.

That split means year and make alone are not enough for a correct choice. Confirm whether your car is an Audi 100 or an Audi Super first, then verify whether you want the radial or bias-ply version that belongs to that model. After that, compare your wheel width against the tire’s approved range so the fit matches both the car and the wheel you are actually using.

On a 1970 Audi, 560-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.60 figure is the nominal section width in inches, written without the decimal in the common vintage style, and the 14 is the wheel diameter in inches. On this year Audi, that size belongs to the Audi 100 rather than the Audi Super, and available examples use traditional bias-ply construction with blackwall, narrow whitewall, or wide whitewall sidewalls.

A buyer usually encounters 560-14 when the goal is to preserve an earlier appearance and driving character rather than move to a later radial feel. Since the tire mounts on a 14-inch wheel and carries a relatively narrow approved rim-width range, it is smart to verify the wheel itself before ordering, especially if the car has been restored or changed from original equipment over the years.

No, 1970 Audi models do not all use the same tire size. The Audi 100 uses 14-inch fitments, with a choice between 165R14 radial and 560-14 bias-ply, while the Audi Super uses 13-inch fitments, with a choice between 165R13 radial and 600-13 bias-ply. Each model has its own pair of sizes, so there is no single tire size shared across the full 1970 Audi range.

That matters because the first fitment question is model identification, not sidewall style or brand preference. Once you know whether your car is an Audi 100 or Audi Super, the next decision becomes construction type and how you want the car to present and drive. If the wheels are original, the wheel diameter often confirms the model fitment path quickly.

For a 1970 Audi 100, both sizes fit the model, but they represent two different construction philosophies. The 165R14 is a radial metric size on a 14-inch rim, while the 560-14 is a numeric bias-ply size on the same 14-inch rim diameter. The radial choices come from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein in blackwall form, while the bias-ply choice comes from BFGoodrich with blackwall and whitewall variations.

Choose 560-14 when your priority is a more traditional period look and feel, especially if the car is being restored with era-correct visual cues in mind. Choose 165R14 when you want a radial format more in keeping with later vintage road use and a European blackwall appearance. The decision should follow your restoration goal and wheel width, not just the fact that both mount on 14-inch rims.

1970 Audi tire choices include both blackwall and whitewall sidewall styles, but the options depend on size. The radial sizes, 165R14 for the Audi 100 and 165R13 for the Audi Super, are available in blackwall only. The bias-ply 560-14 for the Audi 100 comes in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall, while the bias-ply 600-13 for the Audi Super comes in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall.

For a German compact sedan of this era, blackwall is usually the more understated and market-appropriate visual choice, especially with radial construction. Whitewalls can still make sense on certain restoration themes, dealer-style presentations, or owner-preference builds, but they change the car’s character noticeably. If authenticity matters for judging, compare your target sidewall style with period photos, brochures, or club guidance before making the final call.

1970 Audi vehicles are covered by several established vintage tire brands, with the mix changing by size. The 165R14 radial for the Audi 100 is available from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein. The 560-14 bias-ply for the Audi 100 comes from BFGoodrich, the 165R13 radial for the Audi Super comes from Michelin and Dunlop, and the 600-13 bias-ply for the Audi Super comes from BFGoodrich.

That spread gives a buyer a meaningful choice between European-style radial offerings and traditional American-brand bias-ply reproductions. Brand selection is often less about chasing a single universally correct answer and more about matching the size, construction, and sidewall look that fit your car’s intended use. Once those three points are settled, comparing brand-specific series becomes much more straightforward.

Rim width requirements for 1970 Audi tires vary by size. The 165R14 radial appears with approved widths from 4.0 to 6.0 inches depending on the specific tire, while the 560-14 bias-ply uses a 3.50 to 4.00-inch range. For the Audi Super, 165R13 radial tires appear with 4.50 to 6.00-inch approved widths where specified, and 600-13 bias-ply tires use a 4.00 to 4.50-inch range.

Those differences are a reminder that matching rim diameter is only the first step. A wheel that accepts one construction type may not fall in the preferred width range for the other, especially when comparing a narrow bias-ply with a metric radial. Check the wheel itself before final selection, particularly on cars that may have had replacement steel wheels or aftermarket wheels fitted during past restoration work.

Inner-tube requirements on 1970 Audi tires depend on the exact tire. The Michelin 165R14 and 165R13 radial options carry a tubeless marking, while the other radial examples do not all state tube status the same way. The bias-ply 560-14 and 600-13 products are not marked with a tubeless designation here, so tube use should be confirmed against the specific tire and the wheel condition before installation.

The important point is not to assume that every tire in the same size follows the same tube practice. Original wheel design, wheel surface condition, and the individual tire’s sidewall marking all influence the correct setup. If you are mounting reproduction tires on original wheels, confirm the recommendation at the product level and have the wheel inspected so the final combination is appropriate for safe road use.

A 1970 Audi should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls prematurely. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and move the car periodically so one contact patch does not carry the full load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage, while any collector tire can suffer from avoidable weathering if the environment is harsh.

If the car will sit for a full season, many owners either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load on the tires. Indoor storage with stable temperature and minimal ultraviolet exposure does more for longevity than any dressing or cosmetic treatment. A simple routine of pressure checks and occasional movement goes a long way toward preserving both appearance and drivability.

Tires on a 1970 Audi should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector cars often accumulate little tread wear, yet the rubber and internal structure still age over time. A practical rule is to begin careful evaluation around five to seven years of service and to treat the ten-year point as a serious replacement consideration, using the DOT date code and the tire’s physical condition as your guide.

That approach matters because a lightly driven vintage Audi can look fine at a glance while still riding on tires that are old enough to deserve retirement. Cracks, hardening, vibration, repeated air loss, or long-term storage in poor conditions can shorten usable life well before the tread seems worn out. Age management is often the most important tire-safety habit on collector vehicles.

Tires on a 1970 Audi deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more careful inspection before any longer outing. Check inflation, sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, uneven wear, and any sign that the tread is separating or the casing has taken a set from storage. If your setup uses tubes, pay close attention to valve stems and any slow loss of pressure, since tube-related leaks can show up gradually.

A short visual walkaround catches most age-related problems before they turn into roadside trouble. Seasonal cars especially benefit from a more thorough check after long storage, since weather change and static loading can alter pressures and reveal new cracks. Include the spare in the same routine, because an old or underinflated spare does little good when you actually need it.

For a 1970 Audi 100, the period-correct tire type would generally be bias-ply in markets and trims that still used traditional construction, while radial fitments were also becoming firmly established in European cars by this time. The two fitments associated with the model are 560-14 in bias-ply form and 165R14 in radial form, both on 14-inch wheels. No single original-equipment brand should be assumed without checking market-specific references.

That makes the 1970 Audi 100 a car where authenticity can depend on how your particular example was delivered and how strict your restoration target is. Factory literature, surviving original cars, and marque specialists are the best way to sort out which construction is most appropriate for your chassis and market. Once that is clear, sidewall style and brand can be chosen to support the restoration theme.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1970 Audi because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance immediately. A bias-ply whitewall, a bias-ply blackwall, and a blackwall radial can all change the stance and period impression of the car, even when each is physically suited to the wheel diameter. On a car judged for originality, an obviously later-looking tire can stand out as much as an incorrect trim detail.

The strictness of that standard depends on the event and the club. Some shows reward overall presentation, while concours-level judging can be far more sensitive to whether the car wears the construction and sidewall treatment expected for its era and market. If trophies matter, match the tire choice to the judging standard before the car is finished rather than treating tires as a final cosmetic decision.

The 1970 Audi Super sits in the same transition period where radial construction was increasingly common on European small sedans, yet bias-ply fitments still belong in an accurate period conversation. Its associated sizes are 165R13 in radial form and 600-13 in bias-ply form, both mounting on 13-inch wheels. Original-equipment branding should be verified from period literature or marque-specific sources instead of assumed from reproduction offerings.

For restoration planning, the key is deciding whether you are recreating a car exactly as delivered in a particular market or building a faithful period-style driver. A 165R13 blackwall radial tends to suit a later-European presentation, while a 600-13 whitewall bias-ply creates a different look entirely. The right answer depends on your reference point, not just on what physically fits the wheel.

1970 Audi tires can be suitable for highway driving when the tire’s condition, inflation, and speed rating align with the way the car will be used. The radial sizes here include H-rated examples, which carry a 130 mph ceiling, while the bias-ply sizes do not show modern speed-letter markings in the same way. On a well-sorted 1970 Audi, the car’s age, braking system, steering, suspension condition, and overall mechanical readiness often matter more in real highway use than the tire’s absolute speed ceiling.

The practical takeaway is to treat highway use as a whole-vehicle question rather than a tire-only question. Fresh, properly fitted tires are essential, but so are correct pressures, sound wheel hardware, and a recent inspection of the rest of the chassis. If the car has been stored for long periods, give extra attention to age-related tire condition before relying on it for sustained road speeds.

Inflation pressure for 1970 Audi tires should follow the vehicle’s factory recommendation for normal service, but the tire’s own maximum-load pressure marking is still important context. The 560-14 bias-ply shows 906 pounds at 30 psi, the 600-13 bias-ply shows 1,010 pounds at 32 psi, and one 165R14 radial example shows 1,102 pounds at 51 psi. Those figures describe the tire’s rated capacity point, not a universal running pressure for every 1970 Audi.

Use the owner’s manual or factory placard as the starting point for day-to-day inflation, then make sure the tire you choose is appropriate for the vehicle’s needs. Do not transfer a pressure from a 13-inch size to a 14-inch size, or from a bias-ply to a radial, just because both belong to the same make and year. Recheck pressure when the car comes out of storage and before any longer trip.

Before a longer drive in a 1970 Audi, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Look closely at the valve stems, and if your setup uses tubes, make sure there is no sign of persistent slow leakage or heat-related stress around the stem area. The spare should also be aired up and inspected, since a decades-old spare can be unusable even if it has never touched the road.

Tires are only one part of the check, but they are the easiest place to catch age-related issues before departure. A sensible longer-trip routine also includes brakes, wheel fasteners, fluids, lights, and a quick under-car look for anything out of place. On a vintage Audi, a careful pre-drive inspection is less about paranoia and more about preserving a pleasant, trouble-free outing.