1971 Audi Tire Fitment Guide

1971 Audi vehicles use four sizes across two model lines: the Audi 100 uses 165R14 radial or 560-14 bias-ply, while the Audi Super uses 165R13 radial or 600-13 bias-ply. The 14-inch sizes belong to the Audi 100 and the 13-inch sizes belong to the Audi Super, so the two models do not share the same rim diameter. Rim width guidance appears within the available products for several of these sizes, including 4.0 to 5.5 inches or 4.50 to 6.00 inches for the radial options and narrower ranges for the bias-ply options.

That means the first fitment question is model identification, not brand choice. Once you know whether your 1971 Audi is a 100 or a Super, you can narrow the decision to a radial-versus-bias choice within the correct rim diameter. If the car still has original wheels, confirm the wheel size directly before ordering, especially on cars that may have been changed over the years.

On a 1971 Audi, 560-14 is an older numeric bias-ply size. The 560 refers to the tire’s nominal section width in the traditional inch-based numeric system, with the decimal omitted, and the 14 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On this year of Audi, 560-14 belongs to the Audi 100 rather than the Super, and it represents the period-style bias-ply fitment for that model.

A buyer looking at 560-14 should think in terms of era-correct appearance and classic bias-ply construction rather than a modern metric replacement code. It mounts on a 14-inch wheel and uses narrower rim widths than the 165R14 radial alternatives. If your Audi 100 is being restored to a factory-style visual presentation, this is the size family that usually deserves the closest look.

On a 1971 Audi, 165R13 and 165R14 are euro-metric radial sizes. The 165 is the section width in millimeters, the R indicates radial construction, and the 13 or 14 is the wheel diameter in inches. Because no aspect ratio is printed in the basic size code, these follow the traditional euro-metric convention that generally implies an 80-series profile. The 13-inch version fits the Audi Super, while the 14-inch version fits the Audi 100.

These sizes are easier for many modern buyers to recognize because the metric radial format continued well beyond the early 1970s. They also tend to be the sizes owners consider when they want a European radial look and feel while staying within period-correct overall sizing practice. The main thing to avoid is assuming that 165R13 and 165R14 are interchangeable simply because the section width is the same; the rim diameter is different.

No. 1971 Audi models split into two separate fitment groups. The Audi 100 uses 14-inch tire sizes, either 165R14 radial or 560-14 bias-ply, while the Audi Super uses 13-inch tire sizes, either 165R13 radial or 600-13 bias-ply. That model-by-model difference is more important than construction choice at the start, because a 13-inch tire will not fit a 14-inch wheel and vice versa.

This is the kind of year-make combination where a buyer should not stop at the badge on the hood. If your car has been in long-term ownership, has replacement wheels, or has passed through several restorations, verify the model and wheel diameter before comparing brands or sidewall styles. Once that basic fitment question is settled, the rest of the tire decision becomes much easier.

A 1971 Audi owner is usually choosing between a metric radial and a numeric bias-ply within the correct model-specific wheel diameter. The Audi 100 pairs 165R14 radial with 560-14 bias-ply, and the Audi Super pairs 165R13 radial with 600-13 bias-ply. Radials and bias-ply tires are both correct to the era in a broad historical sense, but they deliver different character, and the available radial options here are blackwall while the bias-ply options add whitewall choices on the numeric sizes.

Choose the bias-ply route if the priority is a more period-authentic visual impression and traditional construction. Choose the radial route if you want the later European fitment style associated with many 1970s imports and a more familiar modern road feel. The key is not to mix that decision up with basic fitment: the Audi 100 stays in 14-inch sizes, and the Audi Super stays in 13-inch sizes.

1971 Audi radial sizes are available in blackwall form, while the bias-ply numeric sizes introduce more sidewall variation. The 560-14 for the Audi 100 comes in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall, and the 600-13 for the Audi Super comes in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall. That gives owners a meaningful appearance choice, especially on cars being restored to a period showroom style rather than a later European delivery look.

Blackwall usually feels most at home on a 1971 Audi when the goal is a restrained European presentation. Whitewall choices can still make sense for certain restoration themes, dealer-delivery looks, or owner preference, especially in the U.S. market where whitewalls remained part of the visual language longer than many buyers remember. Sidewall style will not change the basic fitment, but it can change the whole character of the finished car.

1971 Audi tire coverage includes Pirelli, Michelin, Vredestein, Dunlop, and BFGoodrich, depending on size. The 165R14 radial for the Audi 100 comes from Pirelli, Michelin, and Vredestein, while the 165R13 radial for the Audi Super comes from Michelin and Dunlop. The numeric bias-ply sizes, 560-14 and 600-13, come from BFGoodrich in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series.

That brand spread gives buyers a distinctly European flavor on the radial side and a traditional American collector-tire option on the bias-ply side. Rather than asking which brand fits 1971 Audi in general, narrow the choice to your model and size first. Once you do that, the brand field becomes much easier to compare in terms of sidewall appearance, heritage feel, and how close you want to stay to the period character of the car.

Rim width guidance varies by size on 1971 Audi applications. For 165R14, available products span 4.0 to 5.5 inches and 4.50 to 6.00 inches depending on brand. For 560-14, the range is 3.50 to 4.00 inches. For 165R13, Michelin products call for 4.50 to 6.00 inches, and for 600-13 the range is 4.00 to 4.50 inches.

Those ranges show why construction changes are not just a styling decision. The radial options generally accommodate wider rims than the numeric bias-ply alternatives, so wheel width should be confirmed before making a final choice. If your 1971 Audi has replacement wheels, widened steel wheels, or market-specific wheels, measure the wheel directly instead of assuming it matches the original specification.

Inner-tube requirements on 1971 Audi tires depend on the specific size and product. Michelin versions of both 165R14 and 165R13 are marked TL, indicating tubeless construction, while the overall metric radial sizes can vary by product because not every version carries the same marking. The numeric bias-ply products in 560-14 and 600-13 do not show a TL marking in the size designation, so tube use should be confirmed against the exact tire and wheel combination you plan to run.

The practical point is that tube choice should follow both the tire marking and the wheel itself. Original wheels, wheel condition, and whether the rim was designed for tubeless use all matter on a 1971 Audi. Confirm that combination before installation rather than assuming every tire in the same nominal size uses the same setup.

Original 1971 Audi wheels can only be used with the tire sizes that match their rim diameter. Audi 100 sizes are 14-inch, and Audi Super sizes are 13-inch, so there is no universal wheel that covers all four sizes across the full 1971 Audi range. Within each model, the bias-ply and radial choices share the same rim diameter, but the acceptable rim width range can differ substantially between the constructions.

That means a stock Audi 100 wheel may work with both 560-14 and 165R14 if the width is appropriate, and the same principle applies between 600-13 and 165R13 on the Audi Super. Diameter compatibility alone is not enough. Before mounting either construction, confirm the actual wheel width and check that it falls within the range accepted by the tire you plan to use.

A stored 1971 Audi should sit in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone sources that accelerate rubber aging. Keep the tires inflated to a stable storage pressure, clean off oil or brake-fluid residue, and move the car periodically if possible. Bias-ply tires can flat-spot more noticeably during long static storage, while both bias-ply and radial tires can suffer sidewall aging if they spend years parked in one position.

Owners who store a 1971 Audi for a season or longer often benefit from rolling the car a short distance every few weeks or using stands in a way that does not leave the suspension hanging incorrectly. If the car is on whitewalls, keep the sidewalls clean with mild products only. Good storage habits preserve appearance, reduce vibration complaints on the next drive, and help the tires age more evenly.

On a 1971 Audi, tire life is usually governed more by age than by mileage. Collector vehicles often wear tires out chronologically rather than through tread consumption, so a sound rule is to begin careful evaluation around five to seven years and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire is the best starting point for understanding actual age.

That matters especially on a lightly used Audi 100 or Audi Super that spends long stretches in the garage. A tire can still look respectable from across the room and yet be aging internally or hardening enough to change the way the car drives. If the age is unclear, or the car is being returned to regular road use after long inactivity, a fresh set is often the wiser baseline.

Tires on a 1971 Audi should be checked before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking around the bead, irregular tread wear, cuts, bulges, and any sign that the car has been sitting low on one corner. Pressure loss deserves attention even if the tire still appears visually sound, and any tube-type setup should also include inspection of the valve stem and the wheel condition around the stem hole.

Frequent inspection matters because older collector cars are often driven intermittently, and problems can develop between outings rather than during heavy weekly use. A quick walk-around and pressure check takes only a few minutes but can catch aging, punctures, or storage-related deformation before a highway trip. On a 1971 Audi, tire condition should be part of every broader pre-drive mechanical routine.

For a 1971 Audi 100, the original-era fitment question usually starts with the fact that bias-ply construction was still familiar, while radial adoption was already well established on many European cars. The size range here reflects that transition: 560-14 captures the older numeric bias-ply convention and 165R14 captures the metric radial convention. Either can make historical sense depending on market, delivery context, and how strictly the car is being restored.

A buyer pursuing factory-level accuracy should verify the car’s market of sale, original handbook, and any surviving tire placard before settling on one size or construction. Marque clubs and period road tests can help sort out whether a specific 1971 Audi 100 was more likely to have left the showroom on bias-ply or radial tires. Sidewall style matters too, especially if the car is being prepared for judged display.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when a 1971 Audi is judged for authenticity. Size, construction, sidewall treatment, and overall visual proportion can all influence how correct the car appears, even before a judge looks deeper. A 13-inch Audi Super tire on a 14-inch Audi 100 wheel is an obvious fitment error, but subtler issues matter too, such as choosing a whitewall style that does not suit the presentation standard or fitting a modern-style construction to a car judged for strict originality.

For local shows, owners often have more freedom to balance appearance and drivability. For marque-focused or higher-level concours events, check the event’s judging philosophy before making a final choice. Some standards reward faithful period construction and sidewall appearance, while others are more tolerant of radial conversions that preserve correct overall size and stance.

For the 1971 Audi 100 in 165R14, Michelin XAS and Vredestein Sprint Classic are both blackwall radials in the same general fitment class, but they differ in some measured details. The Michelin XAS carries a 4.50 to 6.00 inch rim width range and is marked 165HR14 84H TL, while the Vredestein Sprint Classic carries a 4.0 to 5.5 inch rim width range, an 84H speed and load designation, and a published maximum load of 1,102 pounds at 51 psi. Their weights also differ, with the Vredestein lighter than the Michelin example here.

That comparison matters most when wheel width and period flavor are both part of the decision. If your Audi 100 wheel sits toward the narrow end of the range, the Vredestein’s fitment window may be especially relevant. If tubeless marking is a deciding factor for your wheel setup, the Michelin’s TL marking becomes part of the conversation too.

1971 Audi tires can be appropriate for highway driving when the tire is the correct size for the model, in good condition, and used within its construction and speed rating limits. The metric radial sizes here include H-rated products, which carry a 130 mph ceiling, far beyond ordinary U.S. highway speeds. The bias-ply sizes are more about traditional construction and appearance, so their road behavior will feel different even when the size is correct and the tire is healthy.

On a 1971 Audi, real-world safety also depends on the condition of the rest of the car. Brakes, steering, suspension bushings, alignment, and wheel condition can matter just as much as the tire itself on an older European sedan. If the car has been parked for a long time, treat the first highway outing as something to prepare for carefully rather than assuming new-looking tires tell the whole story.

Inflation pressure on 1971 Audi tires should begin with the factory recommendation for the car and then be checked against the tire manufacturer’s own rating information for the exact size and product. Within these sizes, load and pressure figures are not interchangeable: 560-14 is rated at 906 pounds at 30 psi, 600-13 is rated at 1,010 pounds at 32 psi, and one 165R14 radial carries 1,102 pounds at 51 psi. Those are product ratings, not blanket pressure instructions for every 1971 Audi tire.

Use the owner’s manual or tire placard to establish the car’s target running pressure, especially if ride, wear, and steering feel are all important. Then confirm that the tire itself is operating within its own construction and rating envelope. Avoid borrowing a pressure number from one size to another just because the cars are the same year and make; the 13-inch and 14-inch fitments are distinct.

Before a longer drive in a 1971 Audi, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign of age-related hardening. Verify cold pressures, make sure the spare is usable, and check the valve stems closely, especially if the car uses a tube-type setup or has older wheels. On radial sizes, confirm that all four tires match in size and general type; on bias-ply sizes, pay extra attention to any flat-spotting if the car has been parked for an extended period.

The tires are only one part of the preparation, but they are the only part touching the road. A 1971 Audi that is sound mechanically can still become unpleasant or unsafe on a long trip if the tires are aged, underinflated, or mismatched. Pair the tire inspection with a basic check of wheel hardware, brakes, fluids, lights, and steering response before heading out.