1972 Opel Tire Fitment Guide

1972 Opel vehicles use four different tire sizes across three models, and all of them mount on 13-inch rims. The Opel 1900 uses 165R13 or 600-13, the Kadett uses 155R13, and the Opel model uses 165R13 or 560-13. Rim width range depends on the size: 165R13 fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims, 600-13 fits 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims, 155R13 fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, and 560-13 fits 3.50 to 4.50-inch rims depending on the product.

That means the first job is identifying whether you have a 1900, Kadett, or Opel model, not just confirming the year and make. Once the model is clear, compare your wheel width to the size you plan to run, especially if you are moving between a narrow bias-ply fitment and a wider radial fitment. On cars that allow both a radial and a bias-ply size, the decision affects both appearance and road feel.

A 600-13 on a 1972 Opel is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 600 indicates a nominal section width in the older inch-based sizing system, and the 13 means the tire fits a 13-inch wheel. On the 1972 Opel range, that size is used on the 1900 and comes in bias-ply construction with whitewall styling rather than as a modern metric radial.

That older numeric code matters because it signals a different tire character from a radial such as 165R13 or 155R13. A 600-13 is generally chosen by owners who want the look, stance, and steering feel associated with original-period small-car bias-ply tires. Before ordering, confirm that your wheel falls within the 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim width range used by this size.

No, 1972 Opel models do not all use the same tire size. The Kadett uses 155R13 only, while the 1900 uses either 165R13 or 600-13, and the Opel model uses either 165R13 or 560-13. Even though every size fits a 13-inch rim, the section width, construction type, and rim width range change from one size to another.

That is why year and make alone are not enough to pick a tire for a 1972 Opel. If your car is a Kadett, the path is straightforward, but the 1900 and Opel models require an extra decision about whether you are matching a radial setup or an original-style bias-ply fitment. Checking the existing tire size and measuring the wheel width are the quickest ways to avoid a mismatch.

On a 1972 Opel 1900, the choice between 165R13 and 600-13 is mainly a choice between radial and bias-ply construction. The 165R13 is a metric radial offered in blackwall form by Michelin and Dunlop, while the 600-13 is a bias-ply size from BFGoodrich with narrow or wide whitewall styling. Both fit 13-inch rims, but they call for different rim width ranges and give the car a different period impression.

Owners who want a more authentic early-1970s restoration look often gravitate to the 600-13, especially when whitewall presentation matters. Owners who plan to drive the car regularly and want a more familiar radial response usually prefer 165R13. The best choice depends on whether your priority is original-style appearance or a radial driving experience, and that decision should be made after checking your wheel width.

1972 Opel tire sidewall styles vary by size and construction. The radial sizes, 165R13 and 155R13, are available as blackwalls from Michelin and Dunlop. The bias-ply sizes, 600-13 and 560-13, are offered with narrow whitewall and wide whitewall treatments, with BFGoodrich covering both sizes and Firestone also available in 560-13 wide whitewall form.

That sidewall split tracks closely with the era and the type of restoration you are aiming for. A blackwall radial gives the car a clean European-import appearance that suits Opel's 1970s identity, while a whitewall bias-ply pushes the presentation more firmly toward original-period American-market styling. If show authenticity matters, compare the sidewall look on your car to period photos and consult Opel marque specialists for market-specific guidance.

Three brands cover the 1972 Opel range: Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, and Firestone appears as well on one size, making four in total. Michelin and Dunlop handle the radial sizes, with both brands available in 165R13 and 155R13. BFGoodrich covers the bias-ply 600-13 and 560-13 sizes, while Firestone also offers a 560-13 bias-ply whitewall option for the Opel model.

That brand mix gives buyers a useful split between European-style radial offerings and traditional American-brand bias-ply reproductions. If your priority is the way an imported Opel looked and drove in period road use, Michelin and Dunlop are the natural starting points. If your focus is whitewall styling and a classic bias-ply presentation, BFGoodrich and Firestone become the more relevant names to compare.

Rim width depends on the exact tire size used on the 1972 Opel. The 165R13 radial fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims, the 155R13 radial fits 4.00 to 5.50-inch rims, and the 600-13 bias-ply fits 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims. The 560-13 bias-ply fits 3.50 to 4.00-inch rims on some versions and 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims on others, so that size needs especially careful product-by-product checking.

That range overlap is helpful, but it should not be treated as permission to mount any 13-inch tire on any 13-inch Opel wheel. Narrower bias-ply sizes are often intended for narrower rims than the radial alternatives. Measuring the wheel before purchase is the smart move, particularly if the car has replacement wheels or if you are changing from one construction type to another.

Tube requirements on 1972 Opel tires depend on the exact product and size. The Michelin versions of 165R13 and 155R13 are marked TL, meaning tubeless. The bias-ply sizes do not show a tube or tubeless marking in the size description here, so that choice should be confirmed against the individual tire and wheel combination rather than assumed across the whole range.

The practical issue is that many vintage wheels and reproduction tires can be tube-sensitive even when the size itself looks straightforward. If your Opel still uses original steel wheels, inspect the wheel condition, valve stem area, and bead seat before deciding how to mount the tire. Matching the tire's sidewall marking and the wheel's construction is more reliable than making a blanket rule by size alone.

Every tire size used on the 1972 Opel range fits a 13-inch rim, so original 13-inch wheels remain the right diameter starting point. That does not mean one wheel width automatically works with every size, because the required rim widths differ between 560-13, 600-13, 155R13, and 165R13. The narrowest bias-ply options sit on narrower rims than the broadest radial fitments.

For owners deciding between a model's bias-ply and radial options, diameter compatibility is the easy part and wheel width is the real checkpoint. A wheel that suits 560-13 may not be the best match for 165R13, and vice versa. If your car has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life, measure first instead of relying on assumptions.

A stored 1972 Opel should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from ozone-producing electric motors or compressors, and on a dry surface with stable temperature conditions. Maintain inflation, move the car periodically if possible, and avoid letting one section of the tire carry the full load for months without movement. Bias-ply tires such as 600-13 and 560-13 are especially prone to flat-spotting during long static storage compared with the radial sizes used on the Kadett and other Opel models.

If the car will sit for an extended season, many collectors either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading on the tires. That matters as much for appearance as for drive quality, because sidewall aging and storage damage can spoil an otherwise careful restoration. A breathable cover and a clean, dry garage do more for tire life than any dressing or cosmetic treatment.

Tires on a 1972 Opel should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often accumulate very few miles. A good rule is to evaluate them closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code and the tire's visible condition matter more than how often the car was driven.

That approach is especially important on a vintage Opel because an older tire can look serviceable while the rubber has already hardened or begun to crack internally. Sidewall checking, changes in ride quality, and repeated pressure loss are all reasons to inspect more closely. A low-mileage collector car is not automatically easy on tires if those tires spend long periods parked and aging.

Tires on a 1972 Opel should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and signs of slow air loss. On cars using older-style bias-ply fitments or wheels that may require tubes, valve stems and air retention deserve extra attention as part of that inspection.

A brief walkaround is usually enough to catch the obvious issues before a local drive, but a touring event or highway trip calls for a closer look with an air gauge and flashlight. Vintage imported cars can spend long stretches parked between outings, and that makes age-related changes easier to miss. Tire inspection should be part of the same routine that includes fluids, brakes, lights, and spare-tire readiness.

A 1972 Opel 1900 could be associated with either a 165R13 radial or a 600-13 bias-ply, depending on how the car was equipped and the market expectations around it. By 1972, radial tires were already well established on European cars, while bias-ply construction still remained part of the period landscape for some applications and replacement choices. No original-equipment brand should be assumed without checking period manuals, window stickers, or marque-club references for the specific car.

For a restoration, that means size alone is only part of the authenticity picture. Construction type and sidewall appearance can influence whether the finished car looks correct for a U.S.-market Opel in this period. If you are aiming for judged authenticity, use period photography and Opel specialist resources to confirm what would be appropriate for your exact body style and market specification.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1972 Opel because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction, and sidewall style before they notice smaller details. A narrow whitewall bias-ply, a wide whitewall bias-ply, and a blackwall radial each create a distinctly different period impression, even when the wheel diameter remains 13 inches. A tire that fits physically can still look out of place if it does not match the restoration goal.

That matters most when a car is being judged for originality rather than simply presented as a well-kept driver. A radial may be completely sensible for road use yet still draw attention on a car restored to a factory-style standard, while an incorrect whitewall width can change the visual balance of the whole car. Event rules and marque clubs are the best sources for deciding how strict the fitment needs to be.

The 1972 Opel Kadett uses 155R13 in the available modern fitment range, and that aligns with the strong European small-car radial tradition of the period. In practical restoration terms, a blackwall radial is the fitment style most consistent with the Kadett's straightforward imported-economy identity. Original-equipment branding and market-specific details still deserve confirmation through Kadett literature or Opel club resources before a concours-level decision is made.

That makes the Kadett one of the simpler 1972 Opel models to interpret from a tire standpoint, because the fitment path is narrower than it is on the 1900 or Opel model. The main authenticity decisions revolve around brand presentation and overall period look rather than choosing between multiple constructions. If your Kadett was sold in a different market or restored from mixed parts, verify wheel width and surviving trim clues before finalizing the tire choice.

1972 Opel tires can be appropriate for highway driving when the tires are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to the car and wheel. The radial sizes 165R13 and 155R13 are available with H speed ratings, which carry a 130 mph ceiling. The bias-ply sizes shown here do not carry the same speed-rating presentation, so they should be approached with the more conservative mindset normally used for vintage bias-ply collector tires.

On a vintage Opel, the car's own brakes, steering, suspension condition, and age-related mechanical limits usually matter more in normal highway use than the theoretical top-end rating of the tire. The smartest approach is to treat the whole car as a system and make sure the tires are the freshest, best-matched part of it. If you plan extended freeway driving, a radial-equipped car generally aligns more naturally with that use.

Inflation pressure for a 1972 Opel should be tied to the exact tire size and to the vehicle maker's recommended settings, not transferred casually from one size to another. Among the available sizes, 600-13 carries a load figure of 1,010 pounds at 32 psi, and 560-13 carries 850 pounds at 30 psi. The radial sizes include load-capacity figures of 1,047 pounds for 165R13 and 937 pounds for 155R13 on some versions, but a tire's maximum-rated pressure is not the same thing as the car's running pressure recommendation.

The best practice is to start with the factory pressure recommendation for your exact model, then confirm that it remains appropriate for the reproduction or specialty tire you are using. Radials and bias-ply tires often respond differently to inflation changes, so copying a number from a different construction can alter ride and wear. Use an accurate gauge and check cold pressures rather than adjusting after the car has been driven.

Before a longer drive in a 1972 Opel, inspect every tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, abnormal wear, and proper cold inflation. Check the spare as carefully as the road tires, and look closely at the valve stems and bead area, especially on older wheels or any setup where tubes may be involved. A tire that holds air around town can still fail a longer trip if age or storage damage has already weakened it.

That tire check should happen alongside a broader vintage-car inspection that includes brakes, fluid levels, hoses, belts, wheel-bearing feel, and basic lighting. Opels are light, nimble cars, but like any 1970s vehicle they reward preparation more than improvisation. If anything about the tire condition looks questionable, fix that first and treat the drive as a mechanical event, not just a casual errand.