2013 Smart Tire Fitment Guide

2013 Smart vehicles use four tire sizes, all on the Fortwo: 155/60R15, 175/55R15, 165/60R15, and 195/50R15. Every one of those sizes is a radial built for a 15-inch rim. The 195/50R15 size fits 15-inch wheels with a rim-width range of 5.5 to 7.0 inches, depending on the specific tire, while the other sizes remain part of the same 15-inch wheel family on the Fortwo.

The key point is that 2013 Smart fitment depends on the exact tire size at each wheel position, not just the year and make. A Fortwo may use different widths and aspect ratios front to rear, so checking the tire sidewall and wheel position before replacement is more important than assuming any 15-inch Smart tire will interchange.

On a 2013 Smart, 155/60R15 is a metric radial size. The 155 is the nominal section width in millimeters, 60 is the aspect ratio, R identifies radial construction, and 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is one of the Fortwo-specific sizes used within the 2013 Smart range and should be treated as an exact fitment size rather than a general substitute for the other Fortwo sizes.

That decoding matters because a small change in width or aspect ratio can alter the tire’s overall dimensions and the way it sits on the wheel. On a compact car like the 2013 Smart Fortwo, staying with the exact size called for at that position helps preserve intended clearance, gearing feel, and the balanced front-to-rear tire relationship.

2013 Smart effectively centers on one model line here, the Fortwo, but that does not mean one tire size fits every position on the car. The Fortwo uses four different radial sizes: 155/60R15, 175/55R15, 165/60R15, and 195/50R15. All mount on 15-inch wheels, yet the differing widths and profiles mean they are not interchangeable without confirming where each size belongs.

For an owner, that means the important identification step is not choosing among multiple Smart models, but verifying the exact size already mounted at the front or rear of the Fortwo. If you are replacing one pair rather than all four tires, match the existing size and confirm the wheel width before moving to brand or tread selection.

Current coverage for 2013 Smart in the available product range is concentrated in 195/50R15, where the sidewall style is blackwall. That suits the Fortwo’s modern, compact, and contemporary appearance far more naturally than a vintage-style whitewall treatment would. Since 2013 Smart sits firmly in the modern era, blackwall presentation is consistent with the way most owners and restorers would expect a Fortwo tire to look.

Sidewall style matters mostly for visual character rather than fitment in this case. If your priority is keeping the car close to its original modern look, blackwall is the straightforward choice. Once the appearance is settled, the more important buying step is confirming the exact size required at that wheel position so the tire’s dimensions remain correct for the car.

For 2013 Smart applications covered here, the 195/50R15 size is available from BFGoodrich and Michelin. Both options are radial blackwall tires sized for a 15-inch rim, and both carry an 82V service description in the versions available for this application. That gives Fortwo owners a choice between two well-known performance-oriented tire makers within the same size category.

Brand choice becomes relevant after size confirmation, not before it. If your Fortwo requires 195/50R15, comparing the BFGoodrich and Michelin options makes sense on factors such as intended driving character, published wheel-width range, and overall tire weight. If your car uses one of the other Fortwo sizes, the first step remains finding the correct size match rather than choosing by brand name alone.

For a 2013 Smart using 195/50R15, the BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp 2 and Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 share the same size, 82V rating, blackwall appearance, radial construction, and 15-inch rim diameter. The BFGoodrich carries a 5.5-to-7.0-inch wheel-width range, weighs 20 pounds, and shows a maximum load figure of 1,047 pounds at 44 psi. The Michelin also fits a 15-inch rim with a 5.5-to-7-inch wheel-width range and weighs 17 pounds.

Those differences make this a comparison of product character within the same fitment rather than a fitment change. The practical takeaway is to verify your wheel width, then decide whether details such as tire weight or the published load-and-pressure figure matter for the way you use the car. Either way, the size itself still needs to match the Fortwo’s required position.

For 2013 Smart fitment covered here, the clearest wheel-width guidance is for 195/50R15. BFGoodrich pairs that size with a 5.5-to-7.0-inch rim-width range, while Michelin pairs it with a 5.5-to-7-inch range. Both tires mount on a 15-inch wheel, so the width question is about choosing a tire that matches the actual wheel rather than changing diameter.

That matters because a correct 15-inch diameter alone does not guarantee the right fit across different wheel widths. If your Fortwo runs 195/50R15, measure or confirm the wheel width before choosing between products. With the narrower Fortwo sizes, the same principle applies: verify the wheel and the exact size together rather than treating all 15-inch Smart tires as equivalent.

For 2013 Smart coverage in 195/50R15, tubeless use is part of the fitment picture. The Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 clearly carries a TL marking, which identifies it as a tubeless tire, and the radial construction used throughout the 2013 Smart sizes aligns with modern tubeless wheel practice. No tube-type marking appears in the available 195/50R15 product range for this application.

Even on a modern car, tube decisions should follow the tire and wheel together rather than habit alone. If you are replacing tires on a Fortwo, check the sidewall marking on the exact product and confirm that the wheel itself is suitable for tubeless service. That simple check avoids mixing assumptions from older collector-vehicle practice into a modern Smart application.

All four 2013 Smart Fortwo tire sizes here use a 15-inch wheel diameter, so they belong to the same basic rim-diameter family. That means the original Fortwo wheels remain part of the conversation when moving among these sizes. The limiting factor is not diameter, but whether the wheel width and wheel position are correct for the exact size being fitted.

A 15-inch Fortwo wheel can still be the wrong wheel for a different Fortwo tire size if the width or front-to-rear application changes. Before reusing original wheels with another size, confirm the wheel width, check the tire’s approved range, and make sure you are matching the size to the proper axle location instead of assuming every Fortwo 15-inch tire swaps freely.

A 2013 Smart should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Because all of the Smart sizes here are radial, they generally tolerate storage well, but long periods of sitting can still create flat-spotting and age-related sidewall stress if the car never moves.

Moving the car slightly from time to time, maintaining pressure, and keeping the tires off oil-soaked or damp concrete helps preserve the casing. If the Fortwo will sit for an extended season, many owners also use tire cradles or stands to reduce static loading. Good storage habits matter just as much as tread depth on a low-mileage modern collector or occasional-use car.

On a 2013 Smart, tire life should be judged by age and condition as much as by mileage. A sensible collector-vehicle rule is to begin evaluating tires closely around five to seven years of age and to treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if tread remains. The DOT date code on each tire gives the manufacturing week and year.

That guideline matters because many Fortwo cars cover limited annual mileage, so the rubber can age out before the tread wears out. Heat cycles, sun exposure, underinflation, and long storage periods all affect service life. If a tire shows cracking, hardening, bulges, or repeated air loss, condition should outweigh tread depth when deciding whether it still belongs on the car.

Tires on a 2013 Smart should be checked before every drive and given a more deliberate inspection before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, punctures, irregular wear, impact damage, and pressure loss. Since the Fortwo can use different sizes front to rear, inspection should include confirming that each size remains in the correct position and that no tire has been swapped casually.

A deeper look every few months is wise even if the car is used only occasionally. Check valve stems, tread depth across the width of the tire, and whether the car pulls or vibrates in a way that suggests alignment or tire wear issues. Catching those problems early is especially important on a short-wheelbase car where tire condition can noticeably affect everyday drivability.

2013 Smart tires can be suitable for highway driving when the exact size, load capacity, speed rating, inflation, and overall tire condition are all appropriate. In the available 195/50R15 coverage, both BFGoodrich and Michelin carry a V speed rating, which corresponds to a maximum sustained speed capability of 149 mph under proper conditions. That far exceeds normal U.S. highway speeds, so tire age, pressure, and condition are usually more important than the rating itself in everyday use.

The practical limit on a 2013 Smart Fortwo is often the car’s short wheelbase, light weight, and overall chassis behavior rather than the speed symbol on the tire. For real-world road use, inspect the tires carefully, maintain proper inflation, and avoid treating an aging low-mileage tire as safe simply because it still has tread. Sound mechanical condition across the whole car remains part of the equation.

Inflation pressure for a 2013 Smart should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for the exact front and rear sizes installed, then be checked against the tire maker’s own markings and specifications for that specific product. In 195/50R15, one available tire shows a maximum load of 1,047 pounds at 44 psi. That figure is a tire limit reference, not a universal running pressure for every 2013 Smart tire size.

Use the owner’s manual or the car’s tire-information placard as the starting point because Fortwo fitment often differs front to rear. Then confirm that the chosen tire’s published limits align with the wheel and application. Avoid transferring a pressure figure from 195/50R15 to 155/60R15, 165/60R15, or 175/55R15, since each size can have its own operating requirements.

Before a longer drive in a 2013 Smart, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Verify that the Fortwo still has the correct size at each wheel position and that the spare, if carried, is usable and properly inflated. A modern radial tire can still be compromised by age, curb impacts, or long dormant periods even when it looks acceptable at a glance.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip routine on a small, older city car. It is wise to add a quick check of brakes, lights, fluids, battery condition, and suspension feel before heading farther from home. If the car develops vibration, wandering, or steering pull during the drive, stop and recheck the tires rather than assuming the issue will clear up on its own.