Vintage Ferrari Tires

Currently, there is an excellent selection of vintage Ferrari tires made by the world's best tire manufacturers. Pirelli is even producing the early 600-16 PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA™™ original equipment cross-ply tires for Ferrari cars of a 1940s or 1950s vintage. Michelin pioneered the market with radial tires for vintage Ferrari, launching the 165SR400 Michelin X for early Ferrari models that accommodated millimetric wheels. They also offer a 185SR16 Michelin X for the Ferrari 250 equipped with 16” wheels, and a 600R16 Michelin Pilote X,, a radial tire designed to mirror the 1950s Englebert cross-ply racing tire.

The Pirelli Cinturato CA67 debuted in 1952 and became the preferred radial tire for many early 1960s Ferraris as the 185VR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CA67. Furthermore, Pirelli produces the 175HR400 PIRELLI CINTURATO™ CA67 , the only 400 mm tire with a 130mph speed rating, and the 185VR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO™ CA67, which was the radial choice for 1950s Ferraris with 15” wheels.

In the 1950s, many Ferraris with Borrani 16” road wheels exited the factory either with the 600-16 PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA™ or the 185VR16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CA67 radial tire. By 1964, Ferrari road cars transitioned to 15” or 14” wheels. Ferraris from the mid-1960s with 15” wheels commonly featured the 205VR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN72, while those with 14” wheels were paired with the 205VR14 Michelin XWX.

Classic Ferrari Tires

It's important to note that Ferraris before 1968 didn't originally accommodate 70-profile tires. However, many have since been modified to fit the 70% profile Michelin XWX or the PIRELLI CINTURATO™ CN12. As a modern alternative, early 1960s models that originally had 185R15 tires can now be fitted with either the 205/70VR15 Michelin XWX or the 205/70WR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12. Additionally, between 1964 and 1968, Ferraris that used 205R14 or 215/70VR14 Pirelli CN72 can often be upgraded to 205VR14 Michelin XWX or 215/70VR14 Michelin XWX, while those with 15” wheels may switch to 215/70VR15 Michelin XWX or 215/70VR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN12. Nevertheless, adhering to original equipment tires is recommended.

To distinguish between classic and vintage Ferraris, one might consider the adoption of new low-profile tire technology as a dividing line. Ferrari was swift to embrace this innovation, with models like the 365 GTB Daytona as early as 1968 standardizing the 215/70VR15 tires when low-profile tires first emerged. The Ferrari Dino also rapidly adopted this advancement. Although the first classic Ferrari Dino was fitted with 185R14 Tires, they soon transitioned to the novel low-profile technology and shifted to 205/70VR14 Michelin XWX classic tires.