Firestone 5/8 Inch Whitewall | 700-13

The Firestone 700-13 Classic 5/8 Inch Whitewall Tire is intended for classic vehicles originally specified for a 700-13 tire or a closely comparable size. The supplied fitment chart includes selected Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, and Toyota models from the 1950s and 1960s.

Model-year listings are only a starting point because wheel size, trim level, suspension changes, and prior conversions can alter fitment. Confirm the original tire specification, 13-inch wheel diameter, 4.00-to-5.00-inch rim width, load requirement, and available clearance before purchasing.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire is associated with the listed Corvair, Dart, Falcon, Fairlane, Mercedes-Benz, F85, Valiant, Barracuda, Toyota Crown, and related applications. Those references indicate common historical fitments, not a universal guarantee for every trim or surviving vehicle.

Many collector cars have received replacement wheels, disc-brake conversions, lowered suspension, or steering modifications. Compare the tire’s 24.78-inch overall diameter and 6.90-inch section width with the current package. The owner’s manual or reliable factory documentation should remain the primary fitment reference.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire has a listed overall diameter of 24.78 inches. That dimension helps determine ride height, wheel-well fill, effective gearing, and the visual stance of the vehicle. A diameter close to the original specification generally preserves the intended proportions.

Clearance must be checked through the full suspension range, not only while the car is parked. Verify space at the fender lip, inner wheelhouse, steering components, and suspension under compression. Lowered cars or vehicles with altered wheel offset may require more careful measurement.

The supplied conversion chart lists D78-13 as a similar bias-ply alternative and 185R13, P185/75R13, and P205/70R13 as similar radial alternatives. These sizes may provide broadly comparable dimensions, but they are not exact substitutes in construction, width, diameter, or appearance.

Before converting, compare published overall diameter, section width, approved rim range, load capacity, and clearance. A mathematically similar size can still alter steering feel, speedometer accuracy, stance, and sidewall appearance. The Firestone 700-13 remains the most direct choice when historical size designation matters.

A 185R13 is listed as a similar radial alternative to the Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire. The radial may offer different steering response, tread stability, heat behavior, and ride characteristics, while the Firestone preserves authentic bias-ply construction and period-correct visual details.

Size similarity does not mean identical mounted dimensions. Verify the specific 185R13 product’s diameter, width, load rating, and rim requirements before comparing it with the Firestone’s 24.78-inch diameter and 6.90-inch section width. Construction choice should reflect restoration goals and expected driving use.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire has a 24.78-inch overall diameter. If the tire being replaced is taller, the Firestone will rotate more times per mile and may cause the speedometer to indicate a higher speed than the vehicle is actually traveling.

If the previous tire is shorter, the opposite effect can occur. Diameter changes also influence engine rpm, effective gearing, and odometer readings. Compare published diameters rather than relying solely on size names, especially when converting from a radial or from a nonoriginal tire package.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire provides authentic bias-ply behavior appropriate for period-correct classic-car driving. Its crisscross ply construction produces a firm, traditional response and preserves the steering feel expected from many vehicles originally designed around bias-ply tires.

Compared with a modern radial, the Firestone may follow pavement grooves, seams, and road crown more noticeably. Steering input can require more correction on uneven surfaces. Proper alignment, sound suspension components, balanced wheels, and correctly set cold inflation pressure are important for predictable street behavior.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire can be used for road driving when properly fitted, loaded, inflated, and maintained. However, the supplied specifications do not list a speed rating, so buyers should not assume a specific sustained-speed capability from the size or appearance alone.

For extended highway use, verify suitability with Coker Tire and consider vehicle load, ambient temperature, inflation pressure, and tire age. Bias-ply tires can track road grooves more than radials and may build heat if underinflated. Inspect pressure and condition before long interstate trips.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire uses four-ply polyester bias construction. Its ply cords run diagonally at approximately 45 degrees to the bead and overlap in a crisscross pattern, creating the integrated casing behavior associated with traditional passenger-car tires.

The tire is also tubeless and has 12/32-inch listed tread depth. Bias construction supports authentic restoration appearance and period driving feel, but it can follow pavement irregularities more than a radial. Correct wheel condition, mounting, balancing, and inflation are important for obtaining consistent service from the casing.

The 5/8-inch whitewall is made from white rubber added during initial carcass construction and integrated through vulcanization. This differs from a separate decorative insert and supports a durable, authentic appearance when the tire is correctly mounted, cleaned, and protected from abrasion.

The whitewall can still stain or scuff from curb contact, harsh chemicals, brake dust, and improper mounting tools. Use cleaners intended for whitewall tires and avoid petroleum-based dressings or aggressive solvents. Frequent gentle cleaning is safer than allowing contamination to build and then using abrasive treatment.

The Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire is approved for wheels measuring 4.00 to 5.00 inches wide between the bead seats. Staying inside that range supports the intended bead seating, sidewall profile, section width, contact patch, and handling characteristics.

Wheel width should be measured at the bead seats rather than across the outer lips. Vintage wheel markings can be unclear, so physical measurement may be necessary. Do not choose a wider wheel merely to alter stance because excessive spreading can distort the tire profile and expose the whitewall or sidewall to abnormal stress.

Clean the Firestone 700-13 Classic Whitewall Tire with a product intended for white rubber, using a soft or moderately firm brush as needed. Rinse thoroughly so cleaner and loosened contamination do not remain on the 5/8-inch whitewall or adjacent black sidewall.

Avoid gasoline, strong solvents, abrasive tools, and petroleum-heavy dressings because they can discolor or degrade the rubber. Protect the whitewall from greasy mounting products and brake dust during installation. Regular light cleaning generally produces better results than infrequent aggressive scrubbing after stains have become embedded.