Set of 5 off 155 HR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67

155 HR 15

The tyre size 155 HR 15 is a very important classic car size. Not only were 155 HR 15 tyres fitted on a wide variety of classic cars such as Peugeot 403, 404, Lancia Flavia and Appia, Saab 96 GL, and 95 GL, and Reliant Scimitar Sabre 4; this actual 155 HR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 was fitted as original equipment on some utterly lovely classic cars at the factory gate. Cars include the Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider, Giulietta, and early Alfa Giulia, not to mention the beautiful Lotus Elite, which didn’t just look fabulous but was an astonishing handling car packing a punch far above what would be expected of a 1.2L classic sports car.

The other thing that made the 155 HR 15 tyre so important is that it was a radial alternative to crossply tyres of the sizes 5.50-15 and 5.60-15, meaning that this Cinturato would be the best radial tyre to be fitted to cars like Triumph TR2, early TR3 (pre A), MGA, MG TD, and MG TF. When it comes to the big volume, the VW Beetle fits 5.60-15 crossply, and as a result, it handles best on a 155 HR 15 tyre, especially this 155 HR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO. It is worth noting that many of these classic car owners might choose to fit a 165 R15 tyre instead of a 155 HR 15, choosing a larger footprint and slightly longer legs in the gearing.

For cars where it's not so much about the handling, the 165 R15 Michelin XZX offers an excellent bargain for a VW Beetle, and the 165 R15 Pirelli Cinturato CA67 offers the superior handling of a sports car tyre. However, it is well worth pointing out that if your car is fitted with 5.50-15 or 5.60-15 crossply tyres then it will handle nicest as a road car on a 155 HR 15 tyre, and the 155 HR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 is the best of the bunch, particularly for classic sports cars.

155 HR 15 Tyres

Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the sports cars that were known as the best handling and the nimblest sports cars of the day were the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and the Lotus Elite. Both of these cars fitted the 155 HR 15 Pirelli Cinturato CA67 tyres. Though the 155 HR 15 Cinturato cannot take all of the glory for the way these fabulous little cars handled, it was, without doubt, a contributing factor. In 1952, Pirelli took what had been learned about the advantages of grip and longevity that the radial tyre had to offer; but the difference with the Pirelli Cinturato was that it offered progressive handling. A critical element of what makes a classic sports car from this period such a joy to drive.

The PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67 155 HR 15 tyre was designed to work with the suspension and chassis dynamics of classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s. The Cinturato CA67 has a more flexible sidewall than modern tyres, allowing it to absorb road irregularities and work with the softer suspension setups of classic cars. This flexibility enhances ride comfort and helps maintain better contact with the road surface, improving overall handling.

Classic sports cars are not about ultimate grip, but about progressive handling and cornering a classic car on the throttle peddle as much as the steering wheel.

There are other good classic tyres in the 155 HR 15 size. Michelin makes the 155 TR 15 Michelin X. The Michelin X is ideal for the VW Beetle and has light steering for an early, more pedestrian car. Michelin also makes the excellent 155R15 Michelin XAS. The 155R15 XAS tyre made in 1965 comes into its own at high-speed cruising. However, on a 1950s, 1960s, or even 1970s chassis, nothing competes with the graceful, progressive handling of a CA67 Pirelli Cinturato. It truly is a key component in some of the world's best-handling classic sports cars. To evidence this, we point out that Ferrari fitted Cinturato on its 250 GT road cars!