F1 tire sizes in the 1950s

[woohoo]

Gentemen,
A question to you all. Thirty years ago, Niki Lauda told us: "Take a trained monkey, place him into the cockpit and he is able to drive the car." Thirty years later Sebastian told us: "I had to start my car like a computer. It's very complicated." And Nico Rosberg said, "I pressed during the race...", I don't remember what race, "...the wrong button on the wheel". Question for you to all:

What were the tire sizes used in the 1950s?

I was looking at the sizes of the tires of the tires on the various cars of the 1950s and think that that tires changed a bit during that time, but my Googling has not found a specific size.
The Alfa Romeo of 1950 seems to have thinner tires than the 1951 car and the Ferrari 500 and 533 (one is two years after another seem to be different but then seem to be the same as the 1960s 1.5 litre spec cars.

The Ferrari website gives the wheel sizes (5.25 x 16 for front and 6.50 x 16 for rear) but not the tire height.

If possible, if some historian can tell me the sizes for the Alfa Romeo 158/9 of 1950 and 1951 and the Ferrari 500, 533 and 156 (which I know is from 1961) I would be very grateful.

Many thanks in advance

[Hoffman900]

From deep in the depths of the internet:

Seen at Goodwood:

Alfa Type 159 - Front - 5.50x17, Rear 7.00 x 17
Maserati 4CLT - Front - 5.50 x 16, Rear 6.50 x 16

Barry, a bit of information, from the Profile booklet, written by David Hodges, on the Alfa158/159.

It quotes the tyre details as "Pirelli; front, 5.50 x 17 or 5.50 x 18; rear, 7.00 x 18 or 7.00 x 19 (nominal sizes)"

[Farnborough]

This company works in supply across era, they may hold information pertinent to that era.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/

Dougal, I believe is the person to whom you could speak

[saviour stivala]

''F1 tire sizes in the 1950 are listed as 5.50-16 front and rear and suppliers as Dunlop, Pirelli, Englebert and Firestone. The Alfa Romeo 158 was in 1950, the 159 was in 1951.

[Tommy Cookers]

skinny tyres in 1950s F1 eg .....
Harry Schell's 1100cc Cooper-JAP in the 1950 Monaco GP 4.00" or 4.25" front 5.00" rear

also skinny-tyred in F1 ....
Cisitalia D46 into 1950s
1926 GP Delage & 1930s E.R.A. c.1948
fwd thing with a 750cc supercharged Panhard engine in 1954

then in later 50s .....
Lotus 12 & 16
rear-engined ....
Coopers
Lotus 18 1960 (used 4.625" fronts - FJ only ?? but similar in F2 F1 and potential 2750cc Intercontinental versions)
the Lotus Elite had 3.5" tyres iirc

remember before 1961 almost any car (ie F2 F3 FJunior) was F1-legal
remember there were hundreds of non-WDC F1 races
remember F1 cars weren't legal for 1952 and 1953 WDCs (the Ferrari 500 was an F2 car not an F1 car)

[GraysonTremont]

Tire evolution in F1 history is fascinating!