6.00-16 PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA

PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA Vintage Tires

The PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA tire, launched in 1927, was a pivotal leap forward in tire technology. The tire's robust construction and effective tread design made it popular for high-performance vehicles. It fitted the top models from marques including Maserati, Ferrari, and Aston Martin from the 1920s all the way to the 1950s. Very few tires maintained their top status for 20+ years, see below to discover why!

STELLA BIANCA Speed Rating and Design

This V-speed-rated crossply tire is unique in the 6.00-16 size. The 6.00-16 STELLA BIANCA has been successfully tested at sustained speeds of 149 mph for 1 hour, making it the fastest crossply (bias-ply) tire, and the crossply tire of choice for classic and vintage sports cars.

The STELLA BIANCA featured innovative design elements from the inter-war period, including a cord carcass fabric, low inflation pressure, and a straight side bead profile. The tire's tread pattern features durable trapezoidal blocks connected by strong bridges, which prevent tearing. These features ensured exceptional directional stability and strength at high speeds.

STELLA BIANCA in Classic Sports Cars and Formula One

Renowned for its reliability and performance, the Stella Bianca was widely used in prestigious sports cars and even Formula One racing. Its legacy includes use in iconic cars like the pre-1960 Ferrari 250 Series and classic British sports cars such as the Aston Martin DB4. In these cars, it replaced standard H-rated tires and notably improved their performance.

Do Crossply Tires Need Inner Tubes?

The 6.00-16 PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA, unlike most crossply tires, can be run without inner tubes. However, as an older crossply tire, most of the cars fitting this tire size would have tube-type wheels. In order to run a car without inner tubes you must have tubeless wheels AND tubeless tires.

Modern wheels are often tubeless, but classic and vintage cars fitting 6.00-16 tires will likely have tube-type wheels. The ideal inner tube for the STELLA BIANCA in the 6.00-16 size is the Michelin 16F Reinforced Inner Tube.

STELLA BIANCA New Classic Tires

Pirelli, after much pressure from carmakers including Ferrari, has remade the Stella Bianca as part of its classic Collezione range. Contemporary STELLA BIANCA tires are manufactured using modern rubber compounds and safety standards, while preserving the construction methods that originally led to its success. This ensures the tire remains perfectly suited for classic and vintage cars, just as it was in the 1920s to 1950s, now with the added benefits of modern safety and advanced rubber construction techniques.

The Best Crossply Vintage Tires?

Today, the 6.00-16 PIRELLI STELLA BIANCA remains the best crossply vintage tire for classic and vintage cars. Its exceptional performance and reliability make it the top choice for enthusiasts who want to maintain the authenticity and performance of their historic vehicles. The STELLA BIANCA legacy continues as the tire remains in demand, ensuring that vintage and classic cars can perform at their best.