Oldsmobile Wagons Tires

Oldsmobile Wagons use three tire sizes across the 1958 to 1959 range: 850-14 for 1958, 900-14 for 1958, and 950-14 for 1959. All three sizes are 14-inch numeric bias-ply sizes, but they differ in nominal section width and in the rim-width ranges that suit them. The listed 850-14 products fit 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims, 900-14 fits 6.00 to 7.00 inch rims, and 950-14 fits 6.50 to 7.50 inch rims.

That means year alone gets you close, but wheel width helps settle the final choice, especially for 1958 Oldsmobile Wagons where two sizes appear. If the car has been restored, modified, or fitted with different wheels over time, measure the wheel and compare it to the listed rim-width range before choosing a tire.

On an Oldsmobile Wagons tire, 850-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 850 indicates a nominal 8.50-inch section width with the decimal omitted, and the 14 indicates that the tire fits a 14-inch rim. For the listed Oldsmobile Wagons products, that size is paired with wheels in the 5.50 to 6.00 inch rim-width range.

Modern buyers often read older numeric sizes as if they were directly comparable to later metric radials, but they are part of an earlier sizing system and should be treated as period-style fitments. On a 1958 Oldsmobile Wagons, the better check is whether the car falls into the narrower 850-14 wheel range or the wider 900-14 range.

A 1958 Oldsmobile Wagons can use either 850-14 or 900-14, and both sizes share the same 14-inch rim diameter. The split is not a wheel-diameter change; it is a same-year fitment split within numeric bias-ply sizing. The key difference is width and wheel range, with 850-14 fitting 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims and 900-14 fitting 6.00 to 7.00 inch rims.

That usually means the specific wheel and vehicle configuration matters more than the calendar year by itself. A buyer with a 1958 Oldsmobile Wagons should check the actual wheel width, compare the stance and look desired for the car, and verify the size against original paperwork or a marque expert if the car’s history is unclear.

The listed Oldsmobile Wagons tires are all bias-ply products in older numeric sizing, and a tube is required for the sizes shown here. That applies to 850-14, 900-14, and 950-14. Nothing in the listed fitments indicates a radial or tubeless-specific alternative within this Oldsmobile Wagons range.

For a restored or regularly driven collector wagon, tube selection should match the tire size and the wheel’s condition. It is also wise to inspect the inside of the wheel for rust, pitting, or damage before installation, because tube life depends on the condition of the wheel as much as the tire itself.

Start with the model year, because 1959 Oldsmobile Wagons use 950-14 while 1958 Oldsmobile Wagons use either 850-14 or 900-14. Then confirm the wheel width on the car. The listed rim-width ranges are 5.50 to 6.00 inches for 850-14, 6.00 to 7.00 inches for 900-14, and 6.50 to 7.50 inches for 950-14.

That two-step check usually resolves the fitment question quickly on this model group. If the wagon has replacement wheels, older restoration work, or mixed parts from other full-size GM cars, compare the tire currently fitted, the measured wheel width, and any original vehicle paperwork before deciding which size belongs on the car.

Oldsmobile Wagons tires are listed with both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. The 850-14 and 900-14 sizes are offered in 1.00 inch narrow whitewall and 2.25 inch wide whitewall versions, while 950-14 is offered in 1.00 inch narrow whitewall and 2.50 inch wide whitewall versions. All of them are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires.

That gives a buyer room to tune the appearance of the wagon without changing the basic period-correct construction type. Narrow whitewalls generally suit a more restrained late-1950s look, while the wider whitewalls create a more dramatic presentation that many owners prefer on large American wagons from this era.

BFGoodrich is the listed brand for Oldsmobile Wagons tires in the 850-14, 900-14, and 950-14 sizes. The products shown here are all part of the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series and cover both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. No second brand appears within these fitments.

That simplifies the decision, because the main variables are size, wheel-width match, and whitewall appearance rather than brand choice. If the goal is a consistent set across a restoration, select the correct size first and then choose the sidewall treatment that best matches the car’s trim level, stance, and intended presentation.

A stored Oldsmobile Wagons should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and ozone sources that age rubber. Tires should be inflated appropriately for storage, and the wagon should sit on a clean surface rather than bare earth. If the car will remain parked for long periods, moving it occasionally helps avoid prolonged flat spotting on bias-ply tires.

Late-1950s wagons are heavy cars, so storage conditions matter more than many owners expect. If the Oldsmobile Wagons will be off the road for a season or longer, support methods that reduce constant load on one contact patch can help preserve ride quality and appearance when the car returns to use.

Tires on an Oldsmobile Wagons should be visually inspected before each drive and given a more thorough inspection at regular service intervals. Check for sidewall cracking, tread separation, embedded debris, uneven wear, inflation loss, valve issues, and any sign that the tube or wheel may be affecting the tire. On a collector car that sees intermittent use, time and storage conditions matter just as much as mileage.

Because Oldsmobile Wagons often spend long periods parked and then return to road use, a quick walk-around is not enough. Put hands and eyes on all four tires, confirm pressures cold, and pay special attention after winter storage or long trailer trips, when age-related issues and flat spotting can become more obvious.

Tires on an Oldsmobile Wagons should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, casing distortion, or repeated air loss suggests deterioration, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector cars often age tires out before they wear them out. Bias-ply tires on heavy late-1950s wagons deserve especially close attention because long storage periods can disguise condition until the car is driven again.

The practical rule is to judge the whole tire, not just the remaining tread. If the Oldsmobile Wagons has tires of uncertain age, a specialist inspection is worthwhile before regular road use, and any tire showing structural concerns should come off the car before it is relied upon for touring or highway driving.

Oldsmobile Wagons in this range are associated with 850-14 and 900-14 in 1958, and 950-14 in 1959, all in bias-ply construction. The listed replacement products fall within the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply family and are offered with narrow whitewall or wide whitewall sidewalls depending on size. Those details establish the period-style type of tire used on the car, even though the exact original build configuration can vary within the model group.

For a factory-accurate restoration, the next step is matching the car’s year, wheel width, and original appearance cues such as whitewall width. Window stickers, owner’s manuals, build records, and marque-club references remain the best way to settle which of the listed sizes and sidewall treatments belongs on a specific wagon.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how an Oldsmobile Wagons is judged and how convincing the restoration looks. Size, sidewall treatment, and overall stance all influence whether the car presents as authentically late 1950s. A wagon wearing the wrong width or an obviously incorrect sidewall style can look out of proportion even when the wheel diameter is technically correct.

For owners aiming at serious show presentation, tire choice should support the car’s original visual character rather than simply fill the wheel opening. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whitewall width and tire profile immediately, so aligning the tire with the car’s year and configuration is part of protecting both value and credibility.

Oldsmobile Wagons tires are available here in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall form, with 1.00 inch narrow whitewalls and wider 2.25 inch or 2.50 inch whitewalls depending on size. All of those sidewall styles suit the late-1950s American passenger-car era. The correct choice for a particular Oldsmobile Wagons depends on the exact year, trim presentation, and the look the owner is trying to restore.

A restoration with strong chrome, sweeping body trim, and a more formal presentation often looks more at home with the wider whitewall choices. A more restrained look may point toward the narrower whitewall, especially if the goal is to echo a specific surviving car, period photo, or original sales literature.

Properly fitted bias-ply tires in the correct Oldsmobile Wagons size can be suitable for public-road use when the entire car is mechanically sound and the tires are in healthy condition. The listed sizes are purpose-built collector replacements for a late-1950s American wagon and keep the car in a period-style construction. Safety depends on correct size, correct wheel-width match, proper inflation, and the condition of the wheel, tube, suspension, and steering.

A buyer should treat tire fitment as one part of a full roadworthiness check, not as a standalone solution. Before regular driving, confirm that the Oldsmobile Wagons tracks properly, brakes evenly, and shows no vibration, rubbing, or abnormal heat buildup, especially if the car has been dormant or recently restored.

Before driving a Oldsmobile Wagons, check tire pressure cold, inspect each sidewall and tread, and make sure the fitted size matches the car’s year and wheel width. On this model group, that means confirming whether the car is on 850-14, 900-14, or 950-14, and whether the rim width falls within the listed range for that size. Also inspect the valve area, wheel condition, and any signs of contact with suspension or bodywork.

That pre-drive habit matters on a collector wagon because age, storage, and occasional use can change the tire’s condition between outings. It is also smart to listen for pulling, thumping, or vibration in the first few miles, since those clues often reveal pressure issues, flat spotting, or a mismatch between the tire and the wheel.

An Oldsmobile Wagons running period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds consistent with the design of the tire, the condition of the vehicle, and the road surface. These tires are meant to preserve the character and fitment style of a late-1950s full-size wagon, not to mimic the feel of a modern high-speed radial. Smooth, conservative operation is the right approach.

The practical takeaway is to let the car’s age and construction set the pace. Leave a healthy margin for braking and cornering, avoid abrupt lane changes, and keep sustained speed appropriate to the condition of the tires, suspension, and steering, particularly if the Oldsmobile Wagons is used only occasionally or has just returned to service.