Pontiac Super Chief Tires

Pontiac Super Chief uses two listed tire sizes across its 1957 to 1958 run: 800-14 and 850-14. The 800-14 size appears for 1957 and 1958 Pontiac Super Chief applications, while 850-14 appears for 1958 Pontiac Super Chief applications. Both sizes are built for 14-inch rims, with 800-14 products shown for rim widths including 5.00 to 6.00 inches and 6 inches, and 850-14 products shown for 5.50 to 6.00 inches.

That means the first job is not simply matching the make and model, but determining which of the listed sizes your specific Pontiac Super Chief actually carries. A 1957 car points to 800-14, while a 1958 car needs an extra check because both 800-14 and 850-14 are associated with that year. If the car still has original-style wheels, wheel width, surviving paperwork, and old tire markings can help confirm which of the two 14-inch sizes belongs on the car.

On a Pontiac Super Chief, 800-14 is a period numeric bias-ply size. The 800 portion means a nominal 8.00-inch section width, with the decimal omitted in the older sizing style, and the 14 identifies the rim diameter in inches. The available Pontiac Super Chief products in 800-14 are all bias-ply tires built for 14-inch wheels.

That older numeric code matters because it does not read like a modern metric radial size, and buyers sometimes assume the first number is a direct overall-diameter reference. It is really a width-based period format, so the practical check is whether your Pontiac Super Chief was equipped for 800-14 rather than the wider 850-14 option used in some 1958 applications. If your goal is a period-correct look and handling feel, staying within the listed bias-ply size for the car’s actual setup is the right direction.

A 1958 Pontiac Super Chief has both 800-14 and 850-14 listed because more than one size was used within that model year. Both of those sizes fit 14-inch rims, so the split is not a wheel-diameter change. It is a same-year fitment variation within the Pontiac Super Chief range rather than a difference between 14-inch and another rim size.

That makes the specific configuration of the car more important than the model year alone. Check the tire markings on the car if it still wears an older correct-size set, and compare wheel width to the ranges shown for the available products. If the car has been restored or modified over time, old photographs, build paperwork, or marque-club guidance can help you determine whether your 1958 Pontiac Super Chief should stay with 800-14 or move to 850-14.

Pontiac Super Chief is listed here with numeric bias-ply tire sizes only, and the available products for both 800-14 and 850-14 are bias-ply construction. For these listed Pontiac Super Chief sizes, a tube is required. That applies across the available brands and sidewall styles shown for this model.

Inner tubes are a normal part of period-style fitment and should be treated as part of the tire package rather than an afterthought. When replacing tires on a Pontiac Super Chief, inspect the wheel condition carefully as well, because rust, pitting, or rough edges inside the rim can shorten tube life. If the car has sat for years or has wheels of uncertain history, wheel restoration and proper tube selection are just as important as choosing the right outer tire size.

A 1958 Pontiac Super Chief can use either 800-14 or 850-14, so the correct choice depends on the specific car rather than the year badge alone. Both are 14-inch sizes, but they differ in nominal section width. The available 800-14 products are shown for rim widths including 5.00 to 6.00 inches and 6 inches, while 850-14 products are shown for 5.50 to 6.00 inches.

Start with the wheels currently on the Pontiac Super Chief and look for any surviving tire-size markings, original paperwork, or restoration records. If the car has been altered over the decades, measuring wheel width can help narrow the choice, especially where one size has a broader or slightly different recommended rim-width range. For a car being restored for authenticity, period photos and marque-specific references are also worthwhile because they can support whether 800-14 or 850-14 is the more appropriate fitment.

Pontiac Super Chief tires are available with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. In 800-14, the available choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall. In 850-14, the listed options are narrow whitewall and wide whitewall.

Sidewall style changes the car’s visual character more than many owners expect, especially on a late-1950s full-size Pontiac with a lot of sidewall showing. A blackwall usually gives a plainer, more understated look, while narrow and wide whitewalls move progressively further toward a dressed, period showroom appearance. If your Pontiac Super Chief is being restored to a specific presentation, compare the sidewall width on the available tires to period photos or judging standards before deciding.

Pontiac Super Chief tires in the listed sizes are available from BFGoodrich, Universal Vintage Tire, and Goodyear. BFGoodrich appears in both 800-14 and 850-14, Universal Vintage Tire appears in 800-14, and Goodyear appears in 800-14. All of the listed Pontiac Super Chief products are bias-ply tires in period-style sizing.

Brand choice on a Pontiac Super Chief usually comes down to the combination of size, sidewall look, and the particular period presentation you want. Some owners prioritize a certain classic name on the sidewall, while others focus first on whether they want blackwall, narrow whitewall, or wide whitewall. The practical approach is to confirm the correct size first, then compare the brands that exist within that exact size rather than choosing a brand first and trying to make the fitment follow.

Pontiac Super Chief products appear in three tire series: Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Universal Classic Bias Ply, and Custom Super Cushion. All three are bias-ply construction, so the main differences here are brand family and sidewall presentation rather than a shift from bias-ply to radial technology. Silvertown Classic Bias Ply appears in both listed sizes, while Universal Classic Bias Ply and Custom Super Cushion appear in 800-14.

For a Pontiac Super Chief owner, that means the choice among series is mostly about the look and period flavor you want once the correct size has been established. If your car is being restored to a specific showroom-era appearance, compare available whitewall widths and branding carefully because those details influence the visual result. If the goal is simply a proper period-style bias-ply fitment for driving and display, the right size and correct sidewall style matter more than chasing a series name alone.

A Pontiac Super Chief should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and extreme heat when the tires are fitted. Keep the tires properly inflated so the carcass is not carrying the car underinflated for long periods, and move the car occasionally if it remains on the ground. Because Pontiac Super Chief uses period-style bias-ply tires here, long stationary storage can encourage flat spotting more readily than many modern drivers expect.

If the Pontiac Super Chief will sit for a season or longer, many owners reduce stress on the tires by using cradles or by taking some vehicle weight off them while keeping the suspension sensibly supported. The key is to avoid leaving one contact patch compressed in the same position month after month. Good storage practices preserve both the appearance and service life of collector tires, especially on a heavy late-1950s full-size car.

Tires on a Pontiac Super Chief should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly several times خلال the season, especially if the car is used infrequently. Check inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, valve condition, and any change in how the car sits or steers. Bias-ply tires on collector cars often age out from time and storage conditions long before they wear out in miles.

A quick visual walkaround before moving the Pontiac Super Chief is good practice, but a hands-on inspection matters too because early signs of trouble can hide on the inside sidewall or around the bead area. If the car has been parked for months, inspect the tubes and wheels as part of the process when service is performed. Regular inspection is one of the simplest ways to avoid damage to hard-to-replace bodywork and trim on a restored collector car.

Pontiac Super Chief tires should be replaced when age, cracking, vibration, sidewall weakness, or any structural concern appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often spend far more time aging than wearing, so visual freshness alone is not enough to judge serviceability. Any tire that has been on the car for many years deserves a careful age-and-condition review rather than a tread-depth decision only.

That is especially important on a Pontiac Super Chief because a heavy full-size car places real load on period-style bias-ply tires and tubes. If the car develops new wandering, repeated pressure loss, or visible sidewall changes, replacement should move to the front of the maintenance list. A conservative replacement approach makes sense on collector vehicles, since the consequences of a failure can include fender damage, wheel damage, and loss of confidence driving the car at all.

Pontiac Super Chief is associated here with 800-14 for 1957 and 1958, plus 850-14 for 1958. The available products are all bias-ply tires, and the listed series include Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Universal Classic Bias Ply, and Custom Super Cushion. That tells you the Pontiac Super Chief belongs in the period bias-ply world rather than a later modern radial fitment approach.

If you are trying to determine what was originally fitted to a specific Pontiac Super Chief, the most reliable path is to match the car’s exact year and configuration first, then compare that information against surviving factory literature, dealer material, or marque-club references. Whitewall width and brand family can matter just as much as the base size in a judged restoration. For many restorers, authenticity comes from the whole presentation, not the size code alone.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and perceived authenticity of a Pontiac Super Chief. Judges and experienced collectors notice whether the size, sidewall treatment, and overall stance look appropriate for the car’s year and character. On a late-1950s Pontiac, visible tire details are a meaningful part of the car’s finished appearance.

That does not mean every Pontiac Super Chief needs the exact same whitewall width or brand to be enjoyed, but it does mean obviously incorrect tires can distract from an otherwise careful restoration. If value and judging matter to you, verify the proper size for the year and compare sidewall style against period photos and club standards. A car with the right tire profile and period look usually presents more confidently than one wearing a generic substitute.

Pontiac Super Chief tires are offered here in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles, depending on size. The 800-14 selection includes all three, while 850-14 is shown with narrow and wide whitewalls. Each can produce a different restoration result even when the base tire size is correct.

For a Pontiac Super Chief restoration, the correct choice depends on the look you are trying to recreate for that specific car. A blackwall tends toward a simpler, less ornamented presentation, while narrow and especially wide whitewalls deliver the fuller late-1950s visual effect many owners want. If the restoration is aiming for judged authenticity, compare the car against original images, dealer literature, or marque-club guidance so the sidewall style supports the era and trim level properly.

These Pontiac Super Chief tires are purpose-built period-style bias-ply tires, and they can be used on public roads when they are the correct size, properly installed with tubes, and maintained in sound condition. They are not modern radial touring tires, so they should be judged within the driving character of a 1957-1958 full-size collector car. Sidewall condition, inflation, wheel integrity, and overall vehicle mechanical condition all matter.

Driving safety in a Pontiac Super Chief is as much about the complete car as the tire itself. A bias-ply-equipped car will generally feel different from a modern vehicle in tracking, steering response, and braking behavior, so speeds and following distances should reflect that. Before regular road use, make sure the suspension, alignment, brakes, and wheels are in proper order so the new tires are not being asked to compensate for unrelated mechanical issues.

Before driving a Pontiac Super Chief, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread surface, valve stems, and whether the car sits evenly on all four corners. On a tube-type bias-ply setup, any slow pressure loss deserves attention before the car is moved at speed. It is also wise to look for signs of wheel damage, bead-area rust, or recent contact marks that could indicate rubbing or alignment issues.

A Pontiac Super Chief is a substantial late-1950s car, so small tire problems can become noticeable driving problems quickly. If the steering feels suddenly heavier, the car pulls, or a tire develops vibration after storage, stop and inspect rather than assuming it will clear up on its own. A few minutes of pre-drive checking protects the tires, the wheels, and the sheet metal around them.

A Pontiac Super Chief running period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, sensible speeds that suit both the tire construction and the overall character of the car. Even when the tires are new, bias-ply behavior is different from a modern radial, especially in lane tracking, braking feel, and response to road crown or grooves. The right speed is one that leaves a wide margin for steering and braking rather than testing the upper limits of a 1950s setup.

For most owners, that means treating a Pontiac Super Chief as a collector car first and a modern highway machine second. Smooth inputs, extra following distance, and realistic cruising expectations will do more for safety and enjoyment than chasing speed. If the car is newly restored or newly fitted with tires, begin with shorter local drives and let the car prove its behavior before taking it into faster or heavier traffic.