1959 Rambler Ambassador Tires

The 1959 Rambler Ambassador uses an 800-14 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply fitment built for a 14-inch rim, and it is the primary size associated with the Ambassador covered here, including the listed 8-cylinder sub-model.

Once the size is confirmed, the next step is choosing the style of tire that suits the car and its intended use. In 800-14, that usually means comparing sidewall presentation, brand, and tire series, then verifying the actual wheel width and overall vehicle setup if the car has been changed over the years.

The 1959 Rambler Ambassador tire fitment here is built around a 14-inch rim. That rim diameter matches the 800-14 tire size, where the final number in the size code identifies the wheel diameter the tire is meant to mount on.

Rim diameter should be confirmed before any tire purchase, especially on a collector car that may have had wheel changes at some point. A tire with the correct general appearance still needs the right wheel diameter, and wheel width also matters when comparing bias-ply tires or one of the radial-equivalent alternatives.

Yes. The 1959 Rambler Ambassador 8 Cyl. uses the same 800-14 bias-ply tire size as the core fitment shown for this model. That keeps sub-model tire selection simple, because there is not a separate primary size to sort out within the covered Ambassador listing.

The practical choice is not between multiple primary sizes, but between the available tire styles within 800-14 and whether to stay with bias-ply construction. Since many older cars have seen wheel, suspension, or brake changes, it is still worth checking the actual wheel setup before finalizing a tire choice.

For the 1959 Rambler Ambassador, 800-14 is the primary bias-ply tire size. That means the original fitment format for this car is not a modern radial size, and the available period-style choices in 800-14 are bias-ply products.

That distinction matters because staying with bias-ply construction helps preserve the car’s traditional tire appearance and sizing format. A radial alternative can still be considered, but the decision should include wheel width, clearance, and the overall character you want from the car rather than assuming every 14-inch radial option behaves the same.

Radial equivalents for 800-14 include 205R14, P215/75R14, P225/70R14, and 800R14. Those choices represent an 80-series metric radial, a 75-series P-metric radial, a 70-series P-metric radial, and a bias-look radial equivalent that keeps a more traditional visual profile.

Each of those alternatives shares the same general comparison point to the original 800-14 size, but they are still different sizing formats. A 5-7 inch rim-width range is associated with the equivalents, so wheel width, overall dimensions, and steering or fender clearance should all be checked before changing construction.

Start by confirming the wheel diameter and wheel width on the car, then compare the radial-equivalent size you are considering against the original 800-14 fitment. On a 1959 Rambler Ambassador, likely comparison sizes include 205R14, P215/75R14, P225/70R14, and 800R14.

The next checks are practical ones: front steering clearance, fender clearance, suspension condition, and whether the car still has its original wheel and ride-height setup. A collector car that has been lowered, fitted with different wheels, or altered at the brakes can change what works comfortably even when the tire is a recognized radial equivalent.

Start with the correct primary size, which is 800-14, and then decide whether the car should remain on bias-ply construction or be evaluated against a radial equivalent. Within the bias-ply choices, useful comparison points include brand, tire series, sidewall style, load specification where stated, and rim-width compatibility.

A restoration-minded car may call for one appearance, while a driver may prioritize a different visual treatment within the same size. It also helps to confirm the actual wheel dimensions on the car, because some 800-14 products call out a 5.00-6.00 inch rim width while others are built around a 6-inch rim.

The 1959 Rambler Ambassador’s 800-14 tire choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Those options give the car a noticeably different look even when the tire size and basic bias-ply construction stay the same.

Sidewall choice is often one of the biggest visual decisions on a late-1950s American car. A blackwall gives a plainer, understated presentation, while narrow and wide whitewalls move the car toward a more dressy period-style appearance, so it helps to choose the look that matches the car’s trim, finish, and restoration goals.

Available 800-14 tires for the 1959 Rambler Ambassador come from BFGoodrich, Goodyear, and Universal Vintage Tire. Those brands appear across several bias-ply offerings, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Custom Super Cushion, and Universal Classic Bias Ply product lines.

Brand is only one part of the decision, because the useful differences often come from sidewall treatment, rim-width specification, and the overall look you want on the car. Comparing those details within the correct 800-14 size usually gives a clearer answer than choosing on brand name alone.

A period-style 1959 Rambler Ambassador usually starts with the original-format 800-14 bias-ply size. That keeps the car in the traditional sizing and construction style associated with the era, while still leaving room to choose among blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall presentations.

The best appearance choice depends on how the car is being finished and what visual character you want it to project. When exact originality matters, tire style should be checked against marque references, period photography, or restoration documentation rather than assuming every 800-14 sidewall treatment was used the same way.

Tire construction affects more than ride feel on a restored 1959 Rambler Ambassador; it also influences how authentic the car looks at a glance. The primary 800-14 fitment is bias-ply, which gives the car a more traditional late-1950s visual character than a clearly modern radial format.

That does not mean a radial alternative is automatically wrong for every build, especially if the car will be driven regularly. An 800R14 bias-look radial can help preserve a more vintage presentation, while a conventional metric or P-metric radial shifts the visual impression toward a more modern replacement approach.

Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1959 Rambler Ambassador even when the intended size remains 800-14 or a recognized radial equivalent. Changes to wheel width, wheel offset, ride height, suspension parts, or brake components can all influence how much room the tire has in motion.

A car with aftermarket wheels or suspension work should be checked at the front and rear for steering travel, fender clearance, and inner-body clearance before a size change is finalized. Those checks matter just as much when moving from bias-ply to radial construction, because the sizing format may change even on the same rim diameter.

Before driving a 1959 Rambler Ambassador on new tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and condition, make sure lug hardware is appropriate, and confirm the tires are properly mounted and inflated. It is also smart to look over suspension and steering components so the new tires are not being asked to mask worn mechanical parts.

After installation, check for clearance at full steering lock and look for any rubbing around fenders, inner panels, or suspension hardware. A short test drive should be followed by another visual inspection and a pressure check, particularly on a car that has been stored or driven only occasionally.

Collector-car 800-14 tires should be maintained with regular pressure checks, periodic visual inspections, and careful storage habits. Even if tread wear is minimal, age-related issues such as sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, flat-spotting, and unexplained air loss deserve attention on a low-mileage 1959 Rambler Ambassador.

Long periods of storage can be hard on tires when the car sits in heat, sunlight, moisture, or near ozone-producing equipment. Moving the car occasionally, keeping the tires clean, and inspecting them before each road outing helps catch condition problems early and keeps a collector Ambassador safer and more enjoyable to drive.