1955 Pontiac Tire Fitment Guide

1955 Pontiac vehicles use two tire sizes: 710-15 for Pontiac 27 & 28 models and 760-15 for Pontiac Wagons. Both sizes are bias-ply tires built for 15-inch rims. The 710-15 products fit 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths, while the 760-15 products that list rim width fit 5.50- to 6.00-inch rims.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a final choice on a 1955 Pontiac. You need to identify the model first, then confirm the actual wheel width on the car before settling on a specific tire. Once the size is right, the remaining choice usually comes down to sidewall style and brand preference rather than changing to a different construction type.

A 710-15 on a 1955 Pontiac is a numeric bias-ply size. The 710 identifies the tire's nominal section-width class in the older numeric sizing system, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On 1955 Pontiac models, that size belongs to the 27 & 28 passenger-car group rather than the Wagons.

Numeric sizing can look unfamiliar if you are used to modern metric radials, but it is the correct language for many mid-1950s American restorations. When you see 710-15 on a 1955 Pontiac, think in terms of period-correct bias-ply fitment on a 15-inch wheel, then compare available blackwall or wide whitewall versions to match the look and use of your specific car.

No. 1955 Pontiac 27 & 28 models use 710-15, while 1955 Pontiac Wagons use 760-15. Both sizes fit 15-inch wheels, but they are not interchangeable as a year-wide universal size simply because the rim diameter matches.

That distinction matters because wagons often carried different load and body-style expectations than standard passenger cars in the same model year. If you are ordering for a 1955 Pontiac, start by confirming the body style and model family on the car itself. Once that is settled, you can narrow the choice to the right size and then decide on brand and sidewall presentation.

1955 Pontiac tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 710-15 range includes blackwall and wide whitewall options, while 760-15 appears in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions. That gives owners flexibility to match a simpler driver-style presentation or a more dressy mid-1950s look.

For many 1955 Pontiacs, whitewall choice has a strong effect on the finished appearance of the car. Passenger-car restorations often lean toward wide whitewalls for an era-correct visual statement, while some owners prefer blackwalls for a more understated look. Wagon owners should choose between narrow and wide whitewall styles based on how original or personalized they want the finished vehicle to appear.

Several brands cover 1955 Pontiac fitments. The 710-15 size is available from BFGoodrich and Firestone, while the 760-15 size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. All of the listed options for these Pontiac sizes are bias-ply tires rather than radials.

That brand spread gives you room to choose based on sidewall style, visual preference, and brand heritage without leaving the correct size family for your 1955 Pontiac. The most important step is still matching the brand selection to the proper model-specific size first. After that, compare the available sidewall treatments and any published load information that applies to the version you are considering.

For a 1955 Pontiac using 710-15 tires, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer bias-ply fitments with the same listed maximum load capacity of 1550 pounds at 32 psi. The BFGoodrich range includes blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while the Firestone offering shown is a blackwall. Their listed rim-width range is the same at 5.00 to 5.50 inches, but product weight varies slightly between versions.

That makes the comparison less about basic fit and more about appearance and brand preference. If your 1955 Pontiac restoration calls for a whitewall, BFGoodrich gives that route within the 710-15 size. If a blackwall presentation suits the car better, both brands remain relevant choices, and confirming the wheel width before ordering is still the smart final check.

Rim width depends on the size used on the 1955 Pontiac. The 710-15 tires fitted to 27 & 28 models are matched to 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims. The 760-15 tires used on Wagons are matched to 5.50- to 6.00-inch rims on the products that publish rim-width guidance.

That means a shared 15-inch rim diameter does not automatically make every 1955 Pontiac wheel correct for both sizes. Measure the wheel you actually have, especially on a car with replacement or refinished wheels, and compare it to the size you intend to run. Rim width is one of the most important checks for preserving proper sidewall shape and period-correct stance.

Original 1955 Pontiac wheels can often be used with both year-range tire sizes in the sense that both 710-15 and 760-15 mount on 15-inch rims. The limiting factor is not the wheel diameter but the wheel width, because 710-15 and 760-15 do not share the same published rim-width range.

A 1955 Pontiac owner should treat wheel diameter as only the first checkpoint. The next step is confirming whether the wheel width matches the specific tire size for the model, especially if the car has swapped wheels or a mixed set accumulated over decades. That is the practical way to avoid forcing a correct-size tire onto the wrong-width wheel.

A stored 1955 Pontiac should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing sources that can age rubber and sidewalls. Keep the car on a dry surface, maintain inflation, and move it periodically if possible. Bias-ply tires also tend to flat-spot more readily during long periods of sitting than modern radials.

If the car will be parked for an extended season, many collectors either roll it occasionally or take some load off the tires with properly placed stands while keeping the suspension considerations in mind. Clean, cool, stable storage conditions matter as much as mileage on a collector Pontiac, especially when preserving whitewalls and avoiding preventable sidewall weathering.

Tire life on a 1955 Pontiac is usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage. A collector-car tire should be evaluated carefully once it reaches about five to seven years old, and replacement often becomes a serious consideration by around ten years regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire is the best starting point for determining age.

That timeline matters because many 1955 Pontiacs are driven infrequently, which can make old tires look better than they actually are. Sidewall cracking, hardening, separation signs, and persistent air loss are more meaningful than odometer miles. If the car is a restoration with older-looking tires of uncertain age, checking date codes should move to the top of the maintenance list.

Tires on a 1955 Pontiac should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, tread wear, bulges, embedded debris, and signs that the tire is not holding pressure evenly. On a collector car, a short visual check before use is one of the easiest ways to catch age-related problems early.

A more thorough inspection at regular intervals should include checking inflation against your chosen setup, looking closely at the whitewall area for weathering, and examining valve stems for age or leakage. If the car has been sitting, roll it enough to inspect the portion that was resting on the ground. Older bias-ply tires reward consistent attention, even on low-mileage cars.

A 1955 Pontiac 27 & 28 would have originally used bias-ply tires, which was standard American practice in that era. Within the fitments here, the correct size family for those models is 710-15 on a 15-inch rim. No specific original-equipment brand should be assumed from the current replacement choices alone.

For restoration work, the important first target is getting the size and construction type aligned with the model year and body family. After that, sidewall appearance becomes the next authenticity decision, since blackwall and wide whitewall versions can change the look of the finished car dramatically. If your Pontiac is being judged, consult marque references or Pontiac club resources for market- and trim-specific expectations.

Correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1955 Pontiac because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall presentation immediately. A 27 & 28 model wearing the wagon's 760-15 size, or a wagon wearing the smaller 710-15 size, would stand out as incorrect. Whitewall width and overall stance can also influence how authentic the finished car appears.

That does not mean every event applies the same standard, but it does mean tire choice should be part of the restoration plan rather than an afterthought. Before final assembly, decide whether the car is being built for touring, local display, or strict originality. Event-specific judging rules and marque-club guidance are the best places to confirm how closely your 1955 Pontiac should mirror factory-era practice.

In 760-15 for the 1955 Pontiac Wagon, BFGoodrich and Coker Classic both offer bias-ply tires with a listed maximum load capacity of 1710 pounds at 32 psi on versions that publish load data. Both are shown on 15-inch rims with a 5.50- to 6.00-inch rim-width range where that specification is listed. The visible distinction in the current offerings is largely sidewall presentation, with whitewall versions available from both brands.

For a restoration-minded wagon owner, that means the comparison is mainly about brand preference and the exact whitewall look you want on the finished car. Since both sit in the correct 760-15 size family, the more important choice is selecting the version that matches the period appearance you are after. Confirm the wheel width and the specific sidewall treatment before finalizing the tire for your wagon.

A properly maintained, correctly sized tire for a 1955 Pontiac can be used for normal highway driving when it is in good condition and suited to the wheel it is mounted on. The fitments here are bias-ply tires, so their road feel, tracking, and response differ from modern radials even when everything is working as intended. Safe highway use depends heavily on tire age, inflation, condition, and proper installation.

On a mid-1950s Pontiac, the tire is only one part of the highway equation. Brakes, steering components, suspension wear, wheel condition, and overall mechanical health often matter just as much as the tire itself on a longer run. Treat fresh, correctly fitted tires as part of a complete roadworthiness check rather than the sole measure of whether the car is ready for sustained speed.

The load information shown for 1955 Pontiac tires includes 710-15 products rated at 1550 pounds at 32 psi and 760-15 products rated at 1710 pounds at 32 psi on versions that publish that figure. Those numbers are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to inflate every 1955 Pontiac tire to the same running pressure in every situation. Factory vehicle recommendations and the specific tire manufacturer's guidance should be considered together.

A 1955 Pontiac owner should begin with the original owner's manual or accepted marque guidance for vehicle-level pressure targets, then compare that with the rating information for the exact tire being used. Do not transfer a pressure assumption from 710-15 to 760-15, or from one product line to another, just because the year and make are the same. Correct pressure depends on the exact size and tire chosen.

Before a longer drive in a 1955 Pontiac, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of long-term aging. Verify inflation, make sure the valve stems are in sound condition, and look at the wheel itself for damage or looseness concerns. On an older bias-ply setup, any vibration or persistent air loss deserves attention before the trip begins.

That tire check should sit alongside a broader pre-drive review of the car's mechanical systems, especially on a vehicle of this age. Cooling, brakes, charging system, fluids, and steering deserve the same attention as the rubber on the ground. A 1955 Pontiac can be an enjoyable highway car within its intended character, but preparation matters far more than simply having tread left on the tires.