1958 Buick Tire Fitment Guide

1958 Buick vehicles use three tire sizes: 710-15, 760-15, and 800-15. The 1958 Buick 40 Special can use 710-15 or 760-15, the 1958 Buick 50 Super and 1958 Buick 60 Century use 760-15, and the 1958 Buick 70 Roadmaster and 1958 Buick 76 Limited use 800-15. All three sizes mount on 15-inch wheels, but the published rim-width ranges differ by size: 710-15 is paired with 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, 760-15 with 5.50- to 6.00-inch rims, and 800-15 with 6.00- to 6.50-inch rims where that information is published.

That means a 1958 Buick owner should identify the exact model before choosing a tire, especially because Buick used larger sizes as you move up the line. A Special owner has the most to verify because two sizes appear under that model, while Super, Century, Roadmaster, and Limited owners can narrow the choice faster. Confirm the wheel width on the actual car before settling on a tire size, particularly if the car has had wheels changed during restoration.

On a 1958 Buick tire, 710-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.10 figure represents the nominal section width in inches, and the 15 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. On 1958 Buick applications, 710-15 is used on the 40 Special and is offered in traditional bias-ply construction, which is consistent with late-1950s original fitment practice.

A 1958 Buick owner reading 710-15 should think of it as a period-size code rather than a modern metric measurement. It does not translate directly to a modern P-metric tire label in the way a newer car tire would. If your Special carries this size, the key questions are whether the wheel width matches the recommended range and whether you want a blackwall or wide whitewall look for the finished car.

No, 1958 Buick models do not all use the same tire size. The 40 Special appears with 710-15 and 760-15, the 50 Super and 60 Century use 760-15, and the 70 Roadmaster and 76 Limited use 800-15. Buick’s 1958 lineup stepped upward in size and prestige, and the tire sizing follows that hierarchy rather than applying one universal size across every model.

That matters because a buyer who only knows “1958 Buick” can still end up looking at the wrong tire family. A Roadmaster or Limited owner should not assume a Super-sized tire is close enough, and a Special owner should verify which of its two listed sizes belongs on the car as equipped. Picking by model first is the simplest way to avoid ending up with the right-looking tire in the wrong overall size category.

1958 Buick tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. In 710-15, choices include blackwall and wide whitewall. In 760-15, the range includes narrow whitewall and wide whitewall. In 800-15, the available products are wide whitewall designs. Those sidewall treatments fit naturally with late-1950s American styling, especially on cars with substantial chrome and brightwork.

A 1958 Buick owner choosing for authenticity will usually want to think about the car’s intended presentation as much as the size itself. Wide whites suit the era’s upscale visual character particularly well, while blackwalls can make sense on a more understated restoration or a car built with a plainer appearance in mind. If originality matters for judging, confirm the sidewall look against period photos, Buick literature, or a marque specialist familiar with your exact model.

Several brands cover 1958 Buick fitments. The 710-15 size is available from BFGoodrich and Firestone, the 760-15 size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire, and the 800-15 size is available from Coker Classic. All of the listed fitments for 1958 Buick are bias-ply tires, which keeps the overall character aligned with the period Buick originally came from.

Brand choice on a 1958 Buick usually comes down to the exact size you need, the sidewall presentation you want, and whether a given product line aligns with your restoration goals. Some sizes offer more variety than others, so a Special or Super owner may have more visual options than a Roadmaster or Limited owner. Once the size is locked in, compare the available sidewall treatments and wheel-width fitment range instead of choosing by brand name alone.

For the 1958 Buick in 710-15, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer bias-ply fitments with the same published load rating of 1550 pounds at 32 psi and the same 15-inch rim diameter. The BFGoodrich line appears in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while the Firestone offering in this size is a blackwall. Published weights are close but not identical, with BFGoodrich examples listed around 21 to 23 pounds and the Firestone at 24 pounds.

A 1958 Buick Special owner comparing the two should focus first on appearance and wheel fitment, since both follow the same basic period-correct construction type. If you want a whitewall presentation in 710-15, BFGoodrich gives that route; if a blackwall look is the goal, both brands keep you in the correct size family. The final check should be the tire’s listed rim-width compatibility and the visual style you want the finished car to carry.

1958 Buick rim-width requirements vary by tire size. The 710-15 size is paired with 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, 760-15 with 5.50- to 6.00-inch rims, and 800-15 with 6.00- to 6.50-inch rims where published fitment details are available. All of the listed Buick sizes use a 15-inch rim diameter, but wheel width still changes as the tire size increases through the model range.

That makes wheel measurement worthwhile before mounting a new set, especially on a car restored years ago or one that may have had wheels swapped between Buick models. A tire can share the same 15-inch diameter and still call for a different width range to sit correctly on the wheel. If your car is a Special, this check becomes even more important because both 710-15 and 760-15 appear under that model.

Original 1958 Buick wheels can share 15-inch rim diameter compatibility across all listed tire sizes, because 710-15, 760-15, and 800-15 all mount on 15-inch wheels. That does not mean every original Buick wheel is automatically correct for every size, since the recommended rim-width range steps up from 5.00-5.50 inches for 710-15 to 6.00-6.50 inches for 800-15.

A 1958 Buick owner should treat diameter compatibility and width compatibility as two separate checks. If you are moving among Buick sizes or sorting out a car assembled from mixed parts, measure the wheel and match it to the tire’s published width range before assuming interchangeability. Staying within the intended rim-width range helps preserve the tire’s shape, stance, and general road behavior.

A 1958 Buick should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing sources. Because 1958 Buick fitments here are bias-ply tires, they are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static periods than a modern radial would be. Keeping the car clean underneath and maintaining proper inflation helps the tire carry the car’s weight more evenly while parked.

If the 1958 Buick will sit for months at a time, roll it occasionally or place it on stands in a way that follows safe storage practice for the suspension and chassis. A little movement can reduce the tendency for the tire to take a set in one spot. When the car comes back out, inspect the sidewalls and tread before driving and allow a few miles for any mild flat-spot sensation to work itself out.

Tires on a 1958 Buick should be judged more by age, condition, and storage history than by mileage alone, because many collector cars cover very little annual distance. A practical rule is to begin careful evaluation around five to seven years of service and to treat about ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the best way to determine when a tire was manufactured.

That guideline matters on a 1958 Buick because an older-looking tire can still have deep tread and yet be well past its best service life. Sidewall checking, hardening rubber, repeated pressure loss, and changes in ride quality all deserve attention even on a car that only sees weekend use. If the car’s history is unclear, replacing aged tires is often a smarter step than trusting tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1958 Buick should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or tour. Look closely for sidewall cracking, weather checking, embedded debris, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, and any sign that the tire is not holding pressure correctly. A quick pressure check matters as much as a visual one, especially on a collector car that may sit for extended periods between drives.

Longer trips call for a little more preparation because age-related issues can show up even when the car seems fine around town. Inspect the spare as well, since a spare that matches the era may also be old enough to deserve replacement. Valve stems should also be checked closely whenever tires are serviced, since a leaking or aged stem can end a drive just as quickly as a problem in the tire itself.

The 1958 Buick 40 Special used bias-ply tires, which matches normal American original-equipment practice for the period. Within the 1958 Buick range, the Special is associated with 710-15 and 760-15 sizing rather than the larger 800-15 fitment used by Roadmaster and Limited models. Original-equipment brand varied by manufacturing relationships and production circumstances, so the most reliable way to pin down the exact as-delivered look is to compare your car with Buick literature and knowledgeable marque sources.

For restoration work, the key point is that a 1958 Buick Special should stay in its correct bias-ply size family before you worry about sidewall treatment or brand preference. The right numeric size and era-appropriate construction will usually matter more to authenticity than choosing among reproduction brands. If your goal is event judging, confirm the exact size and whitewall presentation against model-specific references because Special fitment is broader than some of the other 1958 Buicks.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1958 Buick because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall treatment immediately. A Special wearing a larger senior-model tire, or a Roadmaster wearing a smaller mid-line size, can change the car’s stance and visual balance. On cars from the late 1950s, sidewall appearance also plays a major role in whether the finished restoration looks true to period.

For a 1958 Buick headed to shows, think in layers: first the correct size for the model, then the correct bias-ply construction, then the whitewall or blackwall presentation that matches the car’s intended standard. Event rules can differ, so local Buick clubs, marque specialists, and judging manuals remain the best source for model-specific expectations. Even when judging is informal, the right tire fitment has a major effect on the finished car’s authenticity.

Whitewall options for the 1958 Buick vary by size. In 710-15, available products include blackwall and wide whitewall versions, with more than one wide whitewall width offered. In 760-15, the choices extend to narrow whitewall and wide whitewall designs. In 800-15, the listed choices are wide whitewalls. Those differences allow the visual treatment to be tailored while keeping the same underlying Buick size family.

A 1958 Buick owner concerned with originality should consider whitewall width as part of the restoration, not just decoration. Buick’s late-1950s styling responds strongly to sidewall presentation, and the wrong whitewall proportion can make an otherwise correct car look visually off. If the build is intended to echo a showroom stock appearance, compare the tire’s whitewall style to period photos and Buick sales material before making the final call.

1958 Buick tires can be suitable for highway use when they are fresh, correctly inflated, properly mounted, and matched to the car’s model and wheel, but they are bias-ply tires and should be driven with period-aware expectations. No speed rating letters are published in the listed 710-15, 760-15, or 800-15 product descriptions, so the emphasis belongs on overall tire condition and correct fitment. On a large late-1950s Buick, the car’s brakes, suspension condition, steering, and alignment are often just as important to road confidence as the tire itself.

A 1958 Buick owner planning regular highway use should make sure the car tracks properly, the tires are evenly inflated, and the wheels match the tire’s intended width range. Bias-ply tires have a different feel than modern radials, especially in grooves, crosswinds, and emergency maneuvers, so expectations should be set accordingly. For touring, the safest approach is a fully sorted car with recently inspected tires rather than simply assuming a new-looking tire guarantees readiness.

Published reproduction tire figures for 1958 Buick fitments show 710-15 at 1550 pounds at 32 psi, 760-15 at 1710 pounds at 32 psi on products that list load data, and 800-15 at 1800 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are the tire’s rated load-and-pressure references, not automatically the exact factory operating pressures for every Buick model. The original Buick owner’s manual or factory literature remains the right place to confirm the vehicle-side recommendation for your specific model.

A 1958 Buick owner should avoid transferring one size’s pressure figure to another simply because all three use 15-inch wheels. Start with the factory recommendation for the car, then make sure the tire itself is being used within its rated pressure range. If the car’s ride, wear pattern, or handling feel seems off, review inflation, wheel width, and alignment together rather than adjusting pressure in isolation.

Before taking a 1958 Buick on a longer drive, inspect each tire for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any objects lodged in the tread. Confirm pressures when the tires are cold, and look over the valve stems and spare before leaving. On a full-size late-1950s car, it is also wise to give the rest of the chassis a quick once-over, including brakes, steering response, and fluid levels, because tire readiness is only one part of road readiness.

That extra check matters because a 1958 Buick is heavy, powerful by period standards, and often driven less frequently than a modern daily car. A collector vehicle can develop age-related issues while sitting that may not show up on a short local run. Taking ten extra minutes before a tour or highway trip can help catch a preventable tire or mechanical problem before it interrupts the drive.