1958 Packard Tire Fitment Guide

1958 Packard vehicles use two tire sizes: 710-15 and 800-14. Both sizes appear on the 1958 Packard 58L-P8 and the broader 1958 Packard range, so neither size is exclusive to just one model grouping. The 710-15 size mounts on a 15-inch wheel and fits rim widths from 5.00 to 5.50 inches on the listed products. The 800-14 size mounts on a 14-inch wheel and fits rim widths from 5.00 to 6.00 inches on the listed products where rim-width guidance is provided.

Wheel diameter is the first thing to confirm on a 1958 Packard, because a 14-inch tire and a 15-inch tire are not interchangeable. Once that is settled, the remaining choice usually comes down to sidewall appearance and how closely you want the car to reflect a particular late-1950s look. A quick check of the actual wheel, existing tire markings, and the car's restoration history will usually point you in the right direction before you go deeper into model-specific fitment.

On a 1958 Packard, 710-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 7.10 figure refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, written without a decimal point in the size code, and the 15 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Because there is no radial designation in the size, it is a traditional bias-ply format typical of American cars from the period. The listed 710-15 products fit 15-inch wheels and are offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions.

That matters because a 710-15 tire is about preserving the correct late-1950s bias-ply character on a Packard that uses a 15-inch wheel. If your car already wears 15-inch wheels, this size keeps you in the proper format family rather than pushing you toward a different rim diameter. It is also the better starting point when you want to compare whitewall widths and brand options within a traditional American full-size car presentation.

On a 1958 Packard, 800-14 is another numeric bias-ply size. The 8.00 portion identifies the nominal section width in inches, again shown without a decimal point, and the 14 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This is not a metric or radial size; it is a period-style bias-ply format used on 14-inch wheels. The available 800-14 products include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall treatments.

The practical takeaway is simple: 800-14 is only appropriate if the car is actually on 14-inch wheels. For many 1958 Packard owners, this size also opens up a broader cosmetic range, especially if sidewall style is central to the car's finished look. If the car has gone through wheel changes during a past restoration, verify the wheel diameter physically rather than assuming the size from the model name alone.

1958 Packard tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. In 710-15, the choices include blackwall and wide whitewall. In 800-14, the choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall. That spread is useful because Packard buyers and restorers often care as much about the car's stance and side profile as they do about the basic dimensions of the tire.

For a highly authentic late-1950s American luxury-car appearance, whitewall tires are usually the first place many owners look, while blackwalls can suit a more restrained presentation or a particular period taste. The exact whitewall width can noticeably change the personality of the car. If showing matters, match the sidewall style to the car's intended market look and restoration theme, then confirm that the chosen style is offered in the wheel diameter your Packard actually uses.

Three brands appear in the available 1958 Packard tire selection: BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Universal Vintage Tire. The 710-15 size is offered by BFGoodrich and Firestone, while the 800-14 size is offered by BFGoodrich and Universal Vintage Tire. All of the listed products are bias-ply tires, which keeps the overall selection closely aligned with the construction type expected on a late-1950s Packard.

Brand choice on a 1958 Packard often comes down to the sidewall look you want, the exact size you need, and how closely you want the tire's presentation to match the car's finished style. BFGoodrich spans both sizes, which is useful if you are comparing 14-inch and 15-inch applications. Firestone is specific to 710-15 here, while Universal Vintage Tire appears in 800-14, so your wheel diameter naturally narrows the field before you compare appearance details.

For a 1958 Packard in 710-15, both BFGoodrich and Firestone offerings are bias-ply tires built for 15-inch wheels and carry a stated maximum load rating of 1550 pounds at 32 psi. Both use the same listed rim-width range of 5.00 to 5.50 inches. The visible difference in the available selection is sidewall presentation: BFGoodrich appears in blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while the listed Firestone 710-15 example is blackwall.

That means the comparison is less about basic fitment and more about how you want the finished Packard to look. If your priority is a broad whitewall appearance in 710-15, BFGoodrich gives you that route in this selection. If you want to stay with a blackwall presentation, either brand keeps you in the correct size and bias-ply format, so the final decision becomes one of visual style and brand preference rather than wheel compatibility.

Rim width guidance for 1958 Packard tires depends on the size. The listed 710-15 products fit 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, and the listed 800-14 BFGoodrich products fit 5.00 to 6.00 inch rims. Both sizes are bias-ply tires, but they do not share the same wheel diameter, so rim width is only part of the fitment picture. The wheel must match both the tire's diameter and its approved width range.

That makes it worth measuring or confirming the actual wheel before choosing a tire, especially on a collector car that may have had wheels swapped during earlier service or restoration work. Staying inside the stated width range helps the tire sit correctly on the wheel and preserves the intended shape of the tread and sidewall. If you are balancing originality with road use, verify the wheel first and then select the sidewall style that fits your Packard's purpose.

The available 1958 Packard product listings do not show TT or TL markings within the size descriptions, so tube choice should be confirmed against the exact tire and wheel combination you plan to run. Both listed sizes are period-style bias-ply tires, and on collector cars like a 1958 Packard, tube use often depends as much on wheel condition and wheel design as it does on the tire itself. A tire can only be evaluated properly when the wheel and valve arrangement are part of the conversation.

Before mounting, inspect the wheel carefully for rust, pitting, weld repairs, or bead-seat damage and confirm the intended setup with the specific product's sidewall marking. Many Packards have lived long lives and may no longer wear their original wheels, so a blanket tube assumption is not the safest path. If the car is being restored for regular road use, this is one of the best details to settle early rather than after the tires arrive.

A 1958 Packard should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are more prone to flat-spotting during long static storage than modern radials, so the car should be moved periodically or supported appropriately if it will sit for an extended period. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation also help protect the tire casing and sidewalls.

Those habits matter because a large, heavy late-1950s Packard places significant static load on its tires when parked for long stretches. If the car is stored through the winter or between show seasons, check pressure regularly and avoid letting the tires rest underinflated. A simple routine of rolling the car occasionally, keeping it away from heat and ozone, and shielding the sidewalls from light will do more for tire condition than many owners realize.

Tires on a 1958 Packard should be judged by age as much as by tread depth, because collector cars often accumulate very little mileage. A sensible rule is to inspect them more critically once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to consider replacement as they approach ten years, regardless of how much tread remains. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the key reference point for age, and visible cracking or hardening can shorten that timeline.

That age-based approach is especially important on a Packard that spends more time parked than driven. Old bias-ply tires can still look presentable while the rubber and internal structure have already moved past their best years. If the car is used for tours, highway trips, or long show drives, tire age deserves the same attention as brake hydraulics, cooling hoses, and other time-sensitive components rather than being treated as a cosmetic detail.

Tires on a 1958 Packard should be inspected before every drive and checked more thoroughly before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, tread separation signs, uneven wear, punctures, and any bulges or distortions in the casing. Pressure should be verified with the tires cold, and the spare deserves the same attention because many collector-car spares go untouched for years. Valve stems should also be inspected closely during routine checks.

A brief walkaround before driving can prevent most tire-related surprises on a vintage Packard. Cars of this era are heavy, and they are often driven only occasionally, which means problems can develop slowly and go unnoticed between outings. If the car starts to pull, vibrate, or feel different than usual, stop and recheck the tires rather than assuming it is only an old-car quirk. Regular inspection is inexpensive insurance for a rare car.

A 1958 Packard 58L-P8 would have been a bias-ply car when new, because bias-ply construction was still the standard fitment format for American cars of the period. Within the available 1958 Packard fitment range here, that means looking at 710-15 or 800-14 bias-ply tires depending on the wheel diameter used on the specific car. Original-equipment branding could vary by production details and market delivery, so the first priority is getting the size family, wheel diameter, and sidewall character correct.

For a serious restoration, confirm the tire size against the car's existing wheel, any surviving paperwork, and the standards recognized by Packard clubs or marque specialists. That is especially useful on a 1958 Packard because these final-year cars can have complicated histories and later wheel substitutions. Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, a period-style bias-ply tire with the right sidewall treatment will usually put the car on solid ground visually and historically.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1958 Packard because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice the details that shape the car's stance and period character. Size, wheel diameter, construction type, and sidewall style all influence whether the car looks right for its year. On a late-1950s American luxury car, an obviously incorrect sidewall treatment or the wrong wheel diameter can stand out immediately even to casual observers, while experienced judges may be stricter still.

That does not always mean one exact tire is mandatory, but it does mean your choices should support the story the restoration is trying to tell. If the car is aimed at concours judging, consult the standards used by the Packard club or event that will evaluate it. If the goal is a clean period presentation for local shows and touring, staying with the correct bias-ply format and a suitable whitewall or blackwall look usually matters more than chasing unnecessary minutiae.

On a 1958 Packard, the difference between narrow whitewall and wide whitewall tires is primarily visual rather than dimensional. In the available 800-14 selection, BFGoodrich offers a narrow whitewall as well as a wider whitewall version, and wide whitewalls are also available in other Packard sizes such as 710-15. Both styles remain within the same period-correct bias-ply construction family, but they give the car distinctly different emphasis when viewed from the side.

Wide whitewalls usually create the fuller luxury-car look many owners associate with the late 1950s, while a narrower whitewall can give the car a slightly more restrained or transitional appearance. The right choice depends on your restoration goal, the trim and color combination, and whether you are following a specific show standard. If authenticity is important, compare old photos of similar Packards and use marque-club guidance to match the look as closely as possible.

1958 Packard tires in the available selection are bias-ply tires, and no explicit modern speed ratings are shown in the size markings provided here. A properly maintained bias-ply tire in the correct size can be used on the road, but the broader safety picture for a 1958 Packard also includes brake condition, steering wear, suspension health, wheel integrity, and the age of the tires themselves. On an older full-size American car, those mechanical realities often matter as much as the tire format.

For highway use, the key is to treat the whole car as a system rather than focusing on the tire alone. Confirm that the tires are age-appropriate, correctly inflated, and free of cracks or damage, then make sure the Packard is equally ready in its chassis and braking systems. A vintage car in sound condition can be a pleasant highway companion, but it should still be driven with the respect due any late-1950s automobile on bias-ply tires.

The listed maximum pressure figures for 1958 Packard tires are 32 psi on the products that include load-and-pressure information. In 710-15, the stated load figure is 1550 pounds at 32 psi, and in 800-14, the stated figure is 1620 pounds at 32 psi on the BFGoodrich products that carry that information. Those numbers describe the tire's rated maximum load condition, not automatically the pressure your Packard should always be run at in normal service.

For actual operating pressure, start with the Packard factory recommendation for the model and wheel setup, then confirm that the selected tire's service guidance supports that use. Pressure should never be copied from one size to another just because both fit 1958 Packard applications. If the car's original literature and the tire's rated limits point in different directions, work from the tire manufacturer's recommendations while keeping the car's weight distribution and intended use in mind.

Before a longer drive in a 1958 Packard, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, embedded objects, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems closely and make sure each wheel is in sound condition, especially if the car has older painted steel wheels or wheels of uncertain history. A long-trip check should also include lug security, tread condition, and any signs that a tire has been sitting underinflated for too long.

That tire inspection should happen alongside the usual vintage-car checks for brakes, coolant, belts, hoses, charging system, and fuel delivery. A Packard that looks excellent in the garage can still reveal age-related issues once it is asked to run at sustained road speed. Taking fifteen minutes to inspect the tires and the rest of the car before departure is one of the simplest ways to make an older touring car more dependable and more enjoyable on the road.