1959 Chevrolet Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Chevrolet vehicles use four distinct sizes: 750-14 for Chevrolet passenger-car applications, 800-14 for Chevrolet, V8, and Wagon applications, 670-15 for Corvette, and 850-14 for Wagon applications. The 14-inch sizes mount on 14-inch wheels, while the Corvette’s 670-15 mounts on a 15-inch wheel. Where rim-width guidance is available, 750-14 fits 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 800-14 fits 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims, 670-15 fits 4.50 to 6.00-inch rims depending on the product, and 850-14 fits 5.50 to 6.00-inch rims.

That spread means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1959 Chevrolet. A full-size Chevrolet sedan, a wagon, and a Corvette can all belong to the same model year while requiring different wheel diameters or different section widths. Matching the exact model first, then checking the actual wheel and the tire’s approved rim-width range, is the cleanest way to avoid choosing a size that looks right on paper but is wrong for the car in your garage.

On a 1959 Chevrolet tire, 750-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.50 figure is the nominal section-width designation used in period sizing, and the 14 means the tire fits a 14-inch wheel. That code belongs to the older American numeric system rather than later alphanumeric or metric sizing, so it is read differently than modern passenger-car tire markings.

For a buyer, 750-14 signals an era-correct full-size Chevrolet fitment with the visual character and road manners associated with a bias-ply tire. It is also a size with multiple period-style sidewall choices, including narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline. If your car calls for 750-14, the next step is not converting it mentally into a modern metric size but confirming that your wheel is a 14-inch rim within the approved width range for the specific tire you are considering.

No, 1959 Chevrolet models do not all use the same tire size. The Chevrolet passenger-car grouping uses 750-14 and 800-14, the V8 grouping uses 800-14, the Wagon grouping uses 800-14 and 850-14, and the Corvette uses 670-15. That means there is variation not only in section width but also in wheel diameter, because the Corvette is on a 15-inch fitment while the others listed here are 14-inch applications.

That difference matters because two 1959 Chevrolets can look broadly similar to a casual observer yet require very different tires. Wagons especially deserve a second look because they appear with both 800-14 and 850-14 options. If you are starting with a newly acquired car, verify the model and inspect the wheel diameter before narrowing your search to sidewall style or brand, since the model determines the correct size family first.

1959 Chevrolet tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 750-14 range includes narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline; 800-14 includes blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall; 670-15 includes blackwall and wide whitewall; and 850-14 includes narrow whitewall and wide whitewall. Those options reflect the late-1950s market, when sidewall appearance was a major visual part of a car’s stance and personality.

Choosing among them comes down to how authentic you want the finished car to look and which model you own. Wide whitewalls usually deliver the strongest period presentation on a late-1950s American car, while blackwalls and redlines can create a more understated or performance-oriented appearance depending on the application. If the car is being restored for judging, check marque-specific expectations for your body style and market before settling on a sidewall treatment.

Several brands cover 1959 Chevrolet applications, but the available names vary by size. The 750-14 size is offered by BFGoodrich, US Royal, and Coker Classic; 800-14 is available from BFGoodrich and Universal Vintage Tire; 670-15 for Corvette is offered by Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire; and 850-14 is offered by BFGoodrich. All of the listed choices are bias-ply offerings aimed at vintage applications rather than modern high-volume replacement tires.

Brand choice usually becomes most important after you have locked in the right size for the model. At that point, the decision tends to center on sidewall appearance, approved rim-width range, and the exact period look you want. Corvette buyers have the broadest brand spread within this group, while wagon buyers selecting 850-14 have a narrower field, so it is worth comparing the visual and fitment details within your size rather than assuming every 1959 Chevrolet application has the same options.

For a 1959 Chevrolet, both 750-14 and 800-14 are 14-inch numeric bias-ply sizes, but they are not interchangeable just because they share the same wheel diameter. The 750-14 appears only with the Chevrolet passenger-car grouping, while 800-14 is used across Chevrolet, V8, and Wagon applications. Their approved rim-width ranges also differ slightly in the available products, with 750-14 centered on 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims and 800-14 extending to 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims in the listed BFGoodrich offerings.

That means the real choice is not which one seems more appealing, but which size belongs on your specific model and wheel. Moving from one to the other changes section width and can alter the car’s visual proportion. If your goal is an accurate restoration, use the size tied to the model; if you are working with a car that has been changed over time, verify wheel width and consult a Chevrolet specialist before treating these two sizes as direct substitutes.

Rim-width requirements for 1959 Chevrolet tires depend on the size. The 750-14 products fit 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 800-14 products fit 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims, 670-15 products span 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims in some offerings and 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims in others, and 850-14 products fit 5.50 to 6.00-inch rims. Those ranges are specific to the individual tire sizes and should not be carried over from one size to another.

Rim width matters because it affects how the tire sits on the wheel, how the sidewall stands, and whether the tire is being used within its intended envelope. Before mounting a new set, measure the actual wheel or confirm the wheel specification from a trusted source for your model. That is especially important on a long-restored or modified 1959 Chevrolet, where wheels may have been changed even though the car still appears visually stock.

Original 1959 Chevrolet wheels cannot be treated as universal across all sizes because the model range includes both 14-inch and 15-inch applications. The 750-14, 800-14, and 850-14 sizes all require 14-inch wheels, while the Corvette’s 670-15 requires a 15-inch wheel. Even among the 14-inch sizes, approved rim-width ranges differ by size, so sharing wheel diameter alone does not automatically make every wheel appropriate for every tire.

In practical terms, a buyer should first confirm the wheel diameter already on the car, then compare the wheel width against the tire’s approved range. A full-size Chevrolet or wagon may have remained on original 14-inch wheels for decades, but a Corvette owner should not assume those same wheels apply. If the car’s history is unclear, remove a wheel and verify its dimensions before choosing a tire simply because the sidewall style looks correct for 1959.

A stored 1959 Chevrolet should be kept away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, or welders. Bias-ply tires benefit from a clean, dry environment and from maintaining proper inflation while the car is parked. Because collector cars often sit longer than modern drivers, periodic movement of the car or relieving some static load can help reduce flat-spotting and stress on the sidewalls.

The practical goal is to protect the tire casing as much as the paint or interior. If the car will sit for an extended season, roll it occasionally or support it in a way that follows good collector-car practice without leaving the suspension hanging awkwardly. A 1959 Chevrolet stored thoughtfully will usually return to service with fewer vibration issues and less visible sidewall aging than one left underinflated and unmoved in a damp garage.

On a 1959 Chevrolet, tire life is usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage. Collector-car tires are commonly evaluated closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as they approach about ten years from the DOT date code, even if the tread still looks good. Bias-ply tires on lightly used classics often age out before they wear out.

That is why a shiny sidewall and deep-looking tread should never be the only basis for keeping an older set in service. Check the manufacturing date, then inspect for cracking, hardening, flat-spotting that does not clear, and any signs of separation or impact damage. A low-mileage 1959 Chevrolet that appears carefully preserved can still be riding on tires that are older than their safe service window, so age should always be part of the decision.

Tires on a 1959 Chevrolet should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, embedded debris, and signs that the tire is losing pressure. On a collector car, it is also wise to check the spare, because a trunk-mounted spare may be decades old even when the road tires have been replaced more recently.

Frequent inspection is especially important on an older vehicle that may not see enough regular use to reveal problems gradually. A tire that felt acceptable on the last short drive can still develop age-related cracking or pressure loss between outings. Make tire inspection part of the same walk-around as checking fluids and lights, and if the car uses vintage-style valve hardware or older wheels, give those areas a close look as well.

A 1959 Chevrolet Chevrolet passenger car would originally have been fitted with bias-ply tires, which was standard American practice in that period. Within this year and make grouping, the passenger-car applications appear with 750-14 and 800-14 sizes, both of them period-correct numeric bias-ply formats on 14-inch wheels. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and application, so the most reliable path for exact factory confirmation is a marque specialist or factory literature tied to the specific body style.

For restoration purposes, getting the construction type and size family correct is usually more important than chasing a brand name first. Once those are settled, sidewall style becomes the visual detail that most strongly shapes the car’s finished look. If your goal is show-level accuracy, compare the car against period photography and consult Chevrolet club resources, since appearance expectations can differ between a mainstream sedan, a sporty full-size car, and a dealer-accessorized example.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1959 Chevrolet because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall treatment immediately. A bias-ply tire in the proper numeric format aligns with the period, while an obviously different construction or a sidewall style that clashes with the car’s intended presentation can stand out quickly. On a late-1950s Chevrolet, tire appearance is part of the overall styling statement rather than a minor detail.

For that reason, show preparation should treat tires as a finishing component of the restoration, not just a wear item. A wide whitewall may be right for one presentation, while another car may look more appropriate with blackwalls or a different whitewall width depending on model and judging standard. Before a judged event, compare your choice with the rules of the hosting club and with period references for your exact Chevrolet model.

For the 1959 Chevrolet Corvette in 670-15, the listed Firestone option is a blackwall bias-ply tire with a 1450-pound load rating at 32 psi and an approved 4.50 to 5.00-inch rim-width range. The listed Coker Classic option is a wide whitewall bias-ply tire with a 1550-pound load rating at 32 psi and an approved 5.00 to 6.00-inch rim-width range. Both are 15-inch Corvette-fitment tires, but they differ in sidewall appearance and wheel-width compatibility.

That makes the choice partly visual and partly technical. A buyer restoring a Corvette around a particular wheel width needs to confirm that the selected tire’s approved range matches the actual wheel, not just the diameter. The sidewall style also changes the car’s finished presentation considerably, so if authenticity is the goal, compare your intended look against period Corvette references and the standards of the events where the car will be shown.

The listed 1959 Chevrolet tires are bias-ply vintage-style products, and no speed-rating letters are shown in these size listings. When they are new, correctly mounted, properly inflated, and used within the limits of the vehicle and the tire manufacturer’s guidance, they are suitable for the kind of road use expected of a collector car. On a 1959 Chevrolet, the condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel hardware is often just as important to highway confidence as the tire itself.

Bias-ply tires do not feel the same as modern radials, so the safer approach is to drive with period-appropriate expectations rather than assuming modern response or braking behavior. Start with moderate speeds, confirm that the car tracks properly, and recheck pressures after the first few heat cycles. On a vintage Chevrolet that has been sitting, a full mechanical inspection before sustained highway use is every bit as important as installing fresh tires.

The listed load-and-pressure figures vary by size, so inflation should never be copied from one 1959 Chevrolet tire size to another. Available examples include 750-14 at up to 1580 pounds at 32 psi depending on brand, 800-14 at 1620 pounds at 32 psi, 670-15 at 1450 or 1550 pounds at 32 psi depending on product, and 850-14 at 1740 pounds at 32 psi. Those are tire ratings, not a blanket recommendation to inflate every application to the same running pressure.

For actual use, start with the factory vehicle guidance for your model and wheel setup, then make sure the chosen tire is being used within its own rated limits. A Corvette on 670-15 should not borrow pressures from a wagon running 850-14, even though both are 1959 Chevrolets. If the car has been modified, weigh the vehicle or consult a knowledgeable marque specialist before settling on final running pressures.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Chevrolet, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual tread wear, and proper cold inflation. Check that the valve stems are sound, confirm the spare is usable, and make sure the wheel fasteners are secure. Since these are vintage-style bias-ply applications, it is also smart to look for flat-spotting or vibration if the car has been sitting for a long period.

Tire readiness is only one part of preparing an older Chevrolet for distance driving. A sensible pre-trip routine also includes brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, cooling, and basic fluid checks, because any weakness in those systems can show up faster on the road than it will on a short neighborhood drive. Once the car is underway, pay attention to changes in feel and stop early if the car develops heat, pull, shake, or pressure loss.