1959 Dodge Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Dodge vehicles use three tire sizes across the full model range: 750-14, 800-14, and 850-14. The 1959 Dodge Coronet appears with all three sizes, while the 1959 Dodge Royal uses 800-14 and 850-14. All of these are bias-ply tires built for 14-inch rims. Rim width ranges shown in available products are 5.00 to 5.50 inches for 750-14, 5.00 to 6.00 inches for 800-14, and 5.50 to 6.00 inches for 850-14.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for every 1959 Dodge. Coronet owners need to confirm whether their car takes the narrower 750-14 or one of the larger shared sizes, while Royal owners can narrow the choice to 800-14 or 850-14. If the car has been restored, re-wheeled, or modified over the years, verify the wheel width and compare the current tire size before moving forward.

On a 1959 Dodge, 750-14 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The “750” portion is the nominal section-width designation used in period sizing, and the “14” identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric code, and it does not carry the same dimensional logic as a later P-metric radial size. In the 1959 Dodge range, 750-14 is used on certain Coronet applications only.

That narrower size matters because it should not be treated as interchangeable with every other full-size Dodge tire from the same year. If your Coronet calls for 750-14, you also have a wider choice of sidewall looks, including narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline. Matching the correct numeric size first will keep the car closer to its intended stance and preserve the wheel-to-tire relationship the car was built around.

No, all 1959 Dodge models do not use the same tire size. The 1959 Dodge Royal uses 800-14 and 850-14, while the 1959 Dodge Coronet uses those two sizes plus 750-14. Every size in this group fits a 14-inch wheel, but the section width and compatible rim-width range differ by size. That makes the model name an important part of the selection process.

For a buyer, the practical takeaway is simple: identify whether the car is a Coronet or a Royal before choosing a tire page or product family. Coronet owners especially should confirm the existing tire size or wheel width because they have the broadest range of possible fitments. Once the model is confirmed, it becomes much easier to decide on sidewall style and overall presentation without second-guessing the base size.

For a 1959 Dodge, the choice between 800-14 and 850-14 is a fitment question first, not a bias-versus-radial comparison, because both are 14-inch bias-ply sizes. Both sizes are used on the 1959 Dodge Coronet and 1959 Dodge Royal, but 850-14 is the larger nominal section-width option and carries a listed max load of 1740 pounds at 32 psi in the available BFGoodrich offerings, compared with 1620 pounds at 32 psi for the listed BFGoodrich 800-14 tires.

Pick the size that matches the car’s intended fitment rather than choosing by appearance alone. The 800-14 range gives you blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall choices, while the 850-14 selection shown here centers on whitewall presentation. If the car already wears one of these sizes, use that as a starting point and confirm the wheel width before moving to a new tire, especially if the wheels may have been swapped during restoration.

1959 Dodge tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 800-14 range includes blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall options. The 850-14 offerings shown here are narrow whitewall and wide whitewall, while 750-14 adds the broadest visual mix with narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline choices. All of these are bias-ply tires, so the sidewall decision is mainly about appearance and period character rather than changing the basic construction type.

A whitewall is usually the most natural visual match for a 1959 full-size Dodge, especially on a car restored in a true late-fifties American style. Blackwalls can suit a plainer presentation, and redlines on 750-14 create a more personalized period look rather than a typical factory family-sedan image. If show correctness matters, select the sidewall treatment that fits the car’s trim level, market presentation, and judging standard rather than choosing only by visual preference.

Several heritage brands cover 1959 Dodge fitments. The 800-14 size is available from BFGoodrich and Universal Vintage Tire, the 850-14 size is available from BFGoodrich, and the 750-14 size is available from BFGoodrich, US Royal, and Coker Classic. Every option shown for these sizes is bias-ply and aimed at vintage-style fitment rather than late-model replacement use.

Brand choice on a 1959 Dodge often comes down to the exact size you need and the sidewall look you want to achieve. A Coronet owner working with 750-14 has the broadest brand and appearance range, while a Royal owner using 850-14 is choosing within a narrower but still era-appropriate set of options. Once the correct size is confirmed, compare brand families by sidewall styling and rim-width compatibility rather than assuming every brand offers the same version.

Available 1959 Dodge tire fitments show clear rim-width ranges by size. The 750-14 size is listed for 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, 800-14 is listed for 5.00 to 6.00 inch rims on the BFGoodrich products, and 850-14 is listed for 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims. All three sizes mount on 14-inch wheels, but the acceptable wheel width changes with the tire size. That is why the same wheel diameter does not automatically mean every size is equally suitable on every wheel.

Before fitting new tires to a 1959 Dodge, measure or verify the wheel width instead of relying only on the wheel diameter or what happened to be on the car when you bought it. A Coronet can fall into more than one size family, so wheel width becomes especially important if the car has replacement wheels or a mixed restoration history. Matching the tire to both the model and the wheel width will help preserve proper fit and sidewall shape.

The listed 1959 Dodge tire products are bias-ply offerings, but their size markings here do not carry a tube-type or tubeless designation. That means the correct tube decision should be confirmed against the specific tire’s sidewall marking and the wheel design being used on the car. On collector cars from this era, wheel condition and whether the rim was originally intended for tube-type service can matter just as much as the tire itself.

If your 1959 Dodge still uses original-style wheels, inspect the rim carefully for corrosion, pitting, and bead-seat condition before deciding how to assemble the tire. A reproduction tire may be suitable for one setup while the wheel may still call for a tube in practice. Confirming that detail before mounting avoids unnecessary dismounting and helps ensure the complete wheel-and-tire assembly is appropriate for the way the car will be driven.

Original 1959 Dodge wheels can potentially work with more than one listed tire size because 750-14, 800-14, and 850-14 all use a 14-inch rim diameter. The limiting factor is wheel width, not diameter alone. The available fitments show 750-14 on 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, 800-14 on 5.00 to 6.00 inch rims, and 850-14 on 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims in the listed products.

That means some original 1959 Dodge wheels may overlap across sizes, while others may suit only one end of the range. A Royal owner choosing between 800-14 and 850-14 should pay close attention to wheel width, and a Coronet owner considering 750-14 versus a larger size should do the same. Keep the original wheels only if their width and condition support the tire you intend to run.

A stored 1959 Dodge should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Bias-ply tires also benefit from keeping the car on a clean surface and moving it periodically so one part of the casing is not loaded in the same spot for months at a time. If the car will sit for a long season, some owners use stands to reduce static loading while keeping the suspension supported correctly.

Those steps matter because a collector Dodge is often driven less than the average modern car, so storage conditions become a larger part of tire life than simple mileage. A broad whitewall or redline sidewall also deserves extra care because cosmetic aging is easier to see on vintage-style tires. Clean storage, proper inflation, and occasional movement will do more for long-term appearance and ride quality than frequent detailing products.

Tires on a 1959 Dodge should be judged more by age and condition than by miles alone. A collector-car tire often deserves careful evaluation once it reaches about five to seven years of service, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as it approaches ten years, even if tread depth still looks generous. The date code on the tire is the right place to start when checking age. That guideline applies especially well to low-mileage classic cars that may spend long periods parked.

A 1959 Dodge can accumulate very few road miles while still aging its tires through time, temperature swings, storage conditions, and sidewall exposure. Whitewall tires may also show visible weathering before the tread looks worn. If the car is used for tours or highway trips, age should carry more weight in the decision than appearance alone, because an older tire with good tread is not the same thing as a fresh tire ready for regular road use.

Tires on a 1959 Dodge should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip or event. Look closely for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any sign that the tire has been running underinflated. Pressure should be checked when the tires are cold, and the spare deserves the same attention as the four tires on the car. On a lightly used collector vehicle, small issues can go unnoticed for long stretches between drives.

Regular inspection is especially important on a full-size 1959 Dodge because these cars are heavy enough to make a weak tire or aging valve component show itself quickly once the car is back on the road. If the wheel-and-tire assembly uses tubes, include the valve stems and any signs of slow pressure loss in your routine. A two-minute pre-drive walkaround is one of the simplest ways to avoid preventable trouble on an older car.

A 1959 Dodge Coronet would have been fitted with bias-ply tires in period, and the fitments associated with the model here are 750-14, 800-14, and 850-14 depending on the specific application. That is consistent with the late-fifties American market, when bias-ply construction remained the standard for domestic full-size cars. Sidewall appearance could vary with the car’s presentation, but whitewall tires were a common visual choice on cars from this era.

For an exact restoration, use those sizes as the starting point and then confirm the precise original fitment through factory literature, period road tests, or a Dodge marque specialist if the car’s history is unclear. The biggest authenticity questions usually involve selecting the correct numeric size and matching the sidewall style to the car’s trim level and intended presentation. That approach keeps the restoration grounded in period practice without guessing at details unique to one car.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1959 Dodge. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size, construction type, and sidewall treatment look appropriate for the year and model. On a late-fifties American car, the wrong section width or an out-of-era sidewall style can stand out visually even before anyone studies smaller details. Because the Coronet and Royal do not share exactly the same full size range, getting the model-specific size right is part of the presentation.

A careful show car should match the tire to both the vehicle and the standard of the event. For many owners, that means using the proper bias-ply construction and choosing a whitewall width or blackwall treatment that suits the car’s restored appearance. If the event is judged formally, consult the relevant Dodge or Mopar club standard beforehand so the tire choice supports the car rather than becoming an avoidable deduction.

On the 1959 Dodge in 750-14 size, BFGoodrich and US Royal are both bias-ply choices, but they differ in sidewall offerings, weight, and listed load capacity. The BFGoodrich 1.00 inch whitewall is listed at 1580 pounds at 32 psi and 23 pounds, while the US Royal 1.00 inch whitewall and US Royal redline are listed at 1500 pounds at 32 psi and 22 pounds. Both brands use the same 14-inch rim diameter and the same 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim-width range.

That makes the decision less about basic fitment and more about presentation and preference within the correct size family. A buyer focused on a traditional whitewall look can compare the BFGoodrich and US Royal whitewall versions directly, while someone building a more personalized period-style Coronet may be drawn to the US Royal redline. Since the wheel fit is the same, the real choice comes down to the visual effect and the exact brand character you want on the car.

1959 Dodge tires in the sizes listed here are bias-ply designs, and no separate speed-rating letters are shown for these products. When they are fresh, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and matched to sound wheels, bias-ply tires can be used for normal collector-car road driving. On a 1959 Dodge, the broader limits on comfortable highway use are often the age of the vehicle, braking system, steering feel, suspension condition, and overall mechanical state rather than a modern-style speed symbol printed on the tire.

Safe highway use depends on treating the car like a well-maintained vintage machine rather than a modern interstate commuter. Keep speeds sensible, avoid running on aged or questionable tires, and inspect the car thoroughly before longer trips. A big late-fifties Dodge can cruise confidently when everything is right, but it should still be driven with respect for bias-ply behavior and the mechanical realities of a sixty-plus-year-old automobile.

Available 1959 Dodge tire listings show max load capacities at 32 psi for the sizes that carry load information. The 750-14 products are listed at either 1500 pounds at 32 psi or 1580 pounds at 32 psi depending on brand, the 800-14 BFGoodrich versions are listed at 1620 pounds at 32 psi, and the 850-14 BFGoodrich versions are listed at 1740 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to run every car at the same pressure all the time.

Use the factory recommendation for the car as your primary starting point, then make sure the tire’s own maximum load-and-pressure rating is never exceeded. Do not transfer a pressure figure from one size to another or assume a larger tire should automatically be run harder. If the car is restored for driving rather than static display, check pressures regularly and make adjustments only within the manufacturer’s limits and the needs of the specific vehicle.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Dodge, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation. Check that the spare is usable, verify that the valve stems are in good condition, and make sure the wheels themselves are clean and structurally sound at the bead area. If the assembly uses tubes, pressure retention and valve condition deserve extra attention because a car that sits can develop slow leaks without obvious warning.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive checklist on a full-size 1959 Dodge. A smart owner also reviews brakes, steering play, fluid levels, belts, hoses, and the car’s charging and cooling systems before committing to a long outing. Handling tire inspection together with the broader mechanical check gives the best chance of a relaxed trip and keeps a preventable minor issue from becoming a roadside problem.