1959 Lincoln Tire Fitment Guide

1959 Lincoln vehicles here use one tire size: 950-14. That same size fits both the 1959 Lincoln Landau and 1959 Lincoln Premiere, so there is no model-specific size split within this year and make. The available products for 950-14 are bias-ply tires built for 14-inch rims, with a stated rim width range of 6.50 to 7.50 inches and a listed maximum load of 2000 pounds at 32 psi.

That makes 1959 Lincoln tire selection more straightforward than many year-and-make pages, because the main question is visual style rather than alternate fitment. Once you confirm that your car still uses the proper 14-inch wheels, the next step is deciding whether the narrower or wider whitewall better suits the way you want the car to present.

On a 1959 Lincoln, 950-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 9.50 portion refers to the tire’s nominal section width class, while 14 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial size, it does not include a metric width, aspect ratio, or an R for radial construction, because it follows the earlier numeric bias-ply naming system common on large American cars of the period.

That older sizing format is a strong clue that the tire is meant to preserve original-era proportions and appearance. If you are comparing it to newer-style sizing systems, avoid trying to translate it by width alone; wheel diameter, construction type, and the intended look of a 1959 Lincoln all matter when selecting the right replacement.

Yes. Both 1959 Lincoln models covered here—the Landau and the Premiere—use the same 950-14 tire size. They also share the same 14-inch rim diameter in the available products for that size, so there is no year-and-make-level split that would send one model to a different wheel diameter or an alternate construction family.

That shared fitment simplifies research if you are starting with only the year and make. Model identification still helps when you are refining the car’s presentation, but it is the whitewall style and the overall restoration direction of the car—not a different tire size—that usually shapes the final decision on a 1959 Lincoln.

1959 Lincoln tires in 950-14 are available with two sidewall styles: Narrow Whitewall and Wide Whitewall. Both are BFGoodrich bias-ply tires in the same Silvertown Classic Bias Ply family, so the size, load listing, rim diameter, and rim width range remain the same while the visual treatment changes. On a late-Fifties American luxury car, whitewall width has a major effect on the overall character of the finished vehicle.

A wide whitewall usually reinforces the fuller period look associated with upscale American cars of the era, while a narrow whitewall gives a slightly more restrained appearance without changing the fitment itself. If your Lincoln is being restored with a particular showroom or concours vision in mind, the sidewall style is often the most important aesthetic choice on this page.

BFGoodrich is the available brand for 1959 Lincoln tires in the listed 950-14 size. The current offerings are both bias-ply tires and both belong to the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series, with the distinction between them coming from whitewall width rather than a change in construction, diameter, or load listing.

Because the brand choice is focused here, the comparison becomes simpler: you are evaluating which BFGoodrich presentation better suits your car. Buyers who want to keep the selection process clear can concentrate on wheel compatibility, sidewall appearance, and how closely the finished tire complements the visual tone of a 1959 Lincoln restoration.

The two available 950-14 tires for a 1959 Lincoln are both BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply products with the same 14-inch rim diameter, the same 6.50 to 7.50 inch rim width range, the same listed 2000-pound maximum load at 32 psi, and the same 30-pound weight. The main difference is sidewall styling: one uses a 1.00 inch whitewall and the other uses a 2.50 inch whitewall.

That means the selection is largely visual rather than mechanical. If your Lincoln is being restored toward a bolder late-Fifties luxury appearance, the 2.50 inch whitewall will usually read as the more dramatic choice. If you want a cleaner, less emphatic whitewall presence while keeping the same basic tire specification, the 1.00 inch version is the alternative.

The available 950-14 tires for 1959 Lincoln vehicles are built for 14-inch rims and carry a stated rim width range of 6.50 to 7.50 inches. That range applies to both listed products in this size, so the wheel must meet both the diameter and width requirement for the tire to seat and present properly.

Checking the actual wheel before ordering is especially important on collector cars, because wheels may have been changed at some point in the car’s life. Even when a 1959 Lincoln still has original-style wheels, confirming the wheel width helps avoid assuming that every 14-inch rim is automatically appropriate for every reproduction tire in the size.

The available 950-14 products for 1959 Lincoln do not include a tube-type or tubeless marking in the size description shown here. On collector vehicles from this era, tube use often depends on the wheel design, the condition of the rim, and the specific tire’s sidewall marking rather than the size alone.

The practical step is to inspect the wheel and confirm the specific tire’s sidewall information before final fitment. If the wheels are original, recently restored, or of uncertain sealing condition, many owners also discuss tube use with a trusted installer or marque specialist so the tire and wheel are matched correctly.

Yes, within the options listed here, both 1959 Lincoln tire choices use the same 950-14 size and the same 14-inch rim diameter. They also share the same stated rim width range of 6.50 to 7.50 inches, so there is no split where one listed tire requires a different wheel size than the other.

That means the original-style wheels can generally serve either whitewall option as long as the wheels are the correct size and are in sound condition. It is still wise to verify wheel width and inspect the bead area, because an old or previously repaired rim can affect how well a bias-ply tire mounts and holds air.

A stored 1959 Lincoln should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone sources that can age rubber. Bias-ply tires are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static periods than modern radials, so occasional movement is helpful. Clean, dry floors and proper inflation also reduce strain on the casing while the car sits.

If the car will be parked for a long season, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load without leaving the suspension hanging unnaturally. Storage practices matter as much as tread depth on collector cars, because a beautiful 1959 Lincoln can spend most of its life parked, and rubber ages even when mileage stays low.

Tires on a 1959 Lincoln usually age out before they wear out. A collector-car tire should be evaluated regularly once it reaches about five to seven years of age, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration by around ten years regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code, along with visible condition, gives a much better measure of service life than mileage alone on a low-use luxury car.

That approach is especially important for a heavy late-Fifties car that may only come out for short seasonal drives and events. Even if the whitewalls still look presentable, hardening rubber, sidewall checking, or long periods of static storage can make an older tire less suitable for dependable road use than its appearance suggests.

Tires on a 1959 Lincoln should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, bulges, cuts, irregular wear, and signs of pressure loss, and check that the valve stems are in good condition. On a large collector car, small issues can become more noticeable because the car carries substantial weight and may sit for extended intervals between drives.

A quick pre-drive check is one of the simplest ways to avoid trouble on the road. If the car has been parked for weeks or months, pay extra attention to flat spots, visible weathering, and whether the tires have held inflation evenly, because storage-related aging often appears before obvious tread wear does.

A 1959 Lincoln Premiere would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the size used across the 1959 Lincoln models listed here is 950-14. That makes a bias-ply 950-14 the correct construction family and size direction for an owner trying to stay faithful to period fitment. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealership practice, or period replacement history, so construction, size, and sidewall presentation are the more dependable authenticity markers.

For a restoration, the most useful next step is confirming how your specific car is being judged or presented. Marque clubs, factory literature, and event-specific judging guides can help refine whether a narrow or wide whitewall better suits your Lincoln, but staying with the proper numeric bias-ply size is the foundation of an authentic appearance.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1959 Lincoln because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall style very quickly. A late-Fifties luxury car loses visual authenticity if it wears the wrong overall type of tire, and an incorrect whitewall treatment can change the entire impression of the car even when the wheel diameter is right.

For most show-oriented owners, the goal is to keep the tire consistent with the period and the class in which the car will appear. If the event emphasizes originality, a bias-ply presentation in the correct 950-14 size is usually the safer path, while marque clubs and judging standards can help settle finer points about whitewall width expectations.

For the 1959 Lincoln, both the 1.00 inch whitewall and 2.50 inch whitewall options are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires in 950-14. Their shared specifications include bias-ply construction, 14-inch rim diameter, 6.50 to 7.50 inch rim width range, 2000-pound maximum load at 32 psi, and 30-pound listed weight. The difference is strictly the width and visual emphasis of the whitewall band.

That distinction matters a great deal in restoration work because sidewall styling helps establish the era-correct stance and personality of the finished car. Owners building a more formal, dramatic late-Fifties presentation often favor the larger whitewall, while those seeking a subtler period look may prefer the narrower band without changing the tire’s basic fitment.

A properly fitted, properly inflated 1959 Lincoln tire in good condition can be suitable for normal highway use, but its real-world behavior should be understood in the context of bias-ply construction and the vehicle itself. The available 950-14 options shown here do not list a modern speed rating letter, so the buyer should treat them as period-style collector tires rather than as high-speed modern touring radials. On a 1959 luxury car, overall mechanical condition is just as important as tire condition.

That means the car should be driven within the limits of its tires, suspension, steering, and braking system rather than by modern traffic expectations alone. If your Lincoln will be used regularly on faster roads, tire age, balance, inflation, and general chassis health all deserve attention before longer highway outings are part of the plan.

The available 950-14 tires for 1959 Lincoln carry a listed maximum load of 2000 pounds at 32 psi. That figure is a tire rating point, not automatically the ideal day-to-day running pressure for every car and loading condition. Factory vehicle recommendations and the tire manufacturer’s guidance should both be considered, especially on a collector vehicle whose ride, wear pattern, and steering feel are sensitive to inflation changes.

The best practice is to start with the vehicle’s original guidance if you have it, then confirm that your chosen reproduction tire’s operating recommendations are being respected. Avoid borrowing a pressure number from a different tire type or a modern passenger car, because a heavy 1959 Lincoln on bias-ply tires responds differently than a later radial-equipped vehicle.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Lincoln, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is usable as well. Look closely at the valve stems and bead area, especially if the car has older wheels or has been stored for extended periods. A late-Fifties full-size luxury car places meaningful load on its tires, so any weakness deserves attention before distance use.

Tires are only one part of the check, but they are among the easiest items to inspect and one of the most important for confidence on the road. It also makes sense to review brakes, steering, cooling, and fluid levels so the whole car—not just the 1959 Lincoln tire fitment—is ready for the trip ahead.