What size tires are used in the 1950s?
In the 1950s, passenger cars predominantly wore bias-ply tires on 14- or 15-inch wheels. Common sizes included 6.50-14, 7.00-14, 7.50-14 and their 15-inch counterparts 6.50-15, 7.00-15, 7.50-15, with larger cars sometimes running 8.00-15. Radial tires were not widely adopted during the decade. Tire sizes varied by make and model and gradually shifted toward larger wheel diameters as the decade progressed, often accompanied by whitewall styling on many trims.
Common tire sizes in the 1950s
Below is a snapshot of the sizes most frequently chosen for mainstream passenger cars as the era progressed.
Sizes by wheel diameter
- 14-inch wheels: 6.50-14, 7.00-14, 7.50-14
- 15-inch wheels (dominant by late 1950s): 6.50-15, 7.00-15, 7.50-15, 8.00-15
- Notes on rarer configurations: Some upscale or specialty models experimented with larger 15-inch widths or occasional 16-inch wheels, but those were not common across the mainstream market.
In practice, the move from 14-inch to 15-inch rims became a defining trend of the late 1950s, expanding tire width and affecting handling and ride characteristics.
Construction and styling of 1950s tires
The following list highlights the typical technology and design features of tires during the decade.
Key construction features
- Bias-ply construction was standard, providing durability and load capacity but less flexibility than later designs.
- Radial tires were not widely adopted in the 1950s; they became mainstream later, starting in the 1960s.
- Whitewall styling was a defining visual feature on many passenger-car tires, especially on mid- to high-trim models.
- Ply ratings commonly ranged from 4-ply to 6-ply for standard passenger tires, with higher ratings used on heavier or performance-oriented applications.
Tire technology in the era prioritized durability and load capacity, with less emphasis on fuel efficiency and wet grip compared to later decades.
Regional and model variation
While the pattern above captures the broad US market, tire sizes varied by region and by vehicle class. Here is a quick look at typical tendencies across categories.
Market differences by category
- American mainstream passenger cars: commonly used 6.50-14 to 7.50-15 across many makes and trims.
- Mid-range and premium models: often shifted toward 7.00-15 or 7.50-15 as the decade progressed, with some luxury brands experimenting with 8.00-15 on larger cars.
- Trucks and specialty vehicles: tended to use narrower or taller tires for utility roles, typically still bias-ply but sometimes on different wheel diameters.
In all cases, tire choices were driven by wheel compatibility, load ratings, and the era’s styling cues, including the rise of whitewall aesthetics in many trims.
Summary
The 1950s saw a shift from smaller 14-inch wheels toward more common 15-inch rims on many cars, with tire sizes typically in the 6.50-14 to 7.50-15 range and occasional use of 14-inch equivalents like 6.50-14 or 7.50-14. Bias-ply tires defined the era, radials would come later, and whitewall styling remained a fixture for a significant portion of the decade. Exact sizes varied by make, model, and region, with larger wheel-diameter trends becoming more pronounced as the decade progressed.
What size tires are on a 1954 Chevy 3100?
1954 Chevrolet Truck 3100 6.00-16" Tires for Sale at Discount Prices.
What does 4.80 4.00 mean?
The numbers 4.80/4.00-8 read like this: 4.80" is the tire width, 4.00" is the tire section height (from the inside of the donut hole to the outside) and the 8" is the wheel diameter. Finally, the numbers 4.80-8 read like this: 4.80" is the tire width and "8 is the wheel diameter.
Which tire is taller, a 70 or a 75?
A 75 tire is taller than a 70 tire because the last two digits in a tire's size (like 70 or 75) represent the aspect ratio, which is the sidewall height as a percentage of the tire's width. A higher percentage means the sidewall is taller, and a tire with a 75 aspect ratio has a taller sidewall than one with a 70 aspect ratio, assuming the width is the same.
- How it works: The number after the slash is the sidewall height as a percentage of the tire's width. For example, in a "265/75R16" tire, the sidewall is 75% of the 265mm width, while in a "265/70R16" tire, the sidewall is 70% of the 265mm width.
- Outcome: Because 75% is a larger percentage than 70%, the 75 series tire will have a taller sidewall and a larger overall diameter.
How to read vintage tire size?
Alphanumeric Sizing - 1960's to 1970's
The higher the letter, the larger the tire. A78-13 is an example of a very small tire for an economy car, and L78-15 is an example of a large tire for a Cadillac. The two-digit number after the load range rating is the aspect ratio.
