Hello all, I was driving up 200 plus miles in my 59 wagon when I had two tires go down. I only was able to get 225/70/15 and not the 215/70/15 that I had one. The car hates the bigger tires. Steering was tighter and was harder to turn at all speeds. Also wonder like crazy at higher speed and hates higher speeds. Just wonder if anyone else had a experience like this.
When I worked in a tire store we did a "one size larger" tire installation hundreds of times without any bad results. Usually never noticed much difference unless the tire was MUCH wider or were installed with different wheels that were wider and had a different offset.
The OEM tire size on a 1959 Wagon was a 7.50 X 14 which would now be a 205/75/14 the closest 15" would be a 205/70/15 which is two tenths of an inch taller, but the width is the same. Here is a conversion chart. https://tengtoolsusa.com/blogs/news/vintage-tire-size-conversion-chart
Personally the skinnier the better so I buy 75 series. For 15” a 205 is the equivalent of a 6.70 and a 215 is the equivalent of a 7.10. Your 59 Wagon would hav had 14” rims stock and if my mind can remember the years I changed tires for Sears while going to College; a 59 sedan would have had a 7.50 and the wagon an 8.00. They didn’t get much width until the mid 60’s and the “Wide Oval” showed up.
I run 35 psi. I am thinking that something loosened up when I had to drive the tire that went out. Need to check it. And by the way never buy Cokers
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