Tires for 1973 Imperial

[ANDRE LEITE DE BARROS]

Hi all,

I need to buy new whitewall tires for my 1973 Imperial. As similar as possible to the original ones (if possible).

The correct size is considering a modern radial tire is 195/75R15, correct ?

Any sugestions ? I couldn´t find any traditional brand (BF, Firestone, etc...) in this size...

Thanks

Andre

 

[Mr C]

Closest modern tire size is 235 75 R15...try and get extra load (109T) for that big ole girl...

 

[ANDRE LEITE DE BARROS]

Closest modern tire size is 235 75 R15...try and get extra load (109T) for that big ole girl...

Thanks a lot !!!

 

[CBODY67]

The "problem" is that many now term that size a "SUV" tire. Many are in white letters with no whitewalls, per se.

The only way to get a custom (i.e., similar to what came on it) might be from Diamondback Classics tire company. They fuse the whitewall onto an existing tire sidewall. For a price, but considering they use recent-production tires rather than "repro" tires, the price can be worth it.

On the other hand, a normal .75" whitewall will be fine for the car. Double-stripes and such are extinct, except possibly by the Diamondback company. Hankook, Nexen, and some other Chinese or VietNamese brands should be available in the P235/75R-15 whitewall size.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Thanks a lot !!!

I have 235/75/15s on my 72 Imperial.

 

[Boydsdodge]

I have purchased two sets of the Nexen Npriz AH5 235/75r15 White walls. Very good tire at a good price with the correct load rating.

 

[Daly]

I went with a 235/70r15 over the 75 series on my 73 Newport.
I found there were more passenger car tire options In s 70 series. Most of the in stock 75 series tires were LT (light truck) tires. I also find the 70 series fit my car better (looked better).

 

[crv]

Diamondback offers a double stripe whitewall, listed as a Cadillac design, but close to the optional design that could be had on the '73 Imperial:

Diamondback Cadillac tyre, wider whitewall, $US309-$319: Cadillac Specialty Wall Designs - Custom 15 Inch White Wall Tires

 

[marko]

do not buy Vogues, they turn brown......................

 

[Darby]

do not buy Vogues, they turn brown......................

View attachment 707736

The brown may be from age, was the tire made before 1019 (10th week of 2019). I thought the white (side wall or letters) held up pretty well until the the tires aged out (6 years).

 

[Joerg]

This is how the "Cadillac Style" twin whitewalls from Diamondback look on my 73 LeBaron:

 

[ANDRE LEITE DE BARROS]

This is how the "Cadillac Style" twin whitewalls from Diamondback look on my 73 LeBaron:

View attachment 708232

Thanks! It looks really great !

 

[mikeschrysler]

The "problem" is that many now term that size a "SUV" tire. Many are in white letters with no whitewalls, per se.

The only way to get a custom (i.e., similar to what came on it) might be from Diamondback Classics tire company. They fuse the whitewall onto an existing tire sidewall. For a price, but considering they use recent-production tires rather than "repro" tires, the price can be worth it.

On the other hand, a normal .75" whitewall will be fine for the car. Double-stripes and such are extinct, except possibly by the Diamondback company. Hankook, Nexen, and some other Chinese or VietNamese brands should be available in the P235/75R-15 whitewall size.

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67

I bought a Nexen 225/75-15 Whitehall for a spare from Amazon for my Newport

 

[Boydsdodge]

This is how the "Cadillac Style" twin whitewalls from Diamondback look on my 73 LeBaron:

View attachment 708232

How do your tires feel? Good ride? What brand tire do they use?

 

[Joerg]

Yeah, they are still rollin' as if they were new.


But, I didn't ride a lot after my exhaust exploded in late August 24.
Now it has a new TTI-exhaust (dual), a MSD electronic ignition and rides again like it should.
First meeting was 3 weeks ago, not far away.



I already have the fender skirts in the right colour, just the inner fender needs some metal work for attaching the skirts again.
Seems that when the fenders were treated by someone in the 1990s, they didn't have had those skirts left ...

 

[Boydsdodge]

Looks great, thanks.

 

[Turbo301]

I got Ironman tires for my Roadmaster, and they look and work great, as do the GT Radial "Maxtour" whitewalls on my Grand Marquis. The Ironman tires have a pretty classic look, while the Maxtours have the more modern "ribbed" sidewall that really catches the light when shined-up. It's really hard in Canada to get any kind of whitewall, but even imported (at least pre-tariffs...), the Ironman tires were still very cheap - like, $100 per tire (USD)!

I don't know for Imperials, but 235/75R-15 is about the largest size recommended for the Fury in its manual (snow chains not fitting on wagons with this size...); I run 215/75R-15 which is the standard size, and 225/70R-15 or 225/75R-15 would be my next go-to if needed. I'd have thought that 235/75 would be a bit too massive a sidewall.

 

[sixpkrt]

I've been happy with the Ironman 235/75/15 WW's.
The 1" WW looks better than the the other brands with the thinner WW IMO.

 

[garyh]

They are very Cheap in Price, Chinese Perhaps ?

 

[Turbo301]

I've been happy with the Ironman 235/75/15 WW's.
The 1" WW looks better than the the other brands with the thinner WW IMO.

I agree. The thinner whitewall might be more period-correct, but people kind of "expect" to see a certain width, and the Ironmans have it. I hate people that put '50s style wide whitewalls on cars this new; it happens way too often.