7.60-15 bias ply tires on a 1958 Sixty Special

[J.J. Laakso]

Hello all, my first post here!

I'm (hopefully) soon getting my 1958 Sixty Special and wondering if I can use 7.60-15 tires on it. If you have those on your 1958 Cadillac, I would love to see what they look like. I want to have pie crust bias ply tires with 2,5" whitewall, so my choices are either 7.60-15 or 8.20-15. I know the 8.20-15 is the correct size but they look HUGE in my opinion.

And please, let's keep this a "bias ply only"-thread, I do know the benefits of radials, I know about the bias look radial tires and most of all, I know they are NOT the tires I'm going to get.

[TonyZappone #2624]

Put the 820's on it.  I have always used them on my 50's cars.  They will look great

[jdemerson]

Even in 1952, 8.00 x 15 were standard on most models, and 8.20 x 15 came on the 75s. I can't imagine that 8.20 x 15 would look too big to most eyes on a (very large) 1958 Fleetwood 60S.  But it's all in the eye of the beholder...

I'd definitely use the 8.20 x 15s, but you should do whatever you like best.

John Emerson

[TonyZappone #2624]

If I recall, 800:15 were standard then, but 8:20 15 were installed when optional whitewalls were ordered.

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

With the (little) that I know about tires, the first basic thing I learned was that you never put a smaller sized tire on a car than it was designed for. Especially for the largest sedan made in a given year. You will be driving a very heavy car and if something should give way, you will also be thrown around inside a vehicle not designed for occupant safety (except in a very rudimentary manner.) I would most definitely use the larger sized tires.

(You will usually be inside and can't see the tires anyway.)

[Lexi]

Yes, 8.20 x 15 & 8.00 x 15 I believe are the standard sizes for those cars back in the day. I believe the 8.20 corresponded to L 78 x 15 for those who remember that old tire chart. I never thought they looked big for the car. I agree with Barry not to put something smaller than what was designed for the vehicle. Got 8.20 x 15 'pie crust' bias ply tires on my '56 S 75 now and they look great. Believe the 8.00s were factory recommended for the 60 Special at least for '56. I don't own a '58, but attached is a shot of how the 8.20 x 15 looks on my '56 (front passenger side). I believe the white wall is slightly wider than what Cadillac offered that year though. Your '58 as I recall has a higher cut wheel well which will expose more of the tire. Clay/Lexi

[jdemerson]

If I recall, 800:15 were standard then, but 8:20 15 were installed when optional whitewalls were ordered.

Thanks, Tony, for this detail (which I had forgotten). All whitewalls on 50s Cadillacs were in fact 8.20x15 starting as early as 1953. Interesting that they had that blackwall vs. whitewall distinction in tire width. In 1952 (my year) they were 8:00 x 15 according to both the Data Book and the Owner's Manual.

John Emerson
1952 Cadillac 6219X

[cadillacmike68]

With the (little) that I know about tires, the first basic thing I learned was that you never put a smaller sized tire on a car than it was designed for. Especially for the largest sedan made in a given year. You will be driving a very heavy car and if something should give way, you will also be thrown around inside a vehicle not designed for occupant safety (except in a very rudimentary manner.) I would most definitely use the larger sized tires.

(You will usually be inside and can't see the tires anyway.)

Just don't try to tell that to a lowrider. 

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Thanks, Tony, for this detail (which I had forgotten). All whitewalls on 50s Cadillacs were in fact 8.20x15 starting as early as 1953. Interesting that they had that blackwall vs. whitewall distinction in tire width. In 1952 (my year) they were 8:00 x 15 according to both the Data Book and the Owner's Manual.

John Emerson
1952 Cadillac 6219X

I think I once read all '52 equipped with blackwalls due to a rubber shortage as a result of the Korean war.

Most factory photos of '52 models show blackwalls on. Supposedly they were made of some sort of hybrid material.