Thoughts on correct 1962 Cadillac Whitewalls

[Walter Youshock]

Take into acount that there were 3 tire suppliers then-US Royal, Firestone and Goodrich.  It seemed that most Cadillacs came with US Royals but the other manufacturers may not have had the same size WW as US Royal.

I was looking through Roy's book last night and there are factory photos of '61's with narrow whites.  There are also '62 photos with various ww sizes but none starting at the tire bead.

[Dan LeBlanc]

So, I think it fair to say fellas , there is no definitive one size. In the ranges everyone states at least in 1962, you really have the choice to suit yourself and really not be incorrect. Art

I think that's a very fair assumption to make.

I think that a 61 with the smaller "hub" and the larger amount of paint on it works with the wide whitewall.  The 62 with the larger hub, and more stainless visible seems to work better with the 1" to 1 1/4" whitewall.

Either way, I wouldn't make an authenticity deduction for using a wider white wall on a 62 or a narrower white wall on a 61 as long as it had bias ply (or the new American Classic bias-look radial tires).  Maybe my judging is just too lenient, however, I don't want to nitpick a car to death either.  I want the judging process to be pleasurable for the judge and the owner.

Yesterday, I was checking out the bias-look radials.  As of right now they're only available in a 3 1/4" white wall in the 8.20-15 which would be right at home on Art's 49, but not on a 61/62.  Perhaps in the future they'll offer more whitewall widths.  That can only mean one thing - get and wear out my tires so I can justify getting a set of bias radials when the correct whitewall width comes out.

[Jason Edge]

For someone's personal taste it is absolutely up to the owner to run whatever they want. If you enter the car for judging on originality and the judge(s) knows something about the authenticity of the cars they will adjust accordingly the more you get away from factory specs across all criteria, not just tires. For me I would have a simple rule for the 62 white walls - "White Meets Rim, Points to Trim; Less than One, deduct One".

That means the person that shows up with a 1" to 2" white wall with a period correct tire will have no deductions but someone with a 3/4" whitewall or wide rim to crown white wall will see a minor deduction.

I will say I am looking forward to checking out the new radials with the "bias ply tall pie crust look". If they come out with a 8.20 x 15 with 1.25" white wall version I will be very tempted for my 64 CDV.  While I run the 1" BF Goodrich Silvertown Bias Ply available from Coker, I'll be honest in that even the spares and original tires I've pulled from 64 parts cars were exactly 1.25" ...and not 1".  Again, a bit of history revision on my part ...but there were 4 brands of tires and am hoping to eventually pull in and see some other tires other than the Firestones I keep pulling in!

[76eldo]

I really think the judges should take into consideration, for their particular class, what tires are currently available.  If the whitewall size is close, there should be no deductions.  Even when asked directly about redials, Carl Steig, the head CLC judge said it's up to the judging team's discretion, so this isn't written in stone.

There may be enough options out there in the tire choices to work for some classes, but not all.

Brian

[Jason Edge]

Exactly. That is why I think a 1" whitewall is acceptable.

[76eldo]

It's one of those years where you do have options.

Here's a 61 Biarritz I sold a couple of years ago for a lawyer to settle an estate.  It had thinner whitewalls that would have looked terrible on a 1960, but seemed OK on the 61.

Brian

[Dan LeBlanc]

That's the thing with 61/62 wheel covers.  While similar in design, they are different enough to complement the white wall they were intended to be used with.

I think thin whitewalls look goofy on a 61. 

[Dan LeBlanc]

Posting on behalf of Art here

Here is my 63 and this size looks right by that time

[62 driver]

I agree with Art! 3" on a 61 ok.  I like the 1.3 WW on the 62.