Imperial New Yorker Tires

Imperial New Yorker uses 850-14 in the year covered here, which is 1962. The available tires are built for a 14-inch rim and specify a rim width range of 5.50 to 6.00 inches. Both listed options are bias-ply tires from BFGoodrich with the same load capacity rating of 1740 pounds at 32 psi.

That means the main fitment decision is not between multiple sizes, but between the correct wheel diameter and the whitewall appearance you want on the car. Start by checking the wheel itself for 14-inch fitment, then verify that the car has not been changed to a later wheel or tire size during its life.

On an Imperial New Yorker, 850-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 850 portion refers to the nominal section width class, traditionally understood as about 8.50 inches, and the 14 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older American sizing system used before modern metric radial sizing became common.

Reading the code correctly helps you avoid confusing a period bias-ply size with a modern radial equivalent that may change the car’s stance or appearance. If you are restoring the car to an early 1960s look and ride character, staying with the original-style numeric bias-ply format is usually the right direction.

Imperial New Yorker uses a bias-ply 850-14 tire in the products listed here, and a tube is required. That requirement follows the construction and size format used for the available tires rather than any modern tubeless convention. Both listed BFGoodrich options fall into that same bias-ply fitment approach.

Tube fitment matters because it affects how the tire is mounted and how the assembly should be prepared during installation. If the car has original-style wheels, make sure the wheel condition, valve hardware, and tube compatibility are all addressed at the same time rather than treating the tube as an afterthought.

Imperial New Yorker tires are available here in two sidewall styles: a 2.25 inch whitewall and a 1.00 inch whitewall. Both are BFGoodrich bias-ply tires in the same 850-14 size and the same Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series. The difference is visual rather than dimensional, since the size, rim diameter, and load rating remain the same.

That gives a restorer some flexibility depending on the look of the individual car. A wider whitewall generally delivers a stronger early-1960s luxury-car appearance, while the narrower whitewall can suit a car that was updated in period style or one whose owner prefers a more restrained presentation.

BFGoodrich is the brand represented for Imperial New Yorker in the products listed here. Both available tires are BFGoodrich 850-14 bias-ply models, offered in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series with either a narrow or wider whitewall treatment. No additional brands appear in this size for the Imperial New Yorker fitment shown.

With a single brand in the fitment range, the more meaningful comparison is between appearance options rather than manufacturer differences. Focus on selecting the whitewall width that best suits the car’s restoration style, while keeping the basic fitment points fixed: 850-14 size, 14-inch rim diameter, and the proper rim width range.

A 1962 Imperial New Yorker uses 850-14 in the fitment covered here. The available tires are made for a 14-inch rim and a wheel width of 5.50 to 6.00 inches, so those wheel dimensions are the first things to verify on the car itself. Because only one tire size is listed, the confirmation process is mainly about checking that the car still carries the correct wheels.

Look at the existing tire markings, inspect the wheel size if accessible, and compare the car against restoration paperwork or marque references if the wheels may have been changed long ago. That extra check is worthwhile on full-size luxury cars, since decades of service can leave them wearing replacement wheels that alter proper period fitment.

An Imperial New Yorker should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone or heat sources that age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, and if the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally to avoid creating flat-spotted areas in the bias-ply carcass.

Because Imperial New Yorker is a large, heavy car, long stationary storage is harder on the tires than it would be on a lighter vehicle. Many collectors also use jack stands placed correctly under the chassis to reduce sustained tire loading during long-term storage, while still keeping the suspension and wheel position managed carefully.

Tires on an Imperial New Yorker should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car covers very few miles. Check inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, uneven wear, valve condition, and any indication that the tube or rim may be causing leakage. Collector cars often age their tires by time more than by mileage.

Regular inspection matters especially on a full-size 1962 luxury car, because tire loads are substantial and bias-ply tires can change feel noticeably when pressure or condition is off. A brief walk-around before driving and a more careful yearly inspection by a shop familiar with vintage tires is a sensible routine.

Tires on an Imperial New Yorker should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, irregular deformation, or any structural concern appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out. Bias-ply tires in particular deserve replacement on condition and age, not simply on remaining tread depth.

That approach is important because an infrequently driven car can look road-ready while carrying rubber that has become stiff or compromised over time. If the Imperial New Yorker has been sitting for years, have the tires and tubes evaluated closely before resuming road use rather than assuming appearance alone tells the full story.

Imperial New Yorker is represented here by 850-14 bias-ply fitment for 1962, with BFGoodrich tires available in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series. The size itself is the important original-style reference point in this case, while the two listed versions differ in whitewall width rather than basic construction or dimensions. Both preserve the period numeric bias-ply format used on the car.

For a factory-authentic restoration, the next step is matching that size to the visual treatment that best suits the individual car. Original sales literature, marque judging manuals, and unrestored reference cars can help determine whether the wider or narrower whitewall look is more appropriate for the exact presentation you want.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both the appearance and judged authenticity of an Imperial New Yorker. Size, construction type, stance, and whitewall treatment all contribute to whether the car presents as a faithful early-1960s luxury restoration. Even when a car is not being judged formally, enthusiasts notice whether the tire choice suits the era.

Using the proper 850-14 bias-ply format helps the car sit and read correctly in profile, which matters on a full-size Imperial. If the car is being prepared for concours or marque judging, check the standards used by Imperial and Chrysler enthusiast groups so the whitewall width and overall presentation align with the class you plan to enter.

Imperial New Yorker restoration choices here include both a 2.25 inch whitewall and a 1.00 inch whitewall in the same 850-14 bias-ply size. Either can suit a period presentation depending on how the individual car is being restored, but the wider whitewall generally aligns more strongly with the formal luxury look associated with full-size American cars of the early 1960s.

The best choice depends on whether you are recreating a showroom-style appearance, a later period-used look, or a specific judged standard. Since the dimensions and construction stay the same, this decision is mainly about visual authenticity and how the tire complements the car’s trim, wheel covers, paint, and stance.

A properly mounted, correctly inflated, sound-condition 850-14 bias-ply tire can be suitable for public-road use on an Imperial New Yorker when the rest of the car is mechanically healthy. Tire safety depends on the condition of the tire, tube, wheel, suspension, and braking system working together. The car’s substantial weight makes overall condition especially important.

Road use should begin with a careful inspection rather than an assumption that fresh-looking tread guarantees readiness. If the car has been dormant, bring it back into service methodically and pay attention to ride feel, pull, vibration, braking response, and heat buildup during short initial drives before taking on longer trips.

Before driving an Imperial New Yorker, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, tube integrity, and whether each tire is seated properly on its 14-inch rim. Also inspect the wheels for corrosion or damage, since wheel condition is part of the safety equation on a tube-type bias-ply setup. On a large luxury car, brake performance and steering condition are just as important as the tires themselves.

A good pre-drive routine is especially useful on collector cars that sit for long periods between outings. Start with a slow local drive, then recheck pressures and look for any fresh scuffing, bulging, or signs that one wheel assembly is behaving differently from the others after the car has warmed up.

An Imperial New Yorker fitted with original-style 850-14 bias-ply tires is best driven at sensible, moderate speeds that respect both the age of the vehicle design and the handling character of bias-ply construction. Even when the tires are new, the steering feel, tracking, and response differ from a modern radial-equipped car. The correct speed is one that leaves a generous margin for braking, road conditions, and vehicle stability.

That practical limit varies with the condition of the car, the road surface, weather, and how experienced the driver is with vintage chassis behavior. Treat the car like the substantial early-1960s luxury automobile it is, and build speed gradually only after confirming that the tires, alignment, suspension, and brakes are all working properly.