Lincoln Capri Tires

Lincoln Capri uses four tire sizes across the years covered here: 800-15 and 820-15 for 1953, 1956, and 1957, plus 900-14 and 950-14 for 1958. The 800-15 and 820-15 sizes are built for 15-inch rims, while 900-14 and 950-14 are built for 14-inch rims. Product specifications show 800-15 commonly fitting 6.00 to 6.50 inch rims, 820-15 fitting 6.00 to 6.50 inch rims in standard form, 900-14 fitting 6.00 to 7.00 inch rims, and 950-14 fitting 6.50 to 7.50 inch rims.

The practical takeaway is that model name alone is not enough to pick a Lincoln Capri tire. Start with the model year, then verify the wheel diameter and compare the wheel width to the range listed for the tire you are considering. That matters most on 1958 cars, since they moved to 14-inch wheels, and it also matters on earlier cars because two 15-inch sizes are listed for the same years.

An 820-15 Lincoln Capri tire uses the older numeric bias-ply size system. The 820 portion represents a nominal 8.20-inch section width, with the decimal omitted, and the 15 indicates a 15-inch rim diameter. In the available Lincoln Capri products, 820-15 appears only as a bias-ply tire and is offered in several sidewall styles, from blackwall to narrow and wide whitewalls, along with a few specialty performance variations.

Understanding that code helps prevent one of the most common mistakes on 1950s luxury cars: assuming the first number is the wheel size. It is not. For a Lincoln Capri, the critical match point is the 15-inch rim, then the wheel width and the car’s existing fitment. If your car is a 1953, 1956, or 1957 Capri and currently carries 15-inch wheels, 820-15 is one of the period-style options to compare against the narrower 800-15 fitment.

Lincoln Capri uses two rim diameters across the years shown here. The 1953, 1956, and 1957 listings use 15-inch wheel fitments through sizes 800-15 and 820-15, while the 1958 listings use 14-inch wheel fitments through sizes 900-14 and 950-14. That year break is the clearest dividing line in the range and the first thing to establish before choosing a tire.

The easiest way to avoid a costly mistake is to inspect the wheels actually on the car rather than relying only on memory or model name. Collector cars are often changed over time, and a Lincoln Capri may no longer wear its original wheel set. Once you know whether the car has 15-inch or 14-inch wheels, the remaining decision is choosing the correct width range and sidewall look for the year and restoration goal.

The Lincoln Capri sizes listed here are all numeric bias-ply tires: 800-15, 820-15, 900-14, and 950-14. In the available products, each of those sizes is offered as bias-ply construction with no tubeless designation, so a tube is required. That applies across both the earlier 15-inch fitments and the later 14-inch fitments shown for this model range.

For a Lincoln Capri owner, that means tube selection should be treated as part of the tire fitment rather than an afterthought. The tube needs to match the tire size and rim diameter, and the wheel itself should be in suitable condition for tube-type service. If the car has been stored for years or is returning to the road after restoration, inspect the wheel surfaces, valve openings, and rim bands where applicable before fitting fresh tires and tubes.

A 1958 Lincoln Capri uses one of two 14-inch sizes listed here: 900-14 or 950-14. The correct choice depends on the wheel and fitment already on the car, since both sizes appear in that same model year. Product specifications also show different wheel-width ranges, with 900-14 fitting 6.00 to 7.00 inch rims and 950-14 fitting 6.50 to 7.50 inch rims.

Start by confirming that the car truly has 14-inch wheels, since Lincoln Capri changed away from the earlier 15-inch setup in 1958. Then measure the wheel width or compare against original service literature, restoration records, or marque references. If the car is already wearing an older set of tires, use those markings only as a clue and verify that the wheel dimensions agree before settling on either 900-14 or 950-14.

Lincoln Capri tires in the listed sizes are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The broadest sidewall variety appears in 820-15, which includes blackwall, 1.00 inch whitewall, and several wide whitewall treatments. The 800-15 offerings are wide whitewall only, while the 900-14 and 950-14 sizes each include both narrow and wide whitewall choices.

That variety gives a Lincoln Capri owner some flexibility depending on whether the goal is a restrained original-style appearance or a more dramatic late-1950s luxury look. Sidewall width changes the visual character of the car even when the underlying size stays the same. Before choosing, compare the tire to period photos of the specific car you are restoring and make sure the sidewall treatment matches the era, trim presentation, and overall finish of the vehicle.

The available Lincoln Capri tire brands in these sizes are Coker Classic, BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, Universal Vintage Tire, and Avon. Not every brand appears in every size: 800-15 is shown under Coker Classic, 820-15 has the widest spread across multiple brands, and the 14-inch sizes 900-14 and 950-14 are shown here under BFGoodrich. Series names also vary by brand, including classic bias-ply lines and some specialty offerings.

For a Lincoln Capri buyer, brand choice usually comes after size, wheel diameter, and sidewall style are settled. Once those fitment basics are right, the brand and series help refine the car’s look and intended use, whether that means a standard road-style bias-ply or a more specialized period-style product. It is worth comparing the wheel-width range and sidewall treatment as closely as the brand name, since those details shape the final result on the car.

Lincoln Capri tires in these listings appear in several series, including Coker Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Universal Classic Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Dirt Track, and Dragster Cheater. Most of those are standard period-style bias-ply road tires, while Dirt Track and Dragster Cheater are specialty performance-oriented products. The Turbospeed Mk4 is also separate from the main American-style classic bias-ply lines in presentation and application.

That means the right Lincoln Capri tire series depends on how the car will actually be used and how closely you want to follow a conventional restoration look. A standard classic bias-ply series is the most natural choice for a stock-style road car, while specialty racing patterns belong to much narrower use cases. If authenticity matters, compare the series, sidewall treatment, and overall look to the period you are representing rather than choosing by size alone.

A stored Lincoln Capri should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, electric motors, ozone, solvents, and standing moisture. Inflate the tires to the proper operating pressure for the tire and avoid leaving the full weight of the car on one spot for long periods if possible. Bias-ply collector tires can flat-spot during inactivity more readily than modern daily-driver tires, especially on a heavy luxury car.

If the Lincoln Capri will sit for months, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading on the same footprint while still respecting suspension needs. Clean the tires with mild soap and water only, not petroleum-based dressings. A simple storage routine matters because preserving the casing shape and sidewall condition helps the car drive more smoothly and keeps a fresh set of collector tires from aging prematurely.

Tires on a Lincoln Capri should be inspected before every meaningful drive and given a more thorough check at regular intervals even when the car is seldom used. On a collector car with bias-ply tires, look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, weather checking, uneven wear, embedded debris, low pressure, and tube-related leakage issues. Inspection also includes checking valve stems, wheel condition, and whether the tire is still seated evenly after storage.

That habit is especially important because many collector cars accumulate age faster than mileage. A Lincoln Capri that appears lightly used can still have tire issues caused by time, heat cycles, and long static storage. Make inspections part of your pre-drive routine, and if the car has been parked for a season, take a closer look before putting it back into road service rather than assuming tread depth alone tells the full story.

Lincoln Capri tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, casing irregularity, or other condition problems appear, even if the tread still looks substantial. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out, and that is particularly true for bias-ply products used on low-mileage hobby cars. Appearance alone is not a reliable measure of serviceability once a tire has spent years under load, in storage, or exposed to repeated temperature changes.

The practical rule is to treat calendar age and condition as seriously as mileage on a Lincoln Capri. Have the tires evaluated during routine service if steering feel changes, the car develops a shake, or the sidewalls begin to show visible aging. Replacing older tires before they fail protects both the car and its occupants, and it is far less disruptive than discovering a deteriorated casing after the car is already back on the road.

Lincoln Capri fitment in this range includes 800-15 and 820-15 for 1953, 1956, and 1957, then 900-14 and 950-14 for 1958. The available products are all bias-ply types, with several classic-style series represented, including Coker Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, and Universal Classic Bias Ply. Multiple sidewall treatments are also available, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall options depending on size.

For restoration work, the safest approach is to use the year and wheel diameter first, then compare sidewall style and overall appearance to period references for the specific car. A Lincoln Capri restored for national judging may call for closer attention to whitewall width and brand presentation than a driver-quality restoration. Marque clubs, original brochures, and surviving unrestored examples are the best guides when you want to narrow the choice from correct size to exact presentation.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Lincoln Capri is judged and how seriously the restoration is taken. Judges and knowledgeable collectors notice whether the wheel diameter, tire size family, sidewall treatment, and overall stance match the period character of the car. A 15-inch setup on the earlier years and a 14-inch setup on 1958 are not small details, because they directly shape both appearance and authenticity.

From a value standpoint, a Lincoln Capri that sits correctly on era-appropriate tires usually presents better than one wearing a visually inconsistent size or sidewall style. That does not mean every car needs concours-level exactness, but the closer the tire choice is to the car’s year and intended presentation, the stronger the result. If judging matters, consult Lincoln restoration references and club standards before finalizing a tire that changes the car’s look.

Lincoln Capri restoration tires in these listings are available as blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall depending on size. The 820-15 size offers the widest variety, including blackwall, 1.00 inch whitewall, and several wide whitewall versions, while the 14-inch sizes 900-14 and 950-14 are offered in both narrow and wide whitewall forms. That range reflects the styling choices that shaped premium American cars through the 1950s.

The correct sidewall for a Lincoln Capri restoration depends on the exact year and the presentation you are trying to recreate. A more formal original-style luxury appearance often points toward a whitewall treatment, but the width of that whitewall changes the car’s visual era and stance. Comparing your car to period advertising, showroom photography, and marque references is the best way to choose between blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall without over-restyling the car.

A properly fitted, properly maintained bias-ply tire can be used on public roads with a Lincoln Capri when the tire size, rim diameter, wheel width, inflation, and overall vehicle condition are all correct. The sizes listed here are traditional collector-car fitments rather than modern touring radials, so they preserve period driving character rather than transforming the car into a modern road car. Safety depends as much on age, condition, and installation quality as on the size itself.

For road use, treat the Lincoln Capri as a vintage automobile with vintage handling and braking expectations. Before regular driving, make sure the tires are fresh, the tubes and wheels are in good order, and the suspension and steering are sound. A bias-ply equipped Capri can be enjoyable on the road, but it should be driven with the margin, pace, and attention appropriate to a substantial 1950s luxury car.

Before driving a Lincoln Capri, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel fasteners, valve stems, and any signs of tube leakage or uneven seating. Also confirm that all four tires match the intended fitment in size and wheel diameter, especially on cars that may have changed wheels over time. Because Lincoln Capri uses multiple sizes across the years, a quick verification that the tire size agrees with the wheel and the car’s year is worthwhile every time the car returns to service.

Beyond the tires, a pre-drive look at steering response, brake feel, fluid leaks, and suspension condition is part of responsible operation. Collector cars often spend more time parked than driven, which can allow small issues to develop unnoticed. A few minutes of inspection before taking a Lincoln Capri onto the road does more for confidence and safety than any cosmetic check once the car is already moving.

A Lincoln Capri on original-style bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible, moderate road speeds that respect the design limits of both the tire and the car. Even when the tire is new, bias-ply construction behaves differently from modern radials, with more sensitivity to road crown, grooves, and crosswinds. Appropriate speed is therefore less about the posted limit alone and more about the tire’s condition, inflation, load, weather, and the mechanical state of the car.

In practice, a Lincoln Capri owner should build speed gradually, keep extra following distance, and avoid sustained high-speed running unless the whole car has been thoroughly evaluated for that use. Fresh tires do not cancel out the realities of vintage suspension, steering, and braking systems. The right pace is the one that keeps the car composed, predictable, and comfortable rather than asking a mid-century bias-ply setup to behave like a modern highway package.