Lincoln Continental Tires

Lincoln Continental uses a wide spread of sizes across its long production span. The listed sizes are 700-15 for 1942; 950-14 for 1961-1963; 885-14 for 1962-1963; 9.15-15 for 1964-1970; 215R15 and 8.45-15 for 1968; 235R15 for 1969 and 1973-1975; 225R15 for 1970-1972 and 1979; 230R15 for 1973-1975; KR78-15 for 1976; LR78-15 for 1976-1979; JR78-15 for 1977-1978; FR78-14 for 1977-1979; 205/75R15 for 1980 and 1982-1983; 215/70R15 for 1984-1988; 205/70R15 for 1988-1994; 225/60R16 for 1995-2002; and 235/50R18, 255/45R19, and 245/40R20 for 2017-2020.

The practical takeaway is that Lincoln Continental fitment depends heavily on generation and wheel package, not just the model name. Early sizes use 14- or 15-inch rims, the 1995-2002 cars move to 16-inch rims, and the 2017-2020 cars split across 18-, 19-, and 20-inch wheels, so the actual wheel diameter on the car should be checked before narrowing the choice.

700-15 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size used here on the 1942 Lincoln Continental. The first number, 700, is the nominal section width expressed as 7.00 inches, while the final number, 15, is the rim diameter in inches. Available products in that size are bias-ply tires mounted on 15-inch rims, with both passenger-car and military or truck-oriented variations listed under the same size code.

A modern buyer should read 700-15 as an older sizing system, not as a direct equivalent to a later metric radial. If the car is a 1942 Lincoln Continental, the main concern is matching the 15-inch wheel and choosing the intended style of tire rather than trying to compare the code to a newer passenger-car size.

The 1968 Lincoln Continental has three listed sizes: 9.15-15, 8.45-15, and 215R15. All three use a 15-inch rim, so the split is not a wheel-diameter change. Instead, it reflects multiple fitment paths within the same model year, including both traditional bias-ply numeric sizing and a radial alternative.

That means a 1968 Lincoln Continental owner needs to identify more than just the year before choosing a tire. Check the wheel already on the car, compare the existing size marking if an older tire is still present, and verify whether the car is being kept in a period-correct bias-ply configuration or fitted with one of the listed radial sizes.

Lincoln Continental does not use one rim diameter across the full production span shown here. The listed applications include 14-inch rims on sizes such as 950-14, 885-14, and FR78-14; 15-inch rims on many mid-century and later classic sizes; 16-inch rims on 225/60R16 for 1995-2002; and 18-, 19-, and 20-inch rims on the 2017-2020 revival. The size code itself identifies the rim diameter on these numeric, alphanumeric, and metric sizes.

Wheel diameter is the first thing to confirm because it immediately removes many incorrect options. If the car has been restored, modified, or had wheels swapped over time, the actual wheel on the vehicle matters more than the model name alone, especially on years that list both 14- and 15-inch or multiple modern wheel packages.

The 1979 Lincoln Continental has three listed sizes: 225R15, LR78-15, and FR78-14. Two of those are 15-inch applications and one is a 14-inch application, so the wheel diameter must be established first. Once the rim size is known, the remaining step is to match the exact size family already used on the car rather than assuming every 1979 Continental takes the same tire.

Start with the stamp or casting on the wheel, then compare that to the tire currently fitted if it is still readable. A 14-inch wheel rules out the 15-inch choices immediately, while a 15-inch wheel still requires confirming whether the car is set up for the alphanumeric LR78-15 radial or the euro-metric 225R15 radial size.

Lincoln Continental tire listings include a wide range of sidewall styles depending on size and era. Among the available products are blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, pin white stripe, goldline, redline, raised white letter, and raised yellow letter styles. Earlier bias-ply luxury sizes lean toward whitewall treatments, while later radial offerings expand into sport-oriented lettered and striped sidewalls.

The best choice depends on the character of the particular Lincoln Continental being restored or preserved. A formal early-1960s or mid-1960s Continental often looks most natural on a whitewall treatment, while later cars from the 1970s through the 1990s can plausibly wear narrower whitewalls, pinstripes, or period-style performance sidewalls depending on the appearance you want to preserve.

The available Lincoln Continental products shown here come from several brands, including Firestone, BFGoodrich, STA, Tornel, American Classic, Coker Classic, Maxxis, Travelstar, Cooper, Dunlop, Avon, Michelin, Vredestein, Goodyear, Nitto, and Pro-Trac. Not every brand appears in every size, and the brand mix changes sharply between early bias-ply luxury sizes, later collector radials, and modern high-performance metric applications.

Brand selection should follow the size and era first, then the look and driving character you want. A prewar or early-1960s Lincoln Continental buyer may be choosing among traditional-style bias-ply brands and sidewall treatments, while a later Continental owner may have a broader radial field that includes touring, classic-look, or performance-oriented options.

Lincoln Continental listings include several distinct tire series, among them Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Wide Oval Radial, Silvertown Radial, American Classic Radial, Star Series, Classic Whitewall MA-1, UN106, Cobra Radial G/T, Sport Classic, CR6ZZ, Michelin XWX, Radial T/A, Sprint Classic, Eagle NASCAR, g-Force Comp 2 AS, g-Force Sport Comp 2, g-Force Phenom T/A, Nitto NT555 G2, and Street Pro III. Those series differ by construction type, appearance, and intended character, ranging from period-style bias-ply reproduction tires to collector radials and modern performance radials.

Choose the series that matches how the car will be used and how authentic you want it to look. A judged restoration leans toward period-style sizing and appearance, a touring car usually benefits from a classic-looking radial where available, and a late Continental on large modern wheels belongs with a proper modern metric radial rather than an earlier collector-style tire.

Lincoln Continental should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and major temperature swings. Tires age from time, heat, and environment even when the car is rarely driven, so long indoor storage conditions matter just as much as mileage. If the car sits for extended periods, correct inflation and periodic movement help reduce flat spotting and casing stress.

A collector car that remains parked for weeks or months benefits from being rolled occasionally and kept out of damp corners or near motors and compressors. If the Lincoln Continental is a prewar or early classic example on bias-ply tires, storage discipline becomes even more important because older construction styles are less tolerant of neglect and prolonged underinflation.

Tires on a Lincoln Continental should be inspected regularly even if the car sees limited annual mileage. At minimum, check inflation, sidewall condition, tread surface, and any signs of cracking, impact damage, or uneven wear before seasonal driving and again after storage periods. Collector cars can develop age-related issues long before the tread is worn out.

A practical routine is to inspect the tires before every meaningful drive and to have them looked over more thoroughly at least once a year. On earlier bias-ply Lincoln Continental applications, that inspection should also include tube condition, valve stems, and wheel integrity, since the complete assembly matters to safe low-use operation.

Lincoln Continental tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, separation, or long-term deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on cars driven only to shows, tours, or occasional events. A tire that looks attractive can still be unsuitable for continued road use if its structure has deteriorated with time.

Replacement decisions should follow condition and age rather than mileage alone. If a Lincoln Continental carries an older specialty tire or a surviving period tire, treat appearance as only one part of the picture and have the casing evaluated carefully, because low-use classics often hide age-related weakness that is not obvious in a casual visual check.

Original Lincoln Continental tire fitment varied substantially across the years shown here. The available period-style sizes include 700-15, 950-14, 885-14, and 9.15-15 in bias-ply form, while later years move into radial sizes such as 215R15, 225R15, 230R15, 235R15, and alphanumeric radials like KR78-15, LR78-15, and JR78-15. Later generations continue into modern metric radial sizing as the car evolved.

For restoration work, the correct answer depends on the exact year and the wheel package or configuration the car was built with. A serious authenticity check should compare the car against period literature, factory references, and marque-club standards so the chosen size, construction, and sidewall presentation align with the specific Lincoln Continental being restored.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Lincoln Continental is judged, presented, and valued within collector circles. Size, construction, rim diameter, and sidewall style all contribute to whether the car looks era-appropriate, and the wrong combination can disrupt the stance and visual character even when the tire physically mounts. On highly restored cars, those details are often noticed quickly.

A concours-minded owner should treat the tire as part of the restoration, not just a wear item. Matching the proper size family and an era-appropriate sidewall style can strengthen the overall presentation, while marque clubs and restoration judges are usually the best benchmark when deciding whether a whitewall width, radial conversion, or later-style sidewall treatment suits the specific Lincoln Continental.

Lincoln Continental restoration choices include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, pin white stripe, goldline, redline, raised white letter, and raised yellow letter depending on size and era. Earlier luxury applications most naturally align with whitewall treatments, while later cars open the door to narrower stripes and some period performance sidewall styles. The correct look depends on the year, wheel size, and how original the restoration is meant to be.

Owners restoring a formal 1940s, 1960s, or many 1970s Lincoln Continental examples usually focus first on the correct whitewall proportion for the car’s period character. Later Continentals from the 1980s and 1990s may suit narrower whitewalls or subtle stripe treatments, while the 2017-2020 cars belong visually with modern blackwall performance radials matched to their factory-style wheel package.

A Lincoln Continental can be driven on public roads safely when the tires are the correct size for the wheel, are in sound condition, and match the intended use of the car. The key variable is era: a 1942 or 1960s bias-ply fitment behaves differently from a later radial-equipped Continental, and a 2017-2020 car belongs on modern metric radials suited to contemporary road speeds. Condition matters as much as size.

Safe road use starts with proper inflation, no visible age-related damage, and a careful review of the wheel and suspension condition before regular driving. On collector-era Lincoln Continental applications, especially those on older bias-ply construction, realistic expectations and conservative operation are part of safe use just as much as selecting the correct tire size.

Before driving a Lincoln Continental, check tire inflation, visible cracking, tread condition, sidewall damage, and whether all four tires match in size and general type. Also verify that the wheel diameter matches the tire fitted, since this model line uses several different rim diameters across its history. Any car that has been sitting should be inspected more carefully before returning to road use.

A sensible pre-drive routine also includes looking for flat spotting after storage and making sure valve stems and wheels are in good condition. On older Lincoln Continental applications, especially those using bias-ply tires, a short low-speed shakedown after storage is wise before heading onto faster roads or taking the car on a longer tour.

Appropriate speed for a Lincoln Continental depends on the era of the car and the construction of the tires fitted. A prewar or early classic Lincoln Continental on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven with much more restraint than a later car on modern radials, while a 1980s, 1990s, or 2017-2020 Continental fitted with the proper radial size is better suited to normal modern traffic conditions. The tire type and condition set the limit more than the model name alone.

Collector owners should match speed to both the tire construction and the overall condition of the car. If the Lincoln Continental is on older bias-ply tires or any aging specialty tire, moderate cruising and avoidance of sustained high-speed operation are the prudent approach, while later metric-radial cars can be used more normally once the tires and chassis have been thoroughly checked.