Lincoln Custom Tires

Lincoln Custom uses two tire sizes in the years covered here. The 1942 Lincoln Custom uses 700-15 on 15-inch rims, while the 1954 and 1955 Lincoln Custom use 800-15 on 15-inch rims. The 700-15 products generally call for 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim widths, and the 800-15 products generally call for 6.00 to 6.50 inch rim widths.

That means the correct choice starts with the model year and then moves to the wheel itself. A 1942 Lincoln Custom should be checked for its original-style narrower wheel, while a 1954 or 1955 Lincoln Custom should be matched to the wider 15-inch wheel used with 800-15 tires. If the car has been modified over the years, measure the installed wheel and compare it with original references before selecting a tire.

On a Lincoln Custom, 700-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 portion indicates a nominal 7.00-inch section width, and the 15 indicates a 15-inch wheel diameter. In the products offered for Lincoln Custom, this size appears on 1942 applications and is built as a bias-ply tire in several series and sidewall styles.

Modern buyers sometimes expect a more detailed metric code, but older American sizing was simpler and more approximate. With a Lincoln Custom, the practical step is to confirm that the car is a 1942 model and that the wheel matches the 15-inch diameter and appropriate rim width range. That keeps the tire visually correct and helps maintain the proper stance and proportions for the car.

On a Lincoln Custom, 800-15 is also a numeric bias-ply size. The 800 portion indicates a nominal 8.00-inch section width, and the 15 indicates a 15-inch wheel diameter. This size is used on the 1954 and 1955 Lincoln Custom and appears here in wide whitewall bias-ply form for 15-inch rims with 6.00 to 6.50 inch rim widths.

That larger numeric size reflects the broader, heavier-looking postwar luxury-car tire profile expected on a mid-1950s Lincoln Custom. If your car is one of those later years, 800-15 is the starting point, but you still want to confirm that the wheel on the car has not been replaced with a different width over time. Whitewall width choice then becomes a restoration and appearance decision rather than a size change.

Lincoln Custom applications here are overwhelmingly bias-ply fitments, and bias-ply collector tires are commonly tube-type unless a product is specifically built as tubeless. The 700-15 offerings include mostly tube-type style products, with one 8-ply tubeless transport-style option, while the 800-15 offerings are bias-ply whitewall tires where a tube is required. Tube practice matters most on original wheels and older collector-car service.

For a restoration-minded Lincoln Custom owner, the safest path is to match the tire, tube, and wheel as a system rather than treating them as separate parts. Wheel condition, bead-seat design, and intended use all affect the decision. A tube setup is usually the right choice for period-style fitment, especially when preserving original driving character and avoiding compatibility issues with older rims.

The year split is straightforward on Lincoln Custom in this range: 1942 uses 700-15, while 1954 and 1955 use 800-15. Both sizes fit 15-inch wheels, but they do not share the same section width or recommended rim width range. The earlier size is matched to narrower 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, and the later size is matched to wider 6.00 to 6.50 inch rims.

Start with the car's exact model year, then verify the wheel diameter and width on the car itself. That matters because many collector cars have had wheels swapped during their lives, and a Lincoln Custom can look correct at a glance while carrying non-original rolling stock. Once the year and wheel dimensions line up, you can choose among the available sidewall and series options with much more confidence.

Lincoln Custom tires in these sizes are offered in both wide whitewall and blackwall styles. The 700-15 selection includes wide whitewall and blackwall choices, while the 800-15 selection shown here is wide whitewall only. That gives the 1942 Lincoln Custom a broader visual range, while the 1954 and 1955 Lincoln Custom options lean toward the fuller whitewall look associated with upscale 1950s American cars.

Sidewall style affects the appearance of a Lincoln Custom as much as the tire size itself. A blackwall can suit a more restrained or utility-focused presentation, while a wide whitewall tends to better support a formal restoration look on later luxury models. If the car is being prepared for judging or a historically sensitive restoration, compare the sidewall treatment to period photos, factory literature, or marque-club guidance.

The brands offered for Lincoln Custom tires here are Firestone, BFGoodrich, STA, and Coker Classic. The 700-15 size used on 1942 Lincoln Custom applications has the broadest brand spread, including both passenger-style and military or transport-oriented bias-ply options. The 800-15 size used on 1954 and 1955 Lincoln Custom applications is represented here by Coker Classic.

Brand choice on a Lincoln Custom usually comes down to the balance between appearance, intended use, and the particular series offered in the correct size. A show-oriented car may prioritize whitewall presentation, while a utility-minded project or specialized build may focus on a more rugged tread style in 700-15. Keeping the correct size and wheel match in place matters more than chasing a brand name alone.

Lincoln Custom tires here appear in several series, including Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Traxion, Firestone Classic Military, Super Transport, Transport Highway, and Coker Classic Bias Ply. Those series reflect different purposes within the same size family, from period passenger-car whitewall bias-ply tires to military-style and transport-style blackwall designs. All of them remain bias-ply constructions in the sizes listed for Lincoln Custom.

The practical difference is not just brand identity but the kind of look and service each series suggests. A classic bias-ply whitewall is usually the natural choice for a restored luxury Lincoln Custom, while transport or military-oriented treads make more sense only for a specialized use or a very particular build theme. Decide first whether authenticity, visual presentation, or heavy-duty style is your real priority.

A Lincoln Custom should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from stable temperatures and a clean floor surface, since long idle periods can encourage flat spotting and sidewall stress. Proper inflation during storage also matters because these cars are heavy enough to load the casing even when parked.

If the Lincoln Custom will sit for extended periods, roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch without unsettling the suspension. Tire covers help limit light exposure, and a quick visual check every few weeks catches pressure loss before it damages the casing. Good storage habits preserve appearance, ride quality, and service life better than tread depth alone.

Tires on a Lincoln Custom should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. Check inflation, sidewall condition, tread surface, valve stems, and any signs of casing distortion or age cracking. On a low-mile collector car, time and storage conditions usually matter more than annual mileage.

That routine is especially important because a Lincoln Custom may spend long periods parked and then be expected to run smoothly on a short outing. A brief inspection before moving the car can catch weather checking, impact damage, or pressure loss that developed in storage. Pair the tire inspection with a quick wheel and brake check so the whole rolling assembly is ready for safe use.

A Lincoln Custom tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, repeated air loss, or internal damage is present, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out because they see limited mileage and long storage periods. Visible tread depth is only one part of the tire's condition, and it is not the best guide on a hobby car.

The best approach is to treat the tire as a time-sensitive structural component rather than a simple cosmetic item. If the Lincoln Custom has been on the same tires for many years, have them evaluated carefully before regular driving, especially if the car has substantial weight or is driven at road speeds. Replacing aged tires proactively protects the car's handling, braking feel, and bodywork from preventable trouble.

Lincoln Custom original-style fitment in the years covered here follows the year split shown by the available sizes: 1942 uses 700-15, while 1954 and 1955 use 800-15. The available products are bias-ply tires, with the 1942 size appearing in several series and sidewall styles and the 1954-1955 size appearing in wide whitewall bias-ply form. More than one period-style presentation is possible within those size families.

For a precise restoration, the size is only the first layer of correctness. Sidewall treatment, tread character, and overall visual profile can all influence how authentic the finished Lincoln Custom looks. Factory literature, period photographs, and Lincoln marque references are the best guides when narrowing from the correct size to the most historically appropriate tire style for a specific car.

Correct tire fitment absolutely affects how a Lincoln Custom is judged and how credible the restoration appears. Size, sidewall style, and overall tire profile all shape the stance of the car, and judges familiar with American luxury cars notice when a tire looks too narrow, too wide, or visually out of period. A correct 15-inch fitment with the proper numeric size supports the car's intended proportions.

That matters even more on a Lincoln Custom because it was a formal, high-visibility automobile where details of presence and ride height are part of the car's character. If the goal is concours presentation or strong resale appeal, verify the year-correct size first and then refine the sidewall and series choice. Marque clubs and period photos are useful final checks when authenticity matters.

Lincoln Custom tires here are available in blackwall and wide whitewall styles, but the right choice depends on the year and the look being restored. The 700-15 size used on 1942 cars offers both blackwall and wide whitewall choices, while the 800-15 size used on 1954 and 1955 cars is offered here as wide whitewall. That makes whitewalls especially consistent with the later Lincoln Custom presentation in this range.

For restoration work, sidewall style should match the character of the specific car rather than personal preference alone. A restrained blackwall may suit a particular early-1940s presentation, while a broad whitewall better captures the visual language of a mid-1950s luxury Lincoln Custom. The best result comes from comparing the finished look against period images of cars equipped in the same year and body configuration.

These Lincoln Custom tires can be appropriate for public-road use when they are the correct size for the year, properly mounted to the right 15-inch wheel, and in sound condition. The available offerings are bias-ply designs, so they deliver period-correct behavior rather than modern radial responses. Their safety depends on condition, inflation, wheel compatibility, and the mechanical state of the car as a whole.

A collector Lincoln Custom should be driven within the limits of its chassis, brakes, steering, and tire design instead of being treated like a modern sedan. Before regular road use, inspect the tires closely and make sure the wheel width matches the intended size. A correctly sorted car on fresh, suitable bias-ply tires can be enjoyable on public roads when driven with appropriate restraint.

Before driving a Lincoln Custom, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread surface, valve stems, wheel attachment, and any sign of age-related cracking or flat spotting. Also confirm that the tire size on the car matches the year: 700-15 for 1942 and 800-15 for 1954-1955. Because both use 15-inch wheels, it is easy for an incorrect tire to be fitted if the car has been altered over time.

That quick inspection should be part of every outing, even a short local drive. A Lincoln Custom is a substantial car, and tire issues that seem minor in the garage can become very noticeable once the car is moving, steering, or braking under load. Pair the tire check with a look at steering, brakes, and wheel bearings so the whole car is ready, not just the rubber.

A Lincoln Custom on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, sensible speeds that respect both the tire construction and the age of the vehicle. Even with fresh tires, bias-ply handling, braking feel, and heat tolerance differ from modern passenger-car expectations. The goal is stable, composed touring rather than sustained high-speed operation.

In practice, that means building speed gradually, leaving extra braking distance, and avoiding aggressive cornering or abrupt lane changes. A Lincoln Custom rewards smooth inputs, and the tire choice should be treated as part of the car's original driving character rather than an invitation to modern-speed behavior. If the car has older suspension parts or long periods of storage behind it, be even more conservative.