1959 Imperial Tire Fitment Guide

All 1959 Imperial models covered here use the same tire size: 950-14. That applies across the Crown, Imperial, and Le Baron, and the available tires mount on 14-inch wheels. The listed rim width range for the available 950-14 products is 6.50 to 7.50 inches, which gives you a clear target when checking wheel compatibility on an unrestored or previously modified car.

That shared fitment makes the year-and-make question simpler than it is on many collector cars, because you are not sorting through multiple factory sizes by model. The practical step is to confirm that your wheels are true 14-inch Imperial wheels and fall within the correct width range, then choose the whitewall style that best matches the way you want the car to present.

On a 1959 Imperial, 950-14 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 9.50 portion refers to the nominal section width in inches, written without a decimal in front of the last zero, and the 14 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Because it is a bias-ply format rather than a modern metric radial size, the code does not use the slash-and-letter layout familiar on newer passenger cars.

That matters because a modern buyer can easily mistake a vintage numeric size for a direct equivalent to a modern radial size, when it is really part of an older sizing system. If you are restoring a 1959 Imperial and want the proper period look and construction type, staying with the correct 950-14 bias-ply format keeps the car aligned with its original era.

Yes. The 1959 Imperial Crown, 1959 Imperial Imperial, and 1959 Imperial Le Baron all use 950-14 tires. There is no split here by model core, so tire size selection is consistent across the lineup. The available examples in this size are all bias-ply tires built for 14-inch rims.

That consistency is helpful if you are comparing several cars or sourcing tires for more than one 1959 Imperial in a collection. Instead of chasing different dimensions by body style, you can focus on wheel condition, rim width, and visual presentation, especially the choice between a narrower whitewall and a wider whitewall treatment.

Two sidewall styles are available in the correct 950-14 size for 1959 Imperial vehicles: a 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and a 2.50-inch wide whitewall. Both are BFGoodrich bias-ply tires in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply line, and both share the same rim diameter, rim width range, weight, and load rating. The difference is visual rather than dimensional.

That choice matters on a 1959 Imperial because sidewall styling plays a big role in the finished look of a late-fifties luxury car. A wide whitewall usually delivers the more formal, era-evocative appearance many restorers want, while a narrower whitewall can suit owners aiming for a cleaner or slightly less ornate presentation without changing the correct tire size.

BFGoodrich is the available brand in the correct 950-14 size for 1959 Imperial models covered here. The offerings are bias-ply tires in the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series, with both narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions. That means the buying decision is centered more on sidewall appearance than on comparing multiple brands within this fitment.

For most 1959 Imperial owners, that simplifies the process because you are choosing within a focused vintage-style range rather than balancing several competing constructions or dimensions. Once you confirm your wheels and your preferred whitewall look, the remaining question is whether the car is being finished as a formal restoration piece or simply driven and presented with the period style intact.

The two available 950-14 tires for the 1959 Imperial share the same brand, series, construction, wheel diameter, rim width range, weight, and load rating. Both are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires rated at 2,000 pounds at 32 psi, built for 14-inch rims and recommended for 6.50- to 7.50-inch wheel widths. The actual difference is the whitewall width: one uses a 1.00-inch narrow whitewall and the other uses a 2.50-inch wide whitewall.

That makes the choice almost entirely aesthetic, which is often exactly what a restorer wants on a car like a 1959 Imperial. If your goal is a stronger period-luxury visual statement, the wide whitewall is usually the more dramatic fit for the body style, while the narrow whitewall gives a more restrained appearance without changing fitment or basic carrying capacity.

The available 950-14 tires for 1959 Imperial vehicles are specified for rim widths from 6.50 to 7.50 inches. They are also built for 14-inch wheel diameter, so both diameter and width need to line up with the wheel on the car. That width range applies to the currently available bias-ply products in this size.

Checking both measurements is especially important on large luxury cars that may have passed through several owners over the decades. A wheel can still be 14 inches in diameter but fall outside the proper width range, so it is worth measuring the actual wheel or confirming its specifications before mounting new tires.

The available 950-14 tires for 1959 Imperial models are not marked here as tube-type or tubeless in the size description, so tube use should be confirmed against the specific tire and the wheel you plan to run. On collector cars from this period, the wheel itself is just as important as the tire when deciding whether a tube is appropriate. Valve stem condition and wheel sealing surfaces also play a role.

That means tube decisions should be made as part of the full wheel-and-tire setup rather than by era alone. If your 1959 Imperial still has original-style wheels, inspect the wheel interior carefully and verify the intended setup before final assembly, especially if the car has been stored for a long time or the wheels have been repainted or restored.

A stored 1959 Imperial should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber more quickly. Because the available tires are bias-ply, prolonged static storage can also encourage flat-spotting more readily than on many radial designs. Clean, dry floors and stable temperatures help protect both the tires and the wheels.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally to change the contact patch or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one spot. Maintaining proper inflation during storage is equally important, since an underinflated bias-ply tire on a heavy 1959 Imperial is more likely to develop shape issues while parked.

On a collector car like a 1959 Imperial, tire age usually matters more than mileage. Even if tread wear is low, most owners should begin evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old, and many consider replacement as tires approach ten years of age. The DOT date code on the tire is the practical way to track that timeline.

That age-based approach is important because low-use luxury cars often spend more time parked than driven, and rubber can harden or crack long before the tread looks worn out. If your 1959 Imperial is driven only to shows or weekend events, annual age checks are still essential, especially on bias-ply tires that may appear usable while quietly aging out.

Tires on a 1959 Imperial should be checked before every drive and given a more thorough inspection before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and make sure the spare is in comparable condition if you intend to rely on it. Any sign of persistent pressure loss should be taken seriously on a heavy car of this era.

Regular inspection matters because even a short highway trip can place real load and heat into vintage-size tires. A quick walkaround before each drive and a hands-on check before touring events can catch aging rubber, damaged valve hardware, or old road hazards before they turn into a roadside problem.

A 1959 Imperial Crown would have been fitted in the era when bias-ply construction was standard on American luxury cars, and the shared fitment across the 1959 Imperial range here is 950-14. That makes a 950-14 bias-ply tire the correct starting point for an era-appropriate restoration. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and production practice, so marque-specific confirmation is still worthwhile for highly exacting work.

For most restorations, getting the size, construction type, and sidewall treatment right has more visible impact than chasing a brand assumption. If your goal is high-level authenticity, compare your car’s surviving details with factory literature and consult Imperial marque specialists or club resources to confirm the whitewall style that best suits your particular car.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1959 Imperial, especially at marque-focused or authenticity-minded events. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size is appropriate, whether the construction matches the period, and whether the sidewall style suits the era and presentation of the car. A visibly modern substitute or an out-of-character sidewall can stand out quickly on such a distinctive late-fifties body.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard, but it does mean your tire choice is part of the car’s visual correctness. If you are building a 1959 Imperial for formal judging, verify the expected sidewall appearance with the event rules or an Imperial club before finalizing the tires, since different venues can weigh originality differently.

In restoration terms, the two 950-14 choices for a 1959 Imperial differ only in whitewall width, not in size or construction. Both are BFGoodrich bias-ply tires with the same 14-inch rim diameter, the same 6.50- to 7.50-inch rim width range, the same weight, and the same 2,000-pound load rating at 32 psi. The visual effect is the deciding factor.

That makes the decision one of presentation rather than mechanical fitment. A wider whitewall generally complements the formal, high-style character many people expect from a flagship 1959 Imperial, while a narrower whitewall creates a subtler look that may better suit a specific restoration vision, regional delivery style, or owner preference.

The available 950-14 tires for 1959 Imperial vehicles are bias-ply tires, and no speed rating is shown for these offerings here. A properly mounted, properly inflated, and age-sound bias-ply tire can be used on the road, but the real-world safety picture on a 1959 Imperial also depends heavily on the car’s braking system, steering condition, suspension health, and alignment. Tire age and condition matter at least as much as the design itself.

For highway use, the sensible approach is to treat the whole car as a system rather than focusing only on the tire. If your 1959 Imperial is mechanically fresh and the tires are new and correctly fitted, normal road use is one thing; sustained high-speed travel in an unrestored car with old suspension or questionable brakes is another.

The available 950-14 tires for 1959 Imperial models carry a listed maximum load of 2,000 pounds at 32 psi. That figure is the tire’s rated load-and-pressure point, not automatically the same as the carmaker’s recommended day-to-day inflation setting for every driving condition. Factory guidance from the owner’s manual remains the right place to start for vehicle-specific pressure recommendations.

The practical takeaway is not to borrow a pressure number from a different size or another collector car just because it looks similar. Use the vehicle’s original recommendations as your baseline, then make sure the tire’s own rated pressure and load limits are respected so the 1959 Imperial carries its weight properly without compromising ride or wear.

Before a longer drive in a 1959 Imperial, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any signs of age-related separation, and verify that all four are holding pressure evenly. Check the spare as well, because a period-size replacement is only useful if it is roadworthy. Since these cars are large and heavy, wheel condition and lug security deserve the same attention as the tire itself.

A longer trip is also a good time to think beyond the tires and give the rest of the car a proper pre-drive review. On a 1959 Imperial, cooling, brakes, steering, and suspension condition can shape the road experience just as much as tire choice, so a thorough inspection before departure is the best way to avoid cutting a tour short.