1962 Cadillac Tire Fitment Guide

1962 Cadillac vehicles use three tire sizes: 800-15, 820-15, and 890-15. The 800-15 fits the 60 Series, 62 Series, and 63 Series; the 820-15 fits the 60 Series, 62 Series, 63 Series, and 75 Series; and the 890-15 fits the Commercial Series. All three sizes mount on 15-inch rims. Rim width ranges are 6.00 to 6.50 inches for 800-15 and 820-15, while 890-15 uses 6.50 to 7.00 inches where that specification is given.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a correct tire choice on a 1962 Cadillac. A DeVille-era passenger car, a formal 75 Series, and a coachbuilt commercial chassis may all be 15-inch Cadillacs, but they do not all use the same casing size. Start by confirming the exact series on the car, then compare the wheel width and the sidewall look you want before settling on a specific tire.

On a 1962 Cadillac, 800-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 800 portion is the older nominal section-width code, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For Cadillac applications in this year, 800-15 appears on the 60 Series, 62 Series, and 63 Series. The available versions in this size are bias-ply tires with wide whitewall styling and a 6.00- to 6.50-inch rim width range.

Modern buyers often expect a metric size with a visible aspect ratio, but early-sixties Cadillacs still used the older domestic numeric system. Reading the code correctly helps you avoid confusing 800-15 with a larger 820-15 or 890-15 just because the wheel diameter is the same. If your car falls into the 60, 62, or 63 Series family, the next step is verifying whether your restoration calls for this smaller of the two passenger-car sizes.

No, 1962 Cadillac models do not all use the same tire size. The 60 Series, 62 Series, and 63 Series can use either 800-15 or 820-15, the 75 Series uses 820-15, and the Commercial Series uses 890-15. Every one of those sizes mounts on a 15-inch wheel, but the casing size and, in the case of 890-15, the intended application are different.

That distinction matters because a shared wheel diameter can make very different tires look interchangeable when they are not. Passenger Cadillacs, formal long-wheelbase cars, and commercial coachbuilt chassis had different weight, stance, and service expectations. If you are uncertain which series you own, check the body tag, title, or marque reference first, then compare the tire currently on the car against the wheel width before moving ahead.

For a 1962 Cadillac, the choice between 800-15 and 820-15 depends first on model fitment, not on construction type, because both are bias-ply sizes. The 800-15 applies to the 60 Series, 62 Series, and 63 Series, while the 820-15 also covers those models and is the sole size used on the 75 Series. Both sizes use a 15-inch rim and fit 6.00- to 6.50-inch rim widths in the available products.

If your Cadillac is a 75 Series, the decision is already made: use 820-15. If your car is a 60, 62, or 63 Series, the practical choice comes down to matching the vehicle’s established fitment, wheel width, and the visual stance you want for the restoration. Compare the tires already on the car, check period literature or a marque specialist, and then choose the sidewall treatment that best suits your trim level and intended presentation.

1962 Cadillac tires are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles, depending on size. The 800-15 options are wide whitewall only. The 820-15 range is the broadest, with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall versions. The 890-15 choices for the Commercial Series split between Firestone wide whitewalls and an Avon blackwall.

Sidewall style has a major effect on how a 1962 Cadillac reads visually, especially on a full-size luxury car with substantial chrome and body length. Wide whitewalls usually suit a strong period presentation, while blackwalls can look more restrained or more commercial depending on the model. For a judged restoration, match the sidewall look to the vehicle’s series, market presentation, and the standards used by your club or event.

Four brands cover 1962 Cadillac fitments: Coker Classic, BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, and Avon. The 800-15 size is available from Coker Classic. The 820-15 size is available from BFGoodrich, Firestone, and US Royal. The 890-15 size is available from Firestone and Avon. All of these choices are bias-ply tires for this year and make.

Brand choice on a 1962 Cadillac usually comes down to the look you want and the exact size your model requires. Some buyers prioritize a familiar American brand appearance on a passenger Cadillac, while others are focused more on a particular whitewall width or the commercial-duty casing they need for a coachbuilt chassis. Once the model and size are settled, compare sidewall style, rim-width range, and load figures rather than choosing by brand name alone.

Rim width requirements for 1962 Cadillac tires vary by size. The 800-15 and 820-15 sizes fit 6.00- to 6.50-inch rims. The 890-15 size fits 6.50- to 7.00-inch rims where rim-width specifications are given. All three sizes use a 15-inch rim diameter, but wheel width still matters because it affects how the tire sits and supports the vehicle.

That is especially important when a car has had wheels changed over the years or when a commercial Cadillac is being restored from incomplete parts. A 15-inch wheel is only part of the equation; width must also suit the tire. Before mounting a new set, measure the actual wheel or confirm the wheel specification through a trusted Cadillac source so the tire’s recommended width range and the wheel match one another.

Original 1962 Cadillac wheels can often remain in service across these tire sizes because 800-15, 820-15, and 890-15 all use a 15-inch rim diameter. That said, wheel diameter alone does not settle the question. The 800-15 and 820-15 fit 6.00- to 6.50-inch rims, while the 890-15 moves to a 6.50- to 7.00-inch width range in the available applications.

In practical terms, passenger-car Cadillac wheels are more likely to overlap between 800-15 and 820-15 than between either of those and the Commercial Series 890-15. A hearse or ambulance chassis may have different wheel-width needs even though the rim diameter matches. If you are reusing original wheels, confirm both width and condition before mounting tires, especially on a heavier commercial chassis that places greater demands on the wheel and tire package.

A 1962 Cadillac should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Because every fitment here is bias-ply, long static periods can also encourage temporary flat-spotting. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid parking on wet earth or oily concrete, and move the car periodically if it stays on its wheels.

Collectors who store a Cadillac for months at a time often rotate the car slightly every few weeks or use stands to reduce sustained load, especially on heavy cars like a 75 Series or Commercial Series chassis. Clean tires with mild soap and water only, not petroleum-based dressings. Good storage habits preserve sidewalls, maintain a better ride when the car returns to service, and help expensive whitewalls stay presentable.

Tire life on a 1962 Cadillac is usually governed more by age, storage conditions, and inspection history than by mileage alone. A collector tire should be evaluated regularly once it reaches about five to seven years of age, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as it approaches ten years, even if tread depth still looks healthy. The date code on the tire is the best starting point for judging age.

That matters because many vintage Cadillacs cover relatively few miles each season, which can make an older tire seem better than it really is. Whitewalls may still look attractive while the casing has already hardened or the sidewall has begun to age internally. Pair the age check with a close visual inspection and an honest look at how the car is used, especially if it will see sustained road speeds or long-distance touring.

Tires on a 1962 Cadillac should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, visible impact damage, and pressure loss. Because these are bias-ply applications, also pay attention to ride feel after the car has been parked for a while, since a tire that does not round out after a few miles deserves closer attention.

A longer trip calls for a more deliberate walkaround. Check the spare, verify valve-stem condition, and make sure the tire sidewalls are clean enough to reveal age cracking that road dust might hide. On a heavier Commercial Series or 75 Series car, inspection is especially important because the vehicle places more demand on each tire. Small problems caught in the garage are far easier to address than failures discovered on the road.

A 1962 Cadillac 62 Series would have been a bias-ply car when new, which aligns with the available 800-15 and 820-15 fitments for that model family. Those two sizes are the passenger-car Cadillac choices shared within the 60, 62, and 63 Series range for this year. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so the safest historically grounded statement is that the correct construction type for an authentic 1962 Cadillac 62 Series presentation is bias-ply.

For a restoration, start with the exact series and body style, then compare surviving tires, factory literature, and marque-club guidance to decide whether your particular car should wear 800-15 or 820-15. Sidewall appearance matters nearly as much as size on a visible luxury car of this era. If the car is being prepared for judged competition, ask the hosting club what they consider acceptable in whitewall width and overall presentation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1962 Cadillac because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall style immediately. On an early-sixties Cadillac, a wrong-size tire can affect stance, wheelwell fill, and overall visual balance. An incorrect blackwall, narrow whitewall, or wide whitewall treatment can also change the car’s period character, especially on highly styled luxury models where the tire is part of the design statement.

For serious show use, accuracy usually means matching the proper series first and then refining the look with the right whitewall treatment. A Commercial Series chassis, a 75 Series formal car, and a 62 Series passenger coupe should not all be judged by the same tire assumptions. Event standards differ, so club judging manuals and Cadillac marque specialists are the right final authority when originality points are on the line.

In 890-15 for a 1962 Cadillac, Firestone and Avon differ in both appearance and the way the size marking is presented. Firestone offers wide whitewall versions with a 2500-pound load capacity at 40 psi and a 34-pound tire weight. Avon’s Turbospeed is a blackwall 890-15 marked 110S, with an S speed rating that carries a 112 mph ceiling and a stated load capacity of 2,337 pounds. Both are bias-ply tires on 15-inch rims.

That makes the choice less about one being universally better and more about matching the vehicle’s mission. A professionally restored coachbuilt Cadillac may call for the visual presence of a whitewall, while a more utilitarian or service-focused presentation may point toward blackwall styling. Because the Commercial Series served specialized roles, it is wise to compare wheel width, intended use, and the look appropriate to your body builder before choosing between them.

1962 Cadillac tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their construction and speed limits. All of the fitments here are bias-ply tires. One 890-15 option, the Avon Turbospeed, carries an S speed rating, which corresponds to a 112 mph ceiling. The other sizes do not show a speed letter in the size marking. On a well-maintained Cadillac, normal highway travel is usually influenced as much by the car’s brakes, steering, suspension, and age-related mechanical condition as by the tire itself.

Bias-ply tires also have a different feel from later radials, particularly in tracking, steering response, and reaction to road grooves, so the driver should expect period-correct road manners rather than modern-car behavior. If the car has been sitting, has unknown wheel condition, or still wears very old tires, address those issues before planning sustained highway miles. Safe touring starts with the full vehicle, not the tire alone.

Inflation pressure on a 1962 Cadillac should match both the tire’s rated pressure and the vehicle’s factory guidance for its specific model and loading. The available 800-15 tires carry 1800 pounds at 32 psi, and the available 820-15 tires carry 1920 pounds at 32 psi. Firestone 890-15 tires carry 2500 pounds at 40 psi. Those figures describe the tire’s rated load-and-pressure relationship, not a universal setting for every Cadillac in the lineup.

Use the owner’s manual, service literature, or trusted marque references to find the vehicle-side pressure recommendation for your exact series, then make sure it remains appropriate for the reproduction tire you choose. Do not assume that a Commercial Series pressure belongs on a 62 Series passenger car just because both use 15-inch wheels. Matching pressure to the correct size and application is essential for ride, wear, and safe operation.

Before taking a 1962 Cadillac on a longer drive, inspect all five tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is usable. Confirm that the wheel and tire size match the series of Cadillac you own, since 800-15, 820-15, and 890-15 are not interchangeable across every model. Also check valve stems, especially on a car that has been stored for long periods, and look closely at whitewall sidewalls where aging can hide beneath cosmetic cleaning.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-tour check on a sixty-plus-year-old luxury car. Brake performance, cooling system condition, steering play, and suspension health are all part of whether the car is truly ready for distance. A 1962 Cadillac may cruise comfortably when sorted, but it rewards careful preparation. Ten quiet minutes in the garage can prevent hours of trouble on the shoulder.