69 Imperial - Whitewalls or not, and "bigger size" ?

[Chryslerdude]

Hey Good C-PPl

I was just about to order some new tires for the Imp, and with the white vinyl roof, (and my dream of a white interior some sunny day), I decided to go "full whitewall"... I am aware that there may be mixed emotions on this, and would love to hear these. Maybe I will change my mind, if I hear the thoughts of the C-Jury.. but for now, I imagine it will look SWEET on "the blue wonder", and actually think it will continue to look good, (at least through the duration of one set of WW-tires..!)

Here's the only Fusie-Imperial example with WW's I could find on Google..

The whitewall plans has produced a few questions, that I hope someone will comment on here..

I plan to do some Swedish / German "US-car event-cruising" in the Imperial, so I want a good quality tires.. so I asked around for quality whitewalls, and here in Denmark, whitewalls START at DKK 5000,- pr tire, which will be about 3000 USD for a set, so I guess I'm am buying in the US..

I got "Diamond Back Tires" recommended by a Caddie-friend. Anybody here know Diamondback, or have other suggestions? From what I read, it sounds like Diamondback knows what they are doing..

Here's one of their "Diamond Back II" tires..

My last thoughts is about size. Imp has 235/75/15 on it now, but I thought of going a little bit wider, but does anyone has experience / adwise in regards to how wide I can go, before the tires make "unwanted contact" with the wells, fenders or skirts, and more important.. when will the increased tire width screw up the handling of the car.

I also plan to buy a set of lowering brackets from FFI, lowering the Imp about an inch

Any comment will be appreciated :-D

 

[Wildaugust]

I'll throw my two cents in, for what it's worth. The blue car looks nice with the whitewalls. I like it. It's not all that unusual though to see that style of whitewalls on it. The black car will bring out the haters (LOL) and it will also bring out those who love the look on it. For me, those whitewalls with the wide white band would be something I would expect to see on a '59 or maybe even a '64, but are about five years too late on a '69. I don't hate it though. It's different. It's really your decision in the end, depending on what look you want for your car and that's one of the main things that helps keep the car hobby interesting, IMO.

 

[Chryslerdude]

Thanks for your 2c.. and I agree, a little variation IS indeed nice, and keeps it interesting.. And it's not like I'm sticking 22"s on it !

I am happy that your feedback was not a complete outrage.. and yes.. it IS a "few years" to late for the 69'.. but so is all the Rockabilly music everyone seems to keep playing at US car events.. :-D (which I don't care much for)..

Anyways, while waiting for opinions, I did a HORRIBLE mock up photo in "Paint", and even though it's VERY badly done, I think I really like the Imp with the whitewalls.. Very few PPL here, will connect a specific year to the full side whitewalls, or to the "vouge" style for that matter..

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

Hi Kaspar,

aaaaaaarrrrrrgggggggggghhh.

I think it is completly ****.
Sorry my friend.
wide whitwalls are soooooo wrong.

235/75/15 will be correct size.
It doesn't need wider tires.
It is not a muscle car, a street machine or whatever.

It also needs not to be lowered. It is not a low rider. No mexican shivvy Impala.

Please don't **** your Imp up.

Sorry for the harsh words, I am just honest.

Carsten

 

[Chryslerdude]

It's OK Carsten.. It's exactly what I asked for.. ;-)

I consider you a true purist, (which is good), and we agree that the car should be kept original, but on the other hand, I don't consider a set of tires to be the end of the Imp's originality. I will not alter anything "construction wise"... and I am laying sleepless, when thinking about drilling holes for the towing kit it needs, to pull my caravan.

NOT buying the whitewalls, will also save me a small fortune. I think I can get close to 4 sets of tires here, for the amount the whitewall's will cost to import, so I am open for suggestions for more than one reason,

The "lowering urge", may be fueled by the Imp currently being adjusted WAY to high in the front.. When I first saw it IRL, as I went to pick it up, I remember wondering if it even had the motor in it... I don't know why someone adjusted it up, but it IS coming down a bit, and maybe I WILL cancel the mentioned leaf brackets, which btw. would only lower it about 1½ cm.. so it's not like I'm gonna grow a mustache, and start looking for a burro...
...and another thing is, that the final destination for the brackets, is the 300.

About wider tires, I don't really remember any difference in road handling.. I think my 300 had a "265 / 275 combo" when I bought it, and as this was my first full-size car, I actually think I wore that set down, and subsequently changed them to a set of standard size tires... but somehow, I never saved any data in my brain in regards to which set offered best handling. Apart from that, original or not.. I think most of the Mopar cars look a whole lot better, with somewhat wider tires.. Don't worry friend, I am not going to kill the Imp... I spent HOURS already, trying to find a perfect hubcap to replace one of mine.. not looking for 22"s.. ;-)

Example of tires, being to narrow for a car design.. IMO them tires look downright LONELY in those wheel wells..

 

[detmatt]

No need to reinvent the wheel on this car or should I say tire in this case. The factory had it right.

 

[goldfish65]

I can't say it any other way but the wide whitewalls as well as lowering the car will make it look pimped-out. It looks great the way it is, you don't want it to look like it is sagging from age. It's not a good feeling when you overhear people saying, wow, that car is beautiful, but too bad, those tires are all wrong. Be happy it looks so good and save your money for other things it may really need. If you look at photos online, they sit at the same height as yours...except for the cars that have been lowered and they look sad and clapped-out.

 

[Chryslerdude]

If you look at photos online, they sit at the same height as yours...except for the cars that have been lowered and they look sad and clapped-out.

Well.. actually, comparing was exactly what I did, and as you see, mine is several inches higher.. front AND rear.

Here, what we must assume it the correct height... picture shot kneeling, in a flat angle.. Note the lower line of the fender skirt, is flush with painted portion of the rear hubcap, even with picture taken in a FLAT vertical angle.

Here, the blue wonder.. clearly considerably higher, even with the picture shot standing up, in a downwards angle, so please include the shot angle in your "height calculations".. When it arrived, the front looked even higher than it does here, on these (sellers) pic's...

Funny how many shades of "ruining a car" there is.. and I am no different, as for me, the higher riding Imp probably also means "ruined". For others, the white walls will ruin the car.. or lowering it, will make it look "clapped out". (which I would agree on, if the car wasn't in the condition it is) ;-), but I love to hear your opinions, and feel the engagement we all share here, some way or another. It's almost like discussing music taste.

For me, "ruining the car" would mean 22"s, but I would never do that, as the 67-69 caps are almost perfect, and an important part of the car, although it was originally designed for another car). In general, I am opposed to all "intrusive cosmetic surgery", such as deleting side markers, door handles, trim, vinyl roof and so on, and I am HORRIFIED by the thought of drilling holes for the towing gear, or ANY other irreversible change, while wear-parts like tires, adjusting the height by torsion tension, and maybe an occasional leaf hanger bracket, is fully reversible and thus 100% OK.

Anyways, thanks once more for your input, which will be part of my consideration. I AM very focused on the wheels, and I think that the white walls would look GREAT with the vinyl roof. Slightly "pimpy", yes sure.. maybe, but after all, it's only tires. And if I overheard someone badmouthing my fat whitewall tires at a car meet, I would not feel hurt. If I did, I had to stop listening to jazz as well, as most ppl consider it "disorderly noise"

But I do value everyone's comments, and it probably WILL affect my (tire) decision, but I am unstoppable in regards to lowering it to match the height of the 69 in the press pic above.

:-D

 

[detmatt]

I wouldn't be apposed to lowering it even if it were a tad lower than stock but I wouldn't drop that kind of money for wide whites. I would love to put triple stripes on mine like original but for 3 times the cost of a decent 1" wide white wall radial? I choose my battles carefully.

 

[commando1]

Oh, let's just throw some Angry Woodpecker floor mats in the car and complete the "personalization" of it. It will go well with the pimping.
Welcome... Nice car the way it sits.

 

[cbarge]

WELCOME!
I sell tires for a living and somewhat a purist.
However I can suggest a comprimise.
I like the Diamond Back Tire Company offerings.
If you dig deeper into their catalogue look carefully at the "Luxury" double pinstripe whitewalls for Cadillac's and Lincolns.
Pages 33 and 36 in their online catalog.
Since they were the Imp's competitors they will be suitable since you want something different from stock and not be goofy looking with the old Pfft wide whites.
Stick with the 2357515's not just for size,but also load range.A 5000 lb car needs good tires to support the heft.
Hope this helps

 

[detmatt]

I saw them when I was tire shopping and the price ultimately scared me away.

 

[cbarge]

I saw them when I was tire shopping and the price ultimately scared me away.

Yes,they are pricey..It not how much..it is how you look..MAHVELOUS!

 

[cm23uoc]

There's another guy with similar tastes around here and the majority didn't hate the Pimperial as I remember. He don't give a damn about our opinion.

 

[commando1]

There's another guy with similar tastes around here and the majority didn't hate the Pimperial as I remember. He don't give a damn about our opinion.

I rode him unmercifully so he didn't escape my wrath...
Fortunately he has a good sense of humor

 

[bluefury361]

235x75x15 with one inch whitewalls... Don't do the extra wide..... Just don't.

 

[Snotty]

It's all a matter of opinion and personal taste. My opinion and taste? Wide whites belong on certain cars from the '50s, not a '69 Imperial.

My son's boss is in the process of buying a '76 New Yorker 4-door as of today. My Son likes it and said if he had one, the first thing he'd do is put on wide whites. I almost tossed him out of my car. But, as I said, personal taste....

 

[saforwardlook]

I think it is disappointing that this really nice example of a 1969 Imperial 2 door ended up with you. Lowering it or putting wide whites on it is nothing less than a discrace to it. Why didn't you just get some worthless 4 door to pimp?

 

[cbarge]

It's all a matter of opinion and personal taste. My opinion and taste? Wide whites belong on certain cars from the '50s, not a '69 Imperial.

My son's boss is in the process of buying a '76 New Yorker 4-door as of today. My Son likes it and said if he had one, the first thing he'd do is put on wide whites. I almost tossed him out of my car. But, as I said, personal taste....

Pages 33 and 36 of the Diamond Back tire catalog will show the period correct whites for the C bodies,even though they marketed to to Lincoln's and Caddy's.
https://www.dbtires.com/2015_catalog/2015_Catalog_Hi.pdf
I think the 70's era of wide whites (1.6 inch or less) is acceptable on any Imp or NYer. Much better than the WIDE whites The original poster was thinking of..
Yes indeed a matter of personal preference.

 

[67-Fury]

Narrow white walls look Fantastic on Muscle Cars and cars of that Vintage. But Wide Whites, Are just Obnoxious and Wrong. Late 50s and Back, is a Different Story.