Auburn 810 Tires
Auburn 810 stands as one of the most distinctive American cars of the late pre-war era, built for 1937 with advanced styling and engineering that still make it a centerpiece in serious collections. Streamlined bodywork, dramatic proportions, and strong design identity mean restorers usually care as much about visual correctness as they do basic fitment. Tire selection for Auburn 810 is less about sorting through many year-to-year changes and more about choosing the right period-style construction, sidewall treatment, and intended use within a single factory size. Before selecting a tire, confirm that the car still carries the correct 16-inch wheels and check actual rim width against the tire specifications.
Auburn 810 Tire Size Guide
Auburn 810 uses one tire size across its production span, covering 1937 models with 650-16 tires. This is a numeric bias-ply size, where 650 indicates a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches and 16 is the rim diameter in inches. Available products are built for 16-inch rims, with many listings calling for 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim widths and one Excelsior option specified for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. Most offerings are period-style bias-ply passenger tires in blackwall or wide whitewall form, while several 650-16 products are military or truck-oriented alternatives. A tube is generally required for the bias-ply passenger applications unless a specific product is identified otherwise, such as the tubeless-marked STA Transport Highway.
Auburn 810 Tires by Year
The year listing for Auburn 810 lets you match the tire size used in 1937 to the car you are working on. Auburn 810 stayed with a 16-inch fitment through its production run, so the main job is confirming the wheel on the actual car and then choosing the construction and sidewall style that suits your restoration or driving use. These listings cover a short pre-war production window, so it is wise to verify the car against original vehicle literature or an Auburn specialist when details have changed over time.
1937 Auburn 810
- 650-16
Best Auburn 810 Tires for Sale
Auburn 810 tires in 650-16 are available across 8 brands and 19 products, including blackwall, wide whitewall, passenger-car bias-ply, and heavier-duty truck-style options. Confirm the intended use of the car and the actual 16-inch rim before choosing among them.
650-16 Products
These are the available products for 650-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Auburn 810 FAQ focuses on the 650-16 size, what that numeric code means, how to choose between period passenger and heavier-duty alternatives, and how sidewall style and bias-ply construction affect restoration accuracy and road use.
Size Basics & Fitment
Auburn 810 uses one listed tire size: 650-16 for 1937. All available options in this fitment are built around a 16-inch rim diameter, and most passenger-car products are specified for 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim widths, with one Excelsior option listed for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. The available selection is entirely bias-ply, with both blackwall and wide whitewall versions as well as some heavier-duty military and truck-type choices in the same numeric size.
That makes the first check straightforward: confirm that your Auburn 810 still has 16-inch wheels and inspect the actual rim width before deciding which 650-16 tire to run. From there, choose a passenger-car bias-ply for a period-correct restoration or reserve the truck-style versions for specialty use where a heavier-duty tread is truly appropriate.
On an Auburn 810, 650-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The 650 portion represents a nominal section width of roughly 6.50 inches, while 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size and it does not describe the same proportions you would expect from a later radial sizing system.
That older numeric format matters because a modern buyer can easily focus on the 16-inch wheel diameter and overlook the profile, construction, and rim-width needs that come with a vintage bias-ply tire. When selecting a 650-16 for Auburn 810, match the size code first, then confirm the wheel width and choose the sidewall style and tread pattern that suit how the car will actually be used.
Auburn 810 tire choices in 650-16 are overwhelmingly bias-ply products, and a tube is generally required for the period-style passenger applications in this size. One listing, STA Transport Highway 6 Ply Rated Tubeless, is specifically identified as tubeless, but that is a heavier-duty product rather than the standard style most restorers choose for an Auburn 810. The main passenger-car offerings from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Lester, Goodyear, and Excelsior are traditional bias-ply designs.
For most Auburn 810 restorations, plan around tube-type service unless your wheel and the specific tire are both clearly suited to tubeless use. Tube choice should match the tire size and valve arrangement, and the condition of the rim itself matters just as much as the tire when you are putting an older collector car back on the road.
Buying the Right Tire
Auburn 810 tires in 650-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall choices include products from brands such as Coker Classic, Firestone, BFGoodrich, Excelsior, Garfield, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel, while wide whitewall versions are offered from BFGoodrich, Firestone, Garfield, Lester, Coker Classic, and Goodyear. All of these are bias-ply products in the listed Auburn 810 size.
That range lets a restorer tune the appearance of an Auburn 810 without changing the underlying size. A blackwall usually suits a more restrained period look, while a wide whitewall gives the car a more formal late-1930s presentation. The right choice depends on the car’s restoration goal, surviving photos, and how closely you want the finished appearance to match a specific historical style.
Auburn 810 tires in 650-16 are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands cover traditional passenger-car bias-ply styles as well as several military and truck-type versions in the same basic size. Some focus on classic blackwall and whitewall presentation, while others emphasize more utilitarian tread designs.
Brand choice on an Auburn 810 usually comes down to the look you want, the tread style you prefer, and whether the car is being restored for show presentation or driven more casually. Once the size and wheel are confirmed, compare sidewall style, rim-width requirements, and overall period appearance rather than assuming every 650-16 offering serves the same purpose.
Auburn 810 tires in 650-16 appear in several distinct series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, and Firestone Classic Truck. Some are clearly passenger-car series aimed at period appearance, while others are military, highway, agricultural-style, or truck-oriented designs built around heavier-duty use cases.
For most Auburn 810 owners, the key distinction is passenger-car restoration tire versus specialty-duty tire. If the goal is a correct pre-war look and normal collector-car driving, the classic bias-ply passenger series are the natural place to start. The military and truck series fit the same nominal size, but their tread character and intended use can change the car’s appearance and road manners considerably.
A 1937 Auburn 810 uses 650-16, so confirmation is less about year-to-year size changes and more about verifying the wheel and the type of tire that belongs on your specific car. Check that the wheel is 16 inches in diameter, compare actual rim width to the tire specifications, and decide whether you need a period passenger tire in blackwall or wide whitewall form rather than a truck-style alternative in the same size.
The best approach is to inspect the wheels on the car, compare them with original literature when available, and then choose the tire that matches both the physical wheel and the restoration goal. That process matters because Auburn 810 has one listed size, but the available 650-16 products vary noticeably in sidewall treatment, tread style, and intended service.
Maintenance & Longevity
Auburn 810 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with moisture or petroleum products. Maintain the tires at proper inflation for the specific product, keep the car on a clean surface, and move it occasionally so the same footprint is not loaded for months at a time. On a pre-war collector car, long idle periods are especially hard on bias-ply tires and tubes.
If the Auburn 810 will sit for an extended season, many owners reduce flat-spotting by rolling the car periodically or supporting it in a way that takes sustained load off the tires while still respecting the suspension and chassis. Clean storage habits matter because even a rarely driven car can age its tires through environment and inactivity rather than mileage.
Tires on an Auburn 810 should be inspected before every meaningful drive and given a more careful condition review several times each season. Check inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, irregular wear, valve condition, and any signs that the tire has shifted on the rim or that the tube is causing trouble. Because Auburn 810 uses vintage-style bias-ply tires, early detection matters more than waiting for obvious wear.
A practical routine is to make tire inspection part of every garage departure, especially if the car is only used occasionally. On a pre-war car, tire condition should be considered alongside brake function, steering play, wheel bearing condition, and spoke or wheel integrity, since safe road use depends on the whole assembly rather than the tire alone.
Auburn 810 tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, casing distress, persistent flat-spotting, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out, and that is especially true on pre-war bias-ply applications that may spend much of their life parked. Tread depth alone is a poor guide for a car like Auburn 810.
If the car has been stored for years, or if a tire’s age is uncertain, a specialist inspection is wise before road use. Replacement decisions should also be more conservative when tubes, older rims, or any unusual vibration are involved. A pre-war Auburn is not the place to stretch the service life of a questionable tire just because it still looks presentable at a glance.
Restoration & Authenticity
Auburn 810 is listed in 650-16, and the current period-style offerings in that size include classic bias-ply passenger series from BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Garfield, Lester, Goodyear, and Excelsior. The available range also includes blackwall and wide whitewall presentations, which reflects the sort of period-correct visual choices restorers consider on a late-1930s American car. The listed fitment does not point to a single original-equipment brand across every car.
For an exact restoration, the right path is to treat 650-16 as the baseline and then compare the surviving car to original literature, period photos, and Auburn club knowledge. That helps narrow whether your Auburn 810 should wear a particular sidewall treatment or tread style, especially if the goal is formal judging rather than general vintage touring.
Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how an Auburn 810 is judged and how convincingly the restoration presents. Size, overall stance, sidewall treatment, and tread character all contribute to whether the car looks appropriately finished for its era. Even when the tire technically fits the wheel, a visibly wrong sidewall or utility-style tread can pull the presentation away from an authentic late-1930s appearance.
For owners concerned with concours standards or long-term collector value, tire choice should be made as part of the restoration plan rather than as an afterthought. Matching the 650-16 size is only the first step; the appearance of the tire should also agree with period photos, marque references, and the level of authenticity expected in the events where the Auburn 810 will appear.
Auburn 810 restoration tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form in the correct 650-16 size. That means a restorer can stay within the listed fitment while choosing the visual treatment that best matches the specific car. Both styles belong to the period, but they create meaningfully different final appearances on a late pre-war automobile.
The correct choice depends on the restoration target rather than on size alone. If you are recreating a specific Auburn 810 from period photography or factory literature, match that reference closely. If the goal is a general era-correct presentation, blackwall usually gives a more restrained sporting look, while wide whitewall often suits a more formal and show-oriented finish.
Safety & Road Use
Auburn 810 can be driven on public roads with properly fitted, sound-condition tires, but safety depends on the entire vehicle, not the tire alone. The listed Auburn 810 tires are bias-ply products in 650-16, and many are designed to deliver a period-correct driving experience rather than modern radial behavior. A sound wheel, proper inflation, good tube condition where required, and a mechanically healthy chassis matter just as much.
That means an Auburn 810 intended for regular road use should be evaluated as a complete system: tires, wheels, brakes, steering, suspension, and alignment. A fresh set of correct-size tires can improve confidence, but they do not erase the handling and braking limits of a pre-war collector car. Drive within the car’s era and condition, not within modern traffic assumptions.
Before driving an Auburn 810, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of rubbing or uneven wear. Because Auburn 810 uses 650-16 bias-ply tires, also pay attention to flat spotting after storage and to any vibration that may point to tire, tube, or wheel trouble. The car’s brakes and steering should be inspected with equal care before any real road use.
A short, low-speed shakedown after storage is often the best way to confirm that the Auburn 810 is ready for a longer outing. If the car pulls, wanders, shakes, or develops heat in a wheel area, stop and inspect before continuing. Pre-war cars communicate developing problems early, and tire-related issues are best addressed at the first sign rather than after miles of driving.
Auburn 810 should be driven at speeds appropriate to a pre-war car on vintage-style bias-ply tires, even when the tires are new. The listed 650-16 choices are built in period-style constructions that emphasize correct appearance and vintage behavior, not modern high-speed radial performance. Practical road speed should always reflect the car’s mechanical condition, wheel condition, and the road environment.
In real use, that means keeping an Auburn 810 within conservative touring speeds and avoiding the temptation to run modern highway pace simply because traffic allows it. A well-sorted car may feel stable at moderate speed, but safe operation still depends on brakes, steering geometry, and the age-aware mindset that belongs with a distinguished 1937 automobile.