Buick 50 Super Tires

Buick 50 Super uses two tire sizes across its production span. The 1940, 1941, 1946, and 1947 Buick 50 Super use 650-16 on 16-inch rims, while the 1948 through 1958 Buick 50 Super use 760-15 on 15-inch rims. Both are numeric bias-ply sizes rather than modern metric radials, and each size belongs to a distinct wheel diameter era of Buick 50 Super production.

That year break is the first thing to verify on an actual car, especially on older restorations where wheels may have been swapped over the years. Match the tire size to the car's rim diameter first, then narrow your choice by sidewall style, brand, and how authentic you want the finished look to be.

On a Buick 50 Super, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 650 indicates a nominal 6.50-inch section width, with the decimal omitted in period tire sizing practice, and the 16 indicates the required 16-inch rim diameter. On this model, that size belongs to the 1940, 1941, 1946, and 1947 production years.

Modern buyers sometimes expect more information in the size code than these earlier numeric formats provide, but period sizes were simpler and depend on the matching rim diameter. If your Buick 50 Super is from the earlier group, confirm that it still carries 16-inch wheels before choosing between blackwall or whitewall versions of 650-16.

Buick 50 Super uses two rim diameters across the years covered here. The 1940, 1941, 1946, and 1947 Buick 50 Super use 16-inch rims with 650-16 tires, while the 1948 through 1958 Buick 50 Super use 15-inch rims with 760-15 tires. The wheel diameter change is cleanly split by model year rather than overlapping within the same year range.

That makes the wheel measurement one of the most useful checks when sorting out an unfamiliar car. If a Buick 50 Super has been restored, modified, or stored with replacement wheels at some point in its life, measuring the rim directly is the quickest way to avoid ordering the right style in the wrong diameter.

The Buick 50 Super tire options listed here are all bias-ply products in period numeric sizes, and tube use is appropriate for these applications. That applies to both 650-16 and 760-15 fitments. Even where a specialty product family may mention tubeless construction in another context, the Buick 50 Super's listed period-style fitments are centered on traditional bias-ply service.

For a collector Buick, tubes are part of getting the assembly right rather than an afterthought. Make sure the tube matches the tire size and that the rim condition, flap requirements if applicable, and valve stem details are addressed during mounting so the tire performs as intended on a low-use vintage car.

Start with the model year and then verify the wheel diameter on the car itself. Buick 50 Super uses 650-16 through 1947 and 760-15 from 1948 through 1958, so the correct size follows the 16-inch versus 15-inch rim break. Once that is confirmed, the remaining choices are mostly brand, sidewall appearance, and tread family within the same period-correct size.

That step matters because older cars are often restored from mixed parts, and a wheel swap can happen without changing trim or body details. Check the stamping or measure the rim, compare it with any original vehicle paperwork you have, and use the year listing as a guide rather than relying on assumptions about what should be on the car.

Buick 50 Super tires are available in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles depending on size and brand. The 650-16 offerings include blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while the 760-15 range includes blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall choices. That gives Buick 50 Super owners room to match a more restrained prewar look or a fuller postwar and fifties presentation.

Sidewall style has a major effect on how the car reads visually even when the size is correct. If you are restoring for authenticity, compare the sidewall width and general look against period photos, surviving originals, or marque-club references so the tire complements the Buick 50 Super's year and character.

Buick 50 Super tire choices here include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Tornel, and Universal Vintage Tire. Brand coverage varies by size, with the 650-16 fitment carrying the broadest range and the 760-15 fitment focusing more on passenger-car whitewall selections. Several series are period-style bias-ply lines aimed at collector use rather than modern replacement categories.

Brand choice usually comes down to the appearance you want, the sidewall treatment you prefer, and whether you are building a factory-style restoration or a roadgoing collector car. Once the size and wheel diameter are settled, compare each brand's sidewall style and tread personality to the era your Buick 50 Super represents.

Buick 50 Super applications include several distinct series such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Super Cushion Deluxe, Excelsior Bias Ply, and a number of truck-oriented STA, Tornel, and Firestone truck series in 650-16. The passenger-car series focus on period-correct bias-ply appearance, while the military and truck families are more utility-oriented in tread style and construction emphasis.

For most Buick 50 Super restorations, the passenger-car bias-ply series will be the natural place to start because they align better with the car's original character and sidewall options. The truck-type 650-16 products may be relevant only in special cases, so use them carefully and with close attention to the look and service role you want from the finished car.

A Buick 50 Super should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Proper inflation matters even when the car is not being driven, because underinflated bias-ply tires can develop flat spotting and sidewall stress during long stationary periods. Clean floors and moderate temperatures help preserve both the rubber and the finished sidewalls.

If the Buick 50 Super will sit for extended stretches, roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch. Covering the tires from light exposure and checking pressure regularly will do more for long-term tire condition than simply leaving the car untouched in a garage.

Tires on a Buick 50 Super should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the driving season. On a collector car running bias-ply tires, look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, flat spotting, embedded debris, valve stem deterioration, and any signs that the tube or rim condition may be affecting the assembly. Cars that sit for long periods deserve closer attention because age and storage can matter as much as mileage.

A short walk-around before moving the car can prevent a small issue from becoming a damaged tire or wheel. During a more detailed inspection, also check that all four tires match the intended size for your Buick 50 Super and that inflation remains consistent from corner to corner.

Tires on a Buick 50 Super should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, irregular shape, or structural deterioration begins to appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector cars often age out tires long before they wear them out, and bias-ply casings can look presentable while losing the resilience needed for dependable road service. Calendar age, storage history, and inspection findings all matter more than tread depth alone.

Replacement decisions should be conservative on a large vintage Buick because the car's weight and road speed place real demands on older rubber. If a tire's history is unclear or its condition has changed noticeably over time, treat that as a sign to retire it rather than stretching service life on appearance alone.

Buick 50 Super used 650-16 in the 1940, 1941, 1946, and 1947 years, then moved to 760-15 from 1948 through 1958. The available replacement families are period-style bias-ply series rather than a single universal pattern, and they include both blackwall and whitewall presentations depending on size. That means the correct original-style choice depends not only on year but also on the exact appearance you are trying to recreate.

For a judged restoration, size is the starting point but not the finish line. Compare your Buick 50 Super against factory literature, surviving photographs, and marque references so the tread family and sidewall treatment support the year-specific look of the car rather than simply fitting the rim.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Buick 50 Super is judged and how seriously a restoration is taken. Judges and experienced enthusiasts notice whether the car carries the proper size era, correct wheel diameter, and a sidewall style that suits its year. A 16-inch prewar or immediate postwar Buick and a 15-inch later-fifties Buick present very differently, so tire choice shapes the car's stance as much as its authenticity.

The practical takeaway is to treat tires as part of the restoration, not a finishing accessory. If value, concours presentation, or historical accuracy matters, compare your Buick 50 Super with marque-club guidance and period images before settling on a sidewall width or tread style.

Buick 50 Super restoration options include blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall tires depending on the size and year range. Earlier 650-16 applications are commonly represented in blackwall and wide whitewall form, while later 760-15 applications add narrow whitewall choices alongside broader whitewall options. Each can be appropriate when matched to the right year and restoration goal.

The right answer comes from the look you are restoring, not from sidewall preference alone. Use period Buick advertising, original photos, and model-year references to decide whether your Buick 50 Super should read as a restrained blackwall car, a tasteful early whitewall car, or a fuller postwar whitewall presentation.

Properly selected, properly mounted, and well-maintained bias-ply tires can be suitable for public-road use on a Buick 50 Super within the character of the car and the tire design. The available sizes here are period-style bias-ply products, so they are meant to preserve the original driving feel rather than duplicate the behavior of a modern radial-equipped sedan. Safe road use depends on tire condition, wheel condition, inflation, alignment, and the mechanical state of the car as a whole.

A Buick 50 Super on bias-ply tires should be driven with vintage-car awareness rather than modern traffic assumptions. Leave extra stopping distance, avoid abrupt lane changes, and make sure the car has been inspected as a complete system before using it regularly on contemporary roads.

Before driving a Buick 50 Super, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and whether all four tires match the intended size for the car's wheel diameter. On this model, that means confirming you are on 650-16 with 16-inch rims for the earlier years or 760-15 with 15-inch rims for the later years. Also look for flat spotting or weathering if the car has been sitting.

That quick inspection should be part of every outing, especially on a collector car that may go weeks or months between drives. If anything feels unusual once underway, such as pull, shake, or harsh thumping, bring the Buick 50 Super back and inspect the tires and wheels again before continuing.

A Buick 50 Super on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible speeds that respect the age and design of both the car and its tires. Even with new collector tires, the handling, braking, and heat tolerance of a vintage bias-ply-equipped Buick differ from a modern car on radial tires. Smooth, moderate cruising is more appropriate than sustained high-speed highway use or abrupt evasive driving.

The best rule is to let the car's behavior guide your pace and to stay within the condition of the entire vehicle, not just the tires. If the Buick 50 Super is freshly restored or newly returned to service, build speed gradually over several drives and verify that tire pressures, balance, and steering response remain stable.