Chrysler AS Tires

Chrysler AS uses three listed tire sizes across 1935 and 1936: 6.26-16 for 1935, 650-16 for 1935, and 6.25-16 for 1936. All three sizes are built for 16-inch rims, but the year application is not identical, and 1935 carries two separate fitment listings.

That means the first step is to identify the exact model year and then verify which of the 1935 fitments applies to the specific car if you own a 1935 Chrysler AS. Treat the year as a starting point, then compare the wheel, any surviving original tire information, and restoration records before settling on a replacement size.

On a Chrysler AS, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 650 identifies the nominal section width with the decimal omitted, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it should be read as a period passenger-car bias-ply designation.

Understanding that format helps prevent a common mistake, which is assuming any modern 16-inch tire is an acceptable substitute. A Chrysler AS using 650-16 should stay with the proper vintage-size bias-ply equivalent and correct wheel diameter, especially if the goal is to preserve original stance, steering character, and visual proportion.

A 1935 Chrysler AS has two listed sizes because both 6.26-16 and 650-16 appear for that model year. The rim diameter remains the same at 16 inches, so this is not a wheel-diameter change; it is a same-year fitment split that requires closer identification of the specific application.

When a year shows more than one size on the same rim diameter, the safest approach is to inspect what is actually on the car and compare that with period references tied to the exact configuration. Owners restoring a Chrysler AS should pay particular attention to whether the car has retained its original wheels or has been altered during earlier service life.

Chrysler AS sizes in this range are numeric bias-ply fitments, and the available passenger-car products for 650-16 are bias-ply construction. For these period-style applications, a tube is required. That matches normal pre-war collector-tire practice for this type of fitment.

Using the correct tube matters just as much as choosing the right outer tire size, because tube and casing compatibility affect inflation stability and service life. If a Chrysler AS has replacement wheels or unusual rim condition, inspect the wheel carefully before mounting tires so the tube-and-tire combination is working with a sound rim.

The right way to confirm a Chrysler AS tire size is to start with the year, then narrow it to the exact fitment shown for that year. A 1936 Chrysler AS uses 6.25-16, while a 1935 Chrysler AS may use either 6.26-16 or 650-16, so the 1935 cars need an extra step of verification.

Check the existing wheels and any surviving period information tied specifically to your car, especially if the car has been restored over many decades. Matching a Chrysler AS by year alone can be enough for 1936, but 1935 owners should confirm the actual application before choosing among available vintage-style replacements.

For Chrysler AS in 650-16, the available sidewall styles include blackwall and wide whitewall. That gives owners a choice between a more restrained service look and a fuller pre-war luxury appearance, depending on how the car is being restored or presented.

A blackwall tire usually suits a more conservative or utility-minded presentation, while a wide whitewall better matches the visual character many owners want from a mid-1930s Chrysler AS. The right choice depends on the car's restoration goal, period photos, and whether you are aiming for broad historical flavor or a very specific appearance.

The listed Chrysler AS 650-16 products come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those products cover both passenger-style vintage bias-ply tires and heavier truck or military-style offerings in the same size.

That brand spread gives a Chrysler AS owner several ways to balance appearance, tread style, and intended use. Passenger-car restorations will usually focus on the classic bias-ply offerings with blackwall or wide whitewall sidewalls, while the truck-oriented versions should be chosen only when the tire style genuinely suits the vehicle's intended application.

Chrysler AS products in 650-16 span several series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, and Firestone Classic Truck. The main difference is not wheel fitment but construction purpose and visual character within the same 16-inch size.

For most Chrysler AS passenger-car restorations, the classic passenger bias-ply series are the natural place to begin because they preserve a period-correct look. The military and truck series point toward heavier-duty tread styles and a different visual effect, so they are better reserved for owners who specifically want that appearance or have a use case that justifies it.

A Chrysler AS should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long-term contact with damp concrete. Correct inflation matters even when the car is not being driven, because an underinflated bias-ply tire can develop flat spotting and casing stress while sitting.

If a Chrysler AS will remain parked for extended periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged load on one contact patch. Owners who keep a pre-war car for seasonal tours and shows usually get the best results by making tire care part of the overall storage routine rather than waiting until the next driving event.

Tires on a Chrysler AS should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly several times each season. A proper inspection includes air pressure, visible cracking, tread and sidewall condition, valve stems, tube-related leakage signs, and any irregular wear that could point to wheel or chassis issues.

Bias-ply collector tires often spend more time aging than wearing out, so a Chrysler AS benefits from regular visual checks even if annual mileage is low. Pre-war cars also place value on careful preventive maintenance, and catching a small issue early is far better than discovering a failed tube, split sidewall, or damaged rim when the car is already on the road.

A Chrysler AS tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, impact damage, or persistent air loss make the casing questionable, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially important on a pre-war car that may be driven only occasionally.

Any Chrysler AS fitted with an older tire of uncertain service history deserves extra scrutiny, because appearance alone does not reveal the condition inside the casing or tube. If a tire has been on the car for many years, or if the car has sat for long periods, replacement is usually the wiser path than trying to stretch service life from aged rubber.

Chrysler AS appears here with 6.26-16 and 650-16 for 1935 and 6.25-16 for 1936, all in period-style bias-ply sizing. The available replacement products for 650-16 center on classic bias-ply series, which align with the era of the car, but the exact original specification for an individual Chrysler AS should be matched to year and configuration.

That matters because pre-war fitment details can vary within a short production run, and a restoration judged closely may call for more than a broad year match. Owners pursuing factory-style authenticity on a Chrysler AS should compare the tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall appearance against marque references and surviving original examples.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Chrysler AS is viewed in restoration judging and by knowledgeable collectors. Tire size, profile, sidewall style, and overall period appearance all influence whether the car presents as historically coherent, especially on a mid-1930s automobile where proportions are easy to notice.

A Chrysler AS restored with the wrong size or an obviously non-period tread and sidewall treatment can look subtly off even to casual observers. For owners concerned with long-term value or show presentation, tire choice should be handled as part of the restoration plan rather than as a last-minute maintenance purchase.

Chrysler AS 650-16 offerings include both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, and either can make historical sense depending on the intended presentation. Blackwall gives a simpler service look, while wide whitewall delivers a more formal and upscale pre-war appearance consistent with how many restorers like to finish a 1930s Chrysler.

The best choice for a Chrysler AS restoration depends on the exact visual standard you want to meet. If authenticity is the priority, period photos, surviving original cars, and marque-specific guidance are the best way to decide whether your particular Chrysler AS should wear blackwalls or wide whitewalls.

A properly fitted, correctly mounted vintage-style tire can be suitable for driving a Chrysler AS on public roads when the entire car is mechanically sound and the tire matches the car's size and wheel requirements. The available 650-16 products are bias-ply tires, so they should be used with the handling expectations of a pre-war automobile rather than those of a modern car.

Safe road use in a Chrysler AS depends on the whole system: tire condition, tubes, wheel integrity, brakes, steering, suspension, and realistic driving speeds. Owners should approach any pre-war Chrysler with a margin of caution and allow extra time for braking and cornering, especially if the car has sat unused for long periods.

Before driving a Chrysler AS, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, valve stems, lug security, and any sign that a tube-equipped tire has shifted or lost air. On a pre-war car, that tire check should happen alongside a quick review of brakes, steering response, wheel bearings, and fluid condition.

That routine is especially important because a Chrysler AS may see intermittent use, and problems often appear after storage rather than during steady operation. A few minutes of inspection before each outing can prevent damage to scarce wheels, avoid roadside trouble, and make the car more enjoyable and predictable once it is moving.

A Chrysler AS fitted with period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that respect both the age of the vehicle and the design character of the tire. Even when the tire is new manufacture, the overall chassis, brakes, steering geometry, and road manners belong to a pre-war car rather than a modern highway cruiser.

The practical approach is to drive a Chrysler AS at a pace that keeps the car settled, leaves plenty of braking distance, and avoids sustained high-speed use. Owners should build speed gradually after any tire change and pay close attention to tracking, vibration, and steering feel before taking the car on longer road drives.