Chrysler Royal Tires

Chrysler Royal uses three tire sizes in this year group: 600-16, 6.25-16, and 650-16, all on 16-inch rims. The 600-16 appears for 1937, the 6.25-16 appears for 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1941, and the 650-16 appears for 1937, 1938, and 1941. That means 1939 is the simplest year here with a single listed size, while 1937 carries the broadest spread of options.

The right way to narrow that list is to start with your exact year, then confirm what is actually on the car now, including the wheel and any surviving original markings. If the car has been restored, changed, or fitted with different wheels over time, compare the current setup with factory literature or marque references before committing to one of the three sizes.

On a Chrysler Royal, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 600 means a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 16 means the tire fits a 16-inch rim. That size appears in this fitment group only for 1937, where it sits alongside wider alternatives used the same year.

That code matters because a 600-16 is not interchangeable with every other 16-inch tire just because the rim diameter matches. The section width, overall stance, and approved rim-width range can differ, so a 1937 Chrysler Royal owner should verify whether the car was intended for the narrower 600-16 or one of the larger sizes listed for the same year.

The 1937 Chrysler Royal is the only year in this group with three listed sizes: 600-16, 6.25-16, and 650-16. All three use the same 16-inch rim diameter, so the difference is not a wheel-diameter change. That kind of split typically points to configuration differences within the model year, such as trim level or body style, rather than a simple early-versus-late production change.

If you own a 1937 Chrysler Royal, the year alone is not enough to choose a tire. Check the car’s existing wheel and tire markings, compare the body and trim specification against period references, and make sure the section width you choose matches the car’s intended setup rather than assuming every 1937 Royal used the same size.

The Chrysler Royal sizes listed here are numeric bias-ply sizes, and the available Chrysler Royal products in these fitments are overwhelmingly bias-ply construction. For that reason, a tube is required for the standard bias-ply Chrysler Royal applications covered by these sizes. This is consistent with pre-war tire practice, where tube-type construction was normal on passenger cars of the period.

Tube choice should match the tire size and wheel condition, especially on a collector car that may have older rims or wheels that have been repainted, restored, or stored for long periods. When mounting fresh bias-ply tires on a Chrysler Royal, inspect the wheel carefully and use the correct tube and flap arrangement where required by the wheel design.

A 1938 Chrysler Royal can use either 6.25-16 or 650-16, both on 16-inch rims. Since both sizes appear in the same model year, the correct choice depends on the specific configuration of the car rather than the year badge alone. The narrower and wider options are not identical just because they share the same rim diameter.

Start by reading the sidewall of the tires already on the car if they appear to match the car’s long-term setup, then compare that information with original manuals, sales literature, or recognized Chrysler marque references. If the car has a mixed restoration history, measure wheel width and confirm that the selected tire’s approved rim-width range suits the wheels currently fitted.

Chrysler Royal tires in these sizes are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The sidewall selection varies by exact tire size and brand, with 600-16 and 650-16 showing the broadest cosmetic variety. Blackwalls are common throughout the listings, while several whitewall widths are available for owners pursuing a more dressed period appearance.

The right sidewall style depends on how you want the Chrysler Royal to present: preservation look, formal restoration, or general collector-car use. For a judged restoration, compare sidewall treatment against period photos and marque guidance, because whitewall width and style can influence how authentic the finished car looks even when the underlying tire size is correct.

Chrysler Royal tires in these listed sizes come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Camac, Garfield, and Tornel. Some brands focus on passenger-style bias-ply offerings, while others also appear in military, truck, or utility tread patterns within the same nominal size. Brand choice therefore involves more than name alone; it also reflects sidewall style and series type.

A useful way to choose is to decide first whether your Chrysler Royal needs a period passenger-car look or a more utility-oriented tread, then compare the brands that serve that purpose in the correct size. Once the size is settled, brand becomes a matter of appearance, construction family, and how closely you want the tire’s look to align with your restoration goals.

Chrysler Royal fitments here appear in several tire series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Ford Script, Tourist Crossply, Turbospeed Mk4, Traction Mileage, and a number of military or truck-oriented series such as Military NDT, Transport, Super Traxion, and Classic Truck. Those names represent different tread designs, visual treatments, and intended use profiles within the same basic size family. All of them remain bias-ply in the Chrysler Royal sizes shown here.

For most Chrysler Royal restorations, the first divide is between passenger-car presentation and truck or military-style tread. Once you have ruled out the utility-focused patterns unless your project specifically calls for them, the remaining choice usually comes down to period look, sidewall style, and whether you prefer a plain blackwall or a whitewall treatment that suits your car’s era and finish.

A Chrysler Royal should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, solvents, and petroleum contamination. Bias-ply tires on collector cars benefit from clean concrete or tire pads, and the car should not sit for long periods with one corner heavily loaded or with underinflated tires. Good storage slows sidewall aging and helps the tire keep its shape.

If the Chrysler Royal will be parked for months at a time, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces long-term flat spotting while respecting suspension and frame needs. Keep inflation appropriate for storage and driving use, and inspect the tires before the car returns to the road after any extended lay-up.

Tires on a Chrysler Royal should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals throughout the season. On a pre-war car with bias-ply construction, that inspection should include sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, uneven wear, valve stem condition, inflation pressure, and the condition of the tube-type assembly. Collector cars often age tires out long before they wear them out.

A walk-around is not enough if the Chrysler Royal has been sitting. Put your hands on the sidewalls, look inside and outside shoulders, and pay attention to any vibration, pull, or change in ride that suggests a casing or tube issue. Regular inspection is one of the simplest ways to protect both the car and its occupants.

A Chrysler Royal tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, distortion, impact damage, chronic air loss, or casing changes make it untrustworthy, even if the tread still looks deep. On collector cars, visible wear is often a poor guide because time and storage history usually matter more than mileage. Any tire that shows structural change or long-term deterioration belongs under professional evaluation before further use.

This is especially important on a pre-war Chrysler Royal, where bias-ply behavior and low annual mileage can disguise advancing age. Replacement decisions should be conservative, and if an older spare or long-stored mounted tire is part of the car’s kit, treat it as a display item until it has been carefully inspected for safe serviceability.

The Chrysler Royal fitments listed here show period-appropriate numeric bias-ply sizes of 600-16, 6.25-16, and 650-16, depending on year and configuration. Several passenger-style series are available in those sizes, including classic bias-ply lines from BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, and others. Since some years carry more than one listed size, the original specification for a particular Chrysler Royal depends on the exact year and configuration.

For a factory-correct restoration, use the listed sizes as the starting point and then match your specific Chrysler Royal against original literature, surviving tire placards, and marque-club guidance. That extra step matters most for 1937, where multiple sizes appear in the same year and originality depends on choosing the one that matches the car’s intended setup.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the value and judging outcome of a Chrysler Royal. Judges and experienced buyers notice whether the tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall profile suit the year and presentation of the car. Even when the wheel diameter is correct, an obviously too-narrow, too-wide, or stylistically mismatched tire can change the car’s stance and historical credibility.

For a higher-level restoration, tire choice should be treated as part of the car’s visual and historical finish, not as a last-minute consumable. The best approach is to align size and sidewall style with period references and consult Chrysler club standards if the car will appear in judged competition or be marketed to knowledgeable collectors.

Chrysler Royal tires in these fitments are offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and, in 600-16, double-whitewall form. Any of those may suit a restoration depending on the exact year, trim character, and presentation you are aiming for. The sidewall style is separate from the tire size, so a correct restoration needs both the proper size and the right visual treatment.

A formal or more upscale Chrysler Royal restoration may call for a whitewall look, while a simpler or more restrained presentation may point toward blackwalls. Period photos, surviving original cars, and Chrysler marque references are the best way to settle the question, especially if you are trying to match a specific factory or dealer-delivered appearance.

A properly selected and properly mounted new tire in the correct Chrysler Royal size can be suitable for public-road use when the rest of the car is equally sound. Tire safety on a pre-war Chrysler depends not only on the casing itself but also on wheel condition, tube integrity, alignment, brakes, steering, and suspension. A collector car is only as roadworthy as its weakest system.

Before regular road use, treat the Chrysler Royal as a complete mechanical package rather than assuming fresh tires alone make it ready. Have the chassis and running gear inspected, confirm inflation and mounting details, and build speed gradually while monitoring how the car tracks, stops, and responds once back in service.

Before driving a Chrysler Royal, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel hardware, and any sign that a tube-type assembly has shifted or lost air. Also inspect the surrounding systems that influence tire behavior, including steering play, brake operation, wheel bearing condition, and suspension response. On a pre-war car, those checks are part of basic roadworthiness, not just good housekeeping.

A short, low-speed test is wise after any long storage period, wheel removal, or tire change. Listen for rubbing, feel for pull or shimmy, and stop early if the Chrysler Royal shows unusual heat, vibration, or instability, because those clues often appear before a more serious failure develops.

A Chrysler Royal fitted with period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible, moderate speeds that respect both the tire type and the age of the vehicle’s chassis design. Even with fresh tires, a late-1930s or early-1940s Chrysler does not behave like a modern car in braking, steering response, or emergency maneuvering. The safe operating pace is the one that leaves a wide reserve for road conditions and mechanical limits.

On modern highways, that usually means avoiding the temptation to run the Chrysler Royal as fast as surrounding traffic if the car feels busy, vague, or unsettled. Build confidence gradually, keep extra following distance, and remember that comfortable cruising speed in a collector car is determined by the entire vehicle, not just the number molded into the tire size.