Chrysler Traveler 26 Tires

The Chrysler Traveler 26 uses 650-16 in the year range covered here, specifically 1940. All available products for Chrysler Traveler 26 in this fitment are built around a 16-inch rim diameter, with most listings paired to 4.50 to 5.00-inch rim widths and one bias-ply listing paired to a 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim width.

That means the first step is confirming that the car still has 16-inch wheels and has not been changed during an earlier restoration. Once wheel diameter is confirmed, the next choice is whether the car should wear a blackwall, a wide whitewall, or one of the heavier-duty tread patterns that share the same size but suit a different appearance and use case.

On a Chrysler Traveler 26, 650-16 is an older numeric bias-ply tire size. The 650 portion indicates a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches, while the 16 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. In the available Chrysler Traveler 26 range, every 650-16 product is a bias-ply tire, and most are paired with 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims.

Modern buyers sometimes expect a more detailed metric size, but prewar American cars commonly used this simpler numeric system. The practical takeaway is to match the exact 650-16 size and verify the wheel width if the car has nonstandard rims, since an older restoration or a utility conversion can leave the same diameter wheel with a less suitable rim width.

The Chrysler Traveler 26 generally uses bias-ply 650-16 tires, and a tube is required for those traditional fitments. Nearly every Chrysler Traveler 26 product in this size is a conventional bias-ply design intended to be run with a tube, with one separate 6 ply rated tubeless highway-type listing appearing among the heavier-duty options.

For a restoration-minded prewar passenger car, the safer assumption is tube-type service unless the wheel and the specific tire are both set up for tubeless use. Wheel condition matters just as much as the tire itself, so rusty rims, rough bead areas, or long-stored original wheels should be cleaned and inspected carefully before new rubber is fitted.

A 1940 Chrysler Traveler 26 in the range covered here uses 650-16. That gives you the correct starting size, and the available products all share the same 16-inch rim diameter, though rim width recommendations vary slightly between listings, with most centered on 4.50 to 5.00 inches.

After confirming the size on the car, look at how the car will actually be used. A show-oriented restoration may call for a wide whitewall bias-ply, while a more utilitarian appearance may point to a blackwall, and a truck-style tread should only be chosen if the owner specifically wants that heavier-duty look or duty pattern rather than a typical passenger-car presentation.

Chrysler Traveler 26 tires in 650-16 are offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The wide whitewall choices include several widths and brand treatments, while blackwall options appear across passenger-style bias-ply lines as well as the heavier-duty truck and military-style patterns in the same nominal size.

That gives a restorer room to match the character of the individual car rather than settling for one visual style. A formal restoration often leans toward a period-looking whitewall, while a simpler or more utilitarian build may look more natural on blackwalls, especially if the car is being presented with a less ornate trim level or a more restrained finish.

Chrysler Traveler 26 tires in 650-16 are available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands cover a broad mix of classic passenger-car bias-ply tires, wide whitewall options, and heavier-duty truck-oriented patterns that share the same nominal size and rim diameter.

Brand choice should follow the goal of the car rather than name recognition alone. A judged restoration may prioritize period-looking tread and sidewall presentation, while a driver-quality car may focus more on appearance and intended use, so compare each brand’s sidewall style, rim-width guidance, and overall visual character before making the final match.

Chrysler Traveler 26 tires appear in 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. Most are passenger-car bias-ply designs, while others are clearly heavier-duty or truck-oriented patterns despite sharing the same 650-16 size.

The practical difference is appearance, intended service, and overall character on the car. For a Chrysler Traveler 26 restored as a prewar passenger automobile, the passenger-car bias-ply series are usually the natural place to start, while military, knobby, or transport-style series make sense only when the owner intentionally wants a more commercial tread pattern or a specialty-use presentation.

A Chrysler Traveler 26 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Prewar bias-ply tires can develop flat spotting and sidewall stress when a heavy car sits in one position for long periods, especially if inflation is neglected.

Keep the tires at the correct pressure for the specific tire, move the car periodically, and if the vehicle will sit for a long season, consider taking some load off the tires with proper support under the chassis. Clean floors, wheel chocks, and a routine walk-around inspection will do more to preserve collector tires than simply covering the car and forgetting it.

Tires on a Chrysler Traveler 26 should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times each year even if the car covers very little mileage. A prewar bias-ply tire can look acceptable at a glance while hiding cracking, tube issues, bead trouble, or age-related hardening that affects how it performs on the road.

A useful inspection routine includes checking pressure, sidewall condition, tread separation signs, valve stems, and the wheel itself. If the car has been parked for months, inspect it before moving rather than after the drive, since collector-car problems often appear at startup or during the first few miles when long-set tires begin flexing again.

Tires on a Chrysler Traveler 26 should be replaced when they show sidewall cracking, persistent flat spotting, vibration, cord exposure, bead damage, or age-related hardening, even if tread depth still appears usable. Collector cars rarely wear tires out in the modern sense; they age out, and prewar bias-ply construction deserves a conservative approach once visible deterioration begins.

The key point is that appearance alone can be misleading on a low-mileage antique or classic car. If the Chrysler Traveler 26 has older tires of uncertain service history, have them evaluated by a specialist familiar with collector vehicles, and be especially cautious if the car has spent years parked, overloaded, or stored in heat.

The Chrysler Traveler 26 uses the 650-16 size in the range covered here, and the available offerings are bias-ply tires in several classic passenger series along with some heavier-duty alternatives in the same nominal size. That means the correct restoration path begins with matching the 650-16 size and then choosing a period-appropriate passenger-car style rather than assuming every tire in that size reflects the same original look.

If authenticity matters, compare the car against factory literature, surviving original photos, and Chrysler club guidance to narrow the right sidewall and tread appearance. The shared size alone does not settle the restoration question, because a wide whitewall, blackwall, or truck-type tread can all fit the wheel while giving the car very different historical character.

Correct tire fitment can influence both judging results and the overall impression of a Chrysler Traveler 26 because tires strongly affect stance, side profile, and historical accuracy. On a prewar car, judges and experienced enthusiasts often notice whether the size, sidewall treatment, and tread character suit the period presentation of the automobile.

A Chrysler Traveler 26 restored with the right 650-16 size and an era-appropriate sidewall style will usually look more convincing than one wearing a visually mismatched alternative. For buyers concerned with show scoring or resale quality, tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than a final accessory selected only after paint and trim are finished.

Chrysler Traveler 26 tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, and either can be historically appropriate depending on how the individual car is being restored and presented. The available wide whitewall options suit a more formal late prewar passenger-car look, while blackwalls give a plainer and often more understated appearance.

The best choice depends on the trim, the visual goal of the restoration, and the reference material for the specific car. If the Chrysler Traveler 26 is being judged or restored to a precise factory-era appearance, compare period photos and marque references first, because the sidewall choice has a surprisingly large effect on whether the finished car looks truly right.

A Chrysler Traveler 26 fitted with fresh, properly installed collector tires can be driven on public roads, but it should still be treated as a prewar automobile with older suspension, braking, and handling characteristics. The available Chrysler Traveler 26 fitments are bias-ply designs, and they do not behave like modern radials in turn-in, tracking, braking feel, or response to road crowns.

Safety depends on the whole car, not just the rubber. Before regular road use, make sure the Chrysler Traveler 26 has sound wheels, correct inflation, healthy steering components, properly adjusted brakes, and tires suited to the intended use, since a truck-pattern tire may fit physically but change the way the car feels and presents on the road.

Before driving a Chrysler Traveler 26, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign that the car has been sitting on soft or underinflated tires. With a prewar collector car, it is equally important to confirm brake operation, steering play, and whether the tires have developed flat spots after storage.

A slow walk-around before every outing is one of the best habits a Chrysler Traveler 26 owner can develop. If the car feels different than usual in the first mile, stop and recheck it rather than trying to drive through the problem, because low-use collector cars often reveal tire, tube, or wheel issues only once they begin rolling under load.

A Chrysler Traveler 26 on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the tire design and the capabilities of a 1940 automobile. Even when the tire is new, the driving experience will differ from a modern car, and the safe pace is determined by road conditions, mechanical condition, load, and how settled the car feels.

The right mindset is preservation rather than maximum speed. Smooth inputs, extra following distance, and avoiding sustained high-speed running will do more for safety and tire life than any brand choice alone, and that is especially true if the Chrysler Traveler 26 is used only occasionally and spends much of its life parked between short seasonal drives.