Dodge Custom 6 Tires
Dodge Custom 6 was part of Dodge's immediate postwar return to civilian production, built for 1946 and 1947 as a full-size American passenger car with the conservative engineering and substantial road manners buyers expected in that era. Cars from this period sit at an interesting point in tire history, where period-correct bias-ply construction, sidewall appearance, and intended use all matter to restorers and drivers alike. Tire selection for Dodge Custom 6 is less about chasing multiple factory-era size changes and more about choosing the right 16-inch fitment, construction style, and tread character within a single original size family. Before selecting a tire, confirm that the car still carries its correct 16-inch wheels and decide whether authenticity, touring use, or military-style tread is the priority.
Dodge Custom 6 Tire Size Guide
Dodge Custom 6 uses one listed tire size across 1946 and 1947: 600-16. This is a numeric bias-ply size, where 600 indicates the nominal section width in inches with the decimal omitted, and 16 is the rim diameter; the listed products are built for 16-inch wheels, generally with rim widths around 4.00 to 4.50 inches. Available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, double-whitewall, and specialty military or truck-style tread patterns from multiple brands and series. A tube is required. The practical decision is not which year uses which size, but which tread and sidewall style best suits a period-correct restoration, a driver-quality car, or a more specialized utility look.
Dodge Custom 6 Tires by Year
The year listing shows which tire size applies to each Dodge Custom 6 model year and helps narrow the search quickly. Both 1946 and 1947 use the same 16-inch fitment, so the main differences come from sidewall style, tread pattern, and intended use rather than year-to-year sizing. These listings are best used alongside the wheel size on the car and any restoration goals for appearance and driving character.
1946 Dodge Custom 6
- 600-16
1947 Dodge Custom 6
- 600-16
Best Dodge Custom 6 Tires for Sale
Available Dodge Custom 6 tires span 9 brands and 26 products in 600-16, including blackwall, wide whitewall, double-whitewall, and military-style bias-ply options. Confirm the correct 16-inch rim and the intended use of the car before selecting.
600-16 Products
These are the available products for 600-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on the real decisions Dodge Custom 6 owners face: understanding the 600-16 size, choosing among many bias-ply and military-style variations, and matching sidewall appearance to a postwar restoration or driver.
Size Basics & Fitment
Dodge Custom 6 uses one listed tire size across its 1946 and 1947 production run: 600-16. The available products in that size are all built for 16-inch rims, with many passenger-car options shown for rims around 4.00 to 4.50 inches wide and a few specialty tires extending slightly beyond that range. Every listed product for Dodge Custom 6 is a bias-ply construction, though the tread styles and sidewall treatments vary considerably.
That means size selection is straightforward, but product selection still matters. A restored sedan aimed at period appearance may call for a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall bias-ply, while a car being styled for a more utilitarian or specialty look may point toward an NDT or truck-style tread. Start by confirming that the car still wears proper 16-inch wheels, then choose the tire style that matches how the Dodge Custom 6 will actually be used and presented.
On Dodge Custom 6, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 600 refers to a nominal section width of about 6.00 inches, with the decimal omitted in period sizing practice, and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. In the listed products, that size is paired with 16-inch rims and commonly with rim widths around 4.00 to 4.50 inches.
Modern buyers sometimes assume every old tire code works like a modern metric radial size, but numeric postwar bias-ply sizing follows a different convention. Knowing that 600-16 is a period width-and-rim code helps you separate true passenger-car replacements from specialty tread versions in the same nominal size. When evaluating a Dodge Custom 6, confirm the wheel diameter first, then compare sidewall style and intended use rather than looking for a different numeric size.
The listed Dodge Custom 6 fitment uses a 16-inch rim for both 1946 and 1947. Every available product tied to the model is built around that same 16-inch rim diameter, although recommended rim widths vary slightly by tire type and series. Most passenger-car offerings center on rims roughly 4.00 to 4.50 inches wide, while some specialty patterns broaden that working range a bit.
Rim diameter is the first thing to verify on the actual car because a correct-looking old wheel can still be swapped from another application over the years. Once 16-inch wheels are confirmed, compare the rim width against the tire's intended range and then choose the proper style. That extra step matters on Dodge Custom 6 because the size itself stays constant, so wheel condition and dimensions become the real fitment checkpoints.
Dodge Custom 6 fitments in the listed range are all bias-ply tires in the 600-16 numeric format, and a tube is required. That applies across the standard passenger-style tires as well as the military and truck-type versions offered in the same nominal size. The tube requirement follows the construction and period wheel practice associated with these products.
Inner tubes are not an afterthought on a collector car of this age; they are part of the complete tire setup. When preparing a Dodge Custom 6 for road use or judging, make sure the wheels are clean, true, and appropriate for tube-type service, and inspect the flap or related hardware if required by the wheel design. A correct tube installation helps protect the tire and supports reliable service on a low-use postwar car.
Buying the Right Tire
A 1946 or 1947 Dodge Custom 6 uses the same listed tire size, 600-16, so the key confirmation points are the actual wheel diameter and the car's intended presentation. All listed fitments for the model are built for 16-inch rims, and the passenger-car choices generally suit rims around 4.00 to 4.50 inches wide. Once those basics are confirmed, the remaining decision is between standard road tread, whitewall treatment, and more specialized military or truck-style patterns.
That process is especially helpful on older restored cars, where wheels and tires may have been changed decades ago. Check the rim diameter stamped on the wheel if possible, compare the current tire size, and review any restoration records or period photos if appearance matters. On Dodge Custom 6, correct fitment is less about chasing year splits and more about making sure the 16-inch wheel and the chosen tire style match the car's purpose.
Dodge Custom 6 tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles within the 600-16 size. Blackwalls are offered across many of the passenger and specialty tread options, while wide whitewalls and double-whitewalls appear in several classic bias-ply lines. That gives restorers room to stay restrained or to emphasize a more formal postwar look.
For a factory-flavored restoration, sidewall choice should follow the character of the specific Dodge Custom 6 being restored and the visual language of the period. Blackwalls generally suit a simpler presentation, while wide whites and double whites create a dressier, more prominent side profile. If the car is being judged, period photos, surviving original cars, and marque references are the best way to decide which sidewall treatment looks most appropriate.
Dodge Custom 6 tires in 600-16 are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands cover a wide spread of period-style passenger tires along with military, truck, and utility-oriented tread patterns in the same basic size. The broad brand mix is one reason the Dodge Custom 6 has more choice than many short-run postwar fitments.
Brand selection should follow the goal for the car rather than the name alone. Some owners want a familiar period-style passenger tire with a classic sidewall treatment, while others are looking for a specific tread personality or a military-style appearance. Once the 600-16 size and 16-inch wheel are confirmed on Dodge Custom 6, compare the series, sidewall style, and intended use before narrowing the brand.
Dodge Custom 6 offerings in 600-16 include several distinct series, such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Turbospeed Mk4, Traction Mileage, Deluxe All-Weather, Firestone Classic Military, Firestone Military NDT, Military NDT, NATO CJ110, and Firestone Classic Truck. Some are traditional passenger-car bias-ply lines aimed at stock appearance, while others use military NDT, NATO, or truck-oriented tread concepts. The sidewall choices also vary by series, from blackwall to wide whitewall and double-whitewall.
Choosing among series is really choosing the personality of the car. A Dodge Custom 6 restored as a postwar civilian sedan will usually point toward the classic passenger-car bias-ply families, while an owner pursuing a utility, convoy, or distinctive specialty look may be drawn to the military and truck-derived patterns. Keep the car's use in mind, because the same nominal 600-16 size can produce a very different visual and driving impression depending on the series selected.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Dodge Custom 6 should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Bias-ply tires benefit from being kept properly inflated during storage, and long periods of immobility can encourage flat spotting or sidewall stress if the car is left in one position for too long. Wheel cleanliness and tube condition also matter because moisture and corrosion can affect the full assembly.
For a collector car that is not driven often, move the Dodge Custom 6 periodically or support it in a way that reduces prolonged static load if the storage period is lengthy. Keep petroleum products off the sidewalls and inspect for cracking, stiffness, or uneven shape when bringing the car back into service. Good storage habits do more to preserve a vintage bias-ply tire than low annual mileage alone.
Tires on a Dodge Custom 6 should be inspected before each drive and given a more careful visual inspection at regular intervals during the season. On a low-use collector car, age, storage conditions, and tube-related issues can become more important than tread wear. Check inflation, sidewall condition, bead area, valve hardware, and any sign of irregular wear or casing distortion.
Bias-ply tires can spend much of their life parked, so problems may develop quietly rather than through high-mileage use. If the Dodge Custom 6 has been sitting for months, examine the tires closely before road movement and pay attention to vibration or pulling on the first miles. An annual inspection by a shop familiar with vintage tube-type tires is a sensible habit even when the car sees only occasional use.
Tires on a Dodge Custom 6 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, persistent flat spotting, or casing damage appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true with bias-ply construction on a low-mileage postwar car. The decision should be driven by condition and serviceability, not by tread depth alone.
A Dodge Custom 6 that spends much of its life indoors can still have tires that look better than they actually are. If the rubber feels unusually hard, the sidewalls show checking, or the car develops shake after proper inflation and balancing, replacement deserves serious consideration. Owners should also inspect the tubes and wheel interiors at the same time, because the tire assembly works as a system on these 16-inch tube-type fitments.
Restoration & Authenticity
The listed Dodge Custom 6 fitment for 1946 and 1947 is 600-16, and the available replacement tires in that size include several passenger-car bias-ply series along with specialty military and truck-oriented designs. That indicates the size is the key historical anchor, while the modern replacement market offers multiple tread families and sidewall treatments within it. The listed products do not point to one single original tread or brand for every car.
For an exact restoration, the best approach is to treat 600-16 as the starting point and then match the appearance more closely through period literature, surviving unrestored cars, and marque references. On Dodge Custom 6, whitewall width, blackwall presentation, and tread character can all influence authenticity. Owners seeking judged accuracy should confirm what is appropriate for their car's original trim level and market presentation before choosing among the available replacements.
Correct tire fitment can affect both the judged presentation and market appeal of a Dodge Custom 6. Size accuracy matters first, and on this model that means using the proper 600-16 fitment on 16-inch wheels, but the visual details matter too. A blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall can change the car's character dramatically, and an overtly military tread can move the look away from a standard civilian restoration.
Judges and experienced buyers often notice tires immediately because they frame the stance of the entire car. If the Dodge Custom 6 is being restored for points competition, period style should guide the tread and sidewall choice rather than convenience alone. Marque clubs, original sales literature, and period photography are especially useful when deciding whether a more formal whitewall treatment or a simpler blackwall presentation best suits the restoration.
Dodge Custom 6 tires are offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles in the proper 600-16 size. Any of those can create a period-looking postwar result, but they communicate different levels of formality and visual emphasis. Blackwall tends to read more restrained, while wide whitewall and double-whitewall treatments give the car a more dressed, upscale appearance.
The right choice depends on how the specific Dodge Custom 6 was originally equipped and how strictly authentic the restoration needs to be. A higher-level show restoration should be guided by factory literature, period photos, and marque expertise rather than personal taste alone. If the goal is a historically sympathetic driver rather than a points car, choose the sidewall style that best matches the car's trim, paint, and intended presentation.
Safety & Road Use
A properly mounted, properly inflated 600-16 bias-ply tire in sound condition can be appropriate for public-road use on a Dodge Custom 6, provided the rest of the car is equally roadworthy. These are vintage-style tires intended to match an older vehicle's character, and they should be judged as part of the complete chassis, brake, steering, and suspension package rather than in isolation. Condition matters more than appearance alone.
Safe road use starts with realistic expectations. A Dodge Custom 6 on bias-ply tires will not respond like a modern radial-equipped sedan, and it should be driven with respect for braking distances, crown sensitivity, and steering feel typical of the period. Before any sustained driving, inspect the tires, wheels, tubes, and suspension carefully so the whole car is prepared for the way a postwar Dodge actually behaves on the road.
Before driving a Dodge Custom 6, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve hardware, and any sign of movement between tire and rim. Confirm that all four tires match the intended use of the car and that the spare is also serviceable if the car is going farther than a local outing. Because the listed fitments are tube-type bias-ply tires, wheel condition and tube integrity are part of the inspection.
A quick walk-around is not enough on a collector car that may sit for long stretches. Look for cracks, bulges, age-related hardening, or a tire that has developed a flat spot while parked, then take the first few miles gently and pay attention to steering feel and vibration. On Dodge Custom 6, that routine is one of the simplest ways to catch a tire problem before it becomes a roadside issue.
A Dodge Custom 6 fitted with period-style 600-16 bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that respect both the age of the vehicle and the behavior of vintage construction. Even with new replacement tires, the car's chassis, steering, brakes, and suspension remain products of the immediate postwar era. The practical limit is often set by overall vehicle condition and stability rather than by the tire size alone.
Owners generally get the best experience by treating a Dodge Custom 6 as a steady secondary-road touring car rather than a sustained high-speed cruiser. Smooth steering inputs, extra following distance, and conservative pace all suit bias-ply handling characteristics. If the car has older tires of uncertain age, recent restoration work, or a long storage history, keep speeds especially modest until the entire vehicle has been thoroughly evaluated.