Graham 95 Tires

The Graham 95 uses 600-16 tires for the 1937 model year. That fitment is paired with a 16-inch rim, and the available products in this size are bias-ply designs offered in several sidewall and tread styles. While the size itself is straightforward, the product range includes both passenger-car patterns and heavier-duty military or truck-style patterns in the same nominal size.

That means the first step is confirming that your Graham 95 still carries 16-inch wheels, then choosing the tire style that matches how the car will be presented and driven. A whitewall or blackwall passenger tire usually suits a restoration-focused car, while an NDT or truck-style tread should be chosen only when that appearance or use is specifically desired.

A 600-16 marking on a Graham 95 tire is a numeric bias-ply size. The 600 represents a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On the Graham 95, that means the tire is intended for a 16-inch rim, with many of the listed passenger tires built around 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim widths.

Modern buyers sometimes expect a more detailed metric code, but prewar American sizing was much simpler. When replacing tires on a Graham 95, treat 600-16 as both a size and a period construction format: you are looking for a bias-ply tire in the correct nominal width and correct wheel diameter, not a modern radial equivalent with a different profile.

Yes, the Graham 95 should be treated as a tube-type application with the listed 600-16 bias-ply tires. Every available product for this fitment is bias-ply, and the prewar sizing and construction style point to tube use rather than a modern tubeless setup. That is especially important on collector cars that may still use original-style wheels.

Inner tubes are part of the complete tire system on a Graham 95, not an afterthought. When fitting new tires, make sure the tube and flap arrangement matches the wheel and tire construction, and inspect the wheel condition carefully so rust, burrs, or old repairs do not damage the tube once the car is back on the road.

For a 1937 Graham 95, the listed tire size is 600-16. The practical confirmation points are the wheel diameter, the wheel width, and whether the car remains in stock passenger-car form rather than carrying a later wheel swap. The available passenger tires in this size commonly fit 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, which gives a useful checkpoint when inspecting the car.

Start by reading the wheel itself and comparing it with any surviving owner literature, restoration records, or marque-club advice for your specific Graham 95. Once the wheel is confirmed as a 16-inch passenger fitment, choose the tire style by use: blackwall for a restrained prewar look, whitewall for a dressier presentation, or specialty tread only if it suits the car’s intended appearance.

Graham 95 tires in 600-16 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Blackwalls are the most common offering in this size, while wide whitewalls and double-whitewalls are present on several period-style passenger tires. The military and truck-oriented patterns are blackwall only.

That variety lets a Graham 95 owner tune the car’s appearance without changing the basic size. For a restoration-minded car, the correct choice usually follows the look you are trying to recreate, while a driver-focused car may simply come down to whether you prefer a more formal whitewall presentation or the cleaner, more understated look of a blackwall tire.

The Graham 95 size 600-16 is offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands cover a broad spread of prewar-style passenger tires as well as specialty military or utility tread patterns in the same nominal size. All of them are bias-ply offerings for the Graham 95 fitment.

Brand choice on a Graham 95 usually comes down to the look and character you want from the finished car. Some owners prioritize a well-known period name, others focus on a specific tread or sidewall presentation, and others simply want a traditional bias-ply tire that suits regular collector use while still looking at home on a 1937 automobile.

The Graham 95 size includes several distinct series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Ford Script, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Traction Mileage, Goodyear Military NDT, Deluxe All-Weather, Firestone Classic Military, Firestone Military NDT, Military NDT, NATO CJ110, and Firestone Classic Truck. Some are passenger-car bias-ply series aimed at prewar road cars, while others are military, truck, or utility-oriented patterns built around a different look and tread purpose.

For a Graham 95, the key is not trying to compare every series as if they were interchangeable modern tires. Separate them first into passenger-car presentation tires versus military or truck-style specialty tires, then choose within that group by sidewall style, tread appearance, and how closely the finished result matches the personality of your particular restoration.

A Graham 95 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with moisture. Bias-ply tires on collector cars benefit from clean floors, proper inflation, and relief from constant loading if the car will sit for long periods. Prewar cars also deserve extra attention because many see only seasonal use.

If the Graham 95 will be parked for months at a time, move it occasionally to prevent flat spotting or support it in a way that reduces continuous stress on one contact patch. Regular visual checks for cracking, sidewall distortion, and tube-related air loss will do more for tire life than simply leaving the car untouched under a cover.

Tires on a Graham 95 should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals, even if the car covers very few miles. Bias-ply collector tires can age out long before the tread is worn, and a prewar car often spends enough time parked that condition changes are easy to miss. Inspection should include pressure, sidewall condition, tread surface, valve hardware, and wheel condition.

That routine matters because a Graham 95 is not driven like a modern daily car, and infrequent use can hide developing problems. A careful owner should also watch for uneven wear, signs of tube chafing, and changes in steering feel, since those can point to inflation, alignment, or wheel issues that affect how the car behaves at road speed.

Tires on a Graham 95 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, impact damage, or structural changes appear, even if the tread still looks serviceable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on prewar cars that spend long periods parked. Condition matters more than remaining tread depth on a lightly used Graham 95.

The safest approach is to treat time and condition as equal to mileage when planning replacement. If a Graham 95 carries older tires of uncertain history, have them evaluated by a specialist who understands prewar tube-type bias-ply applications, and be especially cautious with any period tire whose age is substantial even if its sidewalls still present well.

The Graham 95 is listed here with a 600-16 fitment, and the available products in that size include several passenger-car bias-ply series from multiple brands. The range also includes more specialized tread families, so the size itself is clear even though the exact period-correct appearance may vary depending on how a particular car was equipped or restored. No single original-equipment brand conclusion should be assumed from the current offerings alone.

For a precise restoration, use the 600-16 size as the anchor point and then verify the intended sidewall style and tread look through factory literature, period photography, or Graham club resources. That extra step helps keep the finished Graham 95 visually consistent with its era rather than simply wearing any tire that happens to share the correct basic dimensions.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the judged authenticity and the overall presentation value of a Graham 95. Size, sidewall treatment, tread character, and overall stance all shape how accurately a prewar car reads to knowledgeable enthusiasts. Even when the basic size is right, an obviously incorrect style can change the impression of the entire restoration.

That matters most when the Graham 95 is being prepared for formal judging, club events, or a sale to marque-aware buyers. Using the correct 600-16 size is only the first step; matching the sidewall and tread style to the period character of the car can be just as important if you want the restoration to look coherent and historically respectful.

A Graham 95 restoration can be fitted with blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall tires in the correct 600-16 size, depending on the look being pursued. All three sidewall styles are available in period-style bias-ply form for this fitment. Blackwall gives the most restrained presentation, while whitewall treatments create a more formal and visually prominent prewar appearance.

The right choice depends on the exact character of your Graham 95 and the standard of restoration you are targeting. Period photos, sales literature, and marque specialists are the best references when the goal is judging-level authenticity, but for many collector owners the decision comes down to whether they want the car to read as understated touring transport or a more dressed-up 1937 automobile.

A properly fitted new bias-ply tire in the correct 600-16 size can be appropriate for public-road use on a Graham 95 when the entire car is mechanically sound. That includes the wheels, tubes, brakes, steering, suspension, and alignment, not just the tires themselves. The military-pattern options in this size may fit physically, but they are a different type of tire from a normal prewar passenger-car road tire.

Road use decisions for a Graham 95 should be made with the complete vehicle in mind. Keep speeds moderate, allow for the handling characteristics of bias-ply construction, and choose a tread style that suits the car’s intended use rather than assuming every 600-16 option will behave or look the same in normal collector driving.

Before driving a Graham 95, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread surface, tube-type valve hardware, wheel security, and any signs of cracking or impact damage. Because the Graham 95 uses bias-ply tires, you should also pay attention to how long the car has been sitting and whether flat spotting or air loss has developed in storage. The condition of the spare deserves inspection as well.

A short pre-drive routine is especially important on prewar cars because small tire issues can quickly become major problems once the car is moving. If the Graham 95 has been inactive for an extended period, add a slow shakedown drive and a full mechanical once-over so tire behavior can be judged alongside steering response, brake pull, and suspension movement.

A Graham 95 on correct-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that respect both the design of the tire and the age of the car. Even when the tires are new, the handling, braking, and steering feel of a 1937 automobile are different from those of a modern car, and road speed should reflect that reality. The goal is stable, predictable touring rather than modern highway pace.

In practice, a Graham 95 is happiest when the driver leaves extra following distance, avoids abrupt maneuvers, and builds speed gradually. Any older collector car should be matched to conditions, road surface, and mechanical condition, so if the car feels unsettled or wanders more than expected, slow down and inspect the tires, pressures, and front-end condition before driving farther.