Hudson 1190 Series Tires
Hudson 1190 Series belongs to the early 1930s period when Hudson was building substantial American automobiles with a strong reputation for engineering and road manners. Produced for 1932, Hudson 1190 Series sits in a transitional era where wheel and tire choices could vary within a single model year depending on configuration. That makes tire selection less straightforward than simply matching the make and year, because more than one factory-type size appears for the same 1932 Hudson 1190 Series. The practical first step is to confirm which 17-inch wheel and tire size your specific car carries, then match the tire to the actual rim and the vehicle's configuration.
Hudson 1190 Series Tire Size Guide
Hudson 1190 Series uses 2 distinct tire sizes across its 1932 production span. Both sizes share a 17-inch rim diameter, so the key fitment question is which configuration of 1932 Hudson 1190 Series you have rather than a wheel diameter change. These are numeric bias-ply sizes, with the first number indicating nominal section width and the second number indicating rim diameter in inches.
6.50-17 is a numeric bias-ply size used on 1932 Hudson 1190 Series applications. The 6.50 indicates a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches, and the 17 indicates a 17-inch rim diameter. Choose this size if your specific 1932 Hudson 1190 Series was equipped for the wider of the listed 17-inch tire options; a tube is required.
6.00-17 is a numeric bias-ply size used on 1932 Hudson 1190 Series applications. The 6.00 indicates a nominal section width of about 6.00 inches, and the 17 indicates a 17-inch rim diameter. Choose this size if your specific 1932 Hudson 1190 Series uses the narrower listed 17-inch fitment; a tube is required.
Hudson 1190 Series Tires by Year
The year listing below shows which tire sizes are associated with each Hudson 1190 Series model year and helps narrow the search from the broad model name to the actual car in your garage. In 1932, more than two sizes are listed for Hudson 1190 Series, so confirm the specific trim level or body style. These listings cover a short pre-war production window, so it is wise to verify the car against original vehicle literature or a Hudson specialist.
1932 Hudson 1190 Series
- 6.50-17
- 6.00-17
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on the two 17-inch tire sizes used on 1932 Hudson 1190 Series models, how to sort out same-year size differences, and what to consider when choosing, fitting, and caring for collector-car tires.
Size Basics & Fitment
Hudson 1190 Series uses two listed tire sizes for 1932: 6.00-17 and 6.50-17. Both are numeric bias-ply sizes built for 17-inch rims, but they differ in nominal section width, with 6.00-17 being the narrower option and 6.50-17 the wider one.
That means the correct choice is not determined by year alone, because both sizes fall within the same 1932 model run. Check the tire size on the car now if it is known to be correct, then compare that with the wheel size and original vehicle literature so you can match the tire to the specific Hudson 1190 Series configuration.
On a Hudson 1190 Series, 6.50-17 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches, while the 17 refers to the rim diameter in inches. It is a wider tire than 6.00-17, but both fit 17-inch wheels.
That size code matters because a 17-inch wheel does not automatically tell you which of the two Hudson 1190 Series sizes is correct. If your car has 17-inch rims, you still need to verify whether it was fitted for the 6.00-inch or 6.50-inch nominal width before choosing a replacement tire and tube.
A 1932 Hudson 1190 Series can show both 6.00-17 and 6.50-17 because more than one factory-type fitment existed within the same model year. The split is not a rim-diameter change, since both sizes use 17-inch wheels, but a configuration difference within the 1932 Hudson 1190 Series range.
That is why the car's exact setup matters more than the year badge alone. Before selecting tires, identify the specific body style or trim, examine the wheels already on the car, and compare the current size against trusted Hudson reference material so you do not move from one correct 17-inch size to the other by mistake.
Hudson 1190 Series tires in the listed 6.00-17 and 6.50-17 sizes should be treated as tube-type bias-ply fitments. These early 1930s numeric bias-ply applications were built around tube use, and that remains the appropriate approach when fitting replacement tires on original-style wheels.
Tube selection should match the tire size and the wheel condition should be checked at the same time, especially on collector cars that may have older rims or long periods of storage behind them. A proper tube-and-rim inspection helps avoid pinching, chafing, or sealing problems that can shorten tire life on a Hudson 1190 Series.
Buying the Right Tire
The right way to confirm a 1932 Hudson 1190 Series tire size is to verify whether your car uses 6.00-17 or 6.50-17 on its 17-inch wheels. Since both sizes are associated with 1932, the answer comes from the specific car rather than the model year alone.
Start with the wheel and tire currently on the car if it is believed to be correct, then compare that information with period service material, restoration records, or marque-club guidance. That process is especially important on cars that have been restored over decades, where wheels and tires may have been changed more than once.
Made-to-order Hudson 1190 Series tires are products built as special-production items rather than ordinary mass-market replacements. On collector-car applications, that usually reflects low-volume demand and the need to reproduce the correct size, profile, and period construction for cars such as the 1932 Hudson 1190 Series.
For the buyer, the main takeaway is that these tires should be chosen carefully and matched to the car before any commitment is made. Because specialty production is centered on authenticity and proper vintage fitment, it is wise to settle the exact size, construction style, and wheel compatibility first rather than treating them like interchangeable modern tires.
Hudson 1190 Series uses early 1930s numeric bias-ply sizing, so the key difference is usually not a modern metric-versus-classic sizing question but the tire's overall build, tread design, and period appearance within that bias-ply category. The two listed sizes, 6.00-17 and 6.50-17, share the same 17-inch rim diameter but differ in nominal width.
That means your first decision is fitment, not styling. Once the correct width is established for your 1932 Hudson 1190 Series, you can then weigh appearance goals such as a more formal restoration look versus a more general touring presentation, while keeping the tire consistent with the car's era and wheel setup.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Hudson 1190 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from sunlight, ozone sources, electric motors, and petroleum contamination. Clean floors, proper inflation, and relief from long-term concentrated vehicle weight all help preserve bias-ply collector tires and tubes.
If the car will sit for an extended period, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces flat-spotting stress while still protecting the suspension and wheels. Collector cars from the early 1930s benefit from regular visual checks during storage, because age, tube condition, and rim condition matter as much as tread depth.
Tires on a Hudson 1190 Series should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. Look for cracking, sidewall distortion, tread separation, improper inflation, tube-related issues, and any signs that the rim or bead area is causing trouble.
Early pre-war cars place a premium on routine inspection because they are often driven infrequently and may spend long periods parked. A Hudson 1190 Series that appears fine at rest can still have age-related tire or tube issues, so a careful hands-on check is part of responsible ownership before road use.
Hudson 1190 Series tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, impact damage, or tube deterioration raises concern, even if tread remains deep. On collector cars, tread wear is often the least important factor because time, storage history, and structural condition usually determine whether a tire is still serviceable.
That is especially true for pre-war bias-ply tires, which may see very low annual mileage yet still age out. If there is any doubt about the condition of an older tire on a Hudson 1190 Series, a specialist inspection is the prudent step before continued use, since visible appearance alone does not confirm safe service condition.
Restoration & Authenticity
Hudson 1190 Series is associated here with two period-correct numeric bias-ply sizes for 1932: 6.00-17 and 6.50-17. Both are appropriate early 1930s-style fitments on 17-inch rims, which indicates that original-type tire specification could vary within the Hudson 1190 Series range.
For a strict restoration, the best path is to match the tire size to the exact car rather than the series name alone. Factory literature, surviving original examples, and Hudson club resources are the right references when you want to establish whether your particular 1932 Hudson 1190 Series should wear the narrower or wider listed size.
Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Hudson 1190 Series is judged and how seriously the restoration is taken. Size, construction type, profile, and overall period appearance all influence whether the car presents as properly restored for its year and class.
Even when both listed sizes are historically appropriate within the 1932 Hudson 1190 Series range, judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will still expect the tire to match the specific configuration of the car. If authenticity is the goal, align the tire size with recognized Hudson references and keep the wheel-and-tire combination visually consistent with the era.
A Hudson 1190 Series restoration should use a sidewall style that fits the car's period character and the restoration objective, whether that is formal show presentation or a more restrained touring look. Early 1930s American cars can appear correct with period-appropriate blackwall or white sidewall treatments depending on how the particular car is being restored.
The best choice is the one that matches the exact visual standard you are chasing for your Hudson 1190 Series. If the car is being judged, compare surviving photographs, factory literature, and marque-club guidance so the sidewall treatment supports the same level of historical accuracy as the tire size itself.
Safety & Road Use
A properly selected and properly fitted tire can be suitable for public-road use on a Hudson 1190 Series when the entire car is mechanically sound and the tires are in good condition. On a 1932 car, tire safety depends not only on the tire itself but also on tube condition, wheel integrity, alignment, brakes, steering, and suspension.
That means road use should be approached as a complete vehicle-systems question rather than a tire-only question. Before driving a Hudson 1190 Series in traffic, make sure the tire size matches the car, inflation is correct for the application, and the rest of the chassis has been inspected to a standard appropriate for an early pre-war automobile.
Before driving a Hudson 1190 Series, check tire condition, inflation, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of tube or bead-area trouble. On a pre-war car, you should also inspect steering play, brake operation, wheel bearing condition, and whether the tires show age cracking or flat-spotting from storage.
A short walk-around followed by a careful low-speed test can reveal problems before they become serious on the road. Because a 1932 Hudson 1190 Series is heavier and more mechanically involved than a modern car, the best habit is to treat every outing as a recommissioning check rather than assuming the car is ready after sitting.
A Hudson 1190 Series on original-type bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that respect the age of the vehicle, the design of the tire, and the condition of the roads. Even with fresh tires, an early 1930s automobile was engineered for a very different motoring environment than a modern highway car.
The practical approach is to drive the Hudson 1190 Series at a pace that feels composed for the car rather than trying to keep up with modern traffic flow under all conditions. Smooth steering inputs, longer stopping distances, and conservative cruising habits are part of using period-style tires responsibly on a pre-war automobile.