Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series Tires

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series models in 1937 use two tire sizes: 600-16 and 700-15. The 600-16 fitment is built around a 16-inch rim, while the 700-15 fitment is built around a 15-inch rim. Within the same 1937 model family, that wheel diameter difference is the first and most important fitment dividing line.

The practical step is to confirm the wheel on the actual Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series rather than relying on year alone. Measure the rim diameter, check the existing wheel if it appears original, and compare the overall setup against factory literature or marque-club guidance if the car has been restored. That will usually settle whether your car belongs in the 600-16 group or the 700-15 group.

On a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 600 portion indicates a nominal 6.00-inch section width, with the decimal omitted in period sizing practice, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. Available tires in this size are bias-ply products intended for 16-inch wheels.

That matters because a modern buyer may look only at the overall tire and miss the wheel requirement. If your Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series has 16-inch rims, 600-16 is the correct format to investigate; if it has 15-inch rims, it is not interchangeable with 700-15 just because both appear in the same 1937 series family. Confirm the wheel first, then choose the sidewall style and tread pattern that suits your restoration goals.

A 1937 Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series has 2 tire sizes listed because the series was offered with two different wheel and tire combinations. One uses 600-16 on a 16-inch rim, and the other uses 700-15 on a 15-inch rim. The split is a rim-diameter difference, not a simple variation in brand or sidewall style.

That means the correct choice depends on the specific configuration of your Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series. A car that has had wheels swapped over the years can easily carry a different setup from what the body tag or general year reference might suggest. Checking the wheel diameter directly is the fastest way to avoid choosing a tire that is dimensionally wrong for the rim.

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series fitments here are bias-ply numeric sizes, and the period-correct approach is to run them with tubes. That applies to both 600-16 and 700-15 when using the traditional bias-ply passenger-style offerings in these sizes. Tube-type construction is consistent with how prewar cars of this era were normally equipped.

When fitting tires to a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series, inspect the wheels carefully before installation. Clean bead seats, sound rivets or welds, and proper rim condition matter just as much as the tire itself on a collector car that may have seen decades of intermittent use. If the car has specialty commercial or truck-pattern tires fitted, review the exact tire specification and wheel condition before final assembly.

The most reliable way to confirm tire size on a 1937 Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series is to identify the wheel diameter actually on the car. A 16-inch wheel points you toward 600-16, while a 15-inch wheel points you toward 700-15. Because both sizes appear within the same model family and year, the wheel itself is the deciding factor.

After confirming wheel diameter, compare the car against any surviving original paperwork, restoration records, or marque-specialist knowledge if originality matters. That is especially useful on cars that have changed hands many times or have been updated with replacement wheels. Once the size is settled, you can choose among blackwall, wide whitewall, or other style options that best match the intended look of the Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series.

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series tires in these sizes are available in several sidewall styles, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. The broader variety appears in 600-16, while 700-15 choices are more concentrated around blackwall and wide whitewall offerings. That gives restorers room to choose a more restrained or more formal prewar appearance.

For a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series restoration, sidewall style should follow the character of the specific car and the standard you are building toward. Blackwalls often suit a more understated factory look, while whitewall styles can fit a more upscale presentation. If the car will be judged, compare your choice against period photos, surviving unrestored examples, and marque-club guidance rather than assuming every 1937 Hudson used the same sidewall treatment.

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series tires in these sizes are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands appear across the two fitment sizes with different combinations of passenger-style, military-pattern, and commercial-style bias-ply products. Brand choice therefore depends partly on whether the goal is a stock-appearing prewar passenger tire or a more specialized tread style.

For most Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series buyers, the better question is not simply which brand is available, but which brand offers the construction, sidewall style, and visual character that match the car. A whitewall passenger tire gives a very different impression from a military NDT or truck-pattern design. Settle the size and wheel diameter first, then narrow the field by appearance and intended use.

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series tires appear across a broad range of series, including 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, Firestone Classic Truck, Super Transport, Transport Highway, and Traxion. Some are passenger-style bias-ply tires aimed at restored road cars, while others are military, highway-commercial, or traction-oriented patterns.

That distinction matters because the right series for a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series depends on the car’s purpose. A restored sedan or coupe usually looks most natural on a classic passenger bias-ply with the correct sidewall treatment, while military and truck-oriented tires serve very different visual and operational roles. Match the tire series to the vehicle’s actual build theme rather than choosing by size alone.

A Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series stores best in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with petroleum products. Proper inflation matters even during storage, because an underinflated bias-ply tire can develop flat spotting and casing stress more readily on a heavy prewar car. Clean floors and stable temperatures help preserve both tire rubber and wheel condition.

If a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series sits for long periods, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Avoid leaving the steering turned hard against one side for months at a time, since that can add unnecessary strain to the front tires. Collector cars that are driven only occasionally benefit from regular visual checks even when they never leave the garage.

Tires on a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series should be inspected before each meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times خلال the year, especially if the car sees seasonal use. On a prewar bias-ply application, inspection should include inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, valve condition, tube-related issues, and wheel integrity. A collector car that appears fine at rest can still develop age-related tire problems between outings.

The practical routine is to look over the Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series every time it comes out of storage and again after longer drives. Pay close attention if the car has been parked for months, has recently undergone restoration work, or still wears older tires of uncertain age. Period equipment rewards regular, hands-on inspection more than mileage-based assumptions.

Tires on a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, casing distortion, repeated air loss, vibration, or other structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out. Prewar bias-ply tires demand a conservative approach because rubber condition, internal integrity, and wheel compatibility matter more than tread depth alone.

Any Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series that spends years in light-use service should have its tires evaluated on age and condition, not just appearance. The same principle applies to spare tires, which are often forgotten but may be far older than the road tires. If a tire’s history is unclear, replacement is usually the wiser path than assuming low mileage means continued serviceability.

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series fitments here center on 600-16 and 700-15 bias-ply sizes, and the available replacement families include classic passenger bias-ply series as well as some specialty military and commercial patterns. That tells you the period-correct replacement direction is bias-ply rather than modern radial construction for this application group. It does not mean every 1937 Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series used the same brand, sidewall style, or tread pattern from new.

For a restoration-minded Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series owner, original literature, surviving photos, and marque-club references remain the best guides to the exact tire appearance for a specific body style and trim level. Once the correct size is confirmed, use the available sidewall and series options to match the car’s intended presentation. The tire should support the period character of the Hudson rather than just fill the wheel opening.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series is viewed in restoration, judging, and resale contexts. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the car sits on the proper size family, the correct wheel diameter, and an era-appropriate sidewall style. A visibly incorrect tire can change stance, proportions, and the overall authenticity of a prewar Hudson.

That is why many restorers settle fitment before paint-detail decisions or trim finishing. If your Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series will be shown, compare your tire choice against club standards and period references so the car’s presentation is consistent from wheel to roofline. Even outside formal judging, proper tire selection helps the car look settled and historically coherent.

Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, depending on size and series. Any of those can be plausible on a 1937 prewar car depending on the trim level, market position, and the exact look being restored. The key is not simply choosing a whitewall, but choosing a sidewall treatment that matches the character of the specific Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series.

A restrained restoration may lean toward blackwall, while a more upscale presentation can favor a wide whitewall. Double-whitewall options create a distinct visual statement and should be chosen carefully if authenticity is a priority. Use period photos and marque references to decide which sidewall best supports your particular Hudson rather than assuming one style fits every 1937 example.

A properly fitted, correctly installed tire can be suitable for public-road use on a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series, but the tire is only one part of the equation. These are bias-ply fitments for a 1937 prewar automobile, so steering feel, braking distance, and road behavior will differ from a modern car even when the tires are in excellent condition. Safety depends on matching the tire to the correct rim diameter and maintaining the whole chassis properly.

Before regular road use, treat the Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series as a complete mechanical system. Tires, tubes, wheels, brakes, steering joints, alignment, and suspension condition all influence whether the car is ready for dependable operation. A tire that is correct in size but mounted on a compromised wheel or paired with neglected steering components will not deliver safe results.

Before driving a Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series, check inflation, visible sidewall and tread condition, valve stems, lug security, and any signs of wheel damage or tire movement on the rim. On a prewar car, you should also confirm that the steering feels normal at low speed and that the brakes apply evenly before venturing into traffic. Those checks matter whether the car has been parked for a week or for a season.

A good habit is to roll the Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series a short distance and recheck it visually before a longer drive. Look for new cracks, bulges, or a tire that appears to be settling differently from the others. Small issues are easier to catch in the garage than on the roadside, and that is especially true with collector cars that may spend much of their life standing still.

A Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at speeds appropriate to a 1937 car’s tire construction, braking system, and chassis behavior rather than to modern highway expectations. Even when the tires are new and correctly fitted, bias-ply handling characteristics reward smooth inputs and conservative cruising. The car should feel settled and mechanically composed, not hurried.

In practice, that means building speed gradually and respecting the limits of the entire Hudson 71, 72 & 73 Series package. If the steering starts to feel vague, the car wanders, or the ride becomes unsettled, back down and inspect the setup. Collector cars are best enjoyed at a pace that suits their design era, especially on narrow prewar tires and original-style suspension geometry.