La Salle 52 Tires

The La Salle 52 uses 700-16 for the 1940 model year. Every product listed for this fitment uses a 16-inch rim, and several of the bias-ply passenger products also specify a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range. The available choices include wide whitewall and blackwall passenger tires, along with several military and truck-style bias-ply designs in the same size.

That means the key fitment check is not sorting through several year-by-year sizes, but making sure the car still carries the correct 16-inch wheels and that the tire style matches how the car will be used. A show-oriented restoration may want a period-looking whitewall, while a blackwall or specialty tread may suit a different presentation or utility purpose.

On a La Salle 52, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 refers to a nominal section width of about 7.00 inches, and the 16 is the rim diameter in inches. In the products available for this fitment, that size is paired with 16-inch rims, and several listings note a recommended rim width range of 4.50 to 5.50 inches.

Modern buyers often expect a metric size with more dimensions spelled out, but older numeric sizing is much simpler and needs to be read in period terms. If the car has been altered over the years, verify the wheel diameter stamped on the rim or compare it with original references so the replacement tire matches both the wheel and the intended look of the car.

The La Salle 52 fitment listed here uses a 16-inch rim diameter. Every available product in the 700-16 fitment is built for a 16-inch wheel, and several passenger-car listings pair that size with a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range. There is no alternate rim diameter shown for this model year grouping.

That makes wheel confirmation straightforward, but it still matters because many collector cars have had parts swapped during long service lives. Before choosing a tire, inspect the actual wheels on the car and make sure they are 16-inch rims rather than assuming the car still wears its original wheels after decades of repairs, storage, or restoration work.

The La Salle 52 fitment shown here is entirely bias-ply, and the available size is the older 700-16 numeric format. In collector-tire practice, that combination calls for a tube, and the tire size guide for this application treats a tube as required. That is especially consistent with a 1940 prewar fitment using period-style bias-ply construction.

Tube choice should match the tire size and wheel condition, since an old or rough wheel can create problems even with a new tire. If the car is being restored for dependable road use as well as appearance, inspect the inside of the rim carefully and replace worn ancillary parts at the same time rather than treating the tire alone as the whole job.

La Salle 52 tires in 700-16 are available here in blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The wide whitewall choices appear in passenger-car bias-ply lines, while blackwall choices include both passenger designs and military or truck-style tread patterns. That gives the La Salle 52 owner a clear split between a more formal restoration appearance and a more utilitarian visual treatment.

For most 1940 La Salle 52 restorations, sidewall style is as important visually as the size itself because it changes the whole stance of the car. Owners aiming for a period luxury-car presentation usually focus on passenger-car tread and whitewall treatment, while blackwall and military-style options make more sense only when the car’s use or presentation calls for them.

La Salle 52 tires in the listed 700-16 fitment are available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA. Those brands cover several different product families, including classic bias-ply passenger tires, a commercial-style Avon fitment, and military or truck-oriented tread designs. The range is broad enough to serve restoration-focused buyers as well as owners looking for a specialty tread pattern.

Brand choice should come after the basic fitment questions are settled, because the first requirement is still a correct 700-16 tire on a 16-inch wheel. Once that is confirmed, compare brands by sidewall appearance, tread style, load information where listed, and whether the goal is a passenger-car restoration look or a more specialized truck or military presentation.

La Salle 52 tires in this fitment appear in several series, including Lester Classic Bias Ply, Traction Mileage, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Military, Tornel Classic Truck, and Military NDT. The main difference is purpose: some are passenger-car bias-ply series aimed at period-correct collector use, while others are military or truck-type designs with more utilitarian tread patterns and load-focused positioning.

That distinction matters because two tires can share the same 700-16 size and still give the car a very different appearance and driving character. A La Salle 52 restored as a prewar passenger car will usually call for one of the classic passenger series, while truck and military series should be reserved for owners who specifically want that tread look or a more specialized use case.

A La Salle 52 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from being parked on clean, smooth surfaces, and long periods in one spot can create flat spotting. Tire pressure should be maintained at the vehicle’s intended storage setting rather than left to drift downward.

If the La Salle 52 will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally or support the car in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Good storage habits matter as much as tread depth on a low-use collector car, because age, environment, and casing stress often determine service life long before the tire looks worn out.

Tires on a La Salle 52 should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly several times during the season, even if the car covers very few miles. On a prewar collector car using bias-ply construction, inspection should include air pressure, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, valve stem condition, tube-related issues, and wheel-rim condition. Collector cars age their tires through time and storage as much as through use.

A practical routine is to look the tires over before each outing, then perform a closer inspection at the start and end of the driving season. If the La Salle 52 has been in long storage or shows vibration, wandering, repeated air loss, or visible weathering, have the tires and wheels reviewed by a specialist familiar with older bias-ply collector applications.

Tires on a La Salle 52 should be replaced when age, casing condition, cracking, repeated air loss, impact damage, sidewall distress, or prolonged storage deterioration make them questionable, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on low-mileage prewar cars. A tire that looks presentable at a glance can still be unsuitable for road use.

The safest approach is to judge the tires by condition and age as well as appearance, then replace them before they become the weak point in an otherwise careful restoration. If the car has been stored for many years, the tires deserve the same scrutiny as brake hoses, fuel lines, and other age-sensitive parts before the La Salle 52 returns to regular driving.

The La Salle 52 fitment listed here centers on 700-16, with period-appropriate bias-ply passenger options available in classic series such as Lester Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply. That establishes the correct general type and size family for the car. The available products also show both blackwall and wide whitewall versions within that prewar passenger-car fitment.

Original delivery appearance can vary by how a particular car was ordered, equipped, or later restored, so owners seeking strict authenticity should compare the tire choice with factory literature, surviving unrestored examples, and marque-club guidance. For many restorations, the important first step is getting the 700-16 size and period-style bias-ply construction right before narrowing the sidewall treatment.

Correct tire fitment does affect how a La Salle 52 is judged and perceived, because tire size, sidewall style, and tread character have a strong influence on stance and period authenticity. A 1940 La Salle wearing an appropriate 700-16 bias-ply tire presents differently from the same car fitted with a visibly commercial or military-style alternative. Judges and informed buyers notice those details quickly.

For a car intended for concours, marque events, or serious resale scrutiny, tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than an afterthought. Matching the tire’s size, profile, and sidewall look to the car’s era helps preserve authenticity, while consultation with La Salle and Cadillac marque communities is the best way to settle fine points for a specific restoration target.

La Salle 52 tires are available here in blackwall and wide whitewall versions, both within the proper 700-16 bias-ply size family. For a 1940 American luxury companion marque like La Salle, those sidewall choices create distinctly different visual results even when the mechanical fitment stays the same. Passenger-car tread and sidewall style should be considered together rather than as separate cosmetic decisions.

Owners aiming for a formal prewar presentation often favor the wide whitewall look, while blackwall can suit a plainer or more restrained restoration theme. The right answer for an individual La Salle 52 comes from period photos, factory literature, and judging standards for the level of restoration being pursued, not simply from what will physically mount on the wheel.

A correctly fitted new bias-ply tire in the proper 700-16 size can be suitable for driving a La Salle 52 on public roads when the rest of the car is mechanically sound. Tire safety on a prewar collector car depends on much more than tread depth: wheel condition, tubes, inflation, suspension health, steering condition, and brake performance all matter. Military or truck-style tread options in the same size may fit physically but can alter how the car feels and presents.

Road use should be approached as a complete vehicle systems question, not just a tire purchase. Before any regular driving, make sure the La Salle 52 has had a careful mechanical inspection and choose a tire type that matches the car’s intended use, with realistic expectations about the ride and response of period-style bias-ply construction.

Before driving a La Salle 52, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and whether the tires remain properly seated on sound 16-inch rims. On a collector car using bias-ply construction, it is also wise to look for signs of age cracking, flat spotting after storage, and any vibration or pull that was not present previously. Tire condition should be considered alongside brake, steering, and wheel-bearing condition.

A short walk-around inspection catches many problems before they become roadside failures. If the La Salle 52 has been parked for months, begin with a cautious shakedown drive at modest speeds and pay attention to how the car tracks, brakes, and responds, because a prewar chassis will often reveal tire or wheel issues immediately once it is moving.

A La Salle 52 fitted with period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at prudent, moderate speeds that respect both the tire construction and the overall capability of a 1940 prewar automobile. Even with new tires, the car’s suspension, steering, braking, and road manners are from a different era than a modern vehicle. The correct approach is not to chase modern highway performance from a historically correct tire setup.

Practical speed choice depends on the condition of the individual car, the road surface, weather, and how settled the vehicle feels in motion. Owners should build speed gradually after installation, make sure the La Salle 52 tracks and brakes properly, and keep road use within the comfortable limits of the entire vehicle rather than the tire alone.