Lafayette 3810 Tires

The Lafayette 3810 uses 600-16 tires for 1938. That size is paired with a 16-inch rim, and most passenger-oriented products in this size call for rim widths in the 4.00 to 4.50 inch range, with some specialty utility versions extending slightly wider.

That makes the first job fairly straightforward: confirm that the car still wears 16-inch wheels and then match the tire to the actual rim width and intended use. A restored passenger car will usually point toward a standard bias-ply passenger tire, while military, truck, or knobby tread versions are better reserved for specialty applications rather than a stock-appearing pre-war Lafayette.

On a Lafayette 3810, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 600 refers to a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Every listed product in this fitment is bias-ply construction rather than radial.

That older numeric format matters because it describes a period-style tire rather than a modern metric replacement. If you are comparing options, focus on keeping the correct 16-inch rim diameter first, then choose the sidewall style and tread pattern that best match how the Lafayette 3810 is being restored and driven. A tube is required with this size and construction.

Yes, the Lafayette 3810’s 600-16 fitment should be treated as a tube-type bias-ply application. The available tires for this model are all bias-ply products in an older numeric size, which is the type of fitment where an inner tube is required.

That means tube condition matters just as much as the tire itself. If the car has been sitting for years, replace old tubes rather than assuming they are still serviceable, and inspect the inside of the wheel for rust, roughness, or damage that could chafe the tube. Good tube and flap practice is part of getting a vintage 16-inch setup to perform properly.

For a 1938 Lafayette 3810, the listed tire size is 600-16. Confirm that the wheels on the car are still 16-inch rims, then check rim width against the tire’s stated fitment range, since most passenger-style choices in this size are intended for roughly 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims.

From there, the real decision is not between different sizes but between different styles of 600-16 tire. A stock restoration usually calls for a passenger-style tread with the right blackwall or whitewall treatment, while military NDT, truck tread, or knobby versions should be chosen only if they suit the car’s build theme or special use.

Lafayette 3810 tires in 600-16 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall form. Those sidewall choices appear across several passenger-style bias-ply offerings, while the utility and military-style tires are presented as blackwalls.

For a factory-minded pre-war restoration, the sidewall choice should be guided by the appearance you are trying to recreate on the specific car. Blackwalls generally give the most restrained period look, while wide whitewalls or double whitewalls can suit a more dressy restoration if they match the car’s trim level, wheel treatment, and overall presentation.

Lafayette 3810 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 as well as military and truck-oriented patterns in the same nominal size.

Brand choice should come after the fitment basics are settled. Once wheel diameter, rim width, and intended use are confirmed, compare brands by construction style, sidewall appearance, and tread character rather than assuming every 600-16 serves the same purpose. A blackwall touring tire and a military NDT may share the size, but they present and drive very differently.

The Lafayette 3810’s 600-16 fitment includes several tire 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. These represent different period-style passenger constructions and specialty utility tread families rather than one single type of tire.

For most restored Lafayette 3810 passenger cars, the practical comparison is between the passenger-car bias-ply series and the more aggressive military or truck-style lines. The passenger series are aimed at period appearance and normal vintage road use, while NDT, truck, and knobby patterns are purpose-built specialty choices that can alter both the look of the car and the way it feels on the road.

A Lafayette 3810 should be stored clean, dry, and out of direct sunlight, with the tires kept away from ozone sources such as electric motors, welders, and running compressors. Correct inflation matters even during storage because an underinflated bias-ply tire can develop flat spotting or sidewall stress while the car sits.

If the Lafayette 3810 will be parked for long stretches, roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch. Keeping the car on a clean surface, checking pressure regularly, and protecting the tires from heat and ultraviolet exposure will do more for long-term tire life than simply looking at tread depth once a year.

Tires on a Lafayette 3810 should be inspected before every meaningful drive and again as part of regular seasonal maintenance. On a pre-war bias-ply application, inspection should include inflation, visible cracking, sidewall scuffing, tread separation signs, valve stem condition, and any indication that the tube or bead area may be distressed.

Because collector cars often sit longer than modern drivers expect, time and storage conditions can matter as much as mileage. A quick walk-around is not enough if the car has been parked for months. Hands-on inspection, pressure checks with an accurate gauge, and occasional wheel-off review by a vintage tire specialist are prudent habits for any Lafayette 3810 that is driven.

Tires on a Lafayette 3810 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, out-of-round behavior, or any sign of structural decline appears, even if the tread still looks deep. On a low-mileage collector car, tread wear is rarely the factor that ends tire life first.

That principle is even more important on pre-war bias-ply tires, where age-related deterioration can be easy to overlook until the car is moving. If a Lafayette 3810 is fitted with an older tire of uncertain age, have it professionally evaluated rather than relying on appearance alone. Replacing suspect tubes at the same time is also wise whenever the tires are changed.

The listed fitment for the Lafayette 3810 is 600-16, and the available replacement tires in that size are all bias-ply. Several passenger-style series are offered, including period-looking blackwall and whitewall options, which reflects the kinds of presentation choices restorers often consider for a late pre-war American car.

Original-equipment details should still be checked against factory literature, period photographs, and marque references for the exact car being restored. Tire size is only part of authenticity. Sidewall treatment, tread style, and overall stance all influence whether a Lafayette 3810 looks convincingly right when finished.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both judging and perceived value on a Lafayette 3810. Size accuracy, proper bias-ply construction, suitable sidewall treatment, and a tread style that matches the character of the car all contribute to whether the restoration appears coherent and historically believable.

Judges and knowledgeable buyers tend to notice when a tire looks too modern, too aggressive, or visually out of place for the era. Even when the wheel diameter is correct, a military NDT or truck tread can change the car’s presentation substantially. Marque clubs, period photos, and restoration standards are the best guides when originality matters more than personal preference.

Lafayette 3810 tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall form, all within the correct 600-16 size. For a 1938 car, each of those can create a distinctly different visual result, from restrained and formal to more decorative and show-oriented.

The right choice depends on the exact restoration goal for the Lafayette 3810. A blackwall usually supports a more conservative late-1930s presentation, while wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions can suit a dressier interpretation if they align with the wheel finish, trim level, and overall style of the car. Consistency across all five tires, if a spare is carried, also matters visually.

A properly fitted new-production bias-ply tire in the correct 600-16 size can be suitable for public-road use on a Lafayette 3810 when the rest of the car is mechanically sound. Safety depends on more than the tire alone: wheel condition, tubes, brakes, steering, alignment, and suspension all need to be in proper order on a pre-war car.

The practical takeaway is to treat the Lafayette 3810 as a vintage automobile with vintage handling and braking expectations, even on fresh tires. Choose a passenger-car tread if the car will be road driven in normal collector use, and reserve heavy military or truck-style patterns for builds where that tread type is intentional and appropriate.

Before driving a Lafayette 3810, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fastener security, and whether the car has developed any flat spotting after storage. On a tube-type bias-ply setup, even a small pressure loss deserves attention before the car moves.

It is equally important to check the rest of the chassis with the same care. A pre-war Lafayette should have its brakes, steering linkage, wheel bearings, and suspension inspected regularly, because a sound tire cannot compensate for mechanical problems elsewhere. Short, cautious test drives after long storage periods are a wise way to bring the car back into service.

A Lafayette 3810 fitted with period-style 600-16 bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that respect the age and design of the vehicle as a whole. Even with fresh tires, the car’s steering response, braking performance, and chassis behavior will differ noticeably from modern traffic expectations.

That means the right speed is the one that leaves generous margin for lane changes, braking distance, road crown, and heat buildup, rather than simply the posted limit. Bias-ply tires can follow grooves and react differently to crosswinds, so smooth inputs matter. If the car is newly restored, build speed gradually as the entire vehicle proves itself, not just the tires.