Nash Advanced 8 Tires

The Nash Advanced 8 is listed with one tire size: 650-16 for 1936. That size is built around a 16-inch rim diameter, and most passenger-car products in this size are intended for 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim widths, while one Excelsior option also covers 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. All listed options are bias-ply construction, but they are not all the same type of tire because the size includes both passenger-car and truck-oriented tread families.

That means the main job is not choosing between multiple sizes, but choosing the right version of 650-16 for the car’s use and appearance. A restored road car will usually want a passenger-car bias-ply in blackwall or wide whitewall form, while heavier commercial-style tread patterns belong only on cars with a very specific need for that look or duty.

A 650-16 tire on a Nash Advanced 8 uses a numeric bias-ply size code. The 6.50 refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, and the 16 refers to the rim diameter in inches. It is an older sizing system commonly found on pre-war and early post-war American cars, and in the available Nash Advanced 8 products it appears only in bias-ply construction.

Understanding that code helps avoid one common mistake: treating every tire with the same rim diameter as interchangeable. On a Nash Advanced 8, the right choice still depends on the wheel width, the sidewall style desired for the restoration, and whether the car needs a normal passenger tread or a heavier truck-style pattern sold in the same nominal size.

The Nash Advanced 8 uses a 16-inch rim diameter with the listed 650-16 tire size. Across the available products, the rim diameter remains consistent at 16 inches, and most passenger-car tires in this group are matched to 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim widths. One bias-ply Excelsior entry also lists compatibility with narrower 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims.

That makes the wheel check straightforward but still important, especially on a pre-war car that may have had wheels changed during a long restoration life. Reading the existing rim stamping, measuring the wheel, and comparing that to the intended tire’s rim-width range is the cleanest way to avoid choosing a tire that looks correct in size but is mismatched to the wheel.

The Nash Advanced 8 uses a numeric bias-ply size, and a tube is generally required with the bias-ply passenger tires offered in 650-16. That fits normal pre-war practice and aligns with the construction of the blackwall and wide whitewall passenger-car options in this size. One 6-ply STA Transport Highway tire is specifically identified as tubeless, which makes it the exception within the listed group rather than the rule.

For most restorations, tube-type service should be treated as the starting point unless the wheel and tire are clearly matched for tubeless use. On an older car, wheel condition matters as much as tire construction, so rim cleanliness, bead seat condition, and valve hardware should all be checked when the tires are installed.

The listed size for a 1936 Nash Advanced 8 is 650-16, so the key confirmation step is verifying that the car still carries the correct 16-inch wheels and an appropriate rim width for the tire being considered. Most passenger-car products in this size call for 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims, while one option also reaches down to 4.00 to 4.50 inches. The size itself is consistent, but the product family varies widely.

Once the wheel dimensions are confirmed, the next step is matching the tire to the car’s purpose. A show-oriented Nash Advanced 8 may call for a period-style wide whitewall, while a more restrained restoration may want a blackwall, and a truck-style tread should be chosen only when its appearance and use suit the car.

Nash Advanced 8 tires in 650-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall choices include passenger-car bias-ply lines from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Excelsior, Garfield, and Goodyear, while the wide whitewall selections include several BFGoodrich, Firestone, Garfield, Lester, Coker Classic, and Goodyear offerings. Truck and military-style versions in this size are listed as blackwall.

That gives a restorer room to tune the look of a Nash Advanced 8 without changing the basic size. Wide whitewalls usually suit a more formal pre-war presentation, while blackwalls deliver a more restrained period look, and the correct choice should follow the car’s restoration theme rather than personal taste alone.

Nine brands appear in the available Nash Advanced 8 tire selection for 650-16: BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Most of those are represented by bias-ply passenger tires, while STA and Tornel also appear in truck or military-oriented patterns within the same size. The size is consistent, but the brand mix spans both restoration-focused and heavier-duty style options.

That brand spread is useful because it lets a Nash Advanced 8 owner choose for appearance as well as function. The practical way to narrow the field is to decide first whether the car needs a passenger-car presentation or a utility-style tread, then compare sidewall style, rim-width compatibility, and overall period look within that category.

The Nash Advanced 8 is offered in several series families in 650-16, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, and Firestone Classic Truck. Most are passenger-car bias-ply series aimed at original-style road use and period appearance. Others are heavier truck or military-style families with different tread character and, in some cases, higher load and pressure figures.

For a typical Nash Advanced 8 passenger car, the real choice is usually among the passenger-car bias-ply series and the preferred sidewall treatment. The truck and military families are still useful to know about because they share the same 650-16 size, but they should be selected only when their tread design and service intent truly match the car.

A Nash Advanced 8 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Inflation pressure should be checked before storage and maintained so the carcass is not left underinflated on the wheel. On a pre-war bias-ply car, long stationary periods can create flat spotting more readily than modern tires.

If the Nash Advanced 8 will sit for extended periods, moving the car occasionally or supporting it in a way that reduces sustained tire loading can help preserve the casing shape. Clean storage conditions matter just as much as mileage, because collector tires often age out from time and environment long before they wear out from road use.

Tires on a Nash Advanced 8 should be inspected before every meaningful drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals, especially because all listed options are bias-ply and the car is a pre-war collector vehicle. Inspection should include air pressure, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, bead condition, valve hardware, and any change in the way the car sits or steers. Tube-type assemblies also deserve periodic checking for slow leaks and rim-band condition.

Frequent inspection matters because collector cars often spend long periods parked, and problems can develop without visible tread wear. A Nash Advanced 8 that is driven only occasionally should still have its tires reviewed by someone familiar with older constructions, since age, storage history, and wheel condition can all affect serviceability.

Tires on a Nash Advanced 8 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, uneven casing shape, persistent air loss, or separation signs appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires do not remain serviceable indefinitely simply because the car is driven sparingly. Any new-old-stock tire, if one is considered separately from the current listed selection, deserves especially cautious age and condition evaluation before any road use.

The practical rule is to judge a Nash Advanced 8 tire by condition and age as much as by tread depth. A pre-war car places a premium on predictable, stable behavior, so once the casing begins to show age-related deterioration, replacement is usually the wiser choice than trying to extend service from a tire that still looks cosmetically presentable.

The available fitment for the Nash Advanced 8 is 650-16, and the current product range in that size is overwhelmingly bias-ply, which aligns with the period character of a 1936 senior Nash. Within that size, there are multiple passenger-car bias-ply series and also several truck-oriented alternatives. The size itself is clear, but the exact original brand, tread, and sidewall treatment for a particular car should follow surviving factory literature, dealer material, or marque-club guidance.

For restoration purposes, getting the size, construction type, and overall visual character right usually matters more than choosing a familiar modern brand name. A Nash Advanced 8 restored for authenticity should normally begin with a passenger-car bias-ply in the proper 650-16 size, then narrow the choice by sidewall style and period presentation.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the judged presentation and the perceived quality of a Nash Advanced 8 restoration. Judges and knowledgeable buyers tend to notice whether the tire size, sidewall style, tread character, and overall stance suit the period of the car. Because the Nash Advanced 8 uses a single pre-war numeric bias-ply size, deviations in construction style or an obviously commercial tread can stand out quickly.

That does not mean every Nash Advanced 8 must wear the same cosmetic treatment, but it does mean the tire choice should support the restoration goal. Cars aimed at high-level authenticity usually benefit from checking period imagery and marque-club references so the sidewall look and tread family reinforce, rather than undermine, the rest of the restoration.

Nash Advanced 8 tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form in 650-16, and either can make sense on a pre-war restoration depending on the car’s presentation. The available whitewall choices range from moderate to more prominent widths, while blackwalls deliver a plainer and often more restrained appearance. Truck and military-style patterns in this size are blackwall only and serve a different visual purpose.

The right sidewall for a Nash Advanced 8 should follow the car’s trim level, restoration theme, and the look supported by period photos or marque references. If the goal is a formal late-1930s presentation, a wide whitewall often complements the car well, while a blackwall can be more appropriate for a simpler or more understated restoration.

A Nash Advanced 8 can be driven on public roads when the tires are in sound condition, correctly mounted, properly inflated, and matched to the car’s wheels and intended use. The available 650-16 choices are all bias-ply, but they span both passenger-car and heavier truck-style patterns, so safety begins with selecting the right type rather than assuming every tire in the size is equally suitable for the car. Condition and wheel integrity matter as much as brand.

On a pre-war car, road safety also depends on the rest of the chassis being ready for service. A Nash Advanced 8 should be treated as a vintage automobile with vintage braking, steering, and suspension behavior, so tire choice needs to work with a conservative driving style rather than trying to make the car behave like a modern sedan.

Before driving a Nash Advanced 8, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, lug security, and any sign that a tube-type assembly is losing air. On a car fitted with 650-16 bias-ply tires, it is also wise to look for flat spotting after storage and to confirm that the tread family suits the car’s intended use. A truck-style 650-16 may fit, but that does not automatically make it the best road choice for a passenger Nash.

A short test roll and a careful look at steering response can reveal problems before a full drive. Because the Nash Advanced 8 is a pre-war collector car, those tire checks should sit alongside basic brake, steering, and wheel-bearing review whenever the car has been parked for an extended period.

A Nash Advanced 8 on period-style 650-16 bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible vintage-car speeds that respect the car’s age, the tire construction, and the condition of the entire chassis. Even when the tires are new manufacture, they are built to historic patterns and should not be treated like modern high-speed radials. The car’s braking and steering character are just as important to speed choice as the tire itself.

In practice, a Nash Advanced 8 is happiest when driven smoothly and conservatively rather than hurried. Gradual steering inputs, moderate cruising speeds, and extra following distance help the tires and suspension work as intended, and that approach usually delivers a better and more authentic driving experience than trying to press a pre-war car into modern traffic habits.