Plymouth Deluxe Tires

Plymouth Deluxe uses three tire sizes across the years covered here: 600-16, 650-16, and 670-15. Size 600-16 fits 1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1942, 1946, and 1947 applications on 16-inch rims. Size 650-16 fits 1938, 1939, 1940, and 1942 applications on 16-inch rims. Size 670-15 fits 1948 applications on 15-inch rims.

The key is to match both the year and the wheel diameter on the actual car. Several Plymouth Deluxe years list more than one size, so the year alone is not always enough. If the car has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life, measure the rim diameter directly before narrowing your choice to 600-16, 650-16, or 670-15.

On a Plymouth Deluxe, 600-16 is a period numeric bias-ply size. The 600 portion indicates a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 16 indicates a 16-inch rim diameter. The products offered in this size are bias-ply tires, and the common rim width range listed for them is 4.00 to 4.50 inches.

That decoding matters because 600-16 is not interchangeable with the wider 650-16 or the later 670-15 just because all three are vintage-looking sizes. A Plymouth Deluxe owner should use 600-16 only when the car’s year and wheel match that fitment. Since these are bias-ply applications, tube use is part of the normal setup for this size.

Plymouth Deluxe uses two rim diameters across the years listed here. Earlier applications use 16-inch wheels with 600-16 and 650-16 sizes, while 1948 moves to a 15-inch wheel with the 670-15 size. That makes 1948 the change point from the earlier 16-inch setup to the later 15-inch setup.

Rim diameter is the first fitment check because the tire cannot be matched correctly without it. Many collector cars have had wheels swapped over the decades, and a Plymouth Deluxe that visually appears original may still be carrying a different wheel than it left with. Read the wheel size directly or measure it before comparing tread style, sidewall style, or brand.

Plymouth Deluxe fitments here are all bias-ply numeric sizes: 600-16, 650-16, and 670-15. For these period bias-ply passenger applications, a tube is required. That applies across the main Plymouth Deluxe sizes listed, even though some truck-oriented products in similar dimensions may be described differently.

A tube setup is part of getting the tire installed as intended on an older wheel. If a Plymouth Deluxe has replacement wheels or non-original rim condition, tube and flap details should be reviewed during installation so the assembly matches the wheel’s actual needs. That is especially important on cars that have been parked for long periods or are being returned to road use after restoration.

A 1939 Plymouth Deluxe can use either 600-16 or 650-16, and both sizes are built for 16-inch rims. Since the year has more than one listed size, the correct choice depends on the specific wheel and configuration on the car rather than the model year alone. The two sizes differ mainly in section width, with 650-16 being the wider option.

Start by confirming that the car still has 16-inch wheels, then compare the wheel width and any surviving factory paperwork, restoration notes, or marque references tied to that specific Plymouth Deluxe. If the car has changed hands several times, do not assume the currently fitted tire is correct just because it clears the body. Verifying the wheel first prevents confusion between 600-16 and 650-16.

Plymouth Deluxe tire offerings here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The broadest selection appears in the core passenger sizes, with 600-16 and 670-15 showing multiple whitewall widths as well as blackwalls, while 650-16 also offers both blackwall and wide whitewall choices. Sidewall style is therefore a meaningful part of selecting the overall look of the car.

For a restoration-minded Plymouth Deluxe owner, sidewall choice should follow the era and the intended presentation of the car. Blackwalls are the most restrained choice, while narrow or wide whitewalls can shift the car visually toward a more formal or postwar appearance. If the goal is show judging or a highly accurate restoration, compare the chosen sidewall width to period photos and marque references for that year.

Plymouth Deluxe tires in these sizes are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Camac, Garfield, Tornel, US Royal, and Universal Vintage Tire. Not every brand appears in every size, but the overall range covers the three Plymouth Deluxe sizes listed here. The selection includes both passenger-car style tires and some military or truck-pattern options in the 16-inch sizes.

Brand choice usually comes after size, rim diameter, and sidewall style have been settled. A Plymouth Deluxe owner seeking a period passenger-car appearance will likely focus on the classic bias-ply passenger lines first, while a more utility-oriented build may look differently at tread pattern. Once the correct size is established, comparing brand, tread family, sidewall style, and load details becomes much more meaningful.

Plymouth Deluxe tire choices span several series families, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Turbospeed Mk4, Tourist Crossply, Super Cushion, Custom Super Cushion, Super Cushion Deluxe, and a number of military or truck series such as Military NDT, Transport, Super Traxion, and Classic Truck. All listed Plymouth Deluxe products are bias-ply, but the series differ in tread style, appearance, intended use, and sidewall offerings. Some are clearly passenger-car lines, while others are utility or military-style patterns in the same nominal size.

For most Plymouth Deluxe restorations, the right series depends on whether the goal is passenger-car authenticity, a particular sidewall look, or a more rugged special-purpose appearance. The passenger-car series are usually the natural place to start for a stock-style car. Military and truck series can share the size but present a very different tread character, so they should be chosen only when that look or use is intentional.

A Plymouth Deluxe should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Clean floors and stable temperatures help preserve rubber, and proper inflation should be maintained even when the car is not being driven often. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from storage habits that minimize long static loading.

If a Plymouth Deluxe will sit for long periods, move it slightly from time to time or support the car in a way that reduces flat-spotting without stressing the suspension. Long-term indoor storage is far better than leaving the car parked outside on one set of contact patches. Good storage practice extends tire life and helps the car feel smoother when it returns to regular show or pleasure use.

Tires on a Plymouth Deluxe should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals. Look for cracking, bulges, tread separation, weathering, uneven wear, and any sign that the tire has shifted on the rim or lost pressure while parked. Because Plymouth Deluxe applications here are bias-ply, sidewall condition and overall casing shape deserve close attention.

Collector cars often accumulate age faster than mileage, so visual inspection matters more than tread depth alone. A Plymouth Deluxe that is driven only to local events can still develop age-related issues that would be obvious on a careful inspection. If anything appears unusual, have the tire and wheel assembly reviewed by a shop familiar with older bias-ply and tube-type installations.

Plymouth Deluxe tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, impact damage, or other structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Low mileage does not preserve a vintage tire indefinitely, especially on a car that spends much of its life parked. Condition, age, and service history matter more than tread depth alone on a collector-car bias-ply tire.

Replacement timing should be conservative because the consequences of a casing failure on an older car can be severe. A Plymouth Deluxe owner should think in terms of overall tire health, not simply whether the tread is worn out. If the car has older tires of uncertain age, replacing them before regular road use is usually the wiser step than trying to stretch additional seasons from them.

Plymouth Deluxe fitments here show 600-16 in 1935, several years where both 600-16 and 650-16 appear, and 670-15 in 1948. The available modern replacement lines are spread across multiple classic bias-ply series rather than one single original-equipment pattern. That means the correct original look for a specific Plymouth Deluxe depends on the exact year and configuration of the car.

For a restoration, use the year-specific size first and then narrow the choice by sidewall style and tread family. If a Plymouth Deluxe is being prepared for serious judging, original sales literature, period photos, and Plymouth marque sources remain the best references for what a particular car would have worn when new. Tire size and sidewall style both contribute to whether the finished car looks authentically right.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Plymouth Deluxe is judged and how convincingly it presents as a restored car. Size, rim diameter, sidewall style, and tread character all influence whether the car looks appropriate for its year. A 1948 Plymouth Deluxe on 16-inch style fitments, for example, sends a different visual message than one wearing the proper 15-inch-based size.

Value and judging usually reward consistency and correctness rather than simply choosing the most decorative tire available. A Plymouth Deluxe owner aiming for show credibility should match the tire’s proportions and sidewall treatment to the intended restoration standard. Marque clubs, period photography, and event judging guidelines are useful checkpoints when deciding between blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall options.

Plymouth Deluxe tires are available here in blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, depending on size. That means more than one visually correct direction may exist within the overall production span from 1935 to 1948. Earlier cars often look most natural on blackwalls or restrained whitewalls, while later postwar cars can support a fuller whitewall presentation more comfortably.

The right choice depends on the specific Plymouth Deluxe year and the standard of restoration you are pursuing. If the goal is a clean factory-style appearance, start by comparing period images of cars trimmed similarly to yours rather than choosing sidewall width by taste alone. Whitewall width changes the stance and period feel of the car almost as much as the tire size itself.

A properly selected new bias-ply tire in the correct Plymouth Deluxe size can be suitable for public-road use when the rest of the car is mechanically sound and the wheels, tubes, and inflation are all correct. The listed sizes are period-style tires intended for older vehicles, not modern high-speed touring tires. Their road manners and limits should be approached with that in mind.

Safe road use in a Plymouth Deluxe depends on the entire package rather than the tire alone. Steering condition, brake performance, wheel integrity, alignment, and suspension health all matter, especially on a car that may have sat for years. Before regular driving, give the car a full pre-road inspection and drive it in a way that respects the capabilities of a vintage bias-ply setup.

Before driving a Plymouth Deluxe, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any sign of tube-related air loss or bead movement. Also confirm that all four tires match the intended size for the car and that the spare is not the only truly roadworthy assembly on board. A quick inspection can catch the age-related issues that collector cars often develop while parked.

The practical goal is to make sure the Plymouth Deluxe is not relying on old assumptions. A car that drove acceptably last season may now have cracked sidewalls, slow leaks, or a wheel problem that only shows up once it is rolling. Taking a few minutes to inspect the tire and wheel assemblies before every outing is one of the easiest ways to avoid preventable trouble.

A Plymouth Deluxe fitted with period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that suit both the tire design and the overall condition of the car. These tires are meant to preserve vintage character, not to replicate the stability and reserve of a modern radial at sustained highway pace. The appropriate speed is therefore governed by the whole car, road conditions, and tire condition rather than by appearance alone.

In practice, a Plymouth Deluxe owner should build speed gradually and favor the relaxed driving style the car was designed around. If the steering feels unsettled, the car wanders, or the tires show heat-related stress after a run, slow down and reassess the setup. Conservative speed is especially important on freshly restored cars, long-stored cars, and any car running older wheels or recently fitted tube-type assemblies.