Plymouth PD Tires

Plymouth PD fitments in 1933 include two sizes: 5.25-17 and 600-16. The 5.25-17 size fits 17-inch wheels, while 600-16 fits 16-inch wheels. For 600-16, available products are bias-ply tires built for 16-inch rims, with many listing recommended rim widths around 4.00 to 4.50 inches.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not enough for a Plymouth PD. A 1933 car may carry either wheel diameter, so the correct approach is to confirm the actual rim size on the car first, then choose the tire size that matches that wheel diameter and suits the restoration style you want.

On a Plymouth PD, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 600 indicates a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. The available 600-16 choices for Plymouth PD are bias-ply tires, and many list fitment for rims in the 4.00 to 4.50 inch width range.

That matters because a 600-16 is not interchangeable with the 17-inch option simply by year. If your Plymouth PD has 16-inch wheels and you want a period-correct driving character, this is the size family to look at, and because it is a bias-ply application you should plan on using tubes.

A 1933 Plymouth PD has 2 tire sizes listed because the fitment splits by wheel diameter. One size, 5.25-17, is for 17-inch rims, while the other, 600-16, is for 16-inch rims. The difference is not a modern plus-sizing choice; it reflects two distinct wheel and tire combinations associated with the same model year.

That means the right way to identify the tire is to inspect the car rather than rely on the registration year alone. Check the wheel diameter directly, verify whether the car has been restored or altered over time, and then match the tire to the actual rim size before deciding between the two listed Plymouth PD fitments.

Plymouth PD fitments show both 17-inch and 16-inch rim diameters for 1933. The 5.25-17 size is tied to 17-inch wheels, and 600-16 is tied to 16-inch wheels. Since both appear within the same model year, wheel diameter is the key fitment fact for this model.

That makes the wheel itself the best starting point when sorting out a Plymouth PD. Measure the rim, inspect the size already fitted if the tires are legible, and treat the listed tire sizes as matching specific wheel diameters rather than interchangeable options for every 1933 Plymouth PD.

Start by confirming the wheel diameter on your 1933 Plymouth PD, because the year uses both 5.25-17 and 600-16. A car with 17-inch wheels takes 5.25-17, while a car with 16-inch wheels takes 600-16. On the 600-16 side, many available tires also specify rim widths around 4.00 to 4.50 inches, which is another useful check.

After wheel diameter, look at how the car is being restored and used. A Plymouth PD preserved for strict period appearance may call for one sidewall style, while a driver-focused restoration may lean another way, but none of that matters until the wheel diameter is verified and matched to the correct listed size.

Plymouth PD tire offerings in 600-16 include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles. Those choices appear across several brands and series in period-style bias-ply construction. That gives a restorer room to tune the finished look without moving away from an era-appropriate tire type.

Sidewall style should follow the appearance goal of the car, not replace fitment checks. Once you know whether your Plymouth PD uses 16-inch or 17-inch wheels, you can narrow the tire by sidewall treatment to suit a factory-style restoration, a formal show presentation, or a more understated blackwall look.

Plymouth PD tire offerings include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Goodyear, STA, and Camac in the available 600-16 range. These brands appear across several period-style bias-ply and specialty series. The spread includes both passenger-style classic tires and military or truck-pattern choices within the same nominal size.

Brand choice should come after you sort out size, wheel diameter, and the intended character of the car. A restored Plymouth PD aimed at authentic passenger-car appearance will call for a different tread and sidewall presentation than a utility-oriented build using truck or military-style 600-16 tires.

Plymouth PD offerings in 600-16 span several series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Tourist Crossply, Traction Mileage, Deluxe All-Weather, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Military NDT, NATO CJ110, and Firestone Classic Truck. Some are traditional passenger-car bias-ply designs, while others are military, utility, or truck-oriented patterns. The series names reflect tread style, period appearance, and intended duty rather than a single universal character.

For a typical Plymouth PD restoration, the most natural fit is usually a passenger-car style bias-ply rather than a military or truck tread. Narrow your choice by deciding whether the car is being restored for authentic road-car presentation, display use, or a more specialized look, then match the series to that purpose after confirming wheel diameter.

A Plymouth PD should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and long exposure to concrete moisture. Bias-ply tires on pre-war cars benefit from stable inflation and from keeping the car clean and unloaded of unnecessary weight during long storage periods.

If the Plymouth PD will sit for months at a time, move it occasionally or support it in a way that helps reduce prolonged flat spotting and stress on one contact patch. Proper storage will not make an old tire new again, but it does help preserve shape, sidewalls, and overall service condition on a collector car.

Tires on a Plymouth PD should be inspected before each drive and given a closer check several times through the season, even if the car covers only a few miles. Bias-ply collector tires deserve regular attention to inflation, sidewall cracking, tread condition, valve stem condition, and signs of tube or rim trouble.

Because a Plymouth PD is a pre-war car, inspection should also include the wheel, brake hardware, and general chassis readiness around the tire. A collector car that looks fine standing still can still have age-related tire issues, so frequent visual checks and periodic hands-on inspection are part of responsible ownership.

Tires on a Plymouth PD should be replaced when they show age cracking, sidewall weakness, cord exposure, impact damage, persistent air loss, abnormal wear, or any sign that the casing has deteriorated, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector cars often age tires by time and storage conditions more than by mileage.

The key point is that tread depth alone is not the right standard for a pre-war Plymouth PD. If the car has been sitting on old tires for years, or if any tire raises doubts during inspection, replacement is the safer path than trying to stretch service from a tire that has simply grown too old.

Plymouth PD fitments for 1933 include both 5.25-17 and 600-16, which shows that more than one period size is associated with the model. The available replacement products shown here are bias-ply tires, including several passenger-car series and some specialty military or truck-style series in 600-16. That means original-style replacement should start with the correct wheel diameter first, then the period-appropriate type of tire.

For a precise restoration, use the car’s wheels, surviving paperwork, and Plymouth marque references to determine which of the two listed sizes belongs on your particular car. Once that is settled, choose a passenger-car bias-ply with the right sidewall treatment to keep the finished Plymouth PD visually and historically coherent.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Plymouth PD is judged and how convincing the restoration appears. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts tend to notice whether the wheel diameter, tire profile, tread style, and sidewall treatment suit the period and the presentation of the car. A tire that is the wrong diameter or visibly the wrong type can stand out quickly on a pre-war automobile.

For value and show purposes, details matter most when they support the overall story of the car. A Plymouth PD restored with the proper 16-inch or 17-inch fitment and an era-appropriate bias-ply look will usually present better than one wearing a size chosen only for convenience.

Plymouth PD tire options in 600-16 include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Any of those can shape the personality of the finished car, but the right choice depends on how the specific restoration is being interpreted and presented. Sidewall appearance is a visual authenticity decision layered on top of the basic fitment requirement.

Choose sidewall style only after the correct wheel diameter and tire size are settled. A Plymouth PD intended to look restrained and factory-like may lean toward blackwall, while a more formal restoration may favor a whitewall treatment, but the most important authenticity point is still matching the tire to the car’s actual 16-inch or 17-inch wheels.

A properly selected and properly maintained tire can make a Plymouth PD suitable for careful public-road use within the normal expectations of a pre-war car. The available tires for this application are bias-ply designs, and they should be paired with sound wheels, correct tubes, and a mechanically healthy chassis. Safety depends on the whole vehicle, not the tire alone.

A Plymouth PD should be driven with the understanding that steering feel, braking distances, and stability differ from modern cars. Before road use, confirm the correct size for the wheel diameter, inspect the tires closely, and make sure the car’s brakes, steering, and suspension are up to the same standard as the tires.

Before driving a Plymouth PD, check inflation pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of tube-related air loss or carcass damage. On a pre-war car, it is equally important to look over the brakes, steering linkage, wheel bearings, and suspension because tire performance depends heavily on the condition of those systems.

The best routine is a short pre-drive inspection every time the car leaves the garage. A Plymouth PD that is used infrequently can develop age-related issues while parked, so a few careful minutes spent checking the tires and chassis can prevent a small problem from becoming a roadside failure.

A Plymouth PD on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds appropriate to a pre-war automobile and to the condition of the specific car. Even with new collector tires, the handling and braking character remain rooted in 1930s design, and the tire choice does not change that basic reality. Smooth, conservative road speeds are far more suitable than sustained high-speed driving.

The right speed for a Plymouth PD is the speed that matches its mechanical condition, road surface, traffic environment, and tire state on that day. Treat the car with generous following distance, avoid abrupt maneuvers, and remember that correct tire fitment improves suitability for use but does not turn a 1933 Plymouth PD into a modern highway car.