Pontiac 24 Tires

The listed tire size for Pontiac 24 is 650-16, used for 1941. All available products in this fitment are built around a 16-inch rim diameter, and most of the passenger-car options are intended for rims in the 4.50 to 5.00 inch width range. One Excelsior version is also listed for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, while several military and truck-family products share the same 650-16 size but use heavier-duty tread patterns and load ratings.

That means the first job is to verify that the car still has 16-inch wheels, then decide whether you want a period passenger-car tire or a more commercial-style 650-16. If the Pontiac 24 is being restored for original appearance, the blackwall and wide whitewall passenger tires will usually be the more appropriate starting point. If the car has been repurposed or you need a more rugged tread style, the truck-family choices deserve a closer look.

A 650-16 size on Pontiac 24 is a numeric bias-ply designation. The 650 portion refers to a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the available Pontiac 24 products, that size appears as a traditional period fitment with multiple bias-ply passenger tires and several heavier-duty 6-ply or truck-oriented alternatives using the same rim diameter.

Modern buyers often recognize metric sizes more easily, so it helps to remember that 650-16 belongs to an older sizing system tied to vintage bias-ply construction. On Pontiac 24, the size itself gets you to the right general fitment, but the final choice still depends on sidewall style, intended use, and the actual rim width on the car. Matching the tire to the wheel and the car’s restoration goal matters as much as matching the size code.

Pontiac 24 uses a 650-16 bias-ply size, and tube use is generally appropriate with this type of period fitment. Most of the available tires in this size are conventional bias-ply designs with no tubeless designation. One STA Transport Highway 6-ply rated tire is specifically identified as tubeless, which makes it the exception within the listed 650-16 range rather than the rule.

For a restoration-minded Pontiac 24, tube-type practice is the safer assumption unless the wheel and tire combination are clearly intended for tubeless use. The wheel itself matters just as much as the tire, especially on an older car that may have had parts changed over time. If the goal is historical appearance and typical collector use, staying with the correct tube-compatible setup is usually the most straightforward path.

A 1941 Pontiac 24 uses 650-16 in the available fitment range. The key confirming points are a 16-inch wheel diameter and a rim width that matches the tire you are considering, with many passenger tires shown for 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims and one option shown for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. Because 650-16 is also offered in truck-family versions, the tire category matters along with the size itself.

Start by checking the wheel diameter on the car, then compare the wheel width and the kind of driving or restoration goal you have in mind. A wide whitewall or blackwall passenger tire suits a period-correct passenger-car presentation, while an NDT, knobby, or transport-style tread changes both the look and intended use. On a car of this age, the wheel and trim history can matter as much as the year badge.

Pontiac 24 tires in 650-16 are available in blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall choices span several brands and include both passenger-car and military or truck-family tread patterns, while the wide whitewall choices include multiple restoration-oriented passenger tires. Whitewall widths vary within the listings, including examples such as 2.50 inch, 3.00 inch, 3.75 inch, and 4.00 inch whitewall presentations.

That variety lets a Pontiac 24 owner tune the car’s appearance without changing the underlying size. A blackwall usually suits a more restrained prewar look, while a wide whitewall creates a fuller period presentation often favored on restored American cars of the early 1940s. If authenticity matters, compare the tire’s sidewall treatment to period photos, original literature, and the overall trim level of the specific car.

Pontiac 24 tires in 650-16 are available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands cover both passenger-car bias-ply tires and heavier-duty military or truck-family versions in the same nominal size. The product mix also spans several series names, including classic bias-ply, transport, military, highway, and all-weather patterns.

Brand choice on Pontiac 24 is usually less about fitment than about appearance, tread style, and how closely you want the tire to reflect a certain period look. Some buyers prioritize well-known passenger-car names with blackwall or whitewall styling, while others need a utility-style tread for a different use case. Once size and wheel measurements are confirmed, brand becomes a way to refine character rather than solve the basic fit question.

Pontiac 24 650-16 options include series such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior 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 tires, while others move into military or truck service with more work-oriented tread patterns and, in several cases, higher load figures around 1610 pounds at 45 psi rather than 1580 pounds at 32 psi.

For a Pontiac 24 restoration, the classic passenger series will usually make the most visual and practical sense. The military and truck series may share the same 650-16 size, but they bring a different appearance, different intended service, and sometimes different carcass or ply emphasis. Choosing between them depends on whether the goal is period passenger-car presentation, durability in a specialty use, or a very specific vintage tread style.

Pontiac 24 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, fuel vapors, and long periods of weight concentration in one position. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat spotting when a collector car sits for extended periods. Keeping the tires properly inflated and rolling the car slightly from time to time helps reduce carcass stress and sidewall distortion.

If the Pontiac 24 will sit through a season, many owners place it on tire cradles or slightly reduce the static load with carefully positioned stands while still supporting the suspension appropriately. Clean the tires with mild soap and water rather than dressings that can dry the rubber over time. Good storage habits preserve both the tire and the ride quality you expect from a prewar Pontiac.

Tires on a Pontiac 24 should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. On an older bias-ply fitment, inspection should include sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, punctures, bead area condition, valve stems, and any evidence of tube-related problems if tubes are fitted. Collector cars often accumulate very few miles, so age and storage effects matter more than tread depth alone.

A close walkaround before driving can catch most visible issues, but a deeper inspection at least a few times each year is a smart habit. If the car has been parked for a long period, inspect the tires before moving it any distance at all. On a Pontiac 24, small problems can quickly become larger ones because the tire construction and vehicle age both demand more attention than a modern daily driver.

Pontiac 24 tires should be replaced when they show age cracking, hardening, tread separation, impact damage, sidewall injuries, chronic air loss, or any structural change that suggests the casing is no longer sound. Tread depth alone is not enough on a low-mile collector car. Bias-ply tires can look usable from a distance while aging internally, especially after years of infrequent use and repeated heat cycles.

That is why replacement decisions on a Pontiac 24 should be driven by condition, age, and intended road use rather than appearance alone. Any tire of uncertain age deserves extra scrutiny before being trusted for regular driving. If the car is used only for shows or short local trips, it is still wise to treat aging rubber seriously and replace it before visible wear suggests there is a problem.

Pontiac 24 is listed here with a 650-16 fitment for 1941, and the available replacements are bias-ply designs in several period-style passenger series along with some truck-family alternatives in the same size. That establishes the core size and general construction family for a restoration-minded owner. The listings do not point to a single original equipment brand, but they do show the kind of blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply options that suit the era.

For an exact factory-delivery restoration, original Pontiac sales literature, surviving photos, and marque-club judging references remain the best guides for brand appearance and sidewall treatment. The practical takeaway is that a 650-16 bias-ply tire is the right starting point, after which sidewall style and series choice shape how authentic the finished car looks. Matching the tire’s visual character to the rest of the car is often what separates a good restoration from a convincing one.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Pontiac 24 is judged and how it is perceived by serious collectors. Size, construction type, sidewall treatment, and tread style all influence whether the car presents as authentically restored. A 650-16 bias-ply passenger tire aligns with the period character of Pontiac 24 far more closely than a visually modern substitute, even when the wheel diameter is the same.

That does not mean every Pontiac 24 must wear the same brand or whitewall width, but it does mean the tire should make sense for the year and the restoration goal. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice when the proportions and sidewall treatment look right. If value, concours presentation, or marque credibility matters, use period references and club guidance to narrow the final visual details.

Pontiac 24 tires in 650-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, so either presentation can fit a prewar restoration depending on the character of the specific car. The listings include several wide whitewall interpretations alongside plain blackwalls in passenger-car series. Truck-family and military-style blackwalls are also available, but they create a very different look from a passenger-car restoration tire.

Choosing the correct sidewall style comes down to the image you are trying to recreate. A conservative blackwall suits a more understated prewar appearance, while a wide whitewall gives Pontiac 24 a more formal, fully dressed period look. Period photos, factory literature, and marque-club references are the best tie-breakers when both visual directions seem plausible.

A properly selected and properly maintained 650-16 tire can be suitable for public-road use on Pontiac 24, but safety depends on much more than the size alone. The wheel condition, tube compatibility where required, inflation, age of the tire, suspension condition, and brake performance all matter on a 1941 car. Passenger-car bias-ply tires and truck-family 650-16 tires may also behave differently because their tread styles and intended service are not the same.

Treat Pontiac 24 as a collector vehicle, not as a modern highway car with modern tire expectations. Before regular road use, inspect the full chassis and verify that the tire choice matches the car’s purpose and wheel dimensions. When everything is sorted correctly, these tires can support enjoyable use, but the car should always be driven with the limitations of prewar design and bias-ply behavior in mind.

Before driving Pontiac 24, check tire pressure, visible sidewall and tread condition, wheel fasteners, valve stems, and any sign of uneven stance or air loss. On a bias-ply 650-16 setup, look closely for flat spotting after storage and for cracking near the bead or sidewall flex points. It is also wise to confirm that the tire style fitted to the car matches its intended use, since some 650-16 options are passenger-car tires and others are truck or military patterns.

A short pre-drive inspection goes a long way on a collector Pontiac. If the car has been sitting, ease into the first few miles and pay attention to vibration, pulling, or unusual heat build-up. Tire checks should be part of a broader routine that includes brakes, steering, and suspension, because an old car asks every component to work together more carefully than a modern one does.

Pontiac 24 should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds when fitted with period-style 650-16 bias-ply tires. Even in excellent condition, a prewar bias-ply tire does not deliver the same straight-line stability, heat tolerance, or emergency-response behavior that a modern tire provides. The car’s suspension, steering, and braking systems also belong to the same era, so road speed should always reflect the complete vehicle, not just the tire’s appearance.

For most owners, that means using Pontiac 24 comfortably on secondary roads, local tours, and hobby driving rather than treating it like a modern interstate cruiser. Smooth inputs, extra following distance, and lower sustained speeds are part of responsible use. If the car is fitted with heavier-duty truck-pattern 650-16 tires, the look and feel may change, but conservative speed habits are still the right approach.