Studebaker Champion Tires

Studebaker Champion uses six tire sizes across the years covered here: 550-16 for 1940-1942 and 1946 on 16-inch rims, 550-15 for 1947-1948 on 15-inch rims, 640-15 for 1949-1955 and again in 1958 on 15-inch rims, 670-15 for 1954-1955 and 1958 on 15-inch rims, 700-14 for certain 1958 applications on 14-inch rims, and 750-14 for certain 1958 applications on 14-inch rims. Every listed option is a bias-ply size.

The practical point is that year alone does not always settle the question, especially in 1954, 1955, and most of all 1958. Check the wheel diameter on the car, then match the tire size to that rim before narrowing the choice by sidewall style or brand.

A 640-15 Studebaker Champion tire uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system. The 640 indicates a nominal 6.40-inch section width, while the 15 identifies a 15-inch rim diameter. On this model, 640-15 applies to 1949 through 1955 Champions and also appears on some 1958 cars.

That makes 640-15 a mid-period Champion size rather than an early 16-inch fitment or a late 14-inch one. If your car is in the overlap years, especially 1954, 1955, or 1958, match the wheel diameter first and then confirm whether the narrower 640-15 or larger alternatives are correct for the specific configuration.

The 1958 Studebaker Champion appears with four listed sizes because that year spans more than one wheel and tire setup. The sizes are 640-15 and 670-15 on 15-inch rims, plus 700-14 and 750-14 on 14-inch rims. That is a true rim-diameter split, not just a minor variation within one wheel size.

A 1958 owner should identify the actual wheel on the car before looking at brand or sidewall style. Once the rim diameter is confirmed, the choice narrows quickly, and the remaining difference is whether the car calls for the smaller or larger section width within that 14-inch or 15-inch group.

Studebaker Champion uses three rim diameters across the years here: 16-inch rims from 1940 through 1942 and in 1946, 15-inch rims from 1947 through 1955 and on some 1958 applications, and 14-inch rims on certain 1958 applications. The first major change came in 1947, when the Champion moved from 16-inch to 15-inch wheels.

That wheel-size progression is the first thing to verify on any Champion project, especially if the car has had wheels swapped over the decades. Reading the sidewall can help, but measuring the rim or checking original vehicle paperwork is the safer way to avoid ordering a tire for the wrong wheel diameter.

A 1954 Studebaker Champion can use either 640-15 or 670-15, and both are 15-inch bias-ply sizes. The difference is section width, with 640-15 being the narrower size and 670-15 the larger one. Since both fit the same rim diameter family, the question is not wheel size first but the specific configuration of the car.

Start by confirming the size on the car’s existing tires if they are known to be correct, then compare that with the wheel width and the car’s original specifications. If the history of the car is uncertain, use factory literature or a Studebaker specialist to determine which of the two 15-inch sizes belongs on that particular Champion.

Studebaker Champion tire offerings here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline styles. The broadest variety appears in later 15-inch and 14-inch sizes such as 670-15 and 750-14, while some earlier sizes are offered only in blackwall or with fewer sidewall treatments. That gives owners room to match either a restrained factory-style look or a stronger period custom appearance.

For restoration work, sidewall choice should follow the year and character of the car rather than personal preference alone. Earlier Champions generally suit conservative blackwall or whitewall treatments, while later 1950s cars can plausibly carry wider whitewalls and, in certain cases, redlines depending on the look you are trying to recreate.

Studebaker Champion tires in these sizes are offered by Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, Universal Vintage Tire, Goodyear, and STA. Brand coverage varies by size, with some sizes offering only one maker and others, especially 670-15 and 750-14, providing a much broader spread of period-style options. All are bias-ply offerings in the sizes listed here.

Brand choice usually comes after the fitment basics are settled. Once the size and rim diameter are confirmed, buyers can compare sidewall appearance, tread character, and series naming to choose a tire that suits either a strict restoration, a touring-oriented classic, or a more personalized 1950s presentation.

Studebaker Champion tires here appear in several series, including Excelsior Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Super Safety Crossply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Universal Classic Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Super Cushion, Custom Super Cushion, Super Cushion Deluxe, and Super Transport. These series mainly differ in brand identity, tread family, and period presentation within a bias-ply construction theme.

That matters most when two tires share the same size but create a different visual or historical effect. A buyer restoring an early postwar Champion may lean toward a restrained blackwall crossply-style look, while a later 1950s Champion can support wider whitewall series that better match the styling language of the period.

A stored Studebaker Champion should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and ozone sources that harden rubber over time. Maintain the tires at appropriate inflation for storage and keep the car on a clean surface rather than bare earth. If the car will sit for long periods, moving it occasionally helps reduce flat spotting on bias-ply tires.

Collectors often add jack stands or tire cradles when storage stretches into months, but the main goal is stable weight support and protection from heat and light. Clean tires gently, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and inspect the sidewalls before the car returns to regular show or driving use.

Tires on a Studebaker Champion should be inspected before every meaningful drive and again during routine seasonal maintenance, even if the car covers very few miles. Bias-ply collector tires can age out long before they wear out, so look for cracking, tread separation, impact damage, uneven wear, and signs of tube or valve issues. Wheel condition also matters on older steel rims.

A practical routine is to check inflation, sidewalls, and tread every time the car comes out of storage, then have the tires examined more closely at least once a year. Cars that sit for long periods or attend shows more often than they drive can hide age-related problems, so low mileage should never be treated as proof of tire health.

Studebaker Champion tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, vibration, or structural deterioration appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often spend far more time aging than wearing, and bias-ply construction can become visibly and mechanically tired without high mileage. Replacement timing should be guided by condition, storage history, and periodic professional inspection rather than tread depth alone.

That approach is especially important on a car that has been dormant for years and is now returning to use. Any tire with visible age-related damage should be retired, and an older spare should be judged by the same standard rather than kept in service simply because it looks unused.

Studebaker Champion used different tire sizes over its production span, beginning with 550-16, then moving to 550-15, then to 640-15 and 670-15, with 700-14 and 750-14 appearing in 1958. The available replacement lines include several period-style bias-ply series such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, US Royal Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, and others. That means original-type replacement depends heavily on year and configuration rather than one universal Champion tire.

For a serious restoration, use the car’s year, wheel diameter, and surviving factory literature to narrow the proper size first, then select a tread and sidewall treatment that matches the era. Marque clubs and original brochures are usually the best tie-breakers when two sizes appear in the same model year.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Studebaker Champion is judged and how convincingly it presents as a restoration. Size, stance, sidewall treatment, and overall period appearance all influence whether the car looks right for its production year. A Champion wearing the wrong rim diameter or an obviously mismatched width can change both the visual balance and historical character of the car.

That does not mean every owner needs concours-level precision, but it does mean tire choice should be intentional. If the goal is judged restoration or maximum authenticity, compare the car against factory references and club standards; if the goal is touring or casual use, stay within the correct year-and-wheel-size family first.

Studebaker Champion tire options here include blackwall, narrow whitewall, wide whitewall, and redline depending on size. Blackwall is the most universal option across the range, while whitewall choices become more plentiful in later 15-inch and 14-inch sizes. Redline appears in 750-14, which places it with late-production 1958-style presentation rather than the earliest Champions.

The right sidewall depends on the exact year and the restoration theme. An early 1940s Champion usually calls for a more restrained period look, while a later 1950s car can support narrow or wide whitewalls that better reflect the styling trends of the era.

A correctly sized, properly mounted, and well-maintained Studebaker Champion tire can be suitable for normal collector-car road use, but these are bias-ply designs and should be treated like period-style equipment rather than modern high-speed touring tires. Their behavior, ride quality, and steering feel differ from modern radials. Safe use depends as much on the car’s mechanical condition and alignment as on the tire itself.

That means road use should be matched to the car’s age, condition, and intended purpose. A Champion used for local drives, events, and secondary-road touring is a more natural fit for these tires than sustained modern interstate pace on a car with unknown suspension, brake, or wheel condition.

Before driving a Studebaker Champion, inspect tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and signs of tube-related air loss or damage. Because the Champion range spans 16-inch, 15-inch, and 14-inch applications, verify that all four road tires and the spare match the intended size and rim diameter. Uneven sizes or mixed wheel diameters should be corrected before use.

A short pre-drive walkaround catches many of the issues that strand collector cars or damage rare bodywork. If the car has been sitting, add a closer check of brakes, steering free play, shocks, and wheel bearings before treating the tires as ready for road service.

A Studebaker Champion on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that suit both the tire design and the overall capabilities of an older car. These tires are built to preserve the correct look and road manners of the era, not to mimic the feel of modern radials at contemporary highway speeds. Smooth steering inputs and conservative cruising are part of using them correctly.

In practice, the right pace is the one that keeps the car settled, the steering calm, and the mechanicals comfortable rather than pressed. Owners who plan frequent higher-speed driving usually benefit from reviewing the full chassis condition first and being realistic about what a vintage bias-ply-equipped Champion was meant to do.