The 1934 Studebaker President came from an era when luxury, engineering confidence, and dramatic Art Deco-era styling all played a role in how an American car was judged. For owners of a President today, tire selection is part preservation and part practical fitment work, especially because wheel and tire setups on surviving cars are not always identical. This model uses bias-ply sizing in 6.50-17 and 700-16, both in vintage numeric formats tied to different rim diameters. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall designs across several classic bias-ply series. The key is confirming which wheel diameter is actually on the car before choosing a period-style replacement.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1934 Studebaker President
The 1934 Studebaker President uses two primary tire sizes, and the first step is confirming which wheel diameter is on the car. Both sizes are bias-ply fitments, but one is built for a 17-inch rim and the other for a 16-inch rim, so the decision starts with the actual wheel setup rather than appearance alone.
The 6.50-17 size uses a vintage numeric bias-ply format, where 6.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 17 identifies the rim diameter. On a 1934 Studebaker President, this is a traditional prewar-style tire construction meant for owners keeping the car on its correct type of period tire. Its main relevance is preserving the original-style bias-ply presentation and matching the 17-inch wheel setup. Before choosing it, confirm that the car still carries 17-inch rims and has not been changed to a 16-inch wheel package over the years.
The 700-16 size is also a vintage numeric bias-ply designation, with 7.00 indicating nominal section width and 16 indicating rim diameter. For the 1934 Studebaker President, this size opens up a broader range of visible product choices, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and military-style tread options from brands such as Lester, Firestone, BFGoodrich, Avon, Tornel, and STA. That makes it especially important to match the tire not just to the wheel diameter, but also to the car's intended appearance and road use.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here, but wheel confirmation still matters because the covered President sub-model uses more than one tire size. The important step is identifying whether the car is running the 16-inch or 17-inch wheel setup before selecting a replacement tire.
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1934 Studebaker President C 8 Cyl.
The 1934 Studebaker President C 8 Cyl. uses bias-ply fitments in both 6.50-17 and 700-16, so the tire decision centers on the wheel diameter installed on the car. Once that is confirmed, the next choice becomes sidewall style and overall presentation, especially if the goal is a restoration-oriented look.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1934 Studebaker President Tires for Sale
Available 700-16 choices span Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA, with differences in tire series, sidewall treatment, and intended character. Buyers can compare blackwall, wide whitewall, and military-style bias-ply options, along with rim-width specifications where they are stated.
These FAQs focus on the tire sizes used on the 1934 Studebaker President, how the 16-inch and 17-inch setups differ, and what to check when choosing among classic bias-ply, sidewall, and restoration-oriented options.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1934 Studebaker President?
The 1934 Studebaker President uses two primary tire sizes: 6.50-17 and 700-16. Both are bias-ply sizes in vintage numeric format, and they correspond to different wheel diameters rather than two versions of the same tire for the same rim.
The practical step is to verify which wheels are actually on the car before ordering tires. Many surviving prewar cars have seen wheel changes over time, so measuring the rim diameter and confirming the existing setup matters more than assuming one size applies to every President in the same year.
What size rim does a 1934 Studebaker President use?
A 1934 Studebaker President can use either a 17-inch rim with 6.50-17 tires or a 16-inch rim with 700-16 tires. Both combinations are bias-ply fitments, but the rim diameter is the key point because the two tire sizes are not meant for the same wheel.
Checking the wheel itself is the safest way to sort out fitment on a collector car. Once rim diameter is confirmed, it also helps to inspect wheel width and overall condition so the chosen tire matches the wheel properly and maintains adequate clearance for steering and suspension movement.
Why does the 1934 Studebaker President have more than one tire size?
The 1934 Studebaker President appears with two bias-ply tire sizes because it can be found with two different rim diameters: 6.50-17 for 17-inch wheels and 700-16 for 16-inch wheels. That is a wheel-fitment difference, not simply an appearance option within one rim size.
For a buyer, this means tire selection starts at the wheel, not the sidewall style. A President that has been restored, modified, or re-wheeled at some point may no longer match assumptions based on year and model alone, so confirming the actual installed wheel package prevents ordering the wrong size.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-16 tire for a 1934 Studebaker President?
A 700-16 tire for the 1934 Studebaker President should first match the car's actual 16-inch wheel setup and remain within the bias-ply construction used for this fitment. From there, selection comes down to intended appearance and use, since 700-16 is available in several classic and utility-oriented forms.
The available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and military-style options, along with different brands and tire series. It also helps to compare rim-width guidance where it is stated, especially on cars that may have replacement wheels, because that can influence how naturally the tire sits and performs on the rim.
What sidewall styles are available for 1934 Studebaker President tires?
For the 1934 Studebaker President, the available 700-16 product range includes blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Those choices can change the car's visual character significantly even when the construction and basic fitment remain within the correct bias-ply family.
A blackwall tire gives a plainer, more restrained presentation, while a wide whitewall creates a more formal prewar look. The right choice depends on how the car is being finished and used, so it is worth balancing visual preference with wheel diameter, brand selection, and whether the car is being restored for show, touring, or general collector driving.
What brands offer tires for the 1934 Studebaker President?
The 700-16 options for a 1934 Studebaker President include tires from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA. These products stay within the bias-ply category, but they differ in sidewall treatment, tire series, and whether they lean toward passenger-car or military and truck-style presentation.
Brand choice should follow the fitment and visual goal rather than the name alone. Comparing tire series, stated rim-width compatibility, load figures when shown, and sidewall style will usually be more useful than focusing on branding by itself, especially on a prewar car where appearance and wheel match matter as much as the badge.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1934 Studebaker President?
A period-style 1934 Studebaker President should stay with the correct primary bias-ply size for its wheel setup, either 6.50-17 or 700-16. That keeps the car within the tire construction and overall presentation associated with its prewar character rather than introducing a visibly modern tire look.
Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, the next decision is the visual direction of the restoration. A traditional blackwall creates one look, while a wide whitewall creates another, and the right answer depends on the specific car and owner preference. When exact originality matters, marque references and period photos are worth consulting before making the final appearance choice.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1934 Studebaker President restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters on a 1934 Studebaker President because the tire contributes heavily to both stance and visual proportion. Using the proper bias-ply size for the actual wheel diameter helps the car keep the right prewar character and avoids the mismatched look that comes from forcing the wrong size onto the car.
Fitment also affects how the restoration functions on the road. A tire that matches the wheel properly is easier to evaluate for clearance, steering movement, and general drivability, while the wrong rim-and-tire combination can create problems that show up only after the car is back in use.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1934 Studebaker President?
Modifications can absolutely affect tire fitment on a 1934 Studebaker President. Wheel changes, replacement rims, altered suspension height, brake conversions, or bodywork repairs can all change the space available for a tire and may also alter which rim diameter is actually on the car.
That is why a collector vehicle should be checked as it sits today rather than judged only by year and model. Measuring wheel diameter, confirming width, and turning the steering through its full range can reveal issues before new tires are mounted, especially on cars with older restorations or mixed-era parts.
What should I inspect before driving a 1934 Studebaker President on new tires?
Before driving a 1934 Studebaker President on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve hardware, and overall mounting condition, then check that the tires seat properly and hold pressure evenly. A brief inspection of steering components, suspension condition, and brake operation also makes sense on a car from this era.
A short local test drive is the best way to confirm that everything behaves normally before heading farther from home. During that first outing, watch for rubbing, pulling, vibration, or unusual air loss, since those early signs often point to wheel mismatch, clearance issues, or another mechanical problem unrelated to the tire itself.
How should 1934 Studebaker President tires be maintained?
Tires on a 1934 Studebaker President should be inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and air loss, especially if the car spends long periods parked between drives. Collector cars often age their tires by time and storage conditions as much as by mileage.
Proper inflation, clean storage conditions, and protection from prolonged sunlight, heat, and ozone sources help preserve both appearance and serviceability. It also helps to look over the tires before each outing and after longer storage, since bias-ply collector tires deserve more frequent condition checks than the average modern daily driver.
