The 1936 Buick 60 Series came from a period when Buick balanced eight-cylinder smoothness with substantial prewar road presence, making tire choice part of the car’s overall character as much as its drivability. Owners restoring one today usually want a tire that looks at home on a full-bodied mid-1930s Buick and still suits the way the car will actually be used. The 1936 Buick 60 Series uses a 700-15 bias-ply tire on a 15-inch rim. Within that size, choices include blackwall and wide whitewall styles, along with traditional passenger-car and more utility-oriented series. The key is matching the tire to the car’s restoration direction, wheel setup, and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Buick 60 Series
The 1936 Buick 60 Series uses one primary tire size: 700-15. That size is a bias-ply fitment for a 15-inch rim, and it carries across the covered 8-cylinder sub-model, so the main decision is not between multiple primary sizes but between sidewall appearance, tire series, and the kind of driving or presentation the car is being built for.
A 700-15 uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system, where 7.00 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 15 identifies the wheel diameter. For a 1936 Buick 60 Series, that keeps the tire in the same traditional construction family the car was designed around, which matters for both visual authenticity and overall setup. In this size, available choices include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA products, with blackwall and wide whitewall presentations as well as several tire series. Selecting within 700-15 comes down to the appearance you want, the wheel width you are working with, and whether the car will see touring, display, or more utility-focused use.
Tire fitment is straightforward on the covered 1936 Buick 60 Series sub-models. The shared 700-15 sizing means the main task is confirming the car’s actual wheel setup and then choosing the right bias-ply tire style for restoration goals and road use.
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1936 Buick 60 Series 8 Cyl.
The 1936 Buick 60 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-15 bias-ply fitment as the model core, so size selection stays simple. That lets the focus shift to whether the car calls for a traditional blackwall, a more formal wide whitewall look, or a more utility-oriented tire series.
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 1936 Buick 60 Series Tires for Sale
Available 700-15 options span Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA, with choices that include wide whitewall and blackwall sidewalls. The product range also covers traditional classic bias-ply lines as well as more utility-oriented military and transport-style series, so appearance and intended use both matter.
Owners researching 1936 Buick 60 Series tires usually need clarity on 700-15 sizing, 15-inch rim fitment, bias-ply construction, sidewall appearance, and what to inspect before putting a restored prewar Buick back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Buick 60 Series?
The 1936 Buick 60 Series uses a 700-15 tire size. That is a bias-ply fitment in an older numeric sizing format, and it is the primary size used on the covered application for this model.
Because there is one primary size, the real choice is usually not the size itself but which 700-15 tire best suits the car. Wheel condition, actual wheel width, sidewall style, and whether the Buick is being restored for formal prewar appearance or more general road use should all be checked before settling on a specific tire.
What size rim does a 1936 Buick 60 Series use?
The 1936 Buick 60 Series uses a 15-inch rim with its 700-15 tire fitment. The available 700-15 passenger-style products in this application commonly pair with a 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim width range.
Rim diameter is the first thing to confirm, especially on a prewar car that may have had wheel changes over the years. It also helps to verify the actual width and inspect the wheel for damage, rust, or repair work so the selected tire matches the wheel correctly and seats as intended.
Does the 1936 Buick 60 Series 8 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1936 Buick 60 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-15 bias-ply tire size as the model core. That keeps fitment simple across the sub-models represented here.
Even with shared size, tire selection can still vary depending on the car’s purpose. A restoration-oriented Buick may call for a wide whitewall presentation, while a more utilitarian build may lean toward a blackwall or truck-influenced series, so the sub-model match is only the first step in choosing the tire.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-15 tire for a 1936 Buick 60 Series?
Start with the correct 700-15 size and confirm that the tire matches the Buick’s 15-inch wheel setup. From there, the important differences are bias-ply series, sidewall style, rim-width compatibility, and whether the tire is aimed at traditional passenger-car presentation or a more utility-oriented use.
A wide whitewall can support a more formal prewar look, while a blackwall gives a plainer and more understated appearance. It also helps to compare load figures where they are stated, check whether the wheel falls within the tire’s rim-width range, and think realistically about how often the Buick will be driven.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Buick 60 Series tires?
The 1936 Buick 60 Series has 700-15 tire options in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Those two looks can change the visual character of a prewar Buick quite a bit, even when the basic tire size stays the same.
Wide whitewalls usually suit a more formal restoration-oriented presentation, while blackwalls can fit a simpler or more utilitarian direction. The best choice depends on the way the car is being finished, the look of the wheels and trim, and whether the owner wants the tire to stand out visually or blend into the overall profile.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Buick 60 Series?
700-15 tires for the 1936 Buick 60 Series are available from Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. Those brands appear across several different series, including classic bias-ply passenger styles and more utility-oriented military or transport-style offerings.
Brand alone should not make the decision. It is more useful to compare each tire’s sidewall treatment, intended character, rim-width specification where stated, and whether the overall look fits the Buick’s restoration plan. That approach helps narrow the options without assuming that every 700-15 serves the same purpose.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Buick 60 Series?
A period-style starting point for a 1936 Buick 60 Series is the correct 700-15 bias-ply size. Staying with the original construction type preserves the older tire profile and visual character that most owners expect on a substantial prewar Buick.
From there, the decision usually comes down to sidewall presentation and how formal the restoration needs to look. A wide whitewall often complements a more dressy prewar appearance, while a blackwall creates a plainer presentation. When exact originality matters, marque-specific historical references should guide the final appearance choice.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1936 Buick 60 Series restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1936 Buick 60 Series restoration because tire size and construction strongly influence the car’s stance, road presence, and overall period impression. Using the proper 700-15 bias-ply fitment keeps the restoration aligned with the way the car was originally set up.
Appearance is only part of the equation. Correct fitment also affects how the tire sits on the wheel and how the car presents in the wheel opening, so wheel diameter and width still need to be verified. A prewar Buick can look noticeably different when the tire profile or sidewall treatment is out of character.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Buick 60 Series?
Yes. A 1936 Buick 60 Series may still use the correct 700-15 size on paper, but aftermarket wheels, suspension work, brake changes, or body modifications can change the way that tire fits the car. Even a single-size application should be checked against the vehicle’s current setup.
The most important items to verify are wheel diameter, wheel width, clearance at the fenders and steering components, and the way the tire sits on the rim. A prewar car that has been altered over time should be measured carefully before mounting new tires, especially if its service history is unclear.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Buick 60 Series on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve hardware, and overall mounting condition, then confirm inflation is appropriate for the tire being used. It is also wise to check steering and suspension components, since a fresh set of tires can highlight looseness or wear that an older tire masked.
A careful walk-around should include sidewall condition, bead seating, air retention, and clearance through full steering travel. On a collector Buick that may sit for long periods, brake condition and wheel-bearing health deserve the same attention, because tire replacement alone does not address the other systems that affect safe road behavior.
How should 700-15 tires on a collector 1936 Buick 60 Series be maintained?
700-15 tires on a collector 1936 Buick 60 Series should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and tread issues, and protected from long periods of heat, sunlight, moisture, and ozone exposure. Collector cars often age tires through storage as much as through mileage.
Regular use does not replace inspection, especially on a prewar vehicle that may go months between drives. It helps to look for slow air loss, flat spotting after storage, and any signs that the tires are wearing unevenly because of alignment or suspension issues. Catching those problems early preserves both appearance and drivability.
