The 1936 Nash Light 6 came from an era when Nash built practical, well-finished cars with an emphasis on comfort, durability, and everyday usability. For owners restoring or maintaining one today, tire choice plays a major role in preserving that prewar driving character and visual stance. The 1936 Nash Light 6 uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping the fitment firmly in traditional prewar territory. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across several vintage-style tire series and brands. The key is matching the tire to the car's wheel setup, intended road use, and restoration goals.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Nash Light 6
The 1936 Nash Light 6 uses one primary tire size: 600-16. That is a bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and it carries across the covered sub-model here, so the main decision is not size selection but choosing the right sidewall style, tire series, and overall presentation for the way the car is being restored, shown, or driven.
A 600-16 size is a vintage numeric bias-ply designation in which the 600 refers to an approximate 6.00-inch section width class and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1936 Nash Light 6, this keeps the car in its proper prewar sizing convention and traditional bias-ply construction. Available choices in this size include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Goodyear, Avon, Lester, Excelsior, Ford Script, STA, and Camac across several tire series. That makes 600-16 the size to evaluate when balancing period-style appearance, road use, and wheel compatibility.
Fitment is straightforward for the covered 1936 Nash Light 6 sub-model because the same primary tire size is used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car remains on the expected 16-inch wheel setup before choosing among the available bias-ply tire styles.
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1936 Nash Light 6 Base
The 1936 Nash Light 6 Base uses the same 600-16 bias-ply fitment as the overall model line covered here. That keeps tire selection focused on appearance and usage priorities, such as blackwall versus whitewall styling and the character of the available vintage 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 Nash Light 6 Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 options span brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Goodyear, Avon, Lester, and Excelsior, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The product range also includes different vintage bias-ply series and rim-width specifications that are worth comparing against the car's wheel setup.
Owners of a 1936 Nash Light 6 usually want clear guidance on 600-16 fitment, 16-inch rim compatibility, bias-ply tire selection, restoration-oriented appearance, and the checks to make before putting a prewar car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Nash Light 6?
The 1936 Nash Light 6 uses a 600-16 tire size. This is a traditional numeric bias-ply fitment, and it is the primary size associated with the covered model and sub-model here.
That means the first step is usually not choosing between different primary sizes, but confirming that the car still has the expected 16-inch wheels and a stock-type setup. Once that is established, the decision shifts to tire style, brand, and whether a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation best suits the car.
What size rim does a 1936 Nash Light 6 use?
The 1936 Nash Light 6 uses a 16-inch rim with its 600-16 tire fitment. Many of the available 600-16 tires are built around rim-width specifications in the 4.00 to 4.50-inch range, with some variation by product.
Rim diameter should be confirmed directly at the wheel before ordering tires, especially on a prewar car that may have seen wheel changes over the decades. Wheel width matters too, since some 600-16 products are aimed at slightly different rim-width ranges and that can affect proper mounting and overall fitment.
Does the 1936 Nash Light 6 Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1936 Nash Light 6 Base uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the overall fitment covered here. That keeps sizing simple for owners of the Base sub-model.
Even with shared sizing, it still helps to verify the actual wheel setup on the car before selecting a tire. Once the size and rim diameter are confirmed, Base-model owners can focus on the more meaningful choices within 600-16, including sidewall appearance, tire series, load specifications where stated, and the car's intended use.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1936 Nash Light 6?
Start with the correct primary fitment: 600-16 bias-ply on a 16-inch rim. From there, compare the tire's sidewall style, brand, tire series, rim-width specification where stated, and any load information that matters for how the car will be driven or displayed.
A restoration-oriented car may call for a different visual treatment than a driver that is meant to cover regular road miles. It also helps to inspect the actual wheels on the car, since older vehicles are often changed over time, and matching the tire to the wheel setup is just as important as choosing the right appearance.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Nash Light 6 tires?
The available 600-16 tires for a 1936 Nash Light 6 include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those choices create a very different look even when the size stays the same, which is why sidewall treatment is one of the biggest visual decisions on this car.
Blackwalls tend to give a more understated presentation, while wide whitewalls and double whitewalls push the car toward a more formal prewar appearance. The right choice depends on how the Nash is being restored, the look of the wheels and trim, and whether the goal is touring use or a more presentation-focused finish.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Nash Light 6?
The 600-16 fitment is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands appear across several vintage-style bias-ply series, including blackwall and whitewall variations.
Choosing among them comes down to the type of presentation and product character that best suits the car rather than chasing a single answer for every Nash. It helps to compare the tire series, sidewall treatment, stated rim-width range when shown, and any load details that are relevant to the way the car will actually be used.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Nash Light 6?
A period-style 1936 Nash Light 6 should begin with the proper 600-16 bias-ply sizing and a 16-inch rim. That preserves the prewar tire format and the traditional profile that suits the car's age, stance, and steering feel more closely than a modern-looking substitute would.
From there, the appearance choice becomes more personal and restoration-specific. Blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions are all available, and the right one depends on the finish level of the car and the look you want. If exact originality matters, marque-club guidance and vehicle-specific historical references are worth consulting.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1936 Nash Light 6?
On a restored 1936 Nash Light 6, bias-ply construction contributes strongly to the car's overall period presentation. The 600-16 fitment uses a vintage numeric bias-ply format, and that construction helps maintain the traditional visual character associated with a mid-1930s American car.
Appearance is shaped by more than size alone, since sidewall styling also changes the way the car reads at a glance. A blackwall gives a plainer, more restrained look, while wide whitewalls and double whitewalls create a more formal restoration-oriented effect. Construction and sidewall style should be considered together rather than as separate decisions.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Nash Light 6?
Yes. Even though the primary tire size for a 1936 Nash Light 6 is 600-16, wheel changes, suspension work, brake conversions, or body modifications can alter what actually fits the car today. That is especially true on older vehicles that may have been updated long after they left the factory.
A careful check of wheel diameter, wheel width, and available clearance is worthwhile before mounting new tires. Steering travel and fender space should also be inspected, since a prewar car can have tight clearances in places that are easy to overlook until the car is fully loaded or turned lock to lock.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Nash Light 6 on new tires?
Before putting a 1936 Nash Light 6 back on the road, inspect the wheels for damage or corrosion, confirm the tire size and rim diameter match, and make sure the tires are seated properly and inflated to the product's stated requirements. It also helps to verify valve stems, tube-related needs where applicable, and lug security.
A prewar car deserves a broader road-readiness check beyond the tires alone. Look at steering response, brake operation, suspension condition, and any signs of rubbing once the car is on the ground and turning. A short local drive followed by another visual inspection is a sensible way to catch issues early.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1936 Nash Light 6 be maintained?
Maintain 600-16 tires on a collector 1936 Nash Light 6 by checking inflation regularly, inspecting for cracks, bulges, cuts, irregular wear, and air loss, and keeping the tires clean and properly stored when the car sits for long periods. Low-use collector cars can age tires long before they wear them out.
Storage conditions matter as much as mileage on a prewar vehicle. Keeping the Nash away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, heat, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and moving the car occasionally can help avoid long-term flat spotting. Regular inspections are important even when the tread still looks deep and usable.
