The 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. sits squarely in the prewar American touring era, when ride quality, road manners, and visual presence all depended heavily on tall bias-ply tires and relatively narrow wheels. For many owners today, tire choice is part preservation decision and part usability decision, especially on a car that may be restored, toured occasionally, or shown. This Pontiac uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim. Within that fitment, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, along with several vintage-style tire series and brands. The right selection should match the car's appearance goals, wheel dimensions, and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl.
The 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. uses one primary tire size: 600-16. That means the main decision is not which size fits, but which version of this 16-inch bias-ply fitment best suits the car's appearance, wheel setup, and intended use. The same size also carries across the covered Base sub-model, so the focus shifts to sidewall style, tire series, and whether the car is being kept in a restoration-oriented presentation or prepared for regular vintage driving.
A 600-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which the leading number refers to a nominal section width of about 6.00 inches, while the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl., this size preserves the tall, narrow bias-ply profile that suits a prewar car's stance and period-style road feel. Available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments from brands such as BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Goodyear, Ford Script, Avon, Excelsior, Lester, STA, and Camac across several tire series. Selecting among them comes down to the look you want, the wheel width in use, and whether the car is aimed more toward restoration appearance or broader road use.
Tire fitment is straightforward for the covered 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. sub-models, because the same primary size is used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car remains on its intended 16-inch wheel setup before comparing sidewall and series options.
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1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base
The 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base uses the same 600-16 bias-ply fitment as the core application. That keeps size selection simple, so the real choice becomes whether to favor a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation and to confirm wheel width before settling on a specific 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 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Goodyear, Avon, Excelsior, Lester, Ford Script, STA, and Camac, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The product grid is most useful for comparing vintage-style series, bias-ply construction details, and wheel-width compatibility.
Owners of a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. usually need clear answers on 600-16 sizing, 16-inch rim fitment, sidewall choices, restoration-minded selection, and the checks that matter before putting a prewar car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
The 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. uses a 600-16 tire size. That is a vintage numeric bias-ply fitment paired with a 16-inch rim, and it is the primary size used for the covered application, including the Base sub-model.
The important next step is confirming that the car still has the expected wheel setup, especially if it has been restored or altered over the years. Once the size is confirmed, the buying decision usually comes down to sidewall appearance, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility rather than choosing between multiple primary sizes.
What size rim does a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. use?
The tire fitment for a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. is built around a 16-inch rim diameter. The 600-16 size is a 16-inch tire, so wheel diameter needs to match that tire code before any brand or sidewall choice is considered.
Diameter is only part of the check on a prewar car. Wheel width also matters, particularly because many 600-16 products are intended for relatively narrow rims. It is worth measuring the actual wheels on the car and confirming that they have not been replaced with later wheels that change bead seating, appearance, or tire compatibility.
Does the 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the core application. That keeps sub-model fitment simple and avoids the need to sort through multiple primary sizes for this covered model.
Even with shared size fitment, there can still be meaningful differences in the tires you choose. A Base model owner may still need to decide between blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall styling and compare tire series that suit a restoration-oriented appearance, occasional road use, or a more utilitarian vintage presentation.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
Start with the correct primary fitment: 600-16 bias-ply on a 16-inch rim. From there, compare the tire's intended rim width, construction details, sidewall style, load information where stated, and whether the tire's overall look matches the way the Pontiac is being restored, shown, or driven.
A prewar Pontiac can look very different on a blackwall than it does on a wide whitewall or double-whitewall tire, even when the size is the same. It also helps to think about how the car will be used. A show-oriented car, an occasional tour car, and a more utilitarian vintage driver may lead you toward different series within the same size.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. tires?
The 600-16 fitment for a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. is available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those choices all stay within the same primary size, but they change the visual character of the car in a significant way.
Blackwalls usually suit a more restrained or utilitarian presentation, while whitewall treatments create a more dressed-up prewar look. Sidewall choice should be made alongside the overall restoration direction, wheel finish, and trim level appearance of the individual car. The best approach is to match the tire's visual style to the way the Pontiac is actually being presented.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
Brands available in 600-16 for the 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. They cover several bias-ply series and a range of sidewall treatments within the same basic vintage fitment.
Brand selection is only one part of the decision. It makes more sense to compare each tire's series, sidewall appearance, intended wheel-width range when stated, and the overall style of tread and presentation. That approach keeps the choice focused on what suits the Pontiac rather than treating the brand name alone as the deciding factor.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
A period-style 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. should begin with the correct 600-16 bias-ply fitment. That preserves the tall, narrow tire proportions associated with prewar American cars and keeps the car visually aligned with the era in a way a modern-looking substitute often does not.
From there, appearance becomes the key decision. Blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions all create a different impression, even though the size remains the same. When exact historical originality matters, it is wise to compare the car against marque references, period photos, or restoration documentation before settling on a specific sidewall treatment or series.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. because the tire's height, width, and sidewall style strongly influence the car's stance and overall visual balance. Staying with the proper 600-16 bias-ply size keeps the restoration grounded in the way the car was meant to sit.
Fitment also affects how authentic the finished car feels when viewed as a whole. Even when the size is right, details such as blackwall versus whitewall presentation can change the result noticeably. Checking wheel diameter and wheel width before mounting new tires helps avoid a mismatch that can undercut an otherwise well-executed restoration.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
Yes. A 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. may call for a 600-16 tire, but wheel changes, altered ride height, brake conversions, or different offset can all affect whether a particular tire setup clears properly. Even on a car with the correct nominal size, the actual wheel and chassis configuration still matters.
Modified prewar cars deserve a careful check of wheel diameter, wheel width, steering clearance, and fender space before new tires are mounted. That is especially important if the Pontiac has later wheels or suspension changes. A tire that is correct by size code still needs to work with the car's real-world setup and intended driving conditions.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. on new tires?
Before driving a 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. on new tires, inspect wheel condition, valve hardware, tire pressure, bead seating, and basic clearance at the fenders and steering components. On a collector car, it is also smart to look over suspension and steering wear so the new tires are not being asked to compensate for unrelated chassis issues.
A short, careful test drive is the best next step after installation. Listen for rubbing, watch for pull or vibration, and recheck inflation after the car has been driven. Prewar cars often spend long periods parked, so it is worth confirming that every part of the tire and wheel package is ready before heading out on a longer run.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. be maintained?
Collector-car 600-16 tires should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow air loss, and stored away from prolonged sun, heat, moisture, and ozone sources when the Pontiac is not in use. Those habits matter because low-use vintage cars often age tires long before they wear them out.
Regular movement and periodic inspection help as much as mileage-based maintenance on a prewar car. It is also sensible to check the spare and to look over the wheels at the same time, especially on an older restoration. A 1936 Pontiac 6 Cyl. that is driven only occasionally still benefits from a routine tire check before every meaningful outing.
