The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. sits in an interesting prewar American touring era, when straight-eight power and substantial full-size styling gave Pontiac a more upscale road presence than many mid-priced cars of the day. Tire choice on a car like this is closely tied to that period character, because the 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses a 650-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim. That keeps the selection centered on traditional construction, with choices that range from blackwall to wide whitewall and from passenger-car patterns to more specialized tread styles. The real decision is matching the tire to the car's restoration direction, wheel setup, and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.
The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses one primary tire size: 650-16. It is a bias-ply fitment for a 16-inch rim, and the covered Base model uses that same size as well. That means the main choice is not between multiple primary sizes, but between tire styles, sidewall appearance, tread character, and the type of driving or restoration presentation the car is meant to support.
A 650-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which the 6.50 designation refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, while 16 identifies the wheel diameter. On a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl., this keeps the car in its proper prewar tire format and preserves the tall, traditional look associated with the era's ride and stance. Available choices include BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Garfield, Lester, Coker Classic, Excelsior, STA, and Tornel, with blackwall and wide whitewall options across several tire series. Selecting within 650-16 comes down to appearance, rim-width compatibility, tread style, and how closely the finished car is meant to reflect a restoration-oriented presentation.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the covered 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. lineup. The available sub-model uses the same primary tire size, so the focus stays on choosing the right 650-16 tire style and confirming the wheel setup already on the car.
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1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. Base
The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. Base uses the same 650-16 bias-ply fitment as the core vehicle. That keeps tire selection centered on sidewall style, tread presentation, and rim-width compatibility rather than sorting through different primary sizes.
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 8 Cyl. Tires for Sale
Available 650-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Garfield, Lester, Coker Classic, Excelsior, STA, and Tornel. The product grid gives a meaningful mix of blackwall and wide whitewall tires, several classic bias-ply series, and some heavier-duty truck-style tread options that should be compared carefully to the car's intended use.
Owners of a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. usually need clear answers on 650-16 fitment, 16-inch wheel compatibility, sidewall and tread selection, restoration appearance, and the condition checks worth making before the car returns to regular road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses a 650-16 tire size. This is a bias-ply fitment and it remains the primary size for the covered Base sub-model as well, so there is not a second core size to sort through for this application.
That makes the buying decision more about selecting the right tire within 650-16 than deciding between multiple fitments. Before choosing, confirm that the car still has 16-inch wheels in an appropriate width range for the tire being considered, especially if the vehicle has had wheel changes during an older restoration.
What size rim does a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. use?
The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses a 16-inch rim with its 650-16 tire size. Product offerings in this fitment commonly call for wheel widths around 4.00 to 5.00 inches, with several passenger-car options centered around 4.50 to 5.00 inches.
Rim diameter should be confirmed first, but wheel width matters too because not every 650-16 tire is aimed at exactly the same wheel specification. A car that still wears original-style wheels may be straightforward, while a car with replacement rims should be measured before selecting between passenger-car, truck-style, blackwall, or wide whitewall options.
Does the 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. Base uses the same 650-16 bias-ply tire size as the main vehicle fitment. That keeps the Base model in the same vintage numeric sizing system and on the same 16-inch rim diameter.
Even with shared size, the tire choice can still change the finished look of the car quite a bit. A blackwall gives a more restrained presentation, while a wide whitewall creates a more dressed-up prewar appearance, so it helps to choose the tire around the car's restoration style and actual wheel condition.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 650-16 tire for a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
Start with the correct 650-16 size, then compare construction, intended use, sidewall style, tread character, and wheel compatibility. Passenger-car bias-ply choices sit alongside heavier-duty truck-style options in the same size, so the best match depends on whether the Pontiac is being finished as a traditional touring car or used in a more specialized way.
Appearance matters on a prewar car, but so do practical details such as rim-width requirements, load figures where stated, and the overall condition of the wheels themselves. A restored car driven occasionally may call for a different presentation than a more utilitarian vehicle, even though both begin with the same 650-16 fitment.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. tires?
The main sidewall choices in 650-16 for a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. are blackwall and wide whitewall. Those two styles give the car very different visual character, even when the tire size and bias-ply construction stay the same.
Blackwall tires tend to suit a simpler, more understated presentation, while wide whitewalls create a more formal prewar look. The right choice depends on how the car is trimmed, how authentic-looking the restoration needs to feel, and whether the owner wants a touring appearance or something with more visual contrast around the wheel opening.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
Available 650-16 tires for the 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands cover several classic bias-ply series and a mix of passenger-car and truck-oriented tread styles.
Brand matters less than choosing the right type of 650-16 for the way the car is set up and used. It helps to compare sidewall treatment, tread style, rim-width compatibility, and load information where shown so the selected tire supports both the Pontiac's appearance goals and its actual road use.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
A period-style 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. starts with the correct 650-16 bias-ply size and then narrows the choice by sidewall and tread presentation. Passenger-car blackwalls and wide whitewalls both exist in this fitment, and each can suit a restoration-oriented build depending on the look the owner wants to emphasize.
For many prewar cars, tire appearance has a major effect on stance and visual balance, so the decision should complement the vehicle's trim, paint, and restoration approach. If exact historical judging standards matter, it is wise to compare the chosen tire style against marque references or other authoritative vehicle-specific documentation.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
On this Pontiac, construction and appearance are closely tied because the primary fitment is bias-ply. A 650-16 bias-ply tire carries the tall, traditional prewar profile and sidewall presentation most buyers expect to see on a restored 1936 full-size Pontiac.
Construction does more than determine ride feel; it also shapes how the car sits visually on its wheels. Choosing among blackwall, wide whitewall, and different tread styles within the bias-ply format lets the owner refine the final look without moving away from the established tire type used for this application.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
Yes. Even though the primary fitment is 650-16 on a 16-inch rim, fitment can change if the 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. has replacement wheels, altered wheel widths, brake conversions, suspension work, or body changes that affect clearance around the tire.
A vintage car that has been through several decades of repairs or restoration work should be checked as an individual vehicle. Measuring actual wheel diameter and width, then looking at steering clearance, fender space, and overall stance, helps prevent choosing a tire that matches the nominal size but not the current setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. on new tires?
Check the wheels for true diameter, cracks, rust damage, bead-seat condition, and proper width for the selected 650-16 tire. It is also smart to inspect steering and suspension components, because worn kingpins, tie-rod ends, bushings, or springs can affect how a fresh set of tires behaves on the road.
After installation, verify inflation, look for any interference at full steering lock, and recheck that the car sits evenly. A prewar vehicle that has been stored for long periods also deserves a close look at wheel bearings, brakes, and alignment so the new tires are not asked to compensate for unrelated mechanical problems.
How should 650-16 tires on a collector 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. be maintained?
Collector-car tires in 650-16 should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and protected from long exposure to sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources. Bias-ply tires on low-mileage cars can age out visually and structurally long before the tread looks worn.
Regular movement and periodic pressure checks help prevent problems that go unnoticed on cars driven only occasionally. Clean storage conditions and routine inspection of both tires and tubes, where applicable, are especially important on a 1936 Pontiac 8 Cyl. because long idle periods often create more risk than normal road mileage.
