The 1936 Reo Royale came from an independent American manufacturer competing in a market where style, ride quality, and road presence mattered as much as mechanical durability. For owners keeping one of these prewar cars on the road today, tire choice is a major part of preserving that character. The 1936 Reo Royale uses a 650-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, which keeps the car in its proper prewar sizing language. That size opens the door to blackwall and wide whitewall choices across several classic tire series and brands. The real decision is balancing restoration-oriented appearance, intended road use, and wheel compatibility before settling on a specific 650-16 tire.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Reo Royale
The 1936 Reo Royale uses one primary tire size: 650-16. It is a bias-ply fitment for a 16-inch rim, and the covered 6 Cyl. sub-model uses the same size. That means the main choice is not between multiple primary fitments, but between blackwall or whitewall appearance, brand and series differences, and how closely the tire matches the car's restoration goals and road-use plans.
A 650-16 tire uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system, where 6.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1936 Reo Royale, this is the period-style bias-ply fitment and keeps the car in the sizing convention expected for a prewar American passenger car. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall versions from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Garfield, Excelsior, and Lester, along with several distinct tire series. It is the size to evaluate if maintaining the correct visual proportion and traditional construction matters for the car.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the 1936 Reo Royale covered here. The 6 Cyl. version uses the same primary tire size, so the focus shifts from identifying different fitments to choosing the right 650-16 tire style and series for the car's appearance and use.
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1936 Reo Royale 6 Cyl.
The 1936 Reo Royale 6 Cyl. uses the same 650-16 bias-ply fitment as the core vehicle. Tire selection is therefore centered on choosing the right blackwall or wide whitewall presentation, along with a tire series that suits either a restoration-oriented look or more general collector-car road use.
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 Reo Royale Tires for Sale
Available 650-16 tires for the 1936 Reo Royale span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, STA, and Tornel, with choices including blackwall and wide whitewall designs. The product grid also shows differences in tire series, rim-width specifications, load figures, and more specialized passenger-car or truck-style tread presentations.
Owners of a 1936 Reo Royale usually need clear answers on 650-16 sizing, 16-inch rim fitment, bias-ply construction, sidewall appearance, and what to inspect before putting a prewar car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Reo Royale?
The 1936 Reo Royale uses a 650-16 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply size used on a 16-inch rim, and the covered 1936 Reo Royale 6 Cyl. sub-model uses that same fitment.
That makes the main buying decision less about identifying multiple sizes and more about choosing the right version of 650-16 for the car. Before selecting a tire, it is still worth confirming the wheels currently on the car, especially if it has been restored, modified, or stored with replacement wheels from another vehicle.
What size rim does a 1936 Reo Royale use?
The 1936 Reo Royale uses a 16-inch rim with its 650-16 tire size. Product offerings in this size commonly pair with rim widths around the mid-4-inch range, with several passenger-car options built for 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims and one Excelsior option built for 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims.
Rim diameter is the first point to confirm, but rim width also matters once you begin comparing specific tires. A car that still has original-style wheels may be straightforward, while a car with replacement rims should be measured so the selected 650-16 tire matches both the wheel and the vehicle's clearance needs.
Does the 1936 Reo Royale 6 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1936 Reo Royale 6 Cyl. uses the same 650-16 bias-ply tire size as the core 1936 Reo Royale fitment shown here. There is no alternate primary size within this covered sub-model grouping.
That consistency simplifies fitment, but it does not eliminate the need to choose the right tire type within the size. A restoration-minded owner may focus on wide whitewall or blackwall appearance, while another owner may compare tread style, load figures, and rim-width suitability before making a final 650-16 selection.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 650-16 tire for a 1936 Reo Royale?
Start with the size and construction the car uses: 650-16 bias-ply on a 16-inch rim. From there, compare whether the tire is aimed at classic passenger-car presentation or a more utility-oriented tread style, and check any rim-width guidance that applies to the individual product.
Appearance plays a major role on a prewar car, so sidewall style can change the whole look of the Royale. It also helps to compare load capacity where stated, along with the tire series and general intended use, so the tire complements both the car's visual character and how often it will actually be driven.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Reo Royale tires?
The 1936 Reo Royale's 650-16 size is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. That gives owners a meaningful appearance choice within the same primary fitment, rather than forcing a change in size to get a different period-style look.
A blackwall tire creates a more restrained presentation, while a wide whitewall gives the car a more formal and visually prominent prewar character. Since sidewall treatment has such a strong effect on the finished appearance, many owners choose the style only after deciding whether the Royale is being preserved as a road car or finished with stronger restoration emphasis.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Reo Royale?
In 650-16, the 1936 Reo Royale has choices from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands appear across several classic bias-ply series, with both passenger-car-style and more truck-oriented tread options.
Brand alone should not be the only filter. It is better to compare the series, sidewall style, rim-width suitability, and whether the tire's presentation matches the look you want on the car. That approach helps narrow the field without assuming every 650-16 product serves the same purpose on a prewar Reo.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Reo Royale?
A 650-16 bias-ply tire is the right starting point for a period-style 1936 Reo Royale because it preserves the car's original-era sizing convention and overall visual stance. Within that size, the choice usually comes down to sidewall treatment, tread character, and the brand or series that best suits the look you want.
For many prewar cars, the final appearance is shaped as much by the sidewall as by the wheel itself. Owners pursuing a more exact restoration standard should compare the chosen tire against period photos, marque-club guidance, or other vehicle-specific references, since a correct size alone does not settle every appearance detail.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1936 Reo Royale?
On a restored 1936 Reo Royale, bias-ply construction is part of the car's visual character as well as its fitment. The sidewall shape, tread presentation, and overall vintage sizing language all contribute to the traditional prewar look that many owners want to preserve.
Construction also influences how the tire sits on the wheel and how authentic the finished stance appears. Even among bias-ply options, the difference between blackwall and wide whitewall versions is significant, so appearance-driven buyers usually decide on construction first, then refine the selection by sidewall style and tire series.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Reo Royale?
Yes. A 1936 Reo Royale may use the correct 650-16 size on paper, but wheel changes, brake updates, suspension work, or altered ride height can all affect actual fitment. Even on a vehicle with one primary tire size, the current wheel and chassis setup still matters.
Cars restored over many decades do not always retain their original-style wheels, so it helps to confirm wheel diameter and width before ordering. Steering clearance, fender clearance, and the car's stance should also be checked, especially if the Royale has replacement rims or any front-end components that differ from a stock-style configuration.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Reo Royale on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and the general condition of the suspension and steering components. Tire pressure should be set correctly for the tire being used, and the tire itself should be checked for proper seating, visible damage, and any immediate air loss after installation.
A prewar car benefits from a broader once-over before the first drive. Look for wheel wobble, brake pull, uneven ride height, and any clearance issue that appears when the steering is turned lock to lock. That extra inspection helps separate a tire problem from a chassis issue that was already present on the car.
How should 650-16 tires on a collector 1936 Reo Royale be maintained?
Collector-car 650-16 tires should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly, and protected from long exposure to sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources during storage. On a car like a 1936 Reo Royale, low annual mileage does not eliminate the need for routine checks because age and storage conditions matter as much as tread wear.
It is smart to inspect the sidewalls for cracking, the tread for flat spotting, and the tire casing for cuts or bulges before each driving season. Rolling the car periodically, keeping the vehicle clean and dry, and checking for slow air loss can help preserve both the tire's service condition and the Royale's road manners.
