The 1937 Hupmobile OH comes from the final years of an independent American automaker that still carried real style and road presence in the late prewar market. Cars of this era place a premium on proper proportions, and tire choice has a major effect on both stance and driving feel. This Hupmobile uses a 650-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping the fitment firmly in traditional prewar territory. That still leaves meaningful choice through blackwall and wide whitewall presentations, along with several period-style tire 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 1937 Hupmobile OH
The 1937 Hupmobile OH uses one primary tire size: 650-16. It is a bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and the covered 8 Cyl. sub-model uses that same size. The main decision is not which primary size fits, but which 650-16 tire best suits the car's appearance, the wheel width on the vehicle, and whether the goal is restoration-oriented presentation or more utility-focused use.
A 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size in which the 6.50 designation refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, while the 16 indicates the wheel diameter. On a 1937 Hupmobile OH, this format preserves the tall, narrow prewar look and traditional bias-ply construction associated with the period. Available choices include brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Lester, Excelsior, Garfield, STA, and Tornel, with both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across several tire series. That makes 650-16 the size to evaluate based on presentation, intended use, and wheel-width compatibility rather than size substitution.
Tire fitment is straightforward for the covered 1937 Hupmobile OH sub-models. The listed 8 Cyl. version uses the same 650-16 bias-ply size, so the buying decision centers on tire style, series, and wheel compatibility rather than a change in primary size.
1
1937 Hupmobile OH 8 Cyl.
The 1937 Hupmobile OH 8 Cyl. uses the same 650-16 bias-ply fitment as the model core, keeping selection simple at the size level. The real choice is how period-style the finished car should look, whether blackwall or wide whitewall suits the build, and whether the wheel width matches the tire being considered.
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 1937 Hupmobile OH Tires for Sale
Available 650-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Lester, Excelsior, Garfield, STA, and Tornel, with blackwall and wide whitewall options across several bias-ply series. Some selections lean toward passenger-car presentation, while others use truck-style tread or utility-oriented construction.
Owners of a 1937 Hupmobile OH usually need clear guidance on 650-16 fitment, 16-inch wheel compatibility, sidewall and brand choices, restoration-minded appearance, and the checks worth making before regular road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1937 Hupmobile OH?
The 1937 Hupmobile OH uses a 650-16 tire. That is a numeric bias-ply size mounted on a 16-inch rim, and the covered 8 Cyl. sub-model uses the same primary size. For most owners, the basic fitment question is simple because there is one main size to work from.
Selection still matters within that size. A 650-16 can be found in different tire series, sidewall styles, and rim-width specifications, so the next step is confirming the actual wheel on the car and deciding whether the goal is a blackwall, wide whitewall, or a more utility-oriented tread style.
What size rim does a 1937 Hupmobile OH use?
The primary tire fitment for a 1937 Hupmobile OH uses a 16-inch rim. That rim diameter matches the 650-16 tire size, where the final number in the size code identifies the wheel diameter the tire is built to mount on.
Rim diameter is only part of the check on a prewar car. Before choosing a tire, it helps to confirm the wheel width as well, since some 650-16 products are intended for narrower 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims while many others are built around roughly 4.50 to 5.00-inch wheel widths.
What does 650-16 mean on a 1937 Hupmobile OH?
On a 1937 Hupmobile OH, 650-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing convention common on American cars from the prewar era.
Understanding that format helps separate size from style. Two tires can both be 650-16 yet differ in sidewall treatment, tread character, rim-width suitability, and overall presentation, so reading the full product details matters when the goal is either a restoration-oriented look or practical road use.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 650-16 tire for a 1937 Hupmobile OH?
Start with the confirmed 650-16 size and a 16-inch wheel, then narrow the choice by construction type, intended use, and appearance. For this Hupmobile, the available options stay within bias-ply construction, but they vary widely by passenger-car styling, truck-style tread patterns, sidewall treatment, rim-width range, and load specification.
A restoration-oriented car may call for a traditional blackwall or wide whitewall presentation, while a more utilitarian vehicle may suit a transport or truck-style tire. Wheel width should be checked carefully so the chosen 650-16 matches the wheel already on the car rather than just the nominal tire size.
What sidewall styles are available for 1937 Hupmobile OH tires?
The 1937 Hupmobile OH has both blackwall and wide whitewall choices in 650-16. That gives owners two distinctly different visual directions while staying within the correct primary size and traditional bias-ply construction used by this prewar Hupmobile.
Blackwall tires usually create a more restrained, workmanlike appearance, while wide whitewalls make a stronger styling statement and often suit a more formal restoration presentation. The right choice depends on how the car is being finished, since sidewall style changes the look of the vehicle even when the size stays the same.
What brands offer tires for the 1937 Hupmobile OH?
650-16 tires for the 1937 Hupmobile OH are available from BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Lester, Excelsior, Garfield, STA, and Tornel. Those brands cover several bias-ply series, including traditional passenger-car styles along with more utility-focused truck and military-related tread offerings.
Brand alone should not be the only filter. Compare the sidewall style, tire series, intended character, rim-width specification, and any load information that applies to the specific tire, because two 650-16 options from different brands can serve very different goals on the same Hupmobile.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1937 Hupmobile OH?
A period-style 1937 Hupmobile OH starts with the correct 650-16 bias-ply size and then narrows the choice by sidewall and tire series. Blackwall and wide whitewall options are both available, so the finished look can range from restrained and practical to more formal and visually prominent without leaving the proper size family.
When exact originality matters, tire appearance should be checked against marque literature, period photos, and restoration references for the specific car. Even within the right 650-16 fitment, details such as sidewall treatment and tread style can shift the visual character of the Hupmobile quite a bit.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1937 Hupmobile OH restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1937 Hupmobile OH because prewar cars rely on tall, narrow tire proportions to look right. Using the proper 650-16 size keeps the stance, wheel opening fill, and overall visual balance much closer to what enthusiasts expect from a car of this period.
Fitment also affects how authentic the finished restoration feels in use. Even if the car is not being judged formally, the right size, proper bias-ply construction, and an appropriate sidewall style do more for the Hupmobile's presence than almost any decorative detail added after the fact.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1937 Hupmobile OH?
Yes. A 1937 Hupmobile OH may still use the primary 650-16 size, but aftermarket wheels, altered wheel width, brake changes, suspension work, or body modifications can all affect how a tire sits and clears. Even on an older car with one listed size, the actual setup on the vehicle always matters.
Checking the wheel diameter and width is the first step, followed by inspection of clearance at the fender, steering components, and suspension travel points. A tire that is correct by size code can still be the wrong choice if the car has been modified away from its original wheel and chassis configuration.
What should I inspect before driving a 1937 Hupmobile OH on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, mounting condition, inflation pressure, and basic tire seating. It is also wise to look over the suspension, steering linkage, and brake condition on a 1937 Hupmobile OH, since a fresh set of tires cannot compensate for looseness or wear elsewhere in the chassis.
A short shakedown drive is usually the best next step. Listen for rubbing, confirm that the steering returns naturally, and recheck pressure after the car has been driven. On an older vehicle, small setup issues often show up only after the tires have carried load and worked through normal suspension movement.
How should 650-16 tires on a collector 1937 Hupmobile OH be maintained?
650-16 tires on a collector 1937 Hupmobile OH should be checked regularly for pressure loss, cracking, cuts, bulges, flat spotting, and uneven wear. Collector cars often sit for long periods, so condition matters just as much as tread depth, especially with bias-ply construction and older wheel hardware.
Storage habits make a real difference. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and occasional movement can reduce flat spotting during long storage periods. A pre-drive inspection is worth making every time the Hupmobile goes back on the road.
