The 1937 La Salle 50 came from a period when La Salle blended Cadillac family styling and upscale presence into a more accessible luxury car. For owners restoring or maintaining one today, tire choice has a strong effect on both stance and road manners because this car uses a single primary size: 700-16 in bias-ply construction on a 16-inch rim. That keeps fitment straightforward, but there is still meaningful choice in the form of blackwall and wide whitewall designs, along with classic passenger and military-style tread offerings. The right selection depends on whether the goal is a more formal restoration look, traditional touring appearance, or utility-minded presentation.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1937 La Salle 50
The 1937 La Salle 50 uses one primary tire size, 700-16, in bias-ply construction on a 16-inch rim. The La Salle 50 V8 uses that same size, so the main decision is not which primary size fits, but which version of 700-16 best suits the car's appearance, intended use, and wheel compatibility.
A 700-16 size uses the vintage numeric bias-ply system, where the 7.00 designation refers to nominal section width in inches and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter. For the 1937 La Salle 50, this is the correct primary fitment format and it preserves the traditional look and construction associated with the car's era. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall styles from brands such as Lester, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Avon, Tornel, and STA across several classic bias-ply and military-style series. The key is choosing the version of 700-16 that matches your wheel, your restoration direction, and the way the car will actually be used.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1937 La Salle 50 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 wheel and tire setup before selecting a specific tire style.
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1937 La Salle 50 V8
The 1937 La Salle 50 V8 uses the same 700-16 bias-ply tire size as the core fitment. That makes selection more about choosing between blackwall, wide whitewall, or specialty tread styles and confirming the wheel setup on a restored or modified car.
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 La Salle 50 Tires for Sale
Available 700-16 choices for the 1937 La Salle 50 span Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA, with blackwall and wide whitewall options across classic bias-ply passenger, truck, and military-style series. Rim-width specifications also vary, so wheel compatibility is worth comparing in the product grid.
These 1937 La Salle 50 tire FAQs focus on the 700-16 fitment, 16-inch rim compatibility, bias-ply construction, sidewall and brand choices, restoration appearance, and the condition checks that matter before putting a collector car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1937 La Salle 50?
The 1937 La Salle 50 uses a 700-16 tire in bias-ply construction. That is the primary fitment for this vehicle, and the covered La Salle 50 V8 uses the same size, which keeps the basic fitment question simple compared with cars that had multiple wheel and tire combinations.
The more important decision is choosing the right version of 700-16 for the car's current setup and intended appearance. A wide whitewall creates a very different presentation than a blackwall, and specialty military or truck-style tread patterns should be evaluated carefully against how the car will be driven and what wheel width it has.
What size rim does a 1937 La Salle 50 use?
The 1937 La Salle 50 uses a 16-inch rim with its 700-16 tire size. Product fitments in this size commonly reference a 16-inch wheel, and several 700-16 passenger-style options also call for rim widths in the 4.50 to 5.50 inch range.
Rim diameter should be confirmed first, especially on collector cars that may have had wheels changed decades ago. Wheel width also matters because some 700-16 tires carry specific rim-width guidance, and checking both dimensions helps narrow the choice before comparing sidewall style, tread character, and load-capacity details.
Does the 1937 La Salle 50 V8 use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1937 La Salle 50 V8 uses the same 700-16 bias-ply tire size as the core 1937 La Salle 50 fitment. That means the V8 model follows the same primary wheel-diameter and construction pattern rather than requiring a separate passenger-car tire size.
Even with shared sizing, it is still smart to inspect the actual wheels on the car before ordering tires. Older restorations, replacement wheels, or long-ago service changes can alter what is mounted today, and that can affect which 700-16 product makes the most sense for appearance, rim-width compatibility, and road use.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-16 tire for a 1937 La Salle 50?
Start with the correct primary size, which is 700-16, and confirm that the car is still using a 16-inch wheel with a compatible width. From there, the biggest factors are the car's intended look, the type of tread you want, and whether a traditional passenger-car presentation or a utility-style design better suits the vehicle.
Product differences in this size include blackwall versus wide whitewall appearance, classic passenger series versus military or truck-style offerings, and varying load and rim-width specifications. A La Salle restored for formal period presence will usually call for a different visual treatment than one being maintained as a more practical road car.
What sidewall styles are available for 1937 La Salle 50 tires?
The 1937 La Salle 50 has 700-16 tire options with both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. That gives owners two very different visual directions within the same primary size and bias-ply construction, without changing the vehicle's basic rim diameter or vintage fitment format.
Wide whitewalls suit a more formal prewar luxury-car presentation and can become a major part of the car's overall stance. Blackwalls create a more restrained look and are also common on utility-oriented or military-style tread designs, so the right choice depends on whether appearance, driving use, or restoration character is leading the decision.
What brands offer tires for the 1937 La Salle 50?
700-16 tires for the 1937 La Salle 50 are available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA. Those brands cover a mix of classic bias-ply passenger options along with specialty military and truck-style designs in the same nominal size and rim diameter.
Brand choice should be considered alongside the tire series, sidewall style, and the car's intended presentation rather than treated as a ranking exercise. One owner may want a wide whitewall classic passenger tire, while another may be comparing blackwall alternatives or looking closely at rim-width guidance and load-capacity figures.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1937 La Salle 50?
A period-style starting point for a 1937 La Salle 50 is a 700-16 bias-ply tire, since that keeps the car in its proper size format and construction type. Within that size, classic passenger-car offerings with either blackwall or wide whitewall styling provide the most restoration-oriented visual direction.
The right choice depends on how closely the car is being restored and the exact look you want on the finished vehicle. Owners pursuing exact historical accuracy should compare tire details with marque references, restoration photos, and authoritative period sources, while others may simply choose the sidewall treatment that best matches the car's presentation.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1937 La Salle 50?
Tire construction matters because a 1937 La Salle 50 is built around a bias-ply fitment, and that construction contributes to the narrow, upright visual character expected on a prewar luxury car. Keeping the car in a 700-16 bias-ply format preserves the traditional proportions and sidewall presence associated with the era.
Appearance also changes with sidewall treatment, since a wide whitewall creates a more formal and prominent period impression than a blackwall. Even within the same size, tread style and overall tire presentation can shift the car's character noticeably, so construction and appearance should be considered together rather than as separate decisions.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1937 La Salle 50?
Yes. A 1937 La Salle 50 may still call for 700-16 tires, but fitment can change if the car has aftermarket wheels, replacement rims with different width, altered suspension height, or body and brake changes made during an older restoration. Those changes can affect clearance and product choice even when the nominal tire size stays the same.
Collector cars often carry decades of accumulated changes, so it is worth measuring the actual wheel before selecting a tire. Steering clearance, fender space, and wheel width should all be checked on the car as it sits now, especially when considering truck or military-style 700-16 tires that may differ in character from passenger-car options.
What should I inspect before driving a 1937 La Salle 50 on new tires?
Before putting a 1937 La Salle 50 back on the road, inspect the wheels for damage or rust, confirm the rim dimensions, and make sure the tires are mounted and inflated appropriately for their specification. It is also wise to check valve stems, wheel hardware, brake condition, and any obvious suspension or steering wear.
A prewar collector car should also be checked for side-to-side clearance, free steering movement, and stable ride height before any meaningful road use. After the first short drive, recheck air retention and look for any signs of rubbing, uneven seating, or contact marks that could point to wheel or chassis issues.
How should 700-16 tires on a collector 1937 La Salle 50 be maintained?
700-16 tires on a collector 1937 La Salle 50 should be kept clean, properly inflated, and inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread wear, and slow air loss. Because collector cars often spend long periods parked, tire age and storage conditions can matter as much as mileage when judging overall condition.
Storage away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the sidewalls, especially on cars that are driven only occasionally. Rolling the car periodically, checking pressure before every outing, and looking over the tires after seasonal storage can prevent age-related problems from being missed until road use begins.
