The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe sits at an important point in prewar American motoring, when styling, comfort, and everyday road manners were becoming just as important as basic transportation. For many owners today, it is a restoration-minded car that rewards attention to visual detail as much as mechanical correctness. The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping tire selection centered on traditional fitment rather than modern sizing. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across several classic tire series. The key is matching the tire to the car's appearance goals, wheel setup, and intended road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe
The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe uses one primary tire size: 600-16. That fitment is a bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, and it remains consistent for the covered 6 Cyl. sub-model. Because size selection is straightforward, the real decision becomes choosing the right period-style look, tire series, and intended-use pattern within the correct 600-16 fitment.
In a numeric bias-ply size like 600-16, the 600 refers to a nominal 6.00-inch section width and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe, this is a traditional bias-ply fitment that suits the car's prewar character and restoration-oriented tire profile. Available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions from brands such as BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Goodyear, and others, along with several series and tread styles. Choosing within 600-16 is mainly about appearance, rim compatibility, and whether the car is being kept close to a stock-style presentation or used in a more specialized way.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe sub-models because the same primary size is used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still matters because it confirms that tire selection can stay focused on style, series, and intended use rather than a different fitment.
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1938 Chevrolet Deluxe 6 Cyl.
The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe 6 Cyl. uses the same 600-16 bias-ply fitment found across this application. That keeps tire selection centered on whether the car needs a blackwall, whitewall, or other period-style presentation, along with confirming the wheel remains a 16-inch setup.
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 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 options span BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Goodyear, Avon, Lester, Excelsior, STA, and Camac, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The product range also includes several classic passenger, military, and truck-oriented bias-ply series, so tread character and appearance both deserve a closer look.
Owners researching 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe tires usually want to confirm the 600-16 fitment first, then sort through sidewall style, brand, restoration appearance, and basic wheel and road-use checks before putting the car back into service.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe?
The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe uses a 600-16 tire size. This is a bias-ply fitment, and it is the primary size associated with the covered vehicle application, including the 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe 6 Cyl. sub-model.
That makes size selection relatively simple, but choosing the right 600-16 still involves more than matching the sidewall stamp. It is worth confirming that the car still has 16-inch wheels and a stock-type setup, especially if it has been restored long ago, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels during its life.
What size rim does a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe use?
The primary tire fitment for the 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe uses a 16-inch rim. The 600-16 tire size is built around that wheel diameter, so the first fitment check is making sure the car still carries the correct 16-inch wheel setup.
Rim diameter is not the only wheel detail that matters, especially on an older collector car. Many 600-16 products are intended for relatively narrow rims, so wheel width should also be checked before choosing among available passenger, whitewall, or specialty tread options in this size.
Does the 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe 6 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe 6 Cyl. uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the main 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe application covered here. That shared fitment keeps the tire decision focused on product style and intended use rather than switching to another primary size.
Even with shared fitment, the right tire can still vary depending on how the car is being finished or driven. A restoration-minded owner may focus on sidewall appearance, while another owner may be comparing tread style, load capacity, or wheel-width compatibility within the 600-16 range.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe?
Start with the correct 600-16 size and a bias-ply construction that matches the car's primary fitment. From there, the main choices are sidewall appearance, tread style, tire series, brand, and whether the tire is meant for a traditional passenger-car look or a more specialized military or truck-style presentation.
Wheel compatibility should stay part of the decision, not an afterthought. Several 600-16 options are intended for narrow 16-inch rims, so it helps to confirm the actual wheel width on the car and then choose the tire that best suits the Deluxe's restoration goals and expected driving use.
What sidewall styles are available for 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe tires?
The 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe has 600-16 tire options in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those choices can noticeably change the car's presentation, from a more understated driver appearance to a brighter period-style look that draws attention to the wheel openings.
Appearance choice should be balanced with the way the car is being restored or used. A buyer trying to maintain a traditional prewar look may compare whitewall treatments closely, while someone more focused on utility or a simpler visual treatment may prefer a blackwall in the same correct size.
What brands offer tires for the 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe?
The 600-16 size for a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands appear across several bias-ply series, with differences in sidewall style, tread character, and intended visual theme.
Brand selection is most useful when it helps narrow the type of tire you want, rather than treating every 600-16 the same. Comparing series, sidewall presentation, rim-width suitability, and load specifications will usually tell an owner more than the brand name alone on a prewar fitment like this.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe?
A period-style 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe starts with the correct 600-16 bias-ply size. From there, the most relevant choices are the visual treatment and tire series, especially whether the car looks right with a blackwall, a wide whitewall, or a double-whitewall presentation.
The best appearance choice depends on how closely the car is being restored and what historical look is being pursued. If exact originality matters, it is wise to compare the tire choice against marque references, restoration photos, and other vehicle-specific documentation rather than assuming every whitewall style would have appeared the same.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe?
Bias-ply construction plays a big role in the visual character of a restored 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe because the tire shape, proportions, and sidewall presentation are part of the car's prewar stance. In this application, 600-16 is offered as a bias-ply fitment, which supports that traditional look.
Construction affects more than appearance, but for restoration-minded owners the visual result is often the first concern. Sidewall style then becomes the next major decision, since a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall can shift the car's overall presentation even while staying within the same basic 600-16 size.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe?
Yes. A 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe may still use the correct 600-16 size on paper, but wheel replacements, suspension changes, brake conversions, or body alterations can affect how that tire sits and clears. Older cars often accumulate changes over time, even when they still look largely stock.
Checking the actual wheel diameter and width is the first step, followed by a close look at fender, steering, and suspension clearance. Those details matter even more if the car has been lowered, fitted with aftermarket wheels, or rebuilt with parts that changed the original wheel position.
What should I inspect before driving a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and overall wheel condition along with the new tires themselves. On the tires, look for proper inflation, even bead seating, and any early signs of rubbing once the car is on the ground and the steering is turned through its range.
A collector car also deserves a broader mechanical check before it goes back into regular driving. Brake condition, steering play, suspension wear, and alignment can all affect how a fresh set of 600-16 tires behaves, especially on a prewar chassis that may have sat for long periods.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe be maintained?
Collector-car tires benefit from regular pressure checks, visual inspection, and careful storage habits, even when the car is driven only occasionally. A 600-16 tire on a 1938 Chevrolet Deluxe should be watched for cracking, bulges, cuts, uneven wear, and gradual air loss between outings.
Long-term care matters because older vehicles often spend more time parked than driven. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources can help preserve the tires, and periodic movement or repositioning can reduce flat spotting during seasonal or long-term storage.
