The 1938 Lafayette 3810 comes from the late pre-war period, when American cars balanced upright styling, moderate power, and everyday road manners with tire designs that still reflected the technology of the 1930s. For owners of this exact Lafayette, tire selection starts with one primary fitment: a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim. That keeps the decision focused less on size changes and more on choosing the right period-style presentation, including blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall options across several vintage tire series. For restoration-minded driving, matching the tire’s look and construction to the car’s intended use matters just as much as getting the size right.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1938 Lafayette 3810
The 1938 Lafayette 3810 uses one primary tire size: 600-16, a bias-ply fitment for a 16-inch rim. The covered 6 Cyl. sub-model uses that same size, so the main decision is not which size fits, but which 600-16 tire best matches the car’s appearance, intended road use, and restoration direction.
A 600-16 tire uses a vintage numeric bias-ply size system, where the 600 indicates an approximate 6.00-inch nominal section width and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1938 Lafayette 3810, this is a traditional bias-ply fitment that suits the car’s pre-war stance and period driving character. Within this size, choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, and others across several vintage series. Selecting among them comes down to the look you want, the wheel width in use, and whether the car is being restored, shown, or driven regularly.
Tire fitment is straightforward for the covered 1938 Lafayette 3810 sub-models because the same primary size is used across them. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car remains on the expected 600-16 bias-ply fitment and 16-inch wheel setup.
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1938 Lafayette 3810 6 Cyl.
The 1938 Lafayette 3810 6 Cyl. uses the 600-16 bias-ply tire size. That keeps tire selection centered on construction style and appearance details such as blackwall or whitewall presentation, while also confirming that the wheels remain the correct 16-inch type for the 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 1938 Lafayette 3810 Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 options span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Avon, Lester, Excelsior, STA, Camac, and Ford Script lines. Buyers can compare blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations along with several vintage bias-ply series and rim-width specifications.
For a 1938 Lafayette 3810, the most useful tire questions usually center on the 600-16 size, 16-inch rim fitment, bias-ply construction, sidewall appearance, and what to inspect before putting a collector car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1938 Lafayette 3810?
The 1938 Lafayette 3810 uses a 600-16 tire size. This is a vintage numeric bias-ply fitment, and the covered 6 Cyl. sub-model uses that same primary size on a 16-inch rim.
That makes the key decision less about finding different sizes and more about choosing the right 600-16 tire for the car’s use and presentation. Before ordering, confirm that the car still has the correct wheel diameter and that no later wheel, brake, or suspension changes have altered the fitment requirements.
What size rim does a 1938 Lafayette 3810 use?
The 1938 Lafayette 3810 uses a 16-inch rim with its primary 600-16 tire fitment. Product options in this size are built around that 16-inch wheel diameter, which is the first measurement to verify on the car.
Wheel diameter is only part of the picture on a pre-war car. It is also worth checking actual wheel width, bead-seat condition, and whether the wheels are original-style or later replacements, because those details affect which 600-16 tire options make the most sense for safe mounting and proper appearance.
Does the 1938 Lafayette 3810 6 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1938 Lafayette 3810 6 Cyl. uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the core fitment for this model. There is no separate primary size shown for that sub-model.
That consistency simplifies the search, but it does not remove the need to inspect the actual car. Older vehicles are often changed over time, so confirming the wheel diameter and checking that the current wheels match the intended 600-16 setup is still a smart step before selecting between blackwall, whitewall, or other period-style options.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1938 Lafayette 3810?
Start with the correct primary fitment: 600-16 bias-ply on a 16-inch rim. From there, the main considerations are wheel-width compatibility, sidewall appearance, tire series, and whether the car is being restored for show, preserved for casual touring, or kept for occasional local driving.
A blackwall gives a plainer traditional look, while wide whitewall and double-whitewall options create a stronger pre-war presentation. It also helps to compare product details such as maximum load figures where stated, because an older collector car may look correct on several tires in the same size while still benefiting from a more suitable match for its actual use.
What sidewall styles are available for 1938 Lafayette 3810 tires?
The 1938 Lafayette 3810 has 600-16 tire options in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those sidewall treatments create very different visual results even though they share the same basic vintage size and bias-ply construction.
Choosing among them depends on how the car is being presented. A blackwall usually suits a more understated or utility-focused look, while whitewall treatments add a more formal restoration-oriented appearance. It is worth checking period photos, marque references, or surviving examples if the goal is to stay close to how the car was commonly equipped in its era.
What brands offer tires for the 1938 Lafayette 3810?
The 600-16 size for the 1938 Lafayette 3810 is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands cover several vintage-style bias-ply series and sidewall presentations in the correct primary size.
The brand name alone should not be the only deciding factor. It is more useful to compare the exact tire series, sidewall treatment, wheel-width suitability, and any load information that applies to the way the car will actually be driven, especially if the Lafayette sees occasional touring instead of display-only use.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1938 Lafayette 3810?
A period-style starting point for a 1938 Lafayette 3810 is the original-type 600-16 bias-ply construction on a 16-inch rim. That keeps the car in the sizing system and visual character associated with a late pre-war American automobile.
The next choice is appearance. Blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions all exist in this size, and each changes the car’s presence substantially. When exact originality matters, the smartest approach is to compare surviving photos, marque-club guidance, or restoration records rather than assuming one sidewall treatment was universal across every Lafayette.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1938 Lafayette 3810?
Tire construction has a strong effect on how a restored 1938 Lafayette 3810 looks. A 600-16 bias-ply tire preserves the tall, upright visual character that most owners expect on a pre-war car, especially when paired with an appropriate blackwall or whitewall treatment.
Appearance is only part of the decision, but it matters on a vehicle of this era. The tread style, sidewall shape, and overall stance all influence whether the car reads as authentically pre-war or noticeably modernized, so construction choice should match the restoration goal before smaller brand or series differences are considered.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1938 Lafayette 3810?
Yes. Even though the primary fitment is 600-16 on a 16-inch rim, later changes can affect what works on a 1938 Lafayette 3810. Replacement wheels, brake conversions, altered ride height, and suspension repairs can all change the space available around the tire.
That is why the actual wheel diameter and width should be confirmed before choosing among available 600-16 products. On an older car, it also helps to check steering clearance at full lock and inspect fender and suspension space, especially if the car has not remained in strictly stock wheel and chassis form.
What should I inspect before driving a 1938 Lafayette 3810 on new tires?
Before driving a 1938 Lafayette 3810 on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve stems, and overall chassis condition as carefully as the tires themselves. The rim should be sound, the mounting surfaces clean, and the suspension and steering components in suitable condition for road use.
After installation, confirm inflation, recheck for any air loss, and look for clearance issues through turns and suspension movement. A collector car that sits for long periods also benefits from checking for brake drag, wheel-bearing play, and alignment-related wear patterns so the new 600-16 tires are not put into service with avoidable problems.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1938 Lafayette 3810 be maintained?
Collector-car 600-16 tires should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and careful storage habits. Bias-ply tires on a vehicle like the 1938 Lafayette 3810 should be watched for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, even if the car is driven only occasionally.
Storage conditions matter almost as much as mileage on an older vehicle. Keeping the Lafayette away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and moving the car periodically can reduce long stationary loading. A close inspection before every longer drive is a sensible routine for any pre-war collector car.
