The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. came from a period when American cars were blending streamlined late-Depression styling with increasingly confident highway manners. For owners restoring or maintaining one today, tire choice plays a major role in preserving that prewar look and the driving character that goes with it. This Pontiac uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping the fitment squarely in traditional prewar territory. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across several classic tire series and brands. The real task is choosing the version that best matches the car’s appearance, intended use, and wheel setup.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl.
The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. uses one primary tire size: 600-16 in bias-ply construction on a 16-inch rim. That same fitment carries across the covered Base sub-model, so the main decision is not which size fits, but which style of 600-16 best suits a restoration-oriented car, a road-driven collector, or a more specialized period presentation.
A 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size in which the 600 designates an approximate 6.00-inch nominal section width and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl., this keeps the car in its proper prewar bias-ply sizing language and traditional visual proportions. Available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Lester, Excelsior, Avon, Ford Script, STA, and Camac across several tire series. Choosing among them depends on whether the goal is a cleaner driver look, a stronger restoration-style whitewall presentation, or a more specialized tread pattern.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. range. The Base sub-model uses the same primary size, so the focus stays on selecting the right version of that tire rather than sorting through multiple fitment combinations.
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1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base
The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base uses the same 600-16 bias-ply fitment as the model core, keeping wheel diameter and construction consistent. That makes tire selection more about appearance, tread style, and brand choice than about sorting out different size requirements.
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 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Lester, Excelsior, Avon, Ford Script, STA, and Camac, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The product grid also shows distinct tire series and some variation in rim-width guidance, load figures, and tread character.
Owners of a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. usually want clarity on the correct 600-16 size, 16-inch rim fitment, bias-ply construction, sidewall style choices, and what to inspect before putting a prewar car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. uses a 600-16 tire in bias-ply construction. That is the primary fitment for the model covered here, and the Base sub-model uses the same size, so the size question is relatively simple compared with later vehicles that carried multiple fitment combinations.
Once the 600-16 size is confirmed, the next step is choosing the right version of that tire for the car’s condition and purpose. Sidewall style, tread character, brand, and wheel-width compatibility all matter, especially on a prewar vehicle that may have been restored, modified, or sitting for long periods between drives.
What size rim does a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. use?
The primary tire fitment for the 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. is built around a 16-inch rim. That rim diameter matches the 600-16 size designation, where the final number identifies the wheel diameter the tire is designed to mount on.
Verifying rim diameter is still worth doing before ordering, especially if the car has had wheel changes over the years. Checking actual wheel width at the same time is just as important, because available 600-16 tires do not all share identical rim-width guidance across every brand and series.
Does the 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. Base uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the main model fitment. That keeps the covered fitment consistent rather than splitting the car into separate tire-size paths by sub-model.
Even with one shared size, selection can still vary depending on the look and use of the car. A blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall 600-16 can change the Pontiac’s overall presentation, and wheel condition, age of the existing tires, and any prior modifications should still be checked before replacement.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
Start with the correct 600-16 size and bias-ply construction, then narrow the choice by intended appearance and use. A road-driven prewar Pontiac may call for a different sidewall presentation or tread style than a restoration-focused car that is meant to emphasize a stronger period-style look.
Brand, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and load figures are all worth comparing once size is settled. It also helps to inspect the wheels themselves, since collector cars sometimes wear older replacements or restored rims that differ slightly from original practice and can influence which 600-16 option makes the most sense.
What sidewall styles are available for 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. tires?
The 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. has 600-16 tire choices in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those sidewall treatments create distinctly different visual effects, from a more restrained utilitarian look to a brighter prewar presentation that stands out more strongly against the wheel and body.
Appearance should be balanced with how the car is being restored or driven. Owners aiming for a period-style result often compare whitewall width and overall tire character carefully, while a driver-focused Pontiac may simply need the sidewall style that best suits its trim, finish, and how authentic or understated the final look should be.
What brands offer tires for the 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
Available 600-16 tires for the 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. include options from BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Lester, Excelsior, Avon, Ford Script, STA, and Camac. Those brands appear across several bias-ply series, with both passenger-style and more specialized tread presentations in the same basic size.
Choosing between brands is less about ranking names and more about matching the tire to the car. Sidewall style, tread design, rim-width guidance, weight, and the visual tone of the tire series are often more useful comparison points for a prewar Pontiac than brand name alone.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
A period-style 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. starts with the correct 600-16 bias-ply size, since that preserves the prewar sizing format and traditional tire profile. From there, the best match usually depends on whether the car calls for a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation and which tire series best complements the restoration.
When visual authenticity matters, compare the tire’s overall look as carefully as its fitment. Whitewall treatment, tread character, and brand presentation can all influence how convincing the finished car appears, and exact originality questions are best checked against marque references or other vehicle-specific historical sources.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. because tire size and construction have a strong effect on stance, side profile, and the overall period impression of a prewar car. Staying with the proper 600-16 bias-ply format keeps the restoration grounded in the type of fitment the car was built around.
Fitment is not only about appearance. The wheel diameter, wheel width, and tire condition all affect how safely and cleanly the car can be returned to the road, so a restoration should treat tires as part of the overall setup rather than as a cosmetic detail added at the end.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl.?
Yes. A 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. may still use the correct 600-16 size on paper, but aftermarket wheels, altered wheel widths, suspension changes, brake conversions, or body work can all affect how a tire sits and clears the car. That is especially important on older collector vehicles with decades of prior work.
Checking actual wheel dimensions and looking closely at fender, steering, and suspension clearance helps avoid surprises. Even when the car remains on 16-inch wheels, changes elsewhere in the setup can influence which 600-16 tire is the better match and whether a particular tread or sidewall configuration is practical.
What should I inspect before driving a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. on new tires?
Before putting a 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. on the road with new tires, inspect the wheels, valve hardware, and overall tire installation, then confirm pressure, bead seating, and visible clearance at the front and rear. A prewar car also deserves a close look at steering, suspension, and brake condition before regular driving resumes.
The tires themselves should be checked for any sign of shipping damage or mounting issues, and the car should be eased into service with a short test drive. Watching for rubbing, pull, vibration, and pressure loss is especially useful on collector vehicles that have spent long periods parked or recently returned to use.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. be maintained?
Maintain 600-16 tires on a collector 1938 Pontiac 6 Cyl. by checking pressure regularly, inspecting tread and sidewalls for cracks, cuts, bulges, or uneven wear, and keeping the car on clean, properly maintained wheels. Collector cars often accumulate little mileage, so condition and age can matter as much as visible tread depth.
Storage habits also influence tire life. Keeping the Pontiac away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, while periodic movement and routine inspections help catch flat-spotting or air loss early before the next drive or event.
