The 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. came from a period when Pontiac balanced streamlined late-Depression styling with the smoother, more substantial character buyers expected from an eight-cylinder American car. That makes tire choice part of the vehicle’s overall presentation, not just a maintenance item. This Pontiac uses a 650-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping the fitment firmly in prewar sizing and construction. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall and wide whitewall treatments, along with several classic tire series and even some truck-oriented tread patterns. The right selection depends on whether the car is being preserved for restoration-minded appearance, regular touring, or a more specialized use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.
The 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses one primary tire size: 650-16. It is a bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and the covered Base sub-model uses that same size, so the main decision is not size selection but which version of 650-16 best suits the car’s appearance, intended use, and wheel setup.
The 650-16 size uses a vintage numeric bias-ply format in which 6.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 16 refers to the rim diameter. On a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl., this keeps the fitment in the traditional prewar bias-ply construction that suits the car’s original-era stance and visual character. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall designs from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Tornel, and others across several classic series. Choosing among them comes down to the kind of presentation and use the Pontiac will see, while also confirming wheel width and overall vehicle setup.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. sub-models. The shared size keeps the focus on selecting the right 650-16 tire style and series rather than sorting through multiple fitment combinations.
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1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. Base
The 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. Base uses the same 650-16 bias-ply fitment found across this vehicle coverage. That means tire selection centers on appearance and application, such as blackwall versus wide whitewall or a more passenger-car-style tread versus a truck-oriented option.
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 8 Cyl. Tires for Sale
Available 650-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Tornel, and Excelsior, with blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments across several classic bias-ply series. Rim-width compatibility also varies slightly by product, so comparison matters.
Owners of a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. usually need to confirm the 650-16 fitment, understand what that vintage size means, and sort through bias-ply product choices, sidewall appearance, wheel compatibility, and road-use checks before putting the car back into service.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
The 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses a 650-16 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and the covered Base sub-model uses that same size rather than a separate alternate fitment.
That makes the main choice less about finding the correct size and more about choosing the right version of 650-16 for the car. Before replacing tires, confirm that the Pontiac still has the correct 16-inch wheels and that wheel width, suspension condition, and body clearance have not changed through later modifications.
What size rim does a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. use?
The primary tire fitment for the 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. is built around a 16-inch rim. That rim diameter is part of the 650-16 size itself, so matching the wheel diameter is essential before selecting any tire.
Rim diameter should be confirmed along with wheel width, because 650-16 products do not all share the exact same rim-width specification. A car that has sat for years or changed hands several times may no longer have its original wheel set, so checking the actual wheels on the vehicle prevents expensive mistakes.
What does 650-16 mean on a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
On a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl., 650-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, while 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches.
That older sizing format matters because it points you toward period-style bias-ply construction rather than a modern metric tire code. Once the size is confirmed, the next step is comparing the available 650-16 options by sidewall style, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility instead of trying to translate it into a different primary fitment.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 650-16 tire for a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
Start with the correct 650-16 size and the 16-inch wheel diameter, then compare construction details that matter within that fitment. This Pontiac’s available tires are bias-ply, but they vary by tire series, sidewall style, rim-width specification, weight, and in some cases maximum load rating.
A restoration-minded owner may focus on traditional appearance, especially blackwall versus wide whitewall, while a driver-oriented owner may pay closer attention to tread style and wheel compatibility. It also helps to verify how the car will be used, since some 650-16 options are clearly passenger-car styled and others are more truck-oriented.
What sidewall styles are available for 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. tires?
The 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. has 650-16 tire options in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. That gives the car two very different visual directions while staying within the same vintage size and bias-ply construction family.
Sidewall style can dramatically change the look of a prewar Pontiac, especially on a car with full wheel covers or strong fender lines. Buyers focused on period-style presentation should compare whitewall width and overall tread character carefully, while drivers more concerned with a restrained look may prefer one of the blackwall offerings.
What brands offer tires for the 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
The 650-16 size for a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Tornel, and Excelsior. Those brands appear across several bias-ply series and include both passenger-car-style and more utility-focused options.
Brand alone should not be the only filter. Compare the sidewall treatment you want, the tread style that suits the car’s intended use, and the wheel-width specification tied to each product. That approach keeps the decision centered on fitment and presentation instead of assuming every 650-16 option serves the same purpose.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
A period-style 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. should begin with the correct 650-16 bias-ply fitment. From there, the right choice depends on the look being pursued, whether that means a restrained blackwall presentation or a more formal wide whitewall appearance within the same vintage size.
For many prewar cars, tire appearance has a strong effect on stance and overall visual balance. Buyers who want the Pontiac to reflect a particular delivery, restoration theme, or regional style should compare tire series and sidewall treatments carefully, then confirm details against marque references if exact historical appearance matters.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
On a restored 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl., bias-ply construction helps preserve the traditional look associated with the car’s era. The 650-16 fitment available here stays within that vintage construction style, so the visual differences come more from tread character and sidewall treatment than from switching constructions.
That makes details like blackwall versus wide whitewall especially important to the finished appearance. A restoration focused on authentic prewar character usually benefits from keeping the tire’s proportions and presentation in line with the car’s original-era design language, while still confirming the wheels are suitable for the exact tire chosen.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl.?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. even when the tire size remains 650-16. Changes such as aftermarket wheels, altered wheel width, brake conversions, suspension work, ride-height changes, or body repairs can all influence how a vintage tire sits and clears.
A prewar car may also have accumulated decades of small changes that are not obvious at first glance. Checking actual wheel diameter, wheel width, steering clearance, and fender clearance before mounting new tires is especially important when the vehicle has an uncertain restoration history or has been adapted for touring use.
What should I inspect before driving a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. on new tires?
Before driving a 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and overall brake and suspension condition. Tire pressure should be set correctly, and the tires themselves should be checked for proper seating, visible damage, and adequate clearance at full steering lock.
A newly mounted set of 650-16 tires should also be evaluated after the first few miles for any signs of rubbing, air loss, or uneven behavior. On a collector car that may have been stored for long periods, it is wise to inspect wheel bearings, alignment condition, and general chassis health before longer road use.
How should 650-16 tires on a collector 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. be maintained?
650-16 tires on a collector 1938 Pontiac 8 Cyl. should be maintained with regular pressure checks, periodic visual inspection, and storage habits that limit exposure to heat, sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources. Low annual mileage does not stop a tire from aging, so condition matters as much as tread depth.
Owners should watch for sidewall cracking, flat spotting from long storage, bulges, cuts, and unexplained air loss. Moving the car occasionally, keeping the tires clean, and inspecting them before each driving season helps preserve both safety and ride quality on a vintage Pontiac that may spend long periods parked.
