The 1940 Hudson 44 Series came from a period when Hudson was building solid, full-size American cars with an emphasis on road manners, durability, and distinctive styling. For owners restoring or maintaining one today, tire choice has a big effect on both appearance and the way the car presents itself on the road. The 1940 Hudson 44 Series uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping the fitment squarely in traditional prewar sizing. That leaves room to choose among blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across several vintage tire lines. The key is matching the tire to the car's restoration direction, wheel dimensions, and intended driving use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1940 Hudson 44 Series
The 1940 Hudson 44 Series uses one primary tire size: 600-16. It is a bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and the same size carries across the covered 8 Cyl. sub-model. That means the main decision is not which primary size fits, but which version of 600-16 best suits the car's appearance, tire series preference, and road-use plans.
A 600-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which the 600 refers to an approximate 6.00-inch nominal section width and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1940 Hudson 44 Series, this keeps the tire in the traditional bias-ply construction associated with prewar fitment and period-style road presentation. Available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments from brands such as BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Goodyear, Avon, Lester, Excelsior, STA, Camac, and Ford Script. Choosing within this size comes down to the look you want, the tire series that best matches the build, and confirming wheel width before installation.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the 1940 Hudson 44 Series. The covered 8 Cyl. version uses the same primary tire size, so the focus stays on selecting the right 600-16 tire style and verifying that the car still has the proper 16-inch wheel setup.
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1940 Hudson 44 Series 8 Cyl.
The 1940 Hudson 44 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 600-16 bias-ply fitment as the model line overall. That keeps tire selection centered on appearance and product type, whether the goal is a traditional blackwall look or a more restoration-oriented whitewall presentation.
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 1940 Hudson 44 Series Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 tires for the 1940 Hudson 44 Series cover a wide range of period-style choices, including BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Avon, Lester, Excelsior, STA, Camac, and Ford Script. The product grid is most useful for comparing tire series, sidewall style, and rim-width specifications within the same primary size.
Owners of a 1940 Hudson 44 Series usually need clarity on 600-16 sizing, 16-inch rim fitment, bias-ply tire selection, sidewall appearance, and the checks that matter before putting a collector car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1940 Hudson 44 Series?
The 1940 Hudson 44 Series uses a 600-16 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply fitment built for a 16-inch rim, and it is the primary size used for the covered model and its 8 Cyl. sub-model.
That makes the main selection question less about choosing among multiple primary sizes and more about choosing the right version of 600-16. Before replacing tires, confirm that the car still has 16-inch wheels in an appropriate width and has not been changed to a different wheel or suspension setup over the years.
What size rim does a 1940 Hudson 44 Series use?
The 1940 Hudson 44 Series uses a 16-inch rim with its 600-16 tire fitment. Product offerings in this size commonly support rim widths around 4.00 to 4.50 inches, with some applications extending to 5.0 inches depending on the tire.
Wheel diameter is the first point to confirm before ordering tires, especially on an older car that may have had wheels swapped during its life. Rim width also matters, since it affects how the tire sits on the wheel and whether the selected 600-16 tire matches the wheel's usable range.
Does the 1940 Hudson 44 Series 8 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1940 Hudson 44 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the model line covered here. There is no separate primary size within this fitment grouping for that sub-model.
That simplifies the search, but it does not make every 600-16 tire the same choice. Owners still need to decide between blackwall and whitewall styles, compare tire series, and verify that the car retains the expected 16-inch wheel dimensions before putting a new set into service.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1940 Hudson 44 Series?
Start with the correct primary size, which is 600-16, and keep the construction in bias-ply form. From there, compare the tire's sidewall style, series, rim-width specification, and any load information that matches how the car will be driven and presented.
A restoration-oriented Hudson may call for a wide whitewall or double-whitewall look, while a more understated build may suit a blackwall. It also helps to inspect the wheels before ordering, since an older collector car may no longer have its original wheel setup or may have accumulated mismatched rims over time.
What sidewall styles are available for 1940 Hudson 44 Series tires?
The 1940 Hudson 44 Series has 600-16 tire choices in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall form. Those options give the car very different visual character even when the size and basic bias-ply construction remain the same.
Blackwalls tend to create a more restrained, utilitarian presentation, while wide whitewalls and double-whitewalls bring out a stronger prewar luxury and restoration feel. The best choice depends on how the Hudson is being finished, since sidewall treatment has a major effect on the car's stance and overall period impression.
What brands offer tires for the 1940 Hudson 44 Series?
Available 600-16 tires for the 1940 Hudson 44 Series include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands appear across several bias-ply series and sidewall treatments within the same primary size.
Brand choice is most useful when paired with the tire's series, tread style, and intended appearance. Rather than treating every brand option as interchangeable, compare how each 600-16 tire is configured for wheel width, sidewall presentation, and the kind of collector use the Hudson will actually see.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1940 Hudson 44 Series?
A period-style 1940 Hudson 44 Series starts with the correct 600-16 bias-ply size. From there, the strongest visual decisions are the tire series and whether the car looks best with a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall sidewall treatment.
For many restorations, appearance matters just as much as basic fitment because tire profile and sidewall style strongly shape how a prewar car sits. When exact originality is important, compare the planned tire choice against marque references, period photos, or restoration records rather than assuming any current 600-16 style is exact.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1940 Hudson 44 Series restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1940 Hudson 44 Series restoration. The proper 600-16 bias-ply size helps preserve the car's intended proportions, wheel fill, and traditional prewar visual balance in a way that oversized or undersized replacements often do not.
Fitment also affects more than appearance. Wheel diameter, rim width, and the tire's profile all influence clearance and how the car presents on the road, so checking those details before installation helps keep the finished restoration coherent rather than forcing a vintage Hudson to wear a mismatched modern look.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1940 Hudson 44 Series?
Yes. Modifications can change tire fitment on a 1940 Hudson 44 Series even when the original tire size is 600-16. Wheel swaps, different rim widths, altered offset, suspension work, or body changes can all affect whether a given tire setup still clears properly.
That is especially important on older collector cars, where decades of repairs and upgrades may have changed the running gear without obvious visual clues. Checking actual wheel diameter, wheel width, and clearance at full steering lock is a smart step before committing to any new tire, even in the correct nominal size.
What should I inspect before driving a 1940 Hudson 44 Series on new tires?
Before driving a 1940 Hudson 44 Series on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage or rust issues, confirm valve stem condition, and make sure the tires are mounted to the correct 16-inch rims. It is also wise to check alignment basics, steering components, and brake condition on a car of this age.
A fresh set of tires cannot compensate for worn suspension parts or poor wheel condition. After installation, verify inflation, look for any fender or steering interference, and give the car a cautious initial road test so any rubbing, pull, vibration, or air-loss issue can be corrected before regular driving.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1940 Hudson 44 Series be maintained?
Collector-car 600-16 tires should be checked regularly for air pressure, tread condition, sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, and signs of age-related deterioration. On a 1940 Hudson 44 Series that spends long periods parked, condition monitoring matters just as much as mileage because low annual use does not stop rubber from aging.
Storage conditions play a big role in tire life. Keeping the Hudson away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and moving the car occasionally can reduce prolonged stress in one spot. Any tire showing visible structural concerns should be inspected before road use.
