The 1941 Buick 50 Super came at a pivotal moment for Buick, carrying the brand’s smooth straight-eight character and upscale road presence into the final full model year before wartime production changed the American car market. A car of this size and era depends heavily on the right tire profile to preserve both stance and driving feel. The 1941 Buick 50 Super uses a 650-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping it firmly in prewar fitment territory. That size is available in blackwall and wide whitewall styles across several classic tire series. The real choice is whether the goal is touring-ready dependability, traditional presentation, or a restoration-oriented look.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1941 Buick 50 Super
The 1941 Buick 50 Super uses one primary tire size: 650-16. It is a bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and the covered 8-cylinder sub-model uses the same size. That means the main decision is not which size fits, but which version of 650-16 best suits the car’s intended appearance, tire series preference, and road use.
A 650-16 is a vintage numeric bias-ply size, with the 6.50 indicating nominal section width in inches and the 16 indicating the wheel diameter. On a 1941 Buick 50 Super, this is the traditional prewar-style construction that preserves the car’s intended proportions and period driving character. Within this size, there is meaningful variety, including blackwall and wide whitewall presentations from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, STA, and Tornel across several classic tire series. Choosing among them comes down to the look you want, the wheel width being used, and whether the Buick is restored for authenticity-minded presentation or regular collector-car use.
Fitment is straightforward for the covered 1941 Buick 50 Super sub-models. The listed 8-cylinder configuration uses the same primary tire size, so selection centers on tire style, brand, and restoration goals rather than switching between different fitments.
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1941 Buick 50 Super 8 Cyl.
The 1941 Buick 50 Super 8 Cyl. uses the same 650-16 bias-ply fitment as the model core. That keeps tire selection focused on whether the car needs a traditional blackwall, a more formal wide whitewall appearance, or a particular classic tire series that matches the Buick’s intended 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 1941 Buick 50 Super Tires for Sale
Available 650-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, STA, and Tornel, with both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The product grid also shows several classic passenger-car series alongside heavier-duty military and truck-style bias-ply options.
Owners of a 1941 Buick 50 Super usually need clear answers on 650-16 fitment, 16-inch rim compatibility, sidewall and brand choices, restoration-minded appearance, and what to inspect before putting a prewar Buick back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1941 Buick 50 Super?
The 1941 Buick 50 Super uses a 650-16 tire size. This is a bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, which places it squarely in the sizing conventions used on many prewar American cars.
That makes the next step less about choosing between sizes and more about selecting the right version of 650-16 for the car. Sidewall style, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility all matter, especially if the Buick has been restored, modified, or fitted with wheels other than its original type.
What size rim does a 1941 Buick 50 Super use?
The 1941 Buick 50 Super uses a 16-inch rim with its 650-16 tire size. Product options in this size are built around 16-inch wheel fitment, and several passenger-car choices are intended for rim widths around the mid-4-inch to 5-inch range.
Rim diameter is the first point to confirm, but wheel width matters too. A Buick that has had later wheels installed may still measure 16 inches in diameter while differing in width or profile, so checking the actual wheel before selecting among available 650-16 tires helps avoid mismatched fitment.
Does the 1941 Buick 50 Super 8 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1941 Buick 50 Super 8 Cyl. uses the same 650-16 bias-ply tire size as the model core. There is no alternate primary size shown for that sub-model.
That consistency simplifies the fitment question, but it does not eliminate the need to choose the right tire type within the size. Buyers still need to decide between blackwall and wide whitewall styling, compare passenger-car versus heavier-duty tread types, and confirm that the Buick’s current wheels match the intended tire.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 650-16 tire for a 1941 Buick 50 Super?
Start with the fact that 650-16 is the correct primary size and that the Buick uses bias-ply construction. From there, the main choices are sidewall style, tire series, brand, and whether the tire is a traditional passenger-car design or a heavier-duty truck or military-style option.
A restoration-oriented Buick often leads buyers toward a classic passenger-car tread and an appearance that suits the car’s era, while a more utility-focused application may point toward a different series. Wheel width, load style, and the overall visual character of the tire should all be weighed before making the final choice.
What sidewall styles are available for 1941 Buick 50 Super tires?
The 1941 Buick 50 Super has 650-16 tire options in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. That gives owners a meaningful appearance choice within the correct primary size, rather than requiring a change in size to alter the car’s visual presentation.
Blackwalls tend to give the Buick a more restrained and utilitarian look, while wide whitewalls create a more formal prewar presentation. The right choice depends on how the car is being restored or displayed, and on whether the goal is understated road use or a more dressed-up period-style appearance.
What brands offer tires for the 1941 Buick 50 Super?
650-16 tires for the 1941 Buick 50 Super are available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands appear across several classic passenger-car and heavier-duty bias-ply series.
Brand alone should not drive the decision. It makes more sense to compare each tire’s sidewall style, intended use, rim-width compatibility, and overall presentation on the car. A Buick restored for period-style appearance may call for a different series than one being used in a more utilitarian or mixed-use setting.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1941 Buick 50 Super?
A period-style 1941 Buick 50 Super starts with the correct 650-16 bias-ply size. Within that size, classic passenger-car series and either blackwall or wide whitewall sidewalls can move the Buick toward a more formal touring look or a more restrained prewar presentation.
Exact originality can vary by how a car was delivered, restored, or historically presented, so appearance details deserve careful thought. If the Buick is being judged or restored to a very specific standard, marque-club guidance, period photos, and vehicle-specific documentation are the best references before settling on a sidewall style.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1941 Buick 50 Super restoration?
Yes, tire fitment plays a major role in how a 1941 Buick 50 Super sits, looks, and feels on the road. Staying with the correct 650-16 bias-ply size keeps the car aligned with the proportions and construction style expected of a prewar Buick.
Fitment affects more than appearance. The wrong wheel diameter, an unsuitable rim width, or a tire style that clashes with the car’s era can change the Buick’s visual balance and complicate installation. Restoration-minded owners usually get the best result by treating tire choice as both a mechanical and aesthetic decision.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1941 Buick 50 Super?
Yes. Even though the 1941 Buick 50 Super uses a 650-16 tire size, later wheel changes, altered ride height, brake conversions, or other chassis modifications can affect how that tire fits and clears the car.
A Buick with aftermarket wheels may still use a 16-inch diameter but differ in width or offset, which can change sidewall shape and clearance. Before mounting new tires, measure the actual wheels on the car and check steering, fender, and suspension clearance so the selected 650-16 matches the current setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1941 Buick 50 Super on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and overall wheel condition in addition to the new tires themselves. On a collector car like a 1941 Buick 50 Super, it also makes sense to confirm that the wheels are true and that the tires are seated properly and inflated appropriately.
The rest of the car deserves attention too. Steering looseness, worn suspension parts, brake issues, or old wheel bearings can undermine how a new set of 650-16 tires behaves. A careful mechanical check helps the Buick drive as intended and reduces the chance of blaming tire fitment for unrelated chassis problems.
How should 650-16 tires on a collector 1941 Buick 50 Super be maintained?
Collector-car tires in 650-16 size should be kept clean, properly inflated, and inspected regularly for cracking, bulges, cuts, irregular wear, and air loss. On a low-use 1941 Buick 50 Super, tire age and storage conditions can matter just as much as tread depth.
Long periods of storage call for extra care. Keeping the Buick away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the sidewalls, and moving the car occasionally can reduce long-term flat spotting. Routine inspection before each drive is especially important when the car is used seasonally rather than weekly.
