The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe came at a pivotal moment for Ford passenger cars, carrying familiar prewar styling into a year shaped by wartime realities and short production runs. Today, that makes the car especially appealing to restoration-minded owners who want its road stance and presentation to feel right for the period. The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping the tire decision centered on authentic construction and proper wheel compatibility. Within that size, choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments across several traditional tire series. The real task is matching appearance, intended use, and wheel setup without drifting away from the car's character.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe
The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe uses one primary tire size: 600-16. That fitment is a bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, and the same size carries through to the Super Deluxe V8, so the main decision is not which size fits but which version of 600-16 best suits the car's appearance, intended use, and wheel setup.
The 600-16 size is a vintage numeric bias-ply format in which the 600 represents an approximate 6.00-inch nominal section width and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe, this keeps the tire choice rooted in traditional bias-ply construction and the visual proportions associated with prewar and immediate wartime-era passenger cars. Within 600-16, there are meaningful differences in brand, tire series, and sidewall treatment, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall options. It is the size to evaluate when preserving a period-style stance and confirming compatibility with the car's existing 16-inch wheels.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward for the 1942 Ford Super Deluxe. The covered Super Deluxe V8 uses the same primary tire size, so selection comes down to choosing the right 600-16 bias-ply tire for the car's appearance, road use, and wheel details.
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1942 Ford Super Deluxe V8
The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe V8 uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the core model. That keeps the focus on selecting the right sidewall style, tire series, and period-style presentation while still confirming that the car retains the proper 16-inch wheel setup.
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 1942 Ford Super Deluxe Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Camac, and Excelsior, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The product grid also includes different tire series and some military- or truck-style tread patterns in the same basic size.
These 1942 Ford Super Deluxe tire FAQs focus on the 600-16 fitment, 16-inch rim compatibility, bias-ply construction, sidewall and brand choices, and the checks that matter before putting a collector-era Ford back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe?
The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe uses a 600-16 tire. That is a numeric bias-ply size built for a 16-inch wheel, and it is the primary fitment for this model.
Because there is one primary size, the decision usually shifts from fitment to selection within the size. Check that the car still has its correct 16-inch wheels and has not been changed to a different diameter or width over the years, then compare sidewall style, tire series, and intended use before choosing a 600-16 tire.
What size rim does a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe use?
The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe uses a 16-inch rim with its 600-16 tire size. Product fitments in this size center on 16-inch applications, with many passenger-car options calling for roughly 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim widths.
Rim diameter is the first thing to confirm on a collector car that may have seen wheel changes over time. After verifying the wheel is 16 inches, inspect width and condition as well, since bead seating, sidewall shape, and overall fit can all be affected if the car is running wheels outside the intended range for a 600-16 tire.
Does the 1942 Ford Super Deluxe V8 use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe V8 uses the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size as the core 1942 Ford Super Deluxe fitment, so there is no separate primary size to sort through for that sub-model.
That makes sub-model identification less of a hurdle than on vehicles with multiple wheel and tire packages. The practical step is confirming the car still carries the expected 16-inch wheels, then choosing among blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall versions of 600-16 according to the look you want and the way the Ford will be driven.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe?
Start with the correct 600-16 size and bias-ply construction, since that is the primary fitment for the 1942 Ford Super Deluxe. From there, compare sidewall style, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and the tire's intended character, since available options range from passenger-car styles to more specialized military- or truck-oriented patterns.
Appearance matters on a car from this era, but so does matching the tire to the actual wheel and use case. A restoration-minded owner may focus on a traditional whitewall presentation, while a more utility-oriented car may lean toward a blackwall or specialty tread, provided the wheel dimensions and overall setup remain appropriate for the chosen 600-16 tire.
What sidewall styles are available for 1942 Ford Super Deluxe tires?
The 1942 Ford Super Deluxe has 600-16 tire choices in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those sidewall treatments appear across several brands and tire series, giving the car a wide range of traditional-looking presentation options within the correct basic size.
Sidewall choice changes the car's visual character more than many owners expect, especially on a full-fendered early-1940s Ford. A blackwall keeps the look more understated, while wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions create a stronger period-style presence, so it helps to decide whether the goal is conservative road use, a formal restoration look, or a more distinctive show-oriented appearance.
What brands offer tires for the 1942 Ford Super Deluxe?
600-16 tires for the 1942 Ford Super Deluxe are available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands cover several traditional bias-ply series and include both passenger-style and some military- or truck-style offerings in the same general size.
Brand alone should not decide the purchase. Compare the sidewall presentation, tire series, stated rim-width compatibility where shown, and the type of service the tire was built around, since a wide-white passenger tire and an NDT-style military pattern can create very different visual and functional results on the same 1942 Ford Super Deluxe.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1942 Ford Super Deluxe?
A period-style 1942 Ford Super Deluxe tire choice starts with the correct 600-16 bias-ply size. From there, the decision usually narrows to a traditional passenger-car tire series and the sidewall treatment that best matches the car's restoration direction, whether that is blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall.
The most convincing result usually comes from keeping the size, construction, and visual proportion in step with the car's era. If exact originality matters beyond general period style, compare your choice against marque references, period photographs, or restoration documentation, since the right-looking tire is not always the same as a historically exact tire for every individual car.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment plays a major role in how a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe looks and sits. The 600-16 size influences the car's stance, wheel opening fill, and overall period impression, while bias-ply construction helps preserve the traditional shape and profile expected on a car from this era.
Restoration quality is not only about paint and trim; the wrong wheel diameter, an off-format tire, or an overly modern-looking sidewall can change the car's visual balance quickly. Even when the goal is road use rather than judging, staying with the proper size and a fitting sidewall style usually keeps the Ford's appearance more coherent and era-appropriate.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe?
Yes. A 1942 Ford Super Deluxe may have been altered over the decades with different wheels, brake conversions, suspension work, or ride-height changes, and any of those can affect how a 600-16 tire fits even though it is the primary original-style size.
The key checks are wheel diameter, wheel width, and clearance through steering travel and suspension movement. A car with aftermarket wheels or chassis changes should be measured rather than assumed, since sidewall shape and available space around the fender, chassis, and steering components can differ from what a stock 1942 Ford Super Deluxe would have used.
What should I inspect before driving a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe on new tires?
Before driving a 1942 Ford Super Deluxe on new tires, inspect the wheels for damage or rust around the bead area, confirm proper mounting, and verify inflation against the tire's requirements. It also helps to check valve stems, lug hardware, brake condition, and whether the tires clear the body and steering components lock to lock.
A collector car that has spent time parked deserves a broader once-over before road use. Look at suspension bushings, steering play, wheel bearing condition, and any signs of fluid leaks or dragging brakes, since a fresh set of 600-16 tires will perform best when the rest of the chassis is equally ready for use.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1942 Ford Super Deluxe be maintained?
600-16 tires on a collector 1942 Ford Super Deluxe should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and air loss, and protected from long periods of harsh heat or direct sunlight. Low annual mileage does not eliminate the need for routine tire checks.
Storage conditions matter almost as much as road miles on an older collector car. Keep the Ford in a clean, dry space, move it occasionally to avoid prolonged flat spotting, and inspect the tires before every meaningful drive so age-related deterioration or pressure loss does not go unnoticed between outings.
