The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo arrived at the front edge of the postwar American market, carrying prewar design roots into a moment when buyers were finally getting back on the road. For collectors today, that gives the car a distinctive place between streamlined late-1930s styling and the broader, flashier Pontiacs that followed. The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo uses a 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 16-inch rim, keeping tire selection centered on proper vintage fitment. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across several classic tire series. The right selection depends on whether the goal is restoration-oriented appearance, traditional road manners, or simply confirming the wheel setup already on the car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo
The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo uses one primary tire size: 600-16. It is a bias-ply fitment for a 16-inch wheel, and the same size is used across the covered 25 Series 6 Cyl. and 27 Series 8 Cyl. sub-models. That means the main decision is not sorting through multiple factory sizes, but choosing the right period-style tire within 600-16 and confirming that the car still has the correct wheel setup.
A 600-16 tire uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system, where 600 indicates an approximate 6.00-inch nominal section width and 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1946 Pontiac Torpedo, this is a bias-ply fitment that suits the car's original-era tire construction and overall look. In this size, choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles from brands such as BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Avon, Excelsior, Lester, STA, and Camac across several vintage tire series. The practical choice comes down to appearance, intended use, and making sure the wheel width and tire type match the car's current setup.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1946 Pontiac Torpedo sub-models because both use the same 600-16 bias-ply size. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car has not been changed to a different wheel setup over the years.
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1946 Pontiac Torpedo 25 Series 6 Cyl.
The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo 25 Series 6 Cyl. uses the same 600-16 bias-ply fitment as the rest of the covered Torpedo range. Tire selection is therefore focused on choosing the right sidewall style and tire series, while confirming that the car still carries proper 16-inch wheels.
The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo 27 Series 8 Cyl. also uses the 600-16 bias-ply size, so fitment remains consistent between the covered sub-models. That keeps the decision centered on restoration-oriented appearance, traditional construction, and matching the tire to the actual wheel width on the car.
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 1946 Pontiac Torpedo Tires for Sale
Available 600-16 choices span BFGoodrich, Firestone, Goodyear, Coker Classic, Avon, Excelsior, Lester, STA, and Camac, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The product grid also includes several tire series and tread types, so buyers can compare appearance, bias-ply construction details, and wheel-width compatibility.
Owners of a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo usually want clarity on 600-16 fitment, 16-inch wheel compatibility, period-style sidewall choices, and what to inspect before putting a collector car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo?
The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo uses a 600-16 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch rim, and it applies to both the 25 Series 6 Cyl. and 27 Series 8 Cyl. versions covered here.
That makes tire selection more about choosing the right 600-16 style than sorting through multiple primary sizes. Before replacing tires, confirm that the car still has 16-inch wheels and has not been changed to a different rim or aftermarket setup during its lifetime.
What size rim does a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo use?
The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo uses a 16-inch rim with its 600-16 tire fitment. Many of the available 600-16 tires in this size range are built around vintage wheel widths in the 4.00 to 4.50 inch range, with some product variation depending on the tire series.
Wheel diameter is the first thing to verify on a postwar collector car, especially if the wheels have been replaced over the years. Measuring both rim diameter and width helps narrow the right tire choices and avoids selecting a tire that matches the size code but not the actual wheel.
Do all 1946 Pontiac Torpedo sub-models use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1946 Pontiac Torpedo sub-models use the same 600-16 bias-ply tire size. That includes the 25 Series 6 Cyl. and the 27 Series 8 Cyl., so there is no split in primary tire sizing between those versions.
Even with shared fitment, it is still worth checking the car itself before ordering replacement tires. Many older cars have had wheels swapped, and some may now carry non-original rim widths or specialty wheels that affect which 600-16 tire options make the most sense.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 600-16 tire for a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo?
Start with the correct 600-16 size and the car's 16-inch wheel, then focus on the type of tire presentation you want. Available choices include traditional blackwall styles along with wide whitewall and double-whitewall options, all within bias-ply construction suited to a period-style Pontiac restoration or vintage road use.
After appearance, compare wheel-width compatibility, tire series, and intended use. Some 600-16 products lean toward classic passenger-car styling, while others carry military or truck-oriented tread patterns, so the better choice depends on whether the Torpedo is being restored for authentic visual character or driven more casually.
What sidewall styles are available for 1946 Pontiac Torpedo tires?
The 1946 Pontiac Torpedo's 600-16 tire size is available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those sidewall treatments create very different visual impressions, even when the underlying tire size and bias-ply construction remain the same.
Blackwall tires give the car a simpler, more understated look, while wide whitewalls and double whitewalls bring out a stronger restoration-oriented presentation. Sidewall choice should match the look of the car, but the buyer should still confirm wheel width and overall tire type so appearance decisions do not override proper fitment.
What brands offer tires for the 1946 Pontiac Torpedo?
The 600-16 tire size for a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, Firestone, Ford Script, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands cover several classic tire series and a mix of blackwall, whitewall, and specialty tread presentations.
Brand choice should be considered alongside the exact tire series, sidewall style, and wheel-width specification rather than treated as the only decision. Two tires in the same 600-16 size can still serve different goals, especially when one is aimed at a passenger-car restoration look and another has a military or truck-style tread.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1946 Pontiac Torpedo?
A period-style 1946 Pontiac Torpedo should stay with the 600-16 bias-ply size, since that preserves the car's vintage tire format and visual proportions. Within that fitment, blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall options create different restoration-oriented looks without changing the basic size.
The best appearance choice depends on how the car is being finished and the era-specific look the owner wants to emphasize. When exact originality matters, compare the tire choice against marque references, period photography, and restoration documentation rather than assuming any available whitewall treatment is automatically correct.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1946 Pontiac Torpedo?
Tire construction matters because the 1946 Pontiac Torpedo's primary fitment is a 600-16 bias-ply tire, and that construction contributes to the car's authentic vintage stance and presentation. A proper bias-ply size also keeps the visual relationship between the wheel, sidewall, and bodywork closer to what buyers expect on a postwar Pontiac.
Appearance is not just about sidewall color; tread style and casing profile influence the finished look as well. On a restoration-focused Torpedo, choosing a tire series and sidewall treatment that suit the car's era usually matters as much as the paint and wheel finish, provided wheel compatibility is confirmed first.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo?
Yes. A 1946 Pontiac Torpedo may have started with a 600-16 bias-ply fitment on a 16-inch wheel, but later wheel swaps, suspension changes, brake conversions, or body modifications can all affect which tire options remain practical. Even a correct size code does not override changes to the wheel itself.
Checking actual rim diameter and width is the first step, followed by visual clearance at the fender, steering, and suspension. A collector car that has been modified over decades can look stock at a glance, so a quick inspection before ordering tires can prevent costly fitment surprises.
What should I inspect before driving a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, wheel hardware, and overall condition of the suspension and steering components. Tire pressure should be set correctly for the tire being used, and the rest of the car should be checked for issues that could cause pull, vibration, or uneven tire wear.
A newly installed set of 600-16 tires cannot compensate for loose front-end parts, damaged wheels, or long-stored mechanical components. On an older Pontiac, a careful once-over also helps catch rubbing points, alignment concerns, or clearance problems before the car is driven at speed or on a longer trip.
How should 600-16 tires on a collector 1946 Pontiac Torpedo be maintained?
Collector-car tires should be inspected regularly for air loss, tread wear, sidewall cracking, bulges, cuts, and signs of aging from long storage. A 600-16 bias-ply tire on a 1946 Pontiac Torpedo also benefits from routine pressure checks, since older vehicles often spend long periods parked between drives.
Storage conditions matter almost as much as miles driven. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires, and occasional inspections of the wheels and chassis make it easier to catch problems before they affect road manners or tire life.
