1934 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1934 La Salle vehicles in the model range covered here use one tire size: 700-16. That size applies to the 1934 La Salle 350, and the available products are all built for 16-inch wheels. Where rim-width guidance is published, 700-16 fits rims in the 4.50- to 5.50-inch range.

That makes 1934 La Salle fitment simpler than many year-make pages, because there is no factory-style size split to sort through between models. The main job is to confirm that your car still has the correct 16-inch wheels and then decide whether you want a blackwall or wide whitewall presentation that suits your restoration goals and the overall look of the car.

On a 1934 La Salle, 700-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 7.00 indicates a nominal section width in inches, while the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike modern metric radial sizing, it does not spell out an aspect ratio in the way a size like 205/75R15 would.

That older numeric system is exactly what many prewar American cars used, which is why it remains the right starting point for an era-correct La Salle. When comparing products in 700-16, focus on whether the tire is bias-ply, the sidewall style you want, and whether any published rim-width, load, or service markings line up with how you plan to use the car.

Yes. The 1934 La Salle range covered here uses the same 700-16 tire size across its listed model, the La Salle 350. There is no second factory-style size in this year-make grouping, and all available fitments remain centered on a 16-inch wheel.

That means identifying the model is still worthwhile, but mainly for restoration context rather than to separate one tire size from another. Once you have confirmed you are working with a 1934 La Salle 350 on correct-diameter wheels, the next decision is the tire’s appearance and presentation, especially whether the car looks right to you in blackwall or wide whitewall form.

1934 La Salle tires in 700-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall choices include Avon and BFGoodrich examples, while the wide whitewall options include Lester and Firestone. All of them stay within the period-appropriate bias-ply construction expected for a prewar American luxury car.

For a car being restored to a formal, upscale 1930s appearance, wide whitewalls are often the visual direction enthusiasts prefer on a La Salle because they complement the car’s styling and status. Blackwalls can suit a more restrained look or a specific owner preference, so the right answer comes down to the image you want the finished 1934 La Salle to present.

Four brands appear in 700-16 fitment for 1934 La Salle vehicles: Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Every listed option is a bias-ply tire built around the original-style numeric size, with a mix of blackwall and wide whitewall treatments depending on the brand and series.

That brand spread gives a 1934 La Salle owner a meaningful choice in presentation without moving away from the correct basic construction type. If historical appearance is your first priority, compare sidewall style and brand character first; if your car sees more road use, review the individual service markings and load information next so the product aligns with how you actually drive the car.

BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer 700-16 bias-ply tires for the 1934 La Salle, and both publish a 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim-width range. The BFGoodrich example shown is a blackwall Silvertown Classic Bias Ply with a listed maximum load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and a 26-pound tire weight. The Firestone example shown is a wide whitewall Classic Bias Ply with a listed maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi and a 29-pound tire weight.

In practical terms, the bigger distinction for most La Salle owners is visual rather than dimensional, since one presents a blackwall look and the other a wide whitewall look. If your car is being judged or styled toward a more formal prewar luxury appearance, the whitewall may better suit the car’s character, while the blackwall offers a more restrained period presentation.

Published rim-width guidance for 1934 La Salle 700-16 tires appears at 4.50 to 5.50 inches on the products that list it. That guidance applies to the 16-inch wheel diameter used by the La Salle 350 and gives a useful setup window when evaluating original wheels or restored replacements.

Before mounting a new set, measure or verify the wheel width rather than assuming every 16-inch wheel is the same. A correct diameter alone does not settle the fitment question, and checking the actual wheel helps avoid poor bead seating, awkward sidewall shape, or a mismatch between the tire you want and the wheel currently on the car.

1934 La Salle tires in 700-16 should be treated as a classic bias-ply application where tube setup needs to be confirmed product by product and against the wheel being used. The sizes shown here do not carry a blanket tube-type or tubeless marker across every product listing, so it is important to match the tire, wheel condition, and intended installation correctly.

On a prewar car, wheel design and restoration condition matter just as much as the tire itself. If your 1934 La Salle still uses original-style wheels, verify whether the specific tire and wheel combination calls for a tube and make sure the valve hardware and wheel surfaces are prepared accordingly before final installation.

Because 1934 La Salle uses a single 700-16 tire size in this fitment range, there is no alternate factory-style size here that changes wheel diameter. The key compatibility point is that the tire mounts on a 16-inch wheel, and published rim-width guidance where listed falls in the 4.50- to 5.50-inch range.

That usually makes original-wheel use a matter of condition and correct dimensions rather than choosing between multiple diameters. Before fitting new tires, inspect each wheel for age-related issues such as rust scale, distortion, damaged bead seats, or old repairs, since a structurally tired wheel can create problems even when the nominal tire size is correct.

A 1934 La Salle should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that accelerate sidewall aging. Keep the car in a dry, cool space, maintain proper inflation, and move it periodically so the same section of each bias-ply tire is not carrying the load month after month. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting when they sit.

If the car will remain parked for an extended season, many collectors either roll it a short distance occasionally or use stands in a way that reduces static loading while still supporting the vehicle correctly. Good storage habits protect both the tire casing and the visual finish, which matters just as much on a prewar La Salle as mechanical longevity does.

Tires on a 1934 La Salle are best evaluated by age and condition rather than by mileage alone, because collector cars often travel very little each year. A practical rule is to inspect them carefully once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement consideration, even if tread depth still looks generous. The DOT date code on the tire is the starting point for that timeline.

A La Salle that only appears at shows or weekend events can still age its tires significantly through time, storage environment, and repeated heat cycles. Cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, impact damage, or visible casing distortion matter more than odometer readings, so the right replacement interval comes from inspection history and tire age together.

Tires on a 1934 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, embedded debris, and signs that the tire is no longer holding pressure consistently. On a car that may use tube-equipped or tube-dependent wheel setups, valve stems and any related hardware deserve the same attention.

A few minutes of inspection matters more on a low-use prewar car than many owners realize, because age-related problems often show up before tread wear does. It is also wise to inspect the spare, since collector-car spares are often forgotten for years and may be the oldest tire on the entire 1934 La Salle.

A 1934 La Salle 350 belongs to an era when bias-ply construction was the original standard, and the correct replacement size for the fitment covered here is 700-16. That makes today’s 700-16 bias-ply offerings the appropriate starting point for maintaining the car’s prewar character. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so construction type and size matter more than assuming one universal original brand.

For a restoration that needs to be especially precise, confirm your car’s expected sidewall treatment and presentation with marque references or club sources that specialize in 1934 La Salle details. The most important point is that a numeric 700-16 bias-ply tire keeps the car in the right historical lane before finer distinctions like brand or whitewall style are settled.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1934 La Salle. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often look at whether the tire uses the right period construction, carries the proper vintage-style size format, and presents a sidewall style that suits the car’s era and market character. A modern-looking replacement or an obviously incorrect sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise well-restored prewar car.

For many owners, that means choosing a 700-16 bias-ply tire first and then deciding whether blackwall or wide whitewall best matches the restoration standard being pursued. Event rules and marque expectations can differ, so a car aimed at concours-level presentation should be checked against the standards of the specific club or judging organization before the final tire choice is made.

For the 1934 La Salle, both blackwall and wide whitewall versions of the 700-16 bias-ply tire are available. The construction and basic fitment remain in the correct prewar style either way, but the visual effect is very different. Blackwalls give the car a more restrained, understated appearance, while wide whitewalls emphasize the elegant, upscale design language associated with many luxury and near-luxury American cars of the mid-1930s.

That choice often shapes the entire stance and personality of the finished car more than owners expect. If your restoration aims for a formal show look, wide whitewalls usually align more naturally with the La Salle’s image, while blackwalls can make sense for a subtler presentation or for an owner who wants a less ornate period appearance.

1934 La Salle tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly fitted, and used within their individual service markings. The 700-16 offerings here are bias-ply, and one listed example carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to 75 mph. On a prewar car, though, the broader highway conversation also includes the vehicle’s brakes, steering, suspension, and overall mechanical condition, not just the tire itself.

That means a sound tire is only one part of a safe touring setup. If you plan to drive your 1934 La Salle at modern traffic speeds, inspect the entire chassis and use realistic expectations about how a 1930s luxury car tracks, brakes, and responds compared with a newer vehicle, especially on crowned roads, grooves, and emergency maneuvers.

Inflation pressure for 1934 La Salle tires should be matched to the specific 700-16 product and to the vehicle’s original recommendations rather than borrowed from another size or another car. Among the listed examples, BFGoodrich shows a maximum load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and Firestone shows 1800 pounds at 36 psi. Those are rated tire figures, not a blanket instruction to inflate every 1934 La Salle tire to the same operating pressure in all conditions.

The best approach is to start with the vehicle manufacturer’s guidance where available and then confirm the tire maker’s limits for the exact product you are using. Pressure that is too high or too low can change how a bias-ply prewar car rides, steers, and wears, so matching the setting to the actual tire and the car’s use matters more than relying on a generic number.

Before a longer drive in a 1934 La Salle, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual wear, and stable air pressure, and do the same for the spare. Pay close attention to sidewalls, bead areas, and valve stems, especially if your wheel and tire setup involves tube-related hardware. A prewar car that has been sitting can look fine at a glance and still have age-related issues that show up only under sustained running.

Tire inspection should be part of a broader trip check that includes wheel security, brake feel, steering play, and general chassis readiness. With a car of this age, a careful pre-drive routine is far more valuable than assuming a lightly used collector vehicle is automatically ready for distance just because the tread still looks presentable.