1935 Buick Tire Fitment Guide

1935 Buick vehicles use three sizes, and they are tied to specific series. The 40 Series uses 6.25-16, the 50 Series uses 700-16, and the 60 Series and 90 Series use 750-16. All of these are bias-ply tires that mount on 16-inch wheels. Rim-width guidance is available within the product range for 700-16 at 4.50 to 5.50 inches and for 750-16 at 5.00 to 6.00 inches.

That means the first fitment question is not wheel diameter but model identification. Once you know the series, the tire choice becomes much more straightforward, and then you can compare sidewall appearance, brand preference, and wheel-width compatibility within the correct size. If your car has been restored long ago or changed hands several times, verify the actual series and wheel before choosing a tire.

On a 1935 Buick, 6.25-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The first number, 6.25, is the nominal section width in inches, and the second number, 16, is the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial size, it does not include an aspect ratio in the code, and the construction is bias-ply rather than radial.

That older sizing language is typical for a prewar American car. For a 1935 Buick 40 Series owner, the important takeaway is that 6.25-16 is not just a general vintage size but the correct size family for that specific model line. Keeping the original numeric bias-ply format preserves the proper visual proportion and era-appropriate look of the tire and wheel package.

No, 1935 Buick models do not all share one tire size. The 40 Series uses 6.25-16, the 50 Series uses 700-16, and the larger 60 Series and 90 Series use 750-16. Buick offered a wide spread of cars that year, so tire size follows the series structure rather than the make alone.

That distinction matters because two Buicks from the same year can both take 16-inch tires while still requiring different widths and overall proportions. A buyer who stops at year and make can end up comparing the wrong products. If you are working from a title, family description, or old registration, match the car to its series name before choosing a size.

1935 Buick tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles within the listed product range. In 700-16, blackwall choices appear from Avon and BFGoodrich, while wide whitewalls appear from Lester and Firestone. In 750-16, blackwall and wide whitewall options are also offered, including Firestone blackwall and wide whitewall versions, Lester wide whitewall, and BFGoodrich wide whitewall.

Sidewall style changes the visual personality of a prewar Buick as much as the tire size itself. Blackwalls suit a more restrained or service-oriented presentation, while wide whitewalls deliver the more formal period look many collectors want on upper-line 1930s cars. If originality matters for judging, compare your car's market presentation and restoration goal with marque-club guidance before settling on the sidewall treatment.

Several brands cover the 1935 Buick sizes listed here. The 700-16 size is offered by Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone, while the 750-16 size is offered by Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. Every listed option for these sizes is a bias-ply tire, which is the construction type expected for a Buick of this era.

Brand choice on a 1935 Buick usually comes down to appearance details, sidewall preference, and the exact spec range of the tire rather than a change in construction category. Some owners prioritize a familiar American collector-tire name, while others focus on the style that best suits the car. Once the correct size is established, compare each brand within that size instead of cross-shopping sizes between different Buick series.

For the 1935 Buick 60 Series and 90 Series, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer 750-16 bias-ply tires, but their listed specifications are not identical. Firestone appears in blackwall and wide whitewall versions with a listed maximum load of 1660 at 40 psi and a 5.00 to 6.00-inch rim-width range. BFGoodrich appears as a wide whitewall with a listed maximum load of 1850 at 48 psi and the same 5.00 to 6.00-inch rim-width range.

That makes the comparison less about fitment category and more about details that matter once you are already in the correct size. A buyer can weigh sidewall appearance, brand preference, and the published load-and-pressure figures for the exact tire being considered. Because both mount on the same general wheel-width range, this is the kind of within-size comparison worth making after confirming that your Buick is a 60 or 90 Series car.

Published rim-width guidance is available for two of the 1935 Buick sizes. The 700-16 tires are listed for 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims, and the 750-16 tires are listed for 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims. All three Buick sizes use 16-inch wheels, but the wheel width still needs to match the specific tire's intended range.

That matters most on cars that may have had replacement wheels fitted decades ago. A 16-inch rim alone does not settle the question, because width affects how the tire sits, supports load, and presents on the car. Before choosing a product, measure the wheel or confirm the wheel specification so the selected tire stays within the stated rim-width range for its size.

All of the listed 1935 Buick sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, so the wheel diameter is common across the range. That does not mean every 16-inch Buick wheel should be treated as interchangeable across all series, because the listed rim-width ranges differ between 700-16 and 750-16, and 6.25-16 belongs to a different model line altogether.

A 40 Series owner should stay with the 40 Series size family, a 50 Series owner with 700-16, and 60 or 90 Series owners with 750-16. If a car has mixed parts from previous restorations, check the wheel dimensions before assuming another 1935 Buick wheel is equivalent. Diameter compatibility is only the first step; width and correct model application still decide whether a tire is the right one.

A stored 1935 Buick should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls. Clean, dry flooring and a stable indoor climate help preserve both the rubber and the wheels. Because 1935 Buick tires are bias-ply, they are more prone to temporary flat-spotting after long periods of sitting than a modern radial would be.

Moving the car periodically or supporting it appropriately during long storage can reduce stress on one contact patch. Keep the tires inflated, avoid letting the car sit on soft or damp ground, and inspect the sidewalls before the next outing. Collector cars often spend more time parked than driven, so storage habits can influence tire condition as much as road use.

On a collector car such as a 1935 Buick, tire life is usually judged more by age than by mileage. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they reach about five to seven years old, and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement point even if tread remains. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age on modern reproduction products.

Many prewar Buicks cover very little annual mileage, so an old-looking tire may have plenty of tread but still be past its best service life. Age, storage conditions, cracking, and how well the tire holds pressure matter more than odometer use alone. If a Buick has been sitting for years, inspect the spare as carefully as the four road tires before putting the car back into regular use.

Tires on a 1935 Buick should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip or club event. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between drives. On a low-use collector car, those checks are more important than waiting for a mileage interval.

A short inspection routine can prevent a small aging issue from becoming a roadside problem. Pay close attention after the car has been stored, after seasonal temperature swings, or after any work on the wheels or brakes. If the car uses tubes or older valve hardware, include the valve stems and spare assembly in the inspection instead of focusing only on the visible tread.

A 1935 Buick 40 Series would have been fitted with a bias-ply tire in period, and the listed size for that model line is 6.25-16. That matches what a buyer would expect from a mid-1930s American passenger car, when bias-ply construction was still the standard factory fitment. The exact sidewall treatment could vary with market presentation, trim level, and owner preference over the car's life.

For restoration work, the key is to begin with the correct numeric bias-ply size and era-appropriate construction rather than treating all 1935 Buicks the same. If you are preparing a serious show car, confirm any model-specific or market-specific presentation details with Buick club resources and period literature. Getting the size, construction, and sidewall appearance right has a strong effect on how authentic the finished car looks.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1935 Buick because tire size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all affect authenticity. A 40 Series shown on 750-16 tires or a senior Buick shown on an undersized tire would look visibly wrong, even if the wheel diameter matched. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts also notice whether the tire presents as a proper prewar bias-ply rather than a later-looking substitute.

The closer the event is to formal concours judging, the more closely those details are likely to be examined. A touring-oriented restoration may allow more flexibility in style choice, but an originality-focused car should stay close to the proper size for its series and to an era-correct sidewall look. Club judging standards can vary, so verify event expectations before finalizing the tires on a show-bound Buick.

For the 1935 Buick 50 Series, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer 700-16 bias-ply tires, but the listed details differ. BFGoodrich appears as a blackwall with a published maximum load of 1900 at 36 psi and a 4.50 to 5.50-inch rim-width range. Firestone appears as a 4.00-inch wide whitewall with a published maximum load of 1800 at 36 psi and the same 4.50 to 5.50-inch rim-width range.

That means the practical choice is often between appearance and the exact published specification of the tire, not between two different fitment categories. A blackwall BFGoodrich will present the car differently than a wide-white Firestone even though both are in the correct 700-16 size family. For a judged restoration, the sidewall style may matter as much as the brand name, so compare the car's intended presentation before deciding.

A properly sized, properly maintained 1935 Buick bias-ply tire can be used for normal road driving within the limits of the tire and the vehicle, but a prewar Buick should always be driven with its age and design in mind. One listed 700-16 product carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to 75 mph, while the other listed products do not show speed letters in the available markings. Tire condition, age, inflation, and wheel condition matter as much as the size itself.

Road-use confidence on a 1935 Buick is not just about the tire's theoretical ceiling. Brakes, steering, suspension, and overall chassis condition often become the more important limits at modern traffic speeds on a car of this era. Treat the tire as one part of the system, keep speeds appropriate to the car, and inspect older bias-ply tires carefully before sustained highway use.

Inflation pressure for 1935 Buick tires should be matched to the exact tire size and product, not borrowed from another series or another tire. Within the listed products, examples include 700-16 tires rated at 1900 at 36 psi and 1800 at 36 psi, and 750-16 tires rated at 1660 at 40 psi and 1850 at 48 psi. Those figures are the tire's published load-and-pressure references, not a blanket instruction to use one pressure on every 1935 Buick.

For actual running pressure, start with the vehicle's factory literature if available and compare that guidance with the tire manufacturer's recommendations for the specific reproduction tire. A 40 Series, 50 Series, and 90 Series should not automatically be treated the same. Using the correct pressure helps preserve ride quality, tire shape, and wear pattern while keeping the car stable on the road.

Before a longer drive in a 1935 Buick, inspect all five tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure each wheel is secure and the valve stems are sound. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, since collector cars often carry an old spare that has not been used in years. If the car has sat for a long period, look closely for flat-spotting or sidewall age before heading out.

A prewar Buick deserves a broader pre-drive check as well, including brakes, steering response, fluid levels, and wheel-bearing or suspension concerns typical of an older car. The tire inspection is simply the first visible part of a longer-readiness routine. Planning a tour or event drive is much easier when the tires, spare, and basic mechanical systems are all checked before the car leaves the garage.