1936 Auburn Tire Fitment Guide

1936 Auburn vehicles use three different tire sizes, and each one is tied to a specific model. The 52 Series uses 6.25-16, the 54 Series uses 600-16, and the Super Charged model uses 700-16. All three fitments mount on 16-inch wheels, but they are not interchangeable as a year-wide Auburn size choice because the model determines the correct section width.

That means the first step is identifying the exact model, not just confirming that the car is a 1936 Auburn. Once the model is known, compare the wheel itself with the intended tire's rim-diameter and rim-width requirements, especially if the car has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life.

On a 1936 Auburn tire, 600-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 600 designation represents the nominal section width in period sizing practice, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For 1936 Auburn applications, that size belongs to the 54 Series rather than the full model line.

Numeric sizes like 600-16 are common on prewar American cars, and they read differently from later alphanumeric and metric tire codes. If you own a 54 Series, focus on choosing among the available brand and sidewall treatments within 600-16 instead of trying to substitute a different Auburn size simply because the wheel diameter is also 16 inches.

No, 1936 Auburn models do not all use the same tire size. The 52 Series uses 6.25-16, the 54 Series uses 600-16, and the Super Charged model uses 700-16. Although every one of those sizes fits a 16-inch wheel, the sizing is model-specific across the Auburn range.

That distinction matters because Auburn buyers often encounter cars that have been restored over many decades, and visual similarity across the lineup can make assumptions easy. When you confirm the model first, you can then choose the right tire category with much more confidence and avoid ordering a size meant for a different Auburn chassis or trim level.

1936 Auburn tire choices in the supported product sizes include both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. In 600-16, blackwall options appear alongside wide whitewalls from several brands, and 700-16 also offers both blackwall and wide whitewall choices. That gives Auburn owners room to match the visual character of the car, whether they prefer a more restrained touring look or a stronger concours-style whitewall presentation.

Sidewall style affects appearance more than fitment, but it can strongly influence how correct the finished car looks for the period. Owners restoring a specific show car or trying to match period photography should compare the sidewall treatment already associated with the vehicle's history, while drivers building a tasteful road car can choose the style that best suits the body color, trim, and overall presentation.

Several brands cover 1936 Auburn applications in the supported sizes. The 600-16 size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone, while 700-16 choices include Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Each brand approaches the prewar market a little differently through sidewall styling, load rating presentation, and individual series design.

Brand choice is usually the second decision after model and size are confirmed. Once you know whether you need 600-16 or 700-16, compare the sidewall appearance you want, any speed-rating marking shown on the specific tire, and the wheel-width compatibility for the exact product rather than assuming every tire in the same nominal size is built the same way.

For the 1936 Auburn in 700-16, the BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Classic Bias Ply share the same 16-inch rim diameter and both list a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim-width range. The BFGoodrich example shown is a blackwall tire rated at 1900 pounds at 36 psi and weighs 26 pounds, while the Firestone example is a wide whitewall rated at 1800 pounds at 36 psi and weighs 29 pounds.

That makes the choice less about basic fitment and more about the look and specification balance you want on a Super Charged Auburn. A blackwall BFGoodrich gives one period presentation, while the Firestone wide whitewall creates a more formal visual statement, so owners should weigh appearance alongside wheel-width compatibility and the load-and-pressure figures for the exact tire they intend to use.

Rim-width guidance is available for some 1936 Auburn tire options and should be checked by size. In 600-16, the listed range is 4.00 to 4.50 inches on the products that specify it. In 700-16, the listed range is 4.50 to 5.50 inches on the products that include rim-width guidance.

Those ranges show why matching only the wheel diameter is not enough on a prewar car. If your Auburn still wears original wheels, verify the actual wheel width before settling on a specific tire, especially if the car has changed hands many times or has had wheels swapped during restoration, repainting, or long-term storage.

The supported 1936 Auburn product listings do not show TT or TL markings in the sizes covered here, so the safest path is to confirm tube requirements on the specific tire you intend to run and against the wheel itself. That is particularly important on a 1936 Auburn because prewar wheels and reproduction tires can involve different assumptions than later collector-car applications.

Tube decisions should be made as part of the full wheel-and-tire setup rather than as an afterthought after the tires arrive. If your Auburn has original-style rims, older wheels, or a restoration history that is not fully known, confirm the tire's sidewall marking and the wheel condition before final installation so the complete assembly matches the intended use.

All three 1936 Auburn sizes in this guide use a 16-inch wheel diameter, so the rim diameter is common across the 52 Series, 54 Series, and Super Charged models. That does not automatically mean every original Auburn wheel is correct for every tire size, because the supported rim-width ranges differ where they are specified and the model determines the proper section width.

Owners should treat the shared 16-inch diameter as a starting point, not a blanket interchange rule. Before moving from one Auburn size to another or reusing wheels across projects, verify the actual wheel width and compare it to the exact tire's approved range so the setup stays appropriate for the model and the specific product.

A 1936 Auburn should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires protected from sunlight, electric-motor ozone, and prolonged contact with standing moisture. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static periods, so tire pressure should be maintained and the car should be rolled periodically or supported in a way that reduces continuous load on one patch of tread.

Storage habits have a direct effect on how a prewar Auburn feels when it returns to the road. A car that sits for months on underinflated tires near a furnace, compressor, or bright window is much more likely to develop sidewall aging and out-of-round feel, so controlled storage conditions are as important as mileage on a collector car.

Tire life on a 1936 Auburn should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than mileage. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, so a close evaluation around five to seven years is prudent, and replacement deserves serious consideration as tires approach about ten years from the DOT date code even if the tread still looks serviceable.

That timeline matters because many Auburns are driven sparingly, sometimes only for shows, tours, or occasional fair-weather outings. A tire can appear visually attractive on a prewar car yet still be too old for dependable road use, so owners should track installation date, inspect regularly, and avoid assuming that low annual mileage automatically means long remaining tire life.

Tires on a 1936 Auburn should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, pressure loss, and any signs that the tire has shifted or aged during storage. If the final setup uses tubes, the valve stems deserve the same attention as the outer casing.

Frequent inspection is especially important on a prewar car because use tends to be intermittent rather than daily. Catching a weather-checked sidewall, a slow pressure drop, or a damaged stem in the garage is much easier than dealing with it on the roadside, and it helps preserve both the tire and the car's fenders, trim, and suspension from avoidable trouble.

The 1936 Auburn 52 Series uses a 6.25-16 bias-ply fitment in this year-make guide, which aligns with normal prewar practice when bias-ply construction was standard equipment across the industry. Auburn owners seeking factory-style restoration appearance should start with the model-correct size and period-correct construction rather than looking to later radial conventions for authenticity.

Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer, and surviving car history, so the safest restoration approach is to match the correct size and era-appropriate construction first. If your goal is judged authenticity, compare your car against period photos, Auburn club resources, and marque specialists who can help confirm sidewall treatment and presentation details for the specific body style.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1936 Auburn because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall appearance suit the car's year and model. A 52 Series shown on a size intended for a Super Charged car, or a prewar Auburn presented with an obviously later-looking tire style, can disrupt the overall authenticity of the restoration.

Even outside formal concours judging, proper tire presentation changes how convincingly a 1936 Auburn reads as a finished period car. Owners preparing for events should confirm the model-specific size first, then compare blackwall versus whitewall presentation with the standards of the club or show they plan to enter, since event expectations can differ.

For the 1936 Auburn in 600-16, the BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Classic Bias Ply share a 16-inch rim diameter and both specify a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim-width range. The BFGoodrich example shown is a 3.50-inch whitewall rated at 1400 pounds at 32 psi and weighs 21 pounds, while the Firestone example shown is a 3.25-inch whitewall with the same 1400 pounds at 32 psi rating and weighs 24 pounds.

Those differences matter most to restorers who care about the exact visual stance and sidewall presentation of a 54 Series Auburn. When fitment basics are equal, details such as whitewall width, overall look, and even small weight differences can influence which tire best matches the tone of the restoration and the historical style the owner wants the car to convey.

1936 Auburn tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and operated within the limits shown for the specific product. Among the supported Auburn sizes, one 600-16 Avon option carries an H speed rating with a 130 mph ceiling, while one 700-16 Avon option carries an L rating with a 75 mph ceiling. Those markings apply to the tire itself, but a prewar Auburn's brakes, steering, suspension, and overall condition usually matter more than the tire's theoretical maximum at ordinary road speeds.

The practical takeaway is to match your route and pace to the exact tire on the car and to the mechanical realities of a 1936 automobile. A well-sorted Auburn on fresh, correctly inflated tires is very different from one on aged rubber that has spent years parked, so highway confidence starts with condition, inspection, and the specific rating of the tire you choose.

Inflation pressure on 1936 Auburn tires should follow the vehicle's original guidance and the specific tire's own rated information rather than a one-pressure-fits-all rule. In the supported products, several 600-16 tires list 1400 pounds at 32 psi, a 700-16 BFGoodrich lists 1900 pounds at 36 psi, and a 700-16 Firestone lists 1800 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated load-and-pressure relationship and should not be transferred from one Auburn size to another.

Start with the owner's manual or marque guidance for the car, then compare that to the reproduction tire's published limits for the exact product you are using. Pressure affects steering feel, ride, and wear on any prewar car, so verify the figure with the tire manufacturer and recheck it regularly, especially after storage or seasonal temperature changes.

Before taking a 1936 Auburn on a longer drive, inspect each tire for sidewall cracks, cuts, bulges, tread damage, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the spare as well, since roadside tire support for prewar sizes is not the same as for modern daily-driver fitments. If your wheel-and-tire setup uses tubes, inspect the valve stems and make sure they are secure and aging evenly.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive routine on a car of this era, but they are one of the easiest places to spot trouble early. After the tire inspection, continue with the broader mechanical check an older Auburn deserves, including brakes, wheel fasteners, steering feel, fluid levels, and any signs that extended storage may have affected roadworthiness.