1936 Reo Tire Fitment Guide

1936 Reo vehicles use two different tire sizes, and the fitment splits by model. The 1936 Reo Deluxe uses 6.25-16, while the 1936 Reo Royale uses 650-16. Both sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, and the available 650-16 products list rim-width compatibility of 4.50 to 5.00 inches.

That means a buyer should confirm the model first, then confirm the wheel itself before settling on a tire. A Deluxe owner should stay with 6.25-16 sizing, while a Royale owner should focus on 650-16. Even when the wheel diameter matches, the model-specific size still matters for correct appearance and proper fit on a prewar Reo.

On a 1936 Reo, 6.25-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 6.25 figure is the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. That style of sizing was standard in the prewar era and does not read like a modern metric radial code.

For a 1936 Reo Deluxe owner, that code points you toward an era-correct bias-ply tire rather than a later radial-style designation. It also reminds you to verify the actual wheel diameter before ordering, because the final number in the size is the wheel size the tire is built to mount on.

On a 1936 Reo, 650-16 is another numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 figure describes the nominal section width, while 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older American size format that belongs to the bias-ply era, not a later P-metric or Euro-metric system.

For a 1936 Reo Royale owner, that code matters because it separates the Royale from the Deluxe at the tire-size level. It also helps when comparing products, since sidewall styling can differ within 650-16 even though the core size stays the same. Once the model and size are confirmed, you can compare blackwall versus wide whitewall choices with much more confidence.

1936 Reo tires in the available 650-16 range come in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. BFGoodrich and Garfield offer wide whitewall versions, while Coker Classic and Firestone are available in blackwall form. All of the listed 650-16 options are bias-ply tires, so the visual difference comes mainly from sidewall treatment rather than construction changes.

That gives a 1936 Reo Royale owner two different restoration directions depending on the look of the car. A blackwall tire suits a more understated prewar presentation, while a wide whitewall adds a more upscale visual statement that many collectors associate with premium late-1930s American cars. If show authenticity matters, it is wise to compare your car against period photos or marque-club guidance before choosing a sidewall style.

The available 1936 Reo tire brands in 650-16 include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. Each of those offerings stays within the bias-ply category, which is appropriate to a 1936 passenger car. The main distinctions here are brand, sidewall appearance, and in some cases published load and rim-width details.

For a buyer, brand comparison is usually less about chasing a modern-style performance hierarchy and more about choosing the visual and historical character that best fits the car. Firestone and BFGoodrich carry strong period associations in the American collector market, while Coker Classic and Garfield widen the appearance choices. Once the correct model size is confirmed, brand selection becomes a matter of restoration goals and overall presentation.

BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer 650-16 bias-ply tires for 1936 Reo vehicles with a listed maximum load capacity of 1580 pounds at 32 psi and a listed rim-width range of 4.50 to 5.00 inches. The BFGoodrich example shown here uses a 3.75-inch whitewall, while the Firestone example is a blackwall. Their listed weights are also close, at 24 pounds for the BFGoodrich and 23 pounds for the Firestone.

That makes the practical choice mostly an appearance decision rather than a dramatic fitment difference. A Royale owner choosing between those two can focus on whether the car looks right with a wide whitewall or a blackwall, while keeping the same basic size, construction type, load figure, and wheel-diameter requirement. It is a useful comparison when the goal is to match the car's visual personality without changing its basic tire format.

Published rim-width guidance appears with the available 650-16 tires for 1936 Reo vehicles, and those products fit 4.50- to 5.00-inch-wide rims. They are all built for 16-inch wheel diameter. That gives 1936 Reo Royale owners a clear wheel-width reference when checking original or restored rims.

The safest approach is to measure the actual wheel and compare it to the tire's listed fitment range before making a final choice. Original wheels can be changed over the life of a collector car, and a correct 16-inch diameter does not automatically confirm the right width. A quick wheel check prevents headaches and helps preserve proper tire profile on the car.

Both 1936 Reo tire sizes shown here use a 16-inch wheel diameter, so they share the same basic rim diameter. That said, the two sizes apply to different models: 6.25-16 belongs to the Deluxe and 650-16 belongs to the Royale. The available 650-16 tires also specify a 4.50- to 5.00-inch rim-width range.

A shared wheel diameter does not mean the two sizes should be treated as interchangeable across the full 1936 Reo lineup. The best path is to keep the size matched to the actual model and verify wheel width on the car you have. That preserves proper proportions and avoids turning a simple late-prewar fitment question into a guess.

A 1936 Reo should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and standing moisture, with the tires kept clean and properly inflated. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing temporary flat spots when they sit in one position for long stretches. Moving the car periodically or taking weight off the tires during extended storage can help reduce that effect.

Collector-car storage is really about slowing age rather than avoiding mileage wear. A cool, dry garage and occasional repositioning go a long way toward protecting sidewalls and helping the tire keep its shape. If the car will be dormant for a season, include the spare in the same storage routine so it remains usable when you actually need it.

Tires on a 1936 Reo usually age out before they wear out, because collector cars are driven infrequently. A sound rule is to inspect them closely beginning around five to seven years of age and to treat about ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age even when the tire still looks presentable at a glance.

That matters on a prewar car because cosmetic appearance can hide hardening rubber and internal age. A lightly used tire is not automatically a fresh tire. If your 1936 Reo sees only show or fair-weather use, age-based evaluation is still the better guide than mileage alone, especially before any extended drive or touring event.

Tires on a 1936 Reo should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Check for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and pressure loss, and look over the valve stems at the same time. On an older collector car, small issues that seem minor in the garage can become much more important once the car is at road speed.

A quick walkaround is one of the simplest ways to protect both the tires and the car. Prewar vehicles often spend long periods parked, and that kind of use pattern can accelerate age-related problems. Regular inspection also helps catch alignment or wheel issues early, before they turn into avoidable wear on a hard-to-replace vintage-size tire.

A 1936 Reo Deluxe would have been fitted in bias-ply form when new, because that was the standard passenger-car construction of the period. The size associated here with the Deluxe is 6.25-16, which aligns with the prewar numeric sizing system used before modern metric radial conventions arrived. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and dealer practice, so the most dependable historical anchors are size, construction type, and sidewall presentation.

For restoration work, that means the target is a correct-looking 6.25-16 bias-ply tire rather than a later-style substitute. If your goal is event judging or high-level authenticity, compare the car against factory literature, period photography, and Reo marque-club guidance to verify whether a blackwall or whitewall treatment best suits your particular car's history.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1936 Reo because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance immediately. A Deluxe wearing the Royale size, or a Royale wearing a tire style that does not suit the car's presentation, can stand out for the wrong reason. On a late-prewar American car, bias-ply construction is also part of the period-correct visual and mechanical package.

Show standards differ by venue, so the strictness of judging can vary, but getting the basics right always helps. Tire size is one of the easiest details to verify and one of the hardest to explain away if it is wrong. Before finalizing a concours restoration, compare your intended tire against event rules and any available Reo club references.

A 1936 Reo Royale would also have left the era in bias-ply form, and the size associated here with that model is 650-16. That keeps the Royale within the same prewar construction family as the Deluxe, but with its own model-specific numeric size. The available modern reproductions in this size continue that bias-ply format and offer both blackwall and wide whitewall appearances.

For a restoration-minded owner, the first goal is to stay with 650-16 and preserve the correct prewar tire profile on the car. The next choice is visual: blackwall for a more restrained look or wide whitewall for a more formal, upscale presentation. If authenticity at the trim or delivery level matters, a marque specialist can help narrow which sidewall treatment makes the most historical sense.

1936 Reo tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in good condition, properly inflated, and matched to sound wheels. The available tires shown here are bias-ply products, which deliver the period-correct construction expected for a prewar car. Their road manners will feel different from a modern radial, and the vehicle's own brakes, steering, suspension, and general age often set the practical limits before the tire itself does.

Highway safety on a 1936 Reo is really a whole-car question, not just a tire question. A careful owner should think in terms of moderate speeds, conservative following distance, and a full mechanical inspection before extended use. If the car has been sitting, make the first drive a short shakedown rather than a long-distance run.

For 1936 Reo 650-16 tires with published load information, the listed figure is 1580 pounds at 32 psi. That number is the tire's rated load-and-pressure point, not automatically the exact running pressure every Reo should use in service. The best practice is to compare the tire maker's rating with the factory vehicle recommendation in original Reo literature or a trusted period service reference.

Pressure should never be borrowed casually from a different size or a different model. A Deluxe on 6.25-16 and a Royale on 650-16 should each be evaluated on their own correct size and vehicle setup. Once you establish the proper baseline, consistent pressure checks are one of the easiest ways to improve wear, ride quality, and general confidence on the road.

Before a longer drive in a 1936 Reo, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is serviceable as well. Look closely at the valve stems and wheel condition, especially on a car that has spent time parked. On an older Reo, tire condition should be considered alongside brakes, cooling, steering, and fuel-system readiness.

A longer trip is where age-related weaknesses show up, so a thorough pre-drive routine matters more than it would on a newer car. Start with the tires because they are the car's contact patch, then work outward to the rest of the chassis and mechanical systems. That kind of disciplined check makes touring in a prewar Reo far more predictable and enjoyable.