1937 Hudson Tire Fitment Guide

1937 Hudson vehicles use three tire sizes across two model groups: 600-16 for the 71, 72 and 73 Series, 6.25-16 for the 74, 75, 76 and 77 Series, and 700-15 for both groups. The 16-inch sizes are model-specific, while 700-15 is the only size shared across the full 1937 Hudson range shown here. Where product fitment details are listed, 600-16 uses a 16-inch rim with a 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim-width range, and 700-15 uses a 15-inch rim with a 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range.

That means a 1937 Hudson owner should identify the series first and then confirm the wheel diameter on the car before choosing a tire. Cars restored over many decades can end up on different wheel sets, so the safest path is to compare the current wheel and existing tire markings against the correct series fitment instead of assuming every 1937 Hudson used the same size.

On a 1937 Hudson, 600-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The first number, 6.00, is the nominal section width in inches, and the second number, 16, is the wheel diameter in inches. That size belongs to the 71, 72 and 73 Series and is offered in period-appropriate bias-ply construction, including blackwall and wide whitewall versions from several classic-tire brands.

A 600-16 tire is not simply another way of writing 700-15 or 6.25-16. It points you toward a specific 16-inch wheel fitment used on the lower-numbered 1937 Hudson series, so it matters both for physical compatibility and for keeping the car visually correct if originality is part of the goal.

No, 1937 Hudson models do not all use the same tire size. The 71, 72 and 73 Series use 600-16 and 700-15, while the 74, 75, 76 and 77 Series use 6.25-16 and 700-15. That makes 700-15 the common size across both model groups, with the two 16-inch sizes split by series.

This is one of those prewar fitment situations where model identification matters as much as the year and make. If your Hudson has changed hands or been restored long ago, verify the series and inspect the wheels already on the car so you are choosing from the right branch of fitment rather than assuming every 1937 Hudson was equipped the same way.

1937 Hudson tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles in the sizes with listed products. In 600-16, blackwall and wide whitewall options are offered by several brands, and 700-15 is also available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. That gives owners room to match the look of a formal restoration, a more understated factory-style presentation, or a driver with a simpler appearance.

For a 1937 Hudson, sidewall style affects the car's visual character almost as much as wheel finish or hubcaps. Whitewalls suit many prewar American restorations, while blackwalls are often chosen for a more restrained or utilitarian look, so it is worth deciding on appearance early rather than selecting only by size and changing direction later.

Brands available for 1937 Hudson fitments include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Avon, and STA, depending on the tire size. The 600-16 size includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Avon, while 700-15 includes Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. All listed options remain within the period-style bias-ply world, but the brand mix gives owners a range of sidewall presentations and product personalities within that traditional construction.

Brand choice on a 1937 Hudson usually comes down to the look you want, the exact size your series uses, and whether you are leaning toward a passenger-car presentation or a more specialized tread style. It is smart to narrow the size first, then compare the brands offered in that size so you are evaluating like-for-like options rather than mixing different wheel diameters.

For 1937 Hudson vehicles in 700-15, Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer classic bias-ply passenger-car tires with blackwall or wide whitewall styling, and both list a 1700-pound maximum load at 32 psi on the comparable passenger versions. The listed rim-width range is also the same at 5.00 to 5.50 inches. One practical difference in the available examples is weight, with the Firestone blackwall shown at 26 pounds and the BFGoodrich wide whitewall example at 28 pounds, while the Firestone wide whitewall example is listed at 29 pounds.

That means the main choice is less about basic fitment and more about brand preference, sidewall appearance, and the exact product within the size. A 1937 Hudson owner comparing 700-15 options should line up whitewall width, blackwall versus whitewall presentation, and any published load or wheel-range details before deciding which version best suits the car.

Published rim-width guidance for 1937 Hudson tires is size-specific. In 600-16, the listed products call for a 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim width on a 16-inch wheel. In 700-15, the listed products call for a 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim width on a 15-inch wheel. Those ranges should be treated as tire-specific fitment guidance, not as a blanket rule carried from one size to another.

Before mounting replacement tires, measure or verify the actual wheel you plan to use rather than relying only on the badge or series name. Even when a 1937 Hudson is within the correct family of sizes, rim width still matters to how the tire seats and presents on the wheel, so matching the tire to the wheel is part of getting the fitment right.

The listed 1937 Hudson products do not show tube-type or tubeless markings in a way that separates one option from another here, and these are all period-style bias-ply applications for prewar cars. In practical terms, many 1937 Hudson wheel setups are the sort of vintage fitment where tube use is commonly part of the installation plan, especially on original-style wheels, but the final choice should follow the specific tire and wheel combination being used.

That makes this a good point to settle before mounting, not after the tires arrive. Check the exact sidewall markings on the tire you choose and confirm the wheel's condition and design so the tube decision matches the actual installation rather than assumptions carried over from another antique-car application.

Original 1937 Hudson wheels cannot be treated as universal across all three sizes because the year includes both 15-inch and 16-inch tire fitments. A 600-16 or 6.25-16 tire requires a 16-inch wheel, while a 700-15 tire requires a 15-inch wheel. That means wheel diameter alone divides the fitment before any other detail is considered.

If your 1937 Hudson still has its original wheel set, the key is to match the tire to that wheel diameter and the correct series usage. If the car has been converted or mixed over the years, inspect each wheel directly so you know whether you are working with 15-inch or 16-inch hardware before choosing among the available tires.

A 1937 Hudson should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting when a collector car sits for long periods, so maintaining proper inflation and moving the car periodically helps reduce stress on the casing. Clean, dry floors and a stable environment are better for the tires than damp surfaces or prolonged outdoor storage.

If a 1937 Hudson will be parked for an extended season, many owners either roll the car occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one patch of tread. The goal is to preserve the tire shape and sidewalls so the car is ready to drive without vibration, cracking, or preventable aging from poor storage habits.

Tires on a 1937 Hudson are usually judged more by age than by miles, because collector cars often see limited seasonal use. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating them closely around the five- to seven-year mark and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement consideration, even if the tread still looks usable. The DOT date code, overall casing condition, and any signs of sidewall checking or hardening matter more than odometer use alone.

That is especially true for prewar bias-ply tires, which may spend long periods parked and can age out before they wear out. A 1937 Hudson owner should build tire age into restoration and maintenance planning so the car is not relying on old rubber simply because it still looks visually acceptable from a few feet away.

Tires on a 1937 Hudson should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing or tour. Check for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, low pressure, and signs that the tire has been sitting under load too long. On a prewar car, it is also wise to inspect valve stems and the spare, since a roadside problem often starts with the tire that was never checked because it was not on the ground.

Frequent inspection fits the way collector cars are actually used: infrequently, but often at higher consequence when they do go out. A few minutes in the garage can catch age-related issues early and helps ensure the tires are as ready as the rest of the 1937 Hudson before a local drive, event, or longer back-road run.

The 1937 Hudson 71, 72 and 73 Series used bias-ply tires, which was the standard construction for American passenger cars of the period. Within this series group, the applicable sizes are 600-16 and 700-15, depending on the wheel setup used on the particular car. Prewar Hudson restorations should stay within those period-style bias-ply sizes rather than substituting a later-looking modern format if originality matters.

Original-equipment details could vary by series, body style, market, or how a specific car was equipped over the decades, so serious restoration work benefits from checking factory literature and Hudson marque specialists. That extra step helps confirm whether your specific 1937 Hudson should be presented on its 16-inch or 15-inch period fitment when authenticity is the main goal.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1937 Hudson because show judging for prewar cars often considers size, construction type, and sidewall appearance as part of the vehicle's overall authenticity. A 600-16 or 6.25-16 car shown on the wrong wheel diameter, or a car wearing a sidewall style that does not suit the restoration theme, can look out of step even to casual observers. Bias-ply construction is also part of the era-correct presentation for 1937.

Owners planning concours or marque judging should decide early whether the car is being restored to a factory-style appearance or a more personalized period-inspired look. That choice affects whether blackwall or wide whitewall styling makes the most sense, and it is worth checking event-specific standards with Hudson clubs before finalizing the tire selection.

For a 1937 Hudson using 600-16, Firestone and Coker Classic both offer bias-ply tires on a 16-inch rim with the same listed 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim-width range and the same 1400-pound maximum load at 32 psi in the examples shown. The visible distinction in the listed offerings is sidewall style and weight: the Firestone example is a 3.25-inch wide whitewall at 24 pounds, while the Coker Classic example is a blackwall at 20 pounds. Both stay within the period-correct bias-ply category for a prewar Hudson.

That means the choice is largely about presentation and the exact look you want on the car rather than a major difference in basic fitment. A 1937 Hudson owner aiming for a formal restoration may prefer the whitewall appearance, while someone seeking a plainer or more understated prewar look may lean toward the blackwall option in the same size.

1937 Hudson tires can be suitable for normal highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound age-related condition. The listed fitments here are bias-ply products, and one 600-size Avon example carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling, while many of the classic numeric-size offerings do not present modern speed-letter markings in the same way. In real use, a well-maintained 1937 Hudson's brakes, steering, suspension, and overall prewar design are usually more relevant than extreme tire speed capability.

The practical takeaway is to treat the tire as one part of the entire car's road readiness. If your 1937 Hudson is going on modern roads, inspect the tires carefully, keep expectations appropriate to a prewar automobile, and drive within the limits of the vehicle as a whole rather than focusing only on what a reproduction tire might theoretically tolerate.

Inflation pressure on a 1937 Hudson should follow the tire size and the specific tire's published load-pressure relationship rather than a single universal number. Several 600-16 products list 1400 pounds at 32 psi, and several 700-15 products list 1700 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated capacity at that pressure; they are not automatically the same thing as the carmaker's recommended running pressure for every Hudson application.

Use the Hudson owner's literature for the vehicle-side recommendation and the tire maker's guidance for the tire-side limit or rating. Keeping those two references straight helps avoid the common mistake of applying one size's pressure figure to another size or assuming a rated maximum figure is the exact operating pressure every 1937 Hudson should use.

Before taking a 1937 Hudson on a longer drive, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed fabric, irregular wear, and proper inflation. Check that the spare is usable, the valve stems are sound, and the wheel hardware is secure. On a car of this age, the tire inspection should happen alongside a broader pre-drive look at brakes, steering, fluids, and the rest of the chassis, since all of those systems affect how confidently the car can travel.

Longer drives put more heat and sustained load into antique-car tires than short local trips, so small problems become more important. A careful walkaround before departure can prevent damage to the tire, wheel, or bodywork and gives a 1937 Hudson owner a much better chance of enjoying the trip rather than turning a simple issue into a roadside interruption.