1937 Hupmobile Tire Fitment Guide

1937 Hupmobile vehicles use two distinct tire sizes, and each one is tied to a specific model. The 1937 Hupmobile G uses 600-16 tires, while the 1937 Hupmobile OH uses 650-16 tires. Both sizes mount on 16-inch rims, but they are not interchangeable as a year-wide fitment because the G and OH do not share the same size.

That means the first step is confirming the model name on the car before choosing a tire. Rim width matters too: 600-16 products are listed for roughly 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, while 650-16 products are listed around 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims on the products that publish wheel-width guidance. Once the model is confirmed, the next choice is usually blackwall versus wide whitewall rather than choosing between different constructions.

On a 1937 Hupmobile tire, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.00 designation refers to the nominal section width, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the 1937 Hupmobile range, that size applies to the G model and appears in classic bias-ply offerings with both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewalls.

For a buyer, the important takeaway is that 600-16 is both a size and a period-correct construction style for a prewar Hupmobile G. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it should be matched to the proper 16-inch wheel and the tire's stated rim-width range. If your goal is a restoration-minded appearance, the real comparison is among brand, sidewall style, and tread character within 600-16 rather than converting to a different format on this page.

On a 1937 Hupmobile tire, 650-16 is also a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 figure indicates the nominal section width and 16 is the wheel diameter in inches. Within the 1937 Hupmobile lineup, this size is used by the OH model and is offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions from several classic-tire brands.

That larger numeric size matters because it belongs to the OH rather than the G. A 650-16 tire should be paired with a 16-inch wheel that also suits the product's published rim-width recommendation, which appears around 4.50 to 5.00 inches on several listings. Buyers usually narrow the final choice by restoration style, especially whether the car looks more correct with a blackwall or a wide whitewall presentation.

No, 1937 Hupmobile models do not all use the same tire size. The G uses 600-16, while the OH uses 650-16. Both are bias-ply 16-inch fitments, but the size itself changes with the model.

That distinction is important because many prewar cars are identified casually by year and make alone, even when tire fitment changed across the range. If you are sorting through a restoration project, a recently purchased collector car, or a car with mixed old parts, verify the exact model before choosing a tire. Once you have that confirmed, you can compare brands and sidewall styles inside the correct size instead of risking a mismatch.

1937 Hupmobile tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the two listed sizes. In 600-16, blackwall and wide whitewall choices appear from several brands, and the same is true in 650-16. That gives owners of either model room to tailor the final look without changing away from the correct prewar bias-ply format.

For many restorations, sidewall style is as important visually as the size itself. A blackwall often suits a more restrained, service-era appearance, while a wide whitewall creates a fuller period presentation that many collectors associate with upscale prewar American cars. If show accuracy matters, compare your tire choice with period photos, marque references, and the way your specific car would have been presented when new.

1937 Hupmobile vehicles have offerings from more than one brand in both sizes. The 600-16 fitment appears from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone, while 650-16 appears from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. All of the listed options stay within the bias-ply character expected for a prewar Hupmobile.

That range lets buyers choose by brand heritage, tread style, sidewall treatment, and the exact published specifications attached to each product. Some owners will favor a traditional American brand look, while others may be drawn to a specialty bias-ply offering with a different speed rating or visual character. The key is to compare only within the size your model requires rather than treating the full year range as interchangeable.

For 1937 Hupmobile tires, BFGoodrich and Firestone both appear in period-style bias-ply offerings, but the published details vary by size and sidewall treatment. In 600-16, both brands offer wide whitewall choices with similar 1,400-pound-at-32-psi load figures and 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim guidance. In 650-16, BFGoodrich appears as a wide whitewall and Firestone as a blackwall among the listed examples, with both carrying 1,580-pound-at-32-psi load figures and 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim guidance.

The practical difference often comes down to how you want the finished car to look and which exact product profile suits your wheel. A whitewall changes the visual character of a prewar car immediately, while a blackwall keeps the presentation more understated. When two products seem close on paper, compare the sidewall style first, then confirm the wheel-width recommendation and any load or construction markings before making the final call.

Rim width depends on the size used on the specific 1937 Hupmobile model. For 600-16, listed products call for about 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim width. For 650-16, listed products call for about 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim width. Both sizes use 16-inch wheel diameter, but the acceptable wheel width changes with the tire size.

That means a 16-inch wheel is only part of the fitment picture. If your car has replacement wheels, mixed wheels, or wheels that have been altered over the years, verify actual width before selecting a tire. Staying within the published wheel-width range helps preserve the intended shape of the tire and avoids forcing a larger or smaller casing onto a rim that does not support it correctly.

The listed 1937 Hupmobile products do not show tube-type or tubeless markings in the size descriptions provided here, and the range is made up of prewar-style bias-ply tires on 16-inch rims. On collector cars of this era, tube use often depends on the specific tire construction and the wheel itself, especially whether the wheel design and condition are suitable for running without a tube.

The safest approach is to confirm the sidewall marking on the exact tire you plan to use and inspect the wheel before assembly. Many owners of prewar vehicles also evaluate the condition of the rim well, valve-hole area, and any pitting before deciding on final setup. If originality or road-tour reliability matters, have the tire-and-wheel combination reviewed by a specialist familiar with prewar rims rather than assuming all 16-inch bias-ply products are configured the same way.

Both 1937 Hupmobile sizes use a 16-inch rim diameter, so the wheel diameter itself is shared between the G and OH fitments. That does not automatically mean every original wheel is suitable for both sizes, because the listed rim-width ranges differ between 600-16 and 650-16. The smaller size is associated with narrower wheels than the larger one.

In practice, that means you should think of diameter compatibility and width compatibility as two separate checks. A wheel from a 1937 Hupmobile G may be the right diameter for a 650-16 tire but still fall outside the preferred width range, depending on the wheel. If wheels have been swapped during the car's life, measure them and match them to the product's published guidance instead of relying on appearance alone.

A 1937 Hupmobile should be stored away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing sources such as electric motors, compressors, and battery chargers. Keep the tires clean, properly inflated, and parked on a dry surface. Because these are bias-ply prewar-style tires, they can develop temporary flat spotting more readily during long static periods than a modern radial used on a newer collector vehicle.

If the car will sit for extended stretches, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant loading on one patch of the tread. Tire covers and a stable indoor environment help preserve sidewall appearance, especially on whitewall tires that are part of the car's visual presentation. Good storage habits protect both drivability and the period-correct look that matters on a prewar Hupmobile.

Tires on a 1937 Hupmobile should be judged more by age, storage history, and condition than by miles alone. Collector-car tires often age out before the tread is worn down, so a careful inspection schedule matters. Many enthusiasts begin evaluating tires closely once they are in the five-to-seven-year range and treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, regardless of remaining tread depth.

The best habit is to check the date code on the tire and compare that age with the way the car has been stored and driven. A garage-kept Hupmobile that only sees short fair-weather runs can still have old tires that look usable but have hardened or begun to crack. Age, sidewall condition, and air retention tell you more about continued service life than mileage on a prewar collector car.

Tires on a 1937 Hupmobile should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cord, irregular wear, and changes in inflation pressure. On a collector car that may sit for weeks at a time, those checks matter more than on a regularly driven modern car because problems can develop quietly during storage.

Longer drives call for an extra look at the spare, valve stems, and the way the tread sits after the car has been parked. If you use tubes in your final setup, tube-related air loss and valve condition deserve attention as well. A few minutes of inspection before departure can prevent avoidable trouble and is especially worthwhile on a nearly ninety-year-old Hupmobile with prewar-style tire construction.

The 1937 Hupmobile G uses 600-16, and for a car of this prewar era the authentic construction type is bias-ply. That matches the style of the reproduction and specialty offerings available in this size today. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer relationship, or surviving records, so the most reliable restoration baseline is the correct size, correct 16-inch fitment, and prewar bias-ply construction.

If you are restoring a G for authenticity, start with 600-16 and then narrow the look by choosing blackwall or wide whitewall according to the car's trim level, period photos, and event standards. Owners pursuing highly exact presentation often compare surviving factory literature, old photographs, and club guidance before deciding on sidewall treatment. That extra step is worthwhile because the tire's visual impact is significant on a 1937 Hupmobile.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1937 Hupmobile because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall style very quickly on prewar cars. A G wearing 650-16 instead of 600-16, or an OH wearing the smaller size, changes the stance and visual balance of the car. A construction or sidewall treatment that looks too modern for the period can also stand out during judging.

For show use, the goal is to match the car's model-specific size first and then choose the sidewall presentation that best reflects the way the car would have appeared in its era. Event standards vary, so marque clubs and Hupmobile specialists remain the best reference for class-specific expectations. Even outside judged competition, the right tire size and appearance do a great deal to complete a faithful restoration.

On a 1937 Hupmobile, blackwall and wide whitewall tires can both be found in the correct model-specific sizes, but they create very different period impressions. Blackwalls give the car a more restrained, service-oriented look, while wide whitewalls make the tire itself part of the styling statement. Both styles remain within the bias-ply, prewar character expected for a Hupmobile of this era.

The right choice depends on the story you want the car to tell. A wide whitewall often suits a fully finished restoration where visual elegance is part of the goal, while a blackwall can look more understated and practical. If authenticity matters at a high level, compare your choice with period imagery and the standards of the show field or club group where the car will be evaluated.

1937 Hupmobile tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to sound wheels, but the exact speed capability depends on the product chosen. Most of the listed offerings are traditional bias-ply products, and one 600-16 example carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling. The tire, however, is only one part of the equation on a prewar car with period brakes, steering, and suspension design.

For real-world driving, the smart approach is to treat the car as a complete vintage system rather than chasing the highest published tire rating. A properly sorted Hupmobile operated within sensible speeds is a different use case from modern interstate traffic at the limits of the car's mechanical design. Before any sustained road trip, confirm tire condition, wheel condition, alignment, and the broader mechanical readiness of the vehicle.

Several 1937 Hupmobile tire listings pair their maximum load figures with 32 psi. In 600-16, examples show about 1,400 pounds at 32 psi, while 650-16 examples show about 1,580 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures describe the tire's published load relationship for those products and should not be treated as a blanket instruction to run every tire at its maximum-rated pressure in service.

For actual driving pressure, use the original Hupmobile guidance if you have it and compare that with the recommendations that apply to the exact reproduction tire you choose. Pressure should always be considered by size and by product, not transferred from one tire to another because the wheel diameter is the same. Matching pressure to the correct tire helps preserve ride quality, tread shape, and general road manners.

Before taking a 1937 Hupmobile on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign that the casing has been stressed during storage. Verify inflation pressure, check the valve stems, and inspect the spare so it is truly road-ready. On a prewar car, those tire checks belong alongside a broader inspection of brakes, steering, wheel bearings, and cooling-system health.

Longer drives reveal weaknesses that short local outings may never expose. A tire that has held air in the garage can behave differently after heat builds on the road, and a spare that has been ignored for years is often unusable when finally needed. Giving the tires the same attention you give the rest of the car makes touring a 1937 Hupmobile far more predictable and enjoyable.