1937 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1937 La Salle vehicles in the fitment covered here use one tire size: 700-16. That size applies to the 1937 La Salle 50, and it mounts on a 16-inch wheel. Where rim-width guidance is listed on available products in this size, it falls in the 4.50- to 5.50-inch range.

That makes the fitment side of the decision relatively simple compared with years and makes that split across multiple sizes. Once you have confirmed your car is a 1937 La Salle 50 on its proper 16-inch wheels, the next step is choosing the sidewall appearance and individual tire specifications that suit your restoration goals and driving plans.

On a 1937 La Salle, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The "700" is the nominal section-width designation used in period sizing practice, while the "16" identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it should be read as a vintage bias-ply size rather than translated directly into a present-day passenger-car size.

That distinction matters because buyers sometimes expect modern sizing conventions from an older code. If you are restoring or maintaining a pre-war La Salle, staying within the original numeric bias-ply format preserves the car's intended appearance and keeps your search focused on reproduction and specialty tires built for vintage applications.

Within the model coverage here, 1937 La Salle uses the same 700-16 tire size across the line. The La Salle 50 is shown with that single fitment, so there is no year-and-make split between one model using a different diameter or a different sizing system.

That gives owners a useful level of confidence when starting a tire search from year and make alone. Even so, it is still smart to verify the actual wheels on the car, especially on older restorations where wheels may have been changed decades ago or replaced during prior restoration work.

1937 La Salle tires in 700-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall choices include Avon and BFGoodrich in the fitment shown here, while wide whitewall options include Lester and Firestone. Both sidewall treatments are offered within the same basic bias-ply size, so the difference is visual presentation rather than a change in wheel diameter.

For many La Salle owners, sidewall style is one of the biggest decisions because it strongly influences the car's stance and period impression. A wide whitewall usually suits a formal pre-war luxury look, while a blackwall can feel more restrained and practical. If the car is being judged, confirm the preferred sidewall treatment with a marque specialist or event rules.

Available 700-16 tires for 1937 La Salle include products from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. All of the options shown in this fitment are bias-ply tires, but they differ in sidewall styling and some supporting specifications such as listed load information and rim-width guidance.

Brand choice on a pre-war car often comes down to the look you want and the exact specification mix that matters to you. Some owners prioritize a particular sidewall presentation, while others want a product with clearly published load or rim-width details. Comparing brand by brand within the same 700-16 size helps narrow the field without drifting away from correct fitment.

For a 1937 La Salle, the BFGoodrich 700-16 shown here is a blackwall bias-ply tire with a listed maximum load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and a rim-width range of 4.50 to 5.50 inches. The Firestone 700-16 is a wide whitewall bias-ply tire with a listed maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi and the same 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim-width range.

That means the primary visible difference is sidewall appearance, while the published load figures also differ slightly between the two products. For a La Salle owner choosing between them, the decision is usually about whether the car should present with the brighter pre-war luxury look of a whitewall or the more understated look of a blackwall, while staying within the same basic fitment.

For 1937 La Salle tires in 700-16, published rim-width guidance appears at 4.50 to 5.50 inches on the BFGoodrich and Firestone products in this size. All of the tires fit a 16-inch wheel diameter, but width still matters because it affects how the tire seats and presents on the wheel.

Before finalizing a tire choice, measure the actual wheel or confirm the wheel specification already on the car. Many pre-war cars have lived long lives and may wear replacement wheels from earlier repairs or older restorations, so checking both diameter and width is a worthwhile step even when the nominal tire size is straightforward.

Inner-tube status is not uniformly marked across the 700-16 products shown for 1937 La Salle, so tube requirements can vary by product. On a pre-war application like this, tube use is often tied to the wheel design and the specific tire's construction details rather than the size code alone.

The practical approach is to confirm the sidewall marking and wheel type before installation instead of assuming every 700-16 is set up the same way. If your La Salle still uses original-style wheels, tube choice, flap requirements, and valve-stem compatibility are all worth checking at the same time to avoid rework after mounting.

A 1937 La Salle should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires clean, maintain inflation, and move the car periodically if possible so the same section of each bias-ply tire is not carrying the car's weight for months at a time.

Bias-ply tires are especially prone to taking a temporary set during long static storage, so occasional movement or the careful use of stands can help reduce flat-spotting concerns. Good storage habits matter as much as mileage on many collector cars, because a beautifully restored La Salle often ages its tires through time and environment rather than distance.

On a 1937 La Salle, tire age usually matters more than tread wear because many collector cars cover relatively few miles. A sound rule is to begin regular age-based evaluation at around five to seven years and to give serious replacement consideration as tires approach ten years, even if they still appear lightly worn. The DOT date code on the tire is the starting point for that timeline.

A pre-war car can spend long stretches parked, and that kind of use pattern can hide age-related rubber hardening, sidewall cracking, or internal deterioration. If the La Salle is driven only occasionally, calendar age should still guide your decisions, especially before tours, shows that require road travel, or any outing that puts sustained heat into the tires.

Tires on a 1937 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer trip. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign that a tire is losing pressure. If your installation uses tubes, include the valve stems and any signs of slow leakage in the inspection routine.

Pre-drive inspection is especially important on collector cars because weeks or months may pass between outings. Catching a pressure loss, a cracked sidewall, or a deteriorated valve stem in the garage is far better than finding it on the road, and a quick walkaround becomes part of the normal stewardship of a car from the late pre-war era.

A 1937 La Salle 50 would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the 700-16 size aligns with that period-correct pre-war construction and wheel diameter. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer, and surviving records, so the most reliable restoration target is the correct size, proper bias-ply construction, and a sidewall treatment appropriate to how the car is being restored.

That means most owners should focus first on getting the size format and construction right before worrying about finer presentation details. If your goal is highly exact factory or delivery-day authenticity, period literature, marque clubs, and surviving unrestored cars are the best resources for confirming whether a particular sidewall look is appropriate for your La Salle.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1937 La Salle because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the car wears an era-appropriate size, construction, and sidewall style. A 700-16 bias-ply tire fits the car's period, while a visibly modern construction or an obviously out-of-era sidewall treatment can change the visual impression of the whole vehicle.

On many show fields, tires are part of the car's overall authenticity rather than an isolated detail. If the event emphasizes preservation or factory-correct presentation, confirm the accepted standard with the judging body or a La Salle specialist, since standards can differ between concours, marque gatherings, and more casual local shows.

For the 1937 La Salle, both Lester and Firestone offer 700-16 bias-ply tires with a wide whitewall presentation. The Lester example shown here weighs 28 pounds, while the Firestone version weighs 29 pounds and lists a maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi along with a 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim-width range.

A comparison like that is most useful when you are refining the last details of a restoration rather than deciding the basic fitment, since both stay within the same correct size and general visual category. If one product's published specifications align more closely with your wheels or your intended use, that can help narrow the choice without sacrificing period character.

1937 La Salle tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and used within their design limits. The 700-16 fitment shown here is bias-ply, and one available Avon version carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to a 75 mph ceiling. That said, the overall roadworthiness of a pre-war La Salle also depends heavily on brakes, steering, suspension condition, and the age of the tires themselves.

For most collector-car use, the more important question is not whether the tire can survive normal highway speed, but whether the entire car is ready for sustained running. A freshly inspected tire on a well-sorted La Salle is a different proposition from an old restoration with aged rubber, so evaluate the full vehicle before planning extended highway use.

Inflation pressure for 1937 La Salle tires should start with the vehicle's factory recommendation and then be checked against the individual tire's published ratings. In the 700-16 products shown here, BFGoodrich lists 1900 pounds at 36 psi and Firestone lists 1800 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to run every 700-16 at the same pressure on every car.

The best practice is to use the La Salle's original specification as your baseline and then make sure the tire you choose is appropriate for that use. Because different brands in the same nominal size can publish different supporting figures, keep the pressure decision tied to the specific tire on the car rather than borrowing a number from another product.

Before a longer drive in a 1937 La Salle, inspect all tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, weathering, and uneven wear, then verify inflation and check that the spare is usable. Pay attention to valve stems and, if your setup uses tubes, any signs of slow leakage or heat-related issues from prior use. Tire readiness should be treated as one part of a larger pre-drive check on a car of this age.

A late pre-war automobile asks for broader mechanical preparation than a modern car, so include brakes, steering play, wheel-bearing condition, and suspension hardware in your planning. A La Salle that feels fine around town may reveal age-related issues on a longer run, and tires are one of the easiest places to catch trouble before it becomes a roadside interruption.