1937 Lafayette Tire Fitment Guide

1937 Lafayette vehicles in this guide use one tire size: 600-16. That size applies to the 1937 Lafayette 6 Cyl., and the available products mount on 16-inch rims. Where rim width is specified, 600-16 fits rims in the 4.00- to 4.50-inch range.

That simplicity is helpful because you do not have to sort through multiple factory sizes across the model range. The real fitment check is confirming that your wheels are true 16-inch wheels and that their width falls within the tire’s approved range before you choose a blackwall or whitewall version.

On a 1937 Lafayette tire, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 600 refers to the tire’s nominal section width in period sizing convention, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric code, so it should be read as a vintage bias-ply designation rather than translated directly into a current P-metric tire size.

That matters because a modern-looking metric equivalent can change the stance, sidewall shape, and overall character of a prewar car. If you are restoring a Lafayette for authentic appearance, staying with the original-style numeric bias-ply format keeps the tire visually in step with the era.

Yes. The 1937 Lafayette model covered here uses 600-16 throughout the range, so there is no split between different Lafayette models for this year and make. All available choices shown for 1937 Lafayette remain centered on that single 16-inch fitment.

That means your next decision is not which factory size belongs to which model, but which version of 600-16 best suits the car’s intended look and use. A blackwall often suits a more understated driver presentation, while a wide whitewall can better match the visual style many owners want from a prewar American restoration.

1937 Lafayette tires in 600-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall choices appear from Coker Classic and Avon, while BFGoodrich and Firestone offer wide whitewall versions in the same size. All of the listed options remain bias-ply constructions appropriate to the period.

Sidewall style changes the personality of the car more than the fitment itself, because the size stays the same. Many prewar American restorations look most at home with a whitewall presentation, but a blackwall can be the right call for a simpler driver or for an owner aiming for a more restrained late-1930s appearance.

Four brands are represented for 1937 Lafayette fitment in 600-16: BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Avon. Each offering uses bias-ply construction, while the sidewall treatment varies by brand, with both blackwall and wide whitewall choices available in this size.

Brand selection on a car like a 1937 Lafayette often comes down to the visual style you want and the exact series characteristics offered in 600-16. It is worth comparing the sidewall look, any stated load information, and whether a speed letter appears on the specific tire you are considering rather than choosing by brand name alone.

For a 1937 Lafayette, both the BFGoodrich and Firestone 600-16 options are bias-ply tires with wide whitewall styling, a 16-inch rim diameter, a listed load figure of 1400 pounds at 32 psi, and an approved rim width range of 4.00 to 4.50 inches. The BFGoodrich version uses a 3.50-inch whitewall and is listed at 21 pounds, while the Firestone version uses a 3.25-inch whitewall and is listed at 24 pounds.

That makes the choice mainly one of visual preference and brand character rather than basic fitment. If you are trying to fine-tune the exact prewar look of the car, the whitewall width can noticeably change the profile of the finished wheel and tire package even though both tires fit the same Lafayette application.

For 1937 Lafayette fitment in 600-16, the listed rim width range is 4.00 to 4.50 inches on the products where width is specified. All of those tires mount on 16-inch rims, so both diameter and rim width need to match the tire’s approved range.

Checking wheel width matters because a correct 16-inch wheel can still be unsuitable if it is too narrow or too wide for the tire. Before mounting a fresh set on a 1937 Lafayette, verify the actual wheel dimensions rather than relying on assumptions about what may have been swapped onto the car over the decades.

The 1937 Lafayette products listed here do not carry TT or TL markings in the size descriptions, so tube requirement should be confirmed against the exact tire you choose and the wheel type on the car. On a prewar application like 600-16 bias-ply fitment, tube use often depends on the tire’s specific construction details and whether the original wheel is intended for tube-type service.

The practical step is to inspect the wheel itself and confirm the tire’s sidewall marking before assembly. If your 1937 Lafayette still uses original-style prewar wheels, it is wise to review tube, flap, and valve stem needs as part of the mounting plan instead of treating them as an afterthought.

A 1937 Lafayette should be stored away from direct sunlight, ozone sources such as electric motors and battery chargers, and prolonged dampness. Bias-ply tires also benefit from proper inflation during storage and from periodic movement, since they can develop temporary flat-spotting more readily than modern radials when a car sits for long stretches.

If the car will be parked for an extended season, clean the tires, keep them off oily concrete when possible, and either roll the car occasionally or support it in a way that reduces continuous loading. Those small habits help preserve sidewall appearance and make the first drive of the season much kinder to the tire.

On a 1937 Lafayette, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. A collector-car tire should be evaluated regularly once it reaches the five- to seven-year range, and around ten years is a common point for serious replacement consideration even if tread remains. The DOT date code, visible on modern reproduction tires, is the starting point for tracking age.

That approach makes sense because many vintage cars are driven infrequently and may age out their tires long before they wear them out. Sidewall cracking, hardening rubber, persistent air loss, and any change in ride feel are stronger replacement signals than tread depth alone on a 1937 Lafayette.

Tires on a 1937 Lafayette should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough check before tours or longer highway outings. Look closely for sidewall cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and include the spare in the same routine because an aged or neglected spare is often the one tire least ready when it is finally needed.

A pre-drive inspection only takes a few minutes and is one of the most valuable safety habits on a prewar car. If your final wheel-and-tire setup uses tubes, add valve stem condition and any sign of tube-related leakage to the checklist so small problems are found in the garage rather than on the roadside.

A 1937 Lafayette 6 Cyl. would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the size used here is 600-16. That places the car squarely in the prewar American tradition of tall-profile, narrow-section tires on 16-inch wheels. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and supplier, so the safest historically grounded takeaway is the size, construction type, and period-appropriate sidewall style rather than a single assumed brand.

For most owners, the right restoration path is to start with 600-16 bias-ply fitment and then decide whether the car should wear blackwalls or wide whitewalls. If you are preparing a highly judged 1937 Lafayette, a marque club or period sales literature can help settle finer points tied to body style, market, or event-specific expectations.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1937 Lafayette, especially at events that place weight on period appearance. Judges and experienced enthusiasts often notice whether the car wears the proper vintage-style size, the correct bias-ply construction for the era, and a sidewall treatment that looks appropriate to the car’s presentation. A modern-looking substitute or an obviously mismatched sidewall can stand out quickly.

Even on a car that is not competing at the highest concours level, proper tire fitment helps the stance and proportions look right. If your 1937 Lafayette is being restored for judged authenticity, verify not only the 600-16 size but also whether your chosen blackwall or whitewall treatment matches the standards of the club or event where the car will appear.

For the 1937 Lafayette, the Coker Classic 600-16 and Avon Turbospeed 600H16 93H are both blackwall bias-ply offerings for 16-inch applications, but they differ in how they are presented. The Coker Classic lists a 1400-pound load rating at 32 psi, a 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim width range, and a 20-pound weight. The Avon is listed at 1,433 pounds, carries an H speed rating up to 130 mph, and weighs 24 pounds.

That comparison makes them useful for different restoration priorities within the same general fitment. A buyer choosing for a straightforward period blackwall look may focus first on appearance and wheel compatibility, while someone comparing specifications more closely may also weigh the Avon’s explicit speed marking against the overall character they want from the finished 1937 Lafayette.

1937 Lafayette tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in sound condition, properly inflated, and matched to a mechanically healthy car. The listed 600-16 offerings are bias-ply tires, and one option, the Avon 600H16 93H, carries an H speed rating up to 130 mph. That rating exceeds the real-world cruising expectations of a late-1930s Lafayette by a wide margin, while the car’s brakes, suspension, steering, and road conditions are usually the more meaningful limits.

Safe highway use depends less on chasing top speed capability and more on honest preparation. Check age, condition, inflation, wheel integrity, and front-end behavior before regular road use, and remember that a properly sorted 1937 Lafayette should be driven with the manners and margins appropriate to a prewar automobile.

For 1937 Lafayette 600-16 tires, several listed products show a load rating of 1400 pounds at 32 psi, while the Avon offering lists a 1,433-pound maximum load figure. Those are tire ratings, not universal factory operating pressures for every Lafayette. The correct running pressure should be confirmed against the original owner’s literature for the car and the tire maker’s guidance for the specific product you choose.

Using the same pressure across every tire simply because the size matches can lead to an overly harsh ride or an under-supported tire depending on the product and vehicle setup. Treat the tire’s rated pressure as a reference point, then fine-tune within the manufacturer’s and vehicle maker’s guidance for your actual 1937 Lafayette use.

Before taking a 1937 Lafayette on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, abnormal wear, and proper inflation, and check that every valve stem is sound. Include the spare in the inspection, because a weak spare undermines the value of carrying it at all. Tire readiness should be part of a broader pre-drive review that also includes brakes, steering, cooling, and wheel fasteners.

A prewar car rewards deliberate preparation. If the Lafayette has been sitting, take a short local run first to feel for vibration, pull, or unusual tracking, then recheck pressures once the tires have settled back into use. That staged approach can reveal small problems before they become trip-ending ones.