1937 Lincoln Tire Fitment Guide

1937 Lincoln vehicles use two different tire sizes depending on model. The 1937 Lincoln V12 uses 750-17 tires on 17-inch rims, while the 1937 Lincoln Zephyr uses 700-16 tires on 16-inch rims. Available rim-width guidance appears on some products as 4 inches and 5.50 to 6.00 inches for certain 750-17 tires, and 4.50 to 5.50 inches for certain 700-16 tires.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1937 Lincoln. You need to identify the model first, then confirm the actual wheel on the car before selecting a specific product, especially on restored cars that may have seen wheel changes over the years.

On a 1937 Lincoln, 750-17 is a period numeric bias-ply tire size. The 750 portion refers to the nominal section width in the older numeric sizing system, and the 17 indicates a 17-inch rim diameter. In the 1937 Lincoln range, that size belongs to the Lincoln V12 rather than the Zephyr.

Buyers usually encounter 750-17 when restoring or maintaining Lincoln's larger, more formal V12 cars. Once the size is confirmed, the next choice is typically sidewall appearance, since blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide-whitewall versions are all available within that same basic size.

No, 1937 Lincoln models do not all use the same tire size. The Lincoln V12 uses 750-17, while the Lincoln Zephyr uses 700-16. Both are bias-ply sizes appropriate to the period, but they mount on different rim diameters and are not interchangeable across the two model lines.

That difference matters because many prewar cars have changed hands, been restored, or been stored for long periods, and visual identification alone can be misleading. A quick confirmation of the exact model and wheel diameter will prevent choosing a tire that looks close in era but is wrong for the car.

1937 Lincoln tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. The 750-17 size for the Lincoln V12 comes in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions, while the 700-16 size for the Lincoln Zephyr comes in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall versions. All of the listed options remain bias-ply, so the sidewall choice changes appearance more than fundamental construction type.

For a prewar luxury car, sidewall style can strongly influence the finished look of the restoration. Buyers focused on authenticity often compare photos, surviving original cars, and club guidance to decide whether a blackwall or whitewall presentation best matches the car's intended market presentation and show goals.

Several brands offer tires for 1937 Lincoln vehicles. The 750-17 size used on the Lincoln V12 is available from Firestone and BFGoodrich, while the 700-16 size used on the Lincoln Zephyr is available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. All of those offerings stay within the bias-ply construction appropriate to the era.

Brand choice is usually less about changing the basic fitment and more about selecting the sidewall look and product character that suits the car. For many owners, that means narrowing the search by model and size first, then comparing the available brands within that single correct fitment group.

For the 1937 Lincoln V12, both Firestone Balloon and BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply are offered in 750-17, but their listed details are not identical. Firestone versions include blackwall and double-whitewall options with a listed max load of 1870 pounds at 40 psi on some products and a 4-inch rim specification, while a BFGoodrich wide-whitewall version lists 1646 pounds at 36 psi and a 5.50 to 6.00 inch rim range.

That makes the choice more specific than simply picking a brand name. A V12 owner should compare the exact sidewall style desired and verify that the product's stated rim-width guidance matches the wheel being used, especially if the car has been restored with wheels different from its original setup.

Rim-width guidance varies by size and by product within the 1937 Lincoln range. Certain 750-17 tires list a 4-inch rim, while another 750-17 option lists a 5.50 to 6.00 inch range. Certain 700-16 tires list a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim range.

Those differences are a reminder to match the specific tire to the actual wheel rather than assuming every tire in the same nominal size wants the same rim. Before making a final choice, measure the wheel or confirm its specification so the tire's intended bead-seat range lines up with the wheel on the car.

The available 1937 Lincoln tires are all bias-ply products, but tube markings are not carried consistently in the size descriptions shown here. On a prewar application such as a 1937 Lincoln, tube use often depends on the exact tire design, the wheel type, and the sidewall marking on the specific product rather than on size alone.

The practical step is to confirm the sidewall marking and wheel condition before installation instead of assuming all 700-16 or all 750-17 tires are handled the same way. That matters especially on older wheels, where the wheel's original design and present condition can influence the final tube decision.

A 1937 Lincoln should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, furnaces, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age tire sidewalls. Because both listed sizes for 1937 Lincoln are bias-ply, long static storage can also encourage flat-spotting if the car sits in one position for extended periods.

Owners usually help the tires by keeping inflation stable, moving the car periodically, or supporting the vehicle in a way that reduces long-term load during off-season storage. Clean floors, moderate temperature swings, and keeping the tires away from petroleum contamination also make a meaningful difference on collector cars.

Tire life on a 1937 Lincoln is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage, since collector cars often accumulate relatively few miles. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating older tires closely at around five to seven years and to treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if the tread still looks usable.

The best way to make that decision is to check the date coding where applicable, inspect for cracking, stiffness, or separation, and consider how the car has been stored. Low mileage does not preserve a tire if heat, time, and inactivity have already taken a toll on the casing and sidewalls.

Tires on a 1937 Lincoln should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check before longer outings. Pay attention to sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and pressure retention, since prewar cars can spend long intervals parked and then return to service for tours, shows, or weekend drives.

A more detailed inspection should also include the spare, valve stems, and overall wheel condition. On a collector car, catching age-related problems early is often more important than monitoring tread depth alone, because structural aging can appear long before the tire looks worn out in the usual modern-car sense.

A 1937 Lincoln V12 would have been fitted in bias-ply construction, as that was standard American practice for the era. Within the available fitments here, the V12 uses 750-17, which matches the period size format and construction expected for a senior prewar Lincoln. No original-equipment brand should be assumed solely from today's reproduction offerings.

For an owner pursuing factory-style restoration, the important first steps are choosing the correct 750-17 size and then selecting the sidewall treatment that best matches the car's intended presentation. Marque clubs, period photographs, and surviving factory literature are the right places to confirm market-specific appearance details before finalizing a show-level car.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1937 Lincoln, especially in judged preservation or concours settings. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall style suit the model and era, so a Zephyr on 750-17 tires or a V12 on the wrong wheel diameter would stand out immediately as incorrect.

The closer the event is to originality-based judging, the more important those details become. Owners who want to avoid avoidable deductions should confirm the model-specific size first and then compare whitewall treatment and overall visual character against the standards used by the club or event where the car will be shown.

For the 1937 Lincoln Zephyr, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer 700-16 bias-ply tires, but they differ in presentation and listed specifications. The Firestone wide-whitewall version lists a max load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi with a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim range, while a BFGoodrich blackwall version lists 1900 pounds at 36 psi with the same 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim range.

A Zephyr owner comparing those products is usually balancing appearance with the exact tire specification rather than deciding between different fitment families. Since the rim-width guidance matches on those examples, the visible sidewall treatment and the individual product's stated load characteristics become the more meaningful points to verify.

1937 Lincoln tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and matched to the way the car is actually driven. The listed products are bias-ply, and one 700-16 offering includes an L speed rating, which corresponds to a 75 mph ceiling. On a prewar Lincoln, the condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel bearings is often just as important as the tire itself.

That means highway confidence comes from the full car being properly sorted, not from treating the tire alone as the limit. Owners planning regular road use should keep speeds sensible, maintain proper inflation, and remember that the car's era-correct handling behavior will be very different from that of a modern vehicle.

Inflation pressure on a 1937 Lincoln should follow the requirements of the exact tire being used and the factory guidance for the car whenever those two references need to be reconciled. Among the available products, examples include 750-17 tires rated at 1870 pounds at 40 psi and 1646 pounds at 36 psi, plus 700-16 tires rated at 1900 pounds at 36 psi and 1800 pounds at 36 psi.

Those figures should not be transferred casually from one size or product to another. The safest approach is to start with the vehicle's original recommendation, then confirm that it remains appropriate for the specific reproduction tire selected, especially when comparing different brands or different sidewall variants within the same nominal size.

Before a longer drive in a 1937 Lincoln, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded damage, irregular wear, and correct inflation. The spare should receive the same attention, since a road trip is exactly when a long-ignored spare tends to matter. Wheel condition, valve stems, and the age of the tires deserve the same scrutiny as tread appearance.

Tires are only one part of preparing a prewar car for distance. A worthwhile pre-drive routine also includes checking brakes, cooling system, steering components, and fluid levels, because a mechanically healthy 1937 Lincoln will make better use of its tires and place fewer sudden stresses on them during touring conditions.