1937 Pontiac Tire Fitment Guide

1937 Pontiac vehicles use two different tire sizes depending on model. The 1937 Pontiac 6 Cyl. uses 600-16, while the 1937 Pontiac 8 Cyl. uses 650-16. Both are bias-ply sizes and both mount on 16-inch rims. For 600-16, listed rim width range runs from 4.00 to 4.50 inches, while 650-16 uses a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim width range on products where that specification is stated.

The practical takeaway is that year and make alone are not enough for this Pontiac. You need to identify whether the car is a six-cylinder or eight-cylinder model before choosing a size, because the two are not interchangeable as a general rule. Once the correct size is established, the next decision becomes brand and sidewall appearance, especially if you are balancing formal restoration goals against a more restrained driver-style look.

On a 1937 Pontiac, 600-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The “600” identifies the tire’s nominal section width in the older prewar sizing system, and the “16” identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is the size used on 1937 Pontiac 6 Cyl. models, and available products in that size are built as bias-ply tires rather than modern metric radials.

That older numeric format matters because it reflects the era’s tire construction and fitment conventions. A buyer comparing 600-16 choices should think less about modern metric conversion habits and more about matching the car’s original wheel diameter, the correct model application, and the desired sidewall style. For a six-cylinder Pontiac, 600-16 is the starting point before narrowing the field to blackwall versus wide whitewall and to a preferred brand family.

On a 1937 Pontiac, 650-16 is also a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The “650” denotes a nominally wider section width than 600-16 in the period sizing system, while the “16” identifies a 16-inch wheel diameter. This is the size used on 1937 Pontiac 8 Cyl. models, so it belongs to the eight-cylinder side of the lineup rather than the six-cylinder cars.

For a buyer, the key point is that 650-16 is not just another styling option for the same car. It is the size tied to the eight-cylinder model group, and it also carries a different rim width range than the 600-16 products. Once that model match is confirmed, you can choose among blackwall and wide whitewall versions to suit a formal prewar restoration, a touring car, or a driver that still keeps an unmistakably period-correct tire profile.

No. 1937 Pontiac models are split by model group, with the 6 Cyl. using 600-16 and the 8 Cyl. using 650-16. Both sizes are bias-ply and both fit 16-inch rims, but the size itself changes with the model. That makes 1937 Pontiac a year where model identification matters before choosing a tire.

This distinction is especially important on prewar cars because many buyers begin with a wheel diameter and assume that a shared 16-inch rim means a shared tire size. On a 1937 Pontiac, that is not enough information. If you are unsure which model you have, confirm the car’s series and engine family first, then verify the wheel width and the existing tire markings before moving on to brand, tread character, or sidewall treatment.

1937 Pontiac tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the sizes used in the lineup. In 600-16, available examples include blackwall and wide whitewall offerings from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. In 650-16, blackwall and wide whitewall options are also available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. That gives owners flexibility without stepping outside the traditional bias-ply look of the period.

Sidewall choice usually comes down to the kind of presentation you want from the car. A blackwall often suits a more restrained, workmanlike, or touring-oriented appearance, while a wide whitewall leans into the dressed-up prewar styling many restorers associate with a fully finished show presentation. If authenticity matters for judged events, compare your intended sidewall style against period photos, factory literature, and marque-club guidance for the specific body style and market.

Several brands offer tires for 1937 Pontiac vehicles. In 600-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. In 650-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. All of the listed options are bias-ply offerings suited to the prewar Pontiac fitments used across the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder model groups.

Brand choice on a 1937 Pontiac often comes down to the combination of sidewall appearance, tread personality, and how closely you want the car to echo a period American tire presentation. Some owners favor a well-known domestic-style classic brand image, while others focus on a clean blackwall or a specific whitewall width. Once the correct size is established for the model, comparing brands within that size is the best way to narrow the field without drifting away from era-appropriate construction.

For 1937 Pontiac fitments, BFGoodrich and Firestone both appear in the correct bias-ply sizes, but the available examples differ in presentation details. In 600-16, BFGoodrich is shown as a 3.50-inch whitewall and Firestone as a 3.25-inch whitewall, with both carrying a 1400-pound maximum load at 32 psi and a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim width range. In 650-16, BFGoodrich appears as a 3.75-inch whitewall, while Firestone is available in a blackwall version; both list 1580 pounds at 32 psi and a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim width range where specified.

That means the real difference is often visual rather than a dramatic fitment change. A buyer choosing between them should compare the desired whitewall width, the sidewall treatment, and whether a blackwall or whitewall better suits the car’s restoration direction. On a prewar Pontiac, those aesthetic differences can have a big effect on the finished look, even when the size and basic construction remain within the same traditional bias-ply category.

1937 Pontiac tires use 16-inch rims, but the rim width range differs by size. For 600-16, listed products use a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim width range. For 650-16, listed products use a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim width range where that specification is given. Those ranges track with the model split between the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder Pontiac lines.

That width difference is why it is worth checking the wheel itself, not just the diameter stamped on the tire. A 16-inch rim can still be wrong for the intended tire if its width falls outside the range suited to that size. Before settling on a specific product, measure or verify the actual wheel and compare it to the tire’s approved rim width range so the finished setup keeps the proper profile and bead seating.

Original 1937 Pontiac wheels can often remain in service because both tire sizes used in the lineup mount on 16-inch rims. The important distinction is that 600-16 and 650-16 do not share the same listed rim width range, with 600-16 aligned to 4.00 to 4.50 inch widths and 650-16 aligned to 4.50 to 5.00 inch widths where specified. So wheel diameter compatibility does not automatically settle wheel width compatibility.

For owners working with original steel wheels, that means the wheel must match the specific model’s tire size, not simply the year and make. A six-cylinder Pontiac wheel setup should be checked against 600-16 requirements, while an eight-cylinder setup should be checked against 650-16 requirements. If the car has been altered over the years, confirm both the wheel width and the actual tire markings before assuming the current combination is the correct one.

A stored 1937 Pontiac should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing sources that can accelerate sidewall aging. Clean, dry flooring and stable temperatures matter, and the tires should not sit in standing moisture or against petroleum-contaminated surfaces. Because 1937 Pontiac fitments are bias-ply, they are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage than a modern radial would be.

For a collector car that sits for weeks or months at a time, move the Pontiac periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous loading on one contact patch. Keep inflation pressure checked during storage rather than assuming a parked car stays stable on its own. When the car returns to service, let the tires warm through gentle driving before judging ride quality, since a stored bias-ply tire may smooth out after a few miles.

Tires on a 1937 Pontiac should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector vehicles often cover too few miles for tread wear to tell the full story, so a five- to seven-year evaluation window is a sensible habit, with around ten years serving as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if the tread still looks usable. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish the actual age of the casing.

A prewar Pontiac can spend long periods parked, trailered, or used only on fair-weather drives, and that pattern tends to age the tire before it wears it out. Sidewall cracking, hardening, vibration, repeated pressure loss, or visible changes in shape matter more than odometer readings. If the tires came on the car and their age is unclear, treat them cautiously until the date code and overall condition have been checked closely.

Tires on a 1937 Pontiac deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more careful inspection before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracks, weather checking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven tread wear, and slow pressure loss. On a low-use prewar car, visual condition changes often show up before mileage-related wear does, so routine inspection is part of responsible use rather than just a maintenance extra.

A longer trip calls for checking cold pressures, confirming the spare is serviceable, and taking a close look at valve stems as well as the visible tire surfaces. If the car develops wandering, vibration, or a pull that was not there before, inspect the tires again before assuming the issue is only suspension-related. Regular checks help catch age-related deterioration early, which is especially important on bias-ply collector tires that may spend long stretches off the road.

A 1937 Pontiac 6 Cyl. uses the 600-16 size, and for a car of this era the original-style construction would be bias-ply rather than radial. That matches the available reproduction-style offerings in this fitment. Blackwall and wide whitewall versions are both available today, but the exact appearance that is most correct for a specific body style, trim level, and selling market can vary within prewar practice.

For restoration work, the key is to begin with the correct size and construction, then refine the sidewall treatment to suit the car’s intended standard of authenticity. A broad whitewall may be right for a more dressed-up presentation, while a blackwall can fit a simpler or more restrained look. If the car is being judged, compare period literature and consult Pontiac marque specialists or club resources before making the final call on sidewall style.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1937 Pontiac, especially in events that emphasize factory-style authenticity. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the car carries the proper size for its model, the correct bias-ply construction for the era, and a sidewall treatment that matches the car’s intended presentation. A six-cylinder Pontiac wearing the eight-cylinder size, or a visibly modern construction on an originality-focused car, can draw unwanted attention.

For a show-oriented restoration, tire choice affects stance, visual proportion, and period credibility as much as it affects drivability. Even when two options physically fit the wheel, the one that aligns with 1937 practice will usually look more natural under the fenders and in profile. Event rules differ, so the final standard should come from the judging body or marque club, but correct size, construction, and sidewall style are core details worth getting right.

On 1937 Pontiac applications, Coker Classic and Garfield appear in different ways within the size range. Coker Classic is available in both 600-16 and 650-16 as a blackwall bias-ply option, while Garfield appears in 650-16 as a Zig Zag Tread wide whitewall bias-ply tire. In the listed 650-16 examples, Garfield carries a 1580-pound maximum load at 32 psi and a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim width range, while the Coker Classic example emphasizes the blackwall presentation.

That makes the comparison useful for owners of a 1937 Pontiac 8 Cyl. deciding between a more formal whitewall appearance and a simpler blackwall look within the same basic size class. The choice is less about changing the car’s period character and more about selecting which version of that character best matches the restoration target. For a six-cylinder car, Garfield does not enter the equation because the fitment centers on 600-16 instead.

1937 Pontiac tires can be used for highway driving when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition for their age. The listed 600-16 offerings are largely traditional numeric bias-ply tires, with one Avon 600H16 carrying an H speed rating up to 130 mph. The remaining examples use classic sizing without a modern speed-letter marking. In real use, the tire is only one part of the equation on a prewar Pontiac.

A 1937 Pontiac’s braking, steering, suspension design, and overall mechanical condition often matter more to comfortable highway travel than the theoretical top-end capability of the tire. Bias-ply tires also have different road feel from modern radials, with more wandering on grooves and a more period-correct response to steering input. Safe road use starts with honest expectations, a careful pre-drive inspection, and speeds that suit both the tire and the rest of the car.

Available 1937 Pontiac tire examples show load-and-pressure figures that should be read by size and by product rather than treated as one number for the whole lineup. In 600-16, several products list 1400 pounds at 32 psi, while one Avon example lists a 1,433-pound maximum load. In 650-16, listed products show 1580 pounds at 32 psi where load information appears. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction for every Pontiac application.

The best approach is to use the original Pontiac owner guidance for the vehicle’s intended operating pressure and compare that with the tire manufacturer’s published rating for the exact product you are considering. Do not transfer a pressure figure from 650-16 to 600-16, or from one brand family to another, just because the wheel diameter is the same. If the car is lightly loaded and driven occasionally, set pressures thoughtfully and recheck them cold before longer trips.

Before a longer drive, a 1937 Pontiac should get a tire inspection that goes beyond a quick walk-around. Check for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and signs of impact damage, then verify cold inflation pressure and inspect the valve stems. Make sure the spare is usable and matches the car closely enough to serve in an emergency. On a bias-ply prewar car, even a tire that looks acceptable from a distance can deserve a closer hands-on inspection.

That tire check should happen alongside a broader mechanical review appropriate to a 1937 automobile, including brakes, steering, wheel bearings, fluids, and lighting. A long-stored collector car may need a cautious shakedown run before any serious distance, even if the tires are fresh. Giving the tires equal attention with the rest of the chassis helps avoid roadside surprises and keeps the car driving in the stable, predictable way a properly prepared prewar Pontiac should.