1937 Studebaker Tire Fitment Guide

1937 Studebaker vehicles use three tire sizes across two models: 600-16 for the Dictator, and 650-16 or 700-16 for the President. All three are bias-ply sizes and all mount on 16-inch rims. Where published rim-width guidance is available, 600-16 fits 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, 650-16 fits 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims, and 700-16 fits 4.50- to 5.50-inch rims.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a 1937 Studebaker tire decision. Start by identifying whether your car is a Dictator or President, then confirm the wheel size on the car and compare the wheel width to the tire you are considering. That approach is especially important on prewar cars that may have had wheel changes during decades of restoration or regular use.

On a 1937 Studebaker, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 600 portion is the traditional nominal section-width code, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. In this year and make, 600-16 is the size used on the Dictator, and it appears in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions from several brands.

Modern buyers sometimes expect a size code to read like a radial metric tire, but prewar numeric sizing works differently. If your 1937 Studebaker is a Dictator, this is the right family of size to research first, but you should still compare the actual wheel on the car to the tire’s listed rim-width range before settling on a specific product.

No, 1937 Studebaker models do not all use the same tire size. The Dictator uses 600-16, while the President uses either 650-16 or 700-16. All are 16-inch bias-ply fitments, but the sizing is model-specific rather than universal across the make.

That distinction matters because a 16-inch rim diameter match by itself does not make one size interchangeable with another. A President owner choosing between 650-16 and 700-16 should verify what wheel is on the car now and how the car is being restored, while a Dictator owner should stay focused on 600-16 products intended for that model’s listed fitment.

1937 Studebaker tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, depending on size and brand. The 600-16 Dictator fitment includes blackwall and wide whitewall choices, the 650-16 President fitment does as well, and the 700-16 President fitment is also offered in both appearances. That gives owners room to match a more understated driver presentation or a more formal prewar luxury look.

For a 1937 Studebaker judged primarily on authenticity, sidewall appearance matters along with size and construction. Whitewalls were a familiar upscale visual cue in the late 1930s, but blackwalls can also be appropriate depending on how a particular car was delivered or restored. If show accuracy is the goal, compare your tire choice to original photos, factory literature, and marque-club guidance for your exact model.

Several brands cover 1937 Studebaker fitments. In 600-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. In 650-16, the brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. In 700-16, available brands include Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone.

Brand choice on a prewar Studebaker usually comes down to the combination of size, sidewall style, and the look you want under the car. Some owners prefer a familiar American restoration brand presence, while others focus first on tread pattern or sidewall treatment. Narrow the field by confirming model and size, then compare the appearance and published fitment details within that size rather than mixing across sizes.

For 1937 Studebaker fitments where both brands overlap, BFGoodrich and Firestone offerings are both bias-ply and both use the correct 16-inch rim diameter for their listed sizes, but they differ in sidewall presentation and some published specifications. In 600-16, BFGoodrich offers a 3.50-inch whitewall at 1400 pounds at 32 psi and 21 pounds overall weight, while Firestone offers a 3.25-inch whitewall at the same 1400 pounds at 32 psi but 24 pounds overall weight. In 700-16, BFGoodrich is listed at 1900 pounds at 36 psi with blackwall styling, while Firestone is listed at 1800 pounds at 36 psi with a 4.00-inch whitewall.

Those differences matter most when you are trying to match a specific visual style or comparing published load and weight details within the same size. On a 1937 Studebaker, the best comparison is always size-for-size, since 600-16, 650-16, and 700-16 serve different fitment roles. Once the correct size is established, details like whitewall width, blackwall versus whitewall appearance, and listed load rating become more useful deciding points.

Published rim-width guidance for 1937 Studebaker tires varies by size. The 600-16 fitment is paired with 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, 650-16 with 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims, and 700-16 with 4.50- to 5.50-inch rims on products where that specification is listed. All three sizes use 16-inch rim diameter, but the acceptable wheel-width range changes as the tire size increases.

That is why checking only the wheel diameter is not enough on a prewar car. If your 1937 Studebaker has replacement wheels or a long restoration history, measure the wheel before choosing a tire. Staying within the published rim-width range helps preserve the intended tire shape and reduces the chance of a mismatched fit that affects appearance or road manners.

The available 1937 Studebaker products shown here are bias-ply tires, but inner-tube status is not marked the same way across every listing. Because tube markings are not consistently shown in the visible size descriptions, the correct approach is to check the sidewall marking and the wheel type for the exact tire you are considering. Prewar 16-inch applications often involve tube use depending on wheel design and tire construction details.

On a 1937 Studebaker, the safest setup decision comes from looking at the wheel itself as much as the tire. Original-style riveted or non-safety-rim wheels may call for a different approach than later replacement wheels. Before final assembly, confirm tube compatibility, flap requirements if any, and valve-stem details so the complete wheel-and-tire package matches the car correctly.

All listed 1937 Studebaker sizes use 16-inch wheels, so the rim diameter is common across 600-16, 650-16, and 700-16. That does not mean every original 16-inch Studebaker wheel is automatically correct for every one of those sizes, because the published rim-width ranges differ by size. The Dictator’s 600-16 fitment is narrower than the President fitments, and 700-16 allows the widest rim range of the three.

If you are working with original wheels on a 1937 Studebaker, confirm both diameter and width before assuming one model’s wheels can carry another model’s tire size. This is especially relevant when a car has been assembled from mixed parts over many decades. Wheel width, not just diameter, is what determines whether a given size is an appropriate fit.

A 1937 Studebaker should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting when they sit in one position for long periods, and prolonged exposure to heat or ozone can accelerate sidewall aging. Clean floors, stable temperature, and proper inflation all help protect the tires during storage.

If the car will sit for months, move it periodically or place it on stands in a way that supports the vehicle safely and reduces static load on the tires. Many collector owners also keep the tires off damp concrete and use breathable covers when the storage area has windows. A little storage discipline goes a long way toward preserving the ride quality and appearance of prewar bias-ply tires.

On a 1937 Studebaker, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. A collector 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 the tire sidewall, helps establish the tire’s age.

That matters because many prewar cars are driven infrequently, so a tire can look usable while the rubber has already aged beyond what you would want for dependable road use. Heat cycles, storage conditions, sunlight, and inflation habits often affect service life more than miles traveled. When in doubt, inspect age and condition together rather than letting tread depth make the decision by itself.

Tires on a 1937 Studebaker should be inspected before every drive, and more carefully before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and any signs that a tire is not holding pressure consistently. On older wheel-and-tire assemblies, valve stems and the spare deserve the same attention as the four road tires.

A short pre-drive inspection is especially important on collector cars because they may sit long enough for problems to develop between outings. If the car has been parked for weeks or months, drive the first few miles gently and pay attention to vibration or changes in feel. Catching a developing issue in the garage is far better than finding it at road speed in a 1937 automobile.

A 1937 Studebaker Dictator would have been fitted with bias-ply tires as original-era construction, and the listed size for the Dictator is 600-16. That aligns with what buyers expect on a mainstream American prewar sedan of the late 1930s. Original equipment brand could vary by market and delivery history, so the most dependable restoration anchors are size, construction type, and the period-appropriate sidewall look.

If you are restoring a 1937 Studebaker Dictator for show or historical accuracy, start with 600-16 bias-ply options and then refine the choice by blackwall versus whitewall appearance. Factory photos, sales literature, and Studebaker marque specialists can help you narrow whether a specific sidewall treatment best suits your car. That research is especially useful when the car has changed hands or been restored before.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1937 Studebaker because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often look at size, construction, and sidewall style as part of the car’s overall authenticity. A tire that is the wrong size for the model, or a sidewall treatment that clashes with the car’s period presentation, can stand out quickly. Since all listed 1937 Studebaker fitments are bias-ply, that construction type is already in line with the era.

For show purposes, the most important step is matching the tire to the exact model first, then choosing the sidewall style that best suits the way the car would have appeared when new or when authentically accessorized. Event standards can differ, especially between concours judging and marque-club meets. If points matter, compare your selection to the judging rules and to established Studebaker restoration references before finalizing the set.

For the 1937 Studebaker President, both 650-16 and 700-16 are listed bias-ply fitments on 16-inch rims, but 700-16 is the larger of the two numeric sizes. Published rim-width ranges also expand from 4.50- to 5.00-inch for 650-16 to 4.50- to 5.50-inch for 700-16 where those specifications appear. The 700-16 size also includes both blackwall and wide whitewall offerings, including an Avon product marked with an L speed rating.

In restoration terms, the right choice is not about personal preference alone but about which fitment matches the car’s actual configuration and wheel. A President owner should confirm what size belongs on the specific vehicle and whether the wheels support that size correctly. Once the size is settled, the final decision usually comes down to sidewall appearance and the overall historical presentation you want the car to carry.

1937 Studebaker tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in good condition, and used within their marked limits. The listed fitments are bias-ply tires, and one 700-16 Avon product carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to 75 mph. Other products in these sizes do not always show a visible speed symbol in the listing, so the tire’s own sidewall marking is the right authority for the exact product.

On a prewar Studebaker, tire capability is only one part of the highway question. Braking performance, steering condition, wheel bearings, suspension wear, and the general mechanical readiness of a 1937 car may matter just as much as the tire itself. Even with healthy tires, owners should drive with the limits of a late-1930s automobile in mind rather than treating modern freeway conditions as a given.

Inflation pressure for 1937 Studebaker tires depends on the exact size and product. In the listed offerings, 600-16 examples show 1400 pounds at 32 psi, 650-16 examples show 1580 pounds at 32 psi, and 700-16 examples show figures including 1800 pounds at 36 psi and 1900 pounds at 36 psi, depending on brand. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to use one pressure across every 1937 Studebaker application.

Use the car’s original literature as the starting point for vehicle-specific inflation guidance, then compare that with the tire maker’s rating for the exact reproduction or replacement tire installed. Never transfer a pressure figure from 600-16 to 650-16 or 700-16 simply because the rim diameter is the same. Matching pressure to the exact size and tire construction is part of getting safe handling and proper wear.

Before a longer drive in a 1937 Studebaker, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, punctures, low pressure, and uneven wear. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, and look closely at valve stems and bead areas on any wheel-and-tire assembly that has been sitting. Because these are prewar bias-ply applications, any unusual vibration or shape change after storage deserves attention before the trip continues.

The tires are only one part of the preparation for a 1937 Studebaker touring day. Wheel hardware, brakes, steering play, fluid levels, and lighting should all be included in the same pre-drive routine. A conservative inspection mindset suits a car of this age, and it helps ensure that a tire issue does not become the weak link in an otherwise enjoyable outing.