1938 Cadillac Tire Fitment Guide

1938 Cadillac vehicles use two tire sizes: 700-16 and 750-16. The 1938 Cadillac 60 Series uses 700-16, while the 1938 Cadillac 65 Series, 75 Series, and V16 use 750-16. Both sizes mount on 16-inch wheels. Where rim width guidance is published in current reproduction offerings, 700-16 appears on 4.50- to 5.50-inch rims and 750-16 appears on 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims.

The key practical point is that year and make alone are not enough on a 1938 Cadillac. You need the model first, because the junior 60 Series and the senior Cadillacs do not share the same section width. Once the model is confirmed, the remaining choice usually comes down to brand and sidewall appearance rather than changing to a different construction type, since the available fitments here are bias-ply.

On a 1938 Cadillac, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 portion is the tire's nominal section-width designation in the period numeric system, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric code, and it does not read the same way as a later radial size. Within the 1938 Cadillac range, 700-16 applies to the 60 Series.

That matters because a modern buyer may be tempted to compare the number directly to later inch-based or metric sizes, but the better approach is to stay within the original style of sizing for a prewar Cadillac. If your car is a 60 Series, 700-16 keeps you in the proper family of fitment while letting you choose between blackwall and wide whitewall presentation depending on how original or formal you want the finished look to be.

No. The 1938 Cadillac 60 Series uses 700-16, while the 1938 Cadillac 65 Series, 75 Series, and V16 use 750-16. All of them use 16-inch wheels, but the senior cars take the larger of the two sizes. That means there is shared wheel diameter across the lineup, but not shared tire width designation.

For owners, that makes model identification the first checkpoint before comparing products. A 60 Series owner should search within 700-16 offerings, while owners of a 65 Series, 75 Series, or V16 should stay with 750-16 options. That approach preserves the right stance and fitment character for each part of the 1938 Cadillac range instead of treating every body and chassis as if it used the same tire.

1938 Cadillac tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. In 700-16, blackwall and wide whitewall choices appear across Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone offerings. In 750-16, blackwall and wide whitewall choices are also available from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. That gives both junior and senior 1938 Cadillac owners more than one visual direction while staying within period-style bias-ply construction.

The sidewall choice affects the finished character of the car as much as the tire brand does. Wide whitewalls tend to suit formal prewar luxury presentation and concours-oriented restorations, while blackwalls often fit a more restrained or service-style look. For a 1938 Cadillac, the right answer usually depends on how the car is being restored, how it was delivered in its market, and the appearance standards expected by the event or club you follow.

Several established brands cover 1938 Cadillac fitments. The 700-16 size is available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone, while the 750-16 size is available from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. All of the listed fitments for this year and make are bias-ply tires, which is appropriate to the period of the cars themselves.

Brand choice on a 1938 Cadillac usually comes down to appearance details, preferred series, and the published wheel-width or load information available for the specific tire. Owners restoring a formal show car may focus first on the right sidewall look, while touring owners may compare the published ratings within the correct size. Staying with a recognized vintage-style brand also helps preserve the visual proportions expected on a late-1930s Cadillac.

For 1938 Cadillac vehicles using 750-16, both BFGoodrich and Firestone offer bias-ply tires for 16-inch wheels and both list a 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range. The BFGoodrich wide whitewall tire lists a maximum load of 1850 pounds at 48 psi and a weight of 30 pounds. Firestone offers both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, listing 1660 pounds at 40 psi, with weights of 29 pounds for the blackwall and 31 pounds for the whitewall.

Those differences matter when you are comparing published specifications rather than simply choosing by brand name. A buyer with a formal restoration in mind may be drawn to whitewall appearance first, while someone comparing technical listings may look more closely at the stated load-and-pressure figures and product weight. The important step is to keep the comparison inside the correct 750-16 size for the 65 Series, 75 Series, or V16 instead of cross-shopping against the 60 Series fitment.

Published rim-width guidance for 1938 Cadillac tires depends on the size. In 700-16, BFGoodrich and Firestone list a 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim-width range. In 750-16, BFGoodrich and Firestone list a 5.00- to 6.00-inch range. Both sizes use 16-inch wheel diameter, but the senior-car tire is meant for a wider wheel than the 60 Series fitment.

That is why wheel confirmation should happen before a tire is selected purely by appearance. Prewar Cadillac wheels may look similar across models, yet the tire's approved rim-width window still matters to the way the casing sits and performs. If your car has replacement wheels, restored originals, or mixed parts from another model year, verify the actual wheel dimensions before settling on either 700-16 or 750-16.

1938 Cadillac tires in both listed sizes fit 16-inch wheels, so the wheel diameter itself is shared across the lineup. That does not mean every original 1938 Cadillac wheel should automatically be treated as interchangeable between 700-16 and 750-16, because the published rim-width ranges differ. The 700-16 size is associated with narrower approved wheel widths than the 750-16 size.

For an owner, the takeaway is that diameter compatibility is only part of the picture. A 60 Series wheel and a senior-series wheel may both measure 16 inches, yet the intended tire width and approved wheel-width window still need to match the tire you plan to run. If you are sorting a car with swapped wheels or incomplete history, confirm the actual rim width before assuming that any original-looking 16-inch Cadillac wheel is right for either size.

A 1938 Cadillac should be stored away from direct sunlight, damp floors, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, welders, or air compressors. Keep the tires properly inflated, park on a clean surface, and move the car periodically if it will sit for long stretches. Because 1938 Cadillac fitments here are bias-ply, they can develop temporary flat-spotting more readily during storage than later radial designs.

Good storage habits preserve both appearance and drivability on a prewar Cadillac. If the car will be down for an extended period, many collectors either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged static loading, while still protecting the suspension and chassis correctly. A breathable cover, clean sidewalls, and stable indoor temperatures all help the tires age more gracefully between drives and show outings.

On a 1938 Cadillac, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector cars often cover very few miles, so tread depth alone is not a reliable guide. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating the tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age.

That age-based approach matters because a prewar Cadillac may spend far more time parked than driven. Sidewall cracking, stiffness, repeated air loss, and changes in ride quality can all become more important than wear. If the car is used for touring, judged events, or family rides, replacing older tires before they become visibly poor is often the wiser move than trying to stretch service life just because the tread still looks presentable.

Tires on a 1938 Cadillac should be checked before every drive and given a more thorough inspection before any longer outing. Look for cracking at the sidewalls, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, lodged debris, and slow pressure loss. On a car of this age, the inspection should also include valve stems and the condition of the spare, since collector cars often depend on tires that spend long periods at rest between uses.

Frequent inspection is especially important on a heavy prewar luxury car, where tire condition directly affects steering feel, braking stability, and ride quality. A short look before a local drive can catch obvious issues, while a longer pre-tour check should include pressure verification and a close walkaround under good light. Building that routine into ownership is one of the simplest ways to reduce surprises and keep the car enjoyable on the road.

The 1938 Cadillac 60 Series uses 700-16 tires, and for a car of this era the original construction type would have been bias-ply rather than radial. That aligns with the available reproduction fitments for the model today. Original-equipment brand could vary by market and supply practice, so the most dependable restoration target is to match the correct size, period-correct construction, and suitable sidewall style for the way the car is being judged or presented.

Owners pursuing a highly accurate restoration should treat 700-16 bias-ply as the baseline, then verify sidewall preference against factory literature, period photos, or Cadillac marque specialists. That is especially helpful if the car has a known delivery history or show standard to meet. The same size-and-construction-first approach also helps avoid the common mistake of fitting the larger senior-series tire simply because it shares the same wheel diameter.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1938 Cadillac. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size is appropriate to the model, whether the tire uses period-correct bias-ply construction, and whether the sidewall presentation suits the car's era and class. On a prewar luxury car, a visibly incorrect size or a modern-looking sidewall treatment can disrupt the stance and historical impression even before anyone studies finer details.

For that reason, a 60 Series should stay with 700-16 and the 65 Series, 75 Series, and V16 should stay with 750-16 when authenticity is the goal. Sidewall choice should also be made intentionally, especially on formal senior Cadillacs where whitewall presence contributes strongly to the finished look. If the car is being prepared for marque judging, check the event's expectations with a Cadillac club or trusted restoration authority before settling on a final tire style.

For 1938 Cadillac 60 Series fitment in 700-16, Lester and Firestone both offer bias-ply choices for 16-inch wheels, but they differ in the published details and sidewall presentation shown here. Lester appears as a wide whitewall product weighing 28 pounds. Firestone appears as a 4.00-inch wide whitewall product weighing 29 pounds and listing a maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi, with a published 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim-width range.

That means the comparison is less about construction type and more about the exact look and published specifications you want on the car. A restorer focused on whitewall appearance may compare how each series complements the 60 Series body and trim, while a buyer doing a technical comparison may value the presence of stated load and rim-width information. Either way, keeping the choice inside the proper 700-16 size preserves authenticity for the junior Cadillac.

1938 Cadillac tires can be suitable for normal highway use when they are the correct size, in good condition, and used within the capabilities of both the tire and the car. The listed 700-16 Avon product carries an L speed symbol, which corresponds to 75 mph. Other 1938 Cadillac fitments shown here are bias-ply products without a listed speed symbol in the available specifications. On a prewar Cadillac, the car's brakes, steering, suspension, and overall mechanical condition often matter as much as the tire itself.

That means highway readiness should be viewed as a full-vehicle question, not just a tire question. A sound bias-ply tire in the proper size can serve well for collector driving, but the owner should still account for longer stopping distances, older chassis design, and the manners of a large 1930s luxury car at speed. If the goal is extended touring, inspect the whole car carefully and keep driving speeds aligned with both the tire's marked limits and the car's age.

Inflation pressure on 1938 Cadillac tires should be set by the specific tire size, the tire's published maximum rating, and the vehicle's original recommended operating pressure rather than by guesswork. Among the listed products, 700-16 examples include ratings such as 1800 pounds at 36 psi and 1900 pounds at 36 psi, while 750-16 examples include 1660 pounds at 40 psi and 1850 pounds at 48 psi. Those figures are product ratings, not universal instructions to run every tire at its maximum pressure.

The practical approach is to start with the factory guidance for the car, then confirm that the chosen reproduction tire is being used within its own published limits. Pressure should never be transferred casually from 700-16 to 750-16, or from one brand's 750-16 to another, because the stated load-and-pressure pair can differ. Matching the pressure strategy to the exact tire and the exact Cadillac model helps protect ride quality, wear, and road manners.

Before a longer drive in a 1938 Cadillac, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, and inspect the valve stems while you are there. A prewar Cadillac also deserves a broader once-over that includes brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluids, cooling system condition, and lighting, because tire readiness is only one part of touring readiness on a car of this age.

That routine pays off because long drives reveal weaknesses that short local outings may hide. A car that feels fine at neighborhood speeds can become tiring or unpredictable if a tire is underinflated, aged, or beginning to separate. Building a departure checklist around the tires, the spare, and the rest of the chassis gives the 1938 Cadillac owner a much better chance of enjoying the trip rather than troubleshooting preventable issues on the roadside.