1938 Chrysler Tire Fitment Guide

1938 Chrysler vehicles use three bias-ply sizes across the model range: 650-16, 750-16, and 6.25-16. The 650-16 size is shared by both the 1938 Chrysler Imperial and 1938 Chrysler Royal, while 750-16 is specific to the Imperial and 6.25-16 is specific to the Royal. All three sizes mount on 16-inch rims. Where rim-width guidance is available, 650-16 fits 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims and 750-16 fits 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims.

The practical takeaway is that year and make alone are not enough for a 1938 Chrysler. You need to confirm whether the car is an Imperial or a Royal, then verify which of that model’s listed sizes matches the wheel and the look you are trying to preserve. On prewar cars, even when rim diameter stays the same, section width and overall tire presence can change the stance noticeably.

A 650-16 on a 1938 Chrysler is a numeric bias-ply size. The 650 portion represents nominal section width in the older numeric system, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric code and it does not read like a radial size such as 205/75R15. On 1938 Chrysler applications, 650-16 is the one size shared by both the Imperial and the Royal.

That matters because 650-16 is often the easiest starting point when an owner knows the year and make but has not yet sorted out the exact model details. It also places the car squarely in the prewar bias-ply world, where appearance, steering feel, and ride character differ from later radial conventions. Matching the code correctly helps avoid ordering a tire that looks close on paper but belongs to a different sizing system altogether.

No. 1938 Chrysler models do not all use the same tire size. The Imperial uses 650-16 and 750-16, while the Royal uses 6.25-16 and 650-16. That means 650-16 is the only overlap between the two model lines, and each model also has a size that is unique to it within the 1938 Chrysler range.

For a buyer, that model split is more important than it might seem at first glance because all three sizes are 16-inch fitments. A wheel may look broadly similar from one car to another, yet the proper tire width can still differ. If the car is already restored, compare the current size marking to the wheel and the car’s model identity before choosing a replacement, especially if the goal is an authentic prewar stance.

That choice applies to a 1938 Chrysler Imperial, because the Royal does not use 750-16. Both sizes are bias-ply and both fit 16-inch rims, but 750-16 is the larger model-specific Imperial size while 650-16 is the shared size used across both Imperial and Royal applications. The decision is not about bias-ply versus radial here; it is about selecting the Imperial size that matches the car’s intended fitment and visual proportion.

Imperial owners restoring for authenticity will usually begin by confirming which of the two sizes belongs on their particular car before comparing brands or sidewall styles. If the car already has wheels and old tires in place, use the existing size marking and wheel width as your first checkpoint. That approach keeps you from treating 650-16 and 750-16 as interchangeable simply because both are 16-inch tires.

1938 Chrysler tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. In 650-16, blackwall and wide whitewall options are both offered, and the same sidewall choice appears in 750-16 as well. That gives both Imperial and Royal owners room to match the finished look of the car more closely, whether the goal is a restrained period appearance or a more formal prewar presentation.

On a late-1930s Chrysler, sidewall style changes the visual character of the whole car more than many owners expect. Wide whitewalls are often associated with upscale prewar presentation, while blackwalls can suit a more understated restoration or a car that is being kept closer to a plain-trim appearance. If show authenticity matters, compare your chosen sidewall style with period photos, factory literature, and event judging standards before settling on the final look.

Several brands cover 1938 Chrysler applications. The 650-16 size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield, while 750-16 is available from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. All of those offerings are bias-ply products suited to the prewar Chrysler sizing used by the Imperial and Royal. Brand choice in this year is tied more to sidewall style, series preference, and size availability than to a change in construction type.

That means the best way to narrow the field is to start with the correct size, then compare which brands offer the sidewall presentation you want. A Royal owner looking at 650-16, for example, has a broader brand spread than an Imperial owner shopping in 750-16. Keeping the search organized by model first and brand second makes the process much simpler on a split-fitment year like 1938 Chrysler.

Rim-width guidance varies by tire size on 1938 Chrysler applications. For 650-16, the supported rim-width range runs from 4.50 to 5.00 inches. For 750-16, the supported rim-width range runs from 5.00 to 6.00 inches. All of these tires fit 16-inch rims, but the usable wheel width differs between the narrower and wider sizes.

That distinction matters most when a car has had wheels swapped at some point in its life, or when old tires are gone and the owner is trying to work backward from the wheels. Measure the wheel before choosing a replacement tire rather than assuming any 16-inch prewar Chrysler tire belongs on any 16-inch Chrysler wheel. Staying inside the proper width range helps the tire sit correctly and preserves the intended profile.

1938 Chrysler tires are bias-ply designs from a prewar application, and the products listed for these sizes do not carry tubeless markings. That places 650-16 and 750-16 firmly in the traditional tube-type world that is typical for the era. On a car such as a 1938 Chrysler Imperial or Royal, tube use is part of the normal setup conversation rather than an unusual exception.

Before fitting a new tire, inspect the wheel for rust, pitting, burrs, or spoke-related concerns if applicable, because tube life depends heavily on wheel condition. It is also wise to replace the valve stem and confirm that the tube matches the tire size being installed. Treat tube fitment as part of the assembly plan from the start, not as an afterthought once the tire is already chosen.

Original 1938 Chrysler wheels can overlap in rim diameter compatibility because all three listed sizes use 16-inch rims. That means a 16-inch wheel is common across the Imperial and Royal range, but diameter alone does not make every wheel suitable for every size. Rim width still needs to line up with the tire being installed, and the available width ranges differ between 650-16 and 750-16.

In practice, the safest approach is to verify the wheel on the car before assuming a size change is acceptable. A wheel that is right for 650-16 may not be the ideal match for 750-16 if it falls outside the wider tire’s supported width range. On a restored or long-owned car, that extra check is especially important because wheels may have been exchanged over the decades without obvious visual clues.

A stored 1938 Chrysler should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from ozone sources such as electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and welders. The storage area should stay dry and reasonably cool, and the car should not sit for long periods on underinflated tires. Because 1938 Chrysler fitments are bias-ply, they are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage than a modern radial.

If the car will be parked for months, move it occasionally so the same contact patch is not always carrying the load, or support the vehicle appropriately if long-term storage is planned. A fitted tire cover can also help reduce light exposure. Good storage habits matter on collector cars because time, environment, and inactivity usually age the tires faster than actual road mileage does.

Tires on a 1938 Chrysler should be judged by age and condition more than by miles driven. A collector car tire often deserves close evaluation once it is in the five- to seven-year range, and around ten years is a common point for serious replacement consideration even if tread still looks usable. The age check starts with the tire’s date code and continues with a careful look at the sidewalls, tread, and overall casing condition.

That timeline is especially relevant for prewar cars because they are frequently driven lightly, making old tires appear healthier than they really are. A tire that has spent years parked indoors can still harden, crack, or lose reliability simply from age. If the car’s history is unclear, treat age as a safety issue and inspect the entire set, including the spare, before trusting them for regular use.

Tires on a 1938 Chrysler should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather-checking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs that the tire has been run low. Because these are prewar bias-ply applications commonly associated with tube-type setups, valve stems and air retention deserve attention as part of the same inspection.

Frequent checks are worthwhile because a collector car can sit for weeks, then be asked to run at sustained road speed with little warning. Changes in pressure, a new crack near the bead, or a stem beginning to fail are easier to catch in the garage than on the shoulder of the road. Make tire inspection part of the same ritual as checking fluids, lights, and brake feel before a drive.

A 1938 Chrysler Imperial would have been a bias-ply car when new, which matches the construction used across the listed 1938 Chrysler sizes. Within the Imperial range, 650-16 and 750-16 are the relevant sizes, with 750-16 serving as the Imperial-only option and 650-16 shared with the Royal. No original-equipment brand should be assumed from that alone, because Chrysler could vary sourcing by market and production circumstances.

For restoration work, the key points are correct size family, correct bias-ply construction, and an era-appropriate sidewall treatment. If the car is headed for high-level judging, compare the current setup with period literature, surviving unrestored cars, and marque-club guidance before making a final call. That extra step helps separate a generally correct prewar Chrysler tire from one that is specifically correct for your Imperial’s presentation.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1938 Chrysler because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall style immediately. A prewar Chrysler presented for authenticity normally calls for a bias-ply tire in the proper size family for the model, and the visual impact of blackwall versus wide whitewall can change the character of the car substantially. A modern-looking construction or an obviously mismatched size can stand out even to casual observers.

That does not mean every event uses the same standards, so the level of scrutiny depends on where the car will be shown. Club judging, marque events, and concours settings may look more closely at sidewall treatment and overall proportion than a local cruise-in. If the car is being restored to a specific delivery appearance, verify the accepted standard ahead of time instead of relying on generic prewar assumptions.

Within the 1938 Chrysler 750-16 size, BFGoodrich and Firestone share the same basic bias-ply construction and 16-inch fitment, but their listed details are not identical. BFGoodrich offers a wide whitewall version with a maximum load of 1850 pounds at 48 psi and a 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range. Firestone appears in blackwall and wide whitewall versions with a maximum load of 1660 pounds at 40 psi and the same 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range.

That means an Imperial owner can compare the two on more than appearance alone. Sidewall style may settle the visual choice, while the published load-and-pressure pairing can help distinguish how each product is positioned within the same size. If you are narrowing between these series, compare the exact sidewall look you want and confirm that the wheel on the car falls within the stated rim-width range.

1938 Chrysler tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, properly fitted, in sound condition, and used within their design intent. The listed 1938 Chrysler offerings are bias-ply tires, which deliver an authentic prewar driving character rather than modern radial response. For a car of this era, the mechanical condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel bearings is often just as important to road safety as the tire itself.

On a well-sorted Imperial or Royal, normal highway use is a different question from sustained high-speed touring. Bias-ply tires tend to follow road grooves more than modern radials and can feel different to drivers accustomed to later cars. A careful shakedown drive, proper inflation, and a realistic understanding of a 1938 Chrysler’s age and chassis behavior matter more than expecting the tire alone to modernize the experience.

Inflation pressure on a 1938 Chrysler should begin with the vehicle’s factory guidance, then be checked against the specific tire’s published load-and-pressure information. In the available 650-16 products, examples are listed at 1580 pounds at 32 psi. In 750-16, examples are listed at 1660 pounds at 40 psi and 1850 pounds at 48 psi. Those figures are product-specific and should not be transferred from one tire size to another or from one product line to a different one.

That is why pressure should never be chosen by guesswork on a prewar car. Start with the manual or marque guidance for the car, then confirm that the tire selected is being used within its own stated load-and-pressure limits. If you change from one size to another within the Imperial range, revisit inflation from the beginning rather than assuming the previous setting remains correct.

Before a longer drive in a 1938 Chrysler, inspect all five tires if the car carries a mounted spare. Check for cracks, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, loose or aging valve stems, and any sign that a tire has been losing pressure while parked. On a tube-type prewar setup, air retention and stem condition deserve extra attention. The spare should be roadworthy as well, not just present.

Tires are only one part of the preparation, but they are one of the easiest parts to overlook on a collector car that sees light use. Pair the tire check with a broader walk-around that includes wheel fasteners, brakes, fluid levels, lights, and cooling system condition. A 1938 Chrysler that has sat comfortably in the garage may still need a full pre-drive review before it is asked to cover distance with confidence.