1938 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1938 La Salle vehicles use one tire size across the year-and-make range: 700-16. The listed model for the year, the 1938 La Salle 50, uses that size in bias-ply construction on a 16-inch wheel. Where rim-width guidance is specified, 700-16 products are intended for 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim widths, though individual tires within the size can differ in how much technical detail is printed on the sidewall.

That makes 1938 La Salle tire selection relatively straightforward compared with years that split sizes by model. The real choice is not between multiple fitment sizes, but between brand, sidewall style, and the overall look you want on the car. Before choosing, compare your wheel width to the actual tire you are considering and verify whether you want a blackwall touring look or a wide whitewall presentation that better matches a formal prewar restoration.

On a 1938 La Salle tire, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 refers to the tire's nominal section width, expressed in the older inch-based style used on American cars of the period, and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Because it is a bias-ply format rather than a modern metric radial code, it does not present width, aspect ratio, and construction in the same way a newer tire would.

That older numbering system is typical for a 1938 luxury car and is part of what gives the finished vehicle the right visual stance. If you are used to modern metric sizing, the important point is not to translate it loosely into a later radial without checking overall fit and appearance. For a 1938 La Salle, starting with the original-format 700-16 keeps the car in the correct prewar tire family and narrows the choice to style and brand.

Yes. The 1938 La Salle range uses a single tire size, 700-16, and the listed model for the year, the La Salle 50, shares that same size. There is no split here between different La Salle models requiring separate diameters or alternate section widths, so the fitment question is simpler than it is on many later makes with broad model lineups.

That consistency is helpful when you know you have a 1938 La Salle but have not yet narrowed down every detail of the car. It also means differences in final appearance come more from tire style than from changing dimensions. A buyer comparing options should spend more time on blackwall versus wide whitewall, brand preference, and whether the selected tire matches the level of authenticity expected for the car's intended use.

1938 La Salle tires in 700-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The blackwall options include Avon and BFGoodrich in the listed products, while wide whitewall choices include Lester and Firestone. All are bias-ply tires, so the sidewall decision is mainly about the period look you want rather than choosing between different constructions.

A blackwall usually gives a more restrained, utilitarian presentation, while a wide whitewall suits the upscale prewar image many restorers want from a La Salle. Either can be appropriate depending on how the car is being interpreted, but show standards and factory-delivery expectations can vary by market, trim, and event. If the goal is authenticity for judged use, compare your choice against period photos and marque-club guidance before settling on the final sidewall treatment.

The listed brands offering 700-16 tires for 1938 La Salle vehicles are Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. All are offered in bias-ply construction, but they differ in presentation and technical details. Some focus on traditional styling cues such as wide whitewalls, while others are offered as blackwalls, and some include specific load or commercial-style markings in the size description.

Brand choice on a prewar car often comes down to how closely you want the tire to reflect the visual language of the era. A Firestone or BFGoodrich bias-ply can suit a restoration that leans into familiar American period branding, while Lester is often chosen for classic whitewall presentation. Avon adds another option in the same size, and comparing each tire's sidewall look and technical markings is usually more useful than assuming every 700-16 appears exactly the same once mounted.

The 700-16 options for 1938 La Salle differ in brand, sidewall treatment, weight, and the amount of technical information supplied with the tire. Lester is listed as a wide whitewall at 28 pounds, BFGoodrich as a blackwall at 26 pounds with a 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim width and 1900-pound load rating at 36 psi, Firestone as a 4.00-inch whitewall at 29 pounds with the same rim-width range and an 1800-pound load rating at 36 psi, and Avon as a blackwall 700-16C 102/100L at 34 pounds with a 1,874-pound load figure.

Those differences matter when you are trying to balance appearance with how closely you want the tire's markings and proportions to suit the car. A wide whitewall changes the visual character immediately, while a blackwall keeps things more restrained. The published rim-width and load information also makes some products easier to match to your existing wheels and use pattern, so compare the actual tire you want rather than treating every 700-16 as interchangeable in every detail.

For 1938 La Salle tires in 700-16, the listed rim-width guidance where specified is 4.50 to 5.50 inches. That range appears on both the BFGoodrich and Firestone 700-16 bias-ply options, and all of the listed tires share a 16-inch rim diameter. The car's wheel must match the tire's bead-seat diameter and fall within the acceptable width range for the specific tire selected.

Wheel width is worth confirming before you commit to a brand or sidewall style because two tires in the same nominal size can still publish different fitment details. A prewar car may also have replacement wheels fitted at some point in its life, so it is smart to measure the actual wheel rather than rely on assumption. Confirming rim width early helps preserve proper tire shape, sidewall behavior, and the stance expected from a 1938 La Salle.

The listed 700-16 tires for 1938 La Salle do not consistently carry a tube-type or tubeless marking in the size description, so tube setup should be confirmed with the exact tire and wheel combination being used. What is clear is that these are bias-ply tires intended for a prewar application, where original-style wheels and restoration practices often involve tube use even when the tire listing itself is brief.

The practical step is to inspect the wheel design as closely as the tire itself. A restored original wheel may call for a different tube decision than a later replacement wheel, and the valve stem and rim condition matter just as much as the casing. When setting up a 1938 La Salle, confirm the exact tire's sidewall markings and have the wheel evaluated by someone familiar with collector-car tire mounting rather than assuming every 700-16 is configured the same way.

A 1938 La Salle should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age the sidewalls. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting when a car sits for long periods, so maintaining proper inflation and moving the car periodically helps preserve shape. Clean floors and stable temperature matter more than elaborate storage products.

If the car will sit for an extended season, many collectors either roll it a short distance every few weeks or support the vehicle in a way that reduces constant load on one section of the casing. Avoid leaving the tires in contact with petroleum residue or standing moisture. A prewar La Salle is heavy enough that long static storage can show up in the tires before the next drive, so storage habits directly affect how smoothly the car feels when it returns to the road.

Tires on a 1938 La Salle should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector cars often accumulate few miles, yet the rubber still hardens, dries, and loses resilience over time. A sensible rule is to inspect closely once tires reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread depth.

That approach is especially important on a prewar car because it may only come out for occasional fair-weather use, which can hide age-related deterioration until a longer outing exposes it. Check the date code where applicable, examine the sidewalls for cracking, and pay attention to any change in ride feel or vibration. A nice-looking tire on a seldom-driven 1938 La Salle can still be overdue if age has overtaken the rubber compound.

Tires on a 1938 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended road trip or tour event. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, embedded objects, bulges, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between outings. On an older collector car, valve stems and any tube-related components deserve the same attention as the tread and casing.

Frequent inspection matters because a low-use vintage car can develop problems while standing still, not just while accumulating miles. Bias-ply tires may also telegraph storage-related issues such as temporary flat spots or sidewall aging in ways a modern driver might not expect. A short visual and pressure check before moving the car is one of the easiest ways to protect both the tires and the rest of the driving experience on a 1938 La Salle.

The 1938 La Salle 50 uses 700-16 tires, and for a 1938 American luxury car that means bias-ply construction is the historically correct starting point. The available products for this fitment are all bias-ply, which aligns well with the era. Original equipment branding could vary by market and supply arrangements, so the most reliable path for exact show-level replication is to confirm period photos, factory literature, and marque-club guidance for your specific car.

For most restorers, getting the size, construction type, and sidewall appearance right has a bigger effect than chasing an assumed original tire brand. A 700-16 blackwall and a 700-16 wide whitewall both fit the car, but they create different visual messages. If your La Salle is being restored for formal judging, use the bias-ply format as the foundation and then refine the sidewall treatment according to the standards of the event and the provenance of the vehicle.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1938 La Salle because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall style almost immediately. A 700-16 bias-ply tire suits the period, while an obviously later-looking construction or an inappropriate sidewall presentation can make an otherwise strong restoration feel out of era. Tires affect stance, wheel-well fill, and the overall impression of authenticity from several feet away.

That does not mean every event expects the same exact presentation. Some local shows reward general historical accuracy, while higher-level marque or concours judging may be more particular about whether a blackwall or wide whitewall is appropriate. If showing is the goal, treat the tire as a visible restoration component, not just a functional part, and compare your choice against event rules, period imagery, and advice from La Salle and Cadillac-era specialists.

On a 1938 La Salle, the difference between blackwall and wide whitewall 700-16 tires is primarily visual, but that visual difference is significant on a prewar luxury car. The listed blackwall choices include Avon and BFGoodrich, while wide whitewall choices include Lester and Firestone. All are bias-ply tires in the same nominal size, so the change is in period appearance rather than basic fitment format.

A blackwall tends to give the car a more restrained, road-use look, while a wide whitewall emphasizes the upscale style associated with many late-1930s American prestige cars. Either can be appropriate depending on the exact restoration direction, but the whitewall usually makes the strongest statement in photos and on the show field. If originality matters, compare your selection to known period references for 1938 La Salle rather than choosing by modern taste alone.

1938 La Salle tires can be suitable for highway use when they are new, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and used within their construction and speed limits. The listed 700-16 options are bias-ply, and one carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to 75 mph. On a prewar car, however, safe highway travel is influenced as much by the vehicle's brakes, steering, suspension, and road manners as by the tire itself.

That means the practical question is not whether a reproduction tire can physically roll at highway speed, but whether the entire 1938 La Salle is prepared for sustained modern traffic. Bias-ply tires also feel different from later radials, especially in tracking and steering response. A cautious driver who keeps the car mechanically sorted and respects both the tire's rating and the car's era-specific limits will make better use of the available 700-16 options.

Inflation pressure for 1938 La Salle tires should be chosen by matching the exact tire on the car to the vehicle's original recommendations and the tire maker's published limits. Among the listed 700-16 options, BFGoodrich shows a maximum load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and Firestone shows 1800 pounds at 36 psi, while Avon lists a 1,874-pound load figure in its size description. Those figures are tire-capacity references, not a blanket instruction to run every 700-16 at the same pressure.

The right approach is to start with the pressure guidance intended for the car and then make sure it remains appropriate for the specific reproduction tire being used. Do not transfer one product's pressure figure to another just because the nominal size matches. A properly inflated 1938 La Salle will ride better, steer more predictably, and wear more evenly, so pressure should be checked cold and revisited whenever the car's load or use pattern changes.

Before a longer drive in a 1938 La Salle, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, tread damage, bulges, uneven wear, and stable air pressure, and make sure the spare is equally serviceable. Check the valve stems and, if your wheel-and-tire setup uses tubes, confirm there are no signs of leakage or stem movement. A prewar touring check should also include wheel fasteners, brake function, steering free play, and fluid levels.

Longer drives place more continuous heat and load into the tires than short local trips, so small issues that are easy to ignore in the garage become much more important on the road. The tire inspection should be part of a full pre-trip routine, not a last-minute glance. Giving the 1938 La Salle a careful once-over before departure helps protect the tires, preserves the driving experience, and reduces the chance that an avoidable problem will interrupt the outing.