1938 Plymouth Tire Fitment Guide

1938 Plymouth vehicles use three sizes: 550-16 for the Plymouth Standard, and 600-16 or 650-16 for the Plymouth Deluxe. All three are bias-ply sizes built for 16-inch wheels. Rim width ranges shown in current offerings are 3.25 to 4.00 inches for 550-16, 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 600-16, and 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-16 where published.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1938 Plymouth. You need to identify the car as a Standard or Deluxe first, then verify which 16-inch wheel width is actually on the car. That is especially important with Deluxe models, since both 600-16 and 650-16 are used within that model line and each size is intended for a different wheel-width range.

On a 1938 Plymouth, 600-16 is an older numeric bias-ply size. The “600” refers to the tire’s nominal section width in the period numeric sizing system, and the “16” indicates a 16-inch wheel diameter. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not follow today’s P-metric format with a section width in millimeters and an aspect ratio.

For a 1938 Plymouth Deluxe, 600-16 sits between the Standard’s narrower 550-16 and the Deluxe’s wider 650-16. If your car already has 600-16 tires or wheels suited to that size, staying with the same fitment helps preserve the car’s original stance and intended look. It also keeps wheel-width compatibility straightforward when you are replacing an older set.

No. 1938 Plymouth models do not all use the same tire size. The Plymouth Standard uses 550-16, while the Plymouth Deluxe uses either 600-16 or 650-16, all in bias-ply construction and all for 16-inch wheels.

That split matters because the Standard and Deluxe were positioned differently in the lineup and were not simply trim variations sharing one universal tire size. If you are replacing tires on a car with uncertain history, the safest approach is to confirm the model designation and compare the wheel width against the size you intend to run. That avoids choosing a physically incorrect width even though the wheel diameter remains 16 inches across the range.

1938 Plymouth tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the sizes offered. The 600-16, 650-16, and 550-16 ranges all include blackwall options, and each also has wide whitewall offerings from brands such as BFGoodrich and Firestone, with Garfield appearing in 650-16 wide whitewall form as well.

For a 1938 Plymouth, sidewall style changes the visual character more than the fitment itself. Blackwalls suit a restrained, practical presentation, while wide whitewalls create a more dressed-up prewar look that many restorers prefer on Deluxe cars or higher-presentation builds. If authenticity matters for showing, it is wise to compare the sidewall treatment to period photos of your body style and market before making the final choice.

Several brands cover 1938 Plymouth fitments. In 600-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. In 650-16, the brand mix includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. In 550-16, choices include Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone.

That brand spread gives a 1938 Plymouth owner room to choose between different sidewall looks and period-style product lines without changing the underlying size. Brand selection should come after the model and size are settled, not before. Once you know whether the car is a Standard or Deluxe and which wheel width it uses, the brand choice becomes a matter of appearance, preferred series, and any speed or load marking differences within that size.

For a 1938 Plymouth Deluxe, both 600-16 and 650-16 are bias-ply 16-inch sizes, but 650-16 is the wider fitment. Current listings place 600-16 on 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims and 650-16 on 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims where rim-width figures are published. Load figures also step up in the larger size, with examples around 1400 pounds at 32 psi for 600-16 and 1580 pounds at 32 psi for 650-16 among products that publish those numbers.

The practical takeaway is that the choice is driven by the wheel and existing vehicle setup, not by mixing sizes interchangeably because they share the same 16-inch diameter. A Deluxe owner should inspect the current wheel width and compare it with the intended tire’s recommended rim range. Once that is confirmed, the decision becomes easier, since both sizes remain true to the period-correct bias-ply character of a late-1930s Plymouth.

Rim width depends on the size fitted to the 1938 Plymouth. Published ranges show 550-16 on 3.25 to 4.00 inch rims, 600-16 on 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, and 650-16 on 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims. All of those sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, but they are not intended for the same wheel-width range.

That matters most on the 1938 Plymouth Deluxe, because both 600-16 and 650-16 appear within the Deluxe line. Measuring the actual wheel before choosing a replacement tire is a smart step, especially on an older car that may have had wheels changed decades ago. Staying within the published rim range helps preserve the intended tire profile, bead seating, and overall appearance.

1938 Plymouth tire offerings are bias-ply products in period-style sizes, but tube-type status is not marked consistently across every available listing. Some products are presented simply by size and construction without a visible tube designation in the size line, so the exact tube requirement can vary by product and by the wheel condition you are working with.

On a 1938 Plymouth, the wheel itself matters just as much as the tire. Original-style riveted or aged steel wheels are often paired with tubes during restoration use, even when a modern reproduction tire does not spell that out in the sidewall description. Before finalizing the setup, confirm the specific tire’s tube guidance and inspect the wheel’s interior surface, valve area, and overall sealing condition.

Original 1938 Plymouth wheels can only be used with all listed sizes if the wheel width matches the tire you intend to fit. Every size used on 1938 Plymouth models is built for a 16-inch wheel, so diameter is shared across the range, but the published rim-width ranges differ: 3.25 to 4.00 inches for 550-16, 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 600-16, and 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-16.

That means a 1938 Plymouth Standard wheel setup should not be assumed correct for a Deluxe tire, and one Deluxe wheel setup should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with the other. If the car has been restored or modified over time, measure the wheel rather than relying on the tire currently mounted. Matching both diameter and width keeps fitment honest and prevents avoidable setup problems.

A stored 1938 Plymouth should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors and ozone-producing equipment, and clear of standing moisture. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat spotting during long static periods, so the car should be moved slightly from time to time or supported in a way that reduces continuous load if it will sit for months.

Good storage habits protect both the rubber and the driving experience when the car returns to the road. If the tires stay on the ground, maintain inflation and roll the car enough to change the contact patch. If the car is stored for a season, inspect the sidewalls and tread before the next drive rather than assuming low mileage means the tires are still ready for use.

Tires on a 1938 Plymouth should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. A collector-car tire often merits close evaluation after about five to seven years, and replacement enters the conversation around ten years even if tread depth still looks healthy. The DOT date code, along with visible condition, is more useful than odometer miles on a low-use prewar car.

That age-based approach matters because a 1938 Plymouth may see short seasonal drives, parades, and local events rather than daily use. Rubber can harden, crack, or lose resilience long before the tread is worn out. If the car is driven regularly, inspect often and replace earlier if there is sidewall checking, recurring air loss, or any change in how the car feels on the road.

Tires on a 1938 Plymouth should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of low pressure, and make sure the tire is holding air consistently between drives. On older wheel-and-tire combinations, the valve area also deserves close attention.

Frequent inspection is especially worthwhile on a prewar Plymouth because the tires may age quietly while the car is parked more than it is driven. A quick walkaround before departure can catch a problem early enough to prevent damage to the tire, wheel, or bodywork. If the car uses tubes, include the valve stem and any signs of tube-related seepage in that routine inspection.

A 1938 Plymouth Deluxe was originally a bias-ply car, and today’s correct-style replacement sizes for the Deluxe are 600-16 and 650-16 depending on the model’s wheel setup. That aligns with what buyers would expect from an American passenger car of the late 1930s, when bias-ply construction was standard and modern radial fitments were not part of original factory practice.

For restoration work, the main task is to confirm which of the two Deluxe sizes belongs on your specific car and wheel combination. Sidewall treatment also affects how authentic the finished result appears, especially if the car is being prepared for judged events. If your Plymouth has body-style or market-specific history that could influence the original presentation, a Plymouth marque club or period literature is the best next reference.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1938 Plymouth because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance immediately. A Standard fitted with the wrong Deluxe size, or a Deluxe fitted with an incorrect width for its wheels, can look out of proportion even before more detailed authenticity questions come into play.

For a show-focused 1938 Plymouth, getting the basics right means matching the model to the correct size and staying with period-appropriate bias-ply construction. Whitewall width and overall sidewall style can also influence whether the car reads as accurately restored or simply attractively finished. Event standards differ, so a local club or marque specialist remains the right source for any judging rule that goes beyond basic fitment and period correctness.

On a 1938 Plymouth, the difference between whitewall and blackwall tires is primarily visual rather than dimensional when you stay within the correct size. The available 550-16, 600-16, and 650-16 ranges all include blackwall choices, while each size also offers wide whitewall options from period-style series. Both remain bias-ply and preserve the prewar construction character of the car.

Blackwalls usually suit a more restrained, working-car look, while whitewalls add formality and visual presence that many owners associate with a fully dressed late-1930s American sedan or coupe. The best choice depends on the story you want the finished car to tell. If the Plymouth is being restored to a specific showroom or regional appearance, period photos can help settle the whitewall-versus-blackwall decision with confidence.

1938 Plymouth tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, properly inflated, and matched to the car’s correct size and wheel. Among the listed products, some carry visible speed markings, including an H rating on one 600-16 product to 130 mph and an L rating on one 550-16 product to 75 mph. Many period-style bias-ply tires are otherwise presented without a modern speed letter in the size description.

In real use, a 1938 Plymouth is usually limited more by prewar braking, suspension design, and overall vehicle condition than by extreme speed potential. The practical approach is to keep speeds sensible, avoid sustained high-speed running unless the entire car is sorted for it, and match your expectations to the way a late-1930s bias-ply car behaves on modern roads. Mechanical condition and careful inspection matter as much as the tire itself.

Inflation pressure on a 1938 Plymouth should be set according to the vehicle’s factory guidance and the specific tire you choose, not by applying one tire’s maximum rating across the board. Some current products in 600-16 and 650-16 list load-and-pressure figures such as 1400 pounds at 32 psi and 1580 pounds at 32 psi, while one 550-16 product lists 840 pounds at 32 psi. Those are tire ratings, not blanket vehicle settings.

The safest method is to start with the original Plymouth recommendation for the model and then confirm that it remains appropriate for the reproduction tire selected. A Standard and a Deluxe should not automatically be treated the same just because both use 16-inch wheels. Keep pressure consistent side to side, recheck it when the car has been sitting, and avoid substituting another size’s published load rating as your inflation guide.

Before a longer trip in a 1938 Plymouth, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation, and uneven wear, and verify cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is serviceable, and make sure each tire matches the correct size for the model. A Standard should be on 550-16, while a Deluxe should be on 600-16 or 650-16 as appropriate to its wheel setup.

Tires are only one part of preparing a prewar car for distance, but they are one of the easiest areas to check carefully before departure. Since many 1938 Plymouths spend time parked between outings, hidden age-related issues can surface when the car is asked to run longer and faster than usual. A thorough pre-drive inspection gives you a chance to catch those problems before they become roadside failures.