1939 Buick Tire Fitment Guide

1939 Buick vehicles use four different tire sizes depending on the model. The 40 Special uses 650-16, the 60 Century uses 700-15, the 80 Series uses 700-16, and the 90 Series uses 750-16. The 700-15 Century application mounts on a 15-inch rim, while the other three Buick series here use 16-inch rims. Rim width guidance varies by size, with published ranges of 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-16, 5.00 to 5.50 inches for 700-15, 4.50 to 5.50 inches for 700-16, and 5.00 to 6.00 inches for 750-16 on products that list rim width.

That means a 1939 Buick owner should identify the series first, then confirm the wheel diameter actually on the car, especially if the wheels may have been swapped during an older restoration. Once the size is established, the next choice usually comes down to sidewall appearance and brand preference rather than changing to a different format. On a prewar Buick, getting the series right is the key step that keeps fitment research on track.

On a 1939 Buick, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 designation is the nominal tire width in the older sizing system, and the 16 indicates the tire fits a 16-inch rim. On this Buick application, 650-16 belongs to the 40 Special rather than the full model range. Available versions include blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply tires, with listed rim widths of 4.50 to 5.00 inches on products that publish wheel guidance.

That older numeric code matters because it reflects prewar tire sizing conventions, not a modern metric equivalent printed in the same way. A 40 Special owner looking for a faithful visual fit will usually stay with the original-style numeric bias-ply format and then choose the sidewall treatment that matches the car’s restoration theme. Confirming the actual wheel before purchase remains worthwhile, since 16-inch fitment alone does not tell you whether another Buick series size is interchangeable.

No, 1939 Buick models do not all use the same tire size. The 40 Special uses 650-16, the 60 Century uses 700-15, the 80 Series uses 700-16, and the 90 Series uses 750-16. Even among the three models that use 16-inch rims, the actual tire size still changes by series. That makes the Buick model hierarchy more important here than it would be on a year and make where every model shared one common fitment.

For a buyer, that means year and make are only the starting point. You should verify whether your car is a Special, Century, 80 Series, or 90 Series before comparing whitewall styles, brands, or load figures. Prewar cars are often restored over many decades, and wheel changes are not unheard of, so checking the tire currently on the car and the wheel diameter at the same time is a sensible way to avoid crossing one Buick series with another.

1939 Buick tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the listed sizes. The 650-16, 700-15, 700-16, and 750-16 sizes all have blackwall choices, and all four also have wide whitewall offerings from at least one brand. That gives owners of every covered 1939 Buick series a choice between a more restrained appearance and a more formal prewar presentation. On cars of this era, wide whitewalls are often favored for restored show cars, while blackwalls suit a more understated or utility-minded look.

The right sidewall for your Buick depends less on fitment than on how you want the car to present. A senior 80 or 90 Series often looks especially at home with a generous whitewall, while a Special or a more driver-oriented restoration may look right on blackwalls. If you are preparing a car for judged events, check the standards used by your marque club or event organizer so the sidewall treatment aligns with the way your particular Buick is being presented.

Several brands cover 1939 Buick fitments, but the lineup changes by size. The 650-16 size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield; 700-15 from Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA; 700-16 from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone; and 750-16 from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. All of the listed 1939 Buick applications remain bias-ply, which keeps the choices aligned with prewar construction rather than mixing bias-ply and radial options.

That brand spread gives Buick owners some flexibility without changing the underlying period type of tire. Some selections lean more toward classic passenger-car styling with blackwall or wide whitewall options, while others, such as the STA and Avon entries, reflect a more utilitarian character within the same older size system. Once the correct Buick series and size are confirmed, comparing brands becomes a matter of appearance, published wheel guidance, and the details of the individual tire rather than basic fitment.

In the 700-15 size used on the 1939 Buick 60 Century, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer wide whitewall versions with the same listed load figure of 1700 pounds at 32 psi, and Firestone also offers a blackwall version. In the 750-16 size used on the 1939 Buick 90 Series, both brands again offer wide whitewall versions, but their published figures differ: Firestone lists 1660 pounds at 40 psi, while BFGoodrich lists 1850 pounds at 48 psi. Rim width guidance is shared at 5.00 to 5.50 inches for 700-15 and 5.00 to 6.00 inches for 750-16 where published.

For a Buick owner, those differences matter more in how closely the tire’s published specifications match your intended use and wheel than in any simple brand ranking. If the car is a preserved senior Buick that sees occasional touring, the listed load and pressure figures deserve attention alongside the sidewall style you want. It is also wise to compare the individual tire’s appearance, since two tires in the same numeric size can still present the car somewhat differently through whitewall width and overall visual character.

Published rim width guidance for 1939 Buick tires varies by size. The 650-16 size used on the 40 Special is listed for 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims, 700-15 for the Century is listed for 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims, 700-16 for the 80 Series is listed for 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims, and 750-16 for the 90 Series is listed for 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims on products that include wheel recommendations. Those ranges are tied to the specific tire size, not to 1939 Buick models in general.

The practical takeaway is to match the tire to both the correct Buick series and the actual wheel on the car. A 16-inch rim alone is not enough, because the 40 Special, 80 Series, and 90 Series all use 16-inch wheels but not the same tire size or width range. Before fitting new tires, measure or verify the wheel so the selected tire falls within the listed rim-width window for that exact size.

Original 1939 Buick wheels cannot be treated as universal across all sizes, because the lineup includes both 15-inch and 16-inch tire applications and different rim-width ranges by size. The 60 Century uses 700-15 on a 15-inch rim, while the 40 Special, 80 Series, and 90 Series use 16-inch sizes that still differ from one another. Even among those 16-inch fitments, the published wheel guidance changes from size to size.

That means a Buick owner should think in terms of the wheel originally intended for that specific series, not simply any 1939 Buick wheel. If your car has been restored, converted, or mixed with parts from another Buick model, confirm the wheel diameter and width before assuming the current wheels are right for the target tire size. This is especially important on prewar cars, where long ownership histories can blur what is original and what was adapted later.

A 1939 Buick should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing sources. Because every listed 1939 Buick fitment here is bias-ply, long periods of static storage can encourage flat-spotting more readily than many modern radials. Clean floors, stable temperature, and protection from moisture all help preserve the tire casing and sidewalls during layup.

For a collector Buick, it also helps to move the car periodically so the tires do not rest on the same contact patch for months at a time. If the car will sit for a very long period, some owners use stands to reduce load on the tires, provided the car is supported properly and safely. Keeping inflation in check during storage is just as important as the environment itself, since an underinflated bias-ply tire is more vulnerable to shape distortion over time.

On a 1939 Buick, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage, since many collector cars accumulate limited miles each year. A sensible rule is to evaluate the tires closely once they reach roughly five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire is the best starting point for establishing age.

A prewar Buick may still wear tires that look acceptable at a glance yet have hardened rubber, sidewall cracking, or internal aging that makes them unsuitable for continued road use. That is why visual appearance alone should not decide whether an older set stays in service. If the car’s maintenance history is unclear, verifying age first gives you a far better basis for planning whether the current tires remain for display use only or should be replaced before regular driving.

Tires on a 1939 Buick should be inspected before every drive and especially before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, visible aging around the bead area, and signs that the tire is not holding pressure consistently. Since these are bias-ply applications on a prewar car, changes in shape or surface condition deserve attention sooner rather than later.

A brief walkaround catches many problems before they become roadside issues, and it is also a good time to inspect valve stems and the spare tire. On a collector Buick, long gaps between drives can let small issues go unnoticed, so an inspection routine matters more than annual mileage would suggest. If the steering suddenly feels heavier, the ride feels harsher, or the car develops a new pull, tire condition and inflation should be among the first things checked.

A 1939 Buick 40 Special would have originally been fitted with a bias-ply tire, because bias-ply construction was the standard American passenger-car practice in this period. For the 40 Special covered here, the correct size is 650-16, mounted on a 16-inch rim. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and dealership practice, so the most important authenticity points are the proper numeric size, the period-correct bias-ply construction, and the sidewall style that matches the car’s intended presentation.

For restoration work, that means staying with a 650-16 bias-ply tire rather than treating another 1939 Buick size as close enough. The next decision is usually blackwall versus wide whitewall, depending on how the car is being restored and what historical presentation you are aiming for. If the car is headed for serious marque judging, it is wise to compare your choice against Buick club references and factory literature for your body style and sales market.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1939 Buick, especially at marque-specific or authenticity-focused events. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts commonly notice whether the tire size matches the proper Buick series, whether the construction is period-correct bias-ply, and whether the sidewall style suits the era and presentation of the car. Using a Century’s 700-15 on a Special, or fitting a 90 Series with the wrong 16-inch size, can stand out even before finer details are considered.

For that reason, restoration-minded owners should treat tire choice as part of the car’s overall historical appearance rather than as a generic wear item. The closer the car gets to formal judging, the more important it becomes to verify the exact series, body application, and visual style you want to represent. Buick club resources and event rulebooks remain the best way to confirm what a particular judging venue considers correct for your version of a 1939 Buick.

For a restoration-focused 1939 Buick owner, the Firestone and BFGoodrich choices differ in both styling options and published specifications. In 700-15, Firestone offers both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while BFGoodrich offers a wide whitewall version; both wide whitewall tires list 1700 pounds at 32 psi. In 750-16, both brands offer wide whitewall tires, but BFGoodrich lists 1850 pounds at 48 psi, while Firestone lists 1660 pounds at 40 psi, and Firestone also offers a blackwall version in that size.

That means the decision can be guided by how you want the finished Buick to look as much as by the published figures. A blackwall can give a more restrained appearance, while a broad whitewall tends to emphasize the formal, upscale character many owners want from a late-1930s Buick. If the car is being prepared for judged display, compare the visual details carefully so the sidewall treatment complements the exact restoration style rather than simply filling the correct size.

1939 Buick tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within the limits shown for the individual tire. All four listed Buick fitments are bias-ply, and one 700-16 offering carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to 75 mph. Other listed products do not all publish a speed symbol, so the safest approach is to check the exact tire’s sidewall marking and product specification before planning sustained higher-speed travel.

On a prewar Buick, tire capability is only part of the equation. Brakes, suspension condition, steering play, alignment, and the overall health of the car may be more important than the tire itself at normal highway speeds. A well-sorted 1939 Buick can be enjoyed on modern roads, but it should be driven with the expectations appropriate to a large, older automobile running on period-style bias-ply tires rather than with modern-car assumptions.

Inflation pressure on a 1939 Buick should be matched to the exact tire size and the specific tire’s published load-and-pressure information, not guessed from another Buick series. Listed examples include 650-16 tires at 1580 pounds at 32 psi, 700-15 tires at 1700 pounds at 32 psi, 700-16 tires at 1800 pounds at 36 psi or 1900 pounds at 36 psi depending on product, and 750-16 tires at 1660 pounds at 40 psi or 1850 pounds at 48 psi depending on product. Those figures are tire ratings, not a universal vehicle setting.

The practical method is to start with the original Buick owner’s literature if available, then compare that guidance with the reproduction tire manufacturer’s recommendations for the exact tire you are using. Do not transfer a pressure figure from a 90 Series tire to a Special or from one brand’s product to another with different published ratings. On an older car that may see infrequent use, pressure checks are especially important because even small losses can noticeably affect handling and tire wear.

Before taking a 1939 Buick on a longer drive, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual wear, and proper inflation. Confirm that the tire size matches the Buick series, because this year’s Special, Century, 80 Series, and 90 Series do not all use the same fitment. A longer trip is also the right time to make sure the valve stems are in good condition and the wheels themselves show no obvious damage or looseness.

Tires are only one part of preparing a prewar Buick for distance, but they are one of the easiest areas to inspect carefully before leaving. A fresh pressure check, a visual look at sidewalls and tread, and a quick confirmation that the spare is serviceable can prevent a shortcoming from becoming a roadside interruption. Because these cars are often driven occasionally rather than daily, that pre-trip routine matters more than it would on a modern vehicle that sees constant use.