1939 Chrysler Tire Fitment Guide

1939 Chrysler vehicles use three tire sizes: 700-16 and 750-16 for the Chrysler Imperial, and 6.25-16 for the Chrysler Royal. All three sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, but they are not interchangeable across the full year-and-make range simply because the wheel diameter matches. Where rim-width guidance is published, 700-16 fits 4.50- to 5.50-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 on a 1939 Chrysler. You need to identify the model first, then confirm the size already on the car or the wheel specification you are working with. That is especially important on an Imperial, where both 700-16 and 750-16 appear, while the Royal follows its own 6.25-16 path.

On a 1939 Chrysler, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 700 portion is the nominal section-width code used in period sizing, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is a bias-ply construction rather than a modern metric radial, and in 1939 Chrysler fitment it belongs to the Imperial rather than the Royal.

That older numeric format matters because it reflects how prewar American tires were labeled before modern P-metric sizing became standard. If you are comparing products, focus on the actual 700-16 marking, the sidewall style you want, and the published rim-width range for the tire. Matching the format and construction keeps the tire visually and mechanically consistent with the character of a 1939 Imperial.

No, 1939 Chrysler models do not all use the same tire size. The Imperial uses 700-16 or 750-16, while the Royal uses 6.25-16. All are bias-ply 16-inch applications, but the size itself changes by model, and the Imperial alone has more than one listed fitment within its range.

That means a buyer cannot treat 1939 Chrysler as a single tire fitment category. If your car is a Royal, you should start with 6.25-16. If it is an Imperial, you then need to confirm whether the car is set up for 700-16 or 750-16 before comparing brands or whitewall treatments. Getting the model right first prevents a lot of wasted time.

For a 1939 Chrysler, that choice applies to the Imperial only, because both 700-16 and 750-16 are Imperial sizes while the Royal uses 6.25-16. Since both Imperial options are bias-ply and both fit 16-inch wheels, the decision is not about bias-ply versus radial. It is about matching the specific wheel and fitment your Imperial uses, then selecting the sidewall look that suits the car.

A restorer should verify the existing wheel and compare the tire size already associated with the car before moving forward. The 700-16 and 750-16 sizes also carry different published rim-width ranges where available, so wheel compatibility needs to be checked carefully. Once that is settled, the final choice usually comes down to whether you want a blackwall or a wide whitewall presentation.

1939 Chrysler tire offerings include both blackwall and wide whitewall styles in the listed Imperial sizes. The 700-16 size is available in blackwall and wide whitewall versions, and the 750-16 size is as well. That gives Imperial owners a choice between a more restrained service look and the brighter, more formal appearance many restorers associate with upscale late-1930s American cars.

Sidewall style changes the visual character of a prewar Chrysler almost as much as wheel trim does. A blackwall often suits a more utilitarian or driving-oriented presentation, while a wide whitewall typically aligns with a more formal restored look. If your goal is authenticity for a specific market or judging standard, compare your tire choice to period photos and consult a Chrysler marque specialist before finalizing.

The listed 1939 Chrysler Imperial sizes are available from several established vintage tire names. In 700-16, the available brands are Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. In 750-16, the available brands are Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. All of those listed products are bias-ply offerings suited to prewar fitment and appearance.

Brand choice usually comes after you have settled on the correct size and the sidewall style you want on the car. Once those basics are fixed, the useful comparison points are sidewall appearance, published load information where given, and rim-width guidance for the specific tire. On a 1939 Chrysler, the brand decision is best treated as a finishing choice within the correct size rather than the first decision.

Published rim-width guidance appears for the two listed Imperial sizes. A 700-16 tire is shown with a 4.50- to 5.50-inch rim-width range, while a 750-16 tire is shown with a 5.00- to 6.00-inch range. All three 1939 Chrysler sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, but rim diameter and rim width are separate fitment checks.

That distinction matters because a tire can share the correct wheel diameter and still be a poor match for the wheel's width. Before choosing between 700-16 and 750-16 on an Imperial, inspect the actual wheel or verify its specification through a trusted restoration source. Doing that first helps preserve proper tire shape, bead seating, and the visual stance of the car.

Original 1939 Chrysler wheels can only be matched to all listed tire sizes at the diameter level, because every size here mounts on a 16-inch wheel. That does not mean every 16-inch Chrysler wheel should automatically be used with every listed tire size. The Imperial's 700-16 and 750-16 sizes have different published rim-width ranges, and the Royal uses its own 6.25-16 fitment.

On an actual car, the safest approach is to confirm both the wheel diameter and the wheel width before assuming one original wheel can handle another model's tire size. That is especially important when wheels may have been swapped over the decades. A car that has spent years in collector hands may not still be wearing the same wheel specification it left the factory with.

A 1939 Chrysler should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, generators, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, and if the car will sit for long periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term flat spotting. Bias-ply tires are more prone than radials to taking a temporary set during storage.

Collector storage habits have a real effect on how a prewar tire looks and feels when the car returns to the road. Even if tread wear is minimal, sunlight, ozone, and static loading can age the casing and sidewall. A few simple storage precautions can preserve both the appearance and the road manners of a 1939 Chrysler that is used only seasonally.

Tires on a 1939 Chrysler should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often accumulate very few miles but spend long periods parked. A practical rule is to inspect them closely once they are five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age on newer-manufactured reproduction tires.

A prewar Chrysler can look fine in the garage while carrying tires that are no longer ideal for road use. Sidewall cracking, hardening, irregular wear, and a loss of air retention all matter more than the odometer on a low-use collector car. If the age is creeping up, replacement planning should start before the next driving season rather than after a problem appears.

Tires on a 1939 Chrysler should be inspected before every drive and given a more deliberate check before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven tread wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure. Because these are bias-ply applications on an older vehicle, that routine inspection is part of basic collector-car stewardship rather than an occasional task.

A quick walkaround catches many problems before they become roadside issues. On a car that may sit for weeks between drives, changes in appearance or pressure can show up slowly and still matter. If the car carries tube-type fitment or older hardware, include the valve stems and spare tire in the inspection so the full tire system is ready when the car is.

A 1939 Chrysler Imperial would have originally used bias-ply tires, which matches the construction type associated with the listed Imperial sizes of 700-16 and 750-16. That aligns with normal American practice for the prewar era, long before radial construction became common on domestic passenger cars. What can vary from car to car is the exact size choice, wheel setup, and market-specific presentation.

For an accurate restoration, start with the correct Imperial size already tied to your car and then choose a sidewall style that matches the look you are after. If you are restoring to judged standards, confirm details through factory literature, period photography, and Chrysler marque clubs. Those sources can help settle whether your particular Imperial should lean toward a more formal whitewall presentation or a plainer service look.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1939 Chrysler, especially on a prewar American car where tire size, construction type, and sidewall style are highly visible. A bias-ply tire is consistent with the era, while an incorrect size or an out-of-character sidewall treatment can change the car's stance and visual balance. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice those details quickly.

The level of importance depends on the event. Local display shows may be more relaxed, while marque judging and concours settings can be far stricter about period appearance. If authenticity is a major goal, use the correct model-specific size first, then verify whether a blackwall or wide whitewall is the better match for the exact standard you are trying to meet.

In 750-16 for a 1939 Chrysler Imperial, Firestone and BFGoodrich are both bias-ply options but differ in sidewall presentation and some published specifications. Firestone appears in blackwall and wide whitewall versions with a listed maximum load of 1660 at 40 psi and a 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range. BFGoodrich is listed as a 4.125-inch wide whitewall with a maximum load of 1850 at 48 psi and the same 5.00- to 6.00-inch rim-width range.

That comparison makes the decision partly visual and partly technical. If your priority is a specific whitewall look, the BFGoodrich and Firestone whitewall versions create slightly different period impressions. If you are comparing specifications, keep the published load and pressure figures tied to the exact tire you choose rather than assuming they carry over to another brand in the same nominal size.

1939 Chrysler tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in good condition, properly inflated, and matched to sound wheels. The listed 700-16 Avon product carries an L speed symbol, which corresponds to 75 mph, while many of the other bias-ply products here are presented without a speed symbol in the size marking. On a prewar Chrysler, the condition of the car itself often matters as much as the tire.

A bias-ply tire will not feel like a modern radial, and a 1939 chassis has its own steering, suspension, and braking limits that should shape how the car is driven. For most collector use, normal secondary-road and moderate highway operation are more realistic than sustained high-speed travel. The key is treating the tire as one part of an age-sensitive system rather than as the only variable.

Inflation pressure on a 1939 Chrysler should be matched to the exact tire you are using and then checked against factory guidance for the car. Among the listed products, 700-16 tires show figures including 1900 at 36 psi and 1800 at 36 psi, while 750-16 tires show figures including 1660 at 40 psi and 1850 at 48 psi. Those figures belong to those specific tires and should not be transferred casually from one size or brand to another.

Use the vehicle's original literature for the car's intended operating pressure, then compare that to the reproduction tire's own rating and construction. Pressure affects ride, steering feel, tread contact, and casing stress, so it is not a small detail on a bias-ply prewar car. If there is any conflict between old vehicle literature and the tire maker's specifications, resolve it before putting miles on the car.

Before a longer drive in a 1939 Chrysler, inspect all tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and stable air pressure, and do the same for the spare. Look closely at the valve stems, especially on an older collector car where age-related deterioration may not be obvious at first glance. A tire that has spent years seeing light use can still be compromised by time, storage conditions, or old repairs.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that also includes brakes, steering, wheel bearings, fluids, and basic electrical checks. Prewar cars reward deliberate preparation, and tire trouble on the road often starts with a warning sign that was visible in the garage. Spending a few extra minutes beforehand is far easier than troubleshooting a 1939 Chrysler on the shoulder.