1939 Hudson Tire Fitment Guide

1939 Hudson vehicles use three sizes across the model range: 600-16 for the 1939 Hudson 112 Series, and 6.25-16 or 650-16 for the 1939 Hudson Country Club. All three are bias-ply sizes and all mount on 16-inch wheels. Where rim-width guidance is available, 600-16 fits 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, while 650-16 fits 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims.

Model identification matters first, because the 112 Series and Country Club do not share the same tire fitment. Once the model is confirmed, compare the tire already on the car, the wheel itself, and the intended restoration style before settling on a size. That is especially important on prewar cars that may have seen wheel or tire changes over the decades.

On a 1939 Hudson, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The first number refers to a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the second number identifies a 16-inch rim diameter. It is an older sizing system used well before modern metric tire codes became common, and on 1939 Hudson it applies to the 112 Series.

That older code tells you both the construction era and the wheel diameter the tire was built around. If your 1939 Hudson 112 Series is being restored with period-correct visual proportions, staying within the 600-16 fitment keeps the tire in the prewar style the car would have originally used. It also helps narrow the product search to brands and sidewall treatments made for that exact size.

No, 1939 Hudson models do not all use the same tire size. The 112 Series uses 600-16, while the Country Club uses 6.25-16 or 650-16. Even though all of them are 16-inch bias-ply tires, the fitment is model-specific rather than shared across the full Hudson lineup.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for 1939 Hudson. A buyer should identify the exact model first, then compare the mounted tire size and wheel setup against the intended restoration direction. On a car like the Country Club, where two larger sizes are associated with the model, verifying what is actually on the car can prevent an avoidable mismatch.

1939 Hudson tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, depending on size and product line. In 600-16, blackwall and wide whitewall choices are both offered, and the same is true in 650-16. Those options let an owner tune the visual character of a 1939 Hudson without moving away from the correct prewar bias-ply construction family.

Sidewall style affects the appearance of the car more than fitment, so the right choice depends on how the Hudson is being presented. A blackwall generally suits a plainer, more understated prewar look, while a wide whitewall creates a more dressed, upscale visual effect. For event judging, it is wise to compare the tire style to period photos, factory literature, and Hudson marque guidance for your specific model.

Several brands cover 1939 Hudson fitments. The 600-16 size is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone, while 650-16 is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. All of the listed options remain within the bias-ply category appropriate to a 1939 Hudson.

Brand choice usually comes down to the exact size you need, the sidewall look you prefer, and how closely you want the tire's appearance to match the character of the car. Since 1939 Hudson fitment is split by model, the smartest approach is to start with the correct size and then compare the brands that exist within that size, rather than choosing a brand first and trying to force a fitment decision afterward.

For a 1939 Hudson using 650-16 tires, both BFGoodrich and Firestone offer bias-ply fitments on 16-inch rims with a 4.50- to 5.00-inch rim-width range and a listed load capacity of 1580 pounds at 32 psi. The BFGoodrich example shown is a wide whitewall, while the Firestone example shown is a blackwall. Their listed weights are close as well, at 24 pounds for BFGoodrich and 23 pounds for Firestone.

The practical difference is mostly visual rather than dimensional in the examples available here. A Country Club owner choosing between them would usually be deciding whether the car wants the stronger whitewall statement or a more restrained blackwall presentation, while staying within the same basic size, construction, and wheel fitment window. That keeps the comparison focused on appearance and restoration character instead of forcing a change in tire size.

Rim-width guidance is available for two of the 1939 Hudson sizes. The 600-16 tires used on the 112 Series fit 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, while 650-16 tires used on the Country Club fit 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims. All of the listed sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, but diameter alone does not make one size interchangeable with another.

That matters because a prewar Hudson may still wear its original wheels, or it may have acquired different wheels over time. Before choosing a replacement tire, measure or verify the wheel width and compare it to the size you intend to run. Staying within the correct rim-width window helps preserve the tire's intended profile and supports better fitment on the wheel.

All of the 1939 Hudson sizes here use a 16-inch rim diameter, so they share the same basic wheel diameter. That means original 16-inch Hudson wheels may be diameter-compatible across these sizes. The important distinction is that 600-16 and 650-16 have different rim-width ranges where those figures are available, so wheel width still needs to be confirmed.

A 16-inch wheel is only the starting point on a prewar fitment. If your 1939 Hudson still has its original wheels, compare the installed tire size, wheel width, and model identity before changing to another size. That is especially relevant when moving between 112 Series and Country Club fitments, since the cars do not share one universal tire size even though they use the same rim diameter.

A 1939 Hudson should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Because 1939 Hudson fitments here are all bias-ply, long static storage can also encourage flat-spotting if the car sits in one position for extended periods. Clean, dry floors and stable temperatures help reduce stress on both tire carcass and sidewall.

Many collector owners either move the car periodically or support it in a way that reduces prolonged load on one contact patch. Tire pressure should be checked before and after storage periods, and any visible cracking, sidewall distortion, or loss of shape should be addressed before the car goes back on the road. Good storage habits matter as much as mileage on low-use prewar cars.

On a 1939 Hudson, tire age is usually more important than mileage. Collector tires should be evaluated regularly once they reach the five- to seven-year range, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration as they approach about ten years, even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT date code, when present on the tire, is the best starting point for determining age.

Prewar cars often spend long stretches parked, which can hide age-related hardening and sidewall fatigue until the car is driven again. A lightly used 1939 Hudson is not automatically on safe tires just because the tread looks fresh. Replacement timing should reflect age, storage conditions, visible cracking, and how the car is actually used rather than relying on mileage alone.

Tires on a 1939 Hudson should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. A proper check includes inflation pressure, visible cuts, bulges, uneven wear, tread condition, and sidewall cracking. On a collector car that may sit for long periods, those quick checks are one of the simplest ways to catch age-related issues before they become road issues.

Prewar Hudsons deserve a little extra attention because a tire problem rarely exists in isolation. Look at the valve stems, inspect the spare, and watch for a tire that suddenly loses pressure or develops a new vibration after storage. Frequent inspections also make it easier to spot whether a wheel, alignment, or suspension issue is starting to affect one tire differently from the rest.

A 1939 Hudson 112 Series would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the matching size associated with that model here is 600-16. That aligns with what buyers expect from a prewar Hudson, where bias-ply construction was standard practice and modern radial sizing had not yet entered normal passenger-car use. No specific original-equipment brand should be assumed without car-specific historical confirmation.

For a restoration, the key points are correct size family, correct construction type, and an appropriate sidewall treatment for the way the car is being judged or displayed. If you are chasing a highly exact factory presentation, compare your Hudson against period literature and marque-club guidance, since original fitment details could vary by body style, market, or how the car was delivered.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1939 Hudson. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size fits the model, whether the construction matches the period, and whether the sidewall style suits the car's era and presentation. A 1939 Hudson shown for originality generally looks more convincing on the proper bias-ply size than on a visibly modern alternative.

The practical standard is to treat size, construction, and appearance as one package rather than three separate decisions. A 112 Series shown on 600-16 bias-ply tires presents differently from a Country Club on one of its larger fitments, and that model-to-model distinction matters. Event rules can vary, so marque clubs and the judging standards for the specific show remain the best final reference.

For a 1939 Hudson, blackwall and wide whitewall tires can both be found within the correct prewar bias-ply size family. The difference is primarily visual: blackwalls present a simpler, more restrained appearance, while wide whitewalls give the car a more formal and upscale period look. Both styles appear in available 600-16 and 650-16 offerings.

Choosing between them depends on the story you want the car to tell. A restoration aimed at factory-authentic presentation should be checked against period photography, brochures, and Hudson-specific references to see which sidewall treatment best matches that exact model and body style. That extra research is worthwhile because sidewall appearance is one of the first details people notice on a finished prewar car.

1939 Hudson tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, in sound condition, and used within their construction and speed capability. One 600-16 offering is marked H, which corresponds to a 130 mph rating, while the other listed sizes here are traditional bias-ply products without a speed letter shown in the examples provided. On a prewar Hudson, the car's own brakes, steering, suspension, and overall condition are often more limiting than the tire itself at ordinary road speeds.

Safe highway use starts with realism about the whole vehicle, not just the tire. A well-sorted 1939 Hudson on fresh, properly inflated tires is a very different proposition from a rarely driven car on aged rubber and uninspected running gear. Before regular highway travel, inspect the tires closely and make sure the rest of the chassis is equally ready for the pace you plan to maintain.

For 1939 Hudson tires, inflation should be guided by the vehicle's original recommendations and the limits of the specific reproduction tire being used. Among the listed products, 600-16 examples show a maximum load of 1400 pounds at 32 psi, while 650-16 examples show a maximum load of 1580 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated load at that pressure, not a universal setting that should automatically be applied to every 1939 Hudson.

The best approach is to begin with the Hudson factory recommendation for the model and then confirm that your chosen tire's operating range supports that use. Pressure should not be borrowed from another size simply because both fit a 16-inch rim. Once the car is in service, monitor ride quality, tread wear, and pressure retention rather than assuming one number suits every Hudson application.

Before a longer drive in a 1939 Hudson, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Check the valve stems, make sure the spare is usable, and confirm that the tires are the correct size for the model, especially because the 112 Series and Country Club do not share one common fitment. A quick visual walk-around often catches problems that are easy to miss in the garage.

A longer outing in a prewar Hudson should also include a broader mechanical check beyond the tires. Brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, cooling system condition, and basic fluid levels all matter on a car of this age. Treat the tires as one part of the readiness equation, because a sound pre-drive routine helps preserve both safety and the car's overall drivability on modern roads.