1939 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1939 La Salle vehicles covered here use one tire size: 700-16. That size applies to the 1939 La Salle 50, so there is no split between different models or alternate diameters within this year and make. The available products all mount on 16-inch wheels, and published rim-width guidance appears on some 700-16 offerings at 4.50 to 5.50 inches.

That makes the fitment process simpler than on many year-and-make pages. Instead of choosing between multiple sizes, most owners will be comparing blackwall versus wide whitewall appearance and selecting among period-style bias-ply brands. Before settling on a tire, confirm the wheel on the car is still the correct 16-inch type and check its width against the specific tire you plan to use.

On a 1939 La Salle tire, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.00 refers to the nominal section width, while the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike a modern metric radial size, this older numeric format does not spell out the same kind of aspect-ratio information buyers may be used to seeing on later tires.

Understanding that code helps keep the search focused on correct prewar-style fitment. A 700-16 tire is part of the sizing language common to American cars of the era, and the real differences between products in this case are construction details within the bias-ply category, sidewall styling, and the wheel-width range supported by the exact tire you choose.

Yes. The 1939 La Salle coverage here centers on the La Salle 50, and that model uses 700-16 tires throughout. There is no second size to sort through at the year-and-make level, so buyers are not being asked to choose between a smaller passenger-car fitment and a larger alternative.

That consistency is helpful for restorers because it narrows the decision to how the car should look and drive rather than whether the base fitment is correct. If your car is a 1939 La Salle 50, the next questions are whether you want a blackwall or wide whitewall presentation and which tire’s wheel-width guidance best suits the wheels actually on the car.

1939 La Salle tires in 700-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall choices appear from Avon and BFGoodrich, while wide whitewall options appear from Lester and Firestone. All of them stay within the correct basic prewar bias-ply size, but the sidewall treatment changes the visual impression of the car substantially.

A blackwall usually gives a more restrained, service-oriented appearance, while a wide whitewall better matches the formal look many collectors expect on an upscale late-1930s American car. Owners building a judged restoration should compare the sidewall treatment on the tire to period photos, factory literature, and club guidance for their specific body style and market presentation.

Four brands appear in 700-16 fitment for 1939 La Salle vehicles: Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. The available offerings include blackwall and wide whitewall styles, with all of them staying in bias-ply construction appropriate to the era. One Avon listing also carries a commercial-style size marking with a load index and L speed rating.

That brand spread gives owners room to prioritize appearance, period character, and published specification details within the same core size. BFGoodrich and Firestone naturally carry strong American collector-car recognition, while Lester remains familiar in restoration circles. The best choice depends less on the name alone and more on the sidewall look and wheel-width guidance that suits your car.

BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer 700-16 bias-ply tires for 1939 La Salle fitment, and both publish a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim-width range. The BFGoodrich example is a blackwall Silvertown Classic Bias Ply with a listed maximum load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and a weight of 26 pounds. The Firestone example is a wide whitewall Classic Bias Ply with a listed maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi and a weight of 29 pounds.

The practical difference for most owners is visual character first and specification nuance second. A blackwall BFGoodrich will suit a more understated look, while the Firestone wide whitewall moves the car toward a fuller prewar luxury presentation. Because the weights and load figures are not identical, it is smart to compare the exact tire you want against your wheel and intended use before making the final choice.

Published rim-width guidance for some 700-16 tires used on 1939 La Salle vehicles is 4.50 to 5.50 inches. That specification appears on both BFGoodrich and Firestone offerings in this fitment, and all listed products mount on 16-inch wheels. Rim width matters because a correct tire size still needs a wheel that supports its intended section shape.

Before choosing a tire, measure the wheel or verify the wheel specification if the car has been restored or modified in the past. A 16-inch diameter match by itself is not the whole story. Staying within the published width range for the exact tire helps preserve proper casing shape, steering feel, and the intended appearance of the sidewall on the car.

The available 700-16 listings for 1939 La Salle do not all carry the same kind of tube marking in the size description, so tube choice should be confirmed against the exact tire and wheel combination you plan to use. Prewar applications like this are commonly associated with tube-type service, especially when original-style wheels are involved, but the product marking remains the final reference point.

That means tube decisions should be made as part of the full wheel-and-tire setup, not assumed from size alone. Check the tire’s sidewall marking, the wheel design, and the condition of the rim itself before final assembly. If the car still wears original-style wheels, many owners also inspect the valve-stem area and rim surface carefully to avoid installation issues.

Because 1939 La Salle fitment here uses only one tire size, the original-style wheel question is really about whether the car still has the correct 16-inch wheels for 700-16 tires. The listed products all fit 16-inch rims, and some 700-16 tires specify a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim-width range. There is no alternate size in this year-and-make coverage competing for a different wheel diameter.

If the car retains its original wheels and they are in proper condition, that usually keeps the fitment path straightforward. The important checks are wheel diameter, usable width, and overall wheel integrity after many decades of service. Owners of cars with replacement or aftermarket wheels should verify those dimensions carefully before assuming any 16-inch wheel is automatically suitable.

A stored 1939 La Salle should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone sources that accelerate rubber aging. Tires should rest on a clean, dry surface, and the car should either be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long-term static loading. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting after sitting.

That matters on a prewar collector car because long idle periods are often harder on the tires than gentle seasonal driving. If the car will sit for months, maintain inflation, keep the storage area cool and dry, and inspect sidewalls before the next outing. Owners who value show-quality whitewalls should also keep them clean and shielded from contaminants that stain the rubber.

Tires on a 1939 La Salle are usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage. A collector-car tire should be evaluated regularly once it reaches roughly five to seven years of age, and many owners treat around ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if tread remains. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish its age.

That approach is important because a lightly driven car can still have aging rubber, internal deterioration, and sidewall cracking that mileage alone will not reveal. A 700-16 bias-ply tire that looks acceptable from a distance may still be too old for dependable road use. Age, storage history, and inspection results should guide replacement timing more than tread depth by itself.

Tires on a 1939 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer tour or event. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and pressure loss, and include the spare in the same routine. On older wheel-and-tire assemblies, the valve-stem area also deserves close attention because age can affect sealing and service reliability.

Frequent inspection is especially important on a prewar car because the tires are only one part of an older mechanical package. Catching a weak sidewall, low pressure, or a damaged spare before departure is much easier than dealing with it on the roadside. A short walk-around with a pressure check should be standard practice every time the car comes out of storage.

A 1939 La Salle 50 would have been fitted in period with bias-ply tires, not modern radial construction, and the year-and-make fitment here centers on 700-16. That aligns with normal American passenger-car practice for the late 1930s, when numeric bias-ply sizing was standard. Original-equipment branding could vary by production timing and market, so the safest historical anchor is the correct size and construction type.

For a restoration, that means starting with a 700-16 bias-ply tire and then choosing the sidewall treatment that best matches the way your specific car would have appeared when new. If you are pursuing a highly exact restoration, compare your body style and trim presentation with period photographs, factory literature, and marque-club guidance before settling on blackwall versus wide whitewall.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1939 La Salle because judging standards for prewar American cars often consider size, construction type, and sidewall appearance as part of the overall presentation. A 700-16 bias-ply tire keeps the car within the right sizing language for the era, while an incorrect construction or visibly out-of-period sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise strong restoration.

Owners preparing for show use should think beyond simple diameter and focus on visual authenticity. A wide whitewall may be more appropriate for a formal luxury presentation, while a blackwall can change the car’s character considerably. Event-specific rules vary, so marque clubs and judging manuals remain the best sources for deciding how exact the tire appearance needs to be.

Lester and Firestone both offer wide whitewall 700-16 bias-ply tires for 1939 La Salle fitment, which means they serve a similar visual role on a restored prewar luxury car. The Firestone example is listed with a 4.00-inch whitewall, a maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi, a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim-width range, and a weight of 29 pounds. The Lester wide whitewall listing stays in the same 700-16 size and bias-ply construction, with a listed weight of 28 pounds.

For a buyer focused on authenticity, both can support the fuller whitewall look many collectors expect on a late-1930s La Salle. The decision may come down to brand preference, the exact whitewall presentation you want, and whether the published wheel guidance on the tire matches your wheels cleanly. Comparing those details is worthwhile when the goal is a polished, era-appropriate finished car.

1939 La Salle tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are in correct condition, properly inflated, and matched to sound wheels. The 700-16 offerings here are bias-ply tires, and one Avon example carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to a 75 mph ceiling. Other listings are presented without a speed letter, so the exact tire’s own marking should guide expectations rather than assuming all products share one limit.

On a late-1930s car, the tire is only one part of the road-use equation. Brakes, steering, suspension, wheel condition, and overall mechanical health usually matter as much as the tire itself at normal road speeds. Owners planning regular highway use should choose a fresh tire, verify the car’s condition carefully, and keep speed expectations consistent with the car’s prewar design.

Inflation pressure for 1939 La Salle tires should be set by the specific tire and the vehicle’s factory guidance, not by borrowing a number from another size or application. Among the 700-16 products listed here, BFGoodrich is rated at 1900 pounds at 36 psi and Firestone at 1800 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures describe the tire’s published maximum load-and-pressure relationship, not automatically the running pressure every La Salle should use in service.

The best approach is to start with the vehicle’s original pressure recommendation if available and then compare that against the reproduction tire maker’s specifications. A tire’s maximum listed pressure is not a blanket setting for all cars using that size. Keeping inflation appropriate to the car and tire helps preserve ride quality, tread behavior, and the casing shape intended by the manufacturer.

Before a longer drive in a 1939 La Salle, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and stable pressure, and do the same with the spare. Look closely at the sidewalls and valve-stem areas, especially if the car has sat for long periods. A prewar touring check should also include wheel condition and a broader look at the car’s braking, steering, and cooling systems.

That preparation matters because older cars reward prevention more than improvisation. Even when the tire size is straightforward at 700-16, age, storage history, and wheel condition still decide whether the car is ready for a sustained trip. A careful pre-drive inspection, plus a realistic cruising plan that respects the car’s era and mechanical condition, makes long outings much more enjoyable.