1940 Dodge Tire Fitment Guide

1940 Dodge vehicles in the Special Six & Deluxe family use two tire sizes: 600-16 and 650-16. Both are bias-ply sizes built for 16-inch wheels. The 600-16 examples shown use rim widths in the 4.00- to 4.50-inch range, while 650-16 examples use rim widths in the 4.50- to 5.00-inch range. Since both sizes appear within the same model family, fitment starts with verifying which size belongs on your particular car and which wheel width it currently carries.

That distinction matters because the two sizes do not simply change appearance; they also call for different rim-width ranges in the products offered. A Dodge owner comparing tires for a Special Six or Deluxe should inspect the existing wheel, check any surviving factory reference material, and compare the current mounted size before choosing. If your car is already restored, the size on the vehicle may also reflect an earlier restoration decision, so it is worth confirming whether you want to preserve that look or return to another correct period size.

On a 1940 Dodge, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.00 portion identifies the nominal section width, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the 1940 market, that style of sizing was standard for American passenger cars, so it reads very differently from later metric or radial sizing conventions. Products in 600-16 for 1940 Dodge include both traditional classic bias-ply offerings and an Avon 600H16 version that uses a speed-rated marking while remaining bias-ply in construction.

For a Dodge owner, the important takeaway is that 600-16 describes a narrower prewar-style tire for a 16-inch wheel, not a modern metric equivalent. That can make it appealing for a restoration that wants an authentic late-1930s to 1940 visual profile. Before selecting one, compare the wheel width on the car to the rim-width range published for the specific tire, since several 600-16 products are intended for 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims rather than the wider range used by many 650-16 options.

The 1940 Dodge model family covered here does not narrow down to a single universal tire size. The Special Six & Deluxe uses both 600-16 and 650-16, and both sizes mount on 16-inch wheels. That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire confidently. You still need to identify the car accurately within the Dodge line and verify whether its wheel and prior fitment point to the narrower 600-16 or the wider 650-16.

For many restorers, that is a normal prewar Dodge question rather than a red flag. Cars of this era may have changed wheels or tires over the decades, and surviving examples are often restored to slightly different standards depending on region, judging goals, or owner preference. If your Dodge is a preservation car, compare its current setup with period references and marque-club guidance. If it is a driver, the main goal is still to select the size that matches the wheel correctly and keeps the car visually consistent with its era.

For a 1940 Dodge, the choice between 600-16 and 650-16 is a choice between two period-style bias-ply fitments rather than between bias-ply and radial construction. Both fit 16-inch wheels, but they differ in nominal width and in the rim-width ranges commonly paired with them. The 600-16 products shown are intended for narrower rims, while 650-16 products are matched to slightly wider 16-inch rims. That makes wheel confirmation the first step before you settle on appearance or brand.

Visually, the narrower 600-16 tends to suit a leaner prewar presentation, while 650-16 gives a fuller stance within the same era-correct bias-ply family. A buyer restoring a Dodge to a very specific period look should compare the car's current setup to period photography and club guidance. A buyer more focused on keeping the car roadworthy and era-appropriate should choose the size that matches the wheel correctly and then decide between blackwall and whitewall styling within that size.

1940 Dodge tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles across the two listed sizes. In 650-16, blackwall and wide whitewall options appear from several brands including BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. In 600-16, blackwall and wide whitewall choices are also available, with examples from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. That gives Dodge owners flexibility to match a more understated factory-type appearance or a more formal prewar presentation.

For many 1940 American cars, sidewall style changes the visual character of the car almost as much as the wheel cover or paint choice. Blackwalls typically create a plainer, workmanlike look, while wide whitewalls emphasize the upscale prewar styling themes many restorers want on a Deluxe-era Dodge. If the car is being prepared for show judging, sidewall style should be checked against the car's intended market presentation and event standards. If the goal is simply a cohesive period look, either style can work when kept consistent with the rest of the restoration.

Several brands offer tires for 1940 Dodge vehicles, depending on size. The 650-16 range includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. The 600-16 range includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. All of the examples shown for these Dodge fitments are bias-ply products, but they differ in sidewall styling, series identity, and in some cases published load or speed information.

That brand spread gives a Dodge owner more than one path to the right look. A buyer choosing among brands should compare the sidewall treatment first, then check the wheel-width range and any published load or speed marking that matters for the way the car will be used. Since 600-16 and 650-16 do not share the same published rim-width range, brand selection should come after size confirmation, not before. Once the size is settled, the best brand choice is usually the one that matches the car's appearance goals and setup requirements most closely.

Rim width requirements for 1940 Dodge tires depend on the size chosen. The 600-16 products shown use 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim widths, while 650-16 products use 4.50- to 5.00-inch rim widths. Both sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, but they are not meant for the exact same wheel-width range. That difference is one of the most important setup checks to make before selecting a tire for a Special Six or Deluxe.

A Dodge owner should measure the actual wheel on the car rather than assuming any 16-inch wheel is suitable for either size. Many prewar cars have had wheels swapped over the decades, and even small changes in wheel width can affect how a bias-ply tire sits and presents. If your Dodge already has one of these sizes mounted, that can provide a useful clue, but it should not replace direct measurement. Matching the tire to the wheel correctly is especially important on a bias-ply car because the tire's shape and stance are a visible part of the period appearance.

The tire markings shown for 1940 Dodge products do not identify a single uniform tube status across every option, so inner-tube use should be confirmed on the specific tire and wheel combination you plan to run. All of the fitments here are prewar-style bias-ply sizes, and tube use is often part of the broader wheel-and-tire setup on cars of this era. The safest approach is to treat tube fitment as a product-specific and wheel-specific decision rather than assuming every 600-16 or 650-16 tire is configured the same way.

That matters because the wheel itself can be just as important as the tire when deciding whether tubes are appropriate. If your Dodge still uses original-style wheels, inspect the wheel condition, valve-hole area, and bead-seat integrity before finalizing the setup. It is also wise to confirm whether the spare matches the same arrangement, since a mismatch between road tires and the spare can create inconvenience on a tour. Once you have settled on a specific tire, check the sidewall marking and manufacturer guidance so the tire, tube decision, and wheel all work together.

Original 1940 Dodge wheels can potentially work with both listed tire sizes because both 600-16 and 650-16 are built for 16-inch rims. The catch is wheel width: 600-16 products are paired with 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, while 650-16 products are paired with 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims. So the shared wheel diameter does not automatically mean one wheel is ideal for both sizes. Width must be checked before treating them as interchangeable choices.

That overlap at 4.50 inches is useful, but it should not be taken as blanket approval for every original wheel without measurement. A Dodge owner comparing the two sizes should confirm the actual rim width first and then decide whether the car's appearance goals favor the narrower or wider bias-ply profile. If the car is already restored and driving well, the current wheel-and-tire relationship may offer a good reference point. If the wheels are off the car for restoration, this is the best time to measure carefully and match the tire size deliberately.

A stored 1940 Dodge should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from ozone sources such as electric motors and battery chargers, and on a clean, dry surface. Bias-ply tires can flat-spot more readily during long static storage than many later radial designs, so periodic movement helps. Keeping the car in a stable environment with moderate temperature swings also protects the sidewalls and slows cosmetic aging. Tire pressure should be checked during storage rather than forgotten until the next driving season.

Collectors who store a Dodge for months at a time often rotate the car's position occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term stress on one contact patch. That is especially worthwhile on a prewar car that may only be driven on fair-weather outings. Before returning the car to the road, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, pressure loss, and any sign that a flat-spotted tire has not rounded out again after a short drive. Good storage habits preserve both the tire's appearance and its road manners.

On a 1940 Dodge, tire age usually matters more than mileage. Collector-car tires should generally be evaluated closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range, and around ten years is the point when many owners begin planning replacement even if tread remains. The DOT date code, along with visible condition, is more useful than odometer readings on a low-use prewar car. Heat, storage conditions, inflation habits, and long periods of inactivity all influence aging.

That means a Dodge driven only to shows can still need tires sooner than the tread depth alone suggests. Sidewall checking, hardening rubber, or repeated pressure loss are better warnings than wear bars on many collector vehicles. If the car's tires came with the restoration years ago, verify the production date before assuming they are still serviceable. Reproduction bias-ply tires often spend much of their life preserving appearance rather than accumulating miles, so replacement planning should be built around age, condition, and confidence on the road.

Tires on a 1940 Dodge should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough inspection before tours, club events, or any longer outing. On a prewar bias-ply car, check inflation, sidewall cracking, tread wear, cuts, bulges, and the way the tire is seated on the wheel. A car that sits for long periods also deserves attention for pressure loss between drives. The spare should be included in the same routine, since many collector cars rely on a spare that may be older than the road tires.

Frequent inspection is especially important because collector vehicles often age in the garage rather than on the road. A tire can look presentable from a few feet away and still have age-related issues that become obvious only during a closer check. If your Dodge uses a tube-based setup, valve stems and any signs of slow leakage deserve extra attention before longer drives. Making tire inspection part of the pre-drive ritual also encourages you to catch wheel, brake, or suspension problems early, which is wise on any 1940-era automobile.

The 1940 Dodge Special Six & Deluxe belongs to an era when bias-ply construction was standard, and the listed fitments here are 600-16 and 650-16 bias-ply sizes. Both are appropriate to the period from a construction standpoint, and both mount on 16-inch wheels. No single original-equipment brand should be assumed without model-specific and market-specific confirmation, but the basic construction style for a 1940 Dodge was firmly pre-radial. That makes modern reproduction bias-ply tires the natural starting point for an authentic restoration approach.

A restorer trying to settle on the exact original fitment should compare surviving factory literature, unrestored-car evidence, and Dodge marque-club guidance for the body style and market in question. Sidewall style can matter almost as much as size, since blackwalls and whitewalls can change the car's visual character noticeably. If the car is already restored, use its current size as a clue rather than a final answer. For authenticity work, confirming both the correct size and the intended sidewall presentation will usually produce the most convincing result.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1940 Dodge, especially in events that judge authenticity closely. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all influence whether the car reads as properly restored for its era. A prewar Dodge presented with an obviously modern tire format or an inappropriate visual treatment can lose historical credibility even if the car is mechanically sound. Since both 600-16 and 650-16 are period-style bias-ply sizes, the main judging questions usually revolve around whether the chosen size and sidewall look fit the specific restoration target.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard. Some local and touring events care more about overall presentation, while marque-specific or concours-level judging may take a harder line on size accuracy and appearance. A Dodge owner preparing for serious judging should review the event rules and check with club experts before finalizing a tire choice. If the goal is a faithful driver rather than a points car, staying within the era-correct bias-ply family and choosing a sidewall style that matches the rest of the build is often the most sensible approach.

For a 1940 Dodge, the difference between whitewall and blackwall tires is primarily visual rather than dimensional when you stay within the same size. Both 600-16 and 650-16 are available in blackwall and wide whitewall forms from multiple brands. A blackwall tire gives the car a plainer, more utilitarian prewar look, while a wide whitewall adds visual emphasis and a more formal period character. Neither choice changes the fact that these are still bias-ply tires matched to the same 16-inch wheel diameter within their size family.

The right choice depends on the restoration direction of the car. A more restrained Special Six presentation may feel at home on blackwalls, while a Deluxe-oriented build often benefits visually from the added presence of a wide whitewall. Owners should also think about consistency across the whole car, including paint, trim, and hubcaps, because sidewall style can either support or clash with the overall look. If the car is being judged, the safest route is to compare period photos and marque guidance before making the final call.

1940 Dodge tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly fitted to the wheel, in sound condition, and used within the limits of the specific tire. The 600-16 range includes an Avon 600H16 with an H speed rating up to 130 mph, while the classic 600-16 and 650-16 bias-ply offerings are period-style products without that same type of modern speed-marking emphasis. In practical use, a healthy 1940 Dodge will usually be constrained more by the car's age, brakes, steering, and suspension than by the headline speed potential of a reproduction tire.

That means highway confidence starts with condition and setup, not with chasing the most aggressive rating available. A Dodge owner should verify inflation, inspect for age-related cracking, and make sure the tire matches the wheel width correctly before planning sustained road speed. Bias-ply tires also feel different from modern radials, especially in tramlining, tracking, and steering response, so the driver should expect a period-correct driving character. If the car is newly restored or newly acquired, a shorter local shakedown is wiser than heading straight for a long interstate run.

Inflation pressure for 1940 Dodge tires should be set with reference to the vehicle's factory guidance and the specific tire's published limits rather than by transferring one number across all tires. Among the listed products, 600-16 examples include published figures such as 1400 pounds at 32 psi, while 650-16 examples include figures such as 1580 pounds at 32 psi. Those numbers describe a tire's rated load-and-pressure relationship, not necessarily the exact running pressure Dodge specified for every car. Size matters here, and 600-16 and 650-16 should not be treated as interchangeable in pressure planning.

A careful owner should start with the original owner's or service literature for the car, then confirm that the intended operating pressure remains appropriate for the reproduction tire being used. That is especially important if your Dodge has been restored with a different size than it carried previously. Pressure affects not only wear, but also steering effort, ride quality, and how a bias-ply tire presents on the wheel. Once the car is sorted, regular pressure checks are one of the simplest ways to protect both appearance and road manners on a prewar Dodge.

Before taking a 1940 Dodge on a longer drive, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Confirm that each tire is the correct size for the wheel, and pay attention to valve-stem condition as part of the same check. Since these are prewar-style bias-ply fitments, any sign of age-related stiffness, sidewall distress, or repeated air loss deserves attention before the trip begins. Tire readiness should be treated as part of a broader mechanical review, not as a stand-alone task.

A wise tour checklist for a 1940 Dodge also includes wheel security, brakes, steering play, fluid levels, and overall suspension condition. Older cars often reveal small issues only when they are driven farther and longer than usual, so the goal is to reduce avoidable surprises. If the car has been parked for a long stretch, take a short local drive first to make sure the tires smooth out properly and the car tracks normally. That kind of pre-trip discipline helps the tires, the chassis, and the driver's confidence all at once.