1940 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1940 La Salle vehicles use one tire size across the full model range: 700-16. Both the 1940 La Salle 50 and 1940 La Salle 52 use that same size, and the available products are all bias-ply tires built for a 16-inch wheel. Rim width guidance appears on some 700-16 products at 4.50 to 5.50 inches, which is the range to compare against your actual wheel before making a final selection.

That shared fitment simplifies the search because you do not have to sort through multiple diameters or construction types for this year and make. The important next step is confirming that your car still has the correct 16-inch wheels and then choosing the sidewall presentation that matches your restoration goals, whether that means a blackwall look or a more formal wide whitewall appearance.

A 700-16 marking on a 1940 La Salle tire identifies a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.00 portion refers to the tire’s nominal section width, while the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On a car of this era, that size format belongs to the traditional bias-ply system used long before modern metric radial sizing became common on passenger cars.

Knowing that code helps you avoid substituting a modern-looking size just because it seems close on paper. If your goal is authentic fitment and appearance for a 1940 La Salle, staying with the original-style 700-16 numeric format keeps the tire visually and structurally aligned with the period, while still letting you choose among several brands and sidewall treatments within that size.

Yes. Both 1940 La Salle models listed for the year, the La Salle 50 and La Salle 52, use 700-16 tires. There is no split between models into different wheel diameters or alternate size families, so the year-and-make level fitment is unusually simple compared with many other prewar American makes that used more than one size across body styles or trim positions.

That consistency means identifying the exact model is still useful for restoration research, but it does not change the basic tire size requirement. Once you know you are working with a 1940 La Salle, you can focus more on details such as sidewall style, brand preference, and whether your existing wheels match the rim width range shown on the specific 700-16 product you are considering.

1940 La Salle tires in 700-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. The blackwall choices include Avon and BFGoodrich offerings, while wide whitewall versions are available from Lester and Firestone. All of them remain within the correct bias-ply size family for the car, so the difference is primarily visual rather than a change in basic fitment.

Sidewall style has a strong effect on how a 1940 La Salle presents, especially because La Salle occupied an upscale place in the market and whitewalls became a major styling feature on premium American cars of the period. Buyers pursuing a formal show-oriented appearance often favor wide whitewalls, while a blackwall may suit a plainer presentation, a commercial look, or a car restored to a more understated specification.

The available brands for 1940 La Salle 700-16 tires are Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. All are offered in the correct 16-inch bias-ply size family for the car, with sidewall presentation varying by product. That gives owners a mix of blackwall and wide whitewall choices without changing away from the original-style numeric sizing used on a 1940 La Salle.

Brand selection usually comes down to the appearance you want, the product details you prefer, and how closely you want the finished car to reflect a traditional American collector-car look. A buyer comparing options should look beyond the brand name alone and also compare sidewall style, rim width guidance where shown, and any published load or speed markings that appear on the individual 700-16 tire.

BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer 700-16 bias-ply tires for the 1940 La Salle, and both list a 16-inch rim diameter with a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range. The BFGoodrich version is a blackwall tire with a listed maximum load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and a weight of 26 pounds, while the Firestone version shown here is a wide whitewall with a listed maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi and a weight of 29 pounds.

That comparison makes the choice less about basic fit and more about presentation and the specific specs that matter to your project. If the car’s visual finish calls for a wide whitewall, the Firestone offering fits that brief directly, while the BFGoodrich option suits owners who want a blackwall appearance and want to compare its published load figure and lighter listed weight against the alternatives.

Published rim width guidance for 1940 La Salle 700-16 tires appears at 4.50 to 5.50 inches on several products in this size. That guidance applies to the 16-inch wheel diameter used by both 1940 La Salle models and gives you a practical starting range for checking whether your existing wheels match the tire you plan to fit.

Wheel width matters because even the correct tire size can behave differently if the wheel is too narrow or too wide for the casing. Before mounting new tires on a 1940 La Salle, measure the wheel carefully and compare it with the specifications on the exact product you are considering, especially if the car has replacement wheels or has been apart for a long restoration.

The 700-16 products offered for 1940 La Salle do not all state tube information the same way, so tube use should be confirmed on the specific tire you choose and matched to the wheel you plan to run. That is especially important on a prewar vehicle, where original wheels, restored wheels, and later replacement rims may not all be intended for the same setup.

A careful approach is to inspect the wheel condition, verify whether the rim design is appropriate for tube-type service, and then match the tube decision to the exact tire’s sidewall marking and the wheel itself. On a collector car like a 1940 La Salle, correct tube and flap selection can be just as important to reliable service as choosing the right 700-16 tire size.

A 1940 La Salle should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid letting the car sit for long periods on damp concrete, and roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces prolonged static loading on one contact patch.

Bias-ply tires tend to show flat-spotting more readily than later radial designs when a collector car sits for extended periods. If your 1940 La Salle is used only seasonally, a little movement every few weeks and protection from UV and ozone can do more for tire condition than accumulating very few miles while the car remains parked in a harsh storage environment.

Tires on a 1940 La Salle should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often see limited road use. A sensible rule is to inspect them closely after about five to seven years of service and to treat roughly ten years from the date code as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread depth still looks generous.

That approach matters because rubber compounds, sidewalls, and internal materials can age out long before a lightly used vintage car wears the tread away. Check the DOT or manufacturer date information on the tire, watch for cracking, hardening, bulges, or unusual vibration, and remember that a low-mileage 1940 La Salle can still be riding on old tires that have simply aged beyond their safest service life.

Tires on a 1940 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, punctures, irregular wear, and pressure loss, and give extra attention to valve stems and wheel condition since age-related issues often appear there before a collector car ever accumulates meaningful mileage.

A short walkaround before driving can prevent the most common vintage-tire problems from becoming roadside failures. If your 1940 La Salle uses tube-type service on its original-style wheels, periodic checks for slow leaks and stem condition become even more important, especially after the car has been stored, transported, or left parked for a long stretch between drives.

A 1940 La Salle 50 would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the correct year-and-make size used across the range is 700-16. That means a reproduction-style 700-16 bias-ply tire is the right starting point for an authentic restoration. Original-equipment branding could vary by market practice, dealer supply, or period replacement history, so the most defensible standard is matching the correct size, construction type, and appropriate sidewall presentation.

Owners pursuing a highly exact restoration should compare their car against factory literature, period photographs, and marque-club guidance rather than relying on assumptions about what any single surviving car wears today. For most 1940 La Salle projects, getting the numeric 700-16 bias-ply format right will matter more than chasing a brand name that may not have been consistent across all cars when new.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1940 La Salle because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the size, construction, and sidewall style suit the period. A 700-16 bias-ply tire aligns with the car’s era, while a visibly modern construction or an obviously out-of-period sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise well-restored presentation. Whitewall width and overall stance also affect how authentic the car looks.

The exact standard depends on the event, since local shows, marque events, and formal concours judging do not always weigh tire details the same way. If your 1940 La Salle is being prepared for higher-level judging, confirm expectations with the hosting organization or a La Salle and Cadillac-era club before finalizing the tire choice, especially when selecting between blackwall and wide whitewall versions.

Lester Wide Whitewall and Firestone 4.00 Inch Whitewall are both 700-16 bias-ply whitewall options for the 1940 La Salle, and both preserve the correct size family and general period appearance. The Firestone tire lists a maximum load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi, a 16-inch rim diameter, a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range, and a 29-pound weight. The Lester whitewall shown here lists a 16-inch rim diameter and a 28-pound weight.

For a restoration, the decision often comes down to the exact whitewall look you want and how closely you want the finished car to match your reference material. Comparing published dimensions and appearance details product by product is worthwhile, because two whitewall tires in the same 700-16 size can both be era-appropriate for a 1940 La Salle while still giving the car a slightly different visual character.

1940 La Salle tires can be suitable for highway use when they are new, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and matched to sound wheels, but they remain bias-ply tires designed for a prewar automobile. One available 700-16 option carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to a 75 mph ceiling. Even so, the car’s own braking, steering, suspension design, and overall mechanical condition usually deserve as much attention as the tire rating itself.

A wise approach is to treat highway driving in a 1940 La Salle as a whole-vehicle question rather than a tire question alone. Keep speeds reasonable, allow more following distance than you would in a modern car, and make sure the tires are free of age damage and properly balanced before longer trips. Safe operation depends on realistic expectations for a full-size American luxury car from 1940.

Inflation pressure on a 1940 La Salle should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s original recommendation for the car and the tire maker’s guidance for the exact 700-16 tire you choose. Among the available products, BFGoodrich lists 1900 pounds at 36 psi and Firestone lists 1800 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are load-and-pressure ratings for those specific tires, not a blanket instruction to apply one number to every 700-16 product in every situation.

That distinction matters because the correct service pressure for ride, wear, and handling on a 1940 La Salle may differ from the maximum pressure associated with a tire’s rated load. Start with the period vehicle recommendation, then compare it with the tire manufacturer’s specifications for the exact product on your car, especially if you have changed wheel type, carry regular passengers, or use the car for longer touring events.

Before a longer drive in a 1940 La Salle, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is equally serviceable. Check valve stems, confirm that wheel fasteners are secure, and pay attention to any vibration, pull, or air loss that may have developed while the car was parked. The tire inspection should happen alongside a broader mechanical review appropriate to a 1940 automobile.

Longer trips put sustained heat and load into a vintage tire, so small problems that seem harmless in the garage can become much more serious on the road. Along with the tires, verify the condition of the brakes, steering, cooling system, and suspension before setting out. A well-prepared 1940 La Salle is far more enjoyable to drive, and tire reliability is one part of that overall readiness.