1940 Lafayette Tire Fitment Guide

1940 Lafayette vehicles use two tire sizes: 6.25-16 and 600-16. Both apply to the 1940 Lafayette 6 Cyl., and both mount on 16-inch wheels. For 600-16, the available products fit rim widths from 4.00 to 4.50 inches, which gives a useful baseline when checking an original wheel or a restored replacement wheel.

That means the first fitment step is not choosing between different Lafayette models, but verifying which of the two sizes belongs on your particular car. If the wheels on your 1940 Lafayette have already been changed during an earlier restoration, measure the wheel and compare the sidewall size marking before making a final choice.

On a 1940 Lafayette tire, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The "600" is the period width-style designation used on classic American tires, and the "16" is the wheel diameter in inches. In the current product range for 1940 Lafayette applications, 600-16 is offered in traditional bias-ply construction with blackwall and wide whitewall versions.

That code matters because it tells you the tire is built around a 16-inch wheel and belongs to an older sizing system rather than a modern metric one. If your Lafayette still carries period-style wheels and you want a tire that looks appropriate for a prewar car, 600-16 is a size worth checking carefully against the tire already on the car.

Within the 1940 Lafayette range covered here, the 6 Cyl. model can use both 6.25-16 and 600-16. So the year and make do not narrow the fitment to a single size, even though there is only one model core involved. Both sizes are bias-ply and both use a 16-inch wheel diameter.

For a buyer, that means year and make alone are not enough to finish the job. A close check of the car's current sidewall markings, wheel dimensions, and restoration goals will tell you which of the two sizes is the better match for the specific Lafayette you are working on.

Both 6.25-16 and 600-16 are period-style bias-ply choices for a 1940 Lafayette, and both fit the 6 Cyl. model on 16-inch wheels. The deciding factor is matching the size your car is set up to use, rather than choosing between bias-ply and radial construction. On a prewar car like this, size correctness and wheel compatibility matter more than chasing a newer-style format.

If your Lafayette is being restored to a specific appearance standard, use the size that aligns with the car's established fitment and visual stance. If the car is already wearing one of these sizes and the wheel is known to be correct, staying with that size is usually the clearest path unless a marque specialist advises otherwise.

1940 Lafayette tires in the available 600-16 offerings come in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. BFGoodrich and Firestone offer wide whitewall versions in this size, while Coker Classic and Avon are available as blackwalls. Those choices give a buyer room to tune the look of the car while staying within a bias-ply, period-appropriate construction.

A blackwall usually gives a more restrained, utilitarian presentation, while a wide whitewall creates a more formal and highly detailed prewar appearance. The right choice depends on how your Lafayette is being restored and how closely you want the finished car to reflect the look expected for an American passenger car of 1940.

The currently available 1940 Lafayette tire options in 600-16 come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. All of them are bias-ply choices sized for 16-inch wheels, but they differ in sidewall appearance and, in one case, the presence of a listed speed rating. That gives owners several ways to stay within a traditional construction while selecting a tire that fits the car's intended look.

Brand choice on a 1940 Lafayette often comes down to the visual finish you want and whether you prefer a classic American-style presentation or a different historic tire character. Once the correct size is confirmed, compare the sidewall style, load information, and approved wheel fitment for the exact tire rather than assuming every brand in the same size is identical.

For 1940 Lafayette fitments in 600-16, the available products are built for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim widths on a 16-inch wheel diameter. That provides a concrete wheel-width range to compare against the wheel currently on the car. The 6.25-16 size shares the same wheel diameter, so wheel diameter compatibility is straightforward, but the exact wheel still deserves a visual and physical check.

Wheel width matters because an incorrect rim can affect how a bias-ply tire sits, wears, and steers. Before fitting new tires to a 1940 Lafayette, measure the wheel if there is any doubt, especially on a car that may have had wheels swapped or refinished during earlier restoration work.

The available 600-16 products for 1940 Lafayette do not show tube-type or tubeless markings in a way that creates a single universal rule across every option. On a prewar application like the 1940 Lafayette, tube use often depends on the exact tire selected and the wheel being used, especially if the car retains original-style rims.

The practical move is to inspect the wheel design and then match it to the specific tire's sidewall marking and manufacturer guidance. If your 1940 Lafayette still uses original-style wheels, many owners also review valve stem condition and wheel interior finish at the same time so the complete assembly is ready for service.

Because both 6.25-16 and 600-16 are built around a 16-inch wheel diameter, the original 1940 Lafayette wheels are at least in the correct diameter category for either size. For 600-16, the listed products fit 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. That makes wheel width the next checkpoint after confirming the wheel diameter itself.

Many prewar cars have gone through decades of repairs, wheel swaps, and restorations, so it is worth measuring the wheel rather than assuming it remains exactly as delivered. If the wheel is sound and falls within the approved range for the tire you choose, that gives you a much stronger foundation for a trouble-free installation.

A 1940 Lafayette should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that can accelerate sidewall aging. Because the available fitments are bias-ply, long static periods can also encourage flat-spotting. Keeping the tires properly inflated helps the carcass hold its shape during storage.

If the car sits for extended periods, move it occasionally to change the contact patch or use stands in a way that follows safe storage practice for the chassis and suspension. Collectors who drive their Lafayette only seasonally should also check the spare, since a prewar car's roadworthiness often depends on every tire in the set, not just the four on the ground.

Tires on a 1940 Lafayette should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. A collector car may cover very few miles each year, yet the tires can still age out from time, storage conditions, and heat cycles. Many owners begin evaluating tires closely once they are five to seven years old and give serious replacement consideration by around ten years, regardless of tread depth.

The clearest way to track age is by checking the tire's date code and then pairing that with regular visual inspection. If a 1940 Lafayette sees occasional long drives, replacing older tires before obvious failure signs appear is usually a wiser approach than waiting for mileage alone to justify the change.

Tires on a 1940 Lafayette should be inspected before every drive, and they deserve a more thorough check before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, and pressure loss. On an older wheel-and-tire assembly, valve stems and the inner condition of the wheel also deserve attention whenever the tires are serviced.

That routine matters more on a low-use collector car than many owners expect, because age-related issues can appear even when tread depth still looks acceptable. A quick pre-drive inspection takes only a few minutes and can catch the sort of slow leak or sidewall deterioration that turns an enjoyable 1940 Lafayette trip into a roadside problem.

A 1940 Lafayette 6 Cyl. would have been fitted with bias-ply tires, because bias-ply construction was the standard American passenger-car practice in that period. The current fitments for this year and make remain bias-ply, using 6.25-16 and 600-16 sizing on 16-inch wheels. That keeps the construction style aligned with what buyers and restorers expect from a prewar Lafayette.

Original-equipment details could still vary by market, body style, or prior restoration choices, so owners pursuing exact historical accuracy often verify the car against period literature or a marque club. For most restoration work, getting the correct size family, construction type, and sidewall appearance right will have more visual impact than chasing a brand name without supporting evidence.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1940 Lafayette because show judging often considers whether the tire size, construction type, and sidewall appearance suit the era of the car. A bias-ply tire is generally more appropriate for a prewar American car than a visibly modern radial, and a sidewall style that looks out of period can also stand out. Tire choice affects both stance and authenticity.

Owners preparing a 1940 Lafayette for formal judging should think beyond simple wheel diameter and look carefully at the sidewall presentation the car will wear. Event standards differ, so a marque club or the rules for the specific show remain the best way to confirm whether a blackwall or a wide whitewall is more appropriate for the result you want.

For the 1940 Lafayette in 600-16, both BFGoodrich and Firestone offer bias-ply tires with wide whitewall styling, a 16-inch rim diameter, a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim-width fitment range, and a maximum load capacity of 1400 pounds at 32 psi. The BFGoodrich version is listed at 21 pounds, while the Firestone version is listed at 24 pounds. Both stay within the same classic fitment category for the car.

That means the choice is less about changing the basic fitment and more about selecting the brand presentation you want on the finished car. When a 1940 Lafayette is being restored for authenticity or visual impact, details such as sidewall branding and the exact whitewall treatment can matter just as much as the raw size marking.

1940 Lafayette tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within the limits of the exact tire selected. Among the available 600-16 options, one Avon product carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to 130 mph, while the other listed bias-ply products do not show a speed letter. On a prewar car, overall mechanical condition often matters as much as the tire itself.

The practical point is to think of the tire as one part of a complete roadworthiness check. A 1940 Lafayette's brakes, steering, suspension, and age-related component condition will usually define comfortable cruising speed before any modern-seeming tire rating becomes the limiting factor, so the car should be evaluated as a whole before longer highway travel.

For available 600-16 tires used on a 1940 Lafayette, several products list a maximum load capacity of 1400 pounds at 32 psi. That figure is a tire rating, not automatically the factory running pressure for every Lafayette application. One Avon 600H16 option lists a 1,433-pound load capacity, but its pressure figure is not shown in the same way as the other entries.

Use the vehicle's original literature for the starting pressure recommendation, then compare that with the tire manufacturer's published guidance for the exact product you choose. Avoid transferring a pressure from one tire size or one product line to another, because the right operating pressure depends on both the tire and the way the car is equipped.

Before a longer drive in a 1940 Lafayette, inspect each tire for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is roadworthy as well. Check valve stems, confirm the wheel hardware is secure, and look for any sign that a tire has been rubbing or sitting underinflated. A bias-ply prewar tire deserves especially careful visual inspection after long storage.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that also includes brakes, steering play, fluid levels, and lighting. A 1940 Lafayette rewards preparation, and a careful once-over before departure is one of the simplest ways to protect both the car and the people riding in it.