1946 Cadillac Tire Fitment Guide

1946 Cadillac vehicles use two tire sizes: 700-15 and 750-16. The 700-15 size fits the 60 Series, 61 Series, and 62 Series, while the 750-16 size fits the 75 Series. Those sizes do not share the same rim diameter, so they are not interchangeable across the full 1946 Cadillac range. Available rim-width guidance also differs by size, with 700-15 products listed for 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims and 750-16 products listed for 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims where that information appears.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a correct choice on a 1946 Cadillac. Start by confirming the series number on the car, then verify the wheel diameter before choosing a tire style such as blackwall or wide whitewall. If your Cadillac has had wheels changed during an earlier restoration, check the actual rim before assuming the factory size still applies.

A 700-15 tire on a 1946 Cadillac is a numeric bias-ply size. The “700” is the nominal section width designation used in period sizing, and the “15” is the wheel diameter in inches. On 1946 Cadillac applications, that size belongs to the 60 Series, 61 Series, and 62 Series rather than the 75 Series. It is a traditional postwar passenger-car fitment and appears in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions.

Modern buyers sometimes assume the first number is a wheel measurement, but on an older numeric bias-ply size it is part of the tire’s section-width designation instead. If you own a 60, 61, or 62 Series Cadillac, 700-15 is the size family to research further. From there, the next choices are sidewall appearance and the specific brand or series that suits the way the car will be presented and driven.

A 750-16 tire on a 1946 Cadillac is also a numeric bias-ply size. The “750” is the period nominal section-width designation, while the “16” identifies a 16-inch wheel. On 1946 Cadillac vehicles, this size is used by the 75 Series, which places it on a different wheel diameter from the 60, 61, and 62 Series. Blackwall and wide whitewall versions are both available in this size.

That larger wheel diameter is the key point for a 1946 Cadillac 75 Series owner. Even though both sizes belong to the same year and make, 750-16 is not just a cosmetic variation of 700-15. It is the proper starting point for a long-wheelbase Series 75, so confirm the wheel before comparing brands, whitewall widths, and load or pressure markings among the available tires.

1946 Cadillac tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, depending on the size and product chosen. The 700-15 selection includes blackwall and wide whitewall options from Firestone and BFGoodrich, along with an STA blackwall offering. The 750-16 selection also includes blackwall and wide whitewall versions from Firestone, BFGoodrich, and Lester. That gives owners flexibility to match either a restrained driver look or a brighter show-oriented presentation.

Wide whitewalls are often the visual choice buyers associate with luxury American cars of the immediate postwar era, so they are commonly selected for restoration-minded 1946 Cadillac builds. Blackwalls can still be appropriate depending on the car’s intended look, use, or specific restoration goal. If authenticity matters for judging, confirm the expected sidewall treatment for your exact body style and market with a Cadillac marque expert before finalizing the tire.

Several brands cover 1946 Cadillac fitments. In 700-15, available brands include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. In 750-16, available brands include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and Lester. All listed options for these 1946 Cadillac sizes are bias-ply tires, but the brand mix changes slightly between the standard passenger-car series and the larger 75 Series.

Brand choice on a 1946 Cadillac usually comes down to the exact size your series uses, the sidewall appearance you want, and how closely you want the finished car to reflect a traditional postwar presentation. A 60, 61, or 62 Series owner has one set of brand options, while a 75 Series owner has a different mix. Once the size is confirmed, compare whitewall treatment, rim-width guidance, and load markings where provided.

For 1946 Cadillac fitments, Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer classic bias-ply tires in shared sizes, including wide whitewall versions. In 700-15, both list a maximum load capacity of 1700 pounds at 32 psi, with fitment on 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims where rim-width guidance is shown. In 750-16, Firestone lists 1660 pounds at 40 psi on 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims, while BFGoodrich lists 1850 pounds at 48 psi on the same rim-width range. The available whitewall widths also differ by product line.

That makes the comparison less about one brand being universally better and more about which exact tire matches your Cadillac’s size, appearance goal, and operating needs. A buyer restoring a show car may focus first on the sidewall look, while someone comparing specifications may pay closer attention to rated load and pressure values within the correct size. Keep the comparison within the same size family rather than crossing between 700-15 and 750-16.

Rim-width guidance for 1946 Cadillac tires depends on the size. For 700-15, the listed fitment range is 5.00 to 5.50 inches on products where rim width is specified. For 750-16, the listed range is 5.00 to 6.00 inches on products where that information appears. Those ranges track the difference between the standard Cadillac passenger-car series and the larger 75 Series application.

Rim width matters because even the correct nominal tire size can behave differently if mounted on a wheel outside the intended range. Before choosing a tire for a 1946 Cadillac, measure the wheel or confirm its actual specification, especially if the car has been restored more than once. That extra check is worthwhile on older luxury cars, where replacement wheels and cosmetic changes sometimes entered the picture decades ago.

Original 1946 Cadillac wheels cannot be treated as universal across all models because the tire sizes do not share the same rim diameter. The 60 Series, 61 Series, and 62 Series use 700-15 tires on 15-inch wheels, while the 75 Series uses 750-16 tires on 16-inch wheels. That means the first compatibility checkpoint is wheel diameter, not sidewall style or brand.

A standard-series Cadillac owner should stay within the 15-inch fitment family, and a Series 75 owner should stay within the 16-inch family unless the car has been intentionally modified. Once the diameter is confirmed, then check that the wheel’s width falls within the tire’s appropriate range. This is especially important when dealing with long-restored cars that may no longer carry their original wheels.

A 1946 Cadillac 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. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and move the car periodically so one section of the tread is not supporting the load for months at a time. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to taking a temporary set after long static storage, so long idle periods deserve extra care.

For a collector Cadillac, good storage habits preserve appearance as much as function. Whitewalls stay cleaner and sidewalls stay more stable when the car is kept off damp concrete and away from UV exposure. If the car will sit for an extended season, some owners use tire cradles or stands to reduce stress, but the most practical step is simply minimizing prolonged weight on one spot.

Tire life on a 1946 Cadillac is usually judged more by age than by mileage, because collector cars often cover limited annual distance. A sound rule is to evaluate the tires closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread remains. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age when service history is unclear.

That approach matters because an older Cadillac can spend long periods parked, and age-related hardening or cracking may progress long before tread wears out. A low-mileage tire is not automatically a fresh tire. If the car has recently changed hands, establishing the age of all five tires, including the spare, is one of the smartest first maintenance steps you can take.

Tires on a 1946 Cadillac should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Check for sidewall cracking, tread separation, punctures, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and do not forget the spare. On an older luxury car, a visual walk-around catches many issues early, especially after seasonal storage or long idle periods when the car has not been exercised regularly.

Short local drives may hide a problem that becomes obvious only once the car is fully warmed up and cruising for longer distances. If your Cadillac uses older tube-type-style service practices or aged valve hardware, inspect stems and air retention as part of the same routine. Consistent inspection is cheap insurance on a postwar car whose road manners depend heavily on tire condition.

A 1946 Cadillac 60 Series would have been fitted with bias-ply tires in period service, and the correct size family for that model is 700-15. That matches the broader immediate postwar American luxury-car pattern, when bias-ply construction was standard and radial passenger-car fitments had not yet become the norm in the U.S. market. For exact factory delivery details such as market-specific sidewall treatment or trim-based presentation, Cadillac club resources remain the best authority.

For restoration purposes, the important point is that a 1946 Cadillac 60 Series should start with the correct numeric bias-ply size before you worry about brand or whitewall width. Once the size and construction are right, sidewall appearance becomes the next authenticity decision. That order matters because a beautiful tire with the wrong size family or construction will still look out of character on a postwar Cadillac.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1946 Cadillac because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance almost immediately. A 60, 61, or 62 Series shown on 750-16 tires would be visibly incorrect, just as a 75 Series shown on 700-15 tires would be. On a restoration aimed at authenticity, the overall impression depends on the tire matching the series, wheel diameter, and period-correct bias-ply profile.

Even when a car is not headed for top-level concours judging, proper tire fitment contributes heavily to stance and visual credibility. Whitewall width can also influence how authentic the finished car appears, especially on luxury makes from the mid-1940s. If the event has strict standards, check with the hosting Cadillac or marque organization for the exact judging expectations that apply to your model and class.

For a 1946 Cadillac, the difference between blackwall and wide whitewall tires is primarily visual, since both are available in correct bias-ply fitments for the year. In 700-15 and 750-16, blackwall options exist alongside wide whitewall choices from major vintage-tire brands. Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer wide whitewall versions in the shared size families, and Lester also appears in wide whitewall form for 750-16. The construction and basic fitment remain rooted in the proper postwar bias-ply format.

That makes sidewall style an authenticity and presentation decision rather than a separate fitment category. A whitewall usually gives a 1946 Cadillac the richer, more formal luxury look many owners want, while blackwall can suit a more understated interpretation. If the car is being judged, treat the sidewall style as part of the restoration standard, not just a cosmetic afterthought.

1946 Cadillac tires in these applications are available as bias-ply designs, and safe highway use depends on selecting the correct size, maintaining proper inflation, and keeping the tire in sound condition. No speed ratings are shown in these fitments, so the tire should be used in a manner appropriate to a mid-1940s luxury car rather than treated like a modern high-speed touring setup. On a car of this era, overall mechanical condition often matters as much as the tire itself.

A well-sorted 1946 Cadillac can certainly be enjoyed on modern roads, but buyers should keep expectations realistic about braking distances, steering response, and road feel. Bias-ply tires deliver the period-correct driving character these cars were built around. Before any sustained highway use, confirm age, condition, and pressure, and make sure the rest of the car is equally ready for the trip.

Inflation pressure on 1946 Cadillac tires should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for the car and the tire maker’s maximum-rated pressure guidance for the specific product. Among available tires, 700-15 examples are listed at 1700 pounds at 32 psi, while 750-16 examples include 1660 pounds at 40 psi and 1850 pounds at 48 psi depending on brand and product. Those figures are load-and-pressure ratings, not universal inflation instructions for every Cadillac application.

The practical takeaway is to avoid copying a pressure from one size to another or from one brand’s casing to another without checking the actual tire. Start with the factory recommendation for your exact 1946 Cadillac series, then make sure it is used within the operating limits printed for the chosen tire. That keeps the conversation anchored to both the car and the product rather than relying on guesswork.

Before a longer drive in a 1946 Cadillac, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, punctures, unusual wear, and proper air pressure. Check the spare as well, because a period car is only as prepared as its backup tire. Make sure the wheels are in good condition and that the tires match the car’s actual series and wheel diameter, especially if the Cadillac has a long restoration history or changed hands recently.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip checklist on a postwar Cadillac, but they are one of the easiest places to prevent trouble. Once the tires pass inspection, give equal attention to brakes, steering, suspension, cooling, and basic fluid checks. A careful walk-around and short shakedown drive before departure can reveal issues that are much easier to address at home than on the roadside.