1946 De Soto Tire Fitment Guide

1946 De Soto vehicles in the 6 Deluxe & Custom model group use three listed tire sizes: 650-16, 700-15, and 6.50-15. The 650-16 size mounts on 16-inch rims, while both 700-15 and 6.50-15 mount on 15-inch rims. Approved rim-width ranges are available on current products for 650-16 at 4.50 to 5.00 inches and for 700-15 at 5.00 to 5.50 inches.

That means the first thing to verify is your actual wheel diameter, because a 16-inch tire cannot be substituted onto a 15-inch wheel or the other way around. Once wheel diameter is confirmed, compare the specific size on the car, the restoration style you want, and the approved rim-width range on the individual tire before making a final choice.

A 650-16 marking on a 1946 De Soto is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 650 portion is the traditional nominal section-width designation, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In current offerings for this size, the tire mounts on a 16-inch rim and several products are rated at up to 1580 pounds at 32 psi.

That code matters because it ties the tire to a specific wheel diameter and to a period-correct construction style. If your car wears 16-inch wheels and you want to stay with a traditional postwar De Soto presentation, 650-16 is the right family of size to investigate further, along with the blackwall or wide-whitewall look that best suits the car.

A 700-15 marking on a 1946 De Soto is another numeric bias-ply size, with 700 indicating the nominal section-width designation and 15 identifying a 15-inch rim. Products in this size are offered for 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, and several carry a maximum load listing of 1700 pounds at 32 psi. The construction remains bias-ply throughout the available selection.

The practical takeaway is that 700-15 belongs only on a 15-inch wheel and should be chosen as part of a correct wheel-and-tire pairing, not as a casual substitute for a 16-inch setup. Once wheel diameter is confirmed, you can narrow the choice by sidewall style and brand character to match either a more formal restored appearance or a plainer blackwall presentation.

1946 De Soto tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles within the listed sizes. The 650-16 size includes blackwall and wide whitewall options, and 700-15 does as well. That gives owners room to choose a more understated service look or the brighter sidewall treatment many postwar American cars are restored with.

Sidewall style changes the character of the car even when the size stays the same. A wide whitewall usually aligns with a more dressed-up restoration theme for a 1946 De Soto, while a blackwall can suit a more restrained presentation or a utility-minded setup. Match the sidewall to the era look you want before narrowing down to a specific brand or series.

Current 1946 De Soto fitments are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, and STA, depending on the size. The 650-16 selection includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. The 700-15 selection includes Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA, giving the 15-inch fitment a mix of passenger-car and more utilitarian brand personalities.

Brand choice on a collector car often comes down to the look you want as much as the size itself. Some owners prefer a historically familiar American brand presentation, while others are more focused on sidewall treatment or tread style. Narrow the field first by the correct size, then compare which brand offers the appearance and product series that best suits your De Soto.

Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer 700-15 bias-ply tires for the 1946 De Soto, and both are available in wide whitewall form. The listed Firestone and BFGoodrich wide-whitewall versions share the same 1700-pound-at-32-psi load listing and fit the same 15-inch rim diameter with a 5.00- to 5.50-inch approved rim-width range. The practical differences are mainly series identity, branding, and the finished visual details of the tire.

When two products share the same size and very similar fitment specifications, the decision usually comes down to the appearance you want on the car. Sidewall branding, tread presentation, and how the tire complements the De Soto's postwar styling can matter as much as raw specification. Compare those visual cues once you have confirmed that 700-15 is the correct fitment for your wheels.

Rim-width guidance for 1946 De Soto tires varies by size. The 650-16 products with published fitment specs call for 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims, while the 700-15 products with published fitment specs call for 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims. Those ranges are specific to the tire size and should not be transferred from one size to another.

That matters because a tire can share the right wheel diameter but still need a different rim-width range to sit and perform as intended. Measure the wheel you plan to use and compare it against the approved range on the exact tire size you are considering. That step is especially important if the car has had wheels swapped at some point in its life.

Both 700-15 and 6.50-15 are 15-inch sizes, so they share the same basic wheel diameter requirement on a 1946 De Soto. That means a 15-inch original wheel is the right starting point for either size. Wheel diameter compatibility, however, is only one part of the picture.

Before using both sizes interchangeably, confirm that the wheel width is appropriate for the exact tire you intend to run and that the mounted tire gives the look and stance you expect. A 15-inch wheel opens the door to both size families, but final fitment still depends on the individual tire's approved wheel range and the overall result you want on the car.

A 1946 De Soto should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, or other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and move the car periodically if possible. Because all listed 1946 De Soto fitments are bias-ply, they are more prone to flat-spotting during long static storage than a modern radial.

If the car will sit for months at a time, rolling it occasionally or supporting it in a way that reduces prolonged load on one contact patch can help preserve ride quality. Storage conditions affect appearance as well as function, so good environmental control protects whitewalls, blackwalls, and sidewall flexibility at the same time.

Tire life on a 1946 De Soto is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often see limited use. A sensible rule is to evaluate tires closely once they reach roughly five to seven years of service and to give serious replacement consideration by around ten years, even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age.

That timeline is important on a postwar car because visible tread can be misleading when the rubber has hardened with time. Sidewall cracking, loss of flexibility, and old repairs matter more than mileage alone. If the car is driven only occasionally, make age checks part of your annual maintenance routine rather than assuming low miles equal a healthy tire.

Tires on a 1946 De Soto should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and slow pressure loss. On a collector car, that quick inspection is especially important because problems can develop while the car is parked rather than while it is accumulating miles.

A longer trip deserves a more deliberate check that includes inflation pressure, spare condition, and valve-stem health. Catching a problem in the garage is far easier than finding it on the shoulder of the road in a car built for a very different era of highway travel. Frequent visual checks are one of the simplest habits that improve confidence and reliability.

A 1946 De Soto 6 Deluxe & Custom would originally have been a bias-ply car, which aligns with all of the listed fitments for this year and make. The available size families include 650-16, 700-15, and 6.50-15, depending on the wheel application on the individual car. No single original-equipment brand should be assumed without period literature or marque-specific confirmation.

For a faithful restoration, the most important pieces are matching the correct size family, keeping the proper bias-ply construction, and choosing a sidewall style that suits the way your car would have been equipped. If you are restoring for judging or historical accuracy, compare your car against factory literature and consult De Soto marque specialists for body-style and market-specific confirmation.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when a 1946 De Soto is being prepared for judged display. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts typically notice tire size, construction type, and sidewall presentation because those details strongly affect the car's stance and authenticity. A bias-ply tire in the proper size family supports a more era-appropriate appearance than a visibly modern substitute.

The standard is not identical across every club or event, so it helps to know whether your goal is strict authenticity, a sympathetic restoration, or simply a period-looking driver. Sidewall treatment can be just as visible as size, especially on a postwar American car. Check the event's judging standards and compare them against your De Soto's intended presentation before making the final choice.

Blackwall and wide whitewall tires for the 1946 De Soto can share the same basic size and bias-ply construction, but they create very different visual results. In the listed fitments, both 650-16 and 700-15 are available in blackwall and wide whitewall forms. The difference is primarily sidewall appearance rather than a change in wheel diameter or basic construction type.

That makes sidewall choice a restoration decision as much as a tire decision. Wide whitewalls usually reinforce the formal, upscale look associated with many postwar American cars, while blackwalls give a simpler and often more understated presentation. If show authenticity matters, choose the sidewall style that best matches the way your specific De Soto would have been equipped and presented in period.

1946 De Soto tires in the listed sizes are bias-ply products, and highway safety depends on using a fresh, properly matched tire in good condition on the correct wheel. Bias-ply tires deliver a distinctly period driving feel, and their road behavior is different from modern radials, especially in tracking and response. On a postwar De Soto, the car's own brakes, suspension condition, steering play, and overall mechanical state are often just as important to safe highway use as the tire itself.

The smart approach is to treat highway driving as a whole-vehicle question, not just a tire question. Confirm the correct size, use sound wheels, maintain proper inflation, and make sure the rest of the chassis is ready for sustained road speeds. A properly set-up De Soto can be enjoyed on modern roads, but it should be driven with the expectations appropriate to a 1946 automobile.

Published load information for 1946 De Soto tires includes 1580 pounds at 32 psi for several 650-16 products and 1700 pounds at 32 psi for several 700-15 products. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to use the same pressure in every size or every situation. Inflation should be matched to the exact tire size and product you are running, then checked against the car's original factory guidance.

The best practice is to start with the vehicle's original pressure recommendation when available, then confirm that the tire itself is being used within its rated limits. Do not transfer a pressure figure from 650-16 to 700-15 or assume one 15-inch size should use the same number as another. Pressure choice should respect both the tire's own specification and the De Soto's intended operating load.

Before a longer drive in a 1946 De Soto, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation. Confirm that the tires are the correct size for the wheels on the car and that the valve stems are in good condition. On an older vehicle, tire condition should be reviewed alongside the broader mechanical readiness of the car.

A longer outing is the wrong time to discover an aged spare, a wheel-and-tire mismatch, or a slow leak that has gone unnoticed in storage. Add a check of wheel security, steering feel, brake operation, and basic fluids before heading out. That full pre-drive routine respects the age of the De Soto and reduces the chance that a simple preventable issue spoils the trip.