1946 Dodge Tire Fitment Guide

1946 Dodge vehicles use three tire sizes across the model range: 600-16, 650-16, and 700-15. The Custom 6 and Deluxe 6 use 600-16 on 16-inch rims, while the 7 Passenger Dodge appears with either 650-16 on a 16-inch rim or 700-15 on a 15-inch rim. Rim width guidance in the available product range is 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 600-16, 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-16, and 5.00 to 5.50 inches for 700-15 where specified.

That means a buyer should identify the exact 1946 Dodge model before choosing a tire, and the seven-passenger car also calls for checking the wheel diameter already on the vehicle. The easiest mistake on this year and make is assuming every 1946 Dodge uses the same 16-inch size, when the larger body style can also require a 15-inch fitment.

On a 1946 Dodge tire, 600-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 600 portion is the nominal section-width code used in period sizing, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. For 1946 Dodge, this size is used on the Custom 6 and Deluxe 6 and is offered in bias-ply construction with both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments.

That makes 600-16 the core sedan fitment for the regular passenger-car Dodge lineup in 1946. If your car is a Custom 6 or Deluxe 6, the next step is less about choosing between multiple fitment sizes and more about deciding how you want the finished car to look, especially if you are balancing a blackwall driver presentation against a wider whitewall restoration look.

No, 1946 Dodge models do not all use the same tire size. The Custom 6 and Deluxe 6 share 600-16, but the 7 Passenger Dodge uses either 650-16 or 700-15 depending on the wheel setup. That split also means the full 1946 Dodge range includes both 16-inch and 15-inch rim diameters rather than one universal wheel size.

For a buyer, model identification matters before anything else. A sedan owner can usually narrow the choice quickly, while a seven-passenger Dodge owner should verify the wheel on the car before selecting tires. Looking only at year and make is not enough on 1946 Dodge, because the larger body style sits outside the sedan fitment pattern.

1946 Dodge tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the listed sizes. The 600-16 options for Custom 6 and Deluxe 6 include blackwall and wide whitewall choices, the 650-16 options for the 7 Passenger Dodge also include both, and 700-15 is offered in blackwall and wide whitewall as well. That gives owners flexibility without changing the basic bias-ply construction used across the year.

Sidewall style can change the personality of a 1946 Dodge almost as much as wheel covers or trim. Blackwalls usually suit a plainer, more utilitarian presentation, while wide whitewalls lean into the more formal postwar American look many restorers prefer. If show authenticity matters, it is wise to compare your intended sidewall style with period photos and the standards used by your preferred Dodge or Mopar judging group.

Several brands cover 1946 Dodge applications. In 600-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. In 650-16, the choices include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. In 700-15, brands include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. All listed options for this year and make are bias-ply offerings.

That brand spread is useful because buyers can choose between different historic tread presentations and sidewall looks while staying within the proper period-style construction. The practical way to narrow the field is to start with the correct size for your model, then compare sidewall appearance and brand character against the kind of restoration or driving presentation you want your 1946 Dodge to have.

For 1946 Dodge applications in 700-15, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer bias-ply tires with wide whitewall versions, and Firestone also appears in blackwall form. The listed Firestone and BFGoodrich wide whitewall versions both carry a maximum load capacity of 1700 pounds at 32 psi, fit 15-inch rims, and suit 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths. The listed weight differs slightly, with the Firestone whitewall at 29 pounds and the BFGoodrich whitewall at 28 pounds.

In practice, the decision comes down more to brand and appearance preference than to a major spec gap. Both follow the same period bias-ply approach for a seven-passenger Dodge running 15-inch wheels. If you are trying to match an established restoration theme, the sidewall look and brand identity may matter more than the small weight difference between the two offerings.

1946 Dodge rim width requirements vary by tire size. In the available product range, 600-16 fits 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims, 650-16 fits 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims, and 700-15 fits 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims where rim width is specified. The two sedan models use the narrower 600-16 range, while the larger seven-passenger applications step up to wider wheel recommendations.

That matters because rim diameter alone does not complete the fitment picture. A 16-inch wheel for a Custom 6 or Deluxe 6 is not automatically the same as a 16-inch wheel for the larger seven-passenger Dodge. Before mounting new tires, measure the actual wheel or confirm the wheel specification with a trusted shop or marque specialist so the tire sits correctly on the rim.

The available 1946 Dodge product range does not show tube-type or tubeless markings in the listed size designations, so the practical tube decision should follow the wheel itself and the exact tire's sidewall marking. Because these are period-style bias-ply applications for a 1946 vehicle, many owners pair them with tube-compatible setups when running original-style wheels, especially on older riveted or non-safety-rim designs.

The best approach is to inspect the wheel construction and then match that to the specific tire you plan to use. If your 1946 Dodge still wears original wheels, have the rim condition, valve area, and bead seat checked before final assembly. Tube choice is a setup decision, not just a tire-size decision, and it deserves the same attention as the tire itself.

A 1946 Dodge should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing temporary flat spotting when they sit in one position for long periods, so clean flooring, proper inflation, and periodic movement are helpful. Moisture and oil contamination should also be kept off the rubber.

If the car will sit for an extended season, roll it occasionally or use stands in a way that supports the vehicle safely without stressing suspension components. Owners who drive only occasionally often notice a smoother ride if the tires are allowed to warm up after storage. Good storage habits preserve both appearance and road manners on an older Dodge more effectively than mileage alone suggests.

Tires on a 1946 Dodge should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than by miles driven. A collector tire should be inspected closely after about five to seven years of service, and many owners begin planning replacement as the tire approaches ten years from its manufacturing date even if tread depth still looks generous. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the usual starting point for that timeline.

That age-based approach matters because many postwar cars are driven lightly, which can hide deterioration that is unrelated to mileage. Sidewall cracking, hardening, recurring air loss, or visible casing distortion are stronger replacement signals than tread wear on most hobby-driven 1946 Dodge cars. A low-mile garage-kept tire can still age out before it wears out.

Tires on a 1946 Dodge should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven tread wear, and pressure loss, and make sure the spare is still serviceable as well. On an older vehicle, valve stems and wheel sealing surfaces deserve attention right alongside the tire itself.

Frequent inspection is especially important on a collector car because it may sit for long intervals and then be asked to run at road speed without much warning. A five-minute walkaround can catch a weathered sidewall or soft tire before it becomes a roadside problem. That habit is one of the simplest ways to improve confidence in a 1946 Dodge that is driven occasionally rather than daily.

A 1946 Dodge Custom 6 would have originally used a bias-ply tire, which was the standard construction for American passenger cars in that period. Within the listed 1946 Dodge fitments, the Custom 6 uses 600-16, and current offerings in that size stay true to the era by remaining bias-ply rather than shifting to a later radial format. The exact original brand could vary by production practice and market conditions.

For most restorers, that means the key authenticity points are correct size, correct construction, and an appropriate sidewall style for the car's intended presentation. If your goal is a highly judged restoration, compare your chosen 600-16 tire against period photographs, surviving original examples, and Dodge or Mopar club guidance. That extra step can help settle details such as blackwall versus whitewall preference.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1946 Dodge because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction, and sidewall treatment immediately. A Custom 6 or Deluxe 6 wearing 600-16 bias-ply tires presents differently from a seven-passenger Dodge on 650-16 or 700-15, and getting that model-specific match right is part of an authentic restoration. Sidewall style can also influence whether the car looks period-appropriate.

A tire that is physically mountable is not always the right choice for a judged car. Modern-looking details, the wrong wheel diameter, or a sidewall style that clashes with the car's trim level and period image can stand out quickly. If a specific event matters to you, use that club's judging handbook or consult marque specialists before finalizing the tire and wheel combination.

For 1946 Dodge applications in 600-16, Coker Classic and Firestone both offer bias-ply fitment for 16-inch wheels, but they differ in presentation and some listed specifications. The Coker Classic 600-16 appears as a blackwall with a listed maximum load capacity of 1400 pounds at 32 psi, a 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim-width range, and a 20-pound weight. The Firestone whitewall version also lists 1400 pounds at 32 psi and the same rim-width range, but with a 24-pound weight and a wide whitewall look.

That means the main distinction is not basic fitment but appearance and brand character. A restorer chasing a clean, restrained sedan presentation may prefer a blackwall treatment, while a more dressed-up postwar look often points toward a wide whitewall. Since both remain bias-ply and share the same core 600-16 application, the final choice usually follows the visual direction of the car.

1946 Dodge tires can be suitable for normal highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and matched to a vehicle that is mechanically ready for road speed. The listed 600-16 range includes an Avon 600H16 93H, which carries an H speed rating with a 130 mph ceiling, while the other listed offerings are period-style bias-ply products without a stated speed letter in the size shown here. On a 1946 Dodge, tire capability is only one part of the picture.

The larger question for real-world driving is often the condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, wheel bearings, and alignment on a nearly eighty-year-old car. Even when a tire's speed capability exceeds ordinary highway pace, the car itself should still be driven within its age and design limits. A well-sorted Dodge on fresh, properly inflated tires is very different from one that has sat unused for years.

Available load-and-pressure figures for 1946 Dodge tires vary by size. The listed 600-16 products include examples rated at 1400 pounds at 32 psi, the listed 650-16 products include examples rated at 1580 pounds at 32 psi, and the listed 700-15 products include examples rated at 1700 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not automatic vehicle inflation settings, and they should not be transferred from one size to another.

Use the factory owner's literature or a trusted period service source for the car's recommended operating pressure, then compare that with the tire manufacturer's guidance for the exact product you are using. Collector-car tire pressure is a tuning point for ride, wear, and handling, so it should be set deliberately rather than simply inflated to the maximum figure shown in a load listing.

Before taking a 1946 Dodge on a longer drive, inspect each tire for weather cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual wear, and proper inflation, and do not forget the spare. Check the valve stems, wheel fasteners, and overall wheel condition, especially if the car still uses older original rims. A longer drive is also a good reason to confirm that the tire size actually matches the model and wheel on the car.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive routine on a postwar Dodge. Brake operation, cooling, steering play, fluid levels, and charging system health deserve the same attention before any extended outing. When the tire check is combined with a broader mechanical once-over, a 1946 Dodge becomes much more predictable and enjoyable on secondary roads or at sustained cruising speeds.