1946 Hudson Tire Fitment Guide

1946 Hudson vehicles use three sizes across two model lines. The Commodore uses 6.50-15 and 700-15, both bias-ply sizes for 15-inch wheels, while the Super uses 600-16, a bias-ply size for 16-inch wheels. Where product fitment details are listed, 700-15 is paired with 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths and 600-16 is paired with 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim widths.

That split means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly for a 1946 Hudson. Start by identifying whether your car is a Commodore or a Super, then confirm the wheel diameter on the car before narrowing the selection further. If the car has been restored or modified over the years, verify the actual wheel and current tire markings rather than assuming the original setup is still in place.

A 6.50-15 tire on a 1946 Hudson is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 figure is the nominal section width in inches, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. On this year of Hudson, that size is associated with the Commodore and belongs to the traditional American bias-ply sizing system used well before modern metric radial sizing became common.

Understanding that code helps you avoid mixing up width and wheel diameter, especially when comparing it to another Commodore size like 700-15. Numeric bias-ply sizes are part of the period-correct language of a postwar car, so if originality matters to your restoration, reading the sidewall correctly is the first step. From there, compare the actual wheel and the tire already on the car before choosing a replacement.

No, 1946 Hudson models do not all use the same tire size. The Commodore uses 15-inch fitments in 6.50-15 or 700-15, while the Super uses 600-16 on a 16-inch wheel. All three are bias-ply sizes, but the wheel diameter difference means they are not interchangeable across the whole Hudson lineup.

That matters because many postwar cars have changed hands, wheels, and restoration approaches over the decades. If you own a 1946 Hudson and are unsure of the model, identify the car first and then confirm the wheel diameter before focusing on sidewall style or brand. The model-specific fitment pages are the best next stop when you want to narrow the search beyond year and make.

1946 Hudson tire options include both blackwall and wide whitewall styles in the listed 700-15 and 600-16 sizes. Firestone and BFGoodrich offerings in those sizes include wide whitewall versions, while blackwall choices appear from Firestone, Coker Classic, STA, and Avon depending on size. That gives Hudson owners room to match a restrained driver-quality look or a more formal postwar presentation.

Sidewall style often changes the visual character of the car more than buyers expect. A wide whitewall usually suits a more upscale period appearance, while a blackwall tends to look plainer and more utilitarian. If you are restoring for authenticity, compare your car's trim level, period photos, and judging standards before deciding, because sidewall treatment is one of the first things people notice on a 1946 Hudson.

Four brands appear in the listed tire options for 1946 Hudson vehicles: Firestone, BFGoodrich, STA, and Coker Classic, plus Avon in the 600-16 range. The 700-15 Commodore size includes Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA choices, while the 600-16 Super size includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. All of the listed options are bias-ply constructions.

Brand choice on a collector Hudson often comes down to the combination of available size, sidewall look, and the overall tone of the restoration. Some owners want a familiar American heritage brand name on the sidewall, while others care more about finding the right whitewall treatment or staying with a blackwall. Once the model and size are confirmed, comparing brands becomes a styling and presentation decision more than a broad fitment decision.

Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer 700-15 bias-ply tires for the 1946 Hudson Commodore with wide whitewall versions rated at 1700 pounds at 32 psi and intended for 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims. The listed Firestone wide whitewall weighs 29 pounds, while the listed BFGoodrich wide whitewall weighs 28 pounds. Firestone also appears in a blackwall version at 26 pounds, which broadens the style choices within the same size.

For most Commodore owners, the practical distinction is less about fitment and more about appearance and brand preference within the same traditional sizing. If you want a whitewall look, both brands sit in the same general load and rim-width range, so the choice is often guided by tread and sidewall presentation. If you want a blackwall in 700-15, the listed Firestone option gives you that route in the same size.

Rim-width guidance is listed for two of the 1946 Hudson sizes. The 700-15 size used on the Commodore is paired with 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, while the 600-16 size used on the Super is paired with 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims. Those ranges are important because a vintage tire needs to sit on an appropriate wheel width to maintain the intended profile and footprint.

Before choosing a tire, confirm the actual wheel on the car rather than assuming it is still original. Restored cars sometimes wear replacement rims, and wheel swaps can happen without obvious exterior clues. If your wheel falls outside the listed range for the size you want, pause there and verify the setup with a Hudson specialist or wheel expert before moving forward.

The listed 1946 Hudson products do not consistently identify tube-type or tubeless markings in the sizes shown here, so tube requirements should be confirmed on the specific tire and wheel combination you plan to use. That matters most on collector cars because original-style wheels, wheel condition, and the individual tire's sidewall marking all influence whether a tube is appropriate.

A good rule with a postwar Hudson is to inspect the wheel carefully and match the tire setup to the wheel's design and condition rather than making a blanket assumption by size alone. If the wheel has age, pitting, or an original profile intended for tube use, that decision becomes more important. Checking the specific tire's marking before installation is the cleanest way to avoid guesswork.

A 1946 Hudson should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires kept away from sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires tend to develop temporary flat-spotting more readily during long static storage than modern radials, so the car benefits from periodic movement or careful support practices if it will sit for extended periods.

Good storage habits help preserve both the appearance and service life of vintage-style tires. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid parking on damp soil or oily surfaces, and move the car occasionally if practical. If the Hudson will be laid up for a season, many owners also reduce strain by placing the vehicle on stands or at least rolling it enough to avoid leaving the same spot of each tire under load month after month.

Tires on a 1946 Hudson should be judged by age and condition as much as by tread depth, because collector cars often accumulate very little mileage. A sensible rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a strong point for replacement consideration, even if they still look usable. The DOT date code on the tire is the starting point for that timeline.

That age-based approach matters on a hobby car because rubber can harden and degrade long before the tread appears worn out. If your Hudson sees occasional touring, sustained storage, or seasonal use, the calendar usually tells you more than the odometer. Pair the tire's age with its storage history, visible cracking, and how well it still holds pressure when deciding whether it is time to retire an older set.

Tires on a 1946 Hudson deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more deliberate inspection before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, foreign objects in the tread, and any sign that one tire is losing pressure faster than the others. On an older collector car, valve stems and the spare should be part of the same check.

Frequent inspection is especially worthwhile because a postwar car may spend long periods parked between drives. Problems can appear during storage just as easily as on the road, and a small issue that is easy to manage in the garage can become a trip-ending one if it is missed. Building a pre-drive habit around the tires is one of the simplest ways to make a 1946 Hudson more enjoyable and predictable to use.

A 1946 Hudson Commodore would have been fitted with bias-ply tires when new, not modern radial construction. The listed Commodore sizes are 6.50-15 and 700-15, both on 15-inch wheels, which fits the period practice for American passenger cars in the immediate postwar years. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and production details, so the most important restoration point is construction type, size, and sidewall style rather than assuming one universal brand.

If you are restoring a Commodore for authenticity, start with the exact size shown for your car and compare period photos, surviving factory literature, and Hudson club references before finalizing the sidewall treatment. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts tend to notice whether the tire looks era-correct at a glance. For market- or body-style-specific confirmation, a marque specialist remains the best final authority.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1946 Hudson because judges and experienced enthusiasts often look at size, construction, and sidewall presentation as part of the car's overall authenticity. A bias-ply tire in the correct numeric size aligns with the period, while an obviously modern replacement style can change the stance and visual language of the car. Whitewall width and blackwall versus whitewall presentation can also influence whether the finished look feels accurate.

For show use, the goal is not simply finding a tire that fits the wheel but choosing one that supports the character of the specific Hudson you are restoring. A formal, upscale car may invite different appearance expectations than a simpler driver-quality restoration. Event standards vary, so if the car is headed for judged competition, compare your planned tire choice with Hudson club guidance and the rules of the specific meet.

In the listed 600-16 options for a 1946 Hudson Super, Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer wide whitewall bias-ply tires rated at 1400 pounds at 32 psi and intended for 4.00- to 4.50-inch rims. The listed Firestone example weighs 24 pounds, while the listed BFGoodrich example weighs 21 pounds. Both stay within the same classic construction type and visual category for a period-correct postwar car.

That means the distinction between them is largely a matter of brand identity and the exact visual presentation you want on the finished Super. Since the fitment envelope is essentially the same in the listed examples, the tire's look on the car and your restoration theme become the deciding factors. Owners aiming for judged authenticity often compare sidewall appearance closely before settling on one over the other.

1946 Hudson tires can be suitable for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their construction and rating limits. The listed range here is entirely bias-ply, and one 600-16 offering carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling, while other listed bias-ply products do not show a speed symbol in the examples provided. In real use, a 1946 Hudson's brakes, suspension, steering, and overall mechanical state are usually more relevant than extreme tire speed capability.

The practical question is less whether the tire can survive a modern road and more whether the entire car is prepared for sustained speed and distance. A well-sorted Hudson on fresh, properly inflated tires is a very different proposition from a car that has sat for years on aging rubber. Treat the tires as one part of the whole system and match your cruising expectations to the age and condition of the car.

The listed load-and-pressure figures vary by size, so inflation should not be transferred casually from one 1946 Hudson tire size to another. The 700-15 examples shown carry 1700 pounds at 32 psi, while the 600-16 examples shown carry 1400 pounds at 32 psi, with one Avon-marked 600H16 tire listed at 1,433 pounds. Those are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction that every Hudson should be run at the same pressure in every condition.

Use the vehicle's original literature as the starting point for recommended operating pressure, then compare that with the tire maker's rating information for the exact product you are using. Tire pressure on a collector car is part load support, part ride quality, and part wear control, so it should be chosen deliberately. If your Hudson carries passengers regularly or sees touring use, reevaluating pressure becomes even more important.

Before a longer drive in a 1946 Hudson, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and do not forget the spare. Check that valve stems are sound, that each tire is holding pressure, and that the tread area is clear of embedded debris. On a collector car of this age, that tire inspection should be part of a larger look at fluids, brakes, steering, and cooling condition.

Longer drives expose a vintage Hudson to heat cycles and sustained speeds that short local trips may never reveal. A tire that looks acceptable in the garage can still become a weak link once the car has been at road speed for an hour. Building a careful pre-trip routine gives you time to catch age-related problems early and makes the drive more enjoyable once you are on the road.