1946 Lincoln Tire Fitment Guide

1946 Lincoln vehicles use one tire size: 700-15. Within the year-and-make range shown here, that size applies to the 1946 Lincoln Zephyr and mounts on a 15-inch rim. Available products in this size are built for 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths where that specification is given, which is the key wheel measurement to confirm beyond the basic 15-inch diameter.

That single-size fitment makes the search simpler than on many later cars, because you are not sorting through multiple factory diameters or model-specific sizes. The main task is confirming that your wheels remain true to original dimensions and then choosing the sidewall appearance that matches your goals, whether that is a more formal wide whitewall presentation or a plainer blackwall look.

On a 1946 Lincoln tire, 700-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 portion is the nominal section-width designation used in period American sizing, while 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so you should read it as a traditional postwar bias-ply size rather than trying to compare it directly to a P-metric size by numbers alone.

That matters because the tire's shape, sidewall behavior, and overall visual proportions are tied to the older bias-ply system. If your goal is to keep the Zephyr's stance and period look intact, staying with the original numeric format is usually the right starting point. Once you know the size code, the remaining choice is mostly between available brands, tread style, and whether you want blackwall or wide whitewall sidewalls.

Yes. For 1946 Lincoln, the covered model range uses the same 700-15 tire size, and that fitment is associated with the Lincoln Zephyr. There is no year-make split here between different diameters or alternate factory sizes, so the basic sizing question is unusually straightforward.

Even with a shared size, buyers still have meaningful choices to make. Sidewall style changes the car's visual character, and different product lines can suit different restoration goals. Confirming the actual model is still worthwhile, but in this case the tire search is driven more by presentation and wheel verification than by sorting one 1946 Lincoln model from another for a different size.

1946 Lincoln tires in 700-15 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. Firestone and BFGoodrich offer wide whitewall versions, while blackwall options are also available in the same size. For a postwar American luxury car like the Zephyr, a broad whitewall is strongly associated with the formal, upscale appearance buyers expect from the period.

The right choice depends on how you want the car to read visually. A wide whitewall gives the Zephyr a more elegant, show-oriented look and tends to suit a full restoration or historically styled presentation. A blackwall creates a more restrained appearance and may appeal to owners who prefer an understated finish or a more utilitarian look without changing the underlying tire size or construction.

Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA all offer 700-15 tires for 1946 Lincoln vehicles. Firestone and BFGoodrich cover the classic passenger-car presentation with both whitewall and blackwall bias-ply options, while STA appears here with a Traxion bias-ply product in the same size. All three brands stay within the period-correct bias-ply construction expected for the year.

Brand choice usually comes down to the type of look and character you want on the finished car rather than a different fitment requirement. If you are aiming for a traditional luxury-car presentation, Firestone or BFGoodrich whitewalls will naturally be the first place many Zephyr owners look. If your priorities lean more toward a specialty tread or a different visual attitude, the STA option may be worth a closer look.

For the 1946 Lincoln, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer 700-15 bias-ply tires with the same 15-inch rim diameter, the same listed 1700-pound load capacity at 32 psi, and the same 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range where specified. Both brands are available in wide whitewall form, and Firestone also appears in blackwall trim. The listed weights are close as well, with Firestone and BFGoodrich differing only slightly.

That means the decision is less about a major specification gap and more about visual preference, brand loyalty, and how you want the car judged or presented. A buyer chasing a wide-whitewall postwar look can reasonably compare the two on appearance and minor detail differences, while someone wanting a simpler blackwall presentation has an additional Firestone route in the same core size.

1946 Lincoln tires in size 700-15 use a 15-inch rim, and the listed passenger-car products in that size are intended for 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths. That rim-width range applies to the Firestone and BFGoodrich 700-15 bias-ply tires shown for the Zephyr. Matching both the diameter and the wheel width is important because a numeric bias-ply tire is designed to sit with a particular cross-section on the correct wheel.

Before fitting new tires, measure the actual wheel or confirm its original specification if the car has been restored or modified over the years. A wheel that is the correct 15-inch diameter but outside the proper width range can affect how the tire stands, wears, and looks on the car. This matters especially on a Zephyr, where sidewall height and profile contribute heavily to the finished stance.

The 700-15 products listed for 1946 Lincoln do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size descriptions here, so the practical approach is to verify the wheel design and the tire's own sidewall marking before installation. On many original mid-1940s wheels, tube use is common because the wheels were designed in the bias-ply era and may not have the bead-seat features associated with later tubeless applications.

The safest way to handle tube fitment on a Zephyr is to treat the wheel and tire as a system rather than assuming all 700-15 products should be mounted the same way. If the car still uses original-style wheels, consult the tire manufacturer's instructions and inspect the wheel's condition, especially around the valve hole, bead seat, and riveted areas. That extra check prevents mismatching a reproduction tire to an unsuitable wheel setup.

A 1946 Lincoln 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. Bias-ply tires also benefit from maintaining proper inflation during storage because they are more prone than radials to taking a temporary flat spot after sitting for long periods.

If the car will be parked for months at a time, roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces long-term load on one section of the tread. Clean the tires with mild soap and water rather than dressings that leave a harsh chemical residue. Those habits help preserve sidewalls, reduce storage-related distortion, and keep the Zephyr ready for a smoother return to the road.

On a collector car like a 1946 Lincoln, tire age usually matters more than accumulated mileage. A sensible rule is to evaluate tires closely once they are five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT date code, when present on the tire, is the starting point for that age check.

Low annual mileage can make old tires look deceptively healthy, especially on a car that is cleaned and stored carefully. What counts is the condition of the rubber, not just the tread remaining. Sidewall checking, hardening, repeated air loss, or a long unknown service life all justify replacing the tires before the Zephyr is used regularly or taken on longer drives.

Tires on a 1946 Lincoln should be checked before every drive, with a more thorough inspection before tours, club events, or any extended highway use. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and pressure loss, and inspect valve stems at the same time. On an older collector car, those quick checks matter because long periods of storage can age the tire even when the car sees light use.

A regular inspection routine also helps you spot wheel and chassis issues early. If one tire consistently loses pressure or shows odd wear, the problem may involve the wheel, alignment, suspension, or brake drag rather than the tire alone. Catching those issues before a drive keeps the Zephyr more predictable on the road and reduces the chance of damaging a hard-to-match period-style tire.

A 1946 Lincoln Zephyr would have been fitted with bias-ply tires as a matter of period practice, and the year-make fitment here centers on 700-15. That makes a 700-15 bias-ply tire the appropriate starting point for an authentic restoration. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer practice, or replacement history over the car's life, so size and construction are usually the most important first decisions.

For most restorers, getting the basic architecture right matters more than chasing an unverified brand story. Once the size and bias-ply construction are set, sidewall treatment becomes the next authenticity question, especially on a luxury car where whitewalls were part of the visual language of the era. If you are building to strict marque or judging standards, compare against period photos and consult Lincoln specialists for model-specific presentation guidance.

Correct tire fitment matters significantly when showing a 1946 Lincoln because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, and sidewall presentation very quickly. A 700-15 bias-ply tire fits the period in a way a modern-looking alternative would not, and sidewall style also affects whether the car reads as authentically postwar. Even when a tire physically fits, the wrong visual profile can change the whole impression of the Zephyr.

That does not mean every event uses identical standards, but authenticity classes generally reward era-appropriate choices. A broad whitewall may be right for one restoration theme, while a blackwall may suit another depending on market and presentation. Before finalizing a show setup, review the rules of the specific event and check period photography so the tires support the car rather than becoming an obvious visual mismatch.

For the 1946 Lincoln, both the Firestone Classic Bias Ply and STA Traxion are offered in 700-15 bias-ply construction, but they present the car differently. Firestone appears in blackwall and wide whitewall passenger-car form, while STA Traxion is a specialty bias-ply offering associated with a more utilitarian military-and-truck character. The listed Firestone passenger tires also include a 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range and a 1700-pound load capacity at 32 psi.

That contrast makes the choice largely visual and thematic. A Zephyr restored as a formal postwar luxury car will usually align more naturally with the Firestone passenger-car look, especially in wide whitewall form. The STA option may appeal to a buyer pursuing a different visual attitude, but it changes the personality of the car more noticeably than simply choosing between two traditional passenger-car whitewall products.

A properly fitted, correctly inflated 700-15 bias-ply tire in good condition can be used for normal highway driving on a 1946 Lincoln, provided the rest of the car is equally roadworthy. No speed ratings are shown for the listed products here, so the practical limit is often set as much by the Zephyr's age, braking system, steering condition, and suspension behavior as by the tire itself. On a mid-1940s luxury car, overall mechanical condition matters enormously.

Bias-ply tires also drive differently from modern radials, with more sensitivity to road crown and a different steering feel. That is normal and should be expected rather than treated as a defect. If you plan to use the car on sustained highway runs, inspect the tires carefully beforehand, keep speeds sensible for the vehicle's era and condition, and make sure the chassis is sorted so the tires are not being asked to compensate for worn mechanical parts.

For 1946 Lincoln tires, the listed 700-15 Firestone and BFGoodrich products carry a maximum load capacity of 1700 pounds at 32 psi. That figure is the tire's rated maximum load pressure point, not automatically the ideal operating pressure for every Zephyr. Actual running pressure should be checked against the vehicle's factory recommendations and then matched sensibly to the specific reproduction tire being used.

The key is not to transfer a pressure habit from a different size, a different construction type, or a modern car. Start with the vehicle guidance, confirm the tire maker's limits, and then monitor wear, ride, and pressure retention. On an older collector car, a few pounds too high or too low can noticeably affect steering feel, center tread wear, and the way a bias-ply tire settles on the road.

Before a longer drive in a 1946 Lincoln, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and stable air pressure. Check valve stems carefully, and examine the spare as well because an aged spare may be unusable when you need it most. Tire condition should be part of a broader pre-drive review that includes wheel hardware, brakes, steering play, suspension, and fluid levels.

That full-car mindset is especially important with a postwar vehicle because a tire problem can be triggered or worsened by another mechanical issue. An out-of-adjustment brake, weak shock, or alignment problem can quickly overwork a bias-ply tire on a long run. Giving the Zephyr a proper pre-trip inspection keeps the tires from becoming the weak link and makes the whole drive more relaxed and predictable.