1947 Chrysler Tire Fitment Guide

1947 Chrysler vehicles use two tire sizes: 700-15 and 6.50-15. The 700-15 size fits the full model range covered here, including New Yorker, Saratoga, Royal, and Windsor C38 models, while 6.50-15 is associated specifically with Royal and Windsor C38 models. Both sizes mount on 15-inch rims, and the 700-15 products shown for these cars are built for 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim widths.

That means year and make alone are not quite enough if you own a Royal or Windsor C38, because those cars are tied to more than one size. Start by confirming the exact model on the car, then compare the wheel you have against the tire’s intended rim width and sidewall style so the finished fit matches both the car and your restoration goals.

On a 1947 Chrysler, 700-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 7.00 indicates the tire’s nominal section width in inches, while the 15 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial size, so it does not read the same way as a later P-metric or Euro-metric tire.

That matters because a 700-15 should be evaluated as a period-style bias-ply fitment, not as a direct one-to-one translation of a modern radial code. If your Chrysler is a New Yorker or Saratoga, this is the size to focus on first, and if it is a Royal or Windsor C38, this shared size should be compared against the model-specific 6.50-15 option before you settle on a tire.

No, not every 1947 Chrysler model uses exactly the same tire size. New Yorker and Saratoga models are tied to 700-15, while Royal and Windsor C38 models are associated with both 6.50-15 and 700-15. All of those fitments remain within a 15-inch wheel diameter, but the size spread still matters.

The practical takeaway is that a New Yorker or Saratoga owner can usually begin with 700-15 confidence, while a Royal or Windsor C38 owner should verify the car more carefully before choosing. Checking the existing tire size, wheel width, and any restoration records is a smart next step, especially if the car has changed hands or undergone an older restoration.

The choice between 700-15 and 6.50-15 for a 1947 Chrysler comes down to model application, because both sizes here are bias-ply rather than a bias-versus-radial decision. The 700-15 size is shared across New Yorker, Saratoga, Royal, and Windsor C38 models, while 6.50-15 is tied specifically to Royal and Windsor C38 models. Both preserve an era-correct construction style for a postwar Chrysler.

If you own a New Yorker or Saratoga, 700-15 is the clear place to start. If you own a Royal or Windsor C38, treat the decision as a model-correctness question first and a style question second, then choose between blackwall and wide whitewall versions according to how original or formal you want the car to look.

1947 Chrysler tires in 700-15 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Firestone and BFGoodrich offer wide whitewall passenger-car versions in this size, while blackwall versions are also available, including a more utilitarian STA Traxion pattern. Those choices give owners a clear visual range even within the same basic size.

For a formal late-1940s Chrysler restoration, a wide whitewall usually delivers the look most buyers associate with an upscale postwar American sedan. A blackwall can be the better fit for a more restrained presentation or for owners who prefer a simpler period appearance, but the final choice should reflect the specific model’s character and the look you want on the finished car.

Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA all offer tires for 1947 Chrysler vehicles in the 700-15 size. Firestone and BFGoodrich appear in classic passenger-car bias-ply form with blackwall and wide whitewall styling, while STA appears here in the Traxion line with a blackwall bias-ply construction. Each brand serves a slightly different visual and use-case niche within the same overall fitment family.

That gives a 1947 Chrysler owner room to choose between a more formal classic-car presentation and a more rugged utility-oriented tread style without leaving the correct era of construction. Once you narrow the brand, compare the sidewall treatment and the wheel on the car so the tire complements both the model and the way the Chrysler will be used.

For 1947 Chrysler tires in 700-15, the listed rim width range is 5.00 to 5.50 inches on a 15-inch wheel. That range applies to the passenger-car products shown in this size and gives you a clear target when checking original-style steel wheels or restored replacements. The wheel diameter itself remains 15 inches across the sizes used here.

Rim width matters because an otherwise correct tire can sit and behave differently if the wheel is too narrow or too wide. Before mounting, measure the wheel or verify it through a trusted wheel specialist so the tire profile, sidewall appearance, and fit on the car all stay within the intended range.

Because both 700-15 and 6.50-15 are 15-inch tire sizes, original 1947 Chrysler wheels can often serve as the starting point for either fitment. The main point is not wheel diameter compatibility, since that is shared, but whether the specific wheel width on the car is appropriate for the tire you plan to run. The 700-15 passenger-car products shown here call for a 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim width.

That makes it sensible to inspect the wheel itself before assuming any 15-inch Chrysler wheel is automatically correct for every option. If your Royal or Windsor C38 could use either listed size, confirming the actual wheel width and the car’s intended restoration direction will help you avoid a mismatch between tire shape, wheel fit, and visual stance.

A 1947 Chrysler should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls. Bias-ply tires also tend to develop temporary flat-spotting more readily when a collector car sits for long periods. Keeping the tires clean and properly inflated before storage helps reduce strain on the casing.

If the Chrysler will sit for months, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. A breathable indoor cover, a dry floor, and regular pressure checks will do more for long-term tire condition than simply leaving the car parked and untouched between outings.

Tire life on a 1947 Chrysler is usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage, because many collector cars are driven sparingly. A good rule is to evaluate the tires closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code and the tire’s physical condition are the most useful guideposts.

That approach matters because an older bias-ply tire can look usable at a glance yet still be aging internally. Sidewall cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, vibration, and changes in shape are all reasons to reassess sooner, especially if the car is being prepared for regular seasonal driving or longer event trips.

Tires on a 1947 Chrysler should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, unusual tread wear, and any sign that a tire has lost pressure since the last use. Valve stems deserve the same attention, because an old stem can create the same roadside problem as a damaged casing.

A quick pre-drive inspection is especially important on a postwar car that may sit between uses and then go straight onto secondary roads or event routes. Building the habit of checking pressure retention, tread condition, and visible sidewall health helps catch age-related issues early, before they turn into vibration, handling changes, or a failure on the road.

A 1947 Chrysler New Yorker belongs to an era when bias-ply construction was the original standard, and the New Yorker and Saratoga models here are associated with the 700-15 size. That makes a 700-15 bias-ply tire the right general direction for an owner trying to stay true to period construction and overall visual character. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and history, so size and construction are the first authenticity markers to get right.

For a judged restoration, it is wise to confirm model-specific and market-specific expectations through Chrysler marque clubs, factory literature, or a period sales manual. Even when the broad answer is clear, details like sidewall treatment and presentation can still influence how correct the finished car looks in a show field.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1947 Chrysler, especially in more authenticity-focused classes. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall style suit the car’s period and model. A postwar Chrysler presented with an obviously later-style tire treatment can look out of step even if the wheel diameter itself is correct.

That does not mean every event applies the same standards, but it does mean tire choice is part of the car’s visual credibility. If the goal is originality, confirm the expected size first, then choose a sidewall style that aligns with the car’s trim level and presentation rather than treating the tire as a purely functional afterthought.

For a 1947 Chrysler in 700-15, Firestone and BFGoodrich both appear as classic bias-ply passenger-car offerings with wide whitewall versions and matching 1700-pound-at-32-psi load figures. Their listed rim width range is the same at 5.00 to 5.50 inches, but the recorded weights differ slightly, with Firestone and BFGoodrich versions not weighing exactly the same. Both remain squarely within the traditional late-1940s Chrysler look.

That means the decision is less about basic fit and more about brand preference, sidewall presentation, and the details of the restoration. Owners chasing a specific visual identity may prefer one brand’s styling heritage, while others may simply want the version whose look best complements the paint, wheel covers, and trim on the car.

1947 Chrysler tires can be suitable for normal highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and inflated properly, but they should be understood as bias-ply tires with period-style behavior rather than modern touring radials. No speed-letter markings are listed here for these sizes, so the safer approach is to drive within the limits of the tire, the road, and the car’s broader mechanical condition. On a postwar Chrysler, brakes, steering, suspension, and age-related wear are often as important as the tire itself.

The practical standard is to treat the whole car as a vintage system. If the Chrysler tracks well, holds pressure, and passes a thorough pre-drive inspection, occasional highway travel can be realistic, but sustained high-speed use should only be approached with the same caution you would apply to every other original-era component on the car.

Inflation pressure for a 1947 Chrysler should be set with the specific tire and the car’s factory guidance in mind rather than borrowed from another size. The listed 700-15 passenger-car products carry a maximum load of 1700 pounds at 32 psi, which is a tire rating reference rather than a blanket instruction to run every car at that exact pressure in service. Pressure can differ according to vehicle weight, load, and the manufacturer’s recommendation.

The best approach is to start with the Chrysler owner’s manual or factory-spec source for the vehicle, then confirm that the chosen reproduction tire’s rated limits support that setting. Keeping left-to-right pressures matched and rechecking them when seasons change will usually do more for stability and tread life than chasing a single universal number.

Before taking a 1947 Chrysler on a longer drive, inspect every tire for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual tread wear, and any sign of prior impact damage. Check cold inflation pressure, confirm the valve stems are sound, and make sure the spare is usable and holds air. A tire that looks acceptable in the garage can still become a problem once heat and distance build on the road.

That tire check should be part of a broader vintage-car routine that also covers wheel fasteners, steering feel, brake operation, and fluid levels. Longer drives place more continuous load on every old component, so a few minutes spent inspecting the tires and the rest of the chassis can make the difference between an enjoyable outing and an avoidable roadside stop.