1947 Hudson Tire Fitment Guide

1947 Hudson vehicles use three sizes across two model lines: 6.50-15 and 700-15 for the 1947 Hudson Commodore, and 600-16 for the 1947 Hudson Super. All three are bias-ply sizes. The Commodore sizes mount on 15-inch rims, while the Super size mounts on a 16-inch rim. Published rim-width guidance appears on available products for 700-15 at 5.00 to 5.50 inches and for 600-16 at 4.00 to 4.50 inches.

That split means you should identify the model before doing anything else, because a Commodore and a Super are not simply different trims sharing the same tire. Once the model is confirmed, the next step is checking the actual wheel diameter on the car and then choosing the size and sidewall look that suits your restoration or driving plans.

On a 1947 Hudson, 6.50-15 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 figure is the nominal section width in inches, and the 15 is the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike modern metric sizing, it does not spell out an aspect ratio in the code. Within the 1947 Hudson range, this size belongs to the Commodore.

Numeric bias-ply sizing is familiar to pre-radial American cars, so the code is simpler than a modern alphanumeric or metric marking but also less descriptive by modern standards. For a buyer, the important takeaway is that 6.50-15 points you toward a 15-inch Commodore fitment and away from the 16-inch Super tire family.

No, 1947 Hudson models do not all use the same tire size. The 1947 Hudson Commodore uses 6.50-15 and 700-15 fitments, while the 1947 Hudson Super uses 600-16. That means the two models also separate by wheel diameter, with 15-inch applications on the Commodore and 16-inch applications on the Super.

This is one of those year-and-make combinations where model identification matters as much as the year badge on the grille. If a car has changed hands many times or has had wheels swapped over the decades, verify the actual wheel and compare it against the model-specific fitment before choosing a tire size.

1947 Hudson tire options include both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. In 700-15 for the Commodore, Firestone and BFGoodrich examples include wide whitewalls, while Firestone and STA examples include blackwalls. In 600-16 for the Super, available products also span blackwall and wide whitewall versions from several brands. The listed 1947 Hudson fitments are all bias-ply, which keeps the overall look in line with the period.

Sidewall choice is usually an appearance and authenticity decision rather than a basic fitment decision. Buyers pursuing a formal postwar American look often lean toward wide whitewalls, while blackwalls can suit a more restrained presentation or a utility-oriented interpretation. If show accuracy matters, compare the sidewall style on the tire to period photos and marque references for your exact body style and market.

Several brands serve 1947 Hudson applications. The 700-15 Commodore size is represented by Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA, while the 600-16 Super size includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. All of the listed fits are bias-ply, but the brands differ in sidewall presentation and, in some cases, in how specialized the tire is within the vintage market.

That variety gives Hudson owners room to match the tire to the character of the car. A broad whitewall-oriented restoration may lead one direction, while a blackwall driver or a more specialized use may lead another. Brand choice should come after you have the model and size pinned down, because the available brands change from one Hudson size to the next.

For a 1947 Hudson using 700-15, Firestone and BFGoodrich passenger-car offerings share the same listed load figure of 1700 pounds at 32 psi and the same published rim-width range of 5.00 to 5.50 inches. Both are available in wide whitewall form, and Firestone is also represented in blackwall form. Weight differs slightly among the listed versions, with Firestone examples shown at 26 and 29 pounds and the BFGoodrich wide whitewall at 28 pounds.

In practical terms, that means the choice is less about a major fitment difference and more about presentation and brand preference within the same size family. If you are matching an established look on the car, sidewall style may settle the issue quickly. If your goal is consistency across a full set, compare the exact sidewall treatment and series name before selecting.

Available 1947 Hudson products give clear rim-width guidance for two of the three listed sizes. The 700-15 tires shown for the 1947 Hudson Commodore specify a 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim-width range, while the 600-16 tires shown for the 1947 Hudson Super specify a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim-width range. Both sizes also identify their wheel diameters directly in the tire code.

Rim width matters because it influences how the tire sits on the wheel and how the tread and sidewall present once mounted. Before committing to a specific tire, measure the actual wheel or confirm the wheel specification on the car, especially if the Hudson has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels at some point in its life.

The available 1947 Hudson product markings shown here do not identify tube-type or tubeless status in the size designation, so tube fitment should be confirmed on the specific tire and wheel combination you intend to use. Because these are vintage-style bias-ply applications on postwar wheels, tube use is a setup detail that deserves careful attention rather than assumption.

The safest approach is to inspect the wheel itself and verify whether it is being run in a configuration appropriate for the tire you are selecting. If your Hudson retains original-style wheels, ask specifically about tube compatibility, valve-stem hardware, and any flap requirements before mounting. That extra check prevents avoidable installation issues and helps protect the tire and wheel.

A 1947 Hudson stores best in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, furnaces, welders, or other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, and if the car will sit for long periods, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading on one contact patch. Bias-ply tires are more prone to flat-spotting during extended static storage than modern radials.

Good storage habits preserve both appearance and drivability. A Hudson that sits for months with low pressure, weight concentrated in one place, and sidewalls exposed to heat or ozone will usually show the effects before a regularly exercised car does. If the vehicle is part of a long-term collection, build tire checks into the same routine as battery, fluid, and paint care.

On a low-use collector car like a 1947 Hudson, tire age usually matters more than tread wear. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating the tires closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code, when present on the tire, is the usual starting point for establishing age.

That matters because many vintage cars accumulate very few miles yet still ride on aging rubber that has hardened, cracked, or lost structural margin over time. If the Hudson has older tires of uncertain age, inspect them carefully before assuming they are roadworthy simply because the tread looks fresh or the car has been stored indoors.

Tires on a 1947 Hudson should be inspected before every drive, and especially before any longer outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, punctures, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss. Vintage cars deserve an extra look at valve stems and the spare as well, because age affects those parts even when the car is driven sparingly.

Frequent inspection is one of the easiest ways to avoid roadside trouble in a postwar collector car. Bias-ply tires can telegraph age or storage issues through the sidewall and ride quality before they fail outright, so catching changes early makes a real difference. Build the tire check into your normal pre-drive walkaround rather than saving it for special events.

A 1947 Hudson Commodore would have been built in the bias-ply era, and the listed Hudson fitments for the Commodore remain bias-ply sizes: 6.50-15 and 700-15. Those sizes place the car firmly in the traditional postwar American tire world, with 15-inch wheel applications and sidewall styling that can range from blackwall to wide whitewall depending on the look being recreated. No original-equipment brand should be assumed without checking period Hudson literature.

For restoration work, that means construction type is just as important as raw size. A bias-ply tire keeps the visual character appropriate to the period, while the exact sidewall treatment should be matched to the car's intended presentation and judging standard. If you are restoring for a high-level show, compare your chosen size and sidewall to factory manuals, sales materials, and Hudson club guidance.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when a 1947 Hudson is judged for authenticity. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect whether the car looks period-correct, and judges or knowledgeable enthusiasts will notice if a Commodore is wearing a Super-size wheel diameter or if the overall tire presentation is out of character for a late-1940s American car. Bias-ply construction aligns with the era represented by the listed Hudson fits.

The level of scrutiny depends on the event, but tire details often influence the first impression a restored car makes. A whitewall width that suits the car, the correct wheel diameter, and an era-appropriate casing profile usually matter more in showing than small brand differences. For event-specific standards, consult the Hudson club or judging body tied to the venue where the car will be shown.

For a 1947 Hudson Super using 600-16, the listed Firestone and Coker Classic products share the same published load figure of 1400 pounds at 32 psi and the same 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim-width range. The visible difference in the examples shown is sidewall treatment: Firestone appears in a 3.25-inch whitewall version, while Coker Classic appears in blackwall form. Their listed weights also differ, with Firestone at 24 pounds and Coker Classic at 20 pounds.

That makes this choice largely about the finished look of the car rather than a major dimensional separation within the same size. A restorer trying to capture a dressed-up postwar appearance may gravitate toward the whitewall presentation, while a blackwall can suit a more restrained visual theme. Compare the exact sidewall style you want before settling on a specific 600-16 tire.

1947 Hudson tires can be used for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and matched to a mechanically healthy car. The listed Hudson fits are bias-ply, and one 600-16 option in the size family carries an H speed rating, which corresponds to a 130 mph ceiling. That rating exceeds normal highway speeds, but tire condition, inflation, and the condition of a 1947 car's brakes, steering, and suspension matter just as much in real-world use.

The practical point is to think of road safety as a system rather than a speed-rating number by itself. A well-prepared Hudson on fresh, properly fitted tires is a different proposition from one on old rubber with neglected chassis components. If the car will be driven regularly, inspect the whole running gear and make sure the tire size on the car matches the model you actually own.

Several listed 1947 Hudson tires provide load-and-pressure figures that can serve as a reference for the tire itself. Passenger-car 700-15 examples are shown at 1700 pounds at 32 psi, and several 600-16 examples are shown at 1400 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to run every Hudson tire at the same pressure regardless of model, wheel, or vehicle-loading condition.

Use the original Hudson manual or factory service information for the vehicle's recommended operating pressure, then compare that with the tire maker's rated pressure for the exact product you are using. Do not transfer a pressure number from a 15-inch Commodore tire to a 16-inch Super tire simply because both are bias-ply. Pressure should match the specific size, tire construction, and application.

Before a longer trip in a 1947 Hudson, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, tread wear, and signs of impact damage, then confirm pressures when the tires are cold. Check valve stems, make sure the spare is usable, and verify that the tire sizes on the car match the model's proper fitment. Because these are vintage-style applications, a quick visual check is not enough if the tires are old or the car has been sitting.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive checklist on a postwar car, but they are the part touching the road. Once the tires pass inspection, continue with brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, suspension, and basic fluid checks. A Hudson prepared that way is far more likely to feel stable and predictable over distance than one pulled out of storage and driven on assumption.