1947 Mercedes-Benz Tire Fitment Guide

1947 Mercedes-Benz vehicles covered here use one tire size: 550-16, and it applies to the 1947 Mercedes-Benz 170. That size mounts on a 16-inch rim, and available tires in this fitment are built in bias-ply construction. Where rim-width guidance is listed, 550-16 products are intended for 3.25- to 4.00-inch rims.

That makes fitment simpler than on many later collector cars, because you are not sorting between several wheel diameters or modern metric alternates at this year-make level. The important next step is to confirm that your car is a 170 and that the wheels on the car are the correct 16-inch type before choosing between blackwall and wide whitewall versions of the same size.

On a 1947 Mercedes-Benz tire, 550-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Because it is a traditional numeric size, it belongs to the older bias-ply sizing system rather than later alphanumeric or metric radial conventions.

That matters because a modern buyer may be more familiar with sizes like 165R15 or 205/75R15, which describe tires in a different way. If you are restoring a 1947 Mercedes-Benz 170, staying with the original-style numeric size helps preserve the correct period look and keeps you aligned with the wheel diameter used on the car.

At this year-make level, the 1947 Mercedes-Benz model covered here uses one shared tire size: 550-16 on the 170. There is no split fitment within this page’s model range, and the available products all stay within bias-ply construction for that size.

That means model identification is straightforward here compared with broader postwar lineups from some other makes. Instead of deciding among several sizes, most owners will be choosing the presentation they want, such as a plain blackwall for a restrained original appearance or a wide whitewall if the restoration calls for a more decorative period look.

1947 Mercedes-Benz tires in 550-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall options are offered by Excelsior and Avon, while BFGoodrich and Firestone offer wide whitewall versions in the same size. All of these choices remain within the correct numeric bias-ply format for the year.

The sidewall style you choose has more effect on the car’s visual character than on basic fitment. A blackwall usually suits the understated, utility-minded character associated with early postwar European cars, while a whitewall can support a fuller restoration aesthetic if that matches your car’s presentation, market history, or show goals.

Four brands offer tires for 1947 Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 550-16: Excelsior, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. Each one is offered in bias-ply construction, with blackwall available from Excelsior and Avon and wide whitewall options available from BFGoodrich and Firestone. The Avon Tourist Crossply and the American-branded classic bias-ply lines give buyers a useful spread of period-style choices.

Brand selection often comes down to the style and presentation you want as much as the name on the sidewall. If your goal is a restrained postwar look, a blackwall bias-ply may be the more natural fit, while a whitewall version can change the car’s stance and visual emphasis without changing the actual tire size.

For a 1947 Mercedes-Benz in 550-16, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offerings use bias-ply construction and both are available as wide whitewall tires. The Firestone example carries a 2.50-inch whitewall, lists 840 pounds at 32 psi, and fits 3.25- to 4.00-inch rims, while the BFGoodrich example carries a 2.25-inch whitewall. The Firestone listing is also heavier at 19 pounds, compared with 16 pounds for the BFGoodrich tire.

Those differences mainly affect appearance and setup detail rather than changing the basic fitment category. If you are comparing the two for a restoration, the wider whitewall creates a more pronounced visual statement, while the narrower whitewall gives a slightly more restrained look. Confirm the wheel width and decide which sidewall proportion best matches the character you want for the car.

Available 550-16 tires for 1947 Mercedes-Benz vehicles are intended for 16-inch wheels, and where rim-width guidance is listed, the fitment range is 3.25 to 4.00 inches. That range appears on both the Excelsior and Firestone offerings in this size. The tire itself remains the same nominal size, but the wheel still needs to fall within the approved range.

That makes wheel verification an important step before you settle on a product, especially on a car that may have seen wheel changes over decades of ownership. If your 1947 Mercedes-Benz 170 still wears original-style wheels, they are often consistent with this kind of narrow postwar bias-ply fitment, but it is still wise to measure and confirm rather than assume.

The 550-16 tire listings for 1947 Mercedes-Benz do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size field, so buyers should confirm the intended setup on the specific product and wheel combination before final installation. On a 1947-era application with bias-ply tires and original-style wheels, tube use is a common consideration even when the sidewall size itself does not spell it out.

The practical takeaway is to match the tire, wheel, and valve-stem arrangement as a complete system rather than treating the tire alone as the full answer. If your wheels are original riveted or non-safety-rim designs, or if the car has been off the road for years, it is smart to review the setup with a restoration shop or marque specialist before mounting new tires.

A 1947 Mercedes-Benz should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Bias-ply tires also benefit from periodic movement during storage because long stationary periods can encourage temporary flat-spotting more readily than on many radials. Clean floors and stable temperatures help preserve both rubber and the vehicle’s chassis finishes.

If the car will sit for an extended season, keep the tires properly inflated and move the car occasionally so the same contact patch is not loaded for months at a time. Some owners also use stands to reduce load during long-term storage, but they should support the vehicle carefully and keep the suspension in a safe, stable position.

Tires on a 1947 Mercedes-Benz are usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often see limited annual use. A good rule is to begin close inspection and professional evaluation once tires are around five to seven years old, and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age.

That approach is especially important on older vehicles that may spend much of their lives indoors and look visually sound at a glance. Rubber can harden or crack long before the tread appears worn out, so age-based replacement habits are often more important than odometer-based thinking on a postwar Mercedes-Benz.

Tires on a 1947 Mercedes-Benz should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, embedded debris, and any sign that a tire is losing pressure. On older bias-ply applications, it is also wise to pay close attention to valve stems and the overall condition of the spare.

Frequent inspection matters because collector cars often alternate between long storage periods and occasional road use, which can hide age-related problems until the next trip. A short visual check in the garage is good practice, but a more thorough hands-on review before a tour or event is the better habit for a 1947 Mercedes-Benz.

A 1947 Mercedes-Benz 170 would have been fitted in keeping with period bias-ply practice, and the correct year-make fitment here is 550-16 in bias-ply construction. That aligns with the tire technology used across most passenger cars of the era, well before radial construction became the standard choice for everyday production vehicles. No original-equipment brand should be assumed without model- and market-specific confirmation.

For a careful restoration, the key points are the correct numeric size, the proper 16-inch fitment, and a sidewall style that suits the car’s original presentation. If you are preparing a car for marque judging or researching a particular export-market specification, a Mercedes-Benz club archive or model specialist is the right place to confirm finer details.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1947 Mercedes-Benz, especially on a car judged for authenticity. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall visual proportion all influence whether the car reads as historically consistent. A modern-looking substitute or an obviously era-mismatched sidewall treatment can stand out even if the tire physically fits the wheel.

For most restorers, that means paying attention not only to 550-16 as the correct fitment, but also to whether a blackwall or wide whitewall suits the exact presentation they are building. Different events and judging standards vary, so if the car is headed for formal concours review, verify the expected appearance with the hosting organization or a marque authority in advance.

For the 1947 Mercedes-Benz, both Excelsior and Avon offer 550-16 blackwall bias-ply tires. The Excelsior listing includes a 3.25- to 4.00-inch rim-width range and a 16-pound weight, while the Avon Tourist Crossply lists an 80L size marking, a 992-pound maximum load capacity, and a 16-pound weight. Both remain within the same period-style size and construction category.

That means the comparison is more about the specific tire’s character and markings than about changing the basic fitment or era. If you are refining a restoration, details like sidewall branding, available load information, and the exact look of a blackwall casing may influence your choice. Review the visible styling and wheel fit details together rather than focusing on size alone.

1947 Mercedes-Benz tires in 550-16 can be suitable for normal road use when they are correctly fitted, properly inflated, and in sound condition, but they are bias-ply tires and should be driven with the expectations appropriate to period construction. One available Avon tire in this size carries an 80L marking, which corresponds to a 75 mph speed symbol. Highway safety on a postwar car also depends heavily on the condition of its brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel bearings.

In real use, the tire is only one part of the equation. A well-sorted 1947 Mercedes-Benz driven within the car’s mechanical comfort zone can be enjoyable on secondary roads and moderate highway stretches, but long high-speed running should always be approached with respect for the vehicle’s age, design, and maintenance condition.

Inflation pressure for 1947 Mercedes-Benz tires should be set with both the vehicle’s factory recommendations and the tire maker’s rated figures in mind. Among available 550-16 products, one Firestone tire lists 840 pounds at 32 psi. That figure belongs to that specific tire and should not be transferred automatically to every other 550-16 offering without checking the individual tire’s markings and guidance.

The safest approach is to start with the vehicle’s original handbook or a reliable factory reference for the car, then confirm that the chosen reproduction tire is being used within its own stated limits. Pressure affects ride quality, tread contact, and steering behavior on a bias-ply car, so small adjustments should be deliberate rather than guessed.

Before a longer drive in a 1947 Mercedes-Benz, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation signs, and pressure loss, and confirm that the spare is usable and inflated. Check the valve stems closely and make sure the wheels and lug hardware are secure. On a car of this era, tire readiness should be part of a broader mechanical review that includes brakes, steering free play, fluid levels, and lighting.

That broader check matters because a long outing places steady heat and load into systems that may have spent weeks or months sitting still. Even when the 550-16 tires look presentable, an older collector car deserves a full pre-drive inspection so the entire vehicle, not just the rubber, is prepared for the trip.