1947 Plymouth Tire Fitment Guide

1947 Plymouth vehicles covered here use one tire size: 600-16. That size applies to the 1947 Plymouth Deluxe, and the available tires mount on a 16-inch rim. Where rim width guidance is supplied, 600-16 is paired with a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim width range on several products in this fitment.

That makes 1947 Plymouth one of the simpler year-and-make fitment searches, because the question is not which size fits which model. The more useful next step is deciding which version of 600-16 best suits your car, especially if you are weighing blackwall versus wide whitewall appearance or comparing one bias-ply series to another for restoration use.

On a 1947 Plymouth, 600-16 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The “600” refers to the tire’s nominal section width in the older inch-based sizing convention, while the “16” identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it should be read as a period-style bias-ply size rather than translated directly into a contemporary passenger-car format.

That matters because a 600-16 tire should be chosen as a vintage-size fitment, not by trying to substitute numbers from a modern sidewall chart. If you are restoring a Plymouth Deluxe to an authentic late-1940s look, this numeric format is exactly the kind of sizing language you would expect to see for the era.

Within the 1947 Plymouth model covered here, yes—the Deluxe uses 600-16 throughout. There is no alternate size listed at this year-and-make level, so buyers do not need to sort through multiple diameters or different front-and-rear combinations before narrowing their search.

That simplifies fitment research considerably, but it does not make every tire choice identical. Once size is confirmed, the meaningful differences shift to sidewall style, brand, and the character of the bias-ply product you want on the car, especially if your Plymouth is being judged for appearance or driven only occasionally.

1947 Plymouth tires in 600-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall options appear from Coker Classic and Avon in this fitment, while BFGoodrich and Firestone offer wide whitewall versions. All are bias-ply tires, so the visual choice is mostly about sidewall presentation rather than switching between construction types.

A blackwall usually suits a more understated, utilitarian postwar look, while a wide whitewall gives the car a dressier, more upscale presentation that many owners prefer on a restored late-1940s sedan. If show authenticity matters, compare the whitewall width and overall visual character with period photos or Plymouth club guidance before making a final choice.

Four brands offer tires in the 1947 Plymouth 600-16 fitment: BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Avon. BFGoodrich and Firestone are available here with wide whitewall styling, while Coker Classic and Avon appear in blackwall form. All of the listed options remain within the vintage-style bias-ply category for this Plymouth application.

That brand spread gives Plymouth owners room to choose a tire by visual preference and product character without changing the underlying fitment. If your car is being restored to a distinctly American postwar look, the sidewall style may influence your decision as much as the name on the casing, especially when comparing a straightforward blackwall with a more formal whitewall presentation.

For 1947 Plymouth in 600-16, BFGoodrich and Firestone are offered as wide whitewall bias-ply tires with a 1400-pound load figure at 32 psi and a 4.00 to 4.50 inch rim width range. Coker Classic is a blackwall bias-ply tire with the same 1400-pound load figure at 32 psi and the same listed rim width range. Avon’s 600H16 93H Turbospeed is also a blackwall bias-ply tire, with a listed 1,433-pound load figure and an H speed rating.

Those differences give buyers a clear way to narrow the field. If appearance drives the decision, start by choosing blackwall or wide whitewall; if you want the Avon product specifically, note that its size marking and speed rating are presented differently from the numeric-marked American-style options and should be read from the tire itself when comparing details.

For 1947 Plymouth tires in 600-16, several available products specify a rim width range of 4.00 to 4.50 inches on a 16-inch diameter wheel. That guidance applies to the BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Firestone versions listed in this fitment. The common denominator across the range is the 16-inch rim diameter required by the size itself.

Before choosing a tire, measure the actual wheel on the car or confirm it through a trusted Plymouth reference, especially if the wheels may have been changed during the car’s life. Staying within the stated rim width range helps preserve the intended casing shape and appearance instead of forcing a vintage bias-ply onto a wheel that is too narrow or too wide.

The 1947 Plymouth tires listed in 600-16 do not carry a universal tube-type or tubeless marking across every product, so tube requirements should be treated as varying by product unless the specific tire’s sidewall marking says otherwise. That is especially important with vintage-style bias-ply applications, where wheel design and tire construction both affect the final setup.

The safest approach is to confirm the exact tire marking and then match that to the wheel condition and wheel type you are using. If the car still runs original-style wheels, many owners also inspect the valve stem area, bead seat, and wheel interior carefully before mounting, since the condition of an older wheel matters just as much as the tire itself.

A stored 1947 Plymouth should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber prematurely. Dry, cool conditions are best, and the car should be moved periodically or supported in a way that reduces long-term flat-spotting pressure on the tires. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting when they sit in one position for long periods.

Good storage habits protect both appearance and drivability. If your Plymouth spends most of its time parked between shows or seasonal drives, maintaining proper inflation and avoiding prolonged contact with damp concrete can help preserve the casing and sidewalls so the car feels more settled and predictable when it goes back on the road.

On a low-use collector car like a 1947 Plymouth, tire age matters more than mileage. A practical rule is to begin evaluating condition closely once tires are around five to seven years old, then consider replacement as they approach ten years, even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT date code or the manufacturer’s date marking is the key reference point for age.

That timeline is important because many antique and collector cars simply do not wear tires out in the way a modern daily driver does. Sidewall cracking, hardening rubber, and age-related internal changes can become the deciding factors first, so a Plymouth that sees only occasional fair-weather use should still have its tires judged on time and condition rather than miles alone.

Tires on a 1947 Plymouth should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss, and do not overlook the valve stems or the spare. A car of this age often spends long periods parked, which can allow age-related issues to appear long before the tread is worn out.

Frequent inspection is especially valuable on a postwar Plymouth because the car may be mechanically sound yet still be riding on tires that have aged out quietly. A quick walkaround before each drive can catch small issues early and is far easier than dealing with a roadside problem on a vehicle designed in an era with very different expectations for speed, traffic, and road conditions.

A 1947 Plymouth Deluxe would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the listed year-and-make fitment here is 600-16. That makes a bias-ply 600-16 the right starting point for owners who want to stay close to the car’s original construction style and visual proportions. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so the size and construction are the most important first points to confirm.

If you are aiming for a highly accurate restoration, use the car’s surviving paperwork, period photography, and Plymouth marque resources to refine details like sidewall treatment. A broad late-1940s restoration standard usually starts with the correct bias-ply size, then narrows to blackwall or whitewall appearance depending on how the individual car was equipped and presented when new.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1947 Plymouth because judging often considers more than simple wheel diameter. Size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all influence whether the car reads as authentically restored to its period. On a late-1940s Plymouth, a correct-looking 600-16 bias-ply presentation will generally align more closely with originality expectations than a visibly modernized alternative.

That does not mean every event applies the same standard, so owners should always compare their planned tire choice with the rules of the club or show they intend to enter. For some events, the difference between a blackwall and a wide whitewall may be as important visually as the difference between an era-correct casing style and a later-looking substitute.

For the 1947 Plymouth 600-16 fitment, blackwall and wide whitewall tires share the same basic size and vintage bias-ply character, but they present the car very differently. Blackwall options are available from Coker Classic and Avon, while BFGoodrich and Firestone offer wide whitewall versions. The choice is primarily visual, not a change in basic fitment.

A blackwall usually gives the Plymouth a cleaner, more restrained look, while a wide whitewall adds the brighter, more formal appearance many owners associate with a polished postwar restoration. If authenticity is the goal, compare your tire plan with period photos of similarly equipped Plymouths and with the standards used by the marque club or judging body that matters to you.

1947 Plymouth tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly mounted, and operated within their design limits. The available 600-16 fitment includes an Avon product with an H speed rating, which corresponds to 130 mph, while the other listed bias-ply products use standard numeric vintage-style markings rather than a visible speed-letter format. In normal collector-car use, the condition of the tire and the condition of the car itself matter more than theoretical top-speed capability.

A postwar Plymouth has brakes, suspension geometry, and steering feel from a very different era, so sensible cruising speeds and careful inspection are more important than chasing the highest number on a sidewall. If your car will see regular highway driving, make sure the tires are fresh, properly inflated, and free from age damage before treating them as ready for sustained road use.

For 1947 Plymouth 600-16 tires, several listed bias-ply products show a maximum load of 1400 pounds at 32 psi, while the Avon option lists a maximum load of 1,433 pounds. Those figures are load-and-pressure ratings for the tire itself, not a blanket instruction that every Plymouth should simply be inflated to the maximum figure at all times. Factory pressure guidance belongs to the vehicle, while the tire’s own rated information belongs to the product.

The right approach is to start with the original Plymouth recommendation for normal use, then confirm that your chosen reproduction tire is being operated within the manufacturer’s stated limits. Avoid transferring one pressure assumption from one tire series to another, even within the same 600-16 fitment, because product construction details and intended use can still differ.

Before a longer drive in a 1947 Plymouth, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, tread damage, bulges, embedded objects, and uneven wear, then verify inflation pressure and the condition of the spare. The valve stems deserve a close look as well, especially on a collector car that may sit for extended periods. Tire readiness should be treated as one part of a broader check that also includes brakes, cooling, steering, and fluid levels.

That pre-drive routine matters because a Plymouth from 1947 can feel perfectly fine on short local outings yet reveal weak points only after heat builds on a sustained trip. A careful inspection before departure reduces the chance of a preventable tire issue and gives you a clearer picture of whether the car is ready for modern traffic and longer distances.