1948 Hudson Tire Fitment Guide

1948 Hudson vehicles in the 481 & 482 Series and the 483 & 484 Series use two tire sizes: 710-15 and 760-15. Both sizes are bias-ply constructions, and both mount on 15-inch wheels. The 710-15 products shown fit 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, while 760-15 products with published wheel guidance fit 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims.

That means the year and make alone are not enough if your car has been restored, re-wheeled, or converted over time. Start by checking the tire size already on the car, then confirm the wheel width before choosing between 710-15 and 760-15. Since both model groups share both sizes, the real difference is the tire size and wheel setup rather than whether you have a 481/482 or 483/484 Hudson.

A 710-15 on a 1948 Hudson is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 7.10 figure is the nominal section width, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the available reproductions, 710-15 fits a 15-inch rim and is matched to 5.00 to 5.50 inch wheel widths.

Numeric sizes like 710-15 are typical of late-1940s American fitments and read differently from later metric or alphanumeric tires. If your Hudson is already equipped with 710-15 tires, staying with that size helps preserve the car's intended proportions and wheel match. It also gives you a choice of blackwall or wide whitewall styling, depending on the look you want for the restoration.

Yes, the 1948 Hudson model groups covered here share the same two tire sizes: 710-15 and 760-15. The 481 & 482 Series and the 483 & 484 Series both appear with those same two numeric bias-ply options, and both sizes mount on 15-inch wheels.

That shared fitment simplifies shopping at the year-and-make level, but it does not mean every individual car should switch sizes casually. Hudson owners still need to verify which size their particular car is running and whether the wheel width matches the chosen tire. For a restoration-minded owner, the right choice often comes down to preserving the car's existing setup and visual stance rather than choosing by model name alone.

Both 710-15 and 760-15 are appropriate bias-ply sizes for 1948 Hudson vehicles, so the decision is mainly about matching the wheel and preserving the tire size your car is set up to use. The 710-15 products fit 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, while 760-15 products with published guidance fit 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims. Both keep the proper late-1940s bias-ply construction character.

If your Hudson already has correctly sized original-style wheels, that wheel width is the first checkpoint. A 710-15 is the narrower numeric size, while 760-15 is the larger one, and each gives the car a slightly different visual fullness. Rather than treating them as a styling swap, confirm the wheel width and the established size for your series and restoration goal before making the final choice.

1948 Hudson tires are available in several period-appropriate sidewall styles, depending on size. The 710-15 range includes blackwall and wide whitewall options, while the 760-15 range includes narrow whitewall and wide whitewall options. Those choices let owners tune the car's appearance from more restrained to more formal late-1940s presentation.

For a conservative postwar look, blackwalls or a narrower whitewall can make sense, especially on a driver-oriented restoration. Wide whitewalls are often favored when the goal is a more upscale, era-correct visual statement that suits many full-size American cars of the period. If show authenticity matters, compare the sidewall style on your Hudson against factory literature, period photos, and marque-club guidance for your exact body style and market.

Several established vintage tire brands cover 1948 Hudson fitments. In 710-15, the available brands are BFGoodrich and Firestone. In 760-15, the available brands are BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. All of the options listed for these Hudson sizes are bias-ply constructions.

Brand choice usually comes down to the combination of sidewall style, published rim-width guidance, and the look you want on the finished car. One owner may prefer a blackwall offering in 710-15, while another may want a wider whitewall presentation in 760-15. Narrow your options by confirming size first, then compare brands within that size rather than trying to choose a brand before settling the fitment.

Rim width depends on the tire size chosen for a 1948 Hudson. The 710-15 tires shown are matched to 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, while the 760-15 tires with published wheel guidance are matched to 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims. Both sizes use a 15-inch wheel diameter, but they do not share the same stated rim-width range.

That distinction matters because a tire can have the correct rim diameter yet still be wrong for the wheel's width. Before mounting new tires, measure the wheel or confirm the wheel specification through the car, the wheel itself, or a trusted Hudson specialist. Getting the width right helps preserve the tire's intended profile and avoids forcing a larger or narrower size onto an unsuitable rim.

The available 1948 Hudson tire listings here do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size description, so tube choice should be confirmed against the actual tire and wheel combination being used. With late-1940s bias-ply applications, the wheel design and the specific tire's sidewall marking are both important parts of that decision.

A restored Hudson may still have original-style wheels, while another car may have later replacement wheels or previously changed tire setups. Check the tire sidewall and confirm whether your wheel is intended for tube use before assembly. If you are preserving factory-style wheels, consulting a Hudson marque specialist or an experienced vintage tire installer is a sensible way to confirm the correct setup without guessing.

Original 1948 Hudson wheels can potentially accept either listed tire size in terms of rim diameter, because both 710-15 and 760-15 mount on 15-inch wheels. The key difference is wheel width: 710-15 is shown on 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims, while 760-15 is shown on 5.50 to 6.00 inch rims where wheel guidance is published.

That means wheel diameter alone does not settle the question. If your Hudson has wheels at the narrower end of the range, 710-15 may be the more appropriate fit; if the wheels are wider, 760-15 may be the intended match. Before changing sizes, verify the actual wheel width on the car rather than assuming all original 15-inch Hudson wheels were identical across every body style and restoration history.

A 1948 Hudson should be stored away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, and compressors. Bias-ply tires tend to develop temporary flat-spotting more readily than radials when they sit in one position for long periods, so even a correctly stored Hudson benefits from occasional movement or support that reduces long-term static loading.

Keep the tires inflated to an appropriate operating level for storage, roll the car periodically if possible, and avoid letting one sidewall sit in damp contact with a floor for months at a time. Many collector owners also use clean barriers under the tires or place the car on stands for extended layups. The goal is to protect both the rubber and the casing while preserving ride quality when the Hudson goes back on the road.

Tires on a 1948 Hudson should be judged more by age, condition, and storage history than by mileage alone. On a collector car, many owners begin evaluating tires closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range, and replacement becomes a serious consideration as they approach roughly ten years from the DOT manufacturing date, even if tread wear is light.

Bias-ply tires on low-use cars can look serviceable long after the rubber has begun to harden or crack. Check the sidewalls, tread surfaces, and date code, and weigh those findings against how the car is actually used. A Hudson driven only to local events has different demands from one that regularly covers longer distances, but age-related deterioration matters in both cases.

Tires on a 1948 Hudson deserve a visual and pressure check before every drive, with a more thorough inspection before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow pressure loss. On an older collector car, valve stems and wheel condition are worth checking at the same time.

That routine is especially important for a car that may sit for weeks or months between uses. A quick inspection catches problems before they turn into roadside failures, and it also helps you spot alignment or suspension issues early if wear patterns begin to change. If your Hudson is fitted with tubes, include the valve hardware and any recurring pressure loss in your pre-drive routine.

A 1948 Hudson 481 & 482 Series would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, so bias-ply construction is the authentic starting point for restoration. The sizes associated with 1948 Hudson across the covered model groups are 710-15 and 760-15, both on 15-inch wheels. Original-equipment branding varied by market and supply, so the construction type and size are usually more important than chasing one assumed brand name.

For a factory-minded restoration, begin with the size shown for your car and preserve the bias-ply format that suits the period. Then choose the sidewall treatment that matches the character of the car, whether that is blackwall, narrow whitewall, or wide whitewall. If you are preparing for judged display, confirm the final size and sidewall details through Hudson club resources, factory literature, or period photography tied to your specific body style.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1948 Hudson because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall presentation immediately. A postwar Hudson restored for authenticity is expected to wear an appropriate bias-ply size and an era-suitable sidewall style. Using the wrong size or a visibly mismatched sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise careful restoration.

That does not mean every event uses the same standard, but it does mean tire choice is part of the car's overall visual correctness. A wide whitewall may be ideal for one presentation, while a blackwall or narrower whitewall may suit another. If the car will be judged, compare your planned tire choice against the standards used by the event and the expectations of Hudson-specific clubs before finalizing the fitment.

Within the 710-15 size for 1948 Hudson, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer bias-ply fitments with the same published load rating of 1550 pounds at 32 psi and the same 15-inch, 5.00 to 5.50 inch wheel fitment. The practical differences shown here are mainly styling and specification details: BFGoodrich appears in blackwall and wide whitewall versions and ranges from 21 to 23 pounds, while the Firestone version shown is a 24-pound blackwall.

That makes the choice less about fitment and more about presentation and brand preference within the same size. If you want a whitewall in 710-15, BFGoodrich gives you that path; if a blackwall look is preferred, both brands are in the mix. Since the published load and wheel range are aligned, comparing sidewall appearance and the finished look of the car is the more useful way to separate them.

1948 Hudson tires in the sizes covered here are available as reproduction bias-ply tires, and bias-ply tires can be used for road driving when they are correctly matched to the wheel, properly inflated, and in sound condition. No speed-rating markings are shown in the available size descriptions for these Hudson fitments, so the tire should be treated as one part of a larger vintage-car system rather than the only limit on safe travel.

A well-sorted postwar Hudson also depends on braking condition, steering, suspension wear, wheel integrity, and alignment. Even when the tires themselves are fresh, a 1948 car should still be driven with the manners appropriate to its age and design. Before regular highway use, make sure the tires are age-appropriate, the pressures are correct for the chosen product, and the rest of the chassis is ready for sustained road speeds.

The available 1948 Hudson tire listings show load-and-pressure figures of 1550 pounds at 32 psi for 710-15 products that publish a rating, and 1710 pounds at 32 psi for 760-15 products that publish a rating. Those figures describe the tire's rated load at a stated pressure, not necessarily the exact operating pressure your Hudson should run in every condition.

Use the Hudson owner's manual or period service information as the first guide for vehicle-specific inflation, then confirm that your chosen reproduction tire's published limits are respected. Do not transfer a pressure assumption from 710-15 to 760-15 just because both fit 15-inch wheels. The right pressure depends on the actual size, the tire's rating, the car's setup, and how the vehicle is being used.

Before a longer drive in a 1948 Hudson, inspect each tire for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and stable air pressure. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, and make sure the valve stems, wheel hardware, and overall tire age are still serviceable. On a vintage car, that tire check should be part of a broader review of brakes, steering, cooling, and fluid condition.

Longer outings place more sustained heat and load into the tires than short local trips, so a small issue that goes unnoticed around town can become a major interruption on the road. If the Hudson has been sitting, drive it briefly nearby first and recheck pressures before committing to distance. Giving equal attention to the spare and the running tires is especially worthwhile on a collector car that may still rely on original-style equipment.