1948 Pontiac Tire Fitment Guide

1948 Pontiac vehicles use two tire sizes: 650-16 and 600-16. The 650-16 size is shared across Pontiac 26, Pontiac 28, and some Pontiac Torpedo applications, while 600-16 appears on Pontiac Torpedo only. Both sizes mount on 16-inch rims, but the approved rim-width ranges differ where listed: 650-16 products commonly fit 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims, while 600-16 products commonly fit 4.00 to 4.50-inch rims.

That means a buyer with a 1948 Pontiac 26 or 28 will usually be looking at 650-16 first, while a Torpedo owner needs to confirm which of the two sizes belongs on the car before choosing a tire. Shared rim diameter does not automatically make the sizes interchangeable on every wheel, so checking the actual wheel width is the right next step.

On a 1948 Pontiac, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 designation refers to the tire’s nominal section width in period sizing convention, and the 16 means it fits a 16-inch wheel. It is not a modern metric code and it does not indicate radial construction; in this application it is a traditional bias-ply size used across all three Pontiac model lines shown here.

Understanding that older numeric format helps keep a postwar Pontiac in the right era visually and mechanically. When you see 650-16 on a 1948 Pontiac 26, 28, or Torpedo, you should think in terms of period-correct bias-ply sizing, then narrow your choice by sidewall style, brand preference, and whether your wheel falls within the listed rim-width range.

No. The 1948 Pontiac 26 and 28 use 650-16, while the 1948 Pontiac Torpedo appears with either 600-16 or 650-16 depending on the specific application. Both are 16-inch bias-ply sizes, but they are not identical in section width and they do not share the same listed rim-width range where that information appears.

That variation matters because a buyer who only knows the car is a 1948 Pontiac may still end up choosing between two sizes. Torpedo owners should verify the model and the wheel already on the car before settling on a tire, especially if the vehicle has been restored before or if wheel and tire combinations may have changed over time.

The choice between 600-16 and 650-16 on a 1948 Pontiac is mainly a fitment question tied to model application, not a bias-ply-versus-radial decision. The 650-16 size is used across the 26, 28, and some Torpedo cars, while 600-16 is specific to Torpedo applications. Both sizes are bias-ply and both use 16-inch rims, but they are meant for different wheel-width ranges where listed.

A 26 or 28 owner will usually stay with 650-16. A Torpedo owner should identify which size belongs on the car and confirm the wheel width before choosing sidewall style or brand. Once the correct size is established, the remaining decision becomes mostly about appearance, such as blackwall versus wide whitewall, and how closely the finished car should reflect period presentation.

1948 Pontiac tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles in the sizes offered here. The 650-16 range includes blackwall and wide whitewall examples from several brands, and the 600-16 range does as well. That gives buyers enough flexibility to match a restrained driver look, a more formal postwar appearance, or a restoration style that leans into the visual character of late-1940s American cars.

For many collectors, sidewall style is as important as brand because it changes the entire stance and presentation of the car. A blackwall can suit a simpler, less dressy look, while a wide whitewall aligns naturally with the way many late-1940s Pontiacs are remembered and restored. The right choice depends on your car’s trim, restoration goal, and the image you want the finished Pontiac to project.

Several brands cover 1948 Pontiac fitments. In 650-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. In 600-16, available brands include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. All of the listed offerings are bias-ply in these Pontiac applications, with sidewall style differences and some variation in product character depending on the brand and series.

That brand spread gives buyers room to prioritize a particular sidewall treatment, historical look, or series preference without leaving the correct size family. It also means the best starting point is not the brand name alone, but the confirmed tire size for your specific 1948 Pontiac model. Once the size is right, comparing the available brand and sidewall combinations becomes much more meaningful.

Rim-width guidance differs by size on 1948 Pontiac applications. For 650-16, listed products commonly specify a 4.50 to 5.00-inch rim-width range. For 600-16, listed products commonly specify a 4.00 to 4.50-inch rim-width range. Both sizes use a 16-inch rim diameter, but width remains a separate fitment check that should not be skipped.

That distinction is especially important for Pontiac Torpedo owners, since both 600-16 and 650-16 can appear within that model line. A 16-inch wheel alone is not enough to confirm the tire choice. Measuring the wheel or verifying it against the car’s known setup helps avoid selecting a size that is technically the right diameter but wrong for the wheel’s approved width range.

The listed 1948 Pontiac tire offerings are all bias-ply, but the visible size markings here do not consistently identify tube-type or tubeless status within each product name. Because of that, the most practical approach is to verify the exact sidewall marking and the wheel design before finalizing the setup. On a late-1940s car with original-style steel wheels, many restorers still evaluate tube use as part of the complete wheel-and-tire package rather than assuming from size alone.

For a buyer, that means inner-tube planning should happen alongside wheel inspection, not after the tires are already chosen. Original wheels, restored wheels, and reproduction tires do not always make the same setup decisions obvious at a glance. If your 1948 Pontiac still has its period wheels, confirm the tire’s own tube marking and consider the condition of the wheel well, valve-stem area, and bead seat before installation.

Both 600-16 and 650-16 for 1948 Pontiac fit 16-inch rims, so the rim diameter itself is shared. That creates the possibility of using either size on original 16-inch wheels, but only if the wheel width matches the approved range for the tire being considered. The listed width ranges differ, with 600-16 generally narrower and 650-16 generally wider.

That is why original wheels should be measured rather than assumed compatible simply because both sizes end in 16. A Torpedo owner deciding between the two sizes needs to confirm which wheel is actually on the car and whether it suits the intended tire. Diameter compatibility is only the first checkpoint; width compatibility is what determines whether the setup is appropriate.

A 1948 Pontiac should be stored away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, or welders. Bias-ply tires tend to develop flat spotting more readily during long static storage, so clean, cool conditions matter and the car should not sit for months with neglected pressures. Keeping the tires properly inflated and the storage area dry does more for long-term preservation than cosmetic dressing products.

Owners who store a Pontiac for extended periods often either move the car slightly from time to time or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading, depending on their maintenance routine. If the car will remain parked for a season, check pressures before storage and again before the next drive. Those simple habits help preserve ride quality and reduce age-related sidewall stress.

Tires on a 1948 Pontiac should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because many collector cars accumulate very few miles each year. A practical rule is to begin evaluating them carefully once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to consider replacement as they approach about ten years, even if tread remains. The date code on the tire is more meaningful than the odometer for this kind of vehicle.

That matters because an old bias-ply tire can look presentable and still be past its best service life. If a 1948 Pontiac spends most of its time at shows, short cruises, or indoor storage, it may age out long before it wears out. Regular age tracking gives you a clearer basis for replacement than waiting for visible wear alone.

Tires on a 1948 Pontiac should be inspected before every drive, and again more thoroughly before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread damage, bulges, irregular wear, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between drives. Because collector cars are often parked for long intervals, problems can develop quietly even when the car is not being used hard.

A more deliberate inspection before a tour or weekend event is worth the extra time. Check the spare as well, and if your setup uses tubes, include the valve stems and any signs of air loss around them in the inspection routine. A pre-drive walkaround is simple, but on a postwar car it can prevent a small storage-related issue from becoming a roadside problem.

A 1948 Pontiac Torpedo would originally have been associated with bias-ply construction, because that was the standard passenger-car tire type in the immediate postwar period. Within the Torpedo range here, both 600-16 and 650-16 appear depending on application, so the original size is not something to guess from body style alone. The correct starting point is the specific Torpedo configuration and the wheel already associated with the car.

For a restoration, that means construction type is easy to establish but exact size should still be confirmed against factory literature, surviving originals, or a knowledgeable Pontiac marque source. Period-correct appearance also includes the sidewall presentation, not just the size code. If your goal is authenticity, use the car’s exact model identity and restoration objective to narrow the choice before selecting a whitewall or blackwall version.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when a 1948 Pontiac is being judged for authenticity. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect whether the car looks right for the era, and judges or knowledgeable enthusiasts will often notice when a tire appears too wide, too modern in profile, or visually out of character for a late-1940s Pontiac. Bias-ply construction aligns naturally with the period represented here.

The practical takeaway is that a show-focused owner should think beyond simple fit. A Torpedo shown with the wrong size for its application, or a sidewall style that clashes with the car’s intended presentation, can stand out even to casual observers. Event standards vary, so marque clubs and show rulebooks remain the best places to confirm how closely your 1948 Pontiac should mirror original-era appearance.

For a 1948 Pontiac, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer period-style bias-ply fitments in the relevant sizes, and they overlap closely in basic load and pressure figures where those details are listed. In 650-16, both are shown at 1580 pounds at 32 psi, while in 600-16 both are shown at 1400 pounds at 32 psi. The visible differences in these examples come more from sidewall presentation and series identity than from a major change in basic fitment category.

That makes the comparison less about one being universally superior and more about which look and brand heritage suit the car you are building. If your 1948 Pontiac restoration is appearance-driven, compare the available blackwall and whitewall treatments first. If your goal is a cohesive period impression, choose the size that fits the car correctly, then select the brand whose styling best complements the restoration.

1948 Pontiac tires in these applications can be suitable for highway use when they are in the correct size, properly mounted, properly inflated, and in sound condition. Most of the listed fitments are traditional bias-ply products, and one 600-16 offering is H-rated, which corresponds to a 130 mph speed ceiling for that specific product. In normal collector-car driving, the practical limit is often the age and mechanical condition of the car, along with its brakes, steering, and suspension, rather than a reproduction tire’s labeled speed capability alone.

That means highway safety starts with matching the right size to the correct 1948 Pontiac model and making sure the entire car is ready for sustained road speed. A sound bias-ply setup can be very usable, but it should be approached with period-appropriate expectations for feel and handling. Smooth steering inputs, good pressure discipline, and a full pre-drive inspection matter more than chasing a speed figure the car was never meant to use.

Inflation pressure on a 1948 Pontiac should not be guessed from appearance alone. The listed load-and-pressure figures show 650-16 examples at 1580 pounds at 32 psi and 600-16 examples at 1400 pounds at 32 psi, with one 600-16 Avon listing carrying 1,433 pounds. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to run every 1948 Pontiac at the same pressure under every condition.

The right approach is to use the factory guidance for the car as your baseline and then confirm that the specific tire you choose is being used within its rated limits. Pressure should stay tied to the actual size on the car rather than borrowed from another 1948 Pontiac size. If you move between 600-16 and 650-16 applications, review the tire’s own specifications before setting the final pressure.

Before a longer drive in a 1948 Pontiac, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and stable pressure, then check the spare as well. Make sure the tire size on the car matches the model application, especially if you own a Torpedo that could use either 600-16 or 650-16 depending on setup. A late-1940s car also deserves a broader mechanical check that includes brakes, steering, cooling, and wheel hardware before any sustained outing.

That preparation matters because tire trouble on an older car is often connected to storage age, low use, or an overlooked setup issue rather than aggressive mileage. A careful once-over before departure gives you time to catch weak valve stems, sidewall issues, or a mismatched spare before you are relying on them. On a collector Pontiac, prevention is far easier than roadside improvisation.