1949 Frazer Tire Fitment Guide

1949 Frazer vehicles covered here use one tire size: 710-15. That size applies to the Frazer 495 and 496, and the available tires mount on 15-inch rims with a listed rim width range of 5.00 to 5.50 inches. All of the available offerings in this fitment are bias-ply tires rather than radials.

That makes 1949 Frazer fitment more straightforward than many later vehicles, because you are not sorting between multiple diameter or construction families. The practical choice is confirming that your wheels fall within the listed rim-width range and then deciding whether a blackwall or wide-whitewall sidewall better suits the car’s intended appearance.

On a 1949 Frazer tire, 710-15 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 710 portion refers to the tire’s nominal section width in the older American sizing system, while the 15 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is an era-correct format for a late-1940s full-size American car like a Frazer.

That older numeric code does not read like a modern metric radial size, so it helps to treat it as a period sizing language rather than trying to convert it visually to today’s passenger-car markings. If your car is a 1949 Frazer 495 or 496, 710-15 is the size family you should be looking at before narrowing the choice by brand and sidewall style.

Yes. The 1949 Frazer models covered here share the same 710-15 tire size. That means the 495 and 496 do not split into separate tire diameters or alternate wheel sizes within this fitment group, and the available products all center on the same 15-inch rim diameter.

For most owners, that simplifies the search considerably because identifying the exact Frazer model is less about unlocking a different size and more about choosing the right visual finish for the car. Once the model year and wheel are confirmed, the remaining decisions usually come down to brand preference and whether you want blackwalls or a wide whitewall treatment.

1949 Frazer tires in 710-15 are available in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles. The available range includes blackwall versions as well as BFGoodrich wide-whitewall options, including different whitewall widths within that overall style family. All of them remain within the same period-correct bias-ply fitment size.

That choice has a strong effect on the car’s final presentation. Blackwalls usually suit a more restrained, everyday late-1940s look, while wide whitewalls deliver the fuller upscale appearance many restorers want on a postwar Frazer. If the car is being finished to a particular showroom-era look, sidewall style can matter almost as much visually as the paint and wheel covers.

BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer 710-15 tires for 1949 Frazer vehicles. Within this size, BFGoodrich appears in blackwall and wide-whitewall versions, while Firestone is also represented in blackwall form. All of the listed options use bias-ply construction appropriate to the period.

Brand choice on a 1949 Frazer is usually less about changing fitment and more about matching the look and heritage you want for the car. Some owners prefer to choose by sidewall treatment first and then brand, while others start with a favored name and select the sidewall style that best complements the restoration.

For a 1949 Frazer, both BFGoodrich and Firestone offer 710-15 bias-ply tires with the same listed 15-inch rim diameter, 5.00 to 5.50-inch rim width range, and 1550-pound load capacity at 32 psi. The biggest visible difference in the available lineup is sidewall presentation, since BFGoodrich appears in both blackwall and wide-whitewall versions, while the Firestone option shown here is a blackwall.

That means the comparison is less about fitment and more about appearance and brand character. If you want a broad whitewall look, BFGoodrich gives you that path in this size. If your goal is a straightforward blackwall presentation, either brand keeps you in the correct numeric bias-ply size for the car.

The available 710-15 tires for 1949 Frazer vehicles are listed for 5.00 to 5.50-inch rim widths. They all mount on 15-inch rims, but rim width still matters because it affects how the tire seats and carries its shape. Staying within that stated range is important for proper fitment.

Before choosing a tire, verify the actual wheel on the car rather than assuming every surviving wheel is original or unchanged. Cars of this age may have had wheels swapped over the decades, so a quick measurement or confirmation from a knowledgeable Frazer specialist can prevent unnecessary fitment trouble.

The available 710-15 products for 1949 Frazer do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size description shown here. On a late-1940s bias-ply application like a Frazer, tube use should be confirmed against the specific tire’s sidewall marking and the condition and design of the wheel itself rather than assumed from size alone.

That matters because original-style wheels, wheel surface condition, and restoration details can influence whether tube use is appropriate. If you are reusing original rims, inspect them carefully and confirm the intended setup before mounting. A marque specialist or experienced vintage tire installer can help match the tire and wheel correctly.

A 1949 Frazer should be stored away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, battery chargers, or air compressors. Bias-ply tires can develop flat-spotting more readily during long static storage, so tire pressure should be maintained and the car should be rolled periodically if it will remain parked for extended stretches.

Many collector owners also place the car on stands or use tire cradles during long seasonal storage, especially if the car is kept indoors for months at a time. Clean, dry conditions and a stable temperature help preserve both the rubber and the car’s finish, while occasional movement keeps the tires from resting in one loaded position indefinitely.

Tires on a 1949 Frazer should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector cars often accumulate very few miles, yet the rubber still ages from time, heat cycles, ozone, and storage conditions. A good working rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach the five-to-seven-year range and to treat the ten-year point as a serious replacement consideration.

The DOT date code and the tire’s visible condition matter more than tread depth alone on a low-use postwar car. Sidewall cracking, hardening rubber, repeated air loss, or signs of casing fatigue are all more important warning signs than how much tread appears to remain after light hobby use.

Tires on a 1949 Frazer should be checked before every drive, and they deserve a more careful inspection before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and signs of pressure loss. On an older collector car, valve stem condition also matters because age can affect the entire air-retention system, not just the tire itself.

A short local drive may hide developing problems that become much more serious once the car is at sustained road speed for an hour or more. Building a quick pre-drive habit is one of the simplest ways to protect both the car and the occupants, especially on a vehicle that may sit for long periods between uses.

A 1949 Frazer 495 and 496 would have been fitted in period with bias-ply tires, and the fitment used here is 710-15. That aligns with normal American passenger-car practice in the late 1940s, when bias-ply construction was standard equipment. No original-equipment brand should be assumed without checking factory literature or marque-specific references for the exact car.

For restoration work, the safest path is to start with the correct size and construction, then refine the choice by sidewall appearance to suit the car’s trim level and market presentation. If your goal is strict authenticity, marque clubs, period brochures, and surviving unrestored cars are the best sources for confirming how a particular Frazer would have been delivered.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1949 Frazer, especially at events that value factory-era appearance. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the car is wearing the proper size family, the correct bias-ply construction for the period, and an appropriate sidewall treatment for the restoration style. A modern-looking substitute can alter the car’s stance and visual balance even if it physically fits.

On a postwar American car like a Frazer, sidewall style also has a major visual effect. A wide whitewall may be entirely appropriate for one presentation, while a blackwall may suit another. If the car is being prepared for marque judging, confirm the event’s standards ahead of time so the tire choice supports the rest of the restoration rather than working against it.

For the 1949 Frazer, BFGoodrich offers 710-15 tires in both blackwall and wide-whitewall forms within the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply line. They share the same basic fitment, including 15-inch rim diameter, 5.00 to 5.50-inch rim width range, and 1550-pound load capacity at 32 psi. The distinction is primarily visual, with different sidewall treatments and slight weight differences among the versions shown.

That makes this a restoration-style decision more than a sizing decision. A blackwall keeps the look simpler and more reserved, while a wide whitewall gives the Frazer the richer late-1940s character many owners want. If originality is the goal, choose the sidewall style that matches the car’s intended presentation and verify it against period references for your specific build.

1949 Frazer tires in the listed 710-15 fitment can be appropriate for normal road use when they are correctly fitted, properly inflated, and in sound condition. The available products shown here do not include a stated speed-rating letter, so owners should approach highway use with the expectations appropriate to a late-1940s full-size car on bias-ply tires rather than a modern radial-equipped vehicle.

On a car of this era, the broader mechanical condition of the vehicle often matters as much as the tire itself. Brakes, steering, suspension condition, alignment, and wheel integrity all influence confidence at speed. A well-sorted Frazer can be enjoyable on today’s roads, but it should be driven with period-correct margins and regular inspection discipline.

The available 710-15 tires for 1949 Frazer vehicles list a maximum load capacity of 1550 pounds at 32 psi. That figure is the tire’s rated load-and-pressure reference, not automatically the same thing as the factory operating pressure your Frazer originally called for in service. Tire pressure should always be checked cold.

Use the original owner’s manual or factory specification as your starting point for recommended running pressure, then confirm that your chosen tire’s published limits are being respected. Pressure should never be borrowed casually from another size or another car, even within the same era, because ride, handling, and wear can change noticeably with small pressure differences.

Before a longer drive in a 1949 Frazer, inspect all four tires and the spare for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and stable cold pressure. Pay close attention to valve stems and to any sign that a tire has been losing air during storage. Since the car uses an older bias-ply fitment, it is also wise to look for flat-spotting if the car has been sitting.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-trip check on a postwar car, including brakes, steering response, wheel-bearing condition, and fluid levels. A Frazer in good mechanical order can cover distance confidently, but long drives reward careful preparation. A few minutes in the garage before departure can prevent a roadside problem that would have been easy to catch at home.