1950 Chevrolet Tire Fitment Guide

1950 Chevrolet vehicles use two tire sizes in this range: 670-15 and 710-15. The 670-15 size fits the 1950 Chevrolet 6 Cyl. and 1950 Chevrolet Wagon, while the 710-15 size fits the 1950 Chevrolet Convertible Coupe. Both sizes are bias-ply designs and both mount on 15-inch rims. Available rim-width guidance spans 4.50 to 6.00 inches for 670-15 depending on the tire chosen, and 5.00 to 5.50 inches for 710-15.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly for a 1950 Chevrolet. You need to identify the model first, then confirm the wheel width against the specific tire you are considering. If your car has had wheels changed over the years, checking the actual rim before choosing a product is especially important, since several reproduction tires in the same size can call for different approved rim-width ranges.

On a 1950 Chevrolet, 670-15 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.70 portion identifies the nominal section width, while the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it does not decode the same way as a contemporary P-metric tire. Within the 1950 Chevrolet range here, 670-15 is used on the 6 Cyl. and Wagon models.

That size format is typical of the era and is what many restorers expect to see on an early-1950s Chevrolet. If you are comparing products in 670-15, the bigger decisions usually come down to sidewall appearance and matching the tire to the wheel width you actually have. The size code itself tells you the wheel diameter and the traditional bias-ply sizing system, but it does not replace the need to confirm the exact model application.

No, 1950 Chevrolet models do not all use the same tire size. The 6 Cyl. and Wagon use 670-15, while the Convertible Coupe uses 710-15. Both sizes fit 15-inch rims and both are bias-ply, but they are not interchangeable simply because the wheel diameter matches. The difference is tied to model application within the 1950 Chevrolet lineup.

That makes the Convertible Coupe the key exception buyers need to watch for. A restorer working from a quick glance at year and make could easily assume a common passenger-car size across the board, but Chevrolet’s body-style spread means that is not the case here. If you are buying for a car with uncertain history, compare the body style and wheel measurements before settling on one of the two sizes.

1950 Chevrolet tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the sizes used here. In 670-15, blackwall options appear alongside wide whitewall offerings from Firestone, US Royal, and Coker Classic. In 710-15, blackwall and wide whitewall choices are also available, including BFGoodrich and Firestone products. That gives owners flexibility to match either a more understated factory-style look or a brighter, more dress-oriented presentation.

For a 1950 Chevrolet, sidewall choice changes the visual character of the car more than the underlying fitment. A blackwall usually suits a plainer working-car look, while a wide whitewall is often favored on show-minded restorations and more stylish body styles like the Convertible Coupe. If authenticity matters for judging or period style, compare your chosen whitewall width and overall appearance with period photos, sales literature, or marque references before making the final call.

Several brands cover 1950 Chevrolet applications in the sizes used here. The 670-15 size is available from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. The 710-15 size is available from BFGoodrich and Firestone. All of the options listed for these 1950 Chevrolet fitments are bias-ply tires, so brand choice is mainly a matter of appearance, sidewall treatment, and matching the product to the model-specific size.

That brand spread is useful because it lets owners choose among recognizable vintage-style names while staying within an era-appropriate construction type. Some buyers will focus on a specific sidewall look, while others will care more about keeping one brand across all five tires, including the spare. When comparing brands for a 1950 Chevrolet, narrow the field by correct size first, then look at sidewall style and approved wheel-width range rather than assuming every brand version is identical.

For a 1950 Chevrolet using 670-15, Firestone and Coker Classic differ in sidewall presentation, wheel-width range, weight, and listed load figure. The Firestone 670-15 shown here is a blackwall bias-ply tire rated at 1450 pounds at 32 psi, weighing 23 pounds, and fitting 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims. The Coker Classic 670-15 shown here is a wide whitewall bias-ply tire rated at 1550 pounds at 32 psi, weighing 21 pounds, and fitting 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims.

That means the choice is not just about brand name. If your 1950 Chevrolet has a narrower wheel, the Firestone fitment window may align more closely, while a wider wheel may better suit the Coker Classic version. The visual result also changes significantly because one is blackwall and the other is wide whitewall. Comparing the actual wheel on the car, along with the restoration look you want, is the right way to sort between them.

Rim-width requirements for 1950 Chevrolet tires depend on both size and product. In 670-15, some tires fit 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims, while others fit 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims. In 710-15, the listed tires fit 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims. All of these applications use 15-inch rim diameter, but the approved wheel-width span still needs to match the specific tire selected.

That matters because two tires carrying the same 670-15 size code may not share the same wheel-width recommendation. A 1950 Chevrolet that still has original-style wheels may fall neatly into one range, while a car that has been changed over the years may not. Before selecting a tire, measure the wheel or confirm its width through a trusted shop so the tire and wheel work together as intended.

The 1950 Chevrolet tires listed here are identified by size and construction, but no tube-type or tubeless marking appears in the size descriptions shown for these products. Because of that, inner-tube use should be confirmed on the specific tire and wheel combination you plan to run, especially on original-style 1950-era wheels where tube use is often part of the overall setup. Bias-ply collector tires and vintage wheels need to be matched carefully rather than assumed.

The practical step is to check both the tire’s sidewall marking and the wheel itself before final installation. A restored 1950 Chevrolet with original wheels may call for a different approach than a car wearing later replacement rims. Tube selection also affects valve stems, spare-tire preparation, and roadside service planning, so it is worth settling the question before mounting rather than after the tires are already on the car.

Both tire sizes used on 1950 Chevrolet vehicles here, 670-15 and 710-15, are built for 15-inch wheels. That means the wheel diameter is consistent across the range, so there is no 14-inch versus 15-inch conflict to sort out between these model applications. Rim width still matters, though, because the approved width range differs by size and can also differ between products within the same size.

In practice, that means a 15-inch wheel is only the starting point. A 1950 Chevrolet Convertible Coupe using 710-15 should have a wheel width that falls within the narrower 5.00- to 5.50-inch range shown for that size, while a 670-15 application may fit one of two different width windows depending on the tire chosen. Check the actual wheel before assuming any original 15-inch Chevrolet wheel is automatically correct for both sizes.

A stored 1950 Chevrolet should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors and ozone-producing equipment, and off damp surfaces whenever possible. Tire pressures should be maintained during storage, and the car should be moved periodically so one section of the bias-ply casing is not carrying the load in the same spot for months at a time. Clean, dry indoor storage is ideal for preserving both sidewalls and overall tire shape.

Bias-ply tires can develop temporary flat-spotting more readily than modern radials after long stationary periods, so a little storage planning goes a long way. If the car will sit for an extended season, some owners use stands placed properly under the chassis to reduce prolonged load on the tires, while others roll the car occasionally and keep inflation checked. Good storage habits protect both the appearance and the service life of a collector-car tire set.

Tire life on a 1950 Chevrolet should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage alone, because many collector cars are driven infrequently. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall helps establish the tire’s actual age.

That approach matters because an older 1950 Chevrolet may spend long stretches parked, which can age the rubber even when the tread still looks respectable. Sidewall cracking, hardening, loss of flexibility, and repeated air-loss issues can all matter more than miles traveled. If the car’s service history is unclear, reading the date code and giving the tires a careful age-based inspection is one of the smartest first steps before regular road use.

Tires on a 1950 Chevrolet should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, uneven wear, tread damage, bulges, embedded debris, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure. On a collector car that sits often, valve stems and the spare tire deserve attention too, since age-related deterioration may show up there before it appears in the tread.

Frequent inspection is especially important on an older Chevrolet because the car may go from long storage to road use with very little warning time. A quick walk-around and pressure check can catch small issues before they become roadside problems. If the car feels different after it starts rolling, such as vibration from a flat-spotted bias-ply tire that does not smooth out, stop and recheck the tires rather than assuming it will cure itself.

A 1950 Chevrolet 6 Cyl. would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the size used for that model here is 670-15. That aligns with what restorers expect from a mainstream 1950 American passenger-car Chevrolet application. Sidewall treatment could vary by market presentation and trim expectations, but the underlying construction type for original-period fitment would be bias-ply rather than radial. Brand-specific original delivery details should be confirmed through marque references if exact assembly-line authenticity matters.

For restoration work, the useful takeaway is that size, construction, and sidewall appearance all matter together. A correct-looking 670-15 bias-ply tire will usually support the visual stance and period driving feel expected from a 1950 Chevrolet 6 Cyl. If you are building for judged competition, compare your planned tire against period brochures, factory literature, and Chevrolet club standards so details like blackwall versus whitewall are aligned with the way your specific car is being presented.

Correct tire fitment does matter when showing a 1950 Chevrolet, especially in restoration classes where judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts pay attention to stance, construction type, overall size, and sidewall appearance. A 670-15 on a 6 Cyl. or Wagon and a 710-15 on a Convertible Coupe keeps the car aligned with the known model applications here. Using a visibly different size or a modern-looking construction can change the profile of the car enough to stand out immediately.

The standard for what counts as correct can vary from one event to another, which is why event rules and marque-club guidance are worth checking early. Some owners build for personal enjoyment and period flavor, while others need closer conformity for concours work. On a 1950 Chevrolet, the easiest way to stay on solid ground is to start with the right model-specific size, then choose a sidewall style that suits the presentation and judging expectations of the car.

For a 1950 Chevrolet Convertible Coupe using 710-15, BFGoodrich and Firestone offerings share the same basic fitment range but differ in appearance and listed weight. The BFGoodrich 710-15 examples shown here include both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, all rated at 1550 pounds at 32 psi and fitting 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, with weights from 21 to 23 pounds depending on the version. The Firestone 710-15 shown here is a blackwall bias-ply tire rated at 1550 pounds at 32 psi, fitting the same rim-width range, and weighing 24 pounds.

That gives a restorer room to choose between brands without changing the basic model-correct size. The bigger deciding factors are usually the sidewall look you want on the Convertible Coupe and whether you are trying to echo a dressier whitewall presentation or a simpler blackwall one. Since the rim-width requirement is the same in the examples shown, visual style becomes a central part of the decision once correct 710-15 fitment has been established.

1950 Chevrolet tires in the sizes listed here are available as bias-ply collector tires, and no speed-rating letters are shown in the size descriptions for these products. That means highway use needs to be approached with the understanding that the tire is only one part of the equation on a 1950 Chevrolet. Brakes, steering, suspension, wheel condition, alignment, and the overall condition of the car are every bit as important as the tires themselves when planning road speeds.

A properly maintained 1950 Chevrolet on fresh, correctly sized tires can be driven on modern roads, but it should still be operated within the comfort zone of its design era and present mechanical condition. Bias-ply tires also have a different feel from modern radials, especially in tracking and response. Before extended highway use, make sure the tires are in good condition, the wheels are sound, and the rest of the chassis is ready for the kind of speeds and distances you intend to cover.

Several 1950 Chevrolet tires listed here show load-and-pressure ratings of 1450 pounds at 32 psi or 1550 pounds at 32 psi, depending on the specific product and size. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket instruction to inflate every 1950 Chevrolet tire to the same operating pressure in every situation. The correct running pressure should be guided by the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for the car and by the tire maker’s guidance for the exact product being used.

That distinction matters because tire size, load rating, and vehicle setup are related but not interchangeable. A Convertible Coupe on 710-15 and a 6 Cyl. sedan or Wagon on 670-15 should each be checked against the proper references for that combination. Start with the original Chevrolet specification if available, compare it with the tire manufacturer’s recommendations for the reproduction tire, and avoid borrowing a pressure number from a different size simply because the wheel diameter is the same.

Before a longer drive in a 1950 Chevrolet, inspect each tire for weather cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and do not forget the spare. Check that the valve stems are sound, that the wheels are in good condition, and that the tires match the correct size for the model. A longer outing is also the right time to look beyond the tires and verify the broader basics expected on a seventy-plus-year-old car, including brakes, fluids, steering response, and cooling condition.

That pre-drive routine helps turn an old-car outing from a gamble into a plan. Bias-ply tires reward careful preparation, especially if the Chevrolet has spent time parked or has not recently covered highway miles. If the car pulls, vibrates, or feels unsettled during the first few miles, stop and reassess rather than pushing onward. A few extra minutes in the garage is usually far easier than dealing with a tire or wheel issue far from home.