1950 Dodge Tire Fitment Guide

1950 Dodge vehicles use five different tire sizes across three model groups: the D 33 uses 670-15, the D 34 uses 820-15 and 760-15, and the D 34-6 uses 7.10-15/6 and 710-15. Every listed size is a bias-ply design and mounts on a 15-inch wheel. Rim-width guidance varies by size where listed: 670-15 fits 4.50- to 6.00-inch rims depending on product, 710-15 fits 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, 760-15 fits 5.50- to 6.00-inch rims, and 820-15 fits 6.00- to 6.50-inch rims.

That means the first fitment question is not wheel diameter, because all of these are 15-inch tires. The real issue is matching the correct size to the exact Dodge model and then confirming that the wheel width on the car falls within the approved range for the specific tire you are considering. Once that is settled, the remaining choice usually comes down to visual presentation, such as blackwall versus narrow or wide whitewall.

On a 1950 Dodge, 670-15 is a period numeric bias-ply tire size. The 670 portion is the old-style nominal section-width designation, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not describe the tire in the same way a later P-metric radial would. On the 1950 Dodge lineup, 670-15 applies to the D 33.

Understanding that older numbering system helps you avoid comparing it too literally to a modern size chart. A 670-15 should be chosen because it is the correct period-size designation for the D 33, not because its numbers resemble a newer tire code. If you are replacing an existing tire, compare the sidewall marking and the actual wheel before finalizing the order, especially on a car that may have seen wheel changes over the years.

No, 1950 Dodge models do not all use the same tire size. The D 33 uses 670-15, the D 34 uses either 820-15 or 760-15, and the D 34-6 uses 7.10-15/6 or 710-15. All are 15-inch bias-ply tires, but the actual size varies by model family and intended application. That is why a 1950 Dodge owner cannot rely on year and make alone when selecting tires.

This is especially important for restorations and long-kept family vehicles, because older cars and trucks sometimes pick up substitute wheels or replacement tires over time. If you know only that you have a 1950 Dodge, identify the model designation before doing anything else. After that, compare the wheel and any surviving tire markings so you can decide whether the car still carries its proper fitment or has been changed at some point in its life.

1950 Dodge tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. Blackwall choices appear in 670-15, 710-15, and 820-15. Narrow whitewall options appear in 760-15 and 820-15, while wide whitewall options appear in 670-15, 710-15, 760-15, and 820-15. That gives owners room to tailor the finished look while staying within the correct size for the model.

For a 1950 Dodge passenger car, whitewall width has a strong effect on the car’s visual character. Wider whitewalls usually lean toward a fuller period presentation, while blackwalls give a plainer, more utilitarian look. The right choice depends on whether your Dodge is being restored to a showroom-style appearance, finished as a simpler driver, or matched to a particular family memory of the car. Sidewall style should be chosen after the correct size is confirmed.

Several brands offer fitments for 1950 Dodge vehicles, depending on size. The 670-15 size is available from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. The 820-15 size appears from BFGoodrich, Firestone, and US Royal, while 760-15 is offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire. The 710-15 size is available from BFGoodrich and Firestone.

Brand choice matters less than starting with the correct Dodge model and tire size. Once that is settled, the brand decision usually comes down to visual preference, sidewall style, and the exact product character you want on the vehicle. Many 1950 Dodge owners also prefer to keep all four tires, and ideally the spare, in the same brand and sidewall style so the car presents consistently from every angle.

For the 1950 Dodge in 710-15, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer bias-ply options built for 15-inch wheels with a 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range. Their listed max load capacities are the same at 1550 pounds at 32 psi on the examples shown, but the products differ in sidewall presentation and weight. BFGoodrich appears in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while Firestone appears in blackwall, and the listed weights vary by product from roughly 21 to 24 pounds.

That means the practical difference is less about fitment and more about appearance and brand preference within the same size class. If your D 34-6 needs 710-15, compare the exact sidewall look you want and make sure the wheel width matches the approved range. Keeping the same brand and style across the full set is usually the cleanest approach for a vehicle where visual authenticity is part of the appeal.

Rim-width requirements for 1950 Dodge tires depend on the specific size. The 670-15 size fits 4.50- to 5.00-inch rims on some products and 5.00- to 6.00-inch rims on others. The 710-15 size fits 5.00- to 5.50-inch rims, 760-15 fits 5.50- to 6.00-inch rims, and 820-15 fits 6.00- to 6.50-inch rims. All of these tires mount on 15-inch wheels, but wheel width still needs to match the tire’s approved range.

That makes wheel measurement worth the effort before you settle on a tire. A 15-inch rim is only part of the story, because a wheel that is too narrow or too wide for the size can affect how the tire seats and carries its load. If your Dodge has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels long ago, verify the actual rim width rather than assuming it still matches the original application.

Original 1950 Dodge wheels can only be used with all listed tire sizes in the broadest sense that every size here fits a 15-inch rim. That confirms wheel diameter compatibility across the lineup, but it does not mean every 15-inch Dodge wheel is correct for every tire size. The approved rim-width ranges differ significantly between sizes, from as little as 4.50 inches for some 670-15 applications up to 6.50 inches for 820-15.

In practical terms, a D 33 wheel and a D 34 wheel may both be 15-inch, yet still not be interchangeable with every tire size shown on this page. Before reusing original wheels, measure the wheel width and match it to the size you intend to run. That is especially important when moving between the lighter passenger-car sizes and the larger D 34 and D 34-6 fitments, where the proper wheel width becomes a meaningful part of correct setup.

A stored 1950 Dodge should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Bias-ply tires, which are the fitments used across the 1950 Dodge lineup, are more prone to flat-spotting during long periods of inactivity than later radials. Keeping the tires properly inflated and moving the car occasionally helps reduce stress on one contact patch.

If the car will sit for an extended period, many collectors either reposition it periodically or support it in a way that reduces prolonged static loading. Clean, dry floors are better than damp dirt or bare ground, and breathable covers are better than trapping moisture. Good storage habits protect not only the visible sidewalls, but also the casing and the overall ride quality you will notice when the Dodge goes back on the road.

Tires on a 1950 Dodge should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than mileage alone. Collector vehicles often accumulate very few miles, yet rubber still hardens and ages over time. A sensible rule is to begin giving any older tire close evaluation once it reaches the five- to seven-year range, and to treat around ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread depth.

Check the date code on the tire and compare it with the car’s actual use pattern. A Dodge that is driven only to local shows may still be riding on tires that look acceptable at a glance but have aged beyond their best service life. If the car sees regular road time or longer trips, age becomes even more important, because deterioration inside an older tire may not always be obvious from a quick visual inspection.

Tires on a 1950 Dodge should be inspected before every drive, not just at seasonal service intervals. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, and signs that the tire is losing pressure. A collector car that has sat for weeks or months between uses deserves an especially careful walk-around, because age and storage conditions can change the tire’s condition even when mileage has barely moved.

Longer outings call for a more thorough inspection that includes the spare and the valve stems. If your Dodge uses older-style wheels and period-type tire construction, it is wise to keep an eye on how consistently the tires hold air between drives. Catching a developing problem in the garage is far easier than dealing with it at highway speed or far from home in a vehicle that may not have modern roadside conveniences.

A 1950 Dodge D 33 would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the correct size for that model in this lineup is 670-15. That aligns with what buyers expect from a postwar American passenger car of 1950, when bias-ply construction was still standard practice. Sidewall treatment could vary by market presentation and owner preference, so the key authenticity markers are the correct size, period construction, and an era-appropriate sidewall appearance.

For a faithful restoration, start with 670-15 in a bias-ply construction and then decide whether the car should wear blackwalls or a whitewall style consistent with the look you are after. If the car is being judged, event standards may place value on size, sidewall width, and overall presentation. Marque specialists and Dodge club resources are the best places to confirm how a specific body style or delivery market was typically equipped.

Correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1950 Dodge because tires strongly affect both stance and authenticity. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will usually notice if the size is wrong for the model, if the sidewall treatment looks out of period, or if a car wears a construction style that does not match the way a 1950 Dodge would have appeared when new. On these Dodges, the correct baseline is a model-appropriate 15-inch bias-ply fitment.

That does not mean every event uses the same standards, but it does mean tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration, not an afterthought. A D 33 on 670-15 and a D 34 on its proper larger-size fitment will look more convincing than a car wearing a convenient substitute. Before finalizing a show build, compare your planned tire and sidewall style against period photos, club guidance, and the expectations of the events you attend.

For the 1950 Dodge D 34, both 760-15 and 820-15 are listed bias-ply fitments, but they are not interchangeable by assumption. The 760-15 size uses a 15-inch wheel and appears with a 5.50- to 6.00-inch rim-width range on products where that specification is listed. The 820-15 size also fits a 15-inch wheel but uses a wider 6.00- to 6.50-inch rim-width range, and its listed load figures are higher at 1920 pounds at 32 psi on the products shown.

That difference matters to both authenticity and setup. If your D 34 is supposed to use 760-15, moving to 820-15 without confirming the wheel and application could change the way the car sits and the way the tire matches the wheel. The right approach is to identify which of the two sizes belongs on your particular D 34 and then choose the sidewall style that suits the restoration rather than treating them as cosmetic substitutes.

1950 Dodge tires can be used for highway driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and matched to the vehicle’s actual use, but they are all bias-ply fitments in this application. Bias-ply tires deliver the period-correct look and feel expected on a 1950 Dodge, yet they do not behave like a modern radial in tracking, steering response, or resistance to flat-spotting after storage. On a car of this era, overall mechanical condition often matters as much as the tires themselves.

A careful owner should think of safe road use as a complete-vehicle question. Tire age, pressure, visible condition, wheel integrity, brakes, steering parts, and suspension all matter before taking a 1950 Dodge onto faster roads. For occasional highway travel, fresh and properly fitted bias-ply tires can be entirely reasonable, but the driver should expect period behavior and drive within the limits of both the tire design and the rest of the vehicle.

Available load-and-pressure figures vary by size on 1950 Dodge tires, so one number should not be applied across the entire lineup. The products shown include 670-15 at 1450 to 1550 pounds at 32 psi, 710-15 at 1550 pounds at 32 psi, 760-15 at 1710 pounds at 32 psi, and 820-15 at 1920 pounds at 32 psi on listed examples. Those figures describe tire capacity at a stated pressure, not a universal instruction for every Dodge model and loading condition.

The best practice is to start with the factory recommendation for the specific vehicle and compare it with the tire manufacturer’s specifications for the exact reproduction tire you are using. That matters because a load-capacity figure and a recommended operating pressure are related but not identical concepts. Never transfer a pressure number from a D 33 size to a D 34 or D 34-6 tire just because all of them happen to fit 15-inch wheels.

Before a longer drive in a 1950 Dodge, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, uneven tread wear, and air loss. Confirm that the tire size on the car matches the model’s proper fitment, and inspect the spare as well. Because these are vintage-style bias-ply applications, it is also wise to check for flat-spotting after storage and to make sure each wheel and valve area looks sound before leaving home.

A longer trip also deserves a broader mechanical check beyond the tires. Make sure the Dodge’s brakes, steering, cooling system, and lights are ready for sustained use, since an older vehicle’s roadworthiness depends on the whole package working together. If the car has been sitting, take it on a short shakedown run first to feel for pull, vibration, or unusual wandering, then recheck pressures and temperature before committing to the full drive.