1952 Willys Tire Fitment Guide

1952 Willys vehicles used six different sizes across five model groups: 670-15 on the 473 & 673 Wagon, 6.50-15 on the 473 Sedan Delivery, 590-15 and 640-15 on the Arrow Series, 600-16 and 700-15 on the Jeep CJ-3A, and 700-15 on the Willys Wagon. Most of these are model-specific, and only 700-15 is shared by more than one model group. Rim diameters are mostly 15 inch, but 600-16 is a 16-inch application.

That means a 1952 Willys owner should identify the exact model before comparing products, especially when looking at a CJ-3A or one of the wagon-based bodies. If your Willys is on a 16-inch wheel, the 600-16 group is separate from the 15-inch fitments; if it is on a 15-inch wheel, the correct numeric size still depends on whether the vehicle is an Arrow passenger car, a sedan delivery, or a wagon.

On a 1952 Willys tire, 670-15 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 6.70 portion refers to the nominal section width, and the 15 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. For 1952 Willys applications, 670-15 is used on the 473 & 673 Wagon and appears in blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply offerings from several vintage-style brands.

That code matters because it is not interchangeable with other Willys sizes simply because they also fit a 15-inch wheel. A 670-15 wagon tire sits in a different size family than 590-15 or 640-15 Arrow tires, and it is also distinct from the larger 700-15 utility applications. Matching the full size code, not just the rim diameter, is the right starting point for an accurate and usable fitment.

No. 1952 Willys models do not share one universal tire size. The Arrow Series uses 590-15 or 640-15, the 473 Sedan Delivery uses 6.50-15, the 473 & 673 Wagon uses 670-15, the Jeep CJ-3A uses either 600-16 or 700-15, and the Willys Wagon uses 700-15. That spread reflects how broad the Willys lineup was in 1952, from compact passenger cars to utility vehicles.

The practical takeaway is simple: year and make narrow the search, but model finishes it. A buyer looking at Arrow, wagon, and Jeep tires will see overlapping vintage styling, yet the sizes themselves are not the same. If you are unsure which body or chassis family you have, resolve that first, then compare whitewall style, brand, and other period details within the correct size group.

1952 Willys tires are available in several period-appropriate sidewall looks, depending on size. Blackwall options appear in 670-15, 590-15, 600-16, and 700-15. Wide whitewalls are offered in 670-15, 590-15, 640-15, 600-16, and 700-15, while 640-15 also includes a narrow whitewall choice. That variety lets an owner tailor the finished appearance without leaving the proper size family for the vehicle.

For a utilitarian Jeep or work-focused Willys body, blackwalls usually fit the character most naturally. For Arrow passenger cars and more upscale wagon presentations, wide whitewalls can better match the early-1950s styling language many restorers want. The main thing is to choose the sidewall style after confirming the model and size, since appearance options differ quite a bit from one Willys fitment to another.

Several brands cover 1952 Willys applications, but they do not all cover every size. Firestone appears in 670-15, 640-15, 600-16, and 700-15. BFGoodrich appears in 590-15, 640-15, 600-16, and 700-15. Coker Classic appears in 670-15 and 600-16, US Royal appears in 670-15, Universal Vintage Tire appears in 670-15, Avon appears in 590-15 and 600-16, and STA appears in 700-15.

That mix gives Willys owners room to prioritize visual character as much as brand preference. Some sizes offer mostly passenger-car styled choices with blackwall or whitewall options, while 700-15 adds an STA Traxion option that speaks more to utility use and appearance. Once the correct size is settled, brand comparison becomes much more meaningful because you are evaluating products that actually belong to the same Willys application.

For 1952 Willys vehicles using 700-15, Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer traditional bias-ply passenger-style tires with 15-inch rim fitment, 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim width range, and a 1700-pound load figure at 32 psi on the listed examples. Firestone is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall, while BFGoodrich is listed in wide whitewall. The listed Firestone blackwall weighs 26 pounds, the Firestone wide whitewall 29 pounds, and the BFGoodrich wide whitewall 28 pounds.

That means the biggest differences are presentation and product line choice rather than a major change in size category. If your Willys needs a plain blackwall look, Firestone gives that path within 700-15; if you want a whitewall, both brands keep you in the same basic fitment range. For a utility-oriented alternative, the same size also includes the STA Traxion, which changes the character of the tire more noticeably than the Firestone-versus-BFGoodrich comparison does.

Rim width requirements on 1952 Willys tires vary by size. The listed 670-15 products use 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims in some lines and 5.00 to 6.00 inch rims in others. The 590-15 and 600-16 products shown use 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, 640-15 uses either 4.00 to 4.50 or 4.50 to 5.00 depending on brand, and 700-15 uses 5.00 to 5.50 inch rims on the listed passenger-style products.

That spread is why the wheel itself should be measured and compared to the specific tire you are considering, even when the size code is correct. A Willys owner comparing brands within one size may still need to watch for differences in approved rim-width range. On a restoration, that step is especially important if the wheels have been changed over the years or if the vehicle arrived without its original rims.

Original 1952 Willys wheels cannot be treated as universal across the entire lineup because the vehicles did not all use the same rim diameter. Most of the range is built around 15-inch tires, but the Jeep CJ-3A also appears with a 600-16 fitment that requires a 16-inch wheel. Even within the 15-inch group, the approved rim-width ranges differ by size and sometimes by brand.

The practical rule is to confirm wheel diameter first, then compare the wheel's width against the tire you want to run. A 15-inch Willys wheel may be suitable for one 15-inch size but still fall outside another product's recommended width range. If your Jeep or wagon has changed hands several times, assume nothing and verify the actual wheel before committing to a replacement tire.

A stored 1952 Willys should be kept out of direct sunlight, away from electric motors or other ozone sources, and in a dry, stable environment. Tires last better when they are kept clean, properly inflated, and not left sitting for long stretches on damp ground. Bias-ply tires, which cover the 1952 Willys sizes here, are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during storage than modern radials, especially if the vehicle sits in one position for months.

Moving the Willys periodically helps change the contact patch and reduce set-in flat spots. For longer storage, many collector owners also use stands to remove some static load, while still keeping the suspension supported appropriately. If the vehicle stays parked seasonally, make tire pressure and visual sidewall checks part of the routine before it goes into storage and again before it returns to the road.

On a 1952 Willys, tire life is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage. Collector vehicles often accumulate limited miles, so the useful service window should be evaluated from the tire's age, visible condition, and how it has been stored. A good rule is to inspect carefully once a tire reaches the five-to-seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread.

The date code on the tire helps establish that timeline, but age alone is not the whole story. Heat, sunlight, repeated underinflation, and long static storage can shorten service life on a lightly used Willys just as surely as regular road use can. If the tire is older and the vehicle is driven at road speeds, replacing earlier is often the wiser path than waiting for the tread to wear out.

Tires on a 1952 Willys should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any loss of pressure since the last use. Vintage-use vehicles can sit for long periods between drives, and that stop-start pattern makes condition checks more important than they are on a regularly driven modern car.

A quick inspection should also include the spare, because a decades-old spare is often the least-used and oldest tire on the vehicle. Pay close attention to valve stems as well, since age-related cracking there can cause slow leaks that are easy to overlook. Building a simple pre-drive ritual around pressure, sidewalls, and tread condition helps catch problems before a local cruise or a longer highway trip.

The 1952 Willys Arrow Series belongs squarely in the bias-ply era, and the size families associated with it here are 590-15 and 640-15. Those are both traditional numeric bias-ply passenger-car sizes mounted on 15-inch wheels, which aligns with what a buyer would expect from an early-1950s compact American car. Sidewall treatment could vary by presentation, but the underlying construction type for original-style fitment remains bias-ply rather than modern radial.

For restoration work, the next step is deciding whether your specific Arrow calls for the smaller 590-15 or the larger 640-15 application. Whitewall width and brand style then become appearance choices within the correct size family. If the car is being judged, market history and trim-specific presentation standards are worth confirming through Willys marque specialists or club resources before settling on the final sidewall look.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when a 1952 Willys is shown for authenticity. Judges and knowledgeable Willys enthusiasts often look at the overall combination of size, construction, and sidewall appearance because those details strongly affect the vehicle's stance and period character. On a 1952 Willys, using the right model-specific size is the first requirement, since Arrow, wagon, sedan delivery, and CJ applications do not all share one tire code.

A tire that is visually attractive but belongs to the wrong Willys model family can undermine an otherwise careful restoration. Sidewall style also changes the impression significantly, especially on early-1950s passenger cars and wagons where blackwalls, narrow whites, and wide whites create very different looks. Event-specific standards can vary, so a serious show car should be checked against Willys club guidance before finalizing tires.

For the 1952 Willys Arrow Series in 640-15, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer bias-ply passenger-car tires on 15-inch rims, but the listed details show some differences. The BFGoodrich example is a 3.00-inch wide whitewall rated at 1190 pounds at 32 psi and fits 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. The Firestone examples include 2.75-inch and 2.125-inch wide whitewalls at 1190 pounds at 32 psi plus a 1.00-inch narrow whitewall at 970 pounds at 32 psi, all on 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims.

That means the choice can be guided by both appearance and wheel fitment. If the Arrow has narrower wheels, the BFGoodrich specification may align more naturally; if the car has wheels in the wider listed range, the Firestone options open up several whitewall looks. For a buyer chasing period style, the whitewall width itself becomes a meaningful styling decision rather than a minor cosmetic detail.

1952 Willys tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their construction and rating limits. Most of the listed offerings are traditional bias-ply products, and some Avon versions in 590-15 and 600-16 carry an H speed rating, which corresponds to 130 mph. That number does not mean a 1952 Willys should be driven anywhere near that speed; it only identifies the tire's rating category.

At normal U.S. highway speeds, the bigger limitation on many 1952 Willys vehicles is usually the age and design of the vehicle itself rather than the headline speed category of the tire. Steering feel, braking distances, suspension wear, and overall mechanical condition matter just as much as the tire. A well-sorted Willys on fresh, correctly inflated tires is a very different highway car from one running old rubber and neglected running gear.

Inflation pressure on 1952 Willys tires should be set by the vehicle's factory guidance and the specific tire's rated information rather than by copying one number across the whole lineup. The listed load figures commonly pair with 32 psi on sizes such as 670-15, 590-15, 640-15, 600-16, and 700-15, but those figures represent tire load ratings, not a universal Willys running recommendation. Different sizes and products should be treated as separate fitments.

The safest approach is to start with the pressure recommendation for your exact Willys model and then confirm that it makes sense within the selected tire's approved operating range. A CJ-3A on 600-16 should not automatically be inflated like an Arrow on 590-15, and a wagon on 700-15 should not borrow settings from a narrower passenger-car tire. Correct pressure affects wear, handling, ride quality, and heat build-up.

Before a longer drive in a 1952 Willys, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, visible cord, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Check the spare as well, because it may be the oldest tire on the vehicle. Since 1952 Willys applications span several model-specific sizes, it is also wise to confirm that all four road tires actually match in size and construction before leaving on a trip.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive inspection suited to an early-1950s vehicle. Wheel fasteners, brakes, steering play, fluid levels, and lights all deserve attention before sustained road use. If the Willys has been parked for a while, take a short local drive first to feel for vibration, flat-spotting, or pull before committing to a highway run or a full-day event.