1937 Vehicle Tire Fitment Guide

1937 vehicles use a broad range of bias-ply tire sizes, including 550-16, 600-16, 650-16, 700-15, 700-16, 750-16, 6.25-16, 700-17, 750-17, 5.25-17, and 825-16. Most applications center on 16-inch sizes, but some models use 15-inch or 17-inch wheels, especially in larger or more specialized vehicle lines.

This spread reflects how varied the 1937 market was, from smaller cars such as the 1937 Ford 74 Series and 1937 Willys 37 Series to senior Packard, Lincoln, Pierce Arrow, and Duesenberg models. Several makes also used more than one tire size within the same lineup, so the correct approach is to match the tire by exact year, make, model, and series rather than assuming a single 1937 standard.

No, 1937 vehicles do not use the same tire size. Fitment varies significantly by make, model, and series, with smaller cars often using sizes like 550-16 or 600-16, while larger premium cars move into sizes such as 700-16, 750-16, 750-17, or even 825-16. Some makes also include multiple sizes within one model line.

A good example is 1937 Packard, which ranges from 650-16 to 825-16 depending on series, while 1937 Buick moves through 650-16, 700-15, 700-16, and 750-16 across its lineup. Even brands with fewer listed models, such as Ford or Plymouth, still split fitment by series. That is why exact application matching matters before selecting a replacement tire.

The right tire size for a 1937 vehicle is found by confirming the exact year, make, model, and series, then matching that vehicle to the correct listed size. For this year, that matters because many manufacturers used several sizes across their lineup, and some changed both section width and wheel diameter depending on the model.

It also helps to inspect the vehicle itself before ordering. Check the current tire size, measure the wheel diameter if needed, and confirm that the wheels on the car are the intended ones. On restored or modified vehicles, wheel swaps, brake changes, suspension work, or body clearance differences can affect fitment, so the correct 1937 specification should be paired with the car’s present configuration.

The 1937 fitment guide covers a wide mix of American makes, including Auburn, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Cord, De Soto, Dodge, Duesenberg, Ford, Graham, Hudson, Hupmobile, La Salle, Lafayette, Lincoln, Nash, Oldsmobile, Packard, Pierce Arrow, Plymouth, Pontiac, Studebaker, Terraplane, and Willys. Together, they represent both mainstream and luxury prewar applications.

That breadth is useful because 1937 tire fitment is not limited to one part of the market. The year includes common passenger-car sizes shared by Chevrolet, Ford, and Pontiac, but it also includes large senior-car fitments used by Cadillac, Lincoln, Packard, Pierce Arrow, and Duesenberg. This mix helps shoppers compare tire sizes across very different types of 1937 collector vehicles.

The tire sizes for 1937 are associated with a wide range of individual models and series, from the 1937 Chevrolet Deluxe and 1937 Chevrolet Master to the 1937 Buick 90 Series, 1937 Lincoln V12, 1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, and 1937 Duesenberg JN. Some fitments are shared across many cars, while others are tied to a single application.

Several of the most common sizes, especially 600-16 and 650-16, appear across multiple makes and classes of cars. By contrast, specialized sizes such as 5.25-17, 700-17, and 825-16 are much more narrowly assigned. That means model identification is often just as important as size identification when researching tires for a specific 1937 vehicle.

Yes, different models from the same 1937 model year can use very different tire sizes. In fact, that is one of the defining fitment patterns of this year. Some manufacturers used a size progression across their series, while others had overlapping fitments within one model line or different wheel diameters depending on trim or chassis specifications.

1937 Buick is a clear example, stepping from 650-16 up through 750-16 across its series range. Chrysler, Graham, Hudson, Nash, and Packard also show especially varied fitment. Even when two tires look close on paper, a difference in size or wheel diameter can affect clearance, stance, and mounting, so the exact model and series should always guide selection.

The available tires for 1937 vehicles are bias-ply designs in period-style sizing. Depending on the tire size, product options include blackwall, wide whitewall, and on certain 17-inch applications, double-whitewall sidewall treatments. Brands represented across the year include BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Avon, Lester, Garfield, Excelsior, STA, and Ensign.

The available selection changes by size rather than applying uniformly to every vehicle. A common size such as 600-16 has a broader spread of choices, while specialized sizes like 700-17 or 825-16 have a smaller, more focused product lineup. For a 1937 owner, that means tire choice begins with fitment first, then moves to sidewall style, brand preference, and period-oriented appearance.

The listed 1937 vehicle tires are bias-ply. That applies across the year’s vehicle fitments and available product range, from small 550-16 applications to large 17-inch and senior-car sizes. Bias-ply construction is therefore the consistent construction pattern for this 1937 guide rather than a mix of bias-ply and radial options.

That matters because construction affects ride character, steering feel, and overall period presentation. Owners researching a 1937 Chevrolet, Buick, Packard, or Pierce Arrow are working within a prewar tire landscape where bias-ply sizing and appearance are central to proper fitment research. Product differences in this year are more about size, wheel diameter, series, sidewall treatment, and brand than about switching between construction types.

Tire sizes vary across 1937 vehicles because manufacturers built cars on different wheelbases, chassis weights, and market levels, from smaller passenger cars to large luxury automobiles. In this year’s guide, construction does not vary, since the available fitments are bias-ply throughout, but size and wheel diameter still change substantially from one application to another.

A 1937 Ford, Willys, or Plymouth often falls into smaller fitments, while cars such as Cadillac, Lincoln V12, Packard senior series, and Pierce Arrow require larger sizes with different wheel dimensions and load needs. Some manufacturers also used multiple sizes within one brand or even one model family, which is why 1937 tire selection depends on exact model and series identification instead of broad year-only assumptions.

When choosing tires for a 1937 vehicle, start with the exact tire size and wheel diameter used by the specific make, model, and series. After that, compare available bias-ply products by sidewall style, brand, and any listed rim-width or load information that applies to the size you need. Those details help narrow the best match for the car and its intended use.

For many owners, appearance matters almost as much as fitment. A blackwall tire can suit a more understated presentation, while wide whitewalls or certain Balloon-style offerings may better match a period-focused restoration goal. It is also wise to confirm whether the car still has its intended wheels, since decades of repairs or upgrades can change what fits properly.

Brands available across 1937 vehicle tire applications include BFGoodrich, Firestone, Coker Classic, Avon, Lester, Garfield, Excelsior, STA, and Ensign. The exact brand selection depends on the tire size. Common sizes such as 600-16, 650-16, and 700-16 tend to have broader brand representation, while more specialized sizes may have fewer choices.

That size-dependent brand spread is important when comparing products. For example, a shopper looking at a mainstream 16-inch fitment may have both blackwall and wide whitewall choices from several makers, while a senior 17-inch fitment may be more narrowly focused. The best approach is to identify the correct 1937 size first, then review which brands actually serve that application.

Sidewall styles available for 1937 vehicle tires include blackwall and wide whitewall across many sizes, with double-whitewall options appearing on select 17-inch applications such as certain 700-17 and 750-17 products. The exact sidewall treatment depends on the specific tire size, so the same styling options are not automatically available for every 1937 vehicle.

For a restoration-minded owner, sidewall choice can strongly affect the car’s visual character. A 600-16 or 650-16 application may offer multiple whitewall widths, while larger Firestone Balloon offerings in 17-inch sizes introduce a different period look altogether. Once the correct fitment is established, sidewall selection becomes one of the main ways to tailor the finished appearance.

Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1937 vehicle. Even if the vehicle is associated with a known tire size, wheel swaps, brake conversions, suspension work, steering changes, body repairs, or altered ride height can change available clearance or wheel compatibility. That is especially important on prewar cars, where surviving vehicles are often restored or updated over many decades.

A car that originally falls into a size like 600-16 or 700-16 may no longer have its original wheels or exact chassis geometry. Before installing new tires, it is wise to confirm wheel diameter, wheel width, fender and steering clearance, and any differences between front and rear setup. Modifications do not automatically prevent fitment, but they do require closer checking.

Before installing tires on a 1937 vehicle, check the exact tire size, wheel diameter, and the vehicle’s make, model, and series. It is also helpful to verify wheel width when product specifications list a recommended range, since several 1937 sizes include rim-width guidance. Confirm that the wheels are in usable condition and that the car has adequate clearance at full steering lock and suspension movement.

For example, some listed products for 550-16, 600-16, 650-16, 700-15, 700-16, 750-16, 700-17, 750-17, and 825-16 include rim-width information that should be matched carefully. On older collector cars, it is also smart to inspect drums, hubs, lug hardware, and valve stem areas before mounting, especially if the vehicle has been stored or partially restored.

Tires on a 1937 vehicle should be inspected regularly for visible cracking, tread wear, sidewall damage, uneven wear patterns, and proper inflation based on the tire and vehicle setup. It is also important to check for age-related deterioration, especially on collector cars that spend long periods parked. Routine visual inspection is one of the simplest ways to protect both ride quality and fitment safety.

Because 1937 cars often see seasonal or occasional use, maintenance should also include checking wheel condition, balancing needs, and signs of suspension or alignment issues that could wear a bias-ply tire unevenly. Keeping the car stored on a clean surface, moving it periodically, and maintaining correct inflation helps preserve tire shape and serviceability over time.