1949 Vehicle Tire Fitment Guide

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall, Wide Whitewall

The 590-15 size is used on the 1949 Borgward Hansa and 1949 Willys Jeepster, showing how one compact postwar bias-ply size can bridge very different vehicle types. Current offerings include blackwall and wide whitewall versions from BFGoodrich, along with an Avon bias-ply option, all for 15-inch rims. Some listings specify a 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim-width range and load figures a little above 1,000 pounds. On a smaller vehicle, proportions matter, so this is a size where maintaining the intended section width and overall period profile can be just as important as choosing the right brand.

The 5.75-16 size is tied to the 1949 Bristol 401 and is listed here as a bias-ply fitment. Although product detail for this size is limited within the year’s selection, the size itself reflects the narrower, period-style numeric convention commonly found on postwar British cars. For a specialty application like the Bristol 401, careful attention to the exact tire size is important because there may be fewer product paths than with more common American sedan sizes. Owners should confirm the wheel diameter and overall vehicle setup before choosing a replacement tire in this category.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Wide Whitewall, Narrow Whitewall

The 760-15 size is one of the core American passenger-car fitments for 1949, used across models from Buick, Chrysler, De Soto, Dodge, Hudson, Mercury, Oldsmobile, and Packard. It appears in bias-ply construction and offers a healthy selection of sidewall treatments, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall. Available products from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire are built for 15-inch rims, with some listings showing a 5.50- to 6.00-inch wheel-width range and stated load capacity. This is a strong example of a shared late-1940s size that still requires exact model-level verification.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Narrow Whitewall, Blackwall, Wide Whitewall

The 820-15 size covers many of the larger and heavier 1949 American cars, including Buick 70 Roadmaster, Cadillac 60 Series, Cadillac 61 Series, Cadillac 62 Series, Chrysler New Yorker & Saratoga C46, Lincoln EH, Lincoln EL, and select Dodge, Oldsmobile, and Packard models. It is a bias-ply 15-inch fitment with blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall choices from BFGoodrich, Firestone, and US Royal. Some products specify a 6.00- to 6.50-inch rim-width range and 1,920-pound load capacity. This size is especially important to confirm carefully because it often appears on full-size, upper-series postwar vehicles.

Rim Diameter: 16 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall, Wide Whitewall

The 750-16 size is used on the 1949 Cadillac 75 Series and Cadillac 86 Series, both substantial long-wheelbase luxury applications. It is offered here as a bias-ply tire for 16-inch rims, with blackwall and wide whitewall choices from Firestone, Lester, and BFGoodrich. Some products note a 5.00- to 6.00-inch recommended rim-width range and published load capacities, which can be useful when checking wheel compatibility on restored cars. Because these Cadillac models are distinct from the more common 820-15 fitments used on other Cadillac lines, buyers should verify the exact series before selecting a product.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall, Wide Whitewall, Narrow Whitewall

The 670-15 size is a common 1949 bias-ply fitment found on the Chevrolet 6 Cyl., Dodge D 29-6, Ford Custom, Plymouth P18, Plymouth Suburban, Plymouth Wagon, and Willys 63 Series. Its widespread use makes it an important middle-range 15-inch size for mainstream postwar American vehicles. Product coverage is extensive, with blackwall and wide whitewall offerings from Firestone, US Royal, Coker Classic, and Universal Vintage Tire, and some listings include wheel-width guidance. Because this size appears across sedans, wagons, and utility-oriented models, confirming the exact application remains important even when the size itself is familiar.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Wide Whitewall, Blackwall

The 890-15 size is associated specifically with the 1949 Chrysler Crown Imperial, making it one of the most specialized and largest passenger-car fitments in this year group. It is available in bias-ply construction with blackwall and wide whitewall choices from Avon and Firestone for 15-inch rims. Published specifications on some products include a 6.50- to 7.00-inch rim-width range and notably high load ratings, reflecting the demands of a large luxury vehicle. This is not a size to generalize from other Chrysler models, since other 1949 Chrysler lines use smaller dimensions.

Rim Diameter: 12 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall, Narrow Whitewall

The 450-12 size is used on the 1949 Crosley All Models and stands apart from most other 1949 fitments because of its very small overall size and 12-inch rim diameter. Available BFGoodrich bias-ply products come in blackwall and narrow whitewall forms, giving compact-car owners at least some visual choice despite the specialized sizing. On a lightweight postwar economy car, keeping the correct general proportions can make a noticeable difference in appearance and drivability. Because 12-inch classic applications are less common than larger domestic sizes, this is a size where exact identification matters from the start.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Wide Whitewall, Blackwall, Narrow Whitewall

The 710-15 size appears across a wide spread of 1949 makes, including Dodge, Frazer, Hudson, Kaiser, Mercury, Nash, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, and Pontiac. This is a classic bias-ply 15-inch fitment that sits between smaller mainstream sizes and the larger luxury-car dimensions of the period. Current product selection includes blackwall and wide whitewall styles from BFGoodrich and Firestone, with some listings noting a 5.00- to 5.50-inch rim-width range and 1,550-pound load capacity. It is a useful size for restorers who want broad period-style product coverage without moving into the largest postwar tire categories.

The 4.25-15 size is associated with the 1949 Fiat 500 and is listed here in bias-ply construction. As a small, narrow postwar European fitment, it differs significantly from the wider American numeric sizes common elsewhere in 1949. Product detail is limited within this year grouping, so correct identification of the car and its wheel setup becomes especially important before moving to product selection. On compact vehicles of this type, even small dimensional differences can alter appearance and clearance, making it wise to match the tire size carefully rather than assuming another 15-inch option will serve the same role.

Rim Diameter: 16 in  ·  Sidewalls: Wide Whitewall, Blackwall, Double-Whitewall

The 600-16 size fits the 1949 Ford 8HA & 8-8BA and the 1949 Jaguar XK, showing how one bias-ply size can appear on both American and British vehicles. Available 16-inch products include blackwall and wide whitewall choices from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone, with some listings calling for a 4.00- to 4.50-inch rim width and a 1,400-pound load capacity. Because these vehicles differ greatly in character, choosing among brands and sidewall styles often comes down to the intended look and use of the car, but exact fitment should still be checked by application.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall

The 155R15 size is a radial fitment used on the 1949 Holden 48/215, Morris Oxford, Peugeot 203, and Wolseley 50. This size highlights the international side of 1949 tire fitment, where some European and Commonwealth models use metric-style radial sizing rather than American bias-ply numerics. Current products are blackwall radials from Firestone and Michelin, with several listings showing 15-inch rim diameter and a 4.00- to 5.50-inch wheel-width range. For owners comparing options, this size is less about sidewall decoration and more about selecting the right radial series for the vehicle’s size and intended driving style.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall

The 550-15 size is associated with the 1949 Holden 48/215, Morris Oxford, and Wolseley 50, all in bias-ply form. Unlike some of the larger domestic sizes, this one is represented here by a single Excelsior blackwall product built for a 15-inch rim, with a listed wheel-width range of 3.00 to 3.50 inches. That narrower wheel requirement is an important detail for fitment planning on smaller postwar vehicles. Because these same models may also appear with radial-type alternatives in other sizes, owners should verify which size and construction they intend to run before ordering.

The 175R16 size is linked to the 1949 Jaguar XK and appears as a radial application. This metric radial format gives Jaguar owners a distinct fitment path separate from the XK’s listed 600-16 bias-ply option, underscoring how one model can be associated with more than one construction and size format. Product detail for this size is limited within the year grouping, so exact wheel and vehicle configuration should be confirmed carefully. On a sporting postwar car like the Jaguar XK, tire choice can influence both appearance and road feel, making size and construction selection especially meaningful.

Rim Diameter: 16 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall

The 525-16 size is associated with the 1949 Jensen Alle Typen and is available here as a bias-ply blackwall tire from Deka on a 16-inch rim. The listed product includes a 4.00- to 4.25-inch rim-width recommendation and a stated load capacity, both useful when evaluating wheel compatibility on a less common British application. This is one of the more specialized 1949 tire sizes, so it benefits from a careful, exact approach rather than broad comparison with better-known domestic fitments. Owners restoring uncommon vehicles will likely focus first on correct size and wheel match, then on brand preference.

Rim Diameter: 19 in  ·  Sidewalls: Blackwall

The 450-19 size is used on the 1949 MG Midget and reflects a distinctly vintage-style bias-ply fitment on a 19-inch rim. Available blackwall products from Excelsior and Ensign include standard road-oriented choices as well as more specialized series names, with some listings also showing wheel-width guidance and load capacity. This is a noticeably different tire category from the wider 15- and 16-inch postwar sedan sizes used elsewhere in 1949. For a lightweight British sports car, maintaining the correct tall, narrow profile is often central to preserving both visual character and intended wheel fit.

The 175R15 radial size appears on the 1949 Mercedes-Benz 170 and 1949 Wolseley 80. It represents another example of European-oriented fitment diversity within 1949, where certain cars are associated with radial sizing rather than only traditional bias-ply numerics. Product details for this size are limited within the year range, so shoppers should treat the vehicle application itself as the key guide and verify wheel dimensions before choosing a specific tire. Compared with smaller radial sizes such as 155R15 or 165R15, 175R15 generally points to a somewhat fuller fitment while still remaining compact by American standards.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Wide Whitewall, Narrow Whitewall, Blackwall

The 640-15 size serves several 1949 vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz 170, Nash Ambassador 600, Plymouth P17, Plymouth Suburban, and Studebaker Champion. In this guide it appears as a bias-ply 15-inch fitment with multiple sidewall styles, including blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall. Available products from BFGoodrich and Firestone include published load capacities and wheel-width ranges on some listings, which can help distinguish between wheel setups during a restoration. This size sits in the lighter-to-midrange passenger-car category and is a good example of how one postwar numeric size can span both American and European applications.

The 135R14 size is associated with the 1949 Morris Minor and appears as a radial fitment. It is one of the smallest metric-style sizes in the 1949 guide and reflects the compact scale of the Minor compared with larger postwar saloons. Product detail within this year grouping is limited, so this is a case where identifying the exact size matters more than comparing a wide range of sidewall or brand options. For small cars, proper overall dimensions are important for fender clearance and appearance, and a narrow 14-inch radial should be selected only after confirming the current wheel and vehicle configuration.

The 5.00-14 size is also associated with the 1949 Morris Minor, but in bias-ply form. Its presence alongside 135R14 highlights how some 1949 vehicles are represented with both a traditional numeric bias-ply size and a radial-format alternative. Product details are limited within this year grouping, so buyers should first decide whether they are matching an existing bias-ply setup or researching an alternate construction already associated with the model. On a compact car like the Morris Minor, size, profile, and wheel fit all play an outsized role, so the exact tire specification should be confirmed carefully.

The 155-400 size is associated with the 1949 Peugeot 203 and is listed here as a radial application. This format differs from the inch-based sizes used on most American cars in the same year and points to the distinctive fitment conventions found on certain European vehicles. Product detail within the year grouping is limited, making correct identification especially important before moving to replacement selection. Because 400 denotes a different sizing convention than a simple 15-inch or 16-inch application, owners should pay close attention to wheel specification and avoid assuming visual similarity to other compact radial sizes means interchangeability.

The 175-400 size is another radial fitment associated with the 1949 Peugeot 203. Compared with 155-400, it represents a different width within the same metric-style wheel-diameter convention, and that distinction should be treated carefully during fitment research. Product details are limited here, so the emphasis for Peugeot owners is on verifying the exact wheel and tire specification currently in use. This is one of the most specialized 1949 tire formats on the page, and it stands apart from both common American bias-ply sizes and more familiar metric radial sizes such as 155R15 or 165R15.

The 7.10-15/6 size is used on the 1949 Pontiac 6 & 8 Cyl., 1949 Pontiac Pontiac, and 1949 Pontiac Sedan Delivery. It is listed as a bias-ply fitment and should be read as a period numeric designation specific to these Pontiac applications rather than casually folded into another size without verification. Product details are limited within the year grouping, so the vehicle application itself becomes the key reference point. For Pontiac owners, this size is a reminder that even when a tire looks close to the more familiar 710-15 notation, the exact listed specification still deserves careful confirmation.

The 6.50-15 size is associated with the 1949 Studebaker Commander and appears here as a bias-ply fitment. This period-style size sits close in character to other mid-range 15-inch postwar applications, but it should be matched to the Studebaker Commander specifically rather than selected by approximation. Product details are limited within the year grouping, which makes exact size confirmation especially important before choosing a tire. On a late-1940s sedan, staying with the correct listed size helps preserve intended proportions, wheel fit, and fender clearance, particularly on cars that may no longer carry their original wheels.

Rim Diameter: 15 in  ·  Sidewalls: Wide Whitewall, Blackwall

The 600-15 size is used on the 1949 Wolseley 80 and is available here in bias-ply construction from BFGoodrich with blackwall and wide whitewall options. Product listings include a 15-inch rim diameter, published load capacity, and wheel-width guidance, making this one of the more clearly specified smaller postwar bias-ply sizes in the year range. Because the Wolseley 80 is also associated with a 175R15 radial size, buyers should confirm whether they are matching a bias-ply setup or evaluating a radial-associated fitment path already linked to the model. Construction choice matters as much as size here.