Correct white wall width - 38 Special

[Jackh00]

Hi there, new to the AACA forums - I have a 38 Buick Special and I need new tires for it. Anyone have an idea what the correct white wall width would be? Thank you! 

[Gary W]

On my '37 I went with Coker's 4-inch WW:

 

This was my choice of tire from Coker's site

 

 

 

 

And this was the tire install.  

 

 

3-years and 1300 miles on the car and I'm very pleased with the tires.

[Grandpa]

I hope this factory picture helps.  You could scale the picture to obtain an estimated white wall width.

 

[suchan]

If you're looking to what might be expected on the judging field, the photo above is a good guide. The BCA judging manual doesn't specify WW width, near as I can recall, just tire size, 6.50x16. The tires in the picture look about the same as the tires I bought for my '37 LaSalle (also GM), 3 1/4" WW width, one of the acceptable widths in the Cadillac-LaSalle judging manual (those guys define EVERYTHING). I personally wouldn't go any narrower; wider is up to you. If you go with radials, and I'm sold on radials, maybe steer away from really wide WW's so you're not scuffing the outer edges.

[Jackh00]

Great feedback, I really appreciate the insight. I'm going with the Diamondback Auburn radials, I have them on my '48 and they are great tires. they have 3 1/4, 3 1/2, and 3 3/4 - I'm leaning towards the 3 1/2. 

[Jackh00]

Great tip on checking the judging manual - I pulled it down from the BCA site and it doesn't specify width, so I'm going to go ahead and order the 3 1/2 width. Thank you for the insight!