Auburn 160A Series Tires

The Auburn 160A Series in this fitment group uses one size: 700-17 for 1932. All listed tire options for the Auburn 160A Series in that size are bias-ply tires built around a 17-inch rim diameter, with rim width recommendations centered on 4 inches and one option spanning 3.5 to 4.0 inches.

That makes the first fitment check straightforward: verify that the car still carries 17-inch wheels and that the wheel width falls within the tire’s acceptable range. Once that is confirmed, the remaining choice usually comes down to sidewall appearance and whether you want a more understated blackwall look or a whitewall style that better suits the restoration.

The 700-17 size used on the Auburn 160A Series is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. In that format, 700 refers to the tire’s nominal section width class, roughly seven inches, while 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it is not read the same way as a later radial marking.

For an Auburn 160A Series owner, that means the 17-inch wheel diameter is the fixed dimension you must match, while the tire’s overall shape and profile remain true to period bias-ply construction. If a car has been modified over the years, check the wheel stampings or measure the rim before choosing among the available 700-17 options.

Yes, the Auburn 160A Series should be treated as a tube-type application with the listed 700-17 bias-ply tires. Every available tire in this fitment group is bias-ply, and that construction in a pre-war collector application calls for an inner tube rather than a modern tubeless setup.

Tube selection matters just as much as tire selection on a car of this age. Use tubes and flap or rim-strip components that match the wheel and tire combination, and inspect the wheel condition carefully so the tube is not damaged by corrosion, burrs, or old hardware inside the rim.

A 1932 Auburn 160A Series in this group uses 700-17 tires on 17-inch rims. The available tires are all bias-ply, so size confirmation starts with the wheel diameter and width rather than choosing between multiple year-specific sizes.

On an older restored car, the best practice is to inspect the wheels already on the car and compare them with any restoration records or factory literature you have. That helps you avoid choosing a tire that is visually close but wrong for the wheel width, stance, or overall period presentation of the Auburn 160A Series.

Auburn 160A Series tires in 700-17 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The listed products include blackwall options from Firestone and Ensign, along with Firestone wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions in the same size.

That gives you flexibility depending on whether the car is being restored to a restrained touring appearance or to a more formal show presentation. On a 1932 Auburn 160A Series, sidewall style has a major effect on the finished look, so match it to the body style, trim level, and judging standard you are aiming to preserve.

Two brands are represented for the Auburn 160A Series in 700-17: Firestone and Ensign. Firestone appears in its Balloon series with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall variations, while Ensign is represented by the B5 blackwall tire.

For the buyer, that means brand choice overlaps with sidewall and presentation choice rather than simply changing the size. It is worth comparing the tire series, sidewall treatment, and rim-width recommendations together so the selected tire suits both the wheel and the character of the Auburn 160A Series restoration.

The Auburn 160A Series is represented here by two tire series: Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5. Both are bias-ply offerings in 700-17, but the Firestone Balloon line includes blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while the Ensign B5 is listed as a blackwall tire with a slightly broader rim-width range.

That difference matters most when you are balancing appearance and wheel compatibility. A restorer seeking a strong period whitewall look may gravitate toward the Firestone Balloon options, while someone aiming for a blackwall presentation with some flexibility in wheel width may compare the Ensign B5 more closely against the wheel already fitted to the Auburn 160A Series.

An Auburn 160A Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and wide temperature swings. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and avoid long-term contact with oil, solvents, or damp surfaces that can accelerate deterioration in pre-war bias-ply tires.

If the Auburn 160A Series sits for extended periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces flat spotting and stress concentration in one area of the casing. Pre-war collector tires benefit from gentle use and careful storage far more than frequent heat cycles or long stationary periods under full vehicle weight.

Tires on an Auburn 160A Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular seasonal intervals, even if the car covers very few miles. A proper inspection includes air pressure, tread and sidewall condition, valve stems, tube-related issues, wheel condition, and any signs of age cracking, separation, or impact damage.

That routine is especially important on a pre-war car because the tires may age out long before they wear out. If the Auburn 160A Series is used mainly for tours, shows, or parades, a specialist inspection before the driving season helps catch deterioration that may not be obvious while the car is standing still.

Tires on an Auburn 160A Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, or internal deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often spend more time aging than wearing, so visible tread alone is not a reliable measure of remaining service life on a pre-war automobile.

Replacement decisions should be conservative because an Auburn 160A Series places historic value ahead of squeezing the last miles out of old rubber. If a tire has uncertain age history, has been stored poorly, or shows sidewall changes, have it evaluated promptly and retire it from road use before it becomes a reliability or safety issue.

The Auburn 160A Series in this group is associated with the 700-17 size, and the available replacement tires are bias-ply products in balloon-type period styling. Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 series are represented among the current options, but that does not mean every Auburn 160A Series left the factory with the same brand or sidewall treatment.

For an exact restoration, use the 700-17 size as the foundation and then compare the car’s surviving evidence, sales literature, and marque references to choose the right visual treatment. Brand, sidewall style, and presentation details can matter in judged settings even when the base size for the Auburn 160A Series is settled.

Yes, correct tire fitment can influence both judging and overall presentation value for an Auburn 160A Series. Judges and knowledgeable collectors notice whether the tire size, construction type, and sidewall appearance suit the period character of the car, especially on a prominent early-1930s American luxury automobile.

That does not mean every car needs the same cosmetic treatment, but it does mean the choice should be deliberate. A properly sized 700-17 bias-ply tire with an era-appropriate sidewall style helps the Auburn 160A Series look settled and authentic, while an obviously mismatched tire can undermine an otherwise careful restoration.

Auburn 160A Series restorers have blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall choices available in 700-17. Any of those can be period-appropriate depending on the specific restoration goal, the body style, and whether the car is being finished as a restrained driver, a formal show car, or a particular historical presentation.

The key is consistency with the rest of the car. If the Auburn 160A Series has highly detailed brightwork and a concours-oriented finish, a whitewall treatment may suit it well, while a blackwall can be the better match for a more understated look or for a car restored to a simpler touring presentation.

Properly fitted new bias-ply tires in the correct 700-17 size can be suitable for public-road use on an Auburn 160A Series when the car is mechanically sound and driven within the limits of its period design. Tire safety on a pre-war car depends not only on the tire itself, but also on wheel condition, tube condition, alignment, brakes, steering, and suspension health.

The practical standard is to treat the Auburn 160A Series as a collector automobile, not as a modern highway car. Shorter drives, conservative speeds, and regular inspections are the right approach, especially because pre-war steering feel, braking distances, and bias-ply response characteristics differ sharply from modern vehicles.

Before driving an Auburn 160A Series, check tire pressure, visible sidewall and tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of tube or bead-related air loss. It is also wise to inspect the brake system, steering play, wheel bearings, and the general condition of the chassis because tire performance on a car of this age is inseparable from the rest of the running gear.

A careful pre-drive routine reduces the chance that a small issue becomes a roadside failure. On an Auburn 160A Series that is used infrequently, seals can dry, pressures can drift, and age-related changes can appear between outings, so a few minutes of inspection before each drive is time well spent.

An Auburn 160A Series on period-style 700-17 bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect the limits of pre-war tire construction and chassis design. Even when the engine is capable of more, the appropriate road speed is usually set by braking ability, steering precision, road surface, and the age-conscious use pattern of a collector car.

In practice, that means smooth secondary-road driving rather than sustained high-speed touring. Let the Auburn 160A Series settle into the pace where it feels composed, and remember that preserving the car, its wheels, tubes, and tires is more important than testing the outer edge of performance on modern traffic roads.