Auburn 165 Series Tires

The Auburn 165 Series uses two listed tire sizes for 1933: 6.50-17 and 700-17. Both are numeric bias-ply sizes built for 17-inch rims, but they represent different section widths and overall proportions. Current product availability in the listed range appears under 700-17, while 6.50-17 remains part of the model’s known size range for the same year.

That means a 1933 Auburn 165 Series owner should not choose by year alone. The right approach is to inspect the tire size already on the car, verify the wheel diameter, and compare the car against original paperwork, surviving wheel equipment, or an Auburn specialist’s guidance so the tire preserves the car’s correct stance and proportions.

On an Auburn 165 Series, 700-17 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 indicates a nominal 7.00-inch section width, written without a decimal in the older style, and 17 is the rim diameter in inches. The available 700-17 products fit 17-inch rims and are shown for rim widths from 3.5 to 4.0 inches depending on the tire.

That larger numeric size usually points to a fuller prewar tire profile than the 6.50-17 alternative. If your Auburn 165 Series currently wears 700-17 or your wheel and restoration references match that size, staying with it will help keep the car’s visual balance and intended ride character in line with period-correct bias-ply practice.

A 1933 Auburn 165 Series has two tire sizes listed because the model year included more than one fitment within the same basic series. The sizes are 6.50-17 and 700-17, and both use the same 17-inch rim diameter, so the difference is not a wheel-size change. It is more likely tied to specific configuration, equipment choice, or a body-and-chassis variation within the model line.

That matters because a car can be correct for 1933 and still need one size rather than the other. If the car has been restored, modified, or fitted with replacement wheels over the decades, use the year listing as a starting point and then confirm the exact setup on the car before choosing a replacement tire.

Yes, the Auburn 165 Series should be treated as an inner-tube application with these listed sizes. Both 6.50-17 and 700-17 are prewar numeric bias-ply sizes, and the available products in the listed range are bias-ply construction rather than modern tubeless radial fitments. That makes tube use part of the normal setup for this kind of 1933 collector-car wheel and tire combination.

Tube fitment is especially important on a low-use prewar car because storage, wheel condition, and infrequent service can all affect air retention. Make sure the tube matches the tire size and that the wheel itself is clean, true, and suitable for tube-type mounting before the Auburn 165 Series goes back on the road.

Start by checking the size on the tires currently fitted to your 1933 Auburn 165 Series and confirming that the wheels are 17-inch rims. The two listed sizes for the model year are 6.50-17 and 700-17, so the decision is between two same-diameter fitments with different section widths. If the car has older replacement tires, compare what is on the car with original paperwork, restoration records, or marque references.

That extra step matters because many prewar cars have been altered over time with different wheels or non-original tire sizes. Measuring the wheel, reading any surviving sidewall markings, and checking the car’s specific body or chassis configuration will do more to identify the proper Auburn 165 Series tire than relying on the year alone.

The listed Auburn 165 Series products in 700-17 are available in Blackwall, Wide Whitewall, and Double-Whitewall sidewall styles. Those options appear across Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 offerings, giving owners a choice between a more restrained blackwall appearance and brighter whitewall presentations. Each style keeps the same basic prewar bias-ply construction while changing the visual character of the car.

For a restoration-minded Auburn 165 Series owner, sidewall choice should follow the car’s intended look and period presentation. A blackwall often suits a more understated specification, while a whitewall or double-whitewall creates a more formal and deluxe appearance that can complement Auburn’s dramatic early-1930s styling.

The listed Auburn 165 Series tire products come from Firestone and Ensign. Firestone appears in the Firestone Balloon series with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions in 700-17, while Ensign appears with the Ensign B5 blackwall in the same size. That gives the Auburn 165 Series owner two distinct brand choices within the currently available product range.

Brand choice on a prewar car usually comes down to the balance you want between visual presentation, period flavor, and the specific tread or sidewall style you prefer. Once the correct Auburn 165 Series size is confirmed, comparing the available brand and sidewall combinations becomes the more useful next step than choosing solely by name.

The listed Auburn 165 Series products include two tire series: Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5. Both are bias-ply offerings in 700-17, but they differ in brand identity and available sidewall presentation. Firestone Balloon is offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while Ensign B5 is shown as a blackwall tire.

For an Auburn 165 Series owner, the practical difference is less about basic construction and more about the visual finish and period look you want on the car. If your priority is broad sidewall choice, Firestone Balloon offers more appearance options; if your goal is a straightforward blackwall prewar presentation, Ensign B5 also sits within the correct size range.

A fitted Auburn 165 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Keep the tires clean, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and make sure inflation is appropriate for the tire and vehicle before the car is parked for any length of time. On a prewar bias-ply car, long periods of static weight can encourage flat spotting and sidewall stress.

If the Auburn 165 Series will sit for months, moving it periodically or supporting it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch can help preserve the tires. Regular visual checks during storage are worthwhile, especially on a collector car that may spend more time parked than driven.

Tires on an Auburn 165 Series should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees very limited mileage. A prewar bias-ply setup deserves close attention to inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation, bead condition, and any signs that the tube or flap may be affecting the casing. Collector cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out.

That inspection routine should include the spare as well as the tires on the ground. Because the Auburn 165 Series is a low-use antique-era collector car by modern standards, catching age-related issues early is often more important than watching tread depth alone.

Tires on an Auburn 165 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, cord exposure, impact damage, chronic air loss, or structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Low-mileage collector tires can look presentable while still aging internally. On a prewar car, sidewall and casing condition matter at least as much as visible tread wear.

Any Auburn 165 Series tire of uncertain age should be evaluated carefully before road use, particularly if the car has been stored for years. Replacement timing should be conservative on a collector car, because preserving the car and its occupants is more important than extracting the last bit of life from an old bias-ply casing.

The Auburn 165 Series is associated here with two original-type size ranges for 1933: 6.50-17 and 700-17. The currently listed products within that range include Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 bias-ply tires in 700-17, but the presence of two sizes in the same model year means the correct original fitment depends on the individual car’s configuration. There is not one universal Auburn 165 Series answer across the entire model year.

For restoration work, the best path is to match the car’s surviving wheels, period photos, old service records, and marque-club guidance against the two listed sizes. That helps keep the Auburn 165 Series faithful in stance and presentation rather than simply fitting whichever 17-inch tire is easiest to source.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the judged presentation and the perceived value of an Auburn 165 Series. Prewar cars are especially sensitive to tire profile, sidewall treatment, and overall diameter because those details strongly influence how the car sits and how authentic it appears. A tire that is the wrong section width or sidewall style can stand out immediately on a carefully restored Auburn.

For owners preparing an Auburn 165 Series for concours or serious club judging, the right move is to align size and appearance with the car’s actual specification rather than choosing by style preference alone. Marque clubs and period Auburn references remain the best checkpoints when originality is part of the restoration goal.

Auburn 165 Series owners have listed access to blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles in the 700-17 range. Any of those can create a period-appropriate prewar look depending on the specific presentation of the car, but they do not all produce the same visual effect. Blackwall reads more restrained, while whitewall and double-whitewall create a more formal, upscale appearance.

The correct restoration choice for an Auburn 165 Series should follow the character of the individual car, its trim level, and any surviving historical evidence. If originality matters, compare sidewall treatment against period photographs, factory literature, or established Auburn judging references before settling on the final look.

A properly fitted, correctly mounted, and well-maintained set of collector-car bias-ply tires can be suitable for limited public-road use on an Auburn 165 Series. The key point is that a 1933 prewar car operates within a very different mechanical and handling envelope than a modern vehicle, even when the tires are new production. Tire condition, wheel condition, alignment, brakes, steering, and tube installation all matter together.

That means road use should be approached conservatively. Before taking an Auburn 165 Series into regular traffic, make sure the entire chassis has been inspected and that the tire size on the car matches the wheel and application rather than assuming any 17-inch prewar tire will behave the same.

Before driving an Auburn 165 Series, check inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign of rubbing or uneven wear. On a bias-ply prewar setup, it is also wise to look for flat spotting after storage and to confirm that the car tracks properly once underway. A tire that has sat for long periods can behave differently during the first miles.

That routine should become part of every outing, not just seasonal preparation. Because an Auburn 165 Series is a specialized collector car, a brief walk-around and a cautious initial drive can reveal issues early and help prevent avoidable damage to scarce prewar wheels, tires, and suspension parts.

An Auburn 165 Series should be driven at moderate, mechanically sympathetic speeds when fitted with original-type bias-ply tires. Even with new production tires, the car’s steering, suspension, braking, and road manners remain those of an early-1930s automobile rather than a modern highway machine. The tires are only one part of that equation.

In practical terms, the safest approach is to drive an Auburn 165 Series at speeds that suit the car’s age, condition, and the roads available, while avoiding abrupt maneuvers and sustained high-speed cruising. A freshly restored car may look ready for modern traffic, but its best service life usually comes from measured, respectful use.