Auburn 77WW Series Tires

Auburn 77WW Series belongs to the late 1920s American luxury and performance era, when styling, speed, and engineering were evolving quickly from earlier high-profile cars into more modern road machines. Produced in 1927, Auburn 77WW Series sits right in that transition, which makes tire selection more involved than it first appears. The main complication is that the same model year is associated with two very different size conventions, one using an earlier outside-diameter format and the other using a more modern numeric rim-based size. Before choosing a tire for Auburn 77WW Series, the first step is to confirm which wheel and rim diameter are actually on the car.

Auburn 77WW Series Tire Size Guide

Auburn 77WW Series uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1927 to 1927 production span. One size uses an antique-style diameter-by-section code, where the leading number is the tire's outside diameter rather than the wheel diameter, while the other uses a later numeric rim-based format. That combination is the key reason buyers should identify the wheel on the car before selecting a replacement tire.

30X6.001927Antique diameter-by-section

30X6.00 is one of the sizes used on 1927 Auburn 77WW Series models. In this format, 30 is the tire's overall outside diameter in inches and 6.00 is the nominal section width, while the wheel diameter is not stated in the size code itself. Choose 30X6.00 only if the car is fitted for this earlier-style sizing system, and confirm the actual rim diameter on the wheel before moving ahead.

6.00-181927Numeric bias-ply

6.00-18 is also listed for 1927 Auburn 77WW Series models. In numeric bias-ply sizing, 6.00 indicates the nominal section width in inches and 18 is the rim diameter in inches. Choose 6.00-18 if the car carries 18-inch wheels, and remember that a period-style bias-ply fitment in this format typically requires an inner tube.

Auburn 77WW Series Tires by Year

The year listing shows which tire sizes are associated with Auburn 77WW Series and helps narrow the search before you compare the actual wheel on the car. In 1927, more than one size is listed, so the specific wheel and configuration need to be identified rather than relying on the model year alone. The leading number in 30X6.00 is the tire's outside diameter, not the wheel size, so the rim itself needs to be checked carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQ below addresses the unusual mix of early and later size conventions used on Auburn 77WW Series, along with practical questions about tubes, collector-car tire care, and how to choose the right tire for a 1927 car.

Size Basics & Fitment

Auburn 77WW Series is associated with two tire sizes for 1927: 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. The 30X6.00 size is an antique diameter-by-section format, where 30 refers to the tire's outside diameter and 6.00 refers to section width, while 6.00-18 is a numeric bias-ply size that fits an 18-inch rim.

That means the correct choice depends on the actual wheels fitted to the car, not just the year alone. Start by checking the wheel diameter on the car itself and then match the tire size to that rim, especially because these two size systems describe the tire in very different ways.

On Auburn 77WW Series, 30X6.00 uses an older tire-sizing method in which the first number is the tire's overall outside diameter in inches and the second number is the nominal section width. It does not tell you the wheel diameter directly, which is why modern buyers often misread it as a rim size.

That difference matters because a tire in this format cannot be selected by the size code alone. If your Auburn 77WW Series carries a 30X6.00 fitment, verify the actual rim diameter from the wheel before choosing a replacement so you do not confuse overall tire height with wheel size.

A 1927 Auburn 77WW Series can show both 30X6.00 and 6.00-18 because the model year spans two sizing conventions. One is an earlier outside-diameter system and the other is a later rim-based numeric size, so the listings point to different wheel and tire setups rather than two interchangeable labels for the same tire.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not enough to settle the fitment. Check the wheel diameter and compare the tire currently on the car, any surviving factory paperwork, or restoration records so the replacement matches the configuration your Auburn 77WW Series actually uses.

Auburn 77WW Series fitments in 30X6.00 and 6.00-18 are period bias-ply style sizes, and inner tubes are generally part of that type of installation. The 6.00-18 numeric size especially follows a traditional bias-ply format where tube-type service is the normal expectation for collector applications.

Tube selection still needs to match the exact tire size and rim arrangement on the car. If your Auburn 77WW Series is being restored or returned to road use after many years, inspect the rim condition, flap requirements if applicable, and valve stem arrangement before fitting new tires and tubes.

Buying the Right Tire

The most reliable way to confirm tire size for a 1927 Auburn 77WW Series is to inspect the wheels and determine whether the car uses the antique-style 30X6.00 setup or the later 6.00-18 arrangement. Those two sizes are not interchangeable descriptions of the same fitment, because one references overall tire diameter and the other directly names an 18-inch rim.

Begin with the wheel diameter on the car, then compare that finding with any original paperwork, restoration notes, or marque-club guidance tied to your specific automobile. That step is especially important on Auburn 77WW Series because a single model year can still carry more than one valid tire specification.

Made-to-order on an Auburn 77WW Series tire means the tire is produced as a specialty collector-vehicle item rather than treated as a routine modern replacement. That designation is common in the vintage tire world, especially for low-volume period sizes that serve restoration, show, and historically correct motoring needs.

For the buyer, the important point is that made-to-order describes the product type, not a different fitment standard. Focus first on confirming the correct Auburn 77WW Series size and wheel diameter, then make sure the tire's construction and appearance suit whether the car is being restored for touring, judging, or display.

Auburn 77WW Series uses two broad sizing approaches within the same year, and that usually reflects different generations of tire and wheel practice rather than a cosmetic difference alone. The earlier diameter-by-section style belongs to the older tradition of describing overall tire height, while the 6.00-18 numeric format is tied to a wheel-specific bias-ply arrangement.

That distinction matters when choosing a tire for use or restoration, because the series or construction family needs to match the wheel system on the car. If authenticity is the priority, select the size and construction style that aligns with how your Auburn 77WW Series is actually equipped rather than simply choosing the more familiar-looking code.

Maintenance & Longevity

Auburn 77WW Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone, solvents, and long periods on damp concrete. Collector cars from the late 1920s benefit from clean storage conditions because period-style bias-ply tires and tube-type assemblies are more vulnerable to age-related deterioration than everyday modern tires.

If the car will sit for long intervals, keep inflation checked, move it occasionally to avoid flat spotting, or support it in a way that reduces constant load on one contact patch. Regular visual checks for sidewall cracking, casing distortion, or tube-related air loss are especially worthwhile on Auburn 77WW Series.

Tires on an Auburn 77WW Series should be inspected before every drive and again during routine maintenance, even if the car covers very few miles. A pre-war style collector car can spend more time aging in storage than wearing tread on the road, so sidewall condition, bead area, tube integrity, and inflation stability matter as much as visible tread depth.

That inspection should include looking for cracks, bulges, uneven wear, looseness at the valve stem, and any sign that the rim itself is affecting the tire. Because Auburn 77WW Series may use older-style wheel and tube arrangements, a careful once-over before touring or event use is a sound habit.

Tires on an Auburn 77WW Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, casing distortion, or other structural warning signs appear, even if the tread still looks usable. On a collector car, calendar age and storage history often determine service life more than mileage does.

That principle is even more important with any original-period or long-stored tire, because appearance alone does not prove roadworthiness. If an Auburn 77WW Series carries older tires of uncertain age, have them evaluated by a specialist before driving and treat any severe age-related deterioration as a reason to retire them from road use.

Restoration & Authenticity

Auburn 77WW Series is associated with both 30X6.00 and 6.00-18 in 1927, which indicates that more than one period-correct tire specification can be relevant within the model year. Those two sizes belong to different sizing conventions, so originality depends on the exact wheel and configuration carried by the specific automobile.

For restoration work, the right path is to match the tire to the car's actual wheel equipment and then verify that choice against factory literature, surviving car evidence, or marque-club guidance. Auburn 77WW Series rewards that extra effort because the correct tire size affects both stance and historical accuracy.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how an Auburn 77WW Series is viewed in restoration judging and by knowledgeable collectors. Tire size, construction type, and overall visual profile all contribute to whether the car presents as properly restored for its year and configuration.

Using the wrong sizing system or the wrong wheel-related fitment can alter the car's stance and undermine authenticity, even if the tire physically mounts. If show accuracy matters, compare your Auburn 77WW Series against period references and consult marque specialists so the tire choice supports both historical correctness and long-term value.

Auburn 77WW Series belongs to an era when sidewall appearance plays a major role in the finished look of a restoration, and the correct choice depends on how the specific car is being restored. Late-1920s American cars can look noticeably different depending on whether the owner is aiming for a conservative touring presentation or a more upscale period appearance.

The best approach is to match the sidewall style to original photos, surviving examples, and event judging standards for your intended use. On an Auburn 77WW Series, sidewall treatment is not just decoration; it shapes the visual character of the entire car and should be chosen with the same care as the tire size itself.

Safety & Road Use

Auburn 77WW Series can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, properly fitted, and in sound condition, but expectations should remain appropriate to a 1927 automobile. Period-style tires, wheels, brakes, steering, and chassis behavior are very different from modern cars, so safe road use depends on the entire vehicle being mechanically sorted, not just the rubber.

Treat road driving as part of an overall mechanical system check. Before using an Auburn 77WW Series beyond local testing or event driving, make sure the wheel condition, tube setup, inflation, steering response, and brake performance are all inspected by someone familiar with pre-war cars.

Before driving an Auburn 77WW Series, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any signs of rubbing or uneven seating. On a car that may use tube-type period tires, you also want to make sure the rim is clean and sound and that there is no slow air loss that could point to tube or bead issues.

That tire check should sit alongside a broader pre-drive inspection of brakes, steering, wheel bearings, and fuel and cooling systems. Auburn 77WW Series is from an era where a careful garage inspection before every outing is part of responsible operation, especially after the car has been stored.

Appropriate speed for an Auburn 77WW Series on original-style tires should reflect the car's 1927 design, the condition of the tires, and the condition of the entire chassis. Even with correctly fitted replacement tires, these cars are best enjoyed at moderate touring speeds rather than driven as though they were modern highway vehicles.

Keep speed conservative enough that steering, braking, and road feel remain relaxed and predictable, especially on older pavement or crowned secondary roads. If an Auburn 77WW Series carries aged tires, uncertain wheels, or any unrestored running gear, restrict use further until the car has been fully evaluated.