Buick Master Tires

Buick Master was one of Buick’s important mid-1920s offerings, positioned as a substantial six-cylinder American touring and family car during a period when the industry was moving from earlier carriage-influenced tire practice toward more standardized balloon-era fitments. A 1926 Buick Master can be straightforward at first glance, but tire selection is not entirely simple because two very different size notations appear for the same model year. One uses an antique diameter-by-section format, while the other is a more familiar numeric size tied to a 21-inch rim. Anyone choosing tires for Buick Master should first confirm which wheels are actually on the car before narrowing the correct fitment.

Buick Master Tire Size Guide

Buick Master uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1926 model year, and the first thing to sort out is that the size notation changes even within that single year. One of those sizes uses the antique diameter-by-section format, where the leading number is the tire’s outside diameter in inches rather than the wheel diameter. That is why the wheel itself, and the stated rim diameter in the tire specification, matter more than the first number in the code.

33X6.001926Antique diameter-by-section

33X6.00 is listed for 1926 Buick Master and represents an older style of sizing used during the transition into more modern balloon-era measurements. The 33 means the tire’s overall outside diameter in inches, while 6.00 is the nominal section width; the wheel diameter is not contained in the size code and must be confirmed on the car itself. Choose 33X6.00 only if your Buick Master still carries the wheels intended for that sizing convention, and because it is an antique-style fitment, a tube is required.

600-211926Numeric bias-ply

600-21 is listed for 1926 Buick Master and is the size with currently available replacement products for this model year. The 600 indicates a nominal 6.00-inch section width, and the 21 identifies a 21-inch rim diameter; the available products are bias-ply tires built for 21-inch wheels. Choose 600-21 when your Buick Master is fitted with 21-inch rims and you want a period-appropriate bias-ply construction, and a tube is required.

Buick Master Tires by Year

The year listing shows which tire sizes are associated with each Buick Master model year so you can work from the car’s production year and then verify the wheels on the car. In 1926, more than one size is listed, so wheel identification matters before selecting a tire. The leading number in 33X6.00 is the tire’s outside diameter, not the wheel size, so the actual rim diameter must be confirmed from the wheel itself.

Best Buick Master Tires for Sale

Available Buick Master tire offerings cover 2 brands and 3 products in the listed sizes. Confirm the exact size and the wheel’s rim diameter before selecting, since 1926 Buick Master listings include more than one size notation.

600-21 Products

These are the available products for 600-21.

Bias Ply

Lester | 600-21

Lester - Lester Classic Bias Ply

SidewallBlackwall
Rim Diameter21 in
Rim Width—
Weight20 lb
Max Load—
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Bias Ply

BFGoodrich 3.50 Inch Whitewall | 600-21

BFGoodrich - Silvertown Classic Bias Ply

SidewallWide Whitewall
Rim Diameter21 in
Rim Width3.00 - 3.75 in
Weight34 lb
Max Load1350@36 psi
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Bias Ply

BFGoodrich | 600-21

BFGoodrich - Silvertown Classic Bias Ply

SidewallBlackwall
Rim Diameter21 in
Rim Width3.00 - 3.75 in
Weight31 lb
Max Load1350@36 psi
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Buick Master FAQ focuses on the two different 1926 size notations, how to tell whether your car uses an antique-style size or a 21-inch numeric fitment, and what bias-ply construction means for restoration, use, and long-term care.

Size Basics & Fitment

Buick Master uses two listed tire sizes for 1926: 33X6.00 and 600-21. The 33X6.00 size is an antique diameter-by-section designation, while 600-21 is a numeric bias-ply size that fits a 21-inch rim and has the currently available replacement products in this listing.

The practical difference is that those two codes are not interchangeable ways of writing the same thing. Start by checking the wheel on the actual Buick Master, because 600-21 specifically calls for a 21-inch rim, while 33X6.00 requires you to identify the wheel separately since the rim diameter is not stated in the size code itself.

On Buick Master, 33X6.00 is an antique-style tire size. The 33 refers to the tire’s approximate outside diameter in inches, and the 6.00 refers to the nominal section width, so the first number is not the wheel diameter the way a modern buyer might expect.

That matters because a Buick Master owner can easily mistake 33 for a rim size, which it is not. If your car is listed with 33X6.00, inspect the wheel carefully and compare it with the physical tire and rim dimensions before choosing a replacement, especially if the car has been restored or updated at some point in its life.

A 1926 Buick Master has 2 tire sizes listed because the model year appears with two different sizing conventions: 33X6.00 and 600-21. That kind of split is typical of an era when manufacturers and service references could overlap between earlier overall-diameter sizing and more standardized rim-based numeric sizing.

For the owner, that means the model year alone is not enough to choose a tire. Check the car’s actual wheels, compare the existing tire size if present, and verify whether the Buick Master in front of you is set up for the antique-style fitment or for a 21-inch rim using the 600-21 numeric size.

Buick Master fitments in these listings are bias-ply sizes, and the applicable constructions here should be treated as tube-type use. The antique-style 33X6.00 fitment requires a tube, and the available 600-21 bias-ply replacements should also be used with a tube.

That is especially important on a restored 1926 Buick Master, where wheel condition and rim profile can have a major effect on how the tire and tube work together. Before mounting new tires, have the wheels checked for rust, cracks, spoke or lock-ring issues where applicable, and any burrs that could damage a fresh tube.

Buying the Right Tire

The correct way to confirm tire size for a 1926 Buick Master is to identify the wheel and the size convention used on the car rather than relying on the model year alone. Buick Master is listed with both 33X6.00 and 600-21, and only 600-21 explicitly identifies a 21-inch rim in the size code.

Begin with the rim itself, then compare any surviving tire markings, restoration paperwork, and marque references for your specific car. That approach is especially useful on older cars that may have had wheel changes during restoration, because a Buick Master fitted with 21-inch rims should stay with 600-21 rather than an antique-style diameter code chosen by appearance alone.

Buick Master tires in the available 600-21 size are offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The listed products include a Lester blackwall and BFGoodrich offerings in both blackwall and 3.50-inch wide whitewall form.

That gives a Buick Master owner some flexibility depending on whether the goal is a more restrained touring-car appearance or a brighter restored presentation. Sidewall choice should come after fitment is settled, since style does not change the basic requirement to match the correct size and 21-inch rim where 600-21 is being used.

Buick Master tire offerings in the listed products come from Lester and BFGoodrich. The BFGoodrich options are part of the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply line, while the Lester option is part of the Lester Classic Bias Ply line.

Brand choice on a Buick Master usually comes down to presentation details such as sidewall style and the visual character you want on the finished car. Once the correct size and wheel diameter are confirmed, compare the available blackwall or whitewall treatments and choose the brand that best suits the car’s restoration direction and intended use.

Buick Master products here are offered in two tire series: Lester Classic Bias Ply and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply. Both are bias-ply constructions in the available 600-21 fitment, so the main difference is the series and brand presentation rather than a shift to a different construction type.

For a Buick Master owner, that means the decision is less about changing the basic driving character and more about selecting the look and brand family that fits the car. After the fitment is confirmed, compare the series alongside sidewall style, since one line is offered as blackwall only here while the other includes both blackwall and wide whitewall choices.

Maintenance & Longevity

A Buick Master should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, heaters, and chemicals that can age rubber. Bias-ply tires on an older car also benefit from clean floors, stable temperatures, and inflation checked before long periods of storage.

If the Buick Master will sit for months at a time, move it occasionally to avoid flat spotting and keep the weight from resting on one section of the casing too long. Many collectors also reduce prolonged load by supporting the car properly during off-season storage, while still keeping the suspension and wheels in a natural, safe position.

Tires on a Buick Master should be inspected before each drive and given a more careful visual check several times during the season, especially on a car that is used infrequently. On a 1920s bias-ply application, look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, impact damage, uneven wear, and any tube-related loss of pressure.

Because collector cars often spend long stretches parked, condition can change with age even when mileage stays low. A Buick Master also deserves periodic wheel inspection at the same time, since rim condition, spoke integrity where applicable, valve stem health, and proper mounting all affect how safely the tire performs on the road.

Buick Master tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, irregular shape, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out, and that is especially true on early bias-ply applications that may see little mileage but many years of service.

A cautious owner treats appearance as only part of the picture and has suspect tires evaluated before continued use. If a Buick Master ever carries an older period tire for display purposes, separate show presentation from driving use, because age-related deterioration can exist inside the casing long before the tread or sidewall looks obviously worn.

Restoration & Authenticity

Buick Master is associated here with both 33X6.00 and 600-21 for 1926, which shows that more than one period-correct style of fitment can enter the discussion for this model year. The available replacement products are bias-ply tires in 600-21, reflecting the era’s construction style rather than a modern radial substitute.

For restoration work, the best path is to match the specific Buick Master in your garage rather than assume one size applies to every car from the same year. Original paperwork, surviving wheels, factory literature, and marque-club guidance are the right references when authenticity matters for judging or a historically faithful restoration.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the presentation, judging, and perceived value of a Buick Master because tire size, construction style, and sidewall treatment are highly visible parts of the car’s stance and period character. A 1920s Buick sitting on the wrong size or the wrong visual style can look immediately out of step even to a casual observer.

For serious restoration, the goal is to match the Buick Master’s actual wheel setup and the appearance appropriate to the era of the car. Marque clubs, event judging standards, and period photographs are especially helpful when deciding between blackwall and whitewall presentation or when confirming whether your car should wear the antique-style size or 600-21.

Buick Master tires in the available 600-21 products can be finished as blackwall or wide whitewall, and either choice creates a distinctly different visual effect on the completed restoration. Blackwall generally gives a more understated appearance, while wide whitewall adds a brighter and more formal presentation.

The right answer for a Buick Master restoration depends on the look you are chasing and the standards of the event or club where the car will be shown. If authenticity is the priority, compare the sidewall style to period photos, surviving cars, and marque guidance so the tire complements the car rather than overpowering its original design character.

Safety & Road Use

A properly selected and correctly mounted tire can make a Buick Master suitable for careful public-road use, but the car remains a 1920s machine with braking, steering, suspension, and road-holding limits far different from modern traffic. The listed replacement tires are bias-ply designs, so they should be used with the conservative expectations that belong to the period.

Safe use depends on more than the tire itself. Before regular road driving, make sure the Buick Master’s wheels, tubes, brakes, steering components, bearings, and alignment are all in sound condition, and drive the car at speeds that suit both the tire type and the mechanical capability of an early touring-era automobile.

Before driving a Buick Master, check inflation, visible tire condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of sidewall cracking, tread separation, or impact damage. On an older bias-ply setup, it is also wise to look for uneven stance, tube leakage, or rubbing that might suggest the wrong size or an issue with wheel condition.

A short pre-drive inspection matters more on a Buick Master than it does on a modern daily driver because age-related problems can develop even when the car has barely moved. Build the habit of checking the tires as part of a full mechanical walk-around, including brakes, steering play, fluid leaks, and anything that could affect control once the car is moving.

A Buick Master should be driven at conservative speeds that reflect both its era and the behavior of bias-ply tires. Even with fresh reproduction tires, a 1926 Buick is not a modern high-speed car, and its tire performance has to be considered alongside chassis stability, steering response, and braking limits.

The sensible approach is to treat a Buick Master as a touring car meant for measured, attentive driving rather than fast highway operation. Keep speed well within the comfort zone of the car, avoid abrupt maneuvers, and remember that the correct tire helps preserve period character but does not change the fundamental road manners of a 1920s automobile.