Continental Ace Tires

Continental Ace uses two tire sizes across the 1933 to 1934 production span: 550-17 and 650-16. The 550-17 size appears for 1933 and 1934 and fits a 17-inch rim, while 650-16 appears for 1933 and fits a 16-inch rim. Both are numeric bias-ply sizes rather than modern metric sizes.

The practical takeaway is that year alone does not fully settle the question, especially for 1933. Measure the wheel, read the existing tire if it is trustworthy, and compare what is on the car against period references for that specific chassis. Once the rim diameter is confirmed, you can choose the correct size and then narrow the selection by sidewall style and intended use.

On a Continental Ace, 550-17 is an older numeric bias-ply size. The 550 portion indicates a nominal 5.50-inch section width, with the decimal omitted in the traditional size code, and the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is the size associated with 17-inch-wheel Continental Ace fitments in 1933 and 1934.

That size code matters because it points you to both the width family and the wheel diameter the tire is built for. A modern buyer should not treat it like a direct modern radial equivalent. If your Continental Ace carries 17-inch wheels and you want a period-correct look and construction, 550-17 is the starting point, followed by a check of sidewall style and overall visual profile.

Continental Ace uses two rim diameters in the listed fitments: 17-inch and 16-inch. The 17-inch fitment is tied to 550-17 and covers 1933 through 1934, while the 16-inch fitment is tied to 650-16 and appears in 1933. That means Continental Ace did not remain on a single wheel diameter across every listed application.

Because both diameters appear in the same short production window, checking the actual wheel is essential before choosing a tire. Do not assume a 1933 Continental Ace automatically takes the larger or smaller rim. A tape measure across the bead seat area, a wheel stamping, or trusted restoration paperwork will usually settle the question quickly and prevent an expensive mismatch.

Continental Ace fitments are listed in older numeric bias-ply sizes, and the available passenger-car products in both 550-17 and 650-16 are bias-ply construction. For these early prewar fitments, inner tubes are part of the normal tire setup. That is the correct assumption for the listed 550-17 and for the passenger-type 650-16 choices.

Tube selection should match the exact tire size and the wheel condition should be checked at the same time. On a collector car like Continental Ace, tube, flap, rim strip, and wheel surface condition all affect reliability. If the wheels have seen decades of storage or prior restoration work, have them inspected carefully so the tube is not being asked to compensate for a damaged or poorly prepared rim.

Start with the model year, then verify the wheel diameter on the car itself. Continental Ace uses 550-17 for 1933 and 1934 and 650-16 for 1933, so a 1934 car points cleanly to 17-inch wheels while a 1933 car needs closer inspection. The size stamped on an old tire can help, but the wheel diameter is the more important check.

Once the wheel diameter is settled, compare the car against any original literature, older restoration invoices, or marque-club guidance you trust. That is especially useful on 1933 Continental Ace because both a 16-inch and a 17-inch fitment are listed. After that, choose among the available sidewall styles and tread families according to whether the goal is authenticity, touring use, or a more specialized visual presentation.

Continental Ace tire options include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles. The 550-17 offerings include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall choices, while 650-16 includes a broad mix of blackwall and wide whitewall patterns. Those options give restorers room to match the visual character they want without leaving the listed size range.

For a prewar car like Continental Ace, sidewall treatment changes the look dramatically. Blackwall usually delivers a restrained, utilitarian appearance, while wide whitewall creates a fuller period visual statement; double-whitewall is a more specific styling choice. The right answer depends on how the car is being restored and what surviving photos or marque references suggest for that particular automobile.

The listed Continental Ace tire options come from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. BFGoodrich covers both listed sizes, while the broader 650-16 selection includes the largest mix of passenger and truck-oriented offerings. All listed Continental Ace products are bias-ply construction.

Brand choice usually comes down to the look you want, the series you prefer, and whether the car needs a passenger-car tread or a more specialized truck-style pattern in 650-16. A show-focused restoration may favor one sidewall treatment, while a utility-bodied or specialty application may point in another direction. Once size and rim diameter are confirmed, brand becomes a secondary but still meaningful restoration decision.

Continental Ace tires appear in several series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, and Firestone Classic Truck. All are bias-ply, but they separate into passenger-car classic series and heavier-duty truck or military-style series, especially in 650-16.

That distinction matters because a tire series affects tread appearance, load emphasis, and the overall personality of the finished car. A conventional classic bias-ply passenger tire is usually the better visual match for a restored Continental Ace passenger car, while truck-pattern series make more sense only if the vehicle’s intended use or configuration genuinely calls for them. Choose the series after confirming the base size, wheel diameter, and the look you are trying to preserve.

Continental Ace should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Keep the tires clean, maintain appropriate inflation for the fitted tire, and avoid long periods with the full vehicle weight resting on one spot. Early bias-ply tires benefit from a storage routine that reduces sidewall strain and flat spotting.

If the car will sit for an extended period, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant load on the tires while respecting suspension and chassis needs. Avoid petroleum-based dressings and harsh cleaners. For a seldom-driven prewar car, careful storage habits often do as much for tire life as low mileage does.

Tires on a Continental Ace should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees very little road use. On a prewar automobile with bias-ply tires and tubes, look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, irregular wear, low inflation, bead issues, and valve-stem condition. The wheels themselves also deserve inspection because rim condition affects tube and tire reliability.

A close visual check in the garage is useful, but a hands-on inspection by someone familiar with older collector tires is better when the car has been stored for long periods. Include the spare in the routine, since spares often age unnoticed. Regular inspection is especially important on Continental Ace because age-related deterioration can appear long before the tread looks worn out.

Tires on a Continental Ace should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, repeated air loss, or any sign of structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector cars often age out tires long before they wear them out. On a prewar bias-ply setup, visible condition and professional inspection matter more than mileage alone.

That rule is even more important for a car that is driven only occasionally, because long storage can disguise rubber aging. Replace the tubes at the same time whenever the tire service warrants it. If an older period tire ever enters the conversation for a Continental Ace, its age and condition should be evaluated very carefully before any road use is considered.

Continental Ace is associated here with two period-style numeric sizes: 550-17 and 650-16. The available tire lines for those sizes are all bias-ply, which is consistent with the car’s era, and the sidewall choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and in 550-17 also double-whitewall. That gives you the correct type of construction family for a period presentation.

The exact original specification for a particular Continental Ace should be checked against factory literature, surviving cars, or marque-club references, especially because 1933 carries both a 16-inch and a 17-inch fitment. Authenticity usually depends on getting the combination of size, wheel diameter, sidewall treatment, and tread style to agree with the individual car’s history. Restoration judging tends to notice those details.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the appearance and the credibility of a Continental Ace restoration. Size, wheel diameter, sidewall style, and tread family all shape how accurate the car looks, and early cars tend to show those differences clearly. A Continental Ace wearing the wrong diameter tire or an obviously mismatched visual style can stand out quickly to knowledgeable observers.

For formal judging, the safest path is to match the car to respected marque references and period imagery as closely as possible. Even outside judged events, correct tires help the car sit properly and present the right era character. On an uncommon prewar car such as Continental Ace, those details often matter more because restorers and enthusiasts expect careful choices rather than generic substitutions.

Continental Ace tire options include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall depending on size. Blackwall appears in both 550-17 and 650-16, wide whitewall appears in both sizes, and double-whitewall appears in 550-17. All of those styles are period-flavored choices, but the most correct one depends on how the specific car was equipped and presented in its time.

A more restrained restoration may lean toward blackwall, while a fuller prewar visual statement often points toward whitewall. The best answer comes from original sales literature, photographs, and club guidance for the exact body and presentation level you are restoring. Once that decision is made, choose the sidewall style within the correct tire size rather than treating style as a substitute for proper fitment.

A properly selected and properly maintained bias-ply tire can be suitable for limited public-road use on a Continental Ace, provided the car is mechanically sound and the tires are in healthy condition. The listed fitments are period-type bias-ply constructions, which are appropriate to the car’s era. Safety depends on the whole package: tire condition, tube condition, wheel integrity, brakes, steering, and suspension.

Continental Ace is a prewar automobile and should be driven with the expectations that go with that age. Shorter trips, moderate speeds, careful route planning, and conservative driving habits are wise. Even with fresh tires, the car will not behave like a modern vehicle, so tire selection should be treated as one part of a broader roadworthiness review rather than the only safety decision.

Before driving a Continental Ace, check tire pressure, visible sidewall and tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any sign of tube-related air loss. Confirm that all four road tires match the correct size for the wheels on the car and that the spare is secure and usable. On a prewar car, steering free play and brake function deserve equal attention before any road movement.

A short test at low speed after storage is a smart way to catch pulling, vibration, or flat spotting before committing to a longer run. Pay attention to how the car tracks and how the tires settle after the first few miles. Continental Ace rewards caution, and a few extra minutes in the garage can prevent a roadside problem that starts with something as simple as an overlooked pressure loss.

Continental Ace should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the capabilities of a prewar automobile and the behavior of period-style bias-ply tires. The goal is stable, unhurried motoring rather than sustained high-speed travel. Even when the tires are fresh, the rest of the chassis and braking system still reflect early-1930s engineering.

Choose speeds that keep the car comfortable, controllable, and well within the limits of the road and traffic around you. Avoid long, fast highway stretches if the car, tires, or mechanical condition make that feel questionable. A Continental Ace is best enjoyed in the manner its design encourages: steady operation, smooth inputs, and enough margin to account for the differences between vintage and modern driving.