Jewett 6 Cyl. Tires
Jewett 6 Cyl. was part of the busy mid-1920s American car market, when automakers were moving quickly from earlier high-profile tire conventions into more modern wheel and tire standards. As a six-cylinder car from 1926, Jewett 6 Cyl. sits in exactly that transition period, which is why tire selection is not as simple as matching the year alone. Two different size conventions appear for the same model year, and they do not describe the wheel in the same way. The first step with any Jewett 6 Cyl. is to identify which wheel and tire sizing system the car actually carries before choosing a replacement tire.
Jewett 6 Cyl. Tire Size Guide
Jewett 6 Cyl. uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1926 production year. One size is written in antique diameter-by-section form, and the other uses a later numeric bias-ply convention, so the same year can present two very different-looking size codes. On antique sizes, the leading number is the tire's outside diameter rather than the wheel diameter, which is why the wheel itself needs to be checked carefully.
29X4.75 is an antique-format size used on 1926 Jewett 6 Cyl. applications. The 29 means the tire's approximate outside diameter in inches, while 4.75 is the section width; the wheel diameter is not stated in the size code and must be confirmed from the actual rim. Choose 29X4.75 only if the car is equipped for that earlier sizing convention, and treat the wheel measurement as the deciding check.
4.75-20 is a numeric bias-ply size also used on 1926 Jewett 6 Cyl. applications. The 4.75 identifies the nominal section width in inches and the 20 is the rim diameter in inches. Choose 4.75-20 when the car has 20-inch wheels, and remember that a tube is required.
Jewett 6 Cyl. Tires by Year
The year listing breaks Jewett 6 Cyl. tire sizes down by production year so you can match the car first and the tire second. In 1926, more than one size is listed, so the year alone is not enough to identify the correct fitment. The leading number in 29X4.75 is the tire's outside diameter, not the wheel size, while 4.75-20 identifies a 20-inch rim directly.
1926 Jewett 6 Cyl.
- 29X4.75
- 4.75-20
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below addresses the unusual 1926 split in Jewett 6 Cyl. tire sizing, explains how antique and numeric size codes differ, and covers the practical checks that matter before fitting tires to a mid-1920s collector car.
Size Basics & Fitment
Jewett 6 Cyl. uses two listed tire sizes for 1926: 29X4.75 and 4.75-20. The first is an antique diameter-by-section size, where 29 is the approximate overall tire diameter and 4.75 is the section width. The second is a numeric bias-ply size that directly identifies a 20-inch rim with a nominal 4.75-inch section width.
That means the correct choice depends on which wheel and sizing convention your particular 1926 Jewett 6 Cyl. carries. Start by reading the old tire if present, then verify the wheel diameter on the car itself. If the car has already been restored or modified, the wheel measurement matters more than the model year alone.
On a Jewett 6 Cyl., 29X4.75 is an early size written in antique diameter-by-section form. The 29 refers to the tire's approximate outside diameter in inches, not the wheel diameter. The 4.75 refers to the section width, so this code describes the tire's overall dimensions rather than naming the rim size outright.
That is where modern buyers can get tripped up, because the wheel diameter must be confirmed separately instead of being read directly from the size code. If your Jewett 6 Cyl. still wears an older style casing or an original-style wheel, compare the tire marking with the rim itself before choosing a replacement.
A 1926 Jewett 6 Cyl. can show both 29X4.75 and 4.75-20 because the model sits in a period when tire sizing conventions were changing. One size reflects an older way of identifying the tire by overall diameter and section width, while the other identifies the section width and the 20-inch rim directly. The two codes are not interchangeable shorthand for the same wheel without verification.
The practical takeaway is that a single production year can still require different tires depending on the wheel setup actually fitted to the car. If your Jewett 6 Cyl. has been in long-term collector ownership, check whether it still has its earlier wheel arrangement or has been updated during restoration.
Jewett 6 Cyl. applications in the listed range use size conventions associated with period bias-ply construction, including 4.75-20 and the earlier 29X4.75 style. For the numeric bias-ply 4.75-20, a tube is required. On a mid-1920s car like Jewett 6 Cyl., tube-type service should be treated as the normal expectation unless the wheel and tire combination has been specifically engineered otherwise.
Tube fitment matters because the wheel profile, bead design, and tire construction on collector cars differ from modern tubeless practice. When fitting tires to a Jewett 6 Cyl., inspect the rim for corrosion, sharp edges, and spoke-end issues, and match the tube and flap arrangement to the wheel style being used.
Buying the Right Tire
To confirm the correct tire size for a 1926 Jewett 6 Cyl., compare three things: the marking on any existing tire, the measured wheel diameter, and the way the size is written. A car marked 4.75-20 is using a 20-inch rim. A car marked 29X4.75 is using an older size convention where the wheel diameter is not stated in the code.
That makes the rim measurement the most reliable deciding factor when old tires are missing, worn, or mismatched. Check all four wheels, not just one, because collector cars sometimes pick up replacements over time. If the car is being restored for historical accuracy, compare your findings with period literature or a marque specialist familiar with Jewett 6 Cyl.
Made-to-order on a Jewett 6 Cyl. tire means the tire is built as a specialty collector item rather than treated as a routine modern replacement. That status is common in niche vintage sizes, especially for pre-war and transitional-era applications. It reflects the specialized nature of the tire rather than a difference in basic fitment principles.
For the buyer, the main importance is planning the restoration or road-prep timeline carefully and making sure the size choice is settled before the tire is specified. On a Jewett 6 Cyl., that is especially important because 1926 includes two different size conventions, and selecting the wrong one can interrupt mounting, tube selection, and wheel preparation.
Jewett 6 Cyl. fitment in the listed range spans two broad sizing approaches rather than a long catalog of later-series designations. One approach uses antique diameter-by-section sizing such as 29X4.75, and the other uses numeric bias-ply sizing such as 4.75-20. Those formats represent different eras of tire specification and wheel identification more than cosmetic variations alone.
For a restoration, the right choice depends on which wheel system your Jewett 6 Cyl. actually has and how faithfully you want to reflect its period configuration. Early-style sizing typically appeals to owners preserving a more original transitional appearance, while 20-inch numeric sizing points to the later, more straightforward wheel-and-rim convention.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Jewett 6 Cyl. should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tire pressure should be checked regularly even when the car is not being driven, because collector tires can lose pressure slowly over time. On a mid-1920s car, wheel and tube condition are just as important as the outer casing.
If the car will sit for long periods, move it occasionally to prevent flat spotting or support it in a way that reduces sustained load on one contact patch. Clean the tires with mild soap and water only, and inspect the rims at the same time so the Jewett 6 Cyl. is ready for safe recommissioning when driving season returns.
Tires on a Jewett 6 Cyl. should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car only sees short hobby use. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, weathering, impact damage, tube-related air loss, and signs that the tire is shifting on the rim. On an older collector car, low annual mileage does not eliminate age-related deterioration.
A practical routine is to combine tire inspection with every fluid check and chassis walk-around. Pay close attention after winter storage or after the car has attended shows where it spent long periods parked in the sun. Catching early deterioration on a Jewett 6 Cyl. is far easier than dealing with a failure once the car is underway.
Tires on a Jewett 6 Cyl. should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, distortion, chronic air loss, or structural damage appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector vehicles often age out their tires long before they wear them out. Tube-type and period-style applications deserve especially close attention because deterioration may start internally as well as on the visible outer surface.
That matters on a Jewett 6 Cyl. because many surviving cars are driven infrequently and can appear mechanically ready while the tires have become brittle with time. Any tire of uncertain age should be evaluated conservatively, and replacement should be part of routine recommissioning rather than delayed until visible wear becomes severe.
Restoration & Authenticity
Jewett 6 Cyl. is associated here with two 1926 size conventions: 29X4.75 and 4.75-20. That tells you the model falls into a transitional period where more than one period-correct tire approach may be encountered. The correct original fit for a particular Jewett 6 Cyl. depends on the wheel equipment and specification of the individual car rather than a single blanket answer.
For restoration work, treat those two sizes as the key starting points and then compare your wheels, surviving tires, and period references. Owners pursuing high-level authenticity should also look at wheel construction, tube service, and overall stance, because the right tire on a Jewett 6 Cyl. is as much about proportion and era correctness as it is about raw dimensions.
Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and the judged accuracy of a Jewett 6 Cyl. because tires strongly influence stance, side profile, and period appearance. Judges and knowledgeable collectors notice whether the tire size convention suits the year and wheel type. A 1920s car fitted with the wrong visual profile can look out of proportion even if the car is otherwise well restored.
That does not mean every Jewett 6 Cyl. must be restored to concours standards, but it does mean the tire choice should match the restoration goal. If authenticity matters, verify the wheel setup first and use marque-club references, old photographs, and original literature to decide whether the car should wear the antique-style size or the 20-inch numeric size.
A Jewett 6 Cyl. restoration should use a sidewall style that matches the car's mid-1920s character and the intended restoration standard. On collector cars from this era, sidewall appearance contributes heavily to whether the finished car looks authentically proportioned. The correct visual result comes from pairing the right tire profile and size convention with an era-appropriate sidewall treatment.
Because surviving Jewett 6 Cyl. cars may differ in restoration philosophy, the best approach is to compare your car against period photos, marque references, and any evidence left on the car itself. If the goal is show accuracy, avoid choosing a sidewall treatment purely for modern taste; use what best complements the way your Jewett 6 Cyl. would have appeared in service.
Safety & Road Use
A properly fitted tire in the correct size can make a Jewett 6 Cyl. suitable for careful hobby driving, but safety depends on far more than the tire alone. Wheel condition, tube integrity, steering wear, brake performance, alignment, and the age of the tire all matter on a 1926 car. A collector vehicle should be judged as a complete mechanical system rather than by tread appearance alone.
For real-world use, keep speeds conservative and match your driving to the age and design of the car. Before taking a Jewett 6 Cyl. onto public roads, make sure the wheels are sound, the tire sizes match side to side on each axle, and the car has been checked by someone familiar with early automotive mechanicals.
Before driving a Jewett 6 Cyl., check tire pressure, visible condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and whether all four tires actually match the wheel setup on the car. Confirm that a 4.75-20 application is mounted on 20-inch rims and that any antique-size tire is on the wheel intended for that older format. Also inspect the spare, because collector-car spares are often overlooked for years.
Beyond the tires, a short pre-drive inspection should include brakes, steering play, fluids, and lights. That routine is especially worthwhile on a Jewett 6 Cyl. because age-related issues often develop in storage rather than in active service, and a five-minute walk-around can prevent damage to rare wheels, tubes, and tires.
A Jewett 6 Cyl. should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the tire type and the capabilities of a mid-1920s automobile. Even when the tire size is correct, period-style bias-ply and antique-format applications do not behave like modern radial touring tires. Stability, braking distance, and steering response all reflect the design standards of their era.
The safest approach is to drive a Jewett 6 Cyl. at a pace appropriate for secondary roads, fair-weather use, and the mechanical condition of the whole car. If the tires are newly fitted after long storage or restoration, begin with short local drives and recheck pressure, wheel security, and running behavior before attempting longer trips.