Kissel 126 Tires

Kissel 126 uses two listed tire sizes across its 1929 to 1931 production run: 30X6.75 and 700-18. The 30X6.75 size appears for 1929, while 700-18 appears for 1929, 1930, and 1931. Available products are listed for 700-18 with an 18-inch rim diameter, and that size is offered in several bias-ply series and sidewall styles.

A 1930 or 1931 Kissel 126 points directly to 700-18, but a 1929 Kissel 126 needs a closer look because both sizes are listed for that year. The best approach is to verify what is actually on the car now, then compare that against wheel measurements and restoration records so you do not confuse the earlier outside-diameter style with the later 18-inch-rim balloon setup.

On a Kissel 126, 30X6.75 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 30, is the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, and the second number, 6.75, is the nominal section width. Unlike later balloon sizes, the wheel diameter is not stated in the size code itself.

That difference matters because a buyer can easily mistake the leading number for the rim size, which it is not. If your Kissel 126 is a 1929 car carrying this earlier style of fitment, measure the wheel and compare it with the intended tire construction before choosing a replacement, especially if the car has been restored or reconfigured at some point in its life.

A 1929 Kissel 126 has two tire sizes listed because that model year sits at the overlap between an earlier 30X6.75 fitment and the later 700-18 size that continues through 1930 and 1931. Both are bias-ply-era sizes, but they are written in different systems and they do not identify the wheel the same way.

That means year alone is not enough for a 1929 car. You need to identify which wheel and tire setup the specific Kissel 126 carries now, whether the car remains close to original configuration, and whether the current wheels match the intended restoration standard before settling on one size or the other.

Kissel 126 uses an 18-inch rim with the 700-18 size, which is the fitment listed for 1930, 1931, and some 1929 cars. The 30X6.75 size listed for 1929 does not include rim diameter in the size code, because that older format uses outside diameter and section width rather than wheel size as its main identifiers.

If your Kissel 126 is a 1930 or 1931 car, the rim question is straightforward because the listed replacement products are built for 18-inch wheels. If it is a 1929 car, confirm the actual wheel diameter on the vehicle before selecting a tire, since the two listed sizes belong to different ways of specifying the tire and can lead to an incorrect match if assumed from the code alone.

Start with the model year. A 1930 or 1931 Kissel 126 uses 700-18, while 1929 can use either 30X6.75 or 700-18. The key is to match the car's actual wheel and existing tire configuration to the listed size rather than relying only on the model designation.

For a restored or long-stored Kissel 126, check the tire sidewall markings, measure the wheel diameter, and compare the result with period reference material tied to the specific car. That step is especially important on 1929 cars, where the earlier diameter-based size and the later 18-inch-rim size can both appear and are not interchangeable by assumption.

For Kissel 126 in the listed 700-18 size, available sidewall styles include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. Blackwall appears across several tire series, while whitewall treatments are available in Firestone Balloon offerings. Those options give a restorer room to match a more restrained driver presentation or a more formal period luxury appearance.

The right choice depends on how the Kissel 126 is being finished and judged. A preservation-minded owner may prefer the sidewall style that best matches the car's era and surviving reference photos, while a touring-oriented owner may focus first on the correct size and construction, then select the sidewall style that suits the restoration character of the automobile.

Kissel 126 tires in the listed 700-18 size are available from Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA. Firestone appears in both Balloon and Classic Bias Ply series, Lester appears in Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior appears in Comp H, and STA appears in the Transport Highway series. All of the listed products are bias-ply constructions.

Brand choice often comes down to the type of restoration, desired appearance, and how closely you want the tire's profile to reflect period practice. Once the size and wheel diameter are confirmed, compare the series, sidewall styling, and intended use of the Kissel 126 before narrowing the field to the tire that best suits show presentation, touring, or utility use.

Kissel 126 products in 700-18 appear in several series: Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Comp H, and Transport Highway. Those series reflect different bias-ply tire families and intended character, from balloon-style passenger tires to a military and truck-oriented highway pattern. Sidewall offerings also vary by series, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall options present.

For a passenger-car restoration, the first comparison is usually between the more period-passenger-oriented balloon and classic bias-ply offerings. The STA Transport Highway entry belongs to a different utility-focused family, so owners should make sure their Kissel 126's intended use, wheel width, and restoration goals align with that heavier-duty style before treating it as equivalent to the passenger options.

A Kissel 126 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation for the construction being used, and avoid leaving the full vehicle weight resting in one position for long periods. Collector cars benefit from movement or repositioning so flat spotting and sidewall stress do not build up.

If the Kissel 126 is stored for months at a time, many owners either roll the car periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on the tires. That is especially helpful for bias-ply tires, which can take a set more readily than modern radials and deserve gentler storage habits on a low-use antique automobile.

Tires on a Kissel 126 should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the driving season. Check inflation, visible cracking, tread separation, sidewall distress, valve stem condition, and any signs that the tire is shifting on the rim or wearing unevenly. Bias-ply collector tires reward close observation because age and inactivity can matter as much as mileage.

A practical routine is to do a walk-around before moving the car, then inspect more closely after any longer outing or seasonal storage period. If the Kissel 126 has been sitting, bring it back into use gradually and watch for vibration, pulling, or harsh flat-spot behavior that suggests the tires, tubes, or wheel setup need attention.

Tires on a Kissel 126 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, casing changes, impact damage, or recurring air-loss issues indicate deterioration, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out. Any tire with visible structural distress deserves immediate specialist evaluation.

That standard is especially important on an antique-era car because low annual mileage can hide the effects of time. If a Kissel 126 has older tires of uncertain age, or tires that have been exposed to long storage and intermittent use, replacement should be considered part of basic recommissioning rather than something deferred until the tread appears worn.

Kissel 126 is associated here with two period size types: 30X6.75 for 1929 and 700-18 for 1929 through 1931. Available replacement products for 700-18 include several bias-ply series, including balloon and classic bias-ply constructions. That combination reflects the late-1920s to early-1930s transition from earlier sizing conventions into balloon-tire practice.

To determine what belongs on a particular Kissel 126 as restored, use the car's exact year, wheel equipment, and period reference material tied to that chassis or body configuration. A 1929 example deserves special scrutiny because both the earlier diameter-based size and the later 700-18 size appear in the range and may point to different original setups.

Correct tire fitment can materially affect how a Kissel 126 is judged and how authentic it appears. Size, sidewall treatment, and overall tire profile all contribute to stance and period accuracy, especially on a luxury-era automobile where visual proportion is a large part of the car's character. An obviously wrong diameter or sidewall style can distract from an otherwise strong restoration.

For owners preparing a Kissel 126 for concours or marque judging, tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than a last-minute accessory decision. Matching the year-appropriate size system, selecting a suitable sidewall style, and confirming that the wheel and tire combination reflects the car's intended presentation can all support stronger authenticity and presentation value.

Kissel 126 tires in the available 700-18 offerings come in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Each can suit a period restoration depending on the look being pursued, but they create noticeably different visual impressions. Blackwalls tend to present a more restrained appearance, while whitewall treatments produce a more formal and upscale look in keeping with many luxury-era cars.

The right answer for a specific Kissel 126 comes from the restoration goal rather than from size alone. Owners seeking close historical presentation should compare surviving photos, period advertising, and marque-club guidance for similar cars, then choose the sidewall style that supports the intended finish without compromising the correct size, wheel diameter, and overall stance.

A properly selected, properly mounted tire in the correct size can make a Kissel 126 suitable for cautious public-road use within the limits of an early-1930s automobile. The listed products for 700-18 are all bias-ply tires, so they should be treated as vintage-type tires with handling characteristics different from modern passenger radials. Safety depends on the full condition of the tires, tubes, wheels, brakes, steering, and suspension rather than on tread alone.

Before regular road use, make sure the Kissel 126 has been mechanically inspected as a complete system and that the tire size matches the wheel actually on the car. An antique luxury car can be very enjoyable on secondary roads and touring events, but it rewards conservative speeds, longer following distances, and smooth inputs that respect the design limits of the chassis and tire construction.

Before driving a Kissel 126, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread integrity, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of tube-related air loss or shifting on the rim. Also confirm that the size on the car matches the wheel setup, especially if the car is a 1929 example that could fall into either listed fitment pattern. A quick review of steering play, brake response, and wheel bearing condition is equally important.

That pre-drive routine matters because an antique car's roadworthiness depends on every system working together. Even the correct tire cannot compensate for a wheel that is out of true, a tube that is deteriorating, or a chassis that has been sitting for long periods, so the Kissel 126 should be approached with the habits of a caretaker rather than a commuter.

A Kissel 126 should be driven at speeds appropriate to its vintage design, tire construction, and current mechanical condition rather than to modern traffic capability. Bias-ply collector tires are best treated with a conservative pace, and the car's braking, steering, and suspension limitations are as important as the tire itself. Smooth two-lane touring speeds are generally more appropriate than sustained high-speed highway operation.

The practical rule is to drive the Kissel 126 at the speed where the car feels settled, responsive, and mechanically comfortable, while leaving a wide safety margin. If the car is newly restored, newly fitted with tires, or returning to service after long storage, begin with short, low-speed outings and increase usage only after the tire and chassis behavior prove stable.