Kissel 75 Tires

Kissel 75 applications in this year group use three sizes: 33X6.00 for 1926-1927, 600-21 for 1926-1927, and 6.00-18 for 1931. The 600-21 products are built for 21-inch rims, while 6.00-18 identifies an 18-inch rim. With 33X6.00, the size code gives the outside diameter and section width, not the wheel diameter, so the rim must be identified separately on the car.

That means year alone is not always enough on a Kissel 75, especially for 1926 and 1927 where two size formats appear. Start by checking the year, then confirm the rim diameter stamped on the wheel or measured at the bead seat. If the car is a restoration, compare what is on the vehicle with factory literature, surviving originals, or marque expertise before settling on a final size.

On a Kissel 75, 33X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 33 refers to the tire's approximate outside diameter in inches, and the 6.00 refers to nominal section width. Unlike a modern size or a later numeric size such as 600-21, the wheel diameter is not written into 33X6.00, so the rim size has to be confirmed independently.

That distinction matters because it is easy to mistake the first number for the wheel diameter when it is not. If your Kissel 75 carries this style of sizing, inspect the wheel carefully and compare the tire marking to period references before replacing anything. Antique-format sizes also point toward period-correct bias-ply construction, so overall fit, profile, and tube use all deserve attention.

Kissel 75 listings here span more than one wheel diameter. The numeric 600-21 fitment used in 1926 and 1927 is for a 21-inch rim, while the 1931 6.00-18 fitment is for an 18-inch rim. The 33X6.00 listing used in 1926 and 1927 is an older size style that does not state the rim diameter in the code itself.

A buyer should treat rim diameter as the first physical measurement to confirm on the actual car. If the car has changed hands, been restored, or had wheels swapped over the decades, the tire code expected for the year may not match what is mounted today. Checking the wheel before choosing between 21-inch and 18-inch options prevents the most costly fitment mistake.

The Kissel 75 sizes shown here point to bias-ply use, and the available 600-21 products are bias-ply. For older numeric and antique-era fitments of this type, tube-type service is the correct assumption unless the wheel and tire are specifically engineered otherwise. That makes tube use a normal part of proper installation for the Kissel 75 sizes covered here.

Inner tubes matter because collector wheels and older tire constructions rely on the complete tube, flap, and rim condition working together. When a Kissel 75 is being refitted, inspect the wheel interior for rust, burrs, or prior repairs before mounting new tires. Matching the tube to the tire size and wheel is just as important as choosing the correct outside tire size.

A 1926 or 1927 Kissel 75 can fall into either 33X6.00 or 600-21, so the right approach is to verify the wheel and the existing size convention rather than relying on the model year alone. A car carrying 600-21 will be using a 21-inch rim. A car marked 33X6.00 is using an older diameter-by-section notation where the wheel size is separate from the tire code.

Begin with the sidewall marking if the old tires are still present, then inspect the wheel diameter directly. On a restored car, compare what you find with period references or trusted marque knowledge, because wheel changes can happen over a century of use. That process will tell you whether you need a 21-inch numeric fitment or the earlier antique-format equivalent.

For the Kissel 75 size with available products, sidewall styles include blackwall and wide whitewall. The 600-21 offerings include Lester blackwall, BFGoodrich blackwall, and a BFGoodrich 3.50-inch whitewall version. That gives a buyer more than one visual direction while staying within the listed bias-ply size for the car.

The right sidewall style depends on how the Kissel 75 is being finished and presented. A blackwall usually suits a restrained, technical period look, while a wide whitewall creates a more formal and show-oriented appearance associated with many premium prewar restorations. If authenticity matters, compare the sidewall treatment to period photos, surviving originals, and judging standards for the car's exact configuration.

The listed Kissel 75 products come from two brands: Lester and BFGoodrich. In the available 600-21 size, Lester appears in a classic blackwall bias-ply version, while BFGoodrich appears in both blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply versions. Those choices give the Kissel 75 owner options in both brand and appearance within the same size.

Brand choice on a collector car often comes down to the balance between period presentation, sidewall preference, and how the car will be used. A touring car driven regularly may prioritize consistency across a full set, while a restoration headed for shows may place more emphasis on visual correctness. Once the size and wheel diameter are confirmed, compare the available brand and sidewall combinations as the final step.

A stored Kissel 75 should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Bias-ply tires and older-style fitments do best when the car is clean, the tires are kept at proper inflation, and the load on one contact patch is not left unchanged for long periods. Long stationary storage can encourage flat spotting and sidewall stress.

If the Kissel 75 will sit for months, roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces constant tire loading while protecting the suspension and wheels. Keep solvents, battery fumes, welders, and electric motors away from the tires whenever possible. A simple storage routine does more for collector-tire life than many owners realize.

Tires on a Kissel 75 should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees very little mileage. On a prewar collector car, the important checks are inflation, tread separation, sidewall cracking, bead condition, and any signs of tube or rim trouble. Age and inactivity can be harder on vintage-style tires than actual road miles.

A practical habit is to perform a walk-around every time the car leaves the garage and a detailed inspection several times each season. Include the spare, because it is often the oldest tire on the car. If anything looks unusual, have the tire and wheel assembly evaluated by a shop familiar with tube-type collector applications before continued use.

A Kissel 75 can need replacement tires long before the tread is worn out. Collector tires age from time, heat cycles, storage conditions, and low-use deterioration, so sidewall condition, casing integrity, and overall age matter as much as tread depth. On a prewar car, any visible cracking, distortion, vibration, or recurring air-loss issue should move replacement to the front of the list.

That judgment should be especially strict on a car that sees parade, tour, or show-road use after long dormant periods. Tires that look attractive but have aged substantially may no longer be suitable for service, particularly if they have been mounted for years on an unrestored wheel. Replacement intervals should be set by condition and specialist inspection, not by tread alone.

Kissel 75 listings here show more than one period-appropriate size path across the years, including 33X6.00 and 600-21 in 1926-1927 and 6.00-18 in 1931. The available products shown for 600-21 are bias-ply tires, which aligns with the construction style expected for the era. Because the model name spans multiple years and changing fitments, original specification depends on the exact year and wheel setup of the individual car.

For restoration work, the best reference is the specific car's surviving wheels, period literature, and recognized Kissel or prewar marque resources. That is especially important if the car has been restored more than once or converted to a later wheel and tire combination. Originality is determined by the exact configuration, not by the model name alone.

Correct tire fitment can influence both the visual credibility and judging outcome of a Kissel 75 restoration. Judges and knowledgeable buyers often notice whether the tire size, profile, construction style, and sidewall treatment suit the year and character of the car. On a prewar automobile, tires are a major part of stance and presence, so incorrect fitment can stand out immediately.

That does not mean every owner needs the same presentation, but it does mean the choice should be intentional. A touring-oriented car may prioritize durable, appropriate service fitment, while a concours-level car may demand closer adherence to period appearance. If value and judging matter, use recognized marque references and period imagery to support the final tire selection.

Kissel 75 products in the listed 600-21 size are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. Either can be visually appropriate depending on the exact year, finish level, and restoration objective, because prewar cars appeared with more than one sidewall presentation during the era. The available wide whitewall version uses a 3.50-inch whitewall treatment, while the other listed choices are blackwall.

Selecting between them should come down to the way the individual Kissel 75 is being restored rather than personal taste alone. Blackwall generally reads as more restrained and mechanical, while a wide whitewall gives the car a richer, more formal appearance. Period photographs and club judging guidance are the best tie-breakers when authenticity is the goal.

A properly chosen and properly mounted tire can make a Kissel 75 suitable for careful public-road use within the limitations of a prewar collector car. Safety depends on far more than the tire alone: wheel condition, tube condition, brake performance, steering integrity, alignment, and the car's overall mechanical health all matter. Bias-ply behavior also differs from modern radials and should be expected to feel more period-correct than modern in response.

The practical takeaway is to treat the tire as one part of a complete roadworthiness review. Before road use, have the wheel-and-tire assemblies and the chassis inspected by people familiar with early collector cars. Even when everything is in good condition, drive the Kissel 75 conservatively and allow extra distance for braking and steering corrections.

Before driving a Kissel 75, inspect tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel fasteners, and any sign that a tube-type assembly has shifted or begun leaking. On a prewar car, it is also wise to look closely at steering linkage, brakes, and wheel bearings because tire performance is inseparable from the rest of the running gear. Any pull, shake, or repeated air loss should be resolved before the car goes back on the road.

A short pre-drive routine prevents most avoidable problems. Walk around the car, look for bulges or cracks, and verify that the spare is secure and usable. If the Kissel 75 has been parked for an extended period, start with a brief low-speed test rather than heading directly into traffic.

A Kissel 75 running period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that respect both the age of the car and the characteristics of its tire construction. Prewar chassis, steering, and braking systems were designed for a very different road environment than modern traffic. Even with new reproduction tires, the sensible standard is conservative touring rather than sustained high-speed use.

The right speed is the one that leaves a wide safety margin for steering input, braking distance, pavement changes, and surrounding traffic. Keep the car comfortably within its mechanical comfort zone and reduce speed further on crowned roads, grooves, heat, or rough surfaces. A vintage Kissel 75 is happiest when driven smoothly rather than hurried.