La Salle 345B Tires

La Salle 345B uses 700-17 for 1932. All listed tires in that size are built for 17-inch rims, and the available products show rim width compatibility in the 3.5 to 4.0 inch range or 4 inches depending on the specific tire. The current choices are all bias-ply designs, which suits the period character of the car.

That means the main fitment check is not choosing among several different sizes, but making sure the car actually has 17-inch wheels and then selecting the sidewall style and brand that fits your restoration goals. If your La Salle 345B has been changed over the years, confirm the wheel diameter on the car itself before moving forward.

On La Salle 345B, 700-17 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 portion indicates a nominal 7.00-inch section width, while the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is a period sizing convention commonly seen on prewar American cars, and it does not follow modern metric tire labeling.

Knowing that helps prevent a common mistake: treating an older numeric size like a modern radial code and overlooking the wheel diameter and construction type. For a La Salle 345B, the key is to match the 17-inch rim and stay with the proper bias-ply style if you want the look and road manners associated with the original era.

La Salle 345B uses a 17-inch rim with the 700-17 tire size. The listed products in this size are built around that 17-inch wheel diameter, with rim width recommendations centered around 4 inches and one option spanning 3.5 to 4.0 inches. There is no alternate rim diameter shown within this model group.

That simplifies selection, but it is still worth checking the actual wheels on the car because many prewar vehicles have lived long restoration lives and may not be wearing their original rims. Verifying the wheel diameter first will keep you from choosing the right-looking tire in the wrong size.

La Salle 345B uses bias-ply tires in the 700-17 size, and a tube is required. That matches the construction and period fitment style of the currently listed options. Tube fitment is part of the overall assembly, not an afterthought, on a prewar wheel and tire package like this one.

When fitting tires to a La Salle 345B, make sure the wheel condition, flap or liner needs, and tube compatibility are all reviewed at the same time. On collector cars that see limited mileage, careful tube installation and proper inflation matter just as much as the outer tire because both affect reliability and ride quality.

La Salle 345B tires in 700-17 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The listed products include blackwall choices from Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5, along with whitewall and double-whitewall Firestone Balloon versions. That gives owners a useful spread of period-appropriate visual options within the same size.

Your choice should follow the goal of the car. A formal restoration may call for the sidewall treatment that best matches period photos or marque guidance, while a driver-oriented car may prioritize a simpler blackwall look. Sidewall style changes appearance dramatically even when the tire size itself stays the same.

La Salle 345B tires are available from Firestone and Ensign in the 700-17 size. Firestone appears in the Firestone Balloon series, while Ensign is offered in the B5 series. Both are bias-ply products intended for prewar applications rather than modern radial substitution.

That gives a La Salle 345B owner a choice between more than one period-style manufacturer while staying within the correct size. If originality matters, compare the series and sidewall presentation as closely as the brand name, since visual correctness and period construction are often the deciding factors on a prewar luxury car.

La Salle 345B tires are currently listed in two series: Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5. Firestone Balloon appears in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while Ensign B5 is listed as a blackwall tire. Both series are bias-ply offerings in the same 700-17 size, so the difference here is largely in brand line and appearance rather than a change in size or construction type.

For a La Salle 345B owner, that means the decision is mostly about restoration character and presentation. If the car is being finished to a more formal show appearance, one of the Firestone whitewall variations may suit the build better, while a blackwall tire can be appropriate for a more restrained or utilitarian prewar look.

La Salle 345B should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Proper inflation matters during storage because underinflation can stress the casing and tube, while long periods under full vehicle weight can encourage flat spotting on bias-ply tires.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally or use methods that reduce static loading on one contact patch. A prewar car like La Salle 345B benefits from gentle handling even when parked, because its tire design and operating style are very different from those of a modern daily driver.

Tires on a La Salle 345B should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car is seldom used. On a bias-ply prewar tire, the inspection should include pressure, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, valve stem condition, and any evidence of tube or wheel issues. Low annual mileage does not reduce the need for close visual checks.

That routine matters because collector cars often age their tires by time and storage conditions rather than by tread wear. A La Salle 345B that looks ready for a short outing can still have age-related problems that only become obvious under close inspection, so a careful pre-drive walkaround should be standard practice.

Tires on a La Salle 345B should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, repeated air loss, or any structural concern appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on a prewar bias-ply application where long periods of inactivity are common.

The practical rule is to treat condition and age as more important than remaining tread depth. If there is any doubt about the integrity of a La Salle 345B tire, have it inspected by a specialist familiar with vintage tires, tubes, and wheels before further road use, because visible tread alone is not a reliable measure of serviceability.

La Salle 345B is represented here with 700-17 tires for 1932, and the available replacement lines include Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 bias-ply products. Those series give a period-appropriate direction for restoration, but more than one sidewall treatment is available within the correct size, including blackwall and whitewall styles.

If you are restoring a specific La Salle 345B to factory-delivery or judged standards, the final call should come from original sales literature, surviving photos, or marque-club guidance for the exact car. Tire size is the first step, but sidewall presentation often determines whether the finished car looks authentically right.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a La Salle 345B is received in both restoration judging and the collector market. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall treatment suit the period of the car. Even when the wheel diameter is correct, an obviously mismatched sidewall style can change the whole visual balance.

For that reason, tire selection on a La Salle 345B should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than a final cosmetic detail. If the car is being built for marque judging, consult club standards or recognized specialists early so the tire choice supports the level of authenticity you want the finished car to present.

La Salle 345B tires in the correct 700-17 size are available as blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. All three are period-style presentations within the listed offerings, but the most correct choice for a specific restoration depends on how the individual car was equipped and how closely the owner wants to follow period appearance.

A more formal La Salle 345B restoration may lean toward one of the whitewall styles, while a blackwall can suit a more restrained or use-oriented presentation. The best approach is to compare against period images and marque references for the exact car so the sidewall style supports the era-correct look rather than competing with it.

A properly fitted, properly inflated bias-ply tire in the correct 700-17 size can be suitable for public-road use on a La Salle 345B when the entire car is mechanically sound. Tire safety on a prewar automobile depends on much more than tread alone, including wheel condition, tube condition, brake function, steering integrity, and suspension health.

That means a La Salle 345B should be treated as a vintage machine rather than driven with modern-car assumptions. Keep speeds conservative, allow more stopping distance, and make sure the car has had a thorough mechanical review if it has been sitting, because safe road use depends on the full vehicle system as much as the tires themselves.

Before driving a La Salle 345B, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any signs of tube-related air loss or casing distress. On a prewar car, it is also wise to verify brake response, steering free play, and general chassis condition before every outing. Bias-ply tires can react differently from modern radials, especially after long storage.

A careful pre-drive routine helps catch the small issues that become large problems once the car is moving. With La Salle 345B, the goal is not just to see whether the tires hold air, but to confirm that the tire-and-wheel assembly and the rest of the running gear are ready for the slower, more deliberate driving style the car requires.

La Salle 345B should be driven at conservative speeds that respect both the age of the car and the character of bias-ply tires in 700-17 sizing. Even with fresh tires, a prewar chassis, steering system, and braking system do not behave like modern equipment, and safe speed depends on overall vehicle condition, road surface, and how well the car has been sorted.

The practical approach is to build speed gradually, stay well within the car’s comfort zone, and avoid sustained fast cruising unless the vehicle has been thoroughly evaluated and proven on the road. A La Salle 345B is best enjoyed as a vintage touring car, not driven as though modern highway performance were the standard.