La Salle 345C Tires

La Salle 345C uses one tire size in this range: 700-17 for 1933. The available tires for that size are built for 17-inch rims, with listed rim widths of either 4 inches or a usable range of 3.5 to 4.0 inches depending on the product. All current options in this fitment are bias-ply tires.

That makes size selection simpler than on many collector cars, but wheel verification still matters. A La Salle 345C that has had wheels changed over the years should be checked at the rim before choosing a tire, and the rim width should be matched to the product specification so the tire keeps the right profile and stance.

On a La Salle 345C, 700-17 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 700 refers to a nominal section width of roughly 7.00 inches, and the 17 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older American sizing system used well before modern metric radial notation became standard.

That older code tells you both the tire’s general width and the wheel it is meant to fit, but it does not replace checking the actual rim on the car. When restoring a La Salle 345C, this size should be read as a period-style fitment, not as a direct modern metric equivalent, and it should stay matched to bias-ply construction for authentic appearance and behavior.

La Salle 345C tires in the listed 700-17 size are bias-ply products, and a tube is required. That is consistent with the construction type and period wheel practice associated with this fitment. None of the listed La Salle 345C tire options are presented as tubeless radial replacements.

Tube choice should be treated as part of the complete tire installation rather than an afterthought. On a collector car like La Salle 345C, using the proper tube and flap arrangement where needed helps the tire seat correctly, hold pressure reliably, and behave as intended on a low-use vintage chassis.

For a 1933 La Salle 345C, the listed tire size is 700-17. The wheel should be confirmed as a 17-inch rim, and the rim width should be checked against the tire you are considering, since some products are specified for a 4-inch rim while others allow a 3.5 to 4.0 inch range. That combination of year, rim diameter, and rim width is the key fitment check.

The best approach is to inspect the wheels already on the car and compare them with original restoration paperwork, old tire markings if present, or marque references. That extra step matters because collector cars are often restored over decades, and wheel substitutions can leave a La Salle 345C wearing a tire size that looks plausible but is not the proper fit.

La Salle 345C tires in 700-17 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The current product mix includes Firestone Balloon options in blackwall, wide whitewall, and 4.25 inch double whitewall, along with an Ensign B5 blackwall tire. That gives a restorer both restrained and more formal period-style visual choices within the same basic size.

Sidewall style affects the finished character of the car as much as the wheel covers or paint detailing. A blackwall look generally suits a more understated presentation, while whitewall and double-whitewall treatments can better match a full concours-style restoration or a car restored with a more upscale period appearance in mind.

Two brands are represented for La Salle 345C in the 700-17 size: Firestone and Ensign. Firestone appears in the Firestone Balloon series with multiple sidewall treatments, while Ensign is represented by the Ensign B5 blackwall tire. Both are bias-ply offerings suited to the period character of the car.

Brand selection usually comes down to restoration goals, preferred sidewall appearance, and the exact rim-width compatibility of the tire you want to use. If the car is being judged, photographed, or finished to a very particular historical style, the brand and sidewall combination may matter almost as much as the basic size itself.

La Salle 345C tires are offered here in two series: Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5. Both are bias-ply tires in the same 700-17 fitment, but they differ in brand identity, sidewall offerings, listed load capacity, weight, and rim-width specification. Firestone Balloon is available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while Ensign B5 is listed as a blackwall tire.

For a buyer, that means the choice is less about changing the car’s basic fitment and more about selecting the look and specification that best suits the restoration. If appearance is the priority, start with sidewall style; if wheel compatibility is the deciding factor, compare the rim-width range on the tire against the wheels on the La Salle 345C.

A La Salle 345C should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long-term contact with oil or solvents. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and avoid leaving the car on damp concrete for extended periods. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from stable conditions more than frequent cosmetic treatment.

If the La Salle 345C will sit for long stretches, move it occasionally to change the footprint or support it in a way that reduces prolonged flat spotting. Tire covers, a clean floor surface, and regular pressure checks go a long way toward preserving both the appearance and the service life of seldom-driven vintage tires.

Tires on a La Salle 345C should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly several times during the season even if the car sees only light use. Check for pressure loss, sidewall cracking, tread separation, uneven wear, valve-stem issues, and any sign that the tube or casing may be stressed. A low-mileage collector car can still develop tire problems simply from age and storage.

Bias-ply tires reward close attention because the car may spend far more time parked than driven. A quick walk-around before moving the La Salle 345C and a more careful inspection at regular intervals help catch problems early, especially after winter storage, trailering, or any work that involved removing and reinstalling the wheels.

Tires on a La Salle 345C should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, repeated pressure loss, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out. On a seldom-driven prewar car, the condition of the casing and sidewall matters more than remaining tread depth alone.

The practical rule is to judge a La Salle 345C tire by age, storage history, and inspection results rather than mileage. If a tire shows visible deterioration or the car’s history is uncertain, replacement is usually the wiser path, particularly on a vehicle whose original-style suspension and steering already place more demand on an aging bias-ply tire.

La Salle 345C uses the 700-17 size in this range, and the available replacement tires are bias-ply products including Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 series offerings. That establishes the period-style fitment size and construction type, but there is more than one series and sidewall presentation available within that size. Original delivery details can vary according to restoration history and reference source.

For a precise restoration, the best path is to match the 700-17 size first, then verify the preferred brand appearance and sidewall treatment against factory literature, marque references, or surviving unrestored examples. That approach keeps the La Salle 345C historically convincing without assuming that every surviving car left the showroom trimmed exactly the same way.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a La Salle 345C is judged and perceived. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks properly sorted for its era. On a prewar luxury companion marque car, an obviously modern-looking or incorrectly proportioned tire can distract from an otherwise careful restoration.

That does not mean every La Salle 345C must wear the same sidewall treatment, but it does mean the tire should fit the year, wheel, and restoration objective. If the car is being prepared for formal judging, period photographs, marque clubs, and class rules are the right references for deciding whether blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall is the most appropriate finish.

La Salle 345C tires are available here in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, all within the correct 700-17 size. Any of those treatments can suit a period restoration depending on how the specific car is being presented. The choice is less about basic fitment and more about the visual character desired for the finished car.

A blackwall La Salle 345C tends to read as more restrained and understated, while a whitewall or double-whitewall treatment creates a fuller, more formal early-1930s luxury look. Restorers usually choose the sidewall that best matches period photos, trim level presentation, and the judging standard they are aiming to meet.

Properly fitted new bias-ply tires in the correct 700-17 size can be suitable for operating a La Salle 345C on public roads within the limits of a prewar automobile. Safety depends on far more than tread alone: wheel condition, tube installation, brake performance, steering integrity, suspension wear, and inflation all matter. A sound tire on an unsound chassis does not make the car road-ready.

The practical takeaway is to treat the whole La Salle 345C as a system. Before regular road use, have the wheels and running gear inspected by someone familiar with prewar cars, then drive the car in a manner that respects the handling, braking distance, and road feel of a 1933 bias-ply-equipped automobile.

Before driving a La Salle 345C, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and whether the tire is seated evenly on the rim. Also inspect for leaks, loose wheel hardware, brake function, and steering play. On a collector car of this age, those checks are part of basic roadworthiness rather than extra caution.

Because a La Salle 345C may spend weeks or months parked between drives, small issues can develop without much warning. A short pre-drive inspection helps catch pressure loss, age-related cracking, or mechanical faults before they become a roadside problem, and it is especially important after storage, transport, or recent service work.

A La Salle 345C on correct-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds appropriate to a prewar luxury car with vintage chassis dynamics. The correct 700-17 tire preserves period handling characteristics, but it does not turn the car into a modern highway machine. Steering response, braking distance, and lane stability will all reflect the car’s 1933 design.

That means speed should be set by the condition of the car, the road surface, traffic conditions, and the comfort margin of the driver rather than by any desire to keep up with modern vehicles. A well-sorted La Salle 345C is usually happiest when driven smoothly and conservatively, with ample following distance and room for gentle correction.