Lincoln 136 Tires

Lincoln 136 uses one tire size in the available year range: 700-18 for 1934. Every listed product for Lincoln 136 fits an 18-inch rim, but the products are not all aimed at exactly the same use. Most are passenger-car bias-ply tires in period-style series, while one 700-18 option is a Military & Truck tire with a wider rim recommendation than the passenger versions.

That means the size code alone is only the first step. On a Lincoln 136, you should also check the actual wheel width and decide whether the goal is authentic passenger-car appearance, general collector driving, or a heavier-duty tire type that may suit a different application better than a luxury prewar sedan.

A 700-18 tire on a Lincoln 136 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 refers to the nominal section width, with the decimal omitted, and the 18 refers to the rim diameter in inches. For the passenger-car tires offered in this size, the listed rim diameter is 18 inches and common rim-width recommendations center around roughly 3.75 to 4.00 inches, though one heavier-duty version is built for wider 18-inch rims.

For a Lincoln 136 owner, the practical takeaway is that 700-18 is the correct size family, but not every 700-18 is the same kind of tire. If the car is being restored to a refined prewar passenger-car presentation, compare sidewall style, tire series, and wheel width before choosing among the available options.

Lincoln 136 tires in the available fitment are all bias-ply 700-18 tires, and a tube is required. That is consistent with the prewar construction style represented in these products and with the older rim arrangements commonly associated with collector vehicles from this period.

Tube selection should match the tire size and wheel setup rather than being treated as an afterthought. If your Lincoln 136 has been restored, verify the wheel condition, valve stem arrangement, and rim integrity at the same time, because tube life and air retention depend heavily on the condition of the wheel as well as the tire.

For a 1934 Lincoln 136, the listed tire size is 700-18. The next confirmation points are the wheel diameter, which should be 18 inches, and the wheel width, because the available products include both passenger-car tires on narrower recommended rims and a heavier-duty 700-18 tire intended for wider 18-inch rims.

Start with the wheel on the car, then compare its diameter and width to the tire specifications. If the car is a restoration, original literature, period photos, and Lincoln club guidance can help determine whether a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall passenger tire is the more appropriate match for the way the car is being presented.

Lincoln 136 tires in 700-18 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those choices appear within the passenger-car bias-ply offerings, giving owners several appearance directions while staying within the same basic size.

On a prewar Lincoln 136, sidewall style can strongly influence the finished look of the car. A blackwall typically suits a more restrained or utilitarian presentation, while wide whitewall and double-whitewall choices can support a fuller period luxury appearance when that aligns with the restoration theme and surviving reference material for the specific car.

Lincoln 136 tire options are available from Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA in the 700-18 size. Firestone appears in multiple series and sidewall treatments, while Lester, Excelsior, and STA add alternative constructions or intended uses within the same nominal size.

That mix gives Lincoln 136 owners a choice between period-style passenger tires and a heavier-duty truck-oriented design. When comparing brands, pay attention to the tire series, sidewall style, and recommended rim width, because those details matter as much as the brand name on a collector car where stance and authenticity are part of the decision.

Lincoln 136 tires are offered in Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Comp H, and Transport Highway series. All are bias-ply tires in 700-18, but they represent different visual styles and intended applications, from period passenger-car balloon and classic bias-ply patterns to a heavier-duty Transport Highway truck-type option.

For a Lincoln 136, that means the right choice depends on how the car will be used and presented. A passenger-car restoration will usually point toward the balloon or classic bias-ply families, while the truck-oriented series should be evaluated carefully against wheel width, load needs, and whether that heavier-duty look and construction actually suit the car.

A Lincoln 136 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with clean tires and stable inflation. Long-term exposure to sunlight, ozone, electric motors, and concrete contamination can accelerate rubber aging, especially on a low-use prewar collector car that may spend more time parked than driven.

If the Lincoln 136 will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally to change the tire contact patch or support it in a way that reduces prolonged flat spotting without stressing the suspension. Keeping the car clean, covered, and away from heat sources will do as much for tire life as careful driving on the road.

Tires on a Lincoln 136 should be visually checked before every drive and inspected more thoroughly several times each season. On a prewar bias-ply setup, look for cracking, sidewall separation, irregular wear, tube-related air loss, and any changes in how the car sits after storage.

A more complete inspection should include wheel condition, valve stems, bead area, and inflation consistency across all four tires plus the spare if it is carried for road use. Because collector cars often log low mileage, age and storage history matter more than tread depth alone on a Lincoln 136.

A Lincoln 136 tire should be replaced when age, cracking, casing condition, vibration, persistent air loss, or visible structural change raises concern, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially important on a heavy prewar car running bias-ply construction and tubes.

Time-based replacement is a judgment call that should include storage history, use pattern, and a hands-on inspection by a professional familiar with vintage tires. If an older tire has uncertain age or condition, replacement is usually the wiser path than trying to stretch its service life simply because the tread surface appears presentable.

Lincoln 136 is represented here with a 700-18 fitment and multiple period-style bias-ply series, including balloon and classic bias-ply offerings. That indicates the correct size family for the car, but the exact original tire series or sidewall treatment for a specific Lincoln 136 depends on how that individual car was equipped when new.

For restoration work, treat 700-18 as the foundation and then compare period factory literature, original photos, and marque-club guidance to sort out the most authentic tread family and sidewall presentation. That approach is especially useful on luxury prewar cars, where appearance details can vary the character of the finished restoration.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the presentation, judging outcome, and perceived value of a Lincoln 136. Size, sidewall style, tread family, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks appropriately restored for its prewar luxury character.

Judges and knowledgeable buyers tend to notice when a Lincoln 136 sits too heavily, too lightly, or wears a tire style that looks out of place for the era. Matching the 700-18 size with an era-appropriate passenger-car series and sidewall treatment is usually a better restoration decision than choosing strictly by convenience.

Lincoln 136 restoration options in 700-18 include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. All three are represented within the available bias-ply offerings, so the most correct choice depends on the car's restoration goal and how the specific automobile was trimmed and presented in period.

For a formal prewar luxury car like Lincoln 136, whitewall treatment can be an important part of the visual statement, but blackwalls may also be appropriate depending on the exact restoration direction. The best guide is period evidence for the individual car, supported by marque references that focus on 1934 Lincoln practice.

A properly selected new-production bias-ply tire in the correct 700-18 size can be suitable for public-road use on a Lincoln 136 when the car itself is mechanically sound. Tire safety on a prewar luxury car depends on more than the tread alone, because brakes, steering, wheels, suspension, and alignment all affect how securely the car travels.

The key is to match the tire to the wheel and intended use rather than assuming every 700-18 serves the same role. On a Lincoln 136, a carefully restored passenger-car setup should be evaluated as a complete system before regular road driving, especially if the car has spent long periods off the road.

Before driving a Lincoln 136, check inflation, visible sidewall condition, wheel security, valve stems, tread condition, and whether the car sits evenly on all four tires. Because the available fitment is tube-type bias-ply, it is also important to catch slow air loss early and confirm that the tires and wheels are free of obvious damage or distortion.

A prudent pre-drive check should extend beyond the tires to include steering play, brake response, and the spare if it is expected to be usable. On a collector car of this age, a short walk-around and a few minutes of inspection can prevent problems that would be minor on a modern car but serious on a Lincoln 136.

A Lincoln 136 on period-type bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds appropriate to a prewar automobile, its mechanical condition, and contemporary road conditions. Even with correct 700-18 tires fitted, the car's braking, steering, suspension design, and weight distribution belong to an earlier era than modern traffic expectations.

The practical rule is to drive a Lincoln 136 well within the comfort zone of the car rather than trying to match modern highway behavior. Smooth inputs, generous following distance, and conservative cruising speeds are part of using a prewar collector car responsibly, no matter how fresh the tires may be.