Peerless Custom Tires

Peerless Custom uses one listed tire size across both 1931 and 1932: 650-19. All available products for Peerless Custom in this size are built for 19-inch rims and use bias-ply construction. The product range includes blackwall and wide whitewall versions from Firestone, Lester, and Excelsior, but the underlying fitment size remains the same throughout the model span.

That makes year-to-year selection fairly straightforward, but wheel verification still matters on a restored car. Check the sidewall on the existing tires, inspect the wheel itself for 19-inch fitment, and compare what is on the car with original paperwork if available. Once the size is confirmed, the next decision is usually sidewall style and tire series rather than a different dimension.

A 650-19 size on a Peerless Custom is a numeric bias-ply designation. The 6.50 refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Every listed Peerless Custom product in this size is a 19-inch bias-ply tire, so the code is describing both the tire's approximate width and the rim it is meant to fit.

For a modern buyer, the important point is that 650-19 is not interchangeable with another 19-inch size just because the rim diameter matches. Section width and overall profile are part of the period fitment. If your Peerless Custom still has its proper wheels, stay with 650-19 and then choose the sidewall treatment and tire series that best suit the car's restoration style and intended use.

Peerless Custom uses a 19-inch rim with the listed 650-19 tires. Every available product for this application is built around a 19-inch wheel diameter, and several options also note compatible rim-width ranges within that same basic fitment. The core fitment question on this model is not a changing rim diameter by year, but whether the car still retains its proper 19-inch wheels after decades of restoration or storage.

That check is worth making before choosing a tire, especially on a low-production luxury car where replacement wheels may have been sourced long ago. Read the wheel markings if present, measure carefully, and compare against any surviving factory or restoration records. Once the 19-inch wheel is confirmed, the remaining decisions are about construction style, sidewall appearance, and which period-correct series best matches your goals.

Peerless Custom should be fitted with tubes when using the listed 650-19 tires because all available options are bias-ply tires in an early-1930s collector application. Nothing in the available fitment range indicates a modern tubeless radial alternative for this model. On cars of this era, tube-type service is part of using the tire in the manner intended for its construction and wheel design.

Tube selection should be treated as part of the complete tire fitment, not as an afterthought. When replacing tires on a Peerless Custom, inspect the wheels for condition, rust, and rim-band needs, and replace aged tubes rather than reusing old ones from a previous installation. A proper tube setup helps the tire seat and function as intended on a pre-war collector car that may spend long periods parked.

The listed size for both 1931 and 1932 Peerless Custom models is 650-19 on a 19-inch rim. Since the size does not change across the years shown, the main task is confirming that your specific car still carries the correct wheels and has not been altered during past restoration work. Once that is established, the fitment choice narrows to which 650-19 product best matches the car's appearance and intended use.

Start with the tire sidewall if old tires are still mounted, then inspect the wheel size directly and compare with any surviving service records or marque literature. Cars that have been off the road for decades sometimes wear substitute wheels or mixed components. On a Peerless Custom, getting the wheel diameter right first will prevent confusion later when choosing among blackwall, whitewall, or different period-style tire series.

Peerless Custom tires are offered in two sidewall styles within the 650-19 size: blackwall and wide whitewall. Blackwall choices appear in Firestone, Lester, and Excelsior offerings, while wide whitewall options are available in both Firestone and Lester lines. That gives a restorer a clear visual choice without changing the actual size or basic bias-ply construction of the tire.

The right look depends on how the Peerless Custom is being presented. Blackwalls usually suit a restrained, formal pre-war appearance, while wide whitewalls create a more prominent luxury-car presentation that many owners prefer on fully restored classics. If the car is being judged, period photographs, marque references, and the overall restoration theme should guide the sidewall decision rather than appearance alone.

Peerless Custom tires in 650-19 are available from three brands: Firestone, Lester, and Excelsior. Within those brands, the listed series include Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Balloon, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Excelsior Comp H. All of them remain within the same basic fitment size and bias-ply construction, but they differ in styling details and period presentation.

Brand choice on a Peerless Custom often comes down to restoration philosophy. Some owners prioritize a certain tread or sidewall appearance, while others want a tire series that visually complements a formal early-1930s luxury car. It is worth comparing the available sidewall treatments and series character carefully so the finished car looks consistent from every angle, especially if the vehicle is restored to a high standard.

Peerless Custom tires are offered in several series within 650-19, including Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Balloon, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Excelsior Comp H. All are bias-ply collector tires for 19-inch fitment, but the series names indicate different period-style constructions and presentation approaches rather than a change in base fitment. Firestone Balloon, for example, is distinct from Firestone Classic Bias Ply even though both fit the same size and wheel diameter.

That means your choice is less about whether the tire will fit and more about how closely the series matches the style and driving character you want from a Peerless Custom. Owners pursuing authenticity often compare series by period look, sidewall treatment, and how they suit the car's era. If the car is being restored for shows, marque references and period imagery are useful guides when choosing between series families.

Peerless Custom should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Proper inflation matters even during storage because underinflated bias-ply tires can develop flat spotting and sidewall stress while the car sits. On a heavy early-1930s automobile, weight management during long idle periods is especially important.

If the Peerless Custom will sit for months at a time, move it slightly from time to time or support it in a way that reduces prolonged loading on one contact patch. Keep the tires clean with mild soap and water rather than dressings that can affect the rubber. A collector car stored carefully will generally preserve its tires longer and be more predictable when it returns to road or show duty.

Tires on a Peerless Custom should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car is used only occasionally. On an early pre-war car with bias-ply construction, the inspection should cover inflation, visible cracking, sidewall distortion, tread separation signs, and the condition of the valve stems and tubes. Collector cars often age their tires by time and storage conditions rather than by mileage.

A practical routine is to give the Peerless Custom a quick visual and pressure check whenever it leaves the garage, then perform a closer examination at least several times a year. Include the spare if one is carried. If anything looks irregular, have the tire and wheel assembly evaluated by a specialist familiar with vintage tires before the car is driven at speed or loaded for touring.

Tires on a Peerless Custom should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, separations, or repeated air loss suggest the structure is no longer trustworthy, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often spend much of their lives parked, so visible wear is only one part of the picture. On a heavy pre-war automobile, time-related deterioration can become a more important replacement factor than mileage alone.

That rule is especially important with any tire of uncertain age from an older restoration. A Peerless Custom that sees only occasional use may still need fresh tires because rubber compounds and internal materials change over time. If there is any question about serviceability, replace the tire rather than relying on appearance alone, and have old tubes inspected or renewed as part of the change.

Peerless Custom is represented here with 650-19 fitment for both 1931 and 1932, and the available replacement choices include series such as Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Balloon, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Excelsior Comp H. That tells a restorer that more than one period-style replacement approach exists within the proper size. The key original-spec question is therefore not only size, but which series style and sidewall treatment best match the specific car's factory presentation.

For a serious restoration, use surviving factory literature, period photography, and Peerless marque expertise to narrow the choice. A Peerless Custom restored for touring may reasonably prioritize one period-style bias-ply offering, while a concours-oriented car may call for closer attention to tread character and sidewall appearance. Getting the size right is only the first step in reproducing the car's original visual stance.

Correct tire fitment can have a meaningful effect on both presentation and judging for a Peerless Custom because tire size, profile, and sidewall style contribute heavily to the car's stance. A proper 650-19 fitment keeps the wheel opening, ride height impression, and overall period look in line with what an early-1930s luxury car should convey. Incorrect dimensions or obviously modern styling can distract from an otherwise accurate restoration.

For owners concerned with value, tires are part of the car's visual credibility. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether a Peerless Custom looks authentically grounded on its wheels, especially on a prestigious pre-war marque. Matching the tire's size and appearance to the restoration theme, and checking with marque clubs or experienced restorers, can help avoid a detail that undermines an otherwise excellent car.

Peerless Custom restorers can choose from blackwall and wide whitewall 650-19 tires. Both sidewall styles are available within period-style bias-ply offerings, so the correct choice depends on the specific restoration objective rather than on fitment limitations. On a car of this stature and era, sidewall treatment makes a major visual difference even when the size remains exactly the same.

A formal Peerless Custom can look very different on blackwalls versus wide whitewalls, and either may be appropriate depending on how the car is being interpreted. Period photos, surviving unrestored examples, and show standards are the best guides. If the goal is strict authenticity, choose the sidewall style that matches the car's trim level, finish, and the way the restoration is intended to be judged or displayed.

A properly fitted new 650-19 bias-ply tire in good condition can be suitable for careful public-road use on a Peerless Custom, provided the rest of the car is mechanically sound. Tire safety on a pre-war luxury automobile depends on more than tread alone; wheel condition, tube condition, inflation, steering, brakes, and suspension all matter. These are specialty collector tires meant to support the vehicle in period-appropriate service rather than modern high-speed expectations.

Use the Peerless Custom within the limits of its era and preparation. Short, well-planned drives on suitable roads are very different from sustained modern traffic conditions. Before regular road use, have the complete chassis and tire setup inspected by a specialist familiar with pre-war cars so the tire choice and the car's mechanical condition are working together rather than against each other.

Before driving a Peerless Custom, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and whether the tires are seated properly on the rims. Because the listed fitment is bias-ply and tube-type in character, the condition of the tubes and the wheels themselves also matters. A car that has been stationary for long periods deserves extra attention for flat spotting, cracking, and any sign of air loss.

That pre-drive walkaround should be paired with a broader mechanical check on the car. Confirm that the brakes, steering, and wheel fasteners are in proper order before heading onto the road. A Peerless Custom may appear ready after cosmetic restoration, but road confidence comes from verifying the entire running system, with the tires serving as one critical part of that larger inspection.

A Peerless Custom on period-style 650-19 bias-ply tires should be driven at conservative, era-appropriate speeds rather than at the pace of modern traffic. Even with new tires, the car's suspension, brakes, steering geometry, and tire construction reflect early-1930s engineering priorities. Safe speed is therefore determined by the total condition of the vehicle and the road environment, not simply by the fact that fresh tires are installed.

The practical approach is to treat the Peerless Custom as a collector automobile, not a highway-speed touring sedan by modern standards. Choose secondary roads, allow generous braking distance, and increase speed only as the car proves stable and comfortable. If the car is newly restored or newly fitted with tires, begin with short test drives so any handling, balance, or wheel issues can be corrected before longer outings.