Pierce Arrow 1803 Tires

Pierce Arrow 1803 uses one listed tire size: 750-17 for 1938. Every available product tied to Pierce Arrow 1803 in this fitment uses a 17-inch rim diameter, and all of the listed options are bias-ply tires. The available range includes passenger-car style tires as well as heavier-duty military and truck-type versions built in the same nominal size.

That makes the first step straightforward: confirm that your Pierce Arrow 1803 still has 17-inch wheels. After that, the decision is less about year-to-year fitment and more about selecting the right casing style, sidewall appearance, and duty level for how the car will be used, whether that means formal restoration display, touring, or a more utility-oriented application.

On a Pierce Arrow 1803 tire, 750-17 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 750 portion represents a nominal section width of about 7.50 inches, while the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing convention used on period bias-ply tires, not a modern metric size like 205/75R15.

For a Pierce Arrow 1803 owner, that means the key compatibility point is a 17-inch wheel paired with a tire built in the proper period numeric format. It also helps explain why several tires can share the same size code while differing in sidewall treatment, tread character, rim width range, and intended service type.

Pierce Arrow 1803 uses a 17-inch rim diameter in the listed fitment range. Every available 750-17 product for Pierce Arrow 1803 is built around that 17-inch wheel size, even though the tires vary in sidewall style, load rating, rim width range, and intended duty. There is no separate wheel-diameter change within this model-year range.

That said, an actual car should still be checked before fitting tires, especially if it has had wheels exchanged during past restoration or long-term ownership. Verify the wheel stamping or measure the rim directly, then match the tire not only to the 17-inch diameter but also to the wheel width and the car's intended driving use.

Pierce Arrow 1803 uses bias-ply tires in the 750-17 numeric format, and a tube is required. That applies across the listed passenger-car tires and the heavier-duty military and truck-style alternatives in the same size. Tube use is part of the normal fitment practice for this type of period construction.

When fitting a Pierce Arrow 1803, make sure the tubes, flaps if needed, and wheel condition are treated as part of the overall tire installation rather than as an afterthought. Old rims, rough bead seats, and incorrect tube sizing can cause trouble even when the outer tire size itself is correct.

For a 1938 Pierce Arrow 1803, the listed size is 750-17. The most important confirmation points are that the car still carries 17-inch wheels and that the wheel width matches the type of tire you intend to fit, since some products in this size are built around narrower passenger-car rims while others are intended for wider, heavier-duty applications.

A practical approach is to inspect the wheel itself, compare the car's current tire and wheel setup with restoration records, and then decide whether the goal is formal period appearance or utility-grade service. That extra step matters on a large luxury car like Pierce Arrow 1803 because the same size code can cover tires built for noticeably different purposes.

Pierce Arrow 1803 tires in 750-17 are available in blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Blackwall appears across several offerings, while Firestone and BFGoodrich also offer period-style whitewall treatments in this size. Those choices let an owner tailor the appearance to the character of the restoration.

For a formal late-1930s luxury car, sidewall style can strongly affect the finished look. Owners pursuing a preservation or judged presentation should compare the car's trim level, period photos, and marque references before deciding, while drivers focused on a more understated roadgoing presentation may prefer a blackwall bias-ply.

Pierce Arrow 1803 tires in 750-17 are available from Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA. Firestone and BFGoodrich cover the more restoration-oriented passenger-car side of the fitment, while Tornel and STA include heavier-duty blackwall offerings in the same nominal size. All of the listed choices are bias-ply tires.

That spread gives Pierce Arrow 1803 owners room to choose by intended use rather than by size alone. If appearance and period luxury character are the priority, the passenger-car lines deserve the closest look; if the car has a specialty application or requires a more commercial-style casing, the truck-oriented alternatives may be more appropriate.

Pierce Arrow 1803 tires in 750-17 are offered in Firestone Balloon, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Tornel Classic Truck, and Super Transport series. Firestone Balloon and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply are passenger-car style bias-ply lines with restoration-oriented sidewall options, while Tornel Classic Truck and Super Transport are heavier-duty blackwall bias-ply designs aimed at more commercial service. The size remains the same, but the tire family changes the character of the casing.

For a Pierce Arrow 1803 owner, that means series choice should follow the role of the car. A concours-minded or period-luxury presentation usually points toward the passenger-car lines, while a utility-focused build or specialty use may call for the more robust truck-type constructions, provided wheel width and overall fitment are checked carefully.

Pierce Arrow 1803 should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and extreme temperature swings. Because it is a heavy prewar luxury car, proper inflation and periodic movement are important to reduce flat spotting and casing stress on fitted bias-ply tires. Long periods of sitting in one position are harder on collector tires than many owners expect.

If the car will be parked for an extended stretch, keep the tires correctly inflated, roll the car occasionally, and consider reducing sustained load with appropriate supports if the storage plan and chassis design allow it. Avoid petroleum-based dressings and keep the storage environment stable, especially if the car is fitted with whitewall tires that need gentle cosmetic care.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 1803 should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even when the car sees limited mileage. A large 1938 luxury car places meaningful load on its tires, and bias-ply construction can hide age-related issues until they become visible as sidewall cracking, tread separation, or tube-related air loss.

A good routine is to check inflation, sidewalls, valve stems, bead areas, and tread condition before the car leaves the garage, then schedule periodic hands-on inspection by a shop familiar with collector vehicles. Wheel condition matters too, since rough or damaged rims can create problems that look like tire failure but begin at the wheel.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 1803 should be replaced when age, cracking, cord exposure, repeated air loss, deformation, or other structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks serviceable. Collector cars often age out their tires long before they wear them out, particularly when they spend years in storage and only cover limited seasonal mileage.

Replacement decisions should be made on condition and age as much as tread depth, and that is especially true on a substantial prewar car where tire loads are significant. Any tire of obvious age or questionable history deserves careful professional evaluation before road use, rather than relying on appearance alone.

Pierce Arrow 1803 is listed here with the 750-17 size for 1938, and the available replacement families include Firestone Balloon and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply among the passenger-car options. That establishes the correct size and period-style construction direction, but it does not reduce every original-car question to a single universal tread or sidewall treatment because several restoration-appropriate presentations exist in this fitment.

Owners seeking the closest match for a specific Pierce Arrow 1803 should use factory literature, surviving photographs, and marque-club guidance to sort out whether blackwall, double whitewall, or wide whitewall best suits the car. Size is the essential foundation; finish details are what separate a broadly correct restoration from a highly exact one.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both presentation and judging on a Pierce Arrow 1803. On an important late luxury car, judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the tire size, sidewall style, and overall stance look appropriate to the period. A tire that is technically mountable but visually wrong can alter the car's proportions and authenticity.

For owners restoring a Pierce Arrow 1803 at a high level, tire selection should be treated as a finishing component of the car rather than a generic maintenance item. Marque clubs, period sales material, and historic photos are often the best references for deciding whether blackwall or one of the available whitewall styles is the right visual answer.

Pierce Arrow 1803 tires in 750-17 are available in blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Any of those can produce a very different visual result, even though the size remains correct. For a 1938 luxury car, sidewall presentation is part of the restoration character, not just a cosmetic extra.

The right choice for a Pierce Arrow 1803 depends on the specific restoration goal. A formal, upscale presentation may point toward one of the whitewall options, while a more restrained or particular historical interpretation may favor blackwall, so period photos and marque-specific judging standards should guide the final decision.

A properly fitted, properly maintained 750-17 bias-ply tire can be suitable for public-road use on a Pierce Arrow 1803 when the rest of the car is equally sound. That includes the wheels, tubes, brakes, steering, suspension, and alignment, because tire safety on a prewar car depends on the whole chassis rather than on the tire alone.

Public-road driving in a Pierce Arrow 1803 should be approached with the expectations appropriate to a large 1938 automobile on bias-ply tires. Moderate speeds, careful following distance, and frequent condition checks are part of responsible operation, particularly if the car is used only occasionally and spends long periods between outings.

Before driving a Pierce Arrow 1803, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and any sign of movement between tire and rim. Also look at the wheel itself for cracks, corrosion, or damage, since a correct 750-17 tire still depends on a sound 17-inch wheel and proper tube installation.

A short pre-drive walkaround can prevent problems that only appear once the car is underway. On a collector Pierce Arrow 1803, that routine should extend beyond the tires to include wheel fasteners, brake response, steering play, and any new vibration or pull, because these cars reward caution and regular attention.

Pierce Arrow 1803 should be driven at speeds appropriate to a heavy prewar luxury car running on bias-ply tires, even when the tires are new. The listed fitment preserves the period construction type, which means the car will not behave like a modern radial-equipped sedan in steering response, braking feel, or lane stability.

In practical terms, a Pierce Arrow 1803 is best enjoyed at conservative touring speeds that suit road conditions, weather, and the condition of the entire car. Smooth inputs, extra stopping distance, and avoidance of sustained high-speed running are sensible habits for preserving both safety and the life of the tires.