Pierce Arrow 36 Series Tires

Pierce Arrow 36 Series cars from 1927 and 1928 use two listed sizes: 33X6.75 and 700-21. The 33X6.75 size is an antique diameter-by-section format, while 700-21 is a numeric bias-ply size built for a 21-inch rim. Available 700-21 products are all bias-ply tires, and their listed rim diameter is 21 inches.

The practical step is to identify which wheel and tire system your specific Pierce Arrow 36 Series is wearing now, especially if the car has been restored over the years. A sidewall marking, wheel measurement, and original marque literature together will usually tell you whether the car should stay with 700-21 balloon-style tires or with the larger antique-format 33X6.75 application.

On a Pierce Arrow 36 Series, 33X6.75 is an antique size expression rather than a modern wheel-and-section format. The 33 refers to the tire’s overall outside diameter in inches, and the 6.75 refers to its nominal section width. That means the first number is not the wheel diameter, so the rim size cannot be read directly from the sidewall code alone.

That distinction matters because many buyers understandably assume the first number is the wheel size, which would lead them in the wrong direction. If your Pierce Arrow 36 Series carries an antique-format tire size, measure the wheel itself and compare it with period references before choosing a replacement, especially on a car that may have seen wheel changes during earlier restoration work.

A 1927 Pierce Arrow 36 Series has two listed tire sizes because two period sizing systems appear for that year: 33X6.75 and 700-21. One is an antique diameter-by-section designation and the other is a balloon-era numeric bias-ply size. That does not mean every 1927 Pierce Arrow 36 Series used both at once; it means the year includes more than one valid fitment path.

The right way to sort that out is to identify the actual configuration on the car rather than choosing by year alone. Check the wheel diameter, inspect the current sidewall markings if any survive, and compare those findings with restoration records or Pierce Arrow club guidance so the replacement tire matches the car’s existing wheel setup.

Pierce Arrow 36 Series rim diameter depends on which size system the car uses. The 700-21 size is built for a 21-inch rim, and the available products in that size all list a 21-inch wheel diameter. The antique-format 33X6.75 size does not state the rim diameter in the size code, so the wheel size has to be established separately from the actual wheel and supporting references.

That is why wheel measurement is especially important on late-1920s luxury cars that may have had parts exchanged over many decades. If your Pierce Arrow 36 Series wears 700-21, the wheel diameter question is straightforward; if it wears 33X6.75, treat the sidewall code as a diameter-and-width reference and verify the rim before moving forward.

A 1928 Pierce Arrow 36 Series is associated with both 33X6.75 and 700-21, so the year alone does not settle the matter. Start with the wheel already on the car: if the setup is for 21-inch rims, that points toward 700-21; if the tire marking is an antique diameter-by-section code, that points toward 33X6.75. Both sizes belong to the 1928 model year range.

Use a three-part check before committing to a replacement: measure the rim, inspect any surviving tire markings, and compare those findings to period service information or restoration records. That process is especially valuable on Pierce Arrow 36 Series cars because major restorations sometimes introduced different wheels or tires long after the car left new-car service.

For Pierce Arrow 36 Series 700-21 tires, the listed sidewall styles include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. Those options appear across Firestone, Michelin, Lester, and Excelsior offerings in the available 700-21 product range. The sidewall treatment therefore becomes part of the visual restoration choice as well as the size decision.

For a conservative late-1920s presentation, many owners stay close to the period look already established by the car, its trim, and its restoration goals. If your Pierce Arrow 36 Series is headed for judging, tour use, or a highly authentic presentation, compare the sidewall style to period photos, surviving originals, and club guidance so the visual effect matches the rest of the car.

The available Pierce Arrow 36 Series products in 700-21 come from Firestone, Michelin, Lester, and Excelsior. Firestone appears in standard blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while Michelin, Lester, and Excelsior add additional period-style alternatives. That gives the Pierce Arrow 36 Series owner several brand and appearance choices within the same numeric size.

Brand selection usually comes down to the look you want, the tire series you prefer, and how closely the overall presentation should follow your restoration plan. Once the size and wheel are confirmed on a Pierce Arrow 36 Series, compare the available sidewall treatments and construction style rather than picking only by brand name.

Pierce Arrow 36 Series products in 700-21 are offered in several tire series, including Firestone Balloon, Michelin Double Rivet, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Excelsior Comp H. All of the currently listed 700-21 products are bias-ply tires, but the series names reflect different period tread designs, styling cues, and brand-specific interpretations of late-1920s tire construction. That means the series choice is largely about period appearance and brand character once the size is correct.

For a Pierce Arrow 36 Series restoration, the series should be matched to the level of authenticity you want and the visual character of the car. Owners aiming for a show-oriented or historically faithful presentation often compare tread style and sidewall treatment closely, while touring owners may focus first on matching size, wheel diameter, and consistent construction across the full set.

A Pierce Arrow 36 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with oil or solvents. Keep inflation at the appropriate service level for the tire and avoid letting the full vehicle weight sit in one spot for long periods if the car will not be moved. Collector cars on bias-ply tires benefit from periodic repositioning or support strategies that reduce flat-spotting.

If the Pierce Arrow 36 Series is driven only occasionally, make storage part of the maintenance routine rather than an afterthought. Rolling the car slightly from time to time, keeping the garage environment stable, and checking the tires before and after seasonal storage will help preserve both the rubber and the ride quality.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 36 Series should be inspected before any meaningful drive and at regular intervals even when the car is mostly static. On a late-1920s luxury car using bias-ply construction, that inspection should include visible cracking, sidewall distortion, tread separation signs, bead area condition, and inflation consistency. Cars that see limited use can still develop age-related issues even when tread depth looks generous.

A Pierce Arrow 36 Series deserves a careful walkaround before tours, shows, or transport loading because long-resting collector tires can deteriorate quietly. Have an experienced antique or classic tire professional inspect the set periodically, especially if the car still wears very old rubber or has been parked for extended stretches between outings.

A Pierce Arrow 36 Series tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, sidewall damage, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, and bias-ply construction on a heavy luxury car deserves a conservative approach. Tread depth alone is not an adequate measure of serviceability on a car from this era.

That matters especially on a Pierce Arrow 36 Series because low annual mileage can disguise tire age for many years. If a tire’s history is uncertain, if the car has been sitting on old rubber, or if an older period tire is being considered for display use, have the set evaluated closely before any road duty and replace on condition rather than appearance.

Pierce Arrow 36 Series cars from 1927 and 1928 are associated here with both 33X6.75 and 700-21, which shows that more than one period fitment path exists within the model range. The currently available 700-21 offerings include series such as Firestone Balloon, Michelin Double Rivet, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Excelsior Comp H. That helps frame the period style, but the exact original delivery specification for a particular car should be tied to its own records and marque references.

For restoration work, the goal is to match the tire to the car’s actual wheel setup and presentation rather than to assume one universal original fitment for every Pierce Arrow 36 Series. Period photos, surviving paperwork, and Pierce Arrow club expertise are often the best way to settle whether your car should present with antique-format tires or with 700-21 balloon-style tires.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Pierce Arrow 36 Series is perceived in both formal judging and informed private sale discussions. Size, construction type, sidewall treatment, and overall period correctness all contribute to whether the car looks coherent for its era. On a high-end late-1920s automobile, those details stand out because the car’s scale and presence make the tires visually prominent.

For that reason, many restorers treat tire choice as part of the car’s finishing specification rather than a consumable afterthought. If your Pierce Arrow 36 Series will be shown or appraised, compare the selected size and sidewall style with marque-club guidance and period imagery so the tire presentation supports the car’s authenticity and overall value story.

Pierce Arrow 36 Series tires in 700-21 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall forms. Any of those may suit a period-style restoration depending on the exact presentation you are trying to achieve, the trim level of the restoration, and how the car is being interpreted visually. The key is that the sidewall style should look right for a formal late-1920s luxury automobile rather than simply following modern taste.

A Pierce Arrow 36 Series restored for strict authenticity should use period photos, original sales material, and marque-club experience to narrow the choice. If the car already has an established restoration history, matching the sidewall style to that known presentation often produces the most convincing result.

A properly fitted, correctly inflated, and professionally inspected tire can be suitable for limited public-road use on a Pierce Arrow 36 Series, but the car’s age and design still call for caution. The available 700-21 options are bias-ply tires intended for period-style applications, so they should be treated as collector-car tires rather than modern everyday high-speed road tires. Safe use depends on condition, setup, and the mechanical health of the whole car, not just the tire alone.

Before taking a Pierce Arrow 36 Series onto public roads, think in terms of sympathetic touring rather than modern traffic behavior. Braking distances, steering feel, suspension condition, and road crown sensitivity all deserve respect on a large late-1920s automobile, so moderate speeds and regular inspections are part of safe operation.

Before driving a Pierce Arrow 36 Series, inspect inflation, sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel security, and any signs of age-related cracking or separation. Because the listed available tires are bias-ply 700-21 products for 21-inch rims, consistent condition across the full set matters just as much as the condition of any one tire. Also verify that the car is actually fitted with the intended size system before heading out.

A Pierce Arrow 36 Series rewards a deliberate pre-drive routine because tire issues on heavy collector cars can become serious quickly. Pair the tire check with a broader review of brakes, steering, and wheel bearings so the whole chassis is ready for the same kind of gentle touring use the tires are expected to support.

A Pierce Arrow 36 Series running period-style tires should be driven at restrained, sensible speeds that suit bias-ply construction, vehicle age, and the condition of the entire chassis. Even though the car itself came from an era of impressive luxury performance, today’s traffic environment and the realities of antique tire design call for moderation. The correct speed is therefore governed less by what the engine can do and more by what the tires, brakes, steering, and road conditions will comfortably support.

In practical terms, Pierce Arrow 36 Series owners are usually best served by smooth touring pace rather than sustained high-speed operation. If the car is freshly restored, newly fitted with tires, or returning to the road after long storage, build speed gradually and learn how the car responds before attempting longer or faster drives.