Pierce Arrow 40 Series Tires

The Pierce Arrow 40 Series uses 750-17 in the year covered here, which is 1934. Every listed product for Pierce Arrow 40 Series is built around that same 17-inch rim diameter, but the available tires are not all the same type. Some are passenger-car bias-ply tires in period-style series such as Firestone Balloon and BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, while others are heavier-duty military and truck family designs in the same nominal size.

That means the correct starting point is simple on size but not on application. If your Pierce Arrow 40 Series is a restored luxury automobile on passenger-car wheels, focus on the passenger-car bias-ply offerings and then choose the sidewall treatment that suits the restoration. If the car has non-original wheels or a special-use setup, verify the wheel width as carefully as the tire size before making a final choice.

A 750-17 size on a Pierce Arrow 40 Series is a numeric bias-ply designation. The 750 indicates a nominal section width of roughly 7.50 inches, while the 17 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing system used widely on prewar and early postwar American vehicles, and all products listed in this fitment are bias-ply rather than radial construction.

Modern buyers sometimes assume every tire with the same size behaves the same way, but on a Pierce Arrow 40 Series the tread family, sidewall style, and intended service matter too. Once you know 750-17 is the correct size, compare the rim width on the actual wheel with the tire's intended application so a luxury-car restoration does not end up wearing a truck-oriented casing.

Pierce Arrow 40 Series fitment here is entirely bias-ply in 750-17, and a tube is required. That follows the construction style and period of the application, especially for a 1934 luxury car originally designed around tube-type tire practice. Even though all of the listed products share the same nominal size, tube use remains part of the correct installation approach for this fitment family.

Tube choice should match the tire size and the wheel's valve-stem configuration, and the wheel itself needs to be clean and suitable for tube-type service. On a Pierce Arrow 40 Series that has sat for many years, it is wise to inspect the rim condition closely before mounting fresh tires, because rust, pitting, or burrs inside the wheel can shorten tube life.

Pierce Arrow 40 Series tires in 750-17 are available here in blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The Firestone Balloon line includes blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall versions, while BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply appears in blackwall and wide whitewall. The truck-oriented alternatives are listed as blackwall only.

For most Pierce Arrow 40 Series restorations, the sidewall choice is as much a presentation decision as a fitment one. A blackwall usually reads more understated and formal, while whitewall treatments give the car a more prominent period luxury look. If authenticity matters for concours or club judging, compare the sidewall style on the car against period photos, marque references, and the car's restoration theme.

Four brands appear in Pierce Arrow 40 Series 750-17 fitment: Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA. Firestone and BFGoodrich cover the passenger-car side with period-style bias-ply offerings, while Tornel and STA appear in heavier-duty military and truck family products. All of them share the same nominal 750-17 size, but they are aimed at different service expectations.

For a roadgoing Pierce Arrow 40 Series passenger car, brand choice should begin with the tire family rather than the name alone. A Firestone Balloon or BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply will usually align more closely with prewar luxury-car presentation, while the truck-family options suit specialty use only when wheel width, load needs, and the vehicle's configuration genuinely call for them.

Pierce Arrow 40 Series products in 750-17 appear in four distinct series: Firestone Balloon, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Tornel Classic Truck, and Super Transport. Firestone Balloon and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply are passenger-car style bias-ply series offered with restoration-friendly sidewall treatments. Tornel Classic Truck and Super Transport are heavier-duty bias-ply families associated with military and truck service rather than prewar luxury-car presentation.

That split matters because the same nominal size can still produce a very different visual and driving character. If the goal is an authentic-looking Pierce Arrow 40 Series, start with the passenger-car series and then refine by sidewall style and wheel width. If the car has been adapted for utility use or carries non-original hardware, compare the casing style and rim range carefully before stepping into the truck-oriented series.

A Pierce Arrow 40 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from clean floors, stable temperatures, and protection from petroleum spills or solvents. Tire pressure should be maintained during storage rather than letting the car sit soft on the sidewalls.

If the Pierce Arrow 40 Series will sit for long periods, move it occasionally to change the contact patch or support it in a way that reduces flat-spotting without stressing the suspension. Cars of this size and weight can mark a tire quickly when left stationary for months, so regular attention does more for longevity than simply covering the car and walking away.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 40 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at least several times during the season, even if the car covers very few miles. A prewar bias-ply tire can age in place long before it wears out, and collector cars often spend enough time parked that problems develop quietly. Look for cracking, weathering, bulges, uneven shape, tread separation signs, and valve-stem issues.

Inspection on a Pierce Arrow 40 Series should also include the wheels, tubes, and bead area, not just the visible tread. Because the car is heavy and the tires are part of its period driving character, any vibration, pull, or sudden change in steering feel deserves immediate attention. A specialist familiar with vintage wheels and tube-type tires is the right person for periodic deeper evaluation.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 40 Series should be replaced when age cracking, sidewall deterioration, casing distortion, repeated air loss, vibration, or other structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out, especially on cars driven only for tours, shows, and occasional exercise runs. Time, storage conditions, and service history matter at least as much as visible tread depth.

A Pierce Arrow 40 Series deserves a conservative approach because the car is substantial, the tire technology is period-style, and low annual mileage can hide age-related decline. If a tire's age or history is uncertain, have it evaluated before putting the car back on the road. Replacement is cheaper than body damage, wheel damage, or the consequences of a casing failure on a large prewar automobile.

The Pierce Arrow 40 Series fitment listed here is 750-17 for 1934, and the available period-style passenger-car series include Firestone Balloon and BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply. That establishes the size family and the kind of construction appropriate to the era, but it does not mean every Pierce Arrow 40 Series left the factory with the same brand or cosmetic treatment. Sidewall appearance could also vary depending on restoration goals and period presentation.

For an exact restoration, use the 750-17 size as the starting point and then verify brand appearance, sidewall treatment, and wheel details through Pierce-Arrow literature, surviving original cars, and marque-club references. That approach keeps the tire choice anchored to known fitment while still respecting the small but important differences that often separate a correct restoration from a merely similar one.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the value, presentation, and judging outcome of a Pierce Arrow 40 Series. On a prominent prewar luxury car, judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the size, construction style, sidewall treatment, and overall stance suit the era. A 750-17 bias-ply passenger-car tire looks and reads very differently from a truck-oriented tire in the same nominal size.

That does not mean every restoration needs the same cosmetic finish, but it does mean tire choice should support the car's intended standard. Touring restorations, preservation cars, and concours cars may each make different sidewall choices, yet all benefit from staying within the proper size family and period construction. Marque clubs and show-rule books are the best references when judging points or resale expectations matter.

Pierce Arrow 40 Series tires are available here in blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall treatments, all within the 750-17 size. That gives restorers several period-appropriate visual directions depending on how the car is being finished. The truck-family alternatives are blackwall only and are usually less appropriate visually for a luxury-car restoration.

The most correct sidewall style for a Pierce Arrow 40 Series depends on the exact car's history, trim presentation, and restoration goal. Blackwall generally suits a more restrained prewar appearance, while whitewall styles emphasize formality and luxury. If the car is being judged, compare your choice with period photos and marque guidance so the tire does not look too modern, too commercial, or out of character with the body and wheels.

A properly selected and correctly installed tire in the listed Pierce Arrow 40 Series size can be used for public-road driving, but it should be approached as prewar bias-ply motoring rather than modern high-speed touring. The available passenger-car tires are period-style designs, and the truck-oriented choices are not automatic substitutes simply because the size matches. Safety depends on choosing the correct tire family, sound wheels, proper inflation, and the overall mechanical condition of the car.

A Pierce Arrow 40 Series should be driven with the habits its era demands: longer stopping distances, gentler steering inputs, and realistic cruising speeds. Before regular road use, make sure the brake system, steering, suspension, and wheel integrity are all up to the task. The tire is only one part of the safety picture on a large 1934 luxury automobile.

Before driving a Pierce Arrow 40 Series, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and whether the tires are seated correctly on the rims. Also confirm lug security, wheel condition, and that the tire type fitted to the car matches its intended use as a passenger automobile rather than a truck application. On a prewar car, it is equally important to confirm brakes, steering play, fluid levels, and lighting before heading out.

A short walk-around before every outing can prevent the sort of small issue that becomes a large one once the car is moving. If the Pierce Arrow 40 Series has been parked for weeks or months, roll it slowly at first and pay attention to vibration, pull, or unusual noise. Any sudden change in feel is reason to stop and inspect rather than pressing on.

A Pierce Arrow 40 Series on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the design of the tire and the age of the car. Even when the tire is new, the overall vehicle still carries 1934 braking, steering, suspension, and chassis expectations. Public-road use is best approached as steady touring rather than modern expressway driving.

The right pace is the one that leaves a generous margin for heat, road crown, stopping distance, and emergency maneuvering. If your Pierce Arrow 40 Series feels unsettled, wanders, or develops excess heat in the tires, slow down and inspect the setup. Safe speed is determined by the entire car's condition, not merely by the fact that fresh tires have been fitted.