Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series Tires

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series uses one listed tire size for both 1936 and 1937: 750-17. Every available product for this model group is built for a 17-inch rim, but the product range includes both passenger-car bias-ply tires and heavier-duty military or truck-type bias-ply tires, so the size alone does not tell the whole story.

That means a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series owner should match more than just the sidewall size. Check the actual wheel diameter, compare the wheel width to the rim-width range shown for the tire you are considering, and decide whether the car needs a period-correct passenger tire or a load-oriented truck-type casing.

A 750-17 tire on a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system. The 750 indicates a nominal section width of roughly 7.50 inches, while the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. All listed products in this size are bias-ply construction rather than modern radial design.

For a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series owner, that size code is the starting point, not the final answer. Two tires marked 750-17 can still differ in intended service, rim-width range, sidewall styling, and load capacity, so compare the full tire specification to the actual wheel and the car’s intended driving role.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series uses a 17-inch rim across the listed 1936 and 1937 years. Every available 750-17 product for this model group is built around that same 17-inch wheel diameter, although the acceptable rim-width range changes from one tire family to another.

Rim diameter should be confirmed on the actual wheel before any collector tire is chosen, especially on cars that may have been altered over decades of service. After diameter is verified, compare the wheel width to the tire’s listed rim-width recommendation so the chosen casing sits correctly on the wheel.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series uses bias-ply tires in a numeric vintage size, and a tube is required for this fitment. That applies across the available 750-17 offerings, whether the tire is a passenger-car style with blackwall or whitewall sidewall treatment or a heavier-duty truck-oriented version.

Tube choice matters because an otherwise correct outer tire can still perform poorly if the tube and flap arrangement are not appropriate for the wheel and service conditions. A Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series owner should treat the tube as part of the complete fitment, not as an afterthought.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series tires are available in blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall styles within the 750-17 size. Blackwall appears across both passenger and truck-type products, while the whitewall offerings are found in the passenger-car lines from Firestone and BFGoodrich.

For restoration work, sidewall choice changes the look of a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series as much as the wheel finish or trim. A formal luxury car often benefits visually from a whitewall treatment, while a more utilitarian or specialized presentation may point toward blackwall, especially when using truck-duty tires.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series tires are offered here by Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA. Firestone and BFGoodrich cover the passenger-style bias-ply side of the 750-17 size, while Tornel and STA represent heavier-duty truck or transport-oriented products in the same nominal size.

That spread gives a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series owner several directions to choose from. The right brand is usually the one whose casing type, sidewall style, rim-width range, and intended service best match the actual car rather than the one that simply shares the correct size marking.

Both 1936 and 1937 Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series models use 750-17, so confirming the correct tire means looking beyond the year alone. The key checks are wheel diameter, wheel width, desired sidewall appearance, and whether the car needs a passenger-car bias-ply tire or a heavier-duty truck-type tire in the same size.

Start with the wheel that is actually on the Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series, then compare its width to the listed rim-width recommendation for the tire under consideration. If originality matters, period photos, surviving factory literature, and marque specialists can help narrow the most appropriate sidewall and product family.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series products in 750-17 include Firestone Balloon, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Tornel Classic Truck, and Super Transport series. Firestone Balloon and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply are passenger-car bias-ply lines, while Tornel Classic Truck and Super Transport are more duty-oriented designs aimed at truck or transport service.

For a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series restoration, the series name helps identify the tire’s character as much as its size. Owners focused on period passenger-car appearance usually start with Firestone or BFGoodrich offerings, while truck-type series are better reserved for specialized applications where heavier load-oriented construction is the priority.

A Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with petroleum products. Because these are vintage-style bias-ply tires, long periods of inactivity can encourage flat spotting and sidewall stress if the car is left standing without attention.

Practical collector-car storage usually means maintaining proper inflation, moving the Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series periodically, and reducing static load when the car will sit for extended stretches. Clean tires and wheels before storage, and inspect tubes, valve stems, and tread surfaces before returning the car to use.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees very little mileage. Bias-ply collector tires deserve close attention to inflation pressure, cracking, weathering, tread separation signs, irregular wear, and any movement between tire, tube, and rim components.

That inspection routine matters because a lightly used Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series can age its tires out long before it wears them out. A careful owner will also look at the spare, check wheel condition, and have any questionable tire examined by a professional familiar with vintage tube-type construction.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, casing distortion, impact damage, persistent air loss, or other structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out by time and storage history rather than mileage, which is especially important on a large luxury car with substantial weight.

Replacement decisions should be conservative because a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series places real demands on its tires at even modest road speeds. If an older tire’s history is unclear, or if it has sat for years under load, treat visual appearance as only one part of the evaluation and prioritize condition over remaining tread depth.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series is represented here by the 750-17 size for 1936 and 1937, with available products in passenger-style and truck-duty bias-ply series. The presence of Firestone Balloon and Silvertown Classic Bias Ply offerings points toward period-style passenger fitments, but the exact original brand, sidewall treatment, and tire line for an individual car depend on how that specific automobile was delivered.

For restoration accuracy, the best path is to treat 750-17 as the fitment foundation and then verify the finer details through original sales literature, surviving photographs, and Pierce Arrow club knowledge. Those references can help determine whether blackwall or whitewall presentation is most appropriate for a particular Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series.

Correct tire fitment can strongly affect both the presentation and judged authenticity of a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series. Judges and experienced collectors notice whether the tire size, sidewall style, stance, and overall period character are in harmony with the car, especially on a prestigious luxury marque where visual details carry real weight.

That does not mean every Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series must wear the same tire, but it does mean the choice should be intentional. A restoration aimed at concours or marque events should be guided by period references and club expertise, while a touring car may accept compromises that still respect the car’s historic appearance.

Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series tires are available in blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Any of those can change the visual character of the car considerably, with whitewall options generally creating a more formal late-1930s luxury presentation and blackwall giving a more restrained, service-oriented appearance.

The correct sidewall for a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series restoration depends on the specific car’s original delivery style and the standard of authenticity being pursued. Use period photos, surviving unrestored examples, and marque references to decide whether the car should wear a blackwall, a narrower white treatment, or a broader whitewall look.

A Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series can be driven on public roads with correctly fitted, sound-condition vintage-style tires, but safety depends on the complete condition of the tire, tube, wheel, and chassis rather than size alone. The available 750-17 products are all bias-ply, and some are passenger-car designs while others are heavier-duty truck-type tires intended for different service priorities.

For road use, the Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series should be matched to a tire whose construction suits the car’s real purpose and whose wheel width falls within the recommended range. Careful inflation, a thorough pre-drive inspection, and realistic speeds are essential with any collector car of this size and age.

Before driving a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series, check inflation pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and overall seating of the tire on the rim. On a tube-type bias-ply setup, it is also wise to look for signs of slow air loss, wheel-rim deterioration, or uneven wear that may point to alignment or suspension issues.

Because a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series is a large prewar luxury car, tire checks should be part of a broader mechanical routine that includes brakes, steering, wheel bearings, and suspension. A few minutes in the garage can prevent damage to scarce components and make the car far more predictable once it is on the road.

A Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series on vintage-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect the age and design of the car as well as the characteristics of tube-type bias-ply construction. Even when the tires are new, the overall vehicle system remains a 1930s luxury automobile with different steering, braking, and handling behavior from a modern car.

The practical approach is to drive a Pierce Arrow 544 & 747 Series at a pace that keeps the car settled, the tires cool, and stopping distances manageable. Touring use is usually more appropriate than sustained high-speed running, and any increase in speed should follow only after careful mechanical evaluation of the complete vehicle.