Pierce Arrow A & B Tires

The listed fitment for the 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B is 700-18. Every available product in this application uses an 18-inch rim diameter, but the offerings are not all the same type, because the size includes passenger-car bias-ply tires as well as a heavier-duty military and truck-style bias-ply option. Sidewall styles also vary within the size, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions.

That means size alone is only the first checkpoint on a Pierce Arrow A & B. After confirming that the car is fitted with 18-inch wheels, compare the wheel width and intended use of the car with the specific tire series you are considering. A formal restoration, a touring car, and a car used mainly for display may all use 700-18, but they may call for different sidewall styling and different bias-ply families within that size.

On a Pierce Arrow A & B, 700-18 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 700 refers to a nominal section width of about 7.00 inches, while the 18 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. In this application, the listed products are all bias-ply tires built around that 18-inch rim size rather than modern metric sizing.

Understanding that code helps separate fitment from appearance choices. Once 700-18 is confirmed on the car, the remaining decisions are about which bias-ply series suits the vehicle, whether the wheel width matches the tire's recommended range, and whether a blackwall or whitewall presentation better suits the restoration. Because these are bias-ply products in a period size, tube-type service should be expected.

Pierce Arrow A & B fitments in 700-18 are bias-ply tires, and tube-type service is the correct expectation for this application. The available products are all bias-ply constructions, and that period size is normally used with tubes rather than as a modern tubeless fitment. Owners working with original-style wheels should treat an inner tube as part of the complete tire setup rather than an optional accessory.

Tube condition matters just as much as tire condition on a collector car. When fitting new tires to a Pierce Arrow A & B, inspect the wheel carefully for rust, burrs, or damage that could affect the tube, and make sure the tube and flap arrangement matches the wheel and tire. That is especially important on a large pre-war car where weight, braking distances, and low annual mileage can mask problems until the car is back on the road.

Pierce Arrow A & B tires in 700-18 are offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those appearance choices appear within the same overall size, so the decision is not about fitment alone but also about presentation. The available sidewall treatments span understated touring looks as well as fuller whitewall styles that suit many late pre-war luxury restorations.

The right choice depends on how your Pierce Arrow A & B is being restored and shown. A car meant to reflect formal luxury trim often benefits from a whitewall treatment, while a more restrained or utility-minded presentation may point to blackwall. Period photos, surviving original cars, and marque-club judging standards are the best references when sidewall appearance matters as much as the size itself.

Four brands appear in the Pierce Arrow A & B 700-18 offerings: Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA. Firestone is represented in more than one series and sidewall style, while Lester, Excelsior, and STA provide additional choices within the same nominal size. All of the listed products are bias-ply tires, but they are not all aimed at exactly the same kind of use.

Brand choice on a Pierce Arrow A & B should be weighed alongside tire series, wheel width, and the car's purpose. An owner pursuing period-correct visual character may favor one line, while someone preparing a heavier touring setup may focus more on load range and wheel-width compatibility. Looking at the brand name alone is not enough; compare the complete specification for the exact version you intend to fit.

Pierce Arrow A & B tires in 700-18 appear in several series, including Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Comp H, and Transport Highway. Those names reflect different tire families and intended character rather than different overall size, and they include both passenger-car bias-ply and heavier-duty truck-oriented bias-ply interpretations. Rim width ranges also vary by series, which is an important fitment detail on a large pre-war wheel.

That variety gives Pierce Arrow A & B owners room to match the tire to the car's mission. A luxury restoration usually calls for a passenger-car series with the right sidewall presentation, while a heavier-duty line may be more relevant when the wheel width or operating demands point that direction. If your goal is authenticity, compare the tire series to period Pierce Arrow practice; if your goal is practical touring, compare wheel width and load characteristics first.

A Pierce Arrow A & B 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 it is a large pre-war automobile with substantial weight, long stationary periods can encourage flat spotting and sidewall stress in bias-ply tires. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and correct inflation are more important than cosmetic coverings.

Owners who store a Pierce Arrow A & B for extended periods should move the car occasionally or use methods that reduce constant load on one contact patch. Inspect inflation before and after storage, and do not assume a low-mileage collector tire remains healthy just because the tread still looks fresh. Cars that sit quietly for months often need more attention, not less, once they are put back into service.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow A & B should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check at regular intervals during the season. On a pre-war collector car, that means looking for cracking, cuts, sidewall bulges, uneven wear, pressure loss, and any signs that the tube or wheel condition may be affecting the casing. Bias-ply tires on heavy cars can show age-related issues even when mileage is low.

A practical routine is to make tire inspection part of every garage departure. Check pressure when the tires are cold, look over the tread and sidewalls in good light, and pay attention to any change in steering feel once the Pierce Arrow A & B is moving. If the car has been stored for a long period or recently returned to the road, have the tires and wheels reviewed by a shop familiar with vintage tube-type applications.

Tires on a Pierce Arrow A & B should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, impact damage, or persistent air-loss issues appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out, and that is especially true for pre-war fitments that see limited but intermittent use. Structural condition matters more than remaining tread depth on a car of this type.

A Pierce Arrow A & B should never be judged road-ready by tread alone. If a tire has an uncertain age, has spent years supporting the car in storage, or shows any visible deterioration, replacement is the prudent move before regular driving resumes. The same thinking applies to tubes, flaps, and wheel condition, since a fresh outer casing cannot compensate for aged supporting components inside the assembly.

The listed Pierce Arrow A & B fitment is 700-18, and the available replacement families include both balloon and classic bias-ply passenger-car series. That establishes the size and period-correct construction direction, but it does not reduce every original-car question to a single universal brand or sidewall choice. The presence of several period-appropriate series means the exact presentation can depend on how a specific car was equipped or later restored.

For a Pierce Arrow A & B restoration, treat 700-18 as the starting point and then compare series style and sidewall appearance with original literature, period photos, and club references. Owners trying to replicate factory or judged authenticity should be careful not to choose purely on brand familiarity. The visual character of the tire, including whether it is a blackwall or whitewall treatment, can matter nearly as much as the size itself.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Pierce Arrow A & B is judged and perceived, especially on a prestige pre-war automobile where stance, sidewall treatment, and overall proportion are part of the car's visual identity. Using the correct 700-18 size is the foundation, but judging standards often care about whether the tire's appearance and construction style suit the period as well. A mismatched tire can change the whole character of the car.

That practical effect is twofold for a Pierce Arrow A & B owner. If the car is headed for concours or club judging, compare your chosen sidewall style and tire family with accepted marque references before fitting the set. If the car is meant mainly for personal touring, historical correctness may be balanced against use needs, but the tire should still preserve the car's proper ride height, profile, and pre-war visual presence.

Pierce Arrow A & B tires in 700-18 are offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, all within period-style bias-ply construction. Because the model sits in the luxury pre-war era, more than one sidewall presentation can look historically appropriate depending on the exact restoration goal. The correct choice is less about whether the size fits and more about matching the visual language of the specific car.

Owners restoring a Pierce Arrow A & B should use period photography, sales literature, and club guidance to decide whether a restrained blackwall or a more formal whitewall treatment is right. A sidewall choice that suits a chauffeur-driven or highly trimmed example may not be the same one chosen for a simpler presentation. When authenticity matters, choose the sidewall style as deliberately as you choose the tire size.

Properly fitted bias-ply tires in the correct 700-18 size can be appropriate for public-road use on a Pierce Arrow A & B, provided the entire car is mechanically sound and the tire chosen matches the wheel and intended service. Tire safety on a pre-war luxury car depends on more than size alone, because wheel condition, tube condition, inflation, steering health, and brake performance all affect real-world behavior. A correct tire cannot compensate for deferred chassis or wheel maintenance.

That means a Pierce Arrow A & B should be treated as a complete system before road use begins. Have the wheels, tubes, alignment, steering linkage, and braking system checked by someone familiar with large pre-war cars, then begin with conservative local driving to evaluate behavior. Even when the tires are new, the car's age, weight, and original design call for a measured approach rather than modern expectations.

Before driving a Pierce Arrow A & B, check cold tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any signs of tube-related air loss. Confirm that all four tires match in size and general type, and make sure the chosen 700-18 tires suit the wheel width on the car. On a heavy pre-war automobile, small tire issues can become major handling or durability problems once the car is underway.

A short walk-around before every outing is the best habit an owner can develop. After the tire check, pay equal attention to brakes, steering play, fluid leaks, and lighting, since a Pierce Arrow A & B asks more from the driver than a modern car does. If the car has been sitting, recheck everything after the first few miles because storage can reveal problems only once the vehicle is back under load.

A Pierce Arrow A & B on period-style 700-18 bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the tire design and the capabilities of a 1930 chassis. These tires are intended to preserve authentic handling character, not to transform the car into a modern high-speed cruiser. Road speed should always be set by the condition of the tires, wheels, suspension, brakes, and the driver's familiarity with bias-ply behavior.

In practical terms, a Pierce Arrow A & B is best enjoyed as a touring and event car rather than a fast sustained-highway machine. Smooth inputs, generous following distance, and moderate cruising speeds will do more for safety and tire life than any single specification figure. If the car feels unsettled, wanders, or reacts sharply to road grooves, back down the pace and inspect the full chassis and tire setup before continuing.