Reo 8 Cyl. Tires

The Reo 8 Cyl. in the year range covered here uses one size: 700-18, listed for 1933. All available products for the Reo 8 Cyl. in this group are built around an 18-inch rim diameter, but they are not all aimed at the same wheel widths or the same type of service. Most of the passenger-car choices center on classic bias-ply construction for narrower rims, while one heavier-duty 700-18 option is intended for wider rims and truck-style use.

That means the size code alone is only the starting point. A Reo 8 Cyl. owner should confirm the actual wheel diameter and also measure or verify wheel width before choosing among the available 700-18 tires, especially if the car has had wheel changes during its life. Matching the tire to the rim is just as important as matching the nominal size.

On a Reo 8 Cyl., 700-18 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 700 refers to a nominal section width of about 7.00 inches, written without the decimal, and the 18 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. It is a period-correct style of sizing for an early-1930s American car and belongs to the bias-ply era rather than the later radial era.

Knowing how to read the code helps separate basic size from actual application. Two tires can both be 700-18 and still differ in intended rim width, sidewall style, and duty level, so a Reo 8 Cyl. owner should use the size code along with wheel measurements and the car’s intended use. That is especially important when comparing a classic passenger tire with a truck-oriented 700-18.

Yes, the Reo 8 Cyl. should be treated as an inner-tube application with the bias-ply 700-18 sizes offered here. Every available product for this fitment is bias ply, and that construction type in this period-correct sizing should be used with tubes. That follows normal practice for collector vehicles from this era running original-style wheels and tires.

Tube fitment matters because it affects air retention, mounting, and long-term serviceability on older rims. A Reo 8 Cyl. owner should make sure the tube, flap if required, and wheel condition are all appropriate for the tire being installed. On a restored car that sees occasional use, proper tube setup is part of making the tire behave as intended.

Reo 8 Cyl. tires in 700-18 are available here in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The blackwall choices appear across multiple series, while whitewall versions are represented in Firestone Balloon form with both 4.25-inch whitewall and 4.25-inch double whitewall treatments. That gives a restorer room to match the tire’s appearance to the way the car is being presented.

Sidewall style should be chosen with the car’s restoration character in mind, not as a purely cosmetic afterthought. A formal restoration may call for a different look than a driver-quality car or a period-styled custom, even when the tire size remains the same. Reo 8 Cyl. owners often narrow the choice by combining size, rim width, and visual period correctness rather than choosing by appearance alone.

Four brands are represented for the Reo 8 Cyl. in 700-18: Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA. Firestone appears in both Balloon and Classic Bias Ply forms, Lester is offered as a classic bias-ply blackwall, Excelsior appears in Comp H form, and STA is represented by the Transport Highway series. All of them share the 18-inch rim diameter, but they are not all aimed at the same kind of vehicle use.

Brand choice on a Reo 8 Cyl. usually comes after the more important fitment decisions are settled. Once wheel diameter, wheel width, intended use, and preferred sidewall style are confirmed, the brand and series can be chosen to suit the restoration approach. That is the best way to avoid selecting a nominally correct 700-18 that belongs to a different service category.

The Reo 8 Cyl. offerings include Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Comp H, and Transport Highway series. Those names reflect different design families within the same 700-18 size, ranging from classic passenger-car bias-ply styles to a more heavy-duty military-and-truck-oriented Transport Highway tire. They also differ in sidewall presentation and intended rim width range.

For a Reo 8 Cyl. owner, the practical takeaway is that series choice should follow the car’s actual wheel setup and intended role. A passenger-car restoration on narrower original-style rims calls for a different type of 700-18 than a wider-rim utility or truck-style application. Looking at the series name alongside rim width and sidewall style helps separate historically appropriate passenger tires from heavier-duty alternatives.

A Reo 8 Cyl. 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. Bias-ply tires on collector cars also benefit from being kept at proper inflation while the car sits, since underinflation and long periods in one position can encourage flat-spotting and sidewall stress. Clean floors and stable temperatures matter more than many owners realize.

If the Reo 8 Cyl. will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally or use methods that reduce concentrated load on one section of the tire. Storage care is especially important on an early-1930s car because many are driven infrequently, and age-related deterioration can progress even when tread wear is minimal. Good storage habits preserve both appearance and service life.

Tires on a Reo 8 Cyl. should be inspected before each drive and given a more thorough review several times a year, even if the car covers very few miles. A proper inspection includes inflation, sidewall condition, tread surface, valve hardware, and any signs of tube-related air loss or wheel-rim issues. Collector cars often age their tires by time and environment rather than distance.

Frequent inspection helps catch problems before they become roadside failures. On a Reo 8 Cyl., look closely for cracking, bulges, irregular wear, or changes in how the car steers or rides, since those can point to tire, tube, or wheel issues. A low-mileage car can still need tire attention simply because the materials have aged in place.

Tires on a Reo 8 Cyl. should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulging, impact damage, or persistent air-retention problems begin to appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often reach the end of safe service because the casing and rubber have aged rather than because the tread has worn out. Visual condition alone is not enough, especially on a lightly driven vintage car.

That principle matters because a Reo 8 Cyl. may spend long periods parked and then be expected to perform reliably on occasional outings. Replacement decisions should be guided by age, condition, and inspection findings rather than mileage alone. If a tire has an uncertain history or shows any structural concern, it is wiser to replace it before continued road use.

The Reo 8 Cyl. fitment covered here uses 700-18, and the available replacement tires include period-appropriate series such as Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Comp H. That indicates the car belongs to an era when classic bias-ply and balloon-type presentations are relevant to authentic restoration work. The exact factory specification for an individual Reo 8 Cyl. should still be matched to original literature or marque research.

For restoration purposes, the main goal is to keep the size, construction type, and visual character aligned with the car’s year and presentation. A Reo 8 Cyl. owner choosing among 700-18 offerings will usually narrow the field by deciding whether the car should wear a balloon-style tire, a classic bias-ply look, a blackwall, or a whitewall. That approach preserves authenticity without guessing from appearance alone.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the judged authenticity and the overall presentation value of a Reo 8 Cyl. Size, sidewall style, and tire family all influence whether the car looks mechanically and historically coherent for its era. Even when the wheel diameter is correct, an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment or service-category tire can stand out to experienced judges and marque enthusiasts.

That matters most on a car like the Reo 8 Cyl., where period appearance is a major part of the vehicle’s appeal. Owners preparing for judging or high-level restoration work should compare their chosen 700-18 tire against period photos, factory literature, and club guidance. The right tire helps complete the car visually as much as it supports the way the car sits and drives.

A Reo 8 Cyl. restoration can be matched with blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall offerings in the available 700-18 size, depending on the look being pursued. Blackwall is the most restrained presentation among the choices here, while the whitewall and double-whitewall versions create a more formal and visually prominent early-1930s appearance. All three are represented within period-style bias-ply families.

The correct choice depends on how the specific Reo 8 Cyl. is being restored and presented. Owners should compare the sidewall style to period photographs, surviving original examples, and the trim character of the car rather than choosing strictly by personal taste. When the size is fixed at 700-18, sidewall treatment becomes one of the most visible restoration decisions.

A properly selected and properly installed 700-18 bias-ply tire can be suitable for public-road use on a Reo 8 Cyl., provided the tire matches the wheel, the tube setup is correct, and the vehicle itself is mechanically sound. Safety is not just a matter of nominal tire size, because the available options include both passenger-car and heavier-duty service types. The right choice must fit the rim and the way the car will actually be used.

Public-road driving in a Reo 8 Cyl. should always be approached with vintage-car expectations. Braking, steering response, and tire behavior differ from modern vehicles, so the car deserves conservative use and regular inspection. The safest path is to treat the tires as one part of a complete vintage system that includes wheels, tubes, suspension, and brakes.

Before driving a Reo 8 Cyl., check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve hardware, and any signs of shifting, cracking, or uneven wear. Because the available 700-18 tires span different rim-width applications, it is also wise to make sure the tires installed on the car are appropriate for the wheels they are mounted on. A quick visual walkaround can prevent many avoidable problems.

A Reo 8 Cyl. owner should also include the rest of the running gear in that habit. Brake function, steering play, wheel security, and general chassis condition all influence how safely the tires can do their job on the road. Vintage tires perform best when the car itself is well sorted and driven with the mechanical limits of the period in mind.

A Reo 8 Cyl. on original-type bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the age of the design and the capabilities of the full vehicle system. Even with new production tires in the correct 700-18 size, the car’s braking, steering, suspension, and overall chassis behavior remain those of an early-1930s automobile. Tire selection does not turn a vintage car into a modern highway car.

The practical approach is to drive a Reo 8 Cyl. smoothly, avoid abrupt lane changes or sustained high-speed running, and stay within the pace the car handles confidently. Speed choice should reflect real-world road conditions, tire condition, and mechanical condition on the day of use. Collector-car enjoyment usually comes from stability and mechanical sympathy rather than maximum speed.