The 1927 Locomobile 48 comes from the final years of one of America's distinguished luxury marques, a car built in an era when chassis scale, coachwork presence, and road manners all depended heavily on the right tire. Tire selection here is not a one-size-fits-all modern exercise, because the covered 1927 Locomobile 48 fitments include two bias-ply sizes: 33X6.75 and 700-21. That creates a meaningful split between antique diameter-by-section sizing and vintage numeric bias-ply sizing, with 700-21 also offering several period-style sidewall and brand choices. The right choice starts with confirming the wheel setup on the car and then matching the tire to restoration goals and intended driving use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1927 Locomobile 48
The 1927 Locomobile 48 uses two primary tire sizes, and the first step is confirming which wheel and rim diameter are actually on the car. Both are bias-ply fitments, but they differ significantly in size format and rim application, so the real decision is not just appearance or brand choice but identifying the correct wheel setup before selecting a tire.
A 33X6.75 tire uses an older diameter-by-section format, where 33 refers to the tire's approximate overall outside diameter and 6.75 refers to its nominal section width. For the 1927 Locomobile 48, this is a bias-ply fitment suited to early large-car applications that used this antique-style sizing system rather than later numeric rim-based size coding. This size has a very different visual and fitment character from a 700-21 tire, so it should be chosen only after confirming the wheel and existing setup on the car. It is especially important for restoration-minded owners who want to preserve the proper scale and stance of an early luxury automobile.
A 700-21 tire uses vintage numeric bias-ply sizing, where 700 indicates an approximate 7.00-inch nominal section width and 21 identifies the rim diameter in inches. On the 1927 Locomobile 48, this size opens up the broadest range of product choice, including Firestone, Michelin, Lester, and Excelsior offerings in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Tire series also vary, with options such as Firestone Balloon, Double Rivet, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Comp H. This size is the better starting point when the car is already equipped with 21-inch rims and appearance choice matters as much as basic fitment.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the covered 1927 Locomobile 48 6 Cyl. uses the same two primary tire sizes. Even so, checking the actual wheels on the car still matters, since these sizes use very different rim applications and should not be treated as casual substitutes for one another.
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1927 Locomobile 48 6 Cyl.
The 1927 Locomobile 48 6 Cyl. is associated with both 33X6.75 and 700-21 bias-ply tire fitments. That means tire selection begins with confirming which wheel setup the car currently carries, then choosing the tire format, sidewall treatment, and brand approach that best matches its restoration style and road use.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1927 Locomobile 48 Tires for Sale
Available 700-21 tires give the 1927 Locomobile 48 owner useful choice across Firestone, Michelin, Lester, and Excelsior lines, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations. The product grid is where differences in tire series, construction details, rim-width compatibility, and load-related specifications become easier to compare.
Owners shopping tires for a 1927 Locomobile 48 usually need to sort out two questions first: which primary size belongs on the car, and which period-style product makes the most sense once the wheel setup is confirmed.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1927 Locomobile 48?
The 1927 Locomobile 48 uses two primary bias-ply tire sizes: 33X6.75 and 700-21. Those are not just two ways of writing the same size. They represent different fitment systems, with 33X6.75 using an antique diameter-by-section format and 700-21 using a vintage numeric bias-ply format tied to a 21-inch rim.
The practical next step is to verify the actual wheels on the car before choosing a tire. A restored or modified Locomobile may no longer match an earlier setup, and these two sizes should be treated as distinct applications rather than interchangeable choices based only on appearance.
What size rim does a 1927 Locomobile 48 use?
The covered rim applications for the 1927 Locomobile 48 are 5.0 inches with the 33X6.75 size and 21 inches with the 700-21 size. That wide difference is important because the vehicle is associated with two very different tire formats, not one shared size with minor variation.
Wheel confirmation should come before any product selection. Measuring the existing rim diameter and checking the wheel itself is especially important on collector cars, where wheel changes, older restorations, or non-original equipment can leave the car wearing a different setup than expected.
What does 33X6.75 mean on a 1927 Locomobile 48?
On a 1927 Locomobile 48, 33X6.75 is an antique diameter-by-section tire size. The first number, 33, refers to the tire's approximate overall outside diameter, while 6.75 refers to its nominal section width. Unlike a later size such as 700-21, the first number is not the rim diameter.
That format matters because it changes how the tire should be interpreted when comparing options. A buyer looking at a modern-looking numeric size can easily misread 33X6.75, so the safest approach is to confirm the existing wheel and tire combination on the car before choosing a replacement.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a tire for a 1927 Locomobile 48?
Start by confirming whether the car needs 33X6.75 or 700-21, because the 1927 Locomobile 48 is associated with two different primary bias-ply fitments. After size is settled, the main considerations become wheel compatibility, the visual presentation you want, and whether the car is being prepared for formal restoration use or regular road touring.
For 700-21, product choice expands into brand, tire series, and sidewall style, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall options. It also helps to compare rim-width guidance and any load-related specifications so the tire suits the car's actual wheel setup and driving plans.
What sidewall styles are available for 1927 Locomobile 48 tires?
For 700-21 applications on a 1927 Locomobile 48, available sidewall styles include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. Those choices can change the car's visual character significantly, especially on a large pre-war luxury automobile where tire presentation has a strong effect on overall stance and authenticity of appearance.
Blackwalls tend to deliver a more restrained, service-oriented look, while wide whitewall and double-whitewall tires create a more formal period-style presentation. The right choice depends on how the car is being finished and driven, but the sidewall decision should come after confirming that 700-21 is the correct fitment.
What brands offer tires for the 1927 Locomobile 48?
For the 700-21 fitment used on the 1927 Locomobile 48, available brands include Firestone, Michelin, Lester, and Excelsior. Those tires appear across several series, including Firestone Balloon, Double Rivet, Lester Classic Bias Ply, and Comp H, giving the buyer more than one path in period-style appearance and product character.
Brand should be considered alongside the actual tire series, sidewall treatment, and wheel specification rather than treated as the only decision. A Firestone whitewall, a Michelin blackwall, and an Excelsior Comp H may all suit different goals, even though they share the same nominal size.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1927 Locomobile 48?
A period-style approach for a 1927 Locomobile 48 starts with using the correct primary size for the wheels on the car, either 33X6.75 or 700-21, and staying with bias-ply construction. That preserves the sizing language, profile character, and overall visual impression expected from a large late-1920s American luxury automobile.
Once the fitment is confirmed, the appearance decision often comes down to sidewall treatment and tire series, especially within 700-21 options. Buyers pursuing exact historical authenticity should compare the car's build history, period photos, and marque-specific references before deciding that any one sidewall style is the right restoration match.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1927 Locomobile 48 restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1927 Locomobile 48 because tire size affects the car's stance, proportions, and the way the wheel opening is visually filled. On a substantial coachbuilt-era luxury car, the wrong format can look noticeably out of place even before any road-use concerns are considered.
Fitment also affects the restoration process beyond looks alone. Confirming the wheel setup, size format, and sidewall treatment early helps avoid mismatched hardware and keeps the finished car visually coherent, whether the goal is a formal show presentation or a carefully preserved touring automobile.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1927 Locomobile 48?
Yes. Modifications can change tire fitment on a 1927 Locomobile 48, especially if the car has replacement wheels, altered suspension components, brake conversions, or body and fender work from an earlier restoration. Those changes can affect which primary size makes sense and whether the wheel dimensions still match the intended tire.
A careful inspection should include measuring wheel diameter and width, checking steering and fender clearance, and looking for signs that the car no longer carries its earlier-style setup. On a vehicle of this age, assuming that every surviving example still matches an original configuration can lead to expensive mistakes.
What should I inspect before driving a 1927 Locomobile 48 on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, lug hardware, valve stems, and overall tire seating, then check inflation pressure, tread condition, and sidewalls for cuts, cracking, or bulges. On a 1927 Locomobile 48, it also makes sense to confirm that the tires clear the fenders and steering components throughout the full range of motion.
A collector car that has spent long periods parked deserves extra attention after tire installation. Wheel bearings, suspension wear, brake condition, and any uneven settling in the chassis can influence how the tires behave, so a cautious initial shakedown drive is smarter than heading straight onto a longer run.
How should tires on a collector 1927 Locomobile 48 be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1927 Locomobile 48 should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for age-related cracking and air loss, and stored away from prolonged sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources when the car is not in use. Routine visual checks matter because low-mileage collector tires can age out long before they wear out.
Regular movement of the car can also help reduce long-term flat spotting during storage, especially on large bias-ply tires. Cleaning the tires gently, keeping the vehicle in a stable environment, and reinspecting the sidewalls before each season of use helps preserve both safety and appearance.
