The 1929 Essex Super 6 comes from a period when affordable six-cylinder cars helped bridge the gap between basic transportation and a more refined driving experience. Essex earned its place in the late 1920s by giving buyers a durable, practical car with real touring appeal, and tire choice plays a major role in preserving that character today. For this exact model, the primary fitments are bias-ply sizes 29X4.95 and 5.00-20, so the first job is confirming which wheel setup is on the car. That choice also shapes the vehicle’s stance and period presentation. For restoration-minded use, matching the tire to the actual wheel dimensions matters just as much as selecting the right vintage-style construction.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1929 Essex Super 6
The 1929 Essex Super 6 uses two primary tire sizes, and the difference between them is significant because they correspond to different sizing systems and different rim diameters. Before choosing a tire, confirm the exact wheel setup on the car, since identifying the correct rim diameter is the most important first step for this model.
A 29X4.95 tire uses an older sizing convention in which the first number refers to the tire’s approximate overall diameter and the second refers to its section width in inches. This is a bias-ply fitment, which suits the pre-war driving feel and traditional appearance expected on a 1929 Essex Super 6. Because this format is very different from later numeric bias-ply sizing, it is important not to confuse it with a 20-inch rim application. This size is the right path only after the wheel dimensions on the car have been confirmed carefully.
A 5.00-20 tire is a vintage numeric bias-ply size in which 5.00 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 20 identifies the rim diameter. Its bias-ply construction keeps the tire selection in line with the period engineering and visual character of the 1929 Essex Super 6. This format is more familiar to many collector-car owners than earlier diameter-by-section sizing, but it still requires attention to the actual wheel on the vehicle. Choosing this size begins with confirming that the car is equipped with 20-inch rims rather than the alternate wheel setup.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the covered 1929 Essex Super 6 Base is associated with the same two primary tire-size possibilities. Even so, checking the exact wheel setup still matters, since the two sizes use different rim diameters and are not interchangeable choices.
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1929 Essex Super 6 Base
The 1929 Essex Super 6 Base can be found with either 29X4.95 or 5.00-20 bias-ply tires, so the tire decision centers on the wheels actually fitted to the car. That makes wheel confirmation the key first step before selecting a period-style replacement for restoration or 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Owners of a 1929 Essex Super 6 usually need clarity on the two possible tire sizes, the very different rim diameters involved, and how to verify fitment on a restoration or surviving original car before putting it back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1929 Essex Super 6?
The 1929 Essex Super 6 uses two primary bias-ply tire sizes: 29X4.95 and 5.00-20. Those are not alternate labels for the same tire. They are separate vintage fitments tied to different wheel dimensions, so the correct choice depends on the actual wheel setup on the car.
The practical next step is to verify the rim diameter before ordering tires. A car that takes 5.00-20 uses a 20-inch rim, while 29X4.95 follows an older diameter-by-section sizing format and should not be treated as a 20-inch tire by name alone. On a restored or modified car, inspect the wheels directly rather than assuming the current setup matches what the car may have used decades ago.
What size rim does a 1929 Essex Super 6 use?
A 1929 Essex Super 6 can use more than one rim diameter depending on which tire size is on the car. The 5.00-20 fitment uses a 20-inch rim, while the 29X4.95 fitment is associated with a different wheel setup and should not be grouped with the 20-inch application.
That is why rim confirmation comes before tire selection on this model. On antique and pre-war vehicles, wheel changes over the years are common, and an older size format can be misleading if read like a later tire code. Measure the wheel, verify the current fitment, and compare the installed setup carefully before choosing between the two primary tire sizes.
What does 29X4.95 mean on a 1929 Essex Super 6?
On a 1929 Essex Super 6, 29X4.95 is an antique diameter-by-section tire size. The 29 refers to the tire’s approximate overall diameter in inches, and 4.95 refers to its approximate section width. It is a bias-ply fitment and uses an older sizing method than later numeric bias-ply tires such as 5.00-20.
Understanding that format helps prevent a common mistake: reading the first number as if it were the rim diameter. It is not. This size should be matched to the wheel dimensions actually on the car, especially on a vehicle that may have seen wheel or tire changes during an earlier restoration. Once that is confirmed, the owner can focus on preserving the car’s proper stance and vintage look.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 1929 Essex Super 6 tire?
Start with the correct primary size for the wheels on the car, because the 1929 Essex Super 6 uses either 29X4.95 or 5.00-20 bias-ply tires. Those sizes belong to different vintage sizing systems, so the first decision is not brand or style but identifying the actual wheel and tire format the car requires.
After that, think about how the car will be used. A restoration-focused owner may prioritize a traditional period-style appearance, while a driver preparing the car for occasional touring may focus first on proper fitment and overall tire condition. On a car that has changed hands several times, checking wheel measurements and visual clearance is more valuable than relying on assumptions about what should be there.
How do I choose between the available 1929 Essex Super 6 tire sizes?
The choice between 29X4.95 and 5.00-20 is determined by the wheel setup on the car, not by preference alone. Both are bias-ply fitments for the 1929 Essex Super 6, but they are built around different wheel dimensions and different vintage size conventions, so they serve different installations.
That means the smartest comparison is physical rather than theoretical. Inspect the existing wheels, confirm the rim diameter, and review the tire markings already on the car if they are still legible. On antique vehicles, previous restorations, replacement wheels, or long-ago repairs can leave a car wearing a setup that differs from what an owner expects, so verification should come before final tire selection.
What rim-fitment details matter when choosing 1929 Essex Super 6 tires?
Rim diameter is the key detail because the 1929 Essex Super 6 can use two different primary tire sizes with different wheel requirements. A 5.00-20 tire belongs on a 20-inch rim, while 29X4.95 follows an older sizing format and needs to be matched to the wheel dimensions intended for that specific fitment.
Beyond diameter, inspect the wheel itself for condition, trueness, and compatibility with the tire you plan to use. Collector cars sometimes carry wheels that were swapped years ago, and a tire that sounds correct by name may not suit the hardware now on the car. Confirming the wheel before mounting tires helps avoid clearance issues, mismatched fitment, and a stance that looks out of place on the finished car.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1929 Essex Super 6?
For a period-style 1929 Essex Super 6, the right starting point is the correct bias-ply tire size for the wheels actually on the car: either 29X4.95 or 5.00-20. Both belong to the vintage tire language of the era, so the main restoration decision is confirming which wheel setup the car carries before focusing on appearance.
That approach helps preserve proportions and presentation without guessing. Tire shape and sizing have a strong effect on how a late-1920s car sits, especially around the fenders and wheel openings. When exact originality matters, compare the car against marque references, period photos, or restoration records, but always begin with the tire size and wheel dimensions the vehicle physically uses today.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1929 Essex Super 6 restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1929 Essex Super 6 restoration because tire size influences both appearance and function. Using the proper bias-ply size for the installed wheels helps the car keep the visual proportions expected of a late-1920s automobile and avoids blending two very different vintage sizing systems by mistake.
A mismatch can affect more than looks. It can change how the car sits, how the wheel openings appear filled, and whether the finished restoration feels coherent when viewed as a whole. Even on a driver-quality restoration, confirming wheel diameter and matching the tire to that setup is one of the simplest ways to keep the car visually and mechanically consistent.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1929 Essex Super 6?
Yes. Modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1929 Essex Super 6, especially if the car has replacement wheels, altered suspension height, brake conversions, or body repairs that changed wheelhouse clearance. Since this model already has two distinct primary tire sizes, any departure from the original wheel setup makes verification even more important.
The best practice is to inspect what is physically on the car rather than assuming a standard setup. Check wheel diameter, look at sidewall clearance, and turn the steering through its range if the vehicle is assembled. Even small changes in wheel or chassis hardware can complicate fitment on an antique car, so a careful pre-purchase inspection helps prevent expensive mounting mistakes.
What should I inspect before driving a 1929 Essex Super 6 on new tires?
Before driving a 1929 Essex Super 6 on new tires, inspect the wheels, lug hardware, valve stems, and overall mounting condition, then confirm that the tires clear the body and steering components properly. On an antique vehicle, it is also wise to check wheel alignment, brake function, and whether the car tracks straight once the new tires are installed.
Collector cars often sit for long periods, so the rest of the chassis deserves attention too. Look over suspension wear points, steering play, and any signs of rubbing after the first few miles. A new tire can only perform as intended when the wheel and front-end condition are sound, and that matters even more on a pre-war car with narrow bias-ply fitments.
How should 1929 Essex Super 6 tires be maintained?
Tires on a 1929 Essex Super 6 should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and careful storage habits. Watch for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow air loss, especially if the car is driven only occasionally. Bias-ply tires on a collector vehicle benefit from being kept clean, properly inflated, and protected from long periods of direct sun and ozone exposure.
Routine inspection matters more on antique cars because low annual mileage can hide tire aging. Move the car periodically if it is stored for extended stretches, and examine the tires before every outing rather than only at seasonal intervals. If the Essex still wears older wheels or has been through an earlier restoration, include the rims and mounting surfaces in the maintenance routine as well.
