The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B comes from an era when America’s premier luxury cars combined imposing road presence with engineering aimed at quiet, dignified touring. These large pre-war automobiles place unusual importance on tire choice because the tire contributes so much to stance, ride character, and authentic visual balance. This vehicle uses a 700-18 bias-ply tire on an 18-inch rim, keeping the fitment firmly in traditional pre-war territory. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in brands, tire series, and sidewall presentation, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. The right selection depends on whether the priority is restoration-oriented appearance, touring use, or confirming wheel compatibility on a long-preserved car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B
The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B uses one primary tire size: 700-18, a bias-ply fitment for an 18-inch rim. The covered Base sub-model uses the same size, so the main decision is not which primary size fits, but which version of 700-18 best suits the car’s appearance, wheel setup, and intended road use.
A 700-18 is a numeric bias-ply size in which the leading number refers to a nominal 7.00-inch section width and the final number identifies an 18-inch rim. On a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B, that keeps the tire in the traditional construction style appropriate to a substantial pre-war luxury automobile. Available choices in this size include Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA, along with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across several tire series. Choosing among them comes down to the type of wheel on the car, the look you want, and whether the car is being prepared for restoration display, touring, or specialty use.
Fitment is straightforward for the covered 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B sub-models. The Base model uses the same primary tire size, so the key step is confirming the car still carries the expected 18-inch wheel setup before selecting among available 700-18 tire styles.
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1930 Pierce Arrow A & B Base
The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B Base uses the 700-18 bias-ply tire size. That makes tire selection more about choosing the right brand, sidewall style, and intended-use character than sorting through multiple primary fitments.
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 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B Tires for Sale
Available 700-18 choices span Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA, with differences in tire series, sidewall treatment, and rim-width specification. Blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles give the 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B noticeably different restoration and road-use presentations.
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Bias Ply
Firestone Balloon 4.25 Inch Double Whitewall | 700-18
Owners of a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B usually need clarity on 700-18 fitment, 18-inch rim compatibility, period-style sidewall choices, and what to inspect before putting a pre-war car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B?
The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B uses a 700-18 tire size. This is a bias-ply fitment on an 18-inch rim, and the covered Base sub-model uses that same primary size.
That makes the first step fairly simple, but a surviving pre-war car still needs a careful wheel check before replacement. Confirm the car still has 18-inch wheels, verify actual wheel width, and make sure no later modifications changed the fitment. After that, the real choice becomes sidewall style, tire series, and whether the car is being set up for restoration presentation, general touring, or specialty use.
What size rim does a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B use?
The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B uses an 18-inch rim with its 700-18 tire fitment. That rim diameter is central because a 700-18 tire is built specifically for an 18-inch wheel, not just a similarly sized tire by appearance.
Wheel diameter should be confirmed on the car itself, especially on an older vehicle that may have had wheel changes during its life. Rim width matters too, since available 700-18 products are not all intended for the same wheel widths. Checking both dimensions before purchase helps avoid selecting a tire that suits the size code but not the actual wheel on the vehicle.
Does the 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B Base uses the same 700-18 bias-ply tire size as the covered model core. There is no alternate primary tire size within the covered sub-model fitment here.
That consistency simplifies size selection, but it does not remove the need to inspect the individual car. A long-stored Pierce Arrow may have replacement wheels, older mixed tires, or specialty-use tires installed at some point. Once the wheel diameter and width are confirmed, attention can shift to selecting the right blackwall or whitewall presentation and a tire series that matches how the car will be driven and displayed.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-18 tire for a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B?
Start with the basic fitment details: the 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B uses a 700-18 bias-ply tire on an 18-inch rim. From there, compare the available tire series, sidewall style, and wheel-width suitability, since products in this size are offered for different applications and visual goals.
A restoration-oriented car may call for a traditional whitewall or double-whitewall look, while a more utilitarian setup may favor blackwall. It also helps to compare product details such as load figures when they are given, along with the actual wheel width on the car. Those factors matter more on a large pre-war automobile than simply choosing the first tire that matches the size code.
What sidewall styles are available for 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B tires?
The 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B has 700-18 tire choices in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Those sidewall treatments create very different visual effects even though they share the same primary tire size.
Sidewall style is often one of the biggest appearance decisions on a pre-war luxury car because it strongly influences the car’s stance and period impression. A buyer choosing among these styles should also keep the actual tire series and wheel setup in mind, since appearance alone does not determine suitability. The best choice is usually the one that supports both the car’s presentation goals and its intended road use.
What brands offer tires for the 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B?
Available 700-18 tires for the 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B include options from Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA. Those choices span several tire series and more than one sidewall presentation, so the brand list also reflects different intended uses and visual character.
Brand should be considered alongside the rest of the tire’s specifications rather than by name alone. Some products emphasize traditional passenger-car styling, while others have more specialized fitment or application details. Comparing rim-width suitability, sidewall treatment, construction style, and any stated load information gives a better basis for selection than treating all 700-18 offerings as interchangeable just because they share the same nominal size.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B?
A period-style 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B begins with the correct primary size and construction, which here means a 700-18 bias-ply tire. From that starting point, the choice usually narrows to the sidewall look and tire series that best match the car’s restoration direction and how formal or understated the finished presentation should appear.
Whitewall and double-whitewall versions can create a more dressy pre-war luxury impression, while blackwall options produce a more restrained look. Exact originality can vary by body style, market, and restoration objective, so a buyer pursuing strict historical detail should compare the car against marque references or period photos. For many owners, staying within the correct size and traditional construction is the most important visual foundation.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B restoration. A large pre-war car depends on the right size, construction, and sidewall proportion to look properly balanced, and the 700-18 bias-ply fitment is a major part of that visual structure.
Using the correct primary size helps preserve the car’s stance and keeps the wheel and tire relationship from looking out of character. Sidewall style then fine-tunes the appearance, whether the goal is a darker touring look or a more formal whitewall presentation. Even on a visually focused restoration, wheel diameter and width should still be verified so the selected tire supports both appearance and proper mounting.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B?
Yes. A 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B may use the correct 700-18 size on paper, but wheel changes, brake conversions, suspension work, or other long-ago modifications can alter what actually fits the car today. Even a pre-war vehicle with its original appearance can carry non-original wheels.
Checking the actual wheel diameter and width is the first priority, followed by a look at clearance around fenders, steering components, and suspension travel. Older restorations sometimes mix parts from different periods, so assumptions can be costly. Verifying the car’s present configuration before tire selection is especially important when choosing among 700-18 products with different wheel-width expectations.
What should I inspect before driving a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for condition, confirm the tires are mounted on the proper 18-inch rims, and check that inflation matches the tire’s intended use and load. It also makes sense to look over valve stems, wheel hardware, and overall tire seating after installation.
A pre-war car should also be checked for steering freedom, fender clearance, brake drag, and suspension condition before a serious drive. Fresh tires cannot compensate for loose front-end parts, cracked wheels, or long-neglected chassis issues. After the first miles, recheck pressure and give the car another walk-around so any rubbing, air loss, or unusual wear can be caught early.
How should 700-18 tires on a collector 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B be maintained?
Collector-car 700-18 tires should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and protected from long periods of heat, sunlight, and ozone exposure. Low annual mileage does not stop tires from aging, so condition matters as much as tread depth on a 1930 Pierce Arrow A & B.
Storage habits play a large role in how well an older vehicle’s tires hold up over time. Clean, dry conditions and periodic movement help prevent flat spotting and prolonged stress in one contact area. It is also wise to inspect wheels and the spare at the same time, since a well-preserved touring car often spends long stretches parked before being asked to handle road use again.