1931 Cunningham 8 Tires

The 1931 Cunningham 8 uses a 750-18 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply fitment paired with an 18-inch rim, and the covered Base model uses that same primary size. For most owners, the fitment question is straightforward because there is one main size to work from rather than multiple passenger-car sizes within this model year.

That simplicity does not remove the need to inspect the actual wheels on the car. A Cunningham that has been restored, re-bodied, or updated over many decades may have different wheels than expected, so confirming wheel diameter, wheel width, and available clearance is still important before choosing among whitewall, blackwall, or heavier-duty 750-18 tires.

The primary tire fitment for the 1931 Cunningham 8 is built around an 18-inch rim. The 750-18 size itself uses that 18-inch wheel diameter, which is the key dimension to confirm before considering any tire for the car. Keeping rim diameter correct is especially important on pre-war collector cars where wheel changes may not be obvious at first glance.

Rim diameter is only part of the picture, because wheel width also affects which 750-18 products make sense. Some choices in this size are built around narrower passenger-style wheel specs, while others are intended for wider truck-style rims, so the wheel should be measured before choosing a tire based only on sidewall appearance.

Yes. The 1931 Cunningham 8 Base uses the same 750-18 bias-ply tire size as the model core. That makes sub-model fitment simple, since there is no separate alternate primary size to sort through for the covered Base configuration.

Even with shared fitment, tire choice can still vary meaningfully within 750-18. A restoration-oriented car may call for a Firestone Balloon with a whitewall treatment, while a car set up for different service may lead an owner toward a blackwall or heavier-duty option after confirming wheel width and how the car will actually be driven.

Start with the correct 750-18 size and the car's actual 18-inch wheel setup. From there, the main considerations are tire construction, wheel-width suitability, sidewall style, and whether the car is being selected for restoration presentation, touring use, or a more utility-oriented setup. Those factors matter more here than searching for another primary size.

Available 750-18 products are not all aimed at the same visual or mechanical role. Firestone Balloon options emphasize traditional early-1930s passenger-car appearance, while Deka and STA offerings carry a more truck-oriented character, so selecting between them should involve both the look you want and the wheel specification you are working with.

The 1931 Cunningham 8 has 750-18 tire options in several sidewall treatments, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. Those choices can change the visual character of the car dramatically, especially on a large pre-war luxury automobile where the tire sidewall is a major part of the overall profile.

A blackwall usually gives a more restrained, service-oriented presentation, while whitewall styles bring more visual emphasis to the wheel opening and body line. Appearance alone should not decide the purchase, though, because the wheel width and the intended tire series still need to match the car's actual setup and expected use.

Tires for the 1931 Cunningham 8 in 750-18 are available from Firestone, Deka, and STA. Firestone appears in the Balloon series with multiple sidewall presentations, while Deka and STA cover blackwall options with a more truck-oriented character. That gives the owner a useful spread of choices within the same vintage size.

Brand selection should be guided by the kind of tire the car actually needs rather than by name alone. Comparing wheel-width specifications, sidewall styling, load figures, and overall presentation will usually tell you more than the brand badge, especially on a collector car where appearance and wheel compatibility are often just as important as size.

For a period-style 1931 Cunningham 8, the starting point is the correct 750-18 bias-ply size. Within that size, Firestone Balloon tires align naturally with the visual language of an early-1930s luxury automobile, and the available blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments allow the owner to shape the car's presentation without leaving the proper size family.

The right appearance choice depends on the restoration goal rather than a universal answer. If exact originality matters, period photos, marque references, and vehicle-specific restoration documentation are worth consulting, because a sidewall treatment can look appropriate for the era without automatically being correct for every individual Cunningham 8.

Yes, tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1931 Cunningham 8 restoration because the tire contributes heavily to the car's stance, wheel opening fill, and overall visual balance. Staying with the proper 750-18 size helps preserve the proportions expected of a substantial pre-war American luxury car and keeps the restoration anchored in the right period scale.

Fitment also affects more than looks. A tire that suits the car's wheels and intended use will be easier to evaluate for clearance, road readiness, and overall presentation, while the wrong wheel width or the wrong style of 750-18 can make an otherwise well-restored car look visually out of step with its era.

Yes. Even though the 1931 Cunningham 8 uses a straightforward 750-18 tire size, modifications can still affect whether a specific tire choice is appropriate. Wheel replacements, changes in wheel width, brake conversions, suspension work, or body alterations can all change the amount of space available and the kind of 750-18 product that makes practical sense.

A collector car of this age may have undergone several changes over its lifetime, so the actual car should be checked rather than assumed to remain in original configuration. Measuring the wheels and inspecting clearance at the fenders, steering components, and suspension points can prevent problems before a new set of tires is mounted.

Before driving a 1931 Cunningham 8 on new tires, inspect the wheels, valve stems, mounting surfaces, and overall clearance around the fenders and suspension. It also makes sense to confirm that the selected 750-18 tire matches the wheel's actual width and that the rest of the chassis is ready for road use after any period of storage or restoration work.

Once the tires are mounted, check inflation, look for any signs of rubbing during steering movement, and watch for unusual settling after the car has rolled and carried weight. A short initial drive followed by another visual inspection is a smart way to catch clearance or pressure issues before committing the car to a longer outing.

750-18 tires on a collector 1931 Cunningham 8 should be maintained with regular pressure checks, visual inspections, and careful storage habits. Sidewall cracking, flat spotting, cuts, bulges, and slow air loss deserve attention, especially on a car that spends long periods parked. Collector vehicles often age their tires by time and storage conditions as much as by mileage.

Good storage conditions help preserve both appearance and service life. Keeping the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, standing moisture, and ozone sources can reduce premature deterioration, and moving the car occasionally can help avoid long-term stress in one contact patch. Any tire showing obvious age-related damage should be evaluated before road use.