The 1933 Buick 80 Series came from an era when Buick balanced prestige, substantial road presence, and smooth straight-eight power in the upper reaches of the American market. For owners restoring or maintaining one today, tire choice plays a major role in how the car looks, sits, and behaves at speed. This Buick uses a 700-15 bias-ply tire on a 15-inch rim, keeping the selection grounded in traditional prewar-style fitment. Within that size, there are blackwall and wide whitewall choices, along with different tire series aimed at classic passenger-car presentation or heavier-duty use. The key is matching the tire to the car’s intended appearance, wheel setup, and driving demands.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1933 Buick 80 Series
The 1933 Buick 80 Series uses one primary tire size: 700-15. That fitment is a bias-ply construction on a 15-inch rim, and it carries across the covered 8-cylinder sub-model. Because the size itself is straightforward, the real decision is choosing the right version of 700-15 for the car’s appearance, intended road use, and wheel compatibility.
A 700-15 numeric bias-ply size uses the leading number to indicate a nominal section width of about 7.00 inches, while the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1933 Buick 80 Series, that means a traditional bias-ply fitment that suits the character and stance expected from a full-size prewar Buick. Available choices include blackwall and wide whitewall versions from Firestone and BFGoodrich, plus additional STA offerings in series such as Traxion, Super Transport, and Transport Highway. The right choice depends on whether the goal is a more restoration-oriented look or a heavier-duty tire style.
Fitment is straightforward for the covered 1933 Buick 80 Series sub-model. The main reason to confirm the sub-model is simply to make sure the car remains within the shared 700-15 bias-ply fitment before comparing sidewall style or tire series.
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1933 Buick 80 Series 8 Cyl.
The 1933 Buick 80 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-15 bias-ply tire size as the overall model fitment. That keeps the focus on choosing the right blackwall or wide whitewall presentation, along with a tire series that matches the vehicle’s restoration direction 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 1933 Buick 80 Series Tires for Sale
Available 700-15 choices for the 1933 Buick 80 Series include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA offerings in blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The product range also spans classic passenger-car bias-ply series and heavier-duty transport or traction-oriented designs, so appearance and intended use both matter.
These 1933 Buick 80 Series tire FAQs focus on the 700-15 fitment, 15-inch rim requirements, bias-ply construction, sidewall and brand choices, and the checks that matter before putting a restored prewar Buick back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1933 Buick 80 Series?
The 1933 Buick 80 Series uses a 700-15 tire size. That is a numeric bias-ply fitment, and it is the primary size associated with this model, including the covered 8-cylinder sub-model.
That makes the first step fairly simple: confirm that the car still has 15-inch wheels and then choose the right 700-15 version for how the Buick will be used. Once the size is confirmed, the decision shifts to sidewall appearance, tire series, and whether the wheel width and overall vehicle setup still match the intended bias-ply fitment.
What size rim does a 1933 Buick 80 Series use?
The 1933 Buick 80 Series uses a 15-inch rim with its 700-15 tire size. That rim diameter is the key measurement that must match the tire before any other selection is made.
Wheel diameter should be physically confirmed on the car, especially if the Buick has been through decades of ownership, restoration work, or wheel replacement. Rim width also matters once 15 inches is confirmed, since several 700-15 options are built around a 5.00 to 5.50 inch wheel, and that affects how correctly the tire will seat and present on the car.
Does the 1933 Buick 80 Series 8 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1933 Buick 80 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-15 bias-ply tire size as the broader 1933 Buick 80 Series fitment shown here. There is no separate primary tire size change within this covered sub-model.
That consistency means the buyer does not need to sort through multiple original size paths before choosing a tire. The more useful comparison becomes sidewall style, brand, and tire series, while still checking the actual wheels on the car in case a past owner installed different rims or made changes during restoration.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-15 tire for a 1933 Buick 80 Series?
Start with the basics: the tire should be a 700-15 and should match the 15-inch wheel on the car. From there, the main selection factors are bias-ply construction, sidewall style, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and whether the Buick is being finished as a restoration-oriented car or prepared for more regular road use.
A wide whitewall creates a very different visual impression than a blackwall, even though both share the same size. It also helps to compare practical details such as load figures where stated, weight, and whether a product is a classic passenger-car style or a transport or traction-oriented design, since those differences shape the final choice.
What sidewall styles are available for 1933 Buick 80 Series tires?
The 1933 Buick 80 Series has 700-15 tire options in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Those two sidewall treatments give the car distinctly different visual character while keeping the correct primary size.
Wide whitewalls are often chosen when the goal is a more formal prewar presentation, while blackwalls offer a plainer, more utilitarian look. Since both styles appear within the same size, the decision becomes less about fitment and more about the Buick’s restoration direction, trim presentation, and how closely the owner wants the finished car to reflect a traditional period-style appearance.
What brands offer tires for the 1933 Buick 80 Series?
The 1933 Buick 80 Series has 700-15 tire choices from Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. Those brands appear across several bias-ply product lines, including classic passenger-car offerings as well as heavier-duty transport and traction-oriented series.
Brand alone should not be the only deciding factor. It is more useful to compare the tire’s series, sidewall treatment, rim-width specification where stated, and the kind of look or use it supports. That approach helps separate a restoration-oriented wide whitewall from a more work-focused blackwall tire that happens to share the same 700-15 size.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1933 Buick 80 Series?
A 700-15 bias-ply tire is the period-style starting point for a 1933 Buick 80 Series. Within that size, the most restoration-oriented choices are the classic passenger-car bias-ply options rather than transport or military-style patterns intended for a different visual effect.
The final appearance depends heavily on sidewall treatment. A wide whitewall gives the Buick a more formal prewar presentation, while a blackwall reads more restrained and utilitarian. If exact originality matters beyond general period style, the next step is to compare the car against marque references, period photography, or restoration documentation for the specific vehicle.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1933 Buick 80 Series?
Tire construction has a strong effect on the visual impression of a restored 1933 Buick 80 Series. Its primary fitment is bias-ply, and that construction helps preserve the traditional profile and stance expected on a substantial prewar Buick running a 700-15 tire.
Appearance is not only about size; it is also about sidewall shape, tread style, and how the tire sits on the wheel. A classic bias-ply with either blackwall or wide whitewall treatment will generally support a more authentic prewar presentation, while a more commercial-looking transport or traction pattern can change the character of the finished car noticeably.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1933 Buick 80 Series?
Yes. Even though the primary fitment is 700-15 on a 15-inch rim, modifications can still affect how that tire works on a 1933 Buick 80 Series. Wheel replacements, changes in rim width, suspension alterations, brake conversions, or body work around the fenders can all influence fitment.
A Buick from this era may have gone through many decades of repairs or customization, so the actual wheel and chassis setup should be checked before ordering tires. Measuring wheel diameter and width, then confirming steering and fender clearance with the car at normal ride height, helps prevent selecting a tire that matches the nominal size but conflicts with the car’s current configuration.
What should I inspect before driving a 1933 Buick 80 Series on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, lug hardware, and overall tire seating on the rim. The rest of the car matters too, especially steering components, brake function, suspension condition, and whether the tires clear the fenders and chassis throughout normal movement and turning.
A prewar car that has spent long periods parked deserves extra attention before any extended drive. Tire pressure should be set appropriately for the chosen tire, and the owner should also look for signs of rubbing after a short test run. It is smart to recheck fasteners, inflation, and clearance once the Buick has been driven and settled onto the new set.
How should 700-15 tires on a collector 1933 Buick 80 Series be maintained?
Collector-car 700-15 tires benefit from regular pressure checks, visual inspection, and proper storage conditions. Even when a 1933 Buick 80 Series is driven only occasionally, the tires should be watched for cracking, bulges, cuts, uneven wear, and any sign of slow air loss.
Long periods of storage can be harder on tires than steady use, especially if the car sits in direct sunlight, heat, moisture, or near ozone-producing equipment. Moving the car periodically, keeping the tires clean, and inspecting them before every outing helps catch age-related issues early and keeps a low-use prewar Buick safer and more dependable on the road.