The 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 comes from the final years of one of America’s great prestige marques, when luxury cars still carried a formal, coachbuilt presence and rode on tall, substantial tires. For owners of an S12 today, tire choice is closely tied to preserving that pre-war look and stance while keeping the car road-ready for careful touring. This model uses a 700-17 bias-ply tire on a 17-inch rim. Within that size, available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments in Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 lines. The key decision is usually balancing restoration-minded appearance with correct size, wheel compatibility, and intended use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1933 Pierce Arrow S12
The 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 uses one primary tire size: 700-17. That size is a bias-ply fitment for a 17-inch rim, and it remains consistent for the covered S12 sub-model here. The real choice is not between multiple primary sizes, but between period-style tire lines and sidewall presentations that suit the car’s restoration goals, road use, and wheel setup.
A 700-17 size uses the vintage numeric bias-ply system, where 700 refers to an approximate 7.00-inch nominal section width and 17 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12, that means a tall, traditional bias-ply tire that suits the car’s pre-war proportions and steering feel. Available choices in this size include Firestone and Ensign products, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall treatments, plus Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 series. Choosing within 700-17 is mainly about matching the tire’s appearance, rim-width compatibility, and intended driving use to the car itself.
Tire fitment for the covered 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 sub-model is straightforward, with the same primary size carried across the listing here. Checking the exact sub-model still matters so the tire selection stays aligned with the correct wheel diameter, construction, and period-style appearance.
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1933 Pierce Arrow S12 8 Cyl.
The 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-17 bias-ply fitment that defines this S12 application. That keeps the focus on selecting the right tire line and sidewall style for the car’s presentation, while confirming that the existing 17-inch wheels remain true to the intended setup.
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 Pierce Arrow S12 Tires for Sale
Available 700-17 tires for the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 include Firestone and Ensign offerings in Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 series. The main points of comparison are sidewall style, bias-ply construction details, and rim-width compatibility within this traditional pre-war fitment.
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Bias Ply
Firestone Balloon 4.25 Inch Double Whitewall | 700-17
Owners of a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 usually want clear guidance on 700-17 fitment, 17-inch rim compatibility, bias-ply tire selection, period-style sidewall choices, and the basic inspection steps that matter before road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12?
The 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 uses a 700-17 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply size and it mounts on a 17-inch wheel, which matches the tall pre-war tire profile typically associated with a luxury car of this era.
That means the first step is usually confirming that the car still has the correct 17-inch wheels and has not been changed to a different wheel setup over time. Once that is verified, the choice becomes which 700-17 tire best suits the car’s appearance and use, such as blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall.
What size rim does a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 use?
The 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 uses a 17-inch rim with its 700-17 tire fitment. Product options in this size are built around that 17-inch wheel diameter, with rim-width specifications that vary slightly by tire line.
Wheel diameter should be confirmed before any tire purchase, especially on collector cars that may have seen wheel changes during restoration or long-term ownership. Width matters too, since some 700-17 tires are built around a 4-inch rim while others allow a 3.5 to 4.0-inch range, so the wheel itself should be measured rather than assumed.
Does the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 8 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The covered 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-17 bias-ply tire size as the S12 fitment shown here. That keeps tire selection simple at the sub-model level because there is no alternate primary size within this application.
The practical question is less about size differences and more about choosing the right version of 700-17 for the car’s intended presentation. A restoration-minded owner may focus on sidewall treatment, while a touring-oriented owner may pay closer attention to the specific tire line and its wheel-width specification.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-17 tire for a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12?
Start with the basics: the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 uses a 700-17 bias-ply tire on a 17-inch rim. From there, compare the available tire line, sidewall style, rim-width specification, and load figure at the stated pressure where that information is part of the product details.
A car kept close to a formal pre-war presentation may call for a whitewall or double-whitewall, while a more restrained look may point toward blackwall. It also helps to confirm how the car will be used, since a lightly driven show vehicle and a carefully toured collector car may lead an owner to weigh appearance and setup details differently.
What sidewall styles are available for 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 tires?
The 700-17 tires available for the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles. Those choices give the owner room to shape the car’s overall presentation without changing the underlying size or bias-ply construction.
Sidewall style has a strong effect on how a pre-war luxury car looks at a glance, especially because the tire is tall and visually prominent. The right choice depends on the look being pursued, but it is wise to separate appearance preference from originality claims unless the car is being matched to marque-specific historical references.
What brands offer tires for the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12?
The available 700-17 tires for the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 come from Firestone and Ensign. Within those brands, the applicable tire series include Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5, all in bias-ply construction for this fitment.
Brand choice should be considered alongside the tire’s series, sidewall treatment, and wheel-width specification instead of by name alone. A buyer comparing these options is usually deciding how closely the tire’s visual character matches the car, while also making sure the selected 700-17 works with the existing 17-inch wheel setup.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1933 Pierce Arrow S12?
A period-style 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 should start with the correct 700-17 bias-ply size, since that preserves the car’s proper proportions and traditional tire profile. From there, the available Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 lines offer different visual directions within the same basic fitment.
The most suitable choice depends on whether the goal is formal touring elegance, a restrained blackwall presentation, or a stronger whitewall statement typical of many restored pre-war luxury cars. When exact historical authenticity matters, the final sidewall and brand decision should be checked against marque references, restoration records, or other period evidence.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1933 Pierce Arrow S12?
Tire construction matters because the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 is built around a tall 700-17 bias-ply fitment, and that construction helps define the car’s visual stance. On a restored pre-war luxury car, the tire’s profile, sidewall shape, and overall presentation are a major part of how authentic the car looks.
Appearance is also shaped by sidewall treatment, so a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall can change the car’s character even within the same size. Owners focused on restoration quality usually benefit from evaluating construction and sidewall style together rather than treating tire size alone as the only appearance decision.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12?
Yes. Even though the 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 uses a 700-17 tire on a 17-inch rim, fitment can be affected if the car has aftermarket wheels, altered wheel widths, brake changes, suspension work, or body and fender modifications from earlier restoration work.
A collector car that looks original at a glance may still differ in important wheel and clearance details, so the actual setup should be inspected before choosing tires. Checking wheel diameter, wheel width, steering clearance, and fender space is especially important when the car’s history includes long-term ownership changes or incomplete restoration records.
What should I inspect before driving a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 on new tires?
Before driving a 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 on new 700-17 tires, inspect the wheels for correct diameter, width, and condition, then check that the tires are mounted and inflated appropriately for the product specification. It is also wise to look over valve stems, tubes if used, and overall wheel hardware condition.
The car itself should be ready for road use as well, especially if it has been parked for long periods. Steering play, suspension wear, brake condition, and available fender clearance all deserve attention, since a freshly installed tire can only perform properly when the surrounding wheel and chassis systems are in sound condition.
How should 700-17 tires on a collector 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 be maintained?
700-17 tires on a collector 1933 Pierce Arrow S12 should be checked regularly for inflation, visible cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of air loss. Cars that spend much of their time parked need tire inspections even when mileage stays low, because age and storage conditions matter as much as road use.
Clean, dry storage away from prolonged sunlight, heat, and ozone sources helps preserve tire condition on a seldom-driven collector car. It also helps to move the vehicle periodically, keep the wheels clean, and inspect the tires before any longer drive so issues are caught early rather than discovered after the car is underway.
