1926 Apperson Tire Fitment Guide

1926 Apperson vehicles use four sizes across two model lines. The 1926 Apperson 6 Cyl. uses 33X6.00 and 600-21, while the 1926 Apperson 8 Cyl. uses 33X6.20 and 6.50-21. The numeric sizes clearly mount on 21-inch rims, and the paired antique sizes correspond to the same general 21-inch wheel class used on these cars.

Model identification matters first, because the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder cars do not share one universal Apperson tire size. Once the model is confirmed, compare the size already on the car, the wheel itself, and any restoration records you have. That approach helps you decide whether you are matching an antique diameter-marked fitment or a numeric bias-ply equivalent for the same basic wheel diameter.

On a 1926 Apperson, 33X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 33, refers to the tire’s approximate overall diameter in inches, while 6.00 is the nominal section width. That style of sizing belongs to the earlier tire-marking system common in the 1920s, and it is a bias-ply fitment for the 1926 Apperson 6 Cyl.

That code reads very differently from later numeric sizes, so it helps to treat it as an early-era sizing language rather than a modern width-and-aspect-ratio formula. If your Apperson is being restored with strong attention to period appearance, that antique designation may be the one you want to preserve. If the car already carries a later-style numeric replacement size, compare both references carefully before changing directions.

For a 1926 Apperson, 600-21 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.00 figure describes nominal section width in inches, and 21 identifies the rim diameter in inches. On 1926 Apperson applications, that size belongs to the 6 Cyl. model rather than the eight-cylinder cars.

Numeric bias-ply sizing is often easier for modern buyers to recognize because the wheel diameter is stated directly in the size code. That makes 600-21 a useful bridge between period-correct restoration work and practical product selection on a 21-inch wheel. Before choosing it, confirm that your car is in fact a 6 Cyl. Apperson and not an 8 Cyl., which uses a different width range.

No, 1926 Apperson models do not use one shared tire size. The 6 Cyl. uses 33X6.00 or 600-21, while the 8 Cyl. uses 33X6.20 or 6.50-21. All four are bias-ply fitments, but they are split by model rather than shared across the full Apperson lineup.

That difference is important because year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1926 Apperson. The six-cylinder and eight-cylinder cars occupy different places in the range, and their tire widths reflect that. If the badge, paperwork, or body style leaves any doubt, verify the model before focusing on sidewall style or brand preference.

Sidewall style choice is currently visible within the 600-21 fitment used on the 1926 Apperson 6 Cyl. That size is offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall form, with blackwall examples from Lester and BFGoodrich and a wide whitewall version from BFGoodrich. All of those listed options remain bias-ply tires suited to the era of the car.

For a 1926 Apperson restoration, sidewall style affects the visual character of the car almost as much as the size itself. Blackwalls generally present a more restrained, formal period look, while wide whitewalls create a more expressive show-oriented appearance. The right choice depends on how you want the car to read historically and whether you are following a particular restoration theme or event standard.

The listed 1926 Apperson product coverage includes Lester and BFGoodrich in the 600-21 size for the 6 Cyl. model. Both are offered as bias-ply tires, and BFGoodrich appears in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions while Lester appears in blackwall form. Those are the currently represented brands within the available year-make product range.

Brand choice on a car like a 1926 Apperson usually comes after the more important decisions of model identification and exact size confirmation. Once those are settled, the brand often becomes a matter of sidewall appearance, restoration preference, and how closely you want the finished car to reflect a particular visual period. Comparing the exact size and sidewall treatment first will narrow the field quickly.

In 600-21 for the 1926 Apperson 6 Cyl., Lester is offered as a blackwall bias-ply tire, while BFGoodrich appears in blackwall and 3.50-inch wide whitewall versions. The BFGoodrich options list a 21-inch rim diameter, a 3.00 to 3.75 inch rim-width range, and a maximum load figure of 1350 pounds at 36 psi. The listed weights also differ, with Lester at 20 pounds and the BFGoodrich versions at 31 and 34 pounds.

Those distinctions matter most when appearance and wheel compatibility are part of the project. A buyer comparing these tires should think about whether the car is being finished in blackwall or whitewall form and whether the wheel falls within the stated rim-width range on the BFGoodrich products. When a product lists more setup detail, it gives you more to cross-check against the actual wheel before committing.

A stated rim-width range appears on some 1926 Apperson tire offerings in size 600-21. The BFGoodrich 600-21 products specify a 3.00 to 3.75 inch rim-width range on a 21-inch rim. Other listed Apperson sizes do not carry a published rim-width figure here, so the confirmed width guidance within this year-make set is centered on that 600-21 fitment.

Rim width is one of the key checks to make before mounting a reproduction bias-ply tire on an original wheel. Even when the wheel diameter is correct, the tire should still match the wheel’s usable width range to avoid shape and seating issues. If you are working with a 6 Cyl. Apperson on 600-21, that 3.00 to 3.75 inch range gives you a concrete reference point.

Within each 1926 Apperson model, the paired tire sizes point to the same basic wheel diameter class rather than two completely different wheel diameters. The 6 Cyl. pairs 33X6.00 with 600-21, and the 8 Cyl. pairs 33X6.20 with 6.50-21. That means the original wheels are generally being referenced through two size-marking systems for the same model, not through unrelated wheel sizes.

That said, wheel condition and width still need to be checked before mounting any tire on a nearly century-old car. Original lock-ring or demountable wheel components, rim integrity, and exact width should all be examined carefully during restoration or recommissioning. Matching the model first and the wheel diameter second is the cleanest path before you compare specific reproduction tires.

A stored 1926 Apperson should be kept away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment such as electric motors, welders, and some battery tenders. Tall bias-ply tires like those used on 1926 Apperson models are especially prone to flat-spotting if the car sits in one position for long periods. Clean, dry storage with stable temperatures helps preserve both the tire casing and the rubber surface.

If the car will sit for months, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on the same contact patch. Maintaining proper inflation during storage also helps the tire keep its shape. Owners who tour only occasionally should inspect sidewalls closely before the first drive of each season, because age-related cracking can show up even when tread wear is minimal.

On a 1926 Apperson, tire age matters more than mileage because most collector cars are driven infrequently. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are about five to seven years old and to give serious replacement consideration by around ten years, regardless of tread depth. The DOT-style age code on modern reproduction tires is the best reference for when the tire was made.

That age-based approach is especially important on large pre-war cars that may still appear to have plenty of tread but have spent years parked indoors. Rubber hardens, sidewalls fatigue, and internal materials age even when the car is not being used much. If an older Apperson is being returned to road use after a long layup, tire age should be one of the first things checked.

Tires on a 1926 Apperson should be inspected before every drive, and more thoroughly before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, irregular wear, cuts, bulges, tread separation, and signs that the tire is no longer holding pressure consistently. On a car of this age, the visual inspection should include the spare as well as the four road tires.

A short local drive can hide problems that become much more serious once the car is heated up and running for a longer stretch. Check the valve area, wheel condition, and inflation consistency as part of the same walk-around. Making that inspection routine is one of the simplest ways to keep an occasional-use Apperson dependable without overcomplicating the pre-drive process.

A 1926 Apperson 6 Cyl. would have been fitted originally with bias-ply tires, because radial passenger-car tires were not part of normal American production practice in that era. The size references associated with the model are 33X6.00 and 600-21, which reflect the period’s overlap between antique diameter-based and numeric replacement-style designations. No original equipment brand should be assumed unless you have model-specific factory or marque records.

For restoration purposes, the important first step is confirming whether your car’s surviving records, wheels, or prior restoration history point you toward the antique-marked size or the numeric-marked equivalent. Either way, the construction type should remain bias-ply for an authenticity-minded result. If the car will be judged, marque clubs and Apperson specialists are the best source for market- or body-specific confirmation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1926 Apperson, especially in events that evaluate authenticity closely. Size, construction type, and sidewall presentation all influence whether the car looks appropriate for a 1920s American luxury automobile. A mismatched width, the wrong style of size designation for the restoration approach, or an overly modern visual treatment can stand out quickly on a car with tall pre-war wheels.

Even when a show is less formal, tire choice changes the stance and overall impression of the car. Owners should decide early whether the project is aiming for formal judging, touring use with period character, or a personalized presentation. Once that goal is clear, it becomes easier to choose between blackwall and whitewall appearance and to confirm which of the model’s period bias-ply size references best supports the look.

For a 1926 Apperson 6 Cyl., 33X6.00 and 600-21 describe the tire through two different period sizing conventions. The 33X6.00 format states overall tire diameter and nominal section width, while 600-21 states nominal section width and the 21-inch rim diameter directly. Both belong to the same general bias-ply fitment family for the six-cylinder car rather than representing a switch to a newer radial type.

That distinction matters mostly for restoration interpretation and product matching, not because one code automatically means a different kind of vehicle use. Owners often encounter one size on older literature and another on replacement-era references for the same car. If your goal is authenticity, keep the language and appearance of the size consistent with the way you are presenting the car overall.

Bias-ply tires in the sizes used on 1926 Apperson models can be suitable for road use when they are new, correctly fitted, properly inflated, and matched to a sound wheel. No speed ratings are listed here for the Apperson products, so the more important real-world limit is often the car itself: a 1920s chassis, braking system, steering geometry, and suspension design ask for conservative driving even when the tires are in excellent condition.

Highway use in a vintage Apperson is less about chasing modern traffic speeds and more about keeping the car within its comfort zone. A careful driver should build speed gradually, watch for vibration or wandering, and avoid treating a pre-war luxury car like a modern sedan. Tire condition is essential, but the full mechanical health of the car matters just as much before any extended road run.

Inflation pressure on a 1926 Apperson should be set by the combination of the vehicle’s original guidance and the specific reproduction tire’s rating. Within the listed Apperson products, certain BFGoodrich 600-21 tires show a maximum load capacity of 1350 pounds at 36 psi. That figure belongs to those 600-21 products only and should not be transferred automatically to 33X6.00, 33X6.20, or 6.50-21.

The best practice is to start with the owner’s manual or period service guidance for the car, then confirm that your chosen reproduction tire’s published limits and intended use align with it. Collector cars often respond noticeably to even small pressure changes because of their weight distribution and suspension design. Keeping each size matched to its own published limits avoids overgeneralizing across different Apperson fitments.

Before a longer drive in a 1926 Apperson, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and signs of age-related hardening. Confirm inflation, look closely at the valve area, and make sure the spare is usable and inflated as well. On a large 1920s car, wheel condition and secure mounting are just as important as tread appearance.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive review that includes brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluids, and cooling system condition. A pre-war car can feel fine on a short trip around town yet reveal weaknesses once heat and distance build. Giving the Apperson a thorough inspection before departure reduces the chance that a small tire or wheel issue becomes the problem that ends the outing.