1926 Duesenberg Tire Fitment Guide

1926 Duesenberg vehicles in this guide use two sizes: 31X6.75 and 700-19, both for the 1926 Duesenberg 8 Cyl. Both sizes are bias-ply and both mount on 19-inch rims. For 700-19, the listed rim-width range is 3.75 to 4.00 inches on the products that publish that specification.

That means the first step is not choosing between different models, but confirming which of those two sizes belongs on your particular 1926 Duesenberg 8 Cyl. Cars of this era were often restored over many decades, and wheel or tire choices may have changed along the way. Checking the wheel itself, period photos, restoration records, and marque references will help narrow the right size before you move on to sidewall style or brand.

On a 1926 Duesenberg, 31X6.75 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 31 refers to the tire’s overall diameter in inches, while 6.75 is the nominal section width. It is a bias-ply style of sizing typical of the pre-war period, and in this application it fits a 19-inch wheel.

That older style of size marking can look unfamiliar if you are used to later numeric, alphanumeric, or metric tire codes. Its purpose is to describe the physical dimensions in a way that matched the conventions of the time. If your 1926 Duesenberg currently carries this style of marking, stay with that size unless you have firm evidence the car was meant to use the alternate 700-19 fitment.

On a 1926 Duesenberg, 700-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.00 indicates the nominal section width and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This is a later-style pre-war sizing format than 31X6.75, but it still belongs squarely in the bias-ply era.

For a buyer, the key point is that 700-19 does not simply mean “any 19-inch tire.” Width, profile, and visual stance all remain part of the fitment equation on a Classic Era car. If your 1926 Duesenberg uses 700-19, you can then compare Firestone and Lester options, along with blackwall versus double-whitewall appearance, without losing sight of the underlying size requirement.

For a 1926 Duesenberg, the choice between 31X6.75 and 700-19 is primarily about matching the size your particular 8 Cyl. is meant to use, not about switching between bias-ply and radial construction. Both are bias-ply 19-inch fitments, so the deciding factor is which size aligns with the car’s wheel setup and restoration history.

Once the size is confirmed, the rest of the decision becomes more cosmetic and brand-specific. A correctly sized tire will preserve the car’s proportions and the intended relationship between wheel opening, ride height, and sidewall shape. If you are sorting out an older restoration, compare the tire markings on the car, wheel dimensions, and period references before treating one size as interchangeable with the other.

1926 Duesenberg tires in the listed 700-19 offerings are available in both Blackwall and Double-Whitewall styles. Firestone appears in both looks, while Lester is represented in Blackwall. Both sidewall choices keep the period bias-ply construction that suits a mid-1920s luxury automobile.

Sidewall style has a major effect on how a Classic Era Duesenberg presents, especially on a car where wheel and tire visual proportion are such a large part of the design. Blackwalls generally deliver a more restrained appearance, while wide white sidewalls create a more formal, highly finished look associated with many premium restorations. The right choice depends on how your particular car was finished and how closely you want to mirror its intended period presentation.

Firestone and Lester both offer tires for 1926 Duesenberg fitment in 700-19. Firestone appears in both Balloon and Classic Bias Ply versions, while Lester is offered as a classic bias-ply option. All of the listed choices for that size remain true to the period-correct bias-ply construction expected for a 1926 Duesenberg.

Brand choice on a car like this usually comes down to the exact look you want, the sidewall treatment you prefer, and any dimensional or load details published for the individual product. Firestone’s range gives more visible variation within the size, while Lester provides another traditional bias-ply route. After size is settled, compare the actual tire series rather than assuming every 700-19 from every brand presents exactly the same on the car.

For 1926 Duesenberg fitments, both listed tire sizes use a 19-inch rim diameter. In the 700-19 size, products that publish rim-width guidance call for 3.75 to 4.00-inch rims. That is the only explicit rim-width range shown here, so it is the clearest setup reference available within this year-and-make group.

That matters because matching diameter alone is not enough on a pre-war car. A wheel that is too narrow or too wide for the tire can affect the tire’s profile and how it seats on the rim. Before mounting new tires on a 1926 Duesenberg, measure the actual wheel width and compare it to the tire maker’s approved range for the specific size and product you plan to run.

A 1926 Duesenberg wheel built for these fitments uses a 19-inch rim diameter, so both 31X6.75 and 700-19 match that diameter requirement. That creates basic wheel-diameter compatibility across both sizes. Rim width still needs to be checked against the tire selected, especially because only the 700-19 products shown here publish a specific 3.75 to 4.00-inch range.

In practical terms, a 19-inch wheel is only the starting point. Original wheels may have been restored, replaced, or altered over time, and that can change what fits properly. If you want to move between the two listed sizes on a 1926 Duesenberg, verify both wheel width and overall clearance before assuming that every 19-inch wheel in the car’s history accepts both sizes equally well.

A stored 1926 Duesenberg should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, roll the car periodically if possible, and avoid long-term parking on damp surfaces. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting after extended static storage.

That storage routine helps preserve both the tire carcass and the way the car feels when it returns to the road. On a heavyweight luxury car from the 1920s, long idle periods can leave tires taking a set if they sit under load in one position for too long. If the car will rest for months, some owners use stands to reduce constant weight on the tires while still supporting the vehicle correctly.

Tires on a 1926 Duesenberg usually age out before they wear out. For collector vehicles, a careful inspection around the five- to seven-year mark is sensible, and replacement consideration by about ten years is a common rule even if the tread still looks good. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish the tire’s age, regardless of how few miles the car has covered.

That age-based approach is more useful than mileage on a low-use antique automobile. Rubber hardens over time, sidewalls can crack, and internal materials can deteriorate even when the car is driven sparingly. If a 1926 Duesenberg spends much of its life in display, parade, or occasional touring use, calendar age and storage conditions should guide your replacement timing more than tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1926 Duesenberg should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended tour or event. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation, uneven wear, and pressure loss. Because antique and pre-war cars often sit for long stretches, a visual check after storage is especially important.

That quick inspection can prevent a small issue from becoming a roadside problem on a heavy, valuable car. Include the spare in the routine, and pay attention to valve stems and wheel condition while you are there. If the car develops a pull, shake, or unusual ride harshness, stop treating it as normal old-car behavior until the tires and wheels have been checked carefully.

A 1926 Duesenberg 8 Cyl. would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, so bias-ply construction is the historically correct starting point for originality. The sizes associated with 1926 Duesenberg fitment here are 31X6.75 and 700-19, both bias-ply and both intended for 19-inch rims. No original-equipment brand should be assumed without vehicle-specific evidence.

That means an authenticity-minded restoration should first confirm which of those two sizes belongs on the individual car, then choose a period-appropriate sidewall presentation. Coachbuilt and restored cars can vary, and surviving records are not always uniform across markets and body styles. For show-level accuracy, cross-check factory literature, period photos, and Duesenberg club resources before treating one size or sidewall style as universally original.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1926 Duesenberg. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often look at size, construction type, and sidewall appearance because tires strongly affect the car’s stance and period character. On a Classic Era luxury car, an incorrect profile or visibly modern-looking substitute can stand out immediately.

For that reason, authenticity is not only about getting a 19-inch tire onto the wheel. The exact size marking, whether the tire presents as an antique-era or numeric pre-war fitment, and whether the sidewall style suits the restoration can all influence how convincing the finished car looks. Event standards vary, so a serious show car should be checked against the judging rules and marque-club guidance that apply to the event.

For a 1926 Duesenberg in 700-19, Firestone appears in Balloon and Classic Bias Ply forms. The Balloon offerings shown here include blackwall and double-whitewall versions, list a 3.75 to 4.00-inch rim-width range, and carry a 1570-pound load figure at 36 psi on the versions with published load data. The Firestone Classic Bias Ply blackwall lists 1,585 pounds at 36 psi.

That makes the choice less about construction, since both are bias-ply, and more about presentation and the specific published specifications attached to each series. Owners restoring a formal car may lean toward the wider visual statement of a double-whitewall Balloon tire, while a more restrained restoration may favor a blackwall appearance. Compare the exact series, weight, sidewall style, and load listing before selecting one for a 1926 Duesenberg.

1926 Duesenberg tires in these fitments are bias-ply designs intended for a pre-war collector car, and no specific speed ratings are shown in the listed size markings here. Safe highway use depends on the condition, age, inflation, and correct fitment of the tire, along with the overall mechanical condition of the car. On a vehicle of this era, brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel condition are often just as important as the tire itself.

That means highway driving should be approached as a whole-vehicle readiness question rather than a simple tire question. A fresh, properly fitted bias-ply tire can be entirely appropriate for touring within the limits of the car, but a 1926 chassis asks for more margin and more driver attention than a modern car at the same speed. Keep speeds consistent with the car’s age, setup, and road conditions rather than assuming modern highway behavior.

For 1926 Duesenberg 700-19 tires, published load figures in the available products include 1570 pounds at 36 psi and 1,585 pounds at 36 psi. Those numbers are tire ratings, not universal vehicle pressure instructions. They show the pressure associated with the tire’s listed maximum load figure, but they do not replace the carmaker’s recommended operating pressure for the vehicle.

Use the original owner’s literature or a trusted Duesenberg specialist for the vehicle’s intended inflation starting point, then make sure it remains within the tire maker’s allowable limits for the exact product. Avoid copying a pressure from one size to another without confirmation, especially on a heavy luxury car where ride, steering feel, and tread contact matter. Pressure should always be checked cold and matched side to side.

Before a longer drive in a 1926 Duesenberg, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any sign of carcass distortion after storage. Confirm cold inflation pressure, look over the valve stems, and make sure the spare is serviceable and inflated. A longer outing also deserves a look at wheel fasteners, bearings, brakes, steering play, and fluid levels.

That pre-drive routine matters more on a 1920s automobile because every system contributes to stability and safety over distance. Tires should be treated as one part of a broader readiness check rather than the only concern. If the car has been sitting, take a short local test drive first to feel for vibration, pulling, or flat-spot behavior before committing your 1926 Duesenberg to sustained road miles.