1927 Whippet Tire Fitment Guide

1927 Whippet vehicles use four sizes across two model lines. The 1927 Whippet 93A uses 29X4.76 and 4.75-20, both bias-ply sizes for 20-inch rims. The 1927 Whippet 96 Series uses 27X4.40 and 4.40-19, both bias-ply sizes for 19-inch rims. That means tire fitment is tied directly to the model, not just the year and make.

A 93A owner should stay within the two 20-inch sizes associated with that model, while a 96 Series owner should stay within the two 19-inch sizes tied to the smaller car. Before choosing a tire, compare the actual wheel diameter on the car and confirm which model you have, especially on a restored or long-owned Whippet where wheels may have been changed at some point.

On a 1927 Whippet, 29X4.76 is an antique diameter-by-section marking. The first number, 29, refers to the tire’s overall diameter in inches, while 4.76 refers to nominal section width in inches. It is a bias-ply size used on the 1927 Whippet 93A and fits a 20-inch rim even though the rim diameter is not the first number shown.

That older sizing style can confuse modern buyers because it does not read like later numeric or metric tire codes. If your 93A still carries early-style wheels or you are restoring the car to a period look, this kind of marking is often the place to begin. The important practical step is to avoid assuming that a 29-inch overall diameter automatically tells you the wheel size.

No, 1927 Whippet models do not all use the same tire size. The 93A uses 29X4.76 and 4.75-20 on 20-inch rims, while the 96 Series uses 27X4.40 and 4.40-19 on 19-inch rims. Each size pair is specific to its model rather than shared across the full Whippet range for the year.

That distinction matters because a buyer who knows only that the car is a 1927 Whippet still does not have enough information to choose a tire. The model name, wheel diameter, and the size convention already on the car all help point you to the right fitment path. On an older restoration, checking the wheel itself is often just as important as reading the tire sidewall.

For a 1927 Whippet 93A, both 29X4.76 and 4.75-20 are bias-ply sizes tied to that model and both mount on 20-inch rims. The difference is mainly the size convention: 29X4.76 uses the earlier overall-diameter format, while 4.75-20 uses the later numeric format. This is not a choice that applies to every 1927 Whippet, because the 96 Series uses different sizes entirely.

The practical choice comes down to matching your actual wheels and the style of fitment you want to preserve on the car. A restoration aimed at strong period authenticity may favor the antique-format marking if that matches the car’s established look, while another 93A may be better served by the numeric size if that is what the wheel and current fitment support. Confirm the wheel diameter before deciding between the two.

For a 1927 Whippet 96 Series, both 27X4.40 and 4.40-19 are bias-ply sizes that fit 19-inch rims and stay within correct-era construction for the car. The difference is again the way the size is written rather than a shift from bias-ply to radial or from one wheel diameter to another. Neither size belongs to the 93A, so model identification comes first.

A 96 Series owner should compare the wheel diameter on the car and the size convention already associated with the vehicle’s restoration history. If your goal is to keep the car visually and mechanically in step with late-1920s practice, staying with a model-specific bias-ply size is the key decision. Treat the antique-versus-numeric code as a fitment and presentation question, not a modern-versus-old driving-character choice.

Sidewall style can matter as much as size on a 1927 Whippet because these cars belong to a pre-war period when appearance is closely tied to authenticity. The right visual treatment depends on the specific tire size you choose for the 93A or 96 Series, and sidewall presentation should stay consistent with a late-1920s restoration rather than a modern passenger-car look.

When comparing tires for a 1927 Whippet, look at the sidewall treatment alongside the size marking, especially if the car is being judged or restored to a specific era character. A tire can fit the wheel correctly and still look out of place if its sidewall style does not suit the period. If show authenticity matters, compare your choice against period photos, marque references, and the car’s existing restoration theme.

Original 1927 Whippet wheels cannot be treated as universal across all four sizes because the model range uses two different rim diameters. The 93A uses 20-inch rim sizes, while the 96 Series uses 19-inch rim sizes. That means a tire from one model family should not be assumed to interchange with the other model’s original wheels.

If your Whippet still carries its original or long-established wheels, start by measuring the rim diameter and matching it to the correct model-specific size pair. A 93A owner can compare the two 20-inch sizes, and a 96 Series owner can compare the two 19-inch sizes, but cross-model substitution is a different matter. On cars that have been restored decades ago, wheel verification is often the most useful first step.

A 1927 Whippet owner should verify three things before mounting tires: the exact model, the wheel diameter, and the size convention already matched to the car. The 93A and 96 Series do not share tire sizes, and their sizes split between antique diameter-by-section markings and later numeric bias-ply markings. Getting any one of those details wrong can send you toward the wrong fitment family.

Once the model and rim diameter are confirmed, inspect the wheels for age-related issues such as corrosion, damage at the bead area, or signs of old repairs that could affect mounting. Collector cars often carry decades of mixed parts history, so it helps to compare the wheel, the current tire marking, and the vehicle model together rather than relying on memory alone. That approach reduces the chance of ordering a correct-looking but incorrect-fitting tire.

A 1927 Whippet should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Because all listed 1927 Whippet sizes are bias-ply, long static storage can encourage flat-spotting and visible shape distortion more readily than many modern radials. Clean floors and stable temperatures also help reduce moisture-related deterioration around the wheel and tire assembly.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged load on one contact patch. Keep inflation checked during storage so the tire does not settle under low pressure. A fitted spare deserves the same attention as the four road tires, since many collector-car roadside problems begin with a spare that has aged quietly for years.

Tires on a 1927 Whippet should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often see limited use. A sound rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach roughly five to seven years of age and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on modern reproduction tires helps establish that timeline.

A lightly driven Whippet can still out-age its tires long before it wears them out. Sidewall cracking, hardening rubber, deformation after storage, and age-related changes in ride behavior matter more than tread depth on a pre-war car that spends most of its time garaged. If the car’s service history is unclear, age-checking the tires is one of the simplest and most valuable safety steps you can take.

Tires on a 1927 Whippet should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, low pressure, and any sign that a bias-ply casing has changed shape after storage. A visual check should also include the spare tire, since it may be older than the set on the car and still be expected to serve in an emergency.

Regular inspection matters because a vintage car often sits longer between drives and may not reveal tire issues gradually the way a daily driver does. If the car has not been used for weeks or months, a brief pre-drive check is far more valuable than assuming the tires are fine because they looked acceptable last season. On a 1927 Whippet, that habit supports both safety and preservation.

A 1927 Whippet 93A would have originally been associated with bias-ply construction, because that was standard practice in the period. The 93A is linked with 29X4.76 and 4.75-20, both on 20-inch rims, and both stay within the kind of pre-war fitment language expected for a late-1920s American car. Original equipment brand choice should be confirmed through marque-specific references if absolute factory detail matters.

For restoration work, the main point is that the 93A belongs in a model-specific bias-ply size family rather than a later radial or a different Whippet model’s fitment. If you are trying to match a particular body style, sales catalog, or judging standard, compare the tire size convention on the car against period literature and club knowledge. That helps you narrow whether the antique-style marking or the numeric-style marking best suits your restoration target.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1927 Whippet because pre-war judging often pays close attention to size, construction type, and sidewall presentation. A 93A shown on a 96 Series size, or a 96 Series shown on a 93A size, would stand out as a model-level mismatch. A modern-looking construction or visibly out-of-period sidewall treatment can also work against an authenticity-focused presentation.

Even when a tire physically fits the wheel, show standards can reward details that reflect how the car would have appeared in its own era. Owners preparing for concours or marque events should compare their tire choice with period images, event rules, and Whippet club guidance rather than assuming any old-style tire will be close enough. That extra research is especially worthwhile on a make where model distinctions are a key part of correct fitment.

A 1927 Whippet 96 Series would also have been a bias-ply car when new, consistent with the period and with the sizes associated to the model today. The 96 Series uses 27X4.40 and 4.40-19 on 19-inch rims, placing it in a different fitment family from the 93A. That model-specific split is central to an accurate restoration because the two Whippet lines do not share one universal tire size.

If authenticity is your goal, stay with the 96 Series size family and treat the antique versus numeric marking as part of the restoration research process. Older restorations sometimes blend parts over time, so checking the actual wheels and existing tire markings against the model name is worthwhile. Marque specialists and surviving factory literature remain the best sources for fine-detail confirmation when the car is being prepared for formal judging.

1927 Whippet tires can be suitable for road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and matched to the way a pre-war car is actually driven. All listed 1927 Whippet sizes are bias-ply, which means they should be approached with the steering feel, tracking characteristics, and age-sensitive care typical of that construction. On a car of this era, the condition of the tires is only one part of the safety picture.

A properly maintained Whippet is usually limited more by the realities of 1920s braking, suspension, and general vehicle pace than by the idea of modern interstate travel expectations. The practical takeaway is to drive within the car’s period character, keep speeds sensible, and inspect the tires carefully before longer trips. A fresh, correctly fitted bias-ply tire is far more confidence-inspiring than an old one with plenty of tread but too many years behind it.

Inflation pressure for 1927 Whippet tires should follow the vehicle’s original specifications and the tire manufacturer’s stated limits for the exact size you choose. The 93A and 96 Series do not use the same tire sizes, so pressure should never be copied casually from one model’s setup to the other. Bias-ply tires are especially sensitive to inflation changes in the way they steer, wear, and carry the car’s weight.

Use the owner’s literature or a trusted marque reference as your starting point, then confirm that your chosen tire’s pressure guidance aligns with that use. If the car has changed wheels, body style, or restoration configuration over the years, treat pressure as part of the full fitment review rather than a number to guess at. Rechecking pressure before a drive is one of the simplest ways to protect both ride quality and tire life.

Before a longer drive in a 1927 Whippet, inspect each tire for cracks, bulges, cuts, embedded debris, irregular wear, and proper inflation. Confirm that the spare is usable and that the wheel and valve area are in good condition. Since these cars use model-specific tire families, it is also wise to confirm that all four road tires actually match the correct size family for either the 93A or the 96 Series.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that includes brakes, steering, wheel bearings, cooling, and basic fluid checks appropriate to a late-1920s car. A Whippet in touring use benefits from deliberate preparation more than a modern car does, especially after sitting. Tires may be the first thing you see, but they work best when the rest of the car is equally ready for the trip.