1929 Pierce Arrow Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Pierce Arrow vehicles use two tire sizes across the 125 Series and 126 Series: 31X6.20 and 650-19. Both sizes are shared by both model lines, but they are not interchangeable by name because they correspond to different wheel diameters. The 31X6.20 fitment mounts on a 20-inch wheel, while the 650-19 fitment mounts on a 19-inch wheel. For 650-19, available products include examples intended for 3.25- to 3.50-inch rim widths where that specification is stated.

That means year and make alone are not enough to pick a tire for a 1929 Pierce Arrow. The most important first check is the actual wheel diameter on your car, especially on a prewar luxury automobile that may have seen wheel changes during restoration or long ownership. Once the wheel is confirmed, the size choice becomes straightforward because both available sizes are bias-ply and both fit within the period character of the car.

On a 1929 Pierce Arrow, 31X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 31, refers to the overall tire diameter in inches, and 6.20 refers to the nominal section width in inches. That differs from later numeric and metric systems because the first number is not the wheel diameter. This size is a bias-ply fitment and corresponds to a 20-inch wheel.

That older sizing style is typical of prewar automobiles and can be confusing if you are more familiar with modern tire codes. On a Pierce Arrow, the practical takeaway is simple: do not assume the first number is the rim size. If your car currently wears 20-inch wheels and the existing tire or fitment record points to 31X6.20, staying with that sizing convention usually preserves the correct visual scale expected on a late-1920s luxury car.

On a 1929 Pierce Arrow, 650-19 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 indicates the nominal section width in inches, with the decimal traditionally omitted in the size code, and 19 is the wheel diameter in inches. That makes it more straightforward than an antique diameter-by-section size because the final number is the rim diameter. Available 650-19 products appear in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles.

For an owner, 650-19 is the fitment to use only when the car is equipped with 19-inch wheels. It is a period-appropriate bias-ply size for a 1929 Pierce Arrow, and the sidewall choice lets you tune the visual presentation of the car toward a more understated or more formal luxury look. Checking the wheel itself before ordering avoids confusion between 650-19 and 31X6.20, since both were used across the same model families.

For a 1929 Pierce Arrow, the choice between 31X6.20 and 650-19 starts with the wheel diameter already on the car, not with a preference between modern and old-style construction. Both sizes shown here are bias-ply, and both are used across the 125 Series and 126 Series. The difference is that 31X6.20 is an antique size for a 20-inch wheel, while 650-19 is a numeric bias-ply size for a 19-inch wheel.

Once the wheel diameter is verified, the remaining decision is mainly about preserving the fitment your car is already built around and selecting the sidewall look you want where product choices exist. On a prewar Pierce Arrow, that matters because wheel and tire proportions strongly affect stance and authenticity. If the car has been restored, compare the current wheel setup, any surviving placards or records, and the car's overall appearance before settling on one size.

For 1929 Pierce Arrow tires, the 650-19 size is available in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall versions. Firestone offerings include Blackwall and Wide Whitewall choices, and Lester also appears in a Wide Whitewall version. All of those available 650-19 products are bias-ply, which keeps the construction in line with the period. Sidewall styling can therefore change the visual character of the car without changing the basic tire type.

Blackwalls generally suit a more restrained presentation, while Wide Whitewalls create a more formal, display-oriented look that many owners prefer on luxury cars from the late 1920s. For judged restoration, sidewall style can matter almost as much as size and construction, especially if the car is being presented in a specific market or coachwork context. A Pierce Arrow owner aiming for event-level authenticity should compare period photos and consult a marque specialist before deciding which whitewall treatment is appropriate.

Firestone and Lester both offer tires for 1929 Pierce Arrow applications in the 650-19 size. Firestone appears in multiple bias-ply series, including classic bias-ply and balloon-style offerings, while Lester appears with a classic bias-ply wide whitewall option. Those brand choices give owners more than one path to a proper prewar look in the 19-inch fitment. The available products all stay within the bias-ply construction expected for the era.

Brand choice on a 1929 Pierce Arrow often comes down to the exact sidewall presentation you want and whether a given series better matches the personality of your restoration. Some owners prefer a simpler blackwall treatment, while others want the more formal wide-whitewall appearance associated with luxury presentation. It is worth comparing the tire series, sidewall style, and any stated rim-width guidance in the size you need rather than choosing by brand name alone.

1929 Pierce Arrow rim-width guidance is available within the 650-19 fitment, where listed products specify a 3.25- to 3.50-inch rim-width range. That guidance applies to those 650-19 products and should be matched against the wheel actually on the car. The other year-make size, 31X6.20, is also a Pierce Arrow fitment, but the available product details here do not include a corresponding rim-width range for that size.

The practical step is to measure the wheel and confirm that the tire you are considering is intended for that rim-width window rather than assuming all prewar wheels are the same. On an older Pierce Arrow, wheel changes over the decades are not uncommon, and a restored car may not wear the same rims it left the factory with. Verifying width along with diameter helps preserve proper tire profile, bead seating, and period-correct appearance.

Original 1929 Pierce Arrow wheels cannot be assumed to accept both listed tire sizes, because the two fitments use different wheel diameters. The 31X6.20 size corresponds to a 20-inch wheel, while 650-19 corresponds to a 19-inch wheel. Both sizes were used across the 125 Series and 126 Series, but that shared model coverage does not mean one wheel can take both sizes. Diameter must match the tire exactly.

If your Pierce Arrow still has its original or long-established wheels, inspect the wheel stamping or measure the rim before selecting a tire. That is especially important on prewar cars where replacement wheels, restoration choices, or coachbuilt history may have altered the setup over time. Once the diameter is confirmed, you can focus on the correct size within that wheel family and then compare sidewall style and series details.

A 1929 Pierce Arrow should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber more quickly. Bias-ply tires like the sizes used on this Pierce Arrow are more prone to flat-spotting during long static periods than modern radials, especially on a heavy luxury car. Keeping the tires clean, properly inflated, and out of standing moisture helps protect both sidewalls and casing shape.

For longer storage, many collectors either move the car periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch. The goal is not just cosmetic preservation but maintaining smoother road behavior when the car returns to use. On a vehicle as substantial as a Pierce Arrow, routine storage habits make a noticeable difference in how quickly flat spots, sidewall weathering, and age-related cracking begin to show.

Tires on a 1929 Pierce Arrow should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often cover relatively few miles each year. A good rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age on modern reproduction tires.

That timeline matters even more on a low-use prewar car because rubber can harden, crack, or lose flexibility long before the tread looks worn out. A Pierce Arrow may spend much of its life stored, trailered, or used only for tours and shows, so age-related degradation is often the limiting factor. If the tires are older and the car is being prepared for meaningful road use, replacement is usually wiser than relying on appearance alone.

Tires on a 1929 Pierce Arrow should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, exposed fabric, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure between uses. On a collector car, a tire can appear fine at a glance yet still show age-related issues when examined closely. Spare-tire condition matters too, especially if the car is driven beyond local distances.

Regular inspection is one of the simplest ways to avoid roadside trouble in a heavy prewar automobile. If the car uses tube-type tires in your chosen application, include the valve stem and tube-related sealing points in that routine rather than focusing on tread alone. A careful walkaround before departure also gives you a chance to catch wheel, trim, or brake issues that often reveal themselves at the same time.

The 1929 Pierce Arrow 125 Series would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the two period-appropriate sizes shown for 1929 Pierce Arrow are 31X6.20 and 650-19. Both are consistent with late-1920s American luxury-car practice, where bias-ply construction was standard and sizing conventions could vary with wheel equipment. No specific original-equipment brand should be assumed from that alone. The correct original fitment for an individual car can still vary with body style, wheel equipment, and restoration history.

For a restoration aiming at factory-style accuracy, the right approach is to confirm the wheel diameter on the car and then compare period literature, surviving photos, and marque-club guidance. Judges and knowledgeable Pierce Arrow enthusiasts will often notice whether the tire size looks visually correct for the wheel and body proportions. Choosing the right construction, size family, and sidewall treatment usually matters more than chasing a brand name without supporting evidence.

Correct tire fitment matters significantly when showing a 1929 Pierce Arrow, especially because prewar luxury cars are judged as complete visual statements rather than just mechanical objects. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all influence whether the car presents as period-correct. A tire that is visibly too modern in profile, carries the wrong sizing convention for the wheel, or uses an inappropriate sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise accurate restoration.

On a Pierce Arrow, tire fitment affects stance and proportion in a way judges and experienced enthusiasts notice quickly. Even when two sizes are year-correct at the make level, the individual car still needs the wheel diameter and visual presentation that match its restoration intent. For concours work, compare your car against period photography and event rules, then consult a Pierce Arrow specialist or club resource before finalizing size and sidewall selection.

For the 1929 Pierce Arrow in 650-19, Firestone Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Balloon are both bias-ply offerings, but they are presented as separate series and not simply the same tire with different naming. Firestone Balloon products in this size include examples with stated 3.25- to 3.50-inch rim-width guidance, and one wide-whitewall version carries a maximum load figure of 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Firestone Classic Bias Ply appears as a simpler blackwall offering in the same size.

That difference makes the series choice partly about the specific appearance and specification package you want within the same Pierce Arrow fitment. Owners comparing them should look at sidewall style, any published rim-width range, and any stated load-and-pressure figure rather than assuming every 650-19 Firestone is identical. On a prewar luxury car, small specification differences can matter when trying to balance authenticity, presentation, and compatibility with the wheel already on the car.

1929 Pierce Arrow tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly inflated, and matched to the proper wheel, but they remain bias-ply tires designed around prewar vehicle behavior. No speed rating appears in the available Pierce Arrow product details here, so they should be driven with the manners appropriate to a late-1920s luxury automobile rather than treated like a modern touring car. On a car of this age, braking, steering, suspension, and road-surface response are often the bigger limits than tire speed capability alone.

That means a well-sorted Pierce Arrow should be driven conservatively and smoothly, especially on crowned pavement, rough surfaces, or in emergency maneuvers where bias-ply handling differs from what modern drivers expect. Highway travel is less about chasing top speed and more about steady operation within the comfort zone of the entire vehicle. Before longer road use, make sure the tires are age-sound and the rest of the car is equally prepared for sustained running.

Inflation pressure for 1929 Pierce Arrow tires should follow the recommendation appropriate to the exact tire and the vehicle's original guidance rather than assuming one universal number for every fitment. Within the available 650-19 products, one Firestone Balloon wide-whitewall tire lists a maximum load of 1430 pounds at 36 psi. That is a tire rating point, not automatically the pressure every Pierce Arrow should run in every condition. Pressure should always be matched to the specific size and tire series on the car.

The safest approach is to start with the original owner's-manual or marque guidance for the car, then compare that with the tire manufacturer's published limits for the exact product you are using. A heavy prewar car reacts noticeably to pressure changes in ride and steering feel, so guessing can lead to poor behavior even if the tire is technically inflated. Never transfer a pressure figure from one size or series to another without confirming it applies.

Before taking a 1929 Pierce Arrow on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of age hardening, then verify inflation pressure when the tires are cold. Also check the valve stems, wheel attachment, and the condition of the spare. Because this is a substantial prewar car on bias-ply tires, even small issues in the tire and wheel assembly can become much more noticeable once speed and distance increase.

A longer-drive check should also include the rest of the car's basic touring systems: brakes, steering play, cooling, fuel delivery, and lighting. The tire inspection is only one part of preparing a 1929 Pierce Arrow for real road use, but it is one of the easiest and most important steps to get right. If anything about the tires looks questionable, address it before departure rather than asking an elderly tire to prove itself on the road.