1933 Auburn Tire Fitment Guide

1933 Auburn vehicles use three tire sizes across four model lines: 6.00-17 fits the 101 Series and 105 Series, while 6.50-17 and 700-17 are used on the 161 Series and 165 Series. All of those sizes mount on 17-inch wheels, and the available sizes for this year and make are all bias-ply rather than radial.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1933 Auburn. Owners of a 101 or 105 need to stay with the junior-car 6.00-17 fitment, while 161 and 165 owners need to confirm which of the two senior-car sizes their wheels and restoration plan call for before narrowing down sidewall style or brand.

On a 1933 Auburn, 6.00-17 is a period numeric bias-ply size. The 6.00 refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 17 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. On this Auburn application, that size belongs to the 101 Series and 105 Series.

Modern buyers sometimes expect a more detailed metric code, but prewar American sizing was much simpler. The practical point is that 6.00-17 is not an interchangeable shorthand for the larger 6.50-17 or 700-17 senior-car sizes, even though all three mount on 17-inch wheels. The section width and overall proportions are different, so the model identification still matters.

No, 1933 Auburn models do not all use the same tire size. The 101 Series and 105 Series use 6.00-17, while the larger 161 Series and 165 Series use either 6.50-17 or 700-17. All are 17-inch bias-ply sizes, but they are not universal across the entire Auburn lineup.

That difference reflects the split between Auburn's junior and senior cars for 1933. If you are still identifying a newly acquired car, start by confirming the series tag or body information before choosing tires. Once the model is known, it becomes much easier to decide whether you need the smaller 6.00-17 fitment or one of the broader senior-car sizes.

For a 1933 Auburn, that choice only applies to the 161 Series and 165 Series, since those are the models associated with both 6.50-17 and 700-17. Both are bias-ply, 17-inch period sizes, so this is not a bias-versus-radial decision. It is a matter of selecting the correct senior-car size for your specific wheel and restoration direction.

If your priority is authentic prewar presentation with the broadest visible sidewall-style selection currently available, 700-17 offers Firestone and Ensign choices in blackwall and whitewall forms. If your car is known to call for 6.50-17, stay with that size rather than assuming the larger 700-17 is a substitute. Matching the car's proper size matters more than simply choosing the tire with the most product variety.

The sidewall styles currently represented for 1933 Auburn fitments appear in 700-17, where Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions are available. Firestone offers blackwall, double whitewall, and wide whitewall choices in that size, while Ensign offers a blackwall version. The other Auburn sizes for 1933 do not show the same listed sidewall variety here.

For a prewar luxury-oriented car like a senior Auburn, sidewall appearance can change the whole visual character of the vehicle. A blackwall tends to emphasize a more restrained or sporting look, while whitewall variants produce a fuller upscale period presentation. Owners concerned with show accuracy should compare their choice against factory photos, survivor cars, and Auburn club guidance before finalizing a sidewall style.

Firestone and Ensign both have products in the 700-17 size used on 1933 Auburn 161 Series and 165 Series models. Firestone's offerings are in the Balloon line, and Ensign's listed option is in the B5 line. All of those currently shown products are bias-ply tires built around the prewar numeric-size format.

That gives senior-car Auburn owners a choice between more than one brand and more than one visual presentation within the same size. Brand selection should come after the basic fitment decision, not before it, since the 101 and 105 Series use 6.00-17 instead. Once you have the correct size confirmed, you can compare brand character, sidewall style, and rim-width suitability within that fitment.

For the 1933 Auburn 700-17 size, listed products are built for 17-inch rims and generally call for either a 4-inch rim or a 3.5 to 4.0 inch rim-width range, depending on the specific tire. Firestone's 700-17 Balloon tires are shown on 4-inch rims, while the Ensign 700-17 B5 covers a 3.5 to 4.0 inch range.

That means wheel diameter alone is not the whole fitment story on a senior Auburn. Before choosing among 700-17 products, confirm the actual wheel width on the car and compare it to the individual tire's approved range. That is especially important on restored cars, where wheel changes over the decades may not match the series' original setup.

The listed 1933 Auburn products do not carry a tube-type or tubeless marking in the size description, so buyers should verify the specific tire's sidewall marking and match it to the wheel they plan to use. With prewar 17-inch bias-ply applications such as these, tube use is commonly tied to wheel design as much as the tire itself.

The practical approach is to treat tube selection as part of the wheel-and-tire package rather than an afterthought. If your Auburn still runs original-style demountable or riveted prewar wheels, confirm tube requirements before mounting. That same check should include the valve stem, flap needs where applicable, and overall wheel condition so the finished setup matches the tire correctly.

All listed 1933 Auburn tire sizes use a 17-inch wheel diameter, so the basic rim diameter is shared across the 101, 105, 161, and 165 Series. That said, the tire sizes themselves are not interchangeable across all models, and the only published rim-width figures here are tied to certain 700-17 products.

A 17-inch wheel can still be wrong if its width does not suit the tire you want to run or if it belongs to a different series than the car. Original Auburn wheels should be checked for actual width, condition, and series correctness before a tire is chosen. That is the safest way to keep the fitment true to the car without assuming that every 17-inch Auburn wheel is the same.

A 1933 Auburn should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat spotting and age-related sidewall cracking when they sit in one position for long stretches. Clean floors and stable temperatures also help protect both the tire casing and the wheel finish.

Moving the car periodically is better than letting it remain motionless month after month, and long-term storage can justify reducing load on the tires with stands placed correctly under the chassis or suspension. Keep the tires properly inflated during storage, and avoid parking on damp dirt or bare concrete if possible. A little preparation goes a long way on a lightly used prewar collector car.

On a 1933 Auburn, tire age matters more than mileage because many surviving cars are driven infrequently. A sensible rule is to start evaluating collector-car tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, regardless of remaining tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire is the best starting point for that timeline.

Auburn owners often see tires that look good visually but have aged internally from time, heat cycles, and storage conditions. Whitewall appearance, tread depth, and occasional-use miles do not tell the full story by themselves. If a tire's age is unclear or the sidewalls show checking, hardening, or repeated pressure loss, replacement planning is usually wiser than stretching another season out of it.

Tires on a 1933 Auburn should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough check before any extended outing or event. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and air loss, and make sure valve stems are sound. On older wheel-and-tire combinations, the spare should be inspected with the same care as the four road tires.

Prewar cars often go from long storage periods to special-event use, which makes short visual checks especially important. A tire that held air in the garage may still show cracking or casing distortion once the car is moved into daylight. Building a quick inspection routine before every drive helps catch age-related issues early and fits naturally into the broader mechanical check any 1933 Auburn deserves.

The 1933 Auburn 101 Series uses a 6.00-17 bias-ply tire size, which aligns with what buyers would expect on an American car of that era. Bias-ply construction was the standard prewar form, so a period-correct restoration of a 101 Series should begin with that construction type and size family rather than a later radial concept.

Owners restoring a 101 Series for authenticity should still verify body style, market history, and surviving wheel equipment before finalizing the exact visual presentation. Original-equipment brand assumptions should be avoided unless supported by the car's own history. Auburn club resources, factory literature, and long-time marque specialists remain the right place to confirm details that go beyond the basic size and construction.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1933 Auburn because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance very quickly. A junior-series car wearing a senior-car size, or a restoration presented with the wrong visual sidewall treatment for its intended period look, can stand out for the wrong reasons even if the overall car is beautifully finished.

The right tire does more than fill the wheel opening; it sets stance, proportion, and historical tone. On a prewar Auburn, that visual impression is part of the car's identity. If your goal is event judging or marque-level authenticity, compare your chosen size and sidewall style against period photography and consult Auburn specialists so your tire choice supports the story the rest of the restoration is telling.

For the 1933 Auburn 700-17 size, Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 tires differ in sidewall offerings, rim-width listing, weight, and rated load. Firestone Balloon appears in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double whitewall forms, generally on a 4-inch rim, with listed weights from 28 to 35 pounds and a load rating of 1,480 pounds at 36 psi. The Ensign B5 is shown as a blackwall with a 3.5 to 4.0 inch rim-width range, a 30-pound weight, and a listed load rating of 1,901 pounds at 36 psi.

That makes the choice partly visual and partly technical within the same 700-17 fitment. Firestone offers more sidewall-style flexibility for an owner chasing a particular period look, while the Ensign listing brings a broader stated rim-width range and a higher published load figure. The better match depends on your wheel, the car's intended appearance, and how closely you want the finished restoration to echo a specific prewar presentation.

A properly matched, correctly inflated 1933 Auburn tire can be suitable for normal road use when it is in sound condition and mounted on a sound wheel. The listed 1933 Auburn products are bias-ply tires, and no speed rating letters are shown for the available 700-17 products here. On a prewar car, the tire is only one part of the equation; braking, steering, suspension condition, and the car's overall mechanical health matter just as much.

Highway use should be approached with the expectations appropriate to a 1933 automobile rather than a modern car. Bias-ply response, lane tracking, and braking feel are part of the period driving experience, and long stretches at modern traffic speeds place demands on the whole car, not just the tires. A cautious test drive after mounting, followed by pressure checks and a broader mechanical inspection, is the right way to prepare.

For the listed 1933 Auburn 700-17 products, the published load figures are tied to 36 psi: Firestone's 700-17 offerings are rated at 1,480 pounds at 36 psi, and the Ensign 700-17 is rated at 1,901 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not necessarily the pressure a particular Auburn should be driven at under every condition.

The right approach is to use the factory literature for the car's intended operating pressure and compare that with the tire maker's rating information for the specific product you choose. Do not transfer a pressure figure from 700-17 to 6.50-17 or 6.00-17 just because the wheel diameter matches. The tire size, wheel, vehicle weight distribution, and intended use all need to stay aligned.

Before a longer drive in a 1933 Auburn, inspect each tire for cracks, exposed fabric, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and stable air pressure. Check valve stems, the spare, and the wheel hardware, and make sure the tires have been seated and balanced properly if they were mounted recently. Since these are prewar bias-ply fitments, visible condition and age both deserve close attention.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that includes brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, fluid levels, and cooling-system condition. A long drive in a 1933 Auburn asks much more of the chassis than a short local outing. If the car has been sitting, put a few local miles on it first, then recheck pressure and general behavior before committing to sustained road time.