1933 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1933 La Salle vehicles in this guide use one tire size: 700-17. That size applies to the 1933 La Salle 345C, and the products available in that size are bias-ply tires for 17-inch wheels. Listed wheel-width fitments in the available products cover 4-inch wheels, with one product range extending across 3.5- to 4-inch wheel widths.

That makes 1933 La Salle fitment more straightforward than many later year-make pages with multiple sizes or mixed constructions. The main thing to verify before choosing a tire is the actual wheel width on the car, along with whether the car is being finished with a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall look. Once those points are settled, the size choice itself is simple because the 345C stays within one established 17-inch fitment.

On a 1933 La Salle, 700-17 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 7.00 refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 17 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Unlike later metric sizing, this older format does not spell out modern-style aspect ratio information in the way a radial size does.

For a buyer, that means the number is best understood as an era-correct prewar size designation rather than a direct one-to-one equivalent to a modern passenger-car radial code. When shopping within 700-17 for a 1933 La Salle, focus on construction consistency, wheel-width compatibility, and sidewall presentation. Those details will affect how authentic the car looks and how closely the tire matches the visual character expected of an early-1930s luxury car.

Yes. The 1933 La Salle model covered here, the 345C, uses the same 700-17 tire size throughout this year-make fitment range. There is no alternate second size listed at this year-make level, and the products available for 1933 La Salle all center on the same 17-inch wheel diameter and bias-ply construction family.

That consistency is useful because it removes one major layer of uncertainty. Instead of sorting between model-specific diameters or mixed radial and bias-ply options, a 1933 La Salle owner can move directly to questions of wheel-width match, preferred brand, and whether a blackwall or whitewall tire better suits the car's restoration direction. It is still wise to inspect the wheels already on the car, especially if it has had earlier restoration work or long-term storage changes.

1933 La Salle tires in 700-17 are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Firestone offerings cover blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations, while Ensign is offered in blackwall in this size. All of these options remain within the same bias-ply 17-inch fitment.

For a prewar luxury car like a 1933 La Salle, sidewall style has a major effect on the finished appearance. A blackwall look tends to read more restrained and formal, while a whitewall or double-whitewall treatment gives the car a more pronounced period luxury presence. If the car is being judged or restored to a particular market or presentation standard, it is worth checking event rules or marque guidance before settling on the sidewall treatment.

Two brands are represented for 1933 La Salle fitment in 700-17: Firestone and Ensign. Firestone appears with its Balloon series in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall forms, while Ensign appears with the B5 blackwall tire. All of them remain true to the period-correct bias-ply format used on a 1933 La Salle.

That gives La Salle owners a choice between different historic-looking presentations without changing the basic fitment size. Firestone offers the broadest sidewall-style spread in this application, while Ensign gives another blackwall path in the same size. If your goal is to balance authenticity, visual character, and wheel-width fitment, compare the brand options within 700-17 rather than assuming every tire in the size will present the car the same way.

For the 1933 La Salle in 700-17, Firestone Balloon tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while the Ensign B5 is offered as a blackwall. Firestone Balloon products in this size are listed for 4-inch wheels and carry a 1480-pound maximum load at 36 psi, while the Ensign B5 is listed for 3.5- to 4-inch wheels and carries a 1901-pound maximum load at 36 psi. Weight also varies among the products, with the available listings ranging from 28 to 35 pounds.

In practical terms, the choice is less about changing the car's tire size and more about matching the product's visual style and wheel-width range to your La Salle. Firestone gives the strongest variety in sidewall appearance, which matters on a prewar luxury car. Ensign broadens wheel-width compatibility within the same 700-17 size, so it is worth checking the actual wheel before deciding which series best suits the car.

For 1933 La Salle fitment in 700-17, the available products are listed for either 4-inch wheel width or a 3.5- to 4-inch wheel-width range, depending on the specific tire. All of the products mount on 17-inch wheels, but the acceptable wheel width is not identical across every product in the size. That makes wheel-width confirmation an important part of setup.

A La Salle owner should check the actual wheel on the car before choosing among 700-17 tires, especially if the wheels were changed during an older restoration. A tire that is correct in diameter can still be a poor match if the wheel width falls outside the intended range of the chosen product. Once the wheel width is confirmed, you can narrow the choice by sidewall style and brand without second-guessing the base fitment.

The available 700-17 tire listings for 1933 La Salle do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size field, so tube requirements should be confirmed against the specific tire and wheel combination being used. Because this is a prewar bias-ply application on a 17-inch wheel, the tire choice should always be considered together with the wheel's design and condition rather than treated as a standalone decision.

That matters most on older collector cars where original-style wheels, restored wheels, and replacement wheels may not all be set up the same way. Before final installation, verify the tire's sidewall marking and make sure the wheel itself is suitable for the intended setup. If a tube is used, inspect the valve stem, flap requirements if applicable, and wheel surface condition so the assembly matches the needs of a 1933 La Salle rather than a generic modern fitment.

A 1933 La Salle should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to temporary flat-spotting when left in one position for long periods, so regular movement or occasional repositioning helps reduce stress during storage.

If the La Salle will sit for an extended season, keep the tires properly inflated and avoid resting them on damp concrete or contaminated surfaces. Many collectors either move the car periodically or use stands in a way that supports the vehicle without overloading one contact patch for months at a time. Clean, dry storage conditions do more for tire longevity than low annual mileage alone, especially on a lightly driven prewar car.

On a 1933 La Salle, tire age usually matters more than tread wear because collector cars often see limited mileage. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely around the five- to seven-year mark and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement threshold, even if the tread still looks serviceable. The DOT-style age code and the tire's overall condition should both guide the decision.

A prewar car can spend long periods looking fine while the rubber quietly hardens, cracks, or loses flexibility. That is why calendar age, storage quality, and visual inspection are more important than mileage claims on a collector La Salle. If the tire's age is uncertain or the sidewalls are showing cracking, bulging, or persistent pressure loss, replacement deserves attention before the next driving season or touring event.

Tires on a 1933 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, irregular wear, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, and pressure loss, and do not ignore changes in how the car tracks or rides. On an older collector car, a visual check is only the starting point because age-related issues often appear before tread wear becomes obvious.

A longer tour calls for a more deliberate inspection, including the spare and any valve stems or tube-related hardware being used with the wheel assembly. Since prewar cars often spend more time parked than driven, each outing effectively begins with a fresh condition check. Catching a weak valve stem, a drying sidewall, or a slow leak in the garage is far easier than dealing with it roadside in a 1933 La Salle.

A 1933 La Salle 345C would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the year-make fitment here centers on the 700-17 bias-ply size. That aligns with what collectors expect from a prewar American luxury car, where bias-ply construction and era-appropriate sidewall styling are central to the authentic look. Original-equipment branding and trim-specific presentation can vary, so the size and construction are the safest starting points.

For restoration work, the most important first decision is staying with the correct type of tire for the period before narrowing the sidewall appearance. Whitewall treatment, blackwall presentation, and exact market-specific finish can influence how authentic the car appears at a show or in a judged setting. If your La Salle is being restored to a very specific delivery standard, a marque club or period sales literature is the right next step for final confirmation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1933 La Salle, especially in events where period accuracy is part of judging. Size, construction type, and sidewall presentation all affect whether the car looks consistent with early-1930s luxury-car standards. A tire that is the right diameter but the wrong visual style can still stand out quickly on a prewar car with such prominent wheel openings and upright proportions.

For most show purposes, keeping the La Salle in its proper 700-17 bias-ply family is the first step. From there, blackwall versus whitewall treatment should be chosen with the intended restoration theme in mind rather than personal preference alone. Event-specific standards vary, so owners aiming for high-level judging should confirm whether the class expects a particular sidewall style, reproduction look, or market-correct presentation before finalizing the tire choice.

For the 1933 La Salle in 700-17, Firestone Balloon tires are offered in both wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions, alongside a blackwall option. The wide whitewall version is listed at 31 pounds, while the double-whitewall version is listed at 35 pounds, and both carry the same 1480-pound maximum load at 36 psi on a 17-inch, 4-inch wheel fitment. Their core size and construction remain the same; the visible sidewall treatment is the main distinction.

That means the decision is largely about presentation rather than changing the car's base fitment. On a 1933 La Salle, sidewall treatment can significantly influence whether the car reads as formal, restrained, or more overtly luxurious from curb view. If the car is heading toward judged restoration, compare the visual choice against period photos, club guidance, and the exact look you want the La Salle to project.

1933 La Salle tires in this fitment are bias-ply products, and their suitability for highway use depends on the condition, age, inflation, and setup of the individual tire and wheel assembly. No speed-rating markings are provided in these 700-17 listings, so road use should be approached with the expectations appropriate to a prewar collector car rather than a modern touring vehicle. On a car of this age, the condition of the brakes, steering, suspension, and wheel hardware matters at least as much as the tire itself.

In practical use, a well-maintained La Salle on fresh, properly fitted tires can certainly be driven, but longer or faster trips call for a realistic approach. Prewar chassis behavior, stopping distances, and road feel are very different from modern cars, even when the tires are in excellent condition. A careful owner should match speed and route choice to the capabilities of the entire vehicle, not simply assume that new-looking tires alone make highway use worry-free.

Available 700-17 tires for the 1933 La Salle list maximum-load figures at 36 psi, including Firestone products rated at 1480 pounds at 36 psi and an Ensign B5 rated at 1901 pounds at 36 psi. Those numbers are tire ratings, not a universal instruction to inflate every La Salle tire to the same pressure in every driving condition. The proper operating pressure should be checked against the vehicle's original guidance and the chosen tire's manufacturer recommendations.

That distinction matters because load-and-pressure ratings tell you what the tire can carry at a stated maximum condition, not automatically what the car should run on the road. A lighter or differently equipped car may not need the same inflation level as the tire's maximum rating point. Start by identifying the exact tire on the car, then compare the manufacturer's pressure guidance with the La Salle's original specifications before setting final inflation.

Before a longer drive in a 1933 La Salle, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure every wheel fastener and valve stem is in sound condition. The spare should be checked as carefully as the four road tires because a collector-car spare is often older or less frequently inspected. Any sign of sidewall aging or pressure instability deserves attention before departure.

Tires are only one part of the preparation for a prewar car, so the broader mechanical condition should also be reviewed. Brake function, steering play, wheel-bearing feel, and general roadworthiness all matter on a 1933 La Salle whose systems operate very differently from a modern vehicle. A calm pre-drive inspection routine reduces surprises and helps the car behave as intended once it is out on the road for more than a short local trip.