1933 Reo Tire Fitment Guide

1933 Reo vehicles use three sizes across two model lines: 550-17 and 6.00-17 for the 1933 Reo 6 Cyl., and 700-18 for the 1933 Reo 8 Cyl. The six-cylinder cars use 17-inch tires, while the eight-cylinder cars use 18-inch tires. Among the listed products, 700-18 fits rims measuring 3.75 to 4.00 inches wide, and that size is the only one here with a published rim-width range.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1933 Reo. Start by identifying whether your car is a 6 Cyl. or 8 Cyl., then confirm the wheel diameter on the car before deciding between the sizes associated with that model. If you are working with an older restoration, it is also wise to compare the tire size already fitted to the car with the wheel itself rather than relying only on memory or paperwork.

On a 1933 Reo, 550-17 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 550 designation refers to a nominal section-width class used in period tire sizing, and the 17 identifies a 17-inch rim diameter. It is not a modern metric code and does not read the same way as a later radial size such as 205/75R15.

That matters because a 550-17 should be matched to the proper six-cylinder Reo application rather than treated like a modern tire with interchangeable metric equivalents. Owners usually encounter this size when preserving a pre-war look and wheel setup. If your car is a 1933 Reo 6 Cyl., 550-17 is one of the two period-style 17-inch options to compare against the actual wheel and the existing tire size on the car.

No. The 1933 Reo 6 Cyl. uses 550-17 or 6.00-17, while the 1933 Reo 8 Cyl. uses 700-18. All three are bias-ply sizes, but they are not interchangeable across the model range because the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder cars do not share the same rim diameter.

That split is typical of the era, when a make could offer materially different wheel and tire packages between more modest and more upscale models. For a buyer today, the practical lesson is simple: confirm the model first, then confirm the wheel diameter, and only then decide which sidewall style or product line best suits the car's restoration goals.

If your 1933 Reo is a 6 Cyl., both 550-17 and 6.00-17 are period-style bias-ply fitments associated with that model. The choice is not between bias-ply and radial construction here, since both sizes stay true to early-1930s tire design. The real question is which size matches the wheel and the established fitment on your specific car.

A car restored for authenticity may already point you toward the correct size through old tires, wheel measurements, restoration records, or marque knowledge. Because both sizes mount on 17-inch wheels, it is easy to assume they are interchangeable, but the safer approach is to verify the exact size your six-cylinder Reo was set up to use before committing to a new set.

1933 Reo tires are available in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall styles within the listed product range. The 550-17 size for the six-cylinder model includes all three styles from BFGoodrich, and 700-18 for the eight-cylinder model is also offered in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions from Firestone. Those choices let owners tune the finished appearance without changing the underlying pre-war bias-ply character.

For a formal restoration, sidewall style can influence how authentic the car looks just as much as the size itself. Blackwalls often suit more restrained presentations, while whitewall treatments can better match upscale or more visually expressive builds from the period. Event rules and surviving period photography are good references when you want the car to look right for its market and trim.

BFGoodrich and Firestone both have offerings for 1933 Reo vehicles, but they apply to different sizes. BFGoodrich covers the 550-17 size used on the 1933 Reo 6 Cyl., while Firestone covers the 700-18 size used on the 1933 Reo 8 Cyl. Each brand stays within the bias-ply construction expected for a car of this era.

Brand choice on a 1933 Reo is tied first to size and model, not simply personal preference. Once you know the correct size, you can compare the available sidewall looks within that size and decide which presentation best supports the car's restoration style. On pre-war cars, many owners choose as much for period appearance and marque-appropriate character as for the name on the sidewall.

Published rim-width guidance appears here for the 700-18 size used on the 1933 Reo 8 Cyl., and that size is listed for rims measuring 3.75 to 4.00 inches wide. The 17-inch six-cylinder sizes are identified by rim diameter, but the available products shown for 550-17 do not add a rim-width range. Wheel condition and exact dimensions still matter on any 1933 Reo because these are pre-war fitments with little margin for assumption.

If you own an eight-cylinder car, compare your wheel width directly against the 700-18 range before selecting a tire. On a six-cylinder car, verify the actual wheel and existing fitment before deciding between 550-17 and 6.00-17. Measuring the wheel during restoration or while the old tires are off is usually the cleanest way to avoid size confusion on a car this old.

The listed 1933 Reo products are bias-ply tires, but the individual size descriptions here do not carry a uniform tube-type or tubeless marking in the visible size line. That means tube requirements should be confirmed on the specific tire you choose and matched to the wheel design on your 1933 Reo, especially because original 1933 wheels were designed in a very different era from later tubeless passenger-car rims.

On a pre-war car, tube fitment is usually part of the wheel-and-tire package rather than an afterthought. Before mounting, confirm whether the selected product is intended for tube use and inspect the wheel for condition, cleanliness, and suitability. If your car still uses original-style rims, a vintage tire specialist or marque expert can help confirm the correct tube setup for that exact wheel.

Original 1933 Reo wheels cannot be assumed to work with all three listed tire sizes because the model range is split between 17-inch and 18-inch applications. The 1933 Reo 6 Cyl. uses 17-inch sizes, while the 1933 Reo 8 Cyl. uses 700-18 on an 18-inch rim. Rim diameter alone prevents direct interchange across the full lineup.

A six-cylinder owner may be comparing two 17-inch sizes on the same general wheel diameter, but an eight-cylinder owner needs the larger 18-inch fitment. Before reusing original wheels, inspect them for damage, confirm the wheel diameter stamped or measured at the bead seat, and make sure the tire size you select matches the actual model and wheel on the car rather than another 1933 Reo in the same family.

A stored 1933 Reo should be kept away from direct sunlight, standing moisture, and ozone sources such as electric motors, battery chargers, and furnaces. Bias-ply tires, like the sizes used on 1933 Reo models, can flat-spot more readily during long static periods and are especially sensitive to age-related sidewall cracking when storage conditions are poor. Clean, dry floors and stable temperatures help preserve both the tire carcass and the sidewall appearance.

If the car will sit for extended periods, keep the tires properly inflated and move the car occasionally to change the contact patch. Some owners also use stands during long-term storage to reduce constant load on the tires and suspension. Whatever method you use, inspect the sidewalls before returning the car to service, since pre-war bias-ply tires can look acceptable at a glance while still developing age-related issues.

On a 1933 Reo, tire life is usually judged more by age and storage history than by miles driven. Collector-car tires should be evaluated regularly once they reach the five- to seven-year range, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration around ten years regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code and the tire's overall condition are more useful guides than tread depth alone on a low-use pre-war car.

A lightly driven car can still age out its tires long before it wears them out. Sidewall cracking, hardening rubber, persistent air loss, and structural changes all matter more than odometer use in this setting. If your 1933 Reo spends much of its life parked for shows, local drives, or seasonal outings, make age-based inspection a normal part of your maintenance plan.

Tires on a 1933 Reo should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and pressure loss, and do not forget the spare. Because these are pre-war bias-ply applications, even a car that sees only occasional road use can develop condition problems that are easy to miss between events.

A more thorough inspection at regular service intervals is also worthwhile, especially after the car has been in storage. Check valve stems, wheel condition, and the overall way the tire is sitting on the rim. If your final setup uses tubes, include tube-related leakage and stem condition in your routine, since an otherwise attractive old-style tire package can still be sidelined by a small air-retention issue.

A 1933 Reo 6 Cyl. would have been fitted with bias-ply tires, because that was the standard passenger-car construction of the period. Within the 1933 Reo six-cylinder range here, the associated sizes are 550-17 and 6.00-17, both on 17-inch wheels. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer, or period replacement history, so size and construction are the first authenticity checkpoints.

For a careful restoration, confirm which of the two six-cylinder sizes belongs on your particular car before choosing a sidewall style. Surviving factory literature, unrestored examples, and marque-club guidance are useful for narrowing the correct presentation when details matter. If the goal is judged authenticity, preserving the proper early-1930s bias-ply look is usually more important than chasing a modern substitute size.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1933 Reo, especially in preservation-oriented or concours-style settings. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the car carries the proper size family for its model, whether the construction matches the period, and whether the sidewall treatment suits the era and character of the vehicle. A 17-inch six-cylinder Reo wearing an eight-cylinder 18-inch size would stand out immediately as incorrect.

That does not mean every event uses the same standards, but the closer the car stays to its year-correct size, construction, and appearance, the stronger the presentation usually becomes. Owners building for formal judging should compare their tire choice against period photos, marque references, and event rules. On a pre-war independent make like Reo, those small details can make a restoration feel convincingly right.

For the 1933 Reo 8 Cyl. in 700-18, Firestone offers both Balloon and Classic Bias Ply series products. The Balloon versions shown include Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall styles, carry a listed load capacity of 1520 pounds at 36 psi, fit 3.75 to 4.00 inch rims, and range from 26 to 35 pounds depending on sidewall treatment. The Firestone Classic Bias Ply option in the same size is also a Blackwall with the same listed load and rim-width range, at 29 pounds.

That means the practical distinction is less about fitment and more about series character and appearance within the same 700-18 application. An owner can keep the correct size and construction while choosing the version that best matches the car's visual goal. When two products share the same basic fitment specs, sidewall style and overall restoration theme usually become the deciding factors.

1933 Reo tires can be appropriate for road use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition, but they are bias-ply tires from a pre-war fitment tradition rather than modern radial touring tires. No speed ratings are shown in the listed size markings here, so the safer approach is to drive within the mechanical comfort zone of a 1933 automobile rather than treating the tire as the only limiting factor. On cars of this age, brakes, steering, suspension, and overall condition matter at least as much as the tire itself.

For normal collector-car use, conservative speeds and careful inspection habits are the right mindset. A properly sorted 1933 Reo can be enjoyed on public roads, but long high-speed runs ask more of the entire vehicle than of the tire alone. Before extended highway use, make sure the tires are fresh enough, the wheels are sound, and the rest of the car is prepared for sustained driving.

Inflation pressure on a 1933 Reo should follow the factory recommendation for the vehicle and the operating limits of the exact tire chosen. Among the listed products, 700-18 carries a published maximum load capacity of 1520 pounds at 36 psi. That figure is a tire rating reference, not a blanket instruction to inflate every 1933 Reo tire to the same pressure, and it should not be transferred to the 17-inch six-cylinder sizes.

The best practice is to start with the vehicle's original pressure guidance when available, then make sure the chosen tire's own rated limits are respected. Inflation affects ride, wear, and handling feel on any old car, and pre-war bias-ply tires can react noticeably to even modest pressure changes. Keep a consistent gauge in the garage and check pressures cold before driving.

Before a longer drive in a 1933 Reo, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and check that the spare is usable as well. Make sure the wheel hardware is secure and the valve stems are in good shape, especially if the final setup includes tubes. A pre-war car that has been sitting can look ready while still hiding age-related tire issues that only show up once heat and road speed are introduced.

Treat the tires as one part of a broader pre-drive mechanical inspection. Confirm steering feel, brake response, wheel-bearing condition, and suspension tightness before asking the car to cover real distance. On a 1933 Reo, confidence on the road comes from the whole package working together, and tire condition is one of the easiest places to catch trouble before it turns into a roadside problem.