1933 Studebaker Tire Fitment Guide

1933 Studebaker vehicles use four different tire sizes across four model lines: 550-17 for the 6 Cyl., 6.00-17 for the Commander 73, 6.50-17 for the President, and 700-17 for the SPD President. Every one of those sizes is a bias-ply fitment and mounts on a 17-inch rim. Rim width guidance appears in the available product range for 700-17, where applications span 4-inch rims and 3.5-to-4.0-inch rim widths depending on the product.

The practical takeaway is that 1933 Studebaker fitment depends on identifying the exact model, not just the year and make. Since all four sizes share the same rim diameter, confusion usually comes from the numeric size itself rather than from the wheel diameter. If your car has had wheel changes over the years, compare the installed size and wheel to the model-specific fitment before selecting a replacement.

On a 1933 Studebaker, 550-17 is an older numeric bias-ply tire size. The 550 portion is a nominal section-width designation used in period sizing, and the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not follow the same labeling style as later radial tires.

That matters because a 550-17 should be matched to the correct model application rather than treated as a generic 17-inch tire. On 1933 Studebaker, that size belongs to the 6 Cyl. model. If your goal is a faithful pre-war appearance, the old numeric format is part of that period-correct look, especially when paired with the sidewall style that fits the car’s restoration theme.

No, 1933 Studebaker models do not all use the same tire size. The 6 Cyl. uses 550-17, the Commander 73 uses 6.00-17, the President uses 6.50-17, and the SPD President uses 700-17. All four are bias-ply tires on 17-inch rims, but the size itself changes from one model to the next.

That model-by-model variation is typical of pre-war lineups where more senior cars often carried larger tire sizes. If you are unsure whether your car is a standard President or an SPD President, resolve that first before choosing a tire. A shared 17-inch rim diameter does not make the four sizes interchangeable from a restoration or fitment standpoint.

1933 Studebaker tires are available in several sidewall styles within the sizes that have product coverage here. The 550-17 range includes Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall choices from BFGoodrich, and 700-17 is also offered in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions from Firestone and Ensign. Those style differences change the visual character of the car far more than the driving feel, since the available products remain bias-ply constructions.

For a pre-war Studebaker, sidewall style is often as important to the finished look as the size itself. Blackwalls generally suit more restrained presentations, while whitewall variants create a more formal or deluxe appearance. The right choice depends on how your particular car is being restored and the look you want on the completed vehicle.

Three brands appear in the available 1933 Studebaker tire range: BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Ensign. BFGoodrich covers the 550-17 size, while Firestone and Ensign appear in 700-17. All of those offerings are bias-ply tires, which aligns with the construction style expected for a 1933 American car.

Brand choice comes after model and size confirmation, not before it. A 6 Cyl. owner looking at 550-17 will be choosing among BFGoodrich sidewall variations, while an SPD President owner in 700-17 can compare Firestone and Ensign offerings. Once size is settled, brand and sidewall style become the main deciding factors for appearance and presentation.

Within the 700-17 size used on the 1933 Studebaker SPD President, Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 products differ in sidewall selections, listed rim-width fitment, weight, and load figures. Firestone Balloon appears in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions, generally for 4-inch rims, with a listed load of 1480 pounds at 36 psi. The Ensign B5 appears here as a Blackwall tire for 3.5-to-4.0-inch rims, with a listed load of 1,901 pounds at 36 psi.

Those distinctions mean the comparison is less about one tire replacing the other outright and more about matching the product to your wheel and presentation goals. If your SPD President is being finished with a whitewall look, Firestone offers more visual options in this size. If your wheel width falls within the broader 3.5-to-4.0-inch range shown on the Ensign, that fitment detail may matter during selection.

Rim width guidance is available here for the 700-17 size used on the 1933 Studebaker SPD President. Firestone Balloon versions are listed for 4-inch rims, while the Ensign B5 in the same size is listed for 3.5-to-4.0-inch rims. All of the year’s sizes mount on 17-inch rims, but rim-width details should still be checked against the actual wheel before final selection.

That check matters most on cars that may have had wheel swaps during a long restoration history. Even when the diameter is correct, an old wheel can differ in width or contour from what a reproduction tire expects. Measure the wheel, confirm the model-specific tire size, and then match the product to the wheel specification rather than assuming every 17-inch pre-war wheel is the same.

Original 1933 Studebaker wheels can only be used with all listed tire sizes if they are the correct 17-inch wheels for the specific model and if the wheel width suits the tire being chosen. Every size in this lineup uses a 17-inch rim, so the basic diameter is consistent across the year. That said, the cars do not share a single universal tire size, and 700-17 products in particular show rim-width requirements that should be confirmed carefully.

For buyers sorting through parts cars or mixed components, that means a 17-inch wheel is only the starting point. A President or SPD President should not be treated like a 6 Cyl. simply because both use 17-inch tires. Verify the wheel on the car, verify the model, and then match the tire to both before moving ahead with a replacement set.

A 1933 Studebaker should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber prematurely. Since the fitments used here are bias-ply tires, long static storage can also encourage flat-spotting more readily than many later radial designs. Keeping the tires properly inflated during storage helps protect both casing shape and sidewall condition.

If the car sits for long periods, roll it periodically or place it on stands in a way that supports the vehicle safely and avoids leaving full weight on one contact patch for months at a time. Clean, dry floors are preferable to damp ground, and a quick visual inspection before and after storage periods helps catch early cracking before it becomes a road-going issue.

On a 1933 Studebaker, tire life should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage alone. Collector-car tires are commonly evaluated closely once they reach the five-to-seven-year range, and many owners treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if tread wear is still light. The DOT date code on the tire remains the best guide to actual age when the tire is a modern reproduction.

That approach is especially important for cars that spend more time parked than driven. Rubber hardens, sidewalls can crack, and internal aging continues whether the car sees long tours or only occasional events. A low-mileage pre-war Studebaker can still need fresh tires simply because time, storage conditions, and heat cycles have done more damage than road use ever did.

Tires on a 1933 Studebaker should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, bulges, cuts, uneven wear, and pressure loss, all of which matter on an older collector car with bias-ply construction. A spare tire should be checked as well, because it may be older than the tires on the ground and easy to overlook.

Short local drives can hide problems that become obvious only when speed and heat build over distance. Regular inspection lets you catch aging or damage before it strands the car or harms an original wheel. If the car has been parked through a season, make the inspection part of the recommissioning routine rather than assuming the tires are fine because the tread still looks presentable.

A 1933 Studebaker 6 Cyl. would originally have used a bias-ply tire in its correct period size, and the listed fitment for that model is 550-17. That aligns with normal American passenger-car practice in 1933, when bias-ply construction was standard and modern radial sizing was still decades away. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer, and replacement history, so the key authenticity point is the correct size and construction type first.

For a faithful restoration, start by matching the proper 550-17 bias-ply format and then choose the sidewall look that suits the way your car is being presented. If you are preparing the car for judged competition, consult a Studebaker marque specialist or club resource to confirm whether your exact body style and delivery market are expected to wear blackwalls or a whitewall variation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1933 Studebaker because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall style quickly. A pre-war Studebaker presented with the wrong model-specific size can look visibly off, and a modern-looking construction style would also stand out on a car from 1933. Even when the wheel diameter is right, the tire’s proportions and sidewall treatment influence how authentic the car appears.

For that reason, owners should treat tire selection as part of the restoration, not as an afterthought. Match the tire size to the exact model first, then choose a sidewall treatment that fits the car’s intended presentation. Event rules can vary, so a marque club or judging guide is the best place to confirm whether your class expects strict originality or allows tasteful period-style substitutions.

For the 1933 Studebaker 6 Cyl. in 550-17, the BFGoodrich offerings share the same bias-ply construction, size, 17-inch rim diameter, and listed weight, but differ in sidewall presentation. The available versions are Blackwall, 3.25 Inch Whitewall, and 3.25 Inch Double Whitewall. That means the primary difference is visual style rather than a change in tire format or fitment.

Choosing among them comes down to how original or formal you want the finished car to look. A blackwall generally gives a more restrained pre-war appearance, while a whitewall or double-whitewall creates a dressier visual statement. On a restoration with strong attention to period details, that sidewall decision can influence the overall character of the car just as much as paint or trim choices.

1933 Studebaker tires can be used for highway driving when they are in sound condition, properly inflated, and matched to the correct wheel and model application. The available products here are bias-ply tires, and the listed sizes do not show modern speed-letter markings in the way later radial products often do. On a car from 1933, the broader mechanical condition of the vehicle, including steering, brakes, suspension, and wheel integrity, is just as important as the tire itself.

That means safety is less about chasing a modern high-speed expectation and more about respecting the vehicle as a pre-war automobile. A well-sorted Studebaker driven within sensible limits can tour reliably, but an old or damaged tire should never be trusted simply because it still holds air. Inspect carefully, keep pressures consistent, and treat the tire as one part of the whole roadworthiness picture.

Inflation pressure for 1933 Studebaker tires should follow the vehicle’s original recommendations for the exact model and the tire manufacturer’s guidance for the product being used. In the available 700-17 range, Firestone products list 1480 pounds at 36 psi and the Ensign B5 lists 1,901 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are rated load-and-pressure references for that size and product, not a blanket instruction to apply one pressure across every 1933 Studebaker tire size.

Use the owner’s manual or trusted marque literature to establish the car’s intended operating pressure, then compare that with the tire maker’s rating for the exact tire on the car. Avoid transferring a pressure number from a larger SPD President tire to a smaller 6 Cyl. fitment. Correct pressure affects handling, ride quality, casing life, and the way a bias-ply tire sits on the road.

Before a longer drive in a 1933 Studebaker, inspect each tire for cracks, cuts, bulges, tread separation, and uneven wear, and confirm that all tires including the spare are holding proper pressure. Since these are pre-war bias-ply fitments, also look closely at the sidewalls for age-related dryness and at the wheels for any signs of corrosion or damage that could affect bead seating. Valve stems should be in good condition and free from cracking.

Tire checks should be part of a larger pre-drive routine on a car of this age. Wheel bearing condition, brake adjustment, steering play, and suspension integrity all influence how safely the car uses its tires on the road. A careful inspection before departure is especially important if the Studebaker has been stored for an extended period or has not recently seen sustained driving speed.