1936 Pierce Arrow Tire Fitment Guide

1936 Pierce Arrow vehicles use two tire sizes: 700-17 and 750-17. The 438 and 444 Series use 700-17, while the 447 and 538 Series and the 544 and 747 Series use 750-17. Both sizes mount on 17-inch rims. Listed rim-width coverage depends on the specific tire, with 700-17 products showing 3.5 to 4.0 inches and 4 inches, and 750-17 products showing 4 inches and 5.50 to 6.00 inches on the tires where rim-width guidance is given.

That means the first fitment step on a 1936 Pierce Arrow is identifying the correct series, not simply matching the year and make. Once the series is confirmed, the remaining choice is mostly about sidewall appearance and the exact product's wheel compatibility. On a prewar luxury car, the tire's visual proportion matters almost as much as the physical fit, so choosing the right size preserves both stance and authenticity.

On a 1936 Pierce Arrow, 700-17 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The "700" identifies the tire in the older prewar sizing system by nominal section width rather than with a modern metric measurement, and the "17" is the rim diameter in inches. It is a bias-ply construction size used on the 438 and 444 Series rather than across the entire 1936 Pierce Arrow lineup.

Modern buyers sometimes expect a size code to reveal every dimension the way a P-metric radial does, but prewar numeric sizes work differently. On a 1936 Pierce Arrow, the important takeaway is that 700-17 is the smaller of the two year-make sizes and belongs to the 438 and 444 cars specifically. If your series plate or existing tire points you to 700-17, compare the wheel against the product's listed rim-width range before settling on a specific tire.

No, 1936 Pierce Arrow models do not all use the same tire size. The 438 and 444 Series use 700-17, while the 447 and 538 Series and the 544 and 747 Series use 750-17. All of them share a 17-inch rim diameter, but the section size differs by series group, so the year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly.

That split matters because many Pierce Arrow collectors encounter cars that have changed hands, changed wheels, or simply wear old tires that are hard to read. Confirming the series designation first keeps the search on track and helps the car keep its intended prewar proportions. It also prevents a common mistake on large luxury cars: choosing a tire that technically mounts on the rim but does not match the original scale of the body and chassis.

1936 Pierce Arrow tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, depending on the size and brand. In 700-17, Firestone and Ensign offerings include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall choices. In 750-17, Firestone and BFGoodrich offerings also cover blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. All of these are bias-ply tires, which is consistent with a 1936 luxury-car application.

The right sidewall style depends on how you want the car to present itself. Blackwalls usually suit a more restrained or touring-oriented look, while whitewall treatments tend to emphasize the formal, high-end appearance associated with premium American prewar cars. For judged restoration work, sidewall width and style can matter nearly as much as the size itself, so it is worth checking period photos and marque references for the specific presentation you want.

Firestone, Ensign, and BFGoodrich all have tires for 1936 Pierce Arrow applications. The 700-17 size is offered by Firestone and Ensign, while the 750-17 size is offered by Firestone and BFGoodrich. Every listed option for these sizes uses bias-ply construction, which fits the period character of a 1936 Pierce Arrow.

Brand choice at this level usually comes down to the exact size you need, the sidewall style you want, and whether a particular product's rim-width guidance matches your wheels. On a prewar collector car, many buyers also weigh visual details such as tread character and whitewall presentation alongside the brand name. Once the correct series and size are settled, comparing brand offerings within that size is the most useful next step.

In 700-17 for 1936 Pierce Arrow applications, Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 differ in sidewall options, listed rim-width fitment, weight, and load rating. Firestone Balloon appears in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions with a listed 4-inch rim and a 1480-pound load rating at 36 psi, with weights ranging from 28 to 35 pounds depending on the version. Ensign B5 is listed as a blackwall tire with a 3.5 to 4.0-inch rim-width range, a 1,901-pound load rating at 36 psi, and a 30-pound weight.

Those differences matter most when you are matching the wheel you have and the look you want. A buyer restoring a car around a strong visual whitewall statement may lean toward the Firestone choices, while someone prioritizing a blackwall presentation with a slightly broader listed rim-width range may focus on the Ensign. Either way, the comparison should be made within the 700-17 size only, because that size belongs to the 438 and 444 Series.

Rim-width requirements on 1936 Pierce Arrow tires depend on the size and the exact product. In 700-17, listed fitments include 4-inch rims and a 3.5 to 4.0-inch range. In 750-17, listed fitments include 4-inch rims and a 5.50 to 6.00-inch range on certain products. All of the listed tires use 17-inch rim diameter, but width compatibility still needs to be matched to the individual tire.

That is especially important on prewar cars, where surviving wheels may not be identical from car to car after decades of service and restoration work. A 17-inch diameter match does not automatically make every tire suitable for every wheel. Before choosing a tire for a 1936 Pierce Arrow, compare the actual wheel width against the product's stated rim-width guidance so the tire's shape and support are appropriate for the wheel it will run on.

Original 1936 Pierce Arrow wheels can often be used with the correct tire size for the series because both 700-17 and 750-17 mount on 17-inch rims. That said, 700-17 belongs to the 438 and 444 Series, while 750-17 belongs to the 447 and 538 Series and the 544 and 747 Series. Rim diameter compatibility is shared, but tire width and product-specific rim-width requirements still need to line up with the actual wheel.

In practical terms, the 17-inch commonality is helpful, but it should not be treated as permission to swap sizes freely from one series to another. Pierce Arrow's larger series were meant to carry a larger tire, and that affects both appearance and setup. If a car has been restored long ago or assembled from mixed parts, measure the wheel and confirm the series before assuming an existing 17-inch wheel is the right match for either size.

A stored 1936 Pierce Arrow should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls. Because 1936 Pierce Arrow tires are bias-ply, they are especially prone to taking a temporary set if the car sits in one position for long periods. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and protection from standing moisture all help preserve the tires and the wheels they are mounted on.

Owners who store a Pierce Arrow for months at a time should either move the car periodically or use stands in a way that takes sustained load off the tires without stressing the chassis. Maintaining correct inflation during storage also helps reduce flat-spotting. When the car returns to service, allow a little driving time for any temporary bias-ply flat spot to work itself out before judging ride quality.

Tires on a 1936 Pierce Arrow should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often accumulate very little yearly use. A sound rule is to begin close inspection and replacement planning once a tire reaches the five- to seven-year range, and to give serious replacement consideration at around ten years regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code, overall storage history, and visible sidewall condition are more meaningful than the odometer on a low-use prewar car.

That matters because a 1936 Pierce Arrow may appear road-ready while still wearing tires that have aged out chemically. Sidewall cracking, hardening, or repeated air loss can end the useful life well before the tread looks worn. If the car is driven only to shows or local events, it is easy to overlook tire age, so keeping a written record of installation dates is one of the simplest ways to avoid running old bias-ply tires past their sensible service window.

Tires on a 1936 Pierce Arrow should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look closely for sidewall cracking, cuts, tread separation signs, irregular wear, embedded objects, and pressure loss. Since these are bias-ply tires on a heavy prewar luxury car, changes in shape or stance can also be meaningful. The spare should be checked on the same schedule so it is usable if needed.

A short local drive may hide a problem that becomes serious at road speed or after heat builds in the casing. Regular inspection also helps you catch wheel or alignment issues early, since uneven wear patterns often show up in the tire first. On a collector car that sits often, inspection is less about mileage intervals and more about developing a pre-drive ritual that treats the tires as a critical part of the car's overall readiness.

A 1936 Pierce Arrow 438 and 444 Series would have been fitted with bias-ply tires, and the size used for that series is 700-17. Bias-ply construction was the standard for American luxury cars of this period, so staying with a bias-ply tire is the historically appropriate path for a restoration-minded owner. Sidewall treatment could vary by presentation and market expectations, but the construction type and correct series size are the first authenticity checkpoints.

For a car being restored to a specific delivery appearance, it is wise to compare surviving photos, factory literature, and Pierce Arrow club guidance before choosing between blackwall and whitewall styles. A concours judge will usually notice an incorrect size or modern-looking presentation more quickly than a subtle brand difference. If your goal is strict originality, start with the 700-17 bias-ply fitment and then refine the sidewall look to suit the exact car.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1936 Pierce Arrow because size, construction type, and sidewall presentation all influence whether the car looks convincingly period-correct. A 438 or 444 Series shown on 750-17 tires, or a larger series shown on 700-17, can look visibly out of proportion even before a judge studies details. On a prewar luxury car, the tire is part of the car's stance and formality, not just a mechanical consumable.

For judged events, the safest approach is to match the car to its proper series size first and then choose a sidewall style that aligns with the restoration theme. Event standards can vary, especially between preservation, touring, and concours circles, so marque clubs and event rules remain the best final check. Getting the tire right helps the whole car read correctly, from wheel opening fill to the visual balance of the body.

In 750-17 for 1936 Pierce Arrow applications, Firestone Balloon and BFGoodrich differ in sidewall versions, listed load and pressure figures, weight, and rim-width guidance where specified. Firestone Balloon appears in blackwall and double-whitewall form with a 4-inch rim listing and a 1,870-pound load rating at 40 psi, with weights of 30 and 41 pounds depending on version. BFGoodrich appears as a blackwall tire and as a 4.50-inch wide whitewall, with the whitewall version listing 1,646 pounds at 36 psi, a 5.50 to 6.00-inch rim-width range, and a 45-pound weight.

That means the choice is not only visual. A restorer may compare the desired sidewall treatment against the actual wheel on the car, especially where BFGoodrich's listed rim-width range differs from Firestone's. Since 750-17 belongs to the larger Pierce Arrow series groups, preserving the proper visual fullness is important, but so is matching the tire to the wheel already on the car rather than assuming every 17-inch wheel is interchangeable.

1936 Pierce Arrow tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in sound condition, correctly fitted, properly inflated, and used with respect for the characteristics of bias-ply construction. The available sizes here are all bias-ply, and no speed ratings are listed for these products. On a prewar luxury car, overall mechanical condition often matters just as much as the tire itself, because braking, steering, suspension, and road manners come from an era with very different design expectations than modern traffic.

The practical takeaway is to treat highway driving as a whole-vehicle decision rather than a tire-only question. A well-sorted Pierce Arrow on fresh, correct-size tires can be an enjoyable road car, but it should be driven within the comfort zone of the car and its setup. Before longer or faster trips, confirm pressures, inspect the sidewalls and tread, and make sure the car tracks properly and responds predictably at lower speeds first.

Inflation pressure on 1936 Pierce Arrow tires should be guided first by the vehicle's original specifications and then checked against the tire's own load-and-pressure rating. In the available products, 700-17 examples include 1,480 pounds at 36 psi and 1,901 pounds at 36 psi, while 750-17 examples include 1,870 pounds at 40 psi and 1,646 pounds at 36 psi on certain products. Those figures are product-specific maximum load and pressure references, not a universal running pressure for every Pierce Arrow tire.

That distinction matters because two tires in the same size can carry different load and pressure listings. The best approach is to use the factory recommendation for the car as your starting point, then verify that the tire selected supports the vehicle's needs within its own rated range. Do not transfer a pressure figure from 700-17 to 750-17, or from one brand to another, without checking the exact tire that will be mounted.

Before taking a 1936 Pierce Arrow on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign that the casing has shifted or the tread is separating. Check cold inflation pressure, make sure each wheel fastener is secure, and confirm the spare is inflated and serviceable. Because these cars are heavy prewar automobiles, any weakness in the tire or wheel assembly becomes more serious once heat and load build over distance.

That tire check should sit alongside a broader pre-drive review of brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluid levels, and cooling system health. A Pierce Arrow that only sees occasional use can feel fine on a short local outing yet reveal age-related issues on a sustained trip. Giving the tires a careful inspection before departure is one of the simplest ways to reduce risk while also protecting a rare car from avoidable roadside trouble.