Auburn 51 Series Tires

The Auburn 51 Series uses two listed tire sizes for 1935: 650-16 and 700-16. Both sizes are built for 16-inch rims, but they differ in nominal section width, with 650-16 representing the narrower fitment and 700-16 the wider one. Available products for both sizes are overwhelmingly bias-ply designs, with blackwall and wide whitewall options depending on the tire line.

That means the first step is not wheel diameter, since both sizes share a 16-inch rim, but determining which section width belongs on your specific Auburn 51 Series. Check the size on the tire already fitted, inspect wheel and fender clearance, and compare against period literature or an Auburn specialist if the car has been restored or modified over time.

On an Auburn 51 Series, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 650 indicates a nominal 6.50-inch section width, while the 16 indicates the rim diameter in inches. In the available Auburn 51 Series products, 650-16 tires are built for 16-inch wheels and commonly pair with rim widths around 4.50 to 5.00 inches.

For a restorer or driver, that decoding matters because 650-16 is not just a generic old-car number; it points to a specific width and wheel fitment. If your Auburn 51 Series currently wears 16-inch wheels but the body or suspension has changed, verify that the narrower 650-16 is the intended size before you match a full set.

A 1935 Auburn 51 Series has two listed sizes because the model line used more than one tire width within the same model year. Both listed sizes, 650-16 and 700-16, use the same 16-inch rim diameter, so the split is not a wheel-size change. It is a same-year configuration difference that can reflect body style, trim, or how a particular car was equipped.

That makes year alone too broad a guide for a final decision. If your Auburn 51 Series is already assembled, the most practical check is the size currently fitted and the wheel width it sits on. If the car is apart, use original specifications, photos, surviving wheels, and knowledgeable Auburn restoration sources to narrow the correct size before mounting tires.

The Auburn 51 Series tire sizes listed here are 650-16 and 700-16, and the available Auburn 51 Series products in those sizes are bias-ply tires. For traditional bias-ply collector fitments of this type, a tube is required. That applies especially to restored prewar wheels, where tire and wheel design were developed around tube-type service.

When fitting an Auburn 51 Series, tube choice should match the tire size and wheel condition rather than being treated as an afterthought. Old rims should be inspected for rust, pitting, burrs, or previous repairs before a new tube and flap are installed. A careful tube-type setup helps prevent chafing, slow leaks, and heat buildup on a car that may spend long periods in storage between drives.

To confirm the correct tire size for a 1935 Auburn 51 Series, start with the two listed options: 650-16 and 700-16. Both fit 16-inch wheels, so the deciding factor is which section width belongs on your specific car. Existing tires, wheel width, body clearance, spare-wheel fit, and period references all help separate the correct choice from a merely installable one.

A sound approach is to inspect every wheel on the car, including the spare, and see whether they are all the same width and style. If the Auburn 51 Series has passed through multiple restorations, do not assume the current tires are correct just because they fit. Matching the new tire to the actual wheel and the intended appearance of the finished car usually avoids the most expensive mistakes.

Auburn 51 Series tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The 650-16 offerings include both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, and the 700-16 offerings do as well. That gives restorers a choice between a more understated appearance and the brighter period look associated with many mid-1930s American cars.

Sidewall style should be chosen with the car’s intended presentation in mind rather than as a purely cosmetic afterthought. A blackwall can suit a more restrained or utilitarian restoration, while a wide whitewall usually delivers the stronger prewar luxury-car visual statement many owners want. If the Auburn 51 Series is being judged, compare the sidewall style to period photos and marque references before settling on a set.

Auburn 51 Series tire options here come from 8 brands: BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Avon, and Tornel are all represented across the listed products. The selections cover both 650-16 and 700-16 sizes, with some brands focused on classic passenger-car styling and others leaning toward military or truck-style tread patterns.

Brand choice on an Auburn 51 Series usually comes down to the look you want, the tread style you prefer, and whether the car is being restored for touring, display, or a more specialized use. It often makes sense to decide on the correct size first, then narrow the field by sidewall style and tire series so the finished car looks coherent from all four corners.

Auburn 51 Series products span several tire series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Excelsior Bias Ply, Traction Mileage, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, Firestone Classic Truck, Firestone Classic Military, and Military NDT. Those series separate broadly into classic passenger-car bias-ply designs, military-style patterns, and truck-oriented tread families. They also differ in sidewall treatment, with both blackwall and wide whitewall options present.

For most Auburn 51 Series passenger-car restorations, the classic bias-ply passenger series will be the natural starting point because they better match the car’s period character and appearance. Military and truck series may fit the size, but they deliver a different tread look and often a more utility-focused personality. Select the series with the intended use of the car in mind, not just the matching size number.

An Auburn 51 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Keep the tires properly inflated, and if the car will sit for a long period, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces prolonged flat-spotting. Prewar bias-ply tires are especially sensitive to age, storage conditions, and long stationary periods.

Practical storage care matters because many Auburn 51 Series cars spend far more time parked than driven. Clean the tires gently, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and keep them away from electric motors, welders, or other ozone-producing equipment. A car prepared this way is more likely to roll out without vibration, sidewall checking, or tube-related problems when driving season returns.

Tires on an Auburn 51 Series should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. Look for pressure loss, tread separation, sidewall cracking, uneven wear, and signs that a tube may be pinching or shifting inside the casing. Because the Auburn 51 Series is a prewar collector car, even small changes deserve attention sooner rather than later.

A brief walkaround before driving often catches problems that develop while the car is in storage. At a deeper inspection, check the spare as carefully as the road tires, since spares on collector cars are often old, neglected, and called into service unexpectedly. If the Auburn 51 Series has not been driven for months, an inspection before road use is far more important than tread depth alone.

Tires on an Auburn 51 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, impact damage, or persistent air loss appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out. On a prewar car, visible condition is only part of the story, because carcass age and storage history matter greatly to how the tire performs.

That is especially important on an Auburn 51 Series that sees only occasional use, where old tires can appear presentable while becoming structurally compromised. If a tire’s age is uncertain, have it evaluated by a specialist familiar with vintage construction. A conservative replacement schedule is usually wiser than trying to stretch service life on a heavy, valuable prewar automobile.

The Auburn 51 Series is associated here with two period-type sizes for 1935: 650-16 and 700-16. Available tire lines in those sizes include multiple classic bias-ply series, such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Bias Ply, and Deluxe All-Weather. That indicates more than one period-appropriate style exists for an Auburn 51 Series restoration.

The right original-style choice depends on how your specific Auburn 51 Series was equipped and how strictly you are restoring it. If you are pursuing factory-authentic presentation, compare the size and sidewall style against period photos, sales literature, and Auburn club resources. The closer the tire’s size, profile, and sidewall treatment are to the car’s original appearance, the more convincing the restoration will look.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how an Auburn 51 Series is judged and how seriously the restoration is taken. Size, sidewall style, tread character, and overall stance all influence whether the car presents as authentically prewar. A tire that is merely close in size can still alter proportions enough to stand out to experienced judges and marque enthusiasts.

For an Auburn 51 Series, the practical takeaway is that tire selection should be part of the restoration plan, not a final cosmetic choice. If the car is intended for shows, verify both the size and the visual style before committing to a set. Marque clubs, period photography, and restoration veterans are usually the best references when the goal is high-level authenticity rather than simple road use.

Auburn 51 Series tires are offered here in both blackwall and wide whitewall form, and either can fit the period depending on the look of the specific restoration. Wide whitewalls deliver the stronger 1930s luxury-car appearance, while blackwalls create a more restrained presentation. Since both styles exist in the available Auburn 51 Series sizes, the correct choice depends on how your particular car is being interpreted.

If the goal is concours-level accuracy, match the sidewall style to period imagery of the same Auburn 51 Series body and trim whenever possible. If the goal is a tasteful driver restoration, choose the style that best suits the car’s color, trim, and intended character. Getting that visual balance right can change the entire stance and personality of the finished automobile.

A properly fitted modern-production bias-ply tire in the correct Auburn 51 Series size can be suitable for public-road use when the car is mechanically sound and driven within the limits of a prewar automobile. The available Auburn 51 Series choices are largely period-style bias-ply designs, which preserve the car’s character but do not behave like modern radial passenger tires. Steering response, braking feel, and straight-line tracking will reflect that older construction style.

Road safety depends on the whole package, not the tire alone. Before regular driving, make sure the Auburn 51 Series has sound wheels, fresh tubes where required, correct inflation, and a chassis that has been inspected for steering, brake, and suspension condition. Treat the car as a prewar machine, leave extra stopping distance, and keep speeds conservative enough for both the tire design and the vehicle itself.

Before driving an Auburn 51 Series, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, visible tread damage, valve stems, and whether all four tires match in size and general type. On a tube-type prewar setup, also watch for slow leaks that may not be obvious until the car has sat for several days. A quick inspection of the spare is worthwhile too, since it may be needed far from home.

Beyond the tires, confirm that the Auburn 51 Series has dependable brakes, free steering movement, and no wheel fastener issues before setting out. If the car has been parked for an extended period, roll it slowly at first and feel for vibration or pull. Small checks made in the garage usually prevent the sort of roadside problem that can damage both the tire and the car.

An Auburn 51 Series on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at sensible, moderate speeds that respect both the car’s age and the behavior of vintage-type tire construction. Even with new reproduction tires, the driving experience remains that of a 1935 automobile rather than a modern car. Higher speed places more demand on steering, braking, heat management, and the general condition of every running-gear component.

The practical rule is to let the car’s stability, road surface, and mechanical condition set the pace rather than trying to match modern traffic flow. A well-sorted Auburn 51 Series is best enjoyed with smooth inputs, generous following distance, and modest cruising speeds. If the car feels nervous, wanders, or develops vibration, slow down and inspect the tire and chassis setup before continuing.