Auburn 85 Series Tires

The Auburn 85 Series uses two listed tire sizes for 1930: 28X5.50 and 550-18. The 28X5.50 fitment corresponds to a 23-inch rim, while 550-18 fits an 18-inch rim. Both belong to the same model year, but they are not interchangeable because the wheel diameters are different.

The practical step is to inspect the wheels already on the car and verify the rim diameter before choosing between the two sizes. If the car wears 18-inch wheels, the correct path is 550-18; if it carries the larger rim associated with the antique-format fitment, the correct path is 28X5.50. On a restored Auburn 85 Series, wheel swaps over the years are common enough that the actual car matters more than the year alone.

On an Auburn 85 Series, 28X5.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 28 refers to the tire’s approximate outside diameter in inches, not the wheel diameter, and the 5.50 refers to the section width. For this Auburn 85 Series fitment, the matching rim diameter is 23 inches.

That distinction matters because a buyer could easily mistake 28 for the wheel size, which would be incorrect. When an Auburn 85 Series is fitted with antique-format sizing, always identify the actual rim diameter from the wheel itself and then match it to the appropriate tire. Because this is a bias-ply type fitment, inner tubes are part of the installation plan as well.

A 1930 Auburn 85 Series has two tire sizes listed because the fitments split by wheel diameter. One listing uses 28X5.50 on a 23-inch rim, while the other uses 550-18 on an 18-inch rim. The difference is not just a naming variation; it reflects two distinct wheel and tire combinations.

The important takeaway is that year alone is not enough to select the right tire for a 1930 Auburn 85 Series. You should confirm the rim diameter on the car and compare the overall wheel setup to original restoration records, period photos, or marque references. That extra step prevents ordering a tire that matches the year but not the wheels actually fitted to the car.

The Auburn 85 Series uses two rim diameters within the 1930 fitments: 23 inches with 28X5.50 and 18 inches with 550-18. The 18-inch rim is stated directly by the numeric size, while the 23-inch rim for 28X5.50 comes from the matching fitment rather than the size code itself. That is why the two listings must be treated separately.

If you are checking an Auburn 85 Series in the garage, measure or confirm the wheel diameter before doing anything else. Antique-format sizes can be misleading to modern buyers because the first number refers to overall tire diameter, not the wheel. Once the rim diameter is confirmed, the correct size path becomes much clearer.

To confirm the correct tire size for a 1930 Auburn 85 Series, start with the wheel diameter. The listed choices are 28X5.50 for a 23-inch rim and 550-18 for an 18-inch rim, so the wheel itself immediately narrows the selection. Both sizes belong to the same model year, which makes physical verification especially important.

After confirming rim diameter, compare the car’s current wheels, restoration paperwork, and any surviving period references tied to that specific Auburn 85 Series. If the car has been restored over several decades, do not assume the tire size now on the car is automatically correct. Matching the wheel diameter first, then checking the broader configuration, is the safest route to an accurate fitment decision.

For the Auburn 85 Series 550-18 fitment, available sidewall styles include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. Those options appear across several bias-ply products from Excelsior, Firestone, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. The sidewall choice affects the finished look of the car as much as the tread and construction style do.

On a collector Auburn 85 Series, sidewall style should be chosen to suit the restoration goal as well as the wheel size. A blackwall usually gives the most restrained appearance, while whitewall and double-whitewall styles create a more formal, period luxury presentation. If authenticity matters, compare the sidewall treatment to photos, judging standards, or club guidance for your specific Auburn 85 Series configuration.

Available Auburn 85 Series products in the listed fitments come from Excelsior, Firestone, BFGoodrich, and Michelin. Within 550-18, those brands cover several bias-ply offerings and more than one sidewall style. Brand choice here is less about modern marketing categories and more about selecting the combination of appearance, series, and period character that suits the car.

A good approach is to decide what matters most for your Auburn 85 Series: a particular sidewall treatment, a familiar historic brand, or a specific tire series. Once the wheel diameter and size are confirmed, the brand decision becomes much easier because you can compare products within the correct fitment rather than across incompatible wheel sizes.

The listed Auburn 85 Series products include several tire series: Excelsior Comp H, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Michelin Double Rivet. All of the available products shown for 550-18 are bias-ply tires, but the series differ in brand identity, tread presentation, and sidewall options. That gives buyers more than one period-style path within the same basic size.

For an Auburn 85 Series restoration, the right series depends on whether the priority is a specific visual character, a preferred historic brand, or a certain sidewall style. A blackwall Comp H will present differently from a wide-white Firestone or a Silvertown whitewall even though the base size is the same. Once fitment is confirmed, the series choice is really about how you want the finished car to read.

An Auburn 85 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and standing moisture. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and avoid letting the full weight of the car sit on one spot for long periods. On a low-use collector car, long static storage is often harder on tires than occasional careful driving.

If an Auburn 85 Series will sit for extended periods, move it slightly from time to time or support it in a way that reduces prolonged flat spotting. Check the tubes, valve stems, and wheel condition as part of the same routine, because vintage-style tire service is a system rather than a tire-only issue. Good storage habits preserve both appearance and service life.

Tires on an Auburn 85 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car covers very few miles. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, weather checking, uneven wear, tube-related air loss, and any sign that the tire has shifted on the rim. Collector cars often age their tires out long before they wear them out.

A practical routine is to make tire inspection part of every pre-drive walkaround on an Auburn 85 Series. Check inflation when the tires are cold, watch for changes in steering feel, and inspect the wheels and valve areas at the same time. On a pre-war car, early detection matters because even a small issue can become a much larger problem once the car is moving.

An Auburn 85 Series tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, casing distortion, or persistent air loss begins to compromise serviceability, even if the tread still looks usable. Tread depth alone is not a reliable guide on a low-mileage collector car. Time, storage conditions, and the overall condition of the tire structure matter more than mileage on many pre-war cars.

Any Auburn 85 Series tire that shows age-related deterioration deserves prompt evaluation by a specialist familiar with vintage tires and wheels. The same is true for tubes, flaps, and rim condition, because replacing only the outer tire may not solve the whole problem. If a car has older tires of uncertain age, replacement is usually the wiser choice before regular road use resumes.

The Auburn 85 Series is represented here by two 1930 fitments: 28X5.50 and 550-18. Available replacement products include period-style bias-ply offerings, and the 550-18 size appears in several named series including Firestone Classic Bias Ply, BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior Comp H, and Michelin Double Rivet. Because more than one size is listed for the same year, original fitment depends on the specific wheel and configuration of the car.

For a serious Auburn 85 Series restoration, original specifications should be checked against marque literature, surviving factory information, or knowledgeable club sources. The goal is not simply to match a year, but to match the wheel diameter, size convention, and visual presentation the car would have carried in period. That extra research can make a visible difference on a judged restoration.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how an Auburn 85 Series is judged and how convincingly the restoration presents. Size, rim diameter, construction type, and sidewall style all contribute to whether the car looks right for its era. On a prominent pre-war automobile, tire choice is one of the first details experienced collectors and judges notice.

A mismatched wheel diameter or an obviously incorrect sidewall treatment can undermine otherwise strong restoration work on an Auburn 85 Series. Buyers pursuing authenticity usually benefit from comparing their tire choice to period imagery, club standards, and marque-specific guidance before final installation. Even on a driver-quality car, correct proportions help the stance and character read properly.

The available Auburn 85 Series 550-18 products include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles. Each can create a different period impression, and all are vintage-appropriate presentations within the broader early-1930s market. The correct choice for a specific Auburn 85 Series depends on how that car was configured and how closely the restoration aims to follow period appearance.

Collectors restoring an Auburn 85 Series to a specific standard should compare sidewall style against period photos and recognized marque references rather than choosing by appearance alone. A blackwall often suits a more restrained look, while whitewall variants can emphasize the upscale design language Auburn was known for. Sidewall style is a visual decision, but on a restoration it is also an authenticity decision.

Properly selected and properly installed bias-ply tires can be suitable for public-road use on an Auburn 85 Series when the entire car is mechanically sound and the wheels, tubes, and rims are in good condition. Safety depends on much more than the tire alone, especially on a pre-war automobile with vintage chassis behavior. Correct size and correct rim diameter are the first safety checks.

Before road use, treat the Auburn 85 Series as a complete system rather than a simple tire change. Steering, brakes, wheel bearings, alignment, and rim condition all affect how safely the car will drive on vintage-style tires. A carefully prepared car can be enjoyable on the road, but it should still be driven with the expectations appropriate to an early-1930s automobile.

Before driving an Auburn 85 Series, check cold inflation, visible tire condition, valve stems, wheel attachment, and any signs of rubbing or sidewall damage. Make sure the tire size matches the wheel diameter actually fitted to the car, especially since 1930 Auburn 85 Series fitments include both 18-inch and 23-inch rims. Any vibration, cracking, or repeated air loss deserves attention before the car moves.

A pre-drive inspection on an Auburn 85 Series should also include the rest of the chassis. Brakes, steering play, suspension condition, and wheel bearings matter just as much as the tires on a car of this age. Building that routine into every outing is one of the simplest ways to reduce risk and protect both the car and its occupants.

An Auburn 85 Series on vintage-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that suit the car’s age, tire construction, road conditions, and mechanical state. Even when the car is capable of more, pre-war steering, braking, and tire behavior are very different from a modern automobile. Smooth inputs and sensible speed matter more than chasing highway pace.

For practical road use, the best approach is to let the Auburn 85 Series settle into the pace where it feels composed rather than forcing it to behave like a modern car. Leave extra stopping distance, avoid abrupt lane changes, and reduce speed on rough surfaces or in heat. The goal is confident, enjoyable motoring that respects the limitations of the machine and its tires.