Auburn 98 Series Tires

The Auburn 98 Series in the listed range uses one tire size: 550-17 for 1931. The available tires for that fitment are all built for 17-inch rims and all use bias-ply construction. That makes the basic fitment picture simpler than on many multi-year classics, because there is no second rim diameter or alternate listed size to sort through.

The practical next step is to confirm that your Auburn 98 Series still has its 17-inch wheels and has not been changed during an earlier repair or restoration. After that, the real choice becomes visual presentation, since blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions are all available in the same size.

A 550-17 tire on an Auburn 98 Series uses the older numeric bias-ply sizing system. The 550 portion refers to a nominal 5.50-inch section width, while 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. In this fitment, the size code is already telling you the wheel diameter, unlike earlier antique sizing formats where the first number could refer to overall tire diameter instead.

That matters because a modern buyer may see an older size code and assume every number works the same way. On the Auburn 98 Series, 550-17 is relatively straightforward, but you should still match the tire to the wheel itself and not rely only on memory or appearance, especially if the car has had wheels swapped over the years.

The Auburn 98 Series covered here uses a 17-inch rim diameter. Every available 550-17 product for this application is built around that same 17-inch wheel size, so there is no listed year-to-year wheel diameter change within this model range. That keeps fitment simple compared with many pre-war cars that moved between different wheel sizes.

Even with a single listed rim diameter, it is still smart to measure or verify the wheel stamping on the actual Auburn 98 Series before fitting new tires. Pre-war cars sometimes pass through multiple owners and restorations, and wheel substitutions can happen long after the car left the factory.

Yes, the Auburn 98 Series fitment shown here should be treated as a tube-type application. The available 550-17 tires are bias-ply products, and for this style of pre-war fitment a tube is required. That is consistent with how collector-car buyers typically service older numeric bias-ply sizes on original-style wheels.

When fitting tires to an Auburn 98 Series, plan the installation as a complete assembly rather than treating the tire alone as the whole job. Correct tube use, careful wheel condition inspection, and proper mounting practices matter just as much as the tire size itself when the goal is reliable operation and an authentic pre-war setup.

Auburn 98 Series tires in 550-17 are available in three sidewall styles: blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. All three are offered within the same BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series and the same 17-inch fitment. That means the visual choice does not require changing size or construction within this Auburn 98 Series application.

For a restoration-minded owner, sidewall style can shape the entire character of the car from a few steps away. Blackwall usually gives a more restrained appearance, while whitewall and double-whitewall treatments create a more formal pre-war presentation, so the best choice depends on how your Auburn 98 Series is being restored and presented.

The available Auburn 98 Series tires in this fitment come from one brand: BFGoodrich. All three listed products use the same 550-17 size and belong to the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series. The difference between them is not brand or construction, but sidewall appearance.

That means the selection process for an Auburn 98 Series is less about comparing competing manufacturers and more about choosing the look that suits the car. If authenticity is important, compare the sidewall treatment on the tire with period photos, restoration goals, and the overall finish level of the car.

A 1931 Auburn 98 Series uses 550-17 on 17-inch rims within the listed fitment range, so the first confirmation point is the wheel diameter on the car. After that, verify that the tire style you choose matches the car’s restoration direction, since blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions are all offered in the same size and construction.

The most reliable approach is to inspect the wheel itself, compare against any surviving factory literature or restoration records, and then decide how formal or restrained you want the finished Auburn 98 Series to look. On a single-size application like this, the visual choice often becomes as important as the basic fitment choice.

An Auburn 98 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with petroleum products. Bias-ply collector tires benefit from being kept clean, properly inflated, and off surfaces that trap moisture. Because the Auburn 98 Series is a pre-war car, long periods of inactivity can be especially hard on both tires and tubes.

If the car will sit for extended intervals, roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces long-term flat spotting and sidewall strain. Routine storage discipline does more than preserve the appearance of Auburn 98 Series tires; it also helps protect the ride quality and service life of the complete tire-and-tube assembly.

Tires on an Auburn 98 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals, even if the car sees only occasional use. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, air loss, tube-related issues, uneven wear, and any sign of wheel or bead-seat trouble. On a pre-war collector car, age and inactivity can be just as important as mileage.

A practical habit is to build the tire check into every outing rather than waiting for annual maintenance. A careful walkaround, pressure check, and visual inspection of each Auburn 98 Series tire can catch small problems early, which is especially important when the car may spend long stretches parked between events.

Tires on an Auburn 98 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, distortion, persistent air loss, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out. On a pre-war automobile, that judgment should be conservative because the tire, tube, and wheel all work together in a more delicate system than a modern car.

Do not let good cosmetic appearance be the only deciding factor on an Auburn 98 Series. If the car has been sitting for years, has unknown service history, or shows any sign that the rubber has become brittle, replacement is usually the safer course before regular driving resumes.

The listed Auburn 98 Series fitment for 1931 is 550-17, and the available replacement products are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires in that size. The products shown here support the correct style of period bias-ply replacement, but they do not narrow the original factory delivery down to a single sidewall treatment. Blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions are all available in the same fitment.

For a restoration that aims at exact historical accuracy, the size itself is the first anchor point and the sidewall presentation is the next decision. The best reference for a specific Auburn 98 Series is still original sales literature, period photography, or advice from Auburn specialists who know how individual cars were commonly equipped.

Yes, correct tire fitment can influence both judged authenticity and how seriously an Auburn 98 Series restoration is taken. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect whether the car looks coherent for its era. Even when a tire physically fits, the wrong visual presentation can make a pre-war luxury car look out of period.

On an Auburn 98 Series, getting the 550-17 size right is the baseline, and then the choice between blackwall and whitewall styles becomes part of the restoration statement. If the car will be shown or judged, compare your tire choice with period references and the standards used by Auburn clubs, historians, and marque-focused events.

Auburn 98 Series tires are available here in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, all in the correct 550-17 bias-ply size. Any of those looks can make sense within a pre-war restoration context, but they create distinctly different visual impressions. The sidewall choice is therefore an authenticity question as much as a tire question.

If your Auburn 98 Series is being restored toward a specific delivery appearance or concours goal, compare the sidewall style against period images and surviving trim details on the car. If the aim is a broadly period-appropriate road car, choose the style that best matches the body finish, wheel presentation, and overall character you want the car to project.

A properly fitted, properly maintained set of new bias-ply tires can be appropriate for public-road use on an Auburn 98 Series, provided the car itself is mechanically sound. Tire safety on a pre-war car is never just about tread; wheel condition, tube condition, brake performance, steering integrity, and suspension health matter just as much. The available 550-17 products match the period-correct construction style for this application.

Use the Auburn 98 Series within the limits of a pre-war automobile rather than expecting modern-car behavior. Conservative speeds, regular inspections, and a realistic understanding of braking and handling distances are part of safe operation when a car rides on original-style bias-ply tires.

Before driving an Auburn 98 Series, inspect tire pressure, sidewall condition, visible tread condition, valve stems, and any sign of tube-related air loss. Also check wheel fasteners, steering response, brake feel, and whether the car has developed flat spotting after storage. Pre-war cars reward a methodical pre-drive routine because small issues can become serious quickly once the car is moving.

That routine is especially important if the Auburn 98 Series has been parked for weeks or months between outings. A few minutes of inspection before departure can reveal whether the tires are ready for use or whether the car needs service before it goes farther than a neighborhood loop or event entrance road.

An Auburn 98 Series on original-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect the limits of both the tire design and the car’s pre-war chassis, steering, and braking systems. Even when the tires are new, they are not meant to make a 1931 automobile behave like a modern highway cruiser. Safe speed is therefore as much about the whole vehicle as it is about the tire itself.

Treat the Auburn 98 Series as a collector automobile to be exercised thoughtfully, not hurried. Smooth inputs, extra following distance, and avoiding sustained high-speed running will do more for safety and tire life than any cosmetic or branding choice in the tire itself.