Auburn 98WW Series Tires
Auburn 98WW Series represents the ambitious American luxury and performance spirit of the early 1930s, a period when styling, speed, and engineering sophistication were becoming central to prestige-car identity. Produced for 1931, Auburn 98WW Series sat in an era when major manufacturers were refining chassis design and road manners while still relying on tire sizing conventions that can look unfamiliar to modern buyers. Tire selection for Auburn 98WW Series matters because collector cars of this period often depend on period-correct sizing, construction, and overall stance to preserve both drivability and appearance. Before choosing a tire, confirm the actual wheel diameter on the car and compare it against original records or restoration notes.
Auburn 98WW Series Tire Size Guide
Auburn 98WW Series uses one tire size across its production span: 6.50-17 for 1931. This is a numeric bias-ply size in which 6.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches and 17 is the wheel diameter in inches. That makes the critical fitment point straightforward: Auburn 98WW Series in this listing is built around a 17-inch rim. A tube is required. For a restoration or road-use decision, the main question is whether you want a period-correct bias-ply driving character and appearance consistent with an early 1930s Auburn.
Auburn 98WW Series Tires by Year
The year listing breaks Auburn 98WW Series fitment down by production year so you can match the tire size to the specific car. Since this model group covers a single year and a single size, the main task is confirming that the car still carries its correct 17-inch wheels. Early 1930s restorations can vary from their original configuration, so it is wise to verify the wheel and surviving factory or marque references before selecting a tire.
1931 Auburn 98WW Series
- 6.50-17
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQs below focus on the questions Auburn 98WW Series owners usually face: what 6.50-17 means, whether tubes are required, how to confirm the correct tire for a 1931 car, and how to care for collector tires on a low-use restoration.
Size Basics & Fitment
Auburn 98WW Series uses 6.50-17 in 1931. That size is a numeric bias-ply designation, and the 17 at the end identifies a 17-inch wheel diameter. Within this model group, there are no alternate sizes listed by year.
That makes fitment simpler than on many multi-year classics, but it is still important to confirm that the wheels on a surviving Auburn 98WW Series have not been changed during earlier restoration work. Check the wheel itself, compare it with the car’s restoration records, and make sure the tire type you choose matches the kind of use you expect from the car.
The 6.50-17 size used on Auburn 98WW Series is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. In that format, 6.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches, while 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it should be read in period terms.
For an Auburn 98WW Series owner, that means the key compatibility point is a 17-inch wheel built for this style of vintage tire. Numeric bias-ply sizing also carries period-correct proportions and driving feel, which matters on an early 1930s luxury-performance car where stance, steering response, and visual authenticity are all part of the ownership experience.
Auburn 98WW Series uses a 17-inch rim with the listed 6.50-17 tire size. In this case, the wheel diameter is built directly into the size designation, so the rim diameter is straightforward. There is no year-to-year wheel diameter change within this model group.
Even with a single listed rim diameter, a collector car should still be checked in person before fitting tires. Wheels can be swapped over decades of use, and an Auburn 98WW Series that has been restored or modified may not always retain its original wheel set. Confirming the rim size first helps avoid ordering a tire that matches the year but not the wheels currently on the car.
Auburn 98WW Series uses a numeric bias-ply tire size, and a tube is required with that fitment. That matches the construction practice expected for many collector vehicles of the period. Tubes are part of the proper tire-and-wheel assembly rather than an optional add-on.
When preparing an Auburn 98WW Series for service, inspect the wheel condition carefully and use the correct tube and flap arrangement where required for the wheel design. Collector-car wheels can have rust, burrs, or old repairs that affect tube life, so tube installation should be handled with the same care as the tire selection itself.
Buying the Right Tire
For a 1931 Auburn 98WW Series, the listed tire size is 6.50-17. Since only one size appears for this model group, the confirmation process centers on making sure the car still carries the correct 17-inch wheels and has not been altered during its lifetime. The fitment question is less about choosing between sizes and more about verifying the actual car.
Start with the wheel stamping or direct measurement, then compare that with restoration paperwork, period service references, or guidance from an Auburn specialist. If the car has changed hands several times or has older restoration work, treat the current wheel set as something to verify rather than assume. That extra step helps keep both stance and drivability in line with the character of Auburn 98WW Series.
The available brand mix for Auburn 98WW Series cannot be summarized here because no product assortment is included alongside the size listing. What is clear is the fitment itself: Auburn 98WW Series uses a 6.50-17 vintage-style tire format rather than a modern passenger-car size. Brand selection should therefore be approached through period-correct collector tire offerings in that size.
For a buyer, the practical point is to choose among makers that specialize in vintage construction, proper sidewall appearance, and correct dimensions for early 1930s cars. Once the wheel diameter and size are confirmed, compare available brand options by construction style, visual authenticity, and intended use rather than assuming a modern mainstream tire maker will offer the right solution for Auburn 98WW Series.
Auburn 98WW Series is tied here to a single fitment size, 6.50-17, but no product series lineup is supplied with the size entry. That means the key distinction to focus on is not a named series comparison, but the broader type of collector tire built in the correct vintage format for the car. On an early 1930s Auburn, construction style and visual correctness matter as much as the size itself.
When evaluating tire series for Auburn 98WW Series, compare period-oriented details such as carcass construction, sidewall appearance, tread character, and how closely the overall dimensions suit the car’s original stance. A proper vintage series should preserve the look and steering character expected from a full classic, rather than chasing modern performance traits that can feel out of place on a car of this era.
Maintenance & Longevity
Auburn 98WW Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires kept away from sunlight, ozone sources, electric motors, and petroleum contamination. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation matter because vintage-style tires can age from time and environment even when the car is seldom driven. Long idle periods are often harder on collector tires than regular careful use.
If Auburn 98WW Series will sit for extended periods, move the car occasionally or support it in a way that reduces flat spotting and concentrated load on one section of the casing. Inspect inflation before and after storage, and keep the wheels and valve hardware clean. Good storage habits help preserve both the tires and the stately ride quality expected from a well-kept early 1930s Auburn.
Tires on Auburn 98WW Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, impact damage, uneven wear, low inflation, valve issues, and wheel problems that could affect tube-type assemblies. On a collector car, condition matters more than annual mileage alone.
Because Auburn 98WW Series is an early 1930s automobile, inspections should also include the wheels, tubes, and the way the tire is seated on the rim. A car that appears fine at rest can still have age-related deterioration that becomes serious once driven. Frequent visual checks, plus periodic hands-on inspection by a shop familiar with vintage tires, are the best routine for safe enjoyment.
Tires on Auburn 98WW Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, structural irregularity, or casing damage appears, even if tread depth still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out. Low mileage is not a guarantee of serviceability.
For Auburn 98WW Series, replacement decisions should be made with a conservative mindset because the car’s weight, speed capability for its era, and tube-type vintage fitment place real demands on the tire. If there is any question about age-related deterioration, specialist inspection is wise. Preserving originality is important, but maintaining a sound tire assembly is more important than squeezing extra years from an old set.
Restoration & Authenticity
Auburn 98WW Series is associated here with the 6.50-17 size for 1931, which establishes the correct fitment range for this model group. No original equipment brand or factory tire series is identified alongside that size. The historically important point is that the car belongs to a period where correct dimensions and construction style strongly shape how authentic the finished restoration looks.
For a restoration-grade Auburn 98WW Series, use the listed size as the foundation, then compare surviving factory literature, marque-club references, and the car’s own history to refine brand and appearance choices. That approach protects authenticity without guessing at equipment that may have varied over time. On a prominent Full Classic-era automobile, tire correctness is part of the overall visual and historical impression.
Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both judging and perceived value on Auburn 98WW Series. Size, sidewall appearance, overall proportions, and period-appropriate construction all influence whether the car presents as an authentic early 1930s restoration or as a car wearing convenient but visually incorrect rubber. Judges and informed buyers notice those details quickly.
Using the proper 6.50-17 fitment helps preserve the stance and wheel-to-body relationship that belong on Auburn 98WW Series. If the car is being prepared for concours, club events, or high-level resale, compare your tire choice against period photography and marque guidance rather than selecting on size alone. On prestigious classics, tire details often contribute more to presentation than owners expect.
Auburn 98WW Series belongs to an era when sidewall presentation is a major part of authenticity, but no sidewall-style assortment is identified here with the 6.50-17 fitment. That means the correct visual treatment should be chosen with reference to the specific restoration goal rather than assumed from size alone. Early 1930s luxury cars could be especially sensitive to sidewall appearance in judged settings.
For Auburn 98WW Series, period photos, factory sales material, and marque-club experience are the right guides for deciding between blackwall and whitewall presentation if both are available from collector tire makers. The best result is usually the one that matches the car’s body style, trim level, and intended presentation period. Sidewall style can materially change the personality of a restoration.
Safety & Road Use
Auburn 98WW Series can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct vintage type, are in sound condition, and are mounted on suitable wheels in a properly maintained chassis. Tire safety on a collector car depends on the whole system: wheel condition, tube condition, inflation, steering, brakes, and suspension all matter. A correct size alone does not make the car road-ready.
For practical use, keep expectations aligned with the character of Auburn 98WW Series as an early 1930s automobile. Plan for conservative speeds, longer stopping distances, and road manners that differ from modern cars. Before any meaningful road use, inspect the tires closely and make sure the rest of the car is equally prepared to support safe operation.
Before driving Auburn 98WW Series, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any signs of tube-related air loss. Also inspect for cracks, bulges, exposed cord, or impact damage from previous use or storage. On a collector car, these simple checks should be routine every time the car leaves the garage.
Auburn 98WW Series also deserves a broader pre-drive review that includes brakes, steering free play, wheel bearings, and fluid leaks, because tire performance cannot be separated from the chassis beneath it. If the car has been sitting, take the first few miles gently and watch for vibration or pull. A cautious start is part of responsible road use with any prewar automobile.
Auburn 98WW Series should be driven at speeds appropriate to vintage tire construction, road conditions, and the mechanical condition of the car rather than to modern traffic expectations. Even when correctly fitted, collector tires are part of an early 1930s driving system with different steering, braking, and stability characteristics than a contemporary vehicle. Respect for the era is part of safe operation.
In practice, Auburn 98WW Series is best enjoyed at moderate, deliberate speeds that suit secondary roads, touring events, and fair-weather use. The prudent approach is to build speed gradually, avoid harsh cornering and emergency-style maneuvers, and never treat a prewar luxury-performance car as if it were equipped like a modern sedan. Smooth driving is easier on both the tires and the car.