Chrysler 62 Series Tires
Chrysler 62 Series belongs to the late 1920s, when American cars were rapidly moving from earlier tire conventions into more modern wheel and tire standards. Produced here for 1928, Chrysler 62 Series reflects that transitional period, which is exactly why tire selection is not as simple as matching the model name alone. Two different size formats appear for the same year, and one of them uses an antique-style code in which the first number is the tire’s overall diameter rather than the wheel size. The first thing to verify on any Chrysler 62 Series is the actual rim diameter on the car, because that determines which of the listed tire types belongs on it.
Chrysler 62 Series Tire Size Guide
Chrysler 62 Series uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1928 to 1928 production span. One size uses the antique diameter-by-section format, where the leading number is the tire’s outside diameter rather than the wheel diameter. That makes it especially important to confirm the rim diameter on the actual wheel before selecting a tire.
28X5.25 is used on 1928 Chrysler 62 Series applications that take this earlier-style sizing convention. The 28 means the tire’s overall outside diameter in inches and the 5.25 indicates nominal section width, while the wheel diameter must be confirmed from the rim itself because it is not stated in the size code. Choose this size only if your Chrysler 62 Series is fitted for this diameter-by-section format, and confirm the wheel before proceeding.
5.25-18 is also listed for 1928 Chrysler 62 Series applications using a more familiar numeric bias-ply size. The 5.25 identifies the nominal section width in inches and the 18 is the rim diameter in inches. Choose this size only if your Chrysler 62 Series has 18-inch wheels.
Chrysler 62 Series Tires by Year
The year listing breaks Chrysler 62 Series tire fitment down by production year so you can match the car before narrowing to a specific tire. In 1928, more than one size is listed, so the year alone is not enough and the wheel on the car needs to be checked. The leading number in 28X5.25 is the tire’s outside diameter, not the wheel size, while 5.25-18 uses an 18-inch rim.
1928 Chrysler 62 Series
- 28X5.25
- 5.25-18
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on the 1928 Chrysler 62 Series size split, how the antique and numeric size codes differ, and what to verify on the wheel before choosing a replacement tire.
Size Basics & Fitment
Chrysler 62 Series uses two listed tire sizes for 1928: 28X5.25 and 5.25-18. Those are not interchangeable descriptions of the same thing. One is an antique diameter-by-section code, while the other is a numeric size that directly includes an 18-inch rim diameter.
The practical step is to inspect the actual wheel and any surviving tire markings on your Chrysler 62 Series before choosing between them. If the car is set up for 18-inch rims, 5.25-18 is the relevant size. If it carries the earlier 28X5.25 convention, remember that the 28 refers to overall tire diameter rather than wheel diameter.
On a Chrysler 62 Series, 28X5.25 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 28, is the tire’s overall outside diameter in inches, not the wheel diameter. The second number, 5.25, refers to the nominal section width.
That distinction matters because a modern buyer may assume the first number is the rim size, and on a Chrysler 62 Series that would lead to the wrong tire. When you see 28X5.25, treat it as an older sizing system and verify the wheel separately. Original literature, wheel measurements, and marque expertise are the best ways to confirm which setup your car uses.
A 1928 Chrysler 62 Series has 2 tire sizes listed because the model appears in a transitional period where more than one sizing convention was in use. The two listed sizes are 28X5.25 and 5.25-18, and they represent different ways of describing the tire and wheel combination rather than a simple duplicate listing.
For an owner, that means the model year by itself is not enough to choose a tire for Chrysler 62 Series. You need to identify the wheel arrangement actually on the car and compare it against the tire code format. Measuring the rim and checking surviving fitment references on the individual car will usually settle the question quickly.
Chrysler 62 Series is listed with one size that clearly uses an 18-inch rim: 5.25-18. The other listed size, 28X5.25, is an antique format and does not reveal the wheel diameter in the size code itself. With that older convention, the rim diameter has to be identified from the wheel or from supporting fitment references for the specific car.
That is why wheel verification comes first on a Chrysler 62 Series. If your car has 18-inch rims, the numeric size is the one that aligns with that wheel diameter. If the car is built around the antique-style 28X5.25 specification, do not assume the wheel size from the tire code alone.
Buying the Right Tire
To confirm the correct tire size for a 1928 Chrysler 62 Series, start with the wheel that is actually on the car. The two listed sizes for that year are 28X5.25 and 5.25-18, and they use different sizing conventions. A Chrysler 62 Series fitted with 18-inch rims aligns with 5.25-18, while 28X5.25 must be evaluated by its overall tire diameter and section width rather than by an assumed rim size.
Good verification points on Chrysler 62 Series include measuring the rim, checking old tire sidewalls if present, and comparing against period service information for the exact car. That approach matters even more on restored or long-stored vehicles, where wheels may have been changed. Matching the code format to the wheel is the key step before selecting a replacement tire.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Chrysler 62 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with moisture. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation help preserve both the casing and the sidewalls. If the car will sit for an extended period, reducing concentrated load on one spot of the tire is also helpful.
Owners of a Chrysler 62 Series should move the car periodically or support it in a way that avoids long-term flat spotting and sidewall stress. Pre-war tires and wheels reward careful storage because they are often used infrequently and expected to remain visually correct for years. Simple habits in the garage can make a meaningful difference in service life.
Tires on a Chrysler 62 Series should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even when the car is rarely used. Look for sidewall cracking, weathering, bulges, tread separation, bead damage, and any sign that the tire has been run underinflated. On a collector car of this era, visual condition alone should never be treated casually.
A Chrysler 62 Series often spends more time parked than driven, which makes age-related deterioration easy to miss. Regular inspection should also include valve stems, wheel condition, and any tube-related concerns if the tire setup uses tubes. Periodic review by a shop familiar with vintage cars is a sound habit, especially before tours, shows, or road events.
Tires on a Chrysler 62 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, or structural deterioration appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out. That is especially true on a lightly used pre-war car where low mileage can hide the real condition of the casing.
A Chrysler 62 Series should not be judged by tread depth alone. If the tires are old enough that their service history is uncertain, or if the car has been stored for many years, replacement deserves serious consideration before regular driving. Any vintage tire of questionable age should be examined with the same caution you would give brakes, steering, and wheel hardware.
Restoration & Authenticity
Chrysler 62 Series is associated here with two period size listings for 1928: 28X5.25 and 5.25-18. That indicates owners and restorers need to treat original tire fitment as specific to the exact wheel arrangement on the individual car rather than assuming there was only one universal setup. The presence of both an antique-style code and a numeric code points to a transitional fitment picture.
For restoration work on a Chrysler 62 Series, original factory literature, surviving wheels, and marque-club references are the best guides to what belongs on a particular car. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will usually care whether the tire type matches the wheel and era correctly. Getting the size convention right is often just as important as getting the appearance right.
Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both presentation and judging on a Chrysler 62 Series. Size, profile, sidewall appearance, and whether the tire matches the proper wheel type all contribute to how authentic the car looks. On a late-1920s automobile, tire selection is a highly visible part of the restoration.
A Chrysler 62 Series wearing the wrong size convention can look subtly off even to casual observers and more obviously incorrect to marque experts. For owners concerned with concours standards or long-term collector value, tires should support the car’s period character rather than simply fill the wheel opening. Club judging sheets and Chrysler specialists are useful references when authenticity matters.
A Chrysler 62 Series restoration should use a sidewall style that suits both the late-1920s period and the exact way the car is being restored. On pre-war automobiles, both blackwall and white sidewall treatments can be historically appropriate depending on the car’s presentation and the restorer’s target. The right answer is the one that matches the intended specification of the individual Chrysler 62 Series.
If your Chrysler 62 Series is being restored for formal judging, sidewall choice should be checked against period photos, marque references, and the trim level or body style being recreated. If the goal is a faithful touring restoration, period-correct visual balance matters as much as strict originality. Tires are one of the first details people notice on a finished pre-war car.
Safety & Road Use
Tires selected correctly for a Chrysler 62 Series can be suitable for public-road use, but the tire is only one part of the safety picture on a 1928 automobile. Wheel condition, tube condition where applicable, braking performance, steering wear, and chassis setup all need to be considered together. A vintage car that has sat for years should be evaluated as a complete mechanical system.
A Chrysler 62 Series should be driven in a manner that respects its age, design, and the capabilities of period-style tires. Public-road use is most sensible when the car has been carefully inspected and sorted rather than simply made to run. Short local drives after a thorough review are a better starting point than immediate high-speed touring.
Before driving a Chrysler 62 Series, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, valve stems, wheel attachment, and any sign of cracking or separation. On a car from this era, it is also wise to inspect steering linkage, brakes, wheel bearings, and the general security of the wheel and tire assembly. Small issues matter more on a pre-war chassis than they might on a modern vehicle.
A careful pre-drive walkaround helps a Chrysler 62 Series owner catch problems before they become roadside failures. The right tire size is only part of the equation; the assembly has to be sound and the car has to be mechanically ready for motion. If anything looks questionable, a specialist familiar with vintage cars should review it before regular road use.
A Chrysler 62 Series should be driven at conservative speeds that match the design of a late-1920s car and the condition of its tires, wheels, and suspension. Even when the tires are the correct size, period-style construction and the rest of the chassis call for measured road use rather than sustained modern traffic speeds. Mechanical condition has as much influence on appropriate speed as the tire itself.
For practical use, a Chrysler 62 Series is best enjoyed on secondary roads, tours, and local driving where pace can stay comfortable and deliberate. High-speed operation places extra stress on old driveline parts, braking systems, and vintage tire constructions. Smooth inputs, generous following distance, and moderate speed are part of using a pre-war car responsibly.