Davis 99 Series Tires

Davis 99 Series has two listed tire sizes for 1928: 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. The 30X6.00 size is an antique diameter-by-section code, so the 30 refers to overall tire diameter and 6.00 refers to nominal section width, while 6.00-18 is a numeric bias-ply size with a 6.00-inch nominal section width and an 18-inch rim diameter.

That means the correct tire is determined by the actual wheel and rim setup on the car, not by year alone. A Davis 99 Series owner should inspect the wheels already on the car, compare the existing size markings if present, and verify whether the car is built around the antique-style 30X6.00 specification or an 18-inch rim using 6.00-18.

On a Davis 99 Series, 30X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 30, is the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, and the second number, 6.00, is the nominal section width. Unlike later modern sizing, that first number is not the wheel diameter.

This is important because a buyer can easily mistake 30X6.00 for a wheel size when it is actually an overall tire measurement. Anyone fitting a Davis 99 Series with this size should confirm the rim diameter directly from the wheel or from the tire specification tied to the intended product before assuming the size will match the existing rims.

A 1928 Davis 99 Series can show both 30X6.00 and 6.00-18 because the model year sits in a transition period between older diameter-by-section sizing and later numeric bias-ply sizing. Those are two different size expressions, and they may reflect different wheel equipment or a change in specification within the same production year.

The practical takeaway is that the year by itself does not settle the fitment question. A Davis 99 Series owner should identify the actual wheel diameter and compare the tire size markings already associated with the car before choosing a replacement, especially since antique-size notation and later 18-inch numeric notation are not interchangeable without confirming the wheel.

Davis 99 Series uses at least one clearly identified 18-inch rim application through the 6.00-18 size. The 30X6.00 size does not reveal its rim diameter in the code itself, because antique diameter-by-section sizes describe overall tire diameter and section width rather than naming the wheel diameter directly.

That makes the wheel check especially important on a Davis 99 Series. If the car is being restored or has had wheels changed at some point in its life, the best approach is to measure the wheel, inspect any surviving tire markings, and make sure the selected tire matches the rim rather than relying on the antique code alone.

The right tire size for a 1928 Davis 99 Series is confirmed by matching the car's actual wheel setup to one of the two listed sizes: 30X6.00 or 6.00-18. Because 6.00-18 names an 18-inch rim and 30X6.00 does not state rim diameter in the code, the wheel itself becomes the deciding factor.

Start by reading any markings on the current tires if they are present, then measure the wheel and compare the result to the intended size. On a rare car like Davis 99 Series, it is also wise to compare against factory literature, restoration records, or a knowledgeable marque specialist so the tire choice matches the car's actual configuration.

The Davis 99 Series year-and-size information here identifies the fitment sizes, but not a broad range of tire series such as Balloon, Cord, or other named construction families tied to specific products. What it does show clearly is that Davis 99 Series sits between an antique-style 30X6.00 format and a later 6.00-18 numeric bias-ply format, which already points to two different sizing conventions.

For a buyer, the important distinction is less about series names and more about choosing a tire built for the wheel diameter and period character of the car. If authenticity is the goal, look for a construction and profile that suit a late-1920s restoration, and if drivability is the priority, make sure the selected tire still matches the wheel and intended use.

A Davis 99 Series owner should compare three things before selecting between 30X6.00 and 6.00-18: the actual wheel diameter, any surviving tire size markings, and the overall stance the car is meant to carry. The reason is simple: 30X6.00 expresses outside diameter and section width, while 6.00-18 directly names an 18-inch rim.

That comparison helps prevent buying a tire that looks close on paper but does not match the wheels on the car. It also helps a restoration stay consistent from side to side and axle to axle, which matters on an uncommon model like Davis 99 Series where later wheel swaps or prior restoration choices may have changed the original setup.

A Davis 99 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, heaters, and ozone sources that accelerate rubber aging. Tires on collector cars last best when they are kept clean, inflated correctly for storage, and shielded from prolonged contact with damp concrete or petroleum contamination.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally to prevent flat spotting or place it on supports that reduce constant load on one section of the tire. Because Davis 99 Series is a late-1920s collector car, careful storage is especially worthwhile if the car is used mainly for display, touring, or short seasonal driving.

Tires on a Davis 99 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly several times each season. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, irregular wear, embedded debris, valve condition, and any sign that the tire is shifting on the rim or losing air while parked.

Older collector vehicles often spend long periods stationary, and that can hide age-related deterioration until the car returns to the road. A Davis 99 Series benefits from routine visual checks, periodic pressure verification, and a professional inspection whenever the car has been off the road for a long interval or shows vibration, pull, or unusual ride behavior.

Tires on a Davis 99 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, cord exposure, or structural deterioration appear, even if tread depth still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out long before they wear out, especially on cars that are driven lightly and stored for long periods.

A Davis 99 Series owner should think in terms of condition and age rather than mileage alone. If the car carries very old tires of uncertain history, or any tire that shows visible aging, replacement is the prudent move before regular road use, because the consequences of failure on a narrow-track late-1920s car can be severe.

Davis 99 Series is associated here with two 1928 tire sizes: 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. That tells you the car falls within a period where both antique diameter-by-section notation and later numeric sizing were in play, but it does not reduce every Davis 99 Series to a single universal original-tire answer.

For restoration accuracy, the best approach is to match the selected size to the specific car's wheels, surviving records, and restoration goal. A Davis 99 Series being prepared for judged display may need closer comparison with original literature or marque references, while a touring car may prioritize a correct overall profile on the wheel size actually fitted today.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Davis 99 Series is viewed in restoration, judging, and resale. Tire size, profile, sidewall appearance, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks consistent with its period and whether the wheel-and-tire package appears thoughtfully restored rather than generically replaced.

On a rare car like Davis 99 Series, judges and knowledgeable buyers often notice whether the tire choice suits the wheel diameter and late-1920s character of the automobile. Matching the right size to the specific car, and keeping that fitment consistent with the restoration story, helps the finished car present as coherent and historically respectful.

A correct sidewall style for a Davis 99 Series restoration should suit the car's late-1920s era and the restoration standard being pursued. Sidewall treatment was a visible styling choice in that period, so the right look depends on whether the car is being restored as a formal showpiece, a conservative road car, or a specific period presentation.

The best way to settle sidewall style on a Davis 99 Series is to compare the intended tire with period photos, surviving originals, and marque reference material. Once the correct wheel size is established, the sidewall style should complement the car's body and trim rather than fighting the era-correct look that makes a 1928 automobile feel authentic.

A properly selected and properly maintained tire can make a Davis 99 Series roadworthy for the kind of careful driving a late-1920s collector car was built to handle. Safety depends on correct size, sound wheel condition, proper inflation, and the overall mechanical state of the car, not simply on whether the tire physically mounts to the rim.

Public-road use in a Davis 99 Series should always be conservative and planned around the capabilities of the chassis, brakes, steering, and tire type fitted. Before any regular driving, make sure the wheels are sound, the tires are age-appropriate in condition, and the car tracks straight and stops predictably at modest touring speeds.

Before driving a Davis 99 Series, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and whether both front and rear tires match the intended size setup. Also confirm that the car is not carrying one antique-format tire and one numeric-format substitute in a way that changes diameter or stance unexpectedly.

That pre-drive check matters because a Davis 99 Series is an uncommon late-1920s car that may have seen wheel changes or older restoration work over the years. A few minutes spent checking the tires and wheels can reveal problems before they become steering shake, rubbing, uneven braking response, or a roadside failure.

A Davis 99 Series should be driven at modest, period-appropriate speeds that respect the limits of a 1928 automobile and the condition of the tires actually fitted. Even with correct replacement tires, the car's braking, suspension, steering geometry, and overall road manners belong to an earlier era than modern traffic expectations.

The right approach is smooth touring rather than sustained high-speed operation. If the Davis 99 Series is fitted with older tires, recently revived from storage, or carrying a restoration-focused setup, reduce speed further and evaluate the car carefully, because confidence at low and moderate speeds is far more important than trying to keep pace with modern vehicles.