Durant 4-40 Tires
The Durant 4-40 was part of Durant Motors' late-1920s effort to offer stylish, affordable American transportation in a fiercely competitive market. Built for 1929, the Durant 4-40 belongs to the transitional pre-war period when wheel and tire sizing was moving from earlier outside-diameter conventions toward more familiar rim-based numeric sizes. That makes tire selection for Durant 4-40 especially easy to misread, because two different size formats appear for the same model year and only one of them states the wheel diameter directly in the size code. Before choosing a tire for a Durant 4-40, the first step is to confirm whether the car carries 19-inch rims.
Durant 4-40 Tire Size Guide
Durant 4-40 uses 2 distinct tire sizes across its 1929 production span, and the most important point is that the listed sizes are written in two different formats rather than representing a long year-to-year evolution. One of those sizes uses the antique diameter-by-section convention, where the leading number is the tire's outside diameter rather than the wheel diameter. That means a Durant 4-40 owner needs to separate the tire's overall height from the actual rim size before choosing a replacement.
28X4.75 is an antique-format size listed for 1929 Durant 4-40 applications. The 28 indicates the tire's approximate outside diameter in inches and the 4.75 indicates section width, while the wheel diameter is not contained in the size code itself. Choose this size only after matching the wheel and overall tire profile on the car to the intended application, and remember that a tube is required.
475-19 is a numeric bias-ply size used on 1929 Durant 4-40 and it is the size backed by the available current products. The 475 denotes a nominal 4.75-inch section width with the decimal omitted, and the 19 identifies a 19-inch rim diameter; the listed products fit 19-inch rims with 3-inch rim width. Choose this size when the car is equipped with 19-inch wheels and you want a period-style bias-ply tire, and a tube is required.
Durant 4-40 Tires by Year
The year listing for Durant 4-40 shows which sizes are associated with each production year so you can narrow the search before comparing products. In 1929, more than one size format appears, so confirm the specific wheel and tire convention used on the car before selecting. The leading number in 28X4.75 is the tire's outside diameter, not the wheel size, and the actual rim diameter must be verified from the wheel itself or the tire specifications.
1929 Durant 4-40
- 28X4.75
- 475-19
Best Durant 4-40 Tires for Sale
Available Durant 4-40 tires include 2 products from 1 brand, covering 475-19 applications. Confirm the correct size and 19-inch rim diameter on the car before selecting.
475-19 Products
These are the available products for 475-19.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQs below focus on the two size conventions used on Durant 4-40, how to confirm a 19-inch wheel when applicable, what the available bias-ply products represent, and how to care for collector tires on a low-use pre-war car.
Size Basics & Fitment
Durant 4-40 uses two listed tire sizes for 1929: 28X4.75 and 475-19. The available current products are in 475-19, and those tires are built for a 19-inch rim with a 3-inch rim width. The 28X4.75 listing belongs to the older diameter-by-section style of sizing, while 475-19 uses the later numeric rim-based format.
That means the right choice depends on the wheels actually fitted to the car, not just the model name. Start by checking the rim diameter on the car and then compare the tire's overall proportions to the existing setup. If the car has 19-inch wheels, 475-19 is the direct modern listing to examine first.
On a Durant 4-40, 28X4.75 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 28 refers to the tire's approximate outside diameter in inches, and the 4.75 refers to section width. Unlike a later numeric size, that first number is not the wheel diameter, so the rim size has to be confirmed separately on the actual wheel.
That difference matters because a buyer can easily mistake 28 for the rim diameter and end up searching the wrong category. Treat 28X4.75 as a dimensional description of the mounted tire rather than a direct wheel reference. On a pre-war car like Durant 4-40, that extra verification step is part of getting the stance and fit right.
The current product listing for Durant 4-40 is tied to 475-19, and that size uses a 19-inch rim. The antique-format 28X4.75 listing does not state the wheel diameter within the size code itself, so it should never be read as a 28-inch wheel. For the listed modern replacement products, 19 inches is the confirmed rim diameter.
That makes wheel measurement especially important on a Durant 4-40 that may have changed hands or been restored over many decades. Measure the rim or verify the wheel stamping before choosing tires. On cars from this era, relying on appearance alone can be misleading because older sizing systems describe tires very differently from later rim-based sizes.
Durant 4-40 tire listings fall into antique and numeric bias-ply formats, and the available 475-19 products are bias-ply tires. For these pre-war fitments, a tube is required. That applies both to the antique-style size reference and to the listed 475-19 replacement products.
Tube fitment is part of the overall assembly, not an afterthought. The rim condition, flap requirements where applicable, and proper tube sizing all matter on a collector car that sees occasional use. If the wheels are original or older restorations, inspect them carefully so the tube and tire work together as intended.
Buying the Right Tire
A 1929 Durant 4-40 can point you toward either 28X4.75 or 475-19, so the car's actual wheels need to settle the question. The easiest hard check is rim diameter: 475-19 is for a 19-inch wheel. The older 28X4.75 format describes outside diameter and section width rather than stating the wheel size directly.
Use the tire and wheel already on the car as physical evidence, then compare that with restoration records, period literature, or marque expertise. If the car has 19-inch rims, the currently available listings align with that setup. On a car of this age, wheel swaps and long-ago repairs are common enough that a visual assumption is risky.
The available Durant 4-40 products in 475-19 come in two sidewall styles: Blackwall and Wide Whitewall. Both are Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather bias-ply tires and share the same listed load rating of 900 pounds at 32 psi. The difference is appearance rather than basic size.
That gives a Durant 4-40 owner some flexibility depending on whether the goal is a more restrained touring look or a brighter restored presentation. Sidewall choice can strongly influence how a late-1920s car reads visually from the curb. Match the sidewall treatment to the car's overall restoration theme rather than choosing by style alone.
The available tire listings for Durant 4-40 are from Goodyear. Both listed products are in the Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather series and use bias-ply construction in size 475-19. One is offered as a Blackwall and the other as a 2.875-inch Wide Whitewall.
For a buyer, that means brand choice is simple here and the decision shifts to appearance and wheel compatibility. Confirm that the car is using the 19-inch setup before narrowing down the sidewall style. Once the wheel size is verified, the remaining selection is largely about presentation and period character.
The available Durant 4-40 products are all in one series: Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather. Within that series, the listed differences are sidewall style rather than a change in construction approach or a shift to another family such as a radial or heavy-duty truck tire. Both listed tires are bias-ply 475-19 products for 19-inch rims.
That keeps the selection process focused on fit and appearance instead of sorting through multiple construction families. If your Durant 4-40 is on 19-inch wheels, the main choice is whether the car looks more correct to you in blackwall or wide whitewall form. The year-and-size listing remains the best guide when reconciling what is on the car today.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Durant 4-40 should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and ozone-producing equipment. Clean the tires gently, maintain proper inflation, and avoid long periods with the full vehicle weight resting in one spot. On a pre-war car with bias-ply tires and tubes, stable conditions matter more than constant use.
If the Durant 4-40 will sit for months, move it slightly from time to time or support it in a way that reduces flat-spotting stress. Inspect the wheels as well as the tires, because rust, burrs, or old rim surfaces can affect tube life. Good storage protects both the rubber and the tube-based assembly.
Tires on a Durant 4-40 should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check several times during the season even if mileage is low. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, air loss, uneven wear, valve stem condition, and signs of tube or rim trouble. Collector cars from the late 1920s can spend long periods parked, which makes regular inspection more important, not less.
A short pre-drive routine catches the issues most likely to strand or damage a low-use car. Check inflation with an accurate gauge, scan for cuts or age-related cracking, and watch how the car sits after storage. If anything looks irregular, have the tire and wheel assembly evaluated before putting the Durant 4-40 back on the road.
Tires on a Durant 4-40 should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, repeated air loss, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. Tread depth alone is not a reliable guide on a collector car that sees limited miles. A pre-war bias-ply tire can age out long before it wears out.
That is why condition and age matter as much as appearance on a show-and-tour car. Have older tires inspected by a specialist who understands vintage tube-type assemblies and antique wheel construction. If the car has been sitting for years, replacement is often the prudent path before any meaningful road use returns.
Restoration & Authenticity
Durant 4-40 is associated here with two 1929 size references: 28X4.75 and 475-19. The available replacement products are Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather bias-ply tires in 475-19, offered in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall form. That gives a strong period-style replacement path, but the exact original assembly on an individual Durant 4-40 should still be matched to the car's own wheel and restoration history.
For an authenticity-minded owner, the key is to separate period-correct appearance from exact as-delivered configuration. Wheel size, body presentation, and surviving historical evidence all play a role in that decision. Club resources, factory literature, and older photographs are useful when you want the tire choice on a Durant 4-40 to support a serious restoration.
Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Durant 4-40 is judged and perceived. Size, sidewall treatment, overall profile, and construction style all influence whether the car presents as a coherent late-1920s restoration. Even when the tire physically mounts, the wrong proportions can alter the car's stance and visual authenticity.
That matters most when the car is headed for formal judging or when the restoration aims to reflect period practice closely. Judges and informed buyers often notice whether the tire height and sidewall character suit the body and wheels. For a Durant 4-40, getting the wheel diameter and period look right is part of preserving the car's value story.
The available Durant 4-40 tires in 475-19 are offered in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles. Both can suit a late-1920s restoration depending on the intended presentation, because sidewall treatment was part of the visual character of the era rather than a purely modern styling choice. The tire series itself remains the same Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather bias-ply construction.
A more restrained restoration may lean toward blackwall, while a brighter, more formal presentation may favor the wide whitewall look. The right answer depends on the specific Durant 4-40, its trim level, and the image you are trying to recreate. Period photos and marque references are the best way to settle that choice with confidence.
Safety & Road Use
A Durant 4-40 can be driven on public roads only when the tires, tubes, wheels, brakes, steering, and overall chassis are in sound condition. The available products are bias-ply collector tires intended for an early motoring experience, not for modern high-speed expectations. Safe use depends as much on the condition of the car and wheel assemblies as on the tire itself.
That means a roadworthy Durant 4-40 should be treated as a carefully maintained vintage automobile, not as ordinary transportation. Keep speeds modest, allow for longer stopping distances, and avoid road hazards that a modern tire-and-suspension package might absorb more easily. A thorough mechanical review is wise before any regular road driving resumes.
Before driving a Durant 4-40, check tire inflation, visible cracking, valve stems, wheel condition, lug security, brake response, steering play, and any sign that a tube-type assembly is losing air. Also look at how the car sits after storage, because an underinflated bias-ply tire can reveal itself by stance before it reveals itself by feel. Pre-drive checks are especially important on a 1929 car that may not be used often.
That routine should become habit even for short local outings. A few minutes in the garage can prevent damage to hard-to-replace parts and reduce the chance of a roadside problem. On a Durant 4-40, tire condition is inseparable from wheel, tube, and chassis condition, so inspect the whole system rather than the tread alone.
A Durant 4-40 should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that suit a late-1920s automobile on bias-ply tires. Even with sound rubber, the steering, braking, suspension, and road manners of a pre-war car are very different from modern expectations. The right pace is one that respects the car's age, the road surface, and the limits of a tube-type collector tire setup.
In practical terms, that usually means touring rather than rushing. Build speed gradually, leave extra room around traffic, and avoid sustained fast running simply because the road allows it. The Durant 4-40 is happiest when driven in a way that preserves both the mechanicals and the character of the car.