Ford Model A Tires

Ford Model A was the first passenger car sold by the Ford Motor Company, built only for the 1903 and 1904 model years during the earliest brass-era period of American motoring. Small, light, and mechanically simple by later standards, it belongs to a time when tire sizing, wheel construction, and road conditions were very different from what most collectors know from later vintage cars. Tire selection for Ford Model A is not difficult because only one size appears here, but it still requires care because the size uses an early diameter-by-section format rather than a modern wheel-based code. Confirm the wheel and rim details on the actual car before choosing a tire.

Ford Model A Tire Size Guide

28X31904

Ford Model A uses one distinct tire size across the 1904 model year: 28X3. This is an antique diameter-by-section size, so the 28 refers to the tire's overall outside diameter in inches and the 3 refers to its nominal section width, rather than the wheel diameter. Two products are available in this size from Universal Vintage Tire, offered in all-white and blackwall sidewall styles. Because these are early bias-type collector tires in an antique format, a tube is required. The available products in 28X3 are made to order.

Ford Model A Tires by Year

The year listing shows which tire size applies to each Ford Model A year so you can match the car first and the tire second. The leading number in the Ford Model A size code is the tire's outside diameter, not the wheel size, so verify the wheel and rim details on the car before making a final selection. These listings cover early brass-era Ford Model A fitments, and original factory literature or an experienced brass-era specialist remains a wise reference when checking an unrestored car.

Best Ford Model A Tires for Sale

Two tires are available from one brand for Ford Model A fitment in 28X3, with both all-white and blackwall sidewall styles offered. All available products in this size are made to order.

28X3 Products

These are the available products for 28X3.

Made To Order

Universal Ribbed Tread | All White | 28x3

Universal Vintage Tire

SidewallAll White
Rim Diameter—
Rim Width—
Weight15 lb
Max Load—
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Made To Order

Universal Ribbed Tread | Blackwall | 28x3

Universal Vintage Tire

SidewallBlackwall
Rim Diameter—
Rim Width—
Weight15 lb
Max Load—
Buy Now

Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQ below focuses on the early Ford Model A tire questions that matter most, including what 28X3 means, whether tubes are required, how made-to-order collector tires differ from regular replacement tires, and how to care for a brass-era car that sees limited use.

Size Basics & Fitment

Ford Model A uses one listed tire size here: 28X3 for the 1904 model year. The available tires in that size come from Universal Vintage Tire and are offered in both all-white and blackwall versions, giving buyers a period-style choice without changing the size itself.

That simplicity helps, but early brass-era sizing still needs careful verification because 28X3 is not a modern wheel-based code. Match the tire size to the car, then inspect the actual wheels, rims, and hardware on the vehicle to make sure the car has not been altered over the last century.

On a Ford Model A, 28X3 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 28, describes the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, while the second number, 3, describes its nominal section width. It does not identify the wheel diameter the way a later size such as 6.70-15 or 205/75R15 would.

That difference matters because many modern buyers assume the first number is the rim size, and on brass-era tires it is not. When working with a Ford Model A, treat the size code as only part of the fitment picture and confirm the wheel and rim arrangement on the car before choosing a replacement tire.

The Ford Model A size shown here, 28X3, does not reveal rim diameter in the size code itself. Early antique tire sizes were written around outside diameter and section width, so the wheel size has to be confirmed separately from the wheel, rim components, or the detailed tire specifications tied to that size.

That makes a hands-on inspection especially important on a Ford Model A, where surviving cars may have seen repairs, restoration work, or later replacement parts over many decades. If the car is apart, compare the wheels and rims side to side and verify they are a matched set before fitting new tires.

Yes, Ford Model A fitment in 28X3 should be treated as a tube-required application. This is an early antique-format tire used on a brass-era vehicle, and the available replacement tires are collector-style bias-type products rather than modern tubeless radial designs.

Using the correct tube setup is part of getting the tire to seat and function properly on an early rim system. When preparing a Ford Model A for use, inspect the rim condition, flap or liner requirements if applicable, and the overall integrity of the wheel hardware so the complete assembly works together as intended.

Buying the Right Tire

Ford Model A tires in 28X3 are available here in two sidewall styles: all white and blackwall. Both are offered in the same basic size, so the choice is visual rather than dimensional.

For a restoration-minded owner, sidewall appearance can change the whole presentation of a brass-era car. A blackwall usually gives a more restrained early motoring look, while an all-white tire delivers a brighter display style, so the right choice depends on whether the Ford Model A is being prepared for touring, display, or a particular restoration theme.

The Ford Model A tires listed here are made by Universal Vintage Tire. Both available products use the same 28X3 size and differ by sidewall style rather than by brand.

That means the buyer's main decision is not between several manufacturers, but between presentation details and the correct fit for the car itself. On an early Ford Model A, accurate sizing, proper tube use, and sound wheel condition matter more than chasing brand variety.

For Ford Model A tires, made-to-order means the available 28X3 products are specialty collector tires rather than ordinary off-the-shelf replacement tires. Both the all-white and blackwall versions in this size carry that made-to-order designation.

That is typical of very early brass-era applications where production volumes are small and authenticity matters. Buyers should approach a Ford Model A tire purchase with extra attention to sizing, wheel condition, and restoration goals first, since the tire itself is being produced as a niche period-style item.

Maintenance & Longevity

A Ford Model A should be stored clean, dry, and out of direct sunlight, with the tires protected from ozone sources such as electric motors, chargers, and welders. Brass-era tires benefit from stable temperatures and a garage environment that avoids long periods of dampness or hard seasonal swings.

If the car sits for extended periods, keep the Ford Model A on clean surfaces, maintain proper inflation for storage, and move it occasionally to prevent flat spotting and prolonged stress in one contact area. Many owners also reduce weight on the tires during long-term display by using stands placed correctly under the chassis.

Tires on a Ford Model A should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. On a brass-era car, that means checking for cracking, tread separation, casing damage, tube-related problems, loose rim components, and any sign that the tire has shifted or seated unevenly.

Short low-speed use can hide problems until the car is loaded or turned sharply, so routine inspection is part of ownership rather than an occasional chore. A Ford Model A that has been parked for months deserves a fresh inspection before it moves again, even if the tires still look visually presentable.

Ford Model A tires should be replaced when age, cracking, casing deterioration, impact damage, persistent air loss, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks usable. On a brass-era car, age usually matters more than mileage because many collector vehicles cover very little distance but spend years under static load.

That principle is especially important if a Ford Model A carries any older period tire that has uncertain history or long storage time. Tread depth alone is not a reliable guide on collector tires, so replacement decisions should be driven by age, condition, and specialist inspection rather than appearance by itself.

Restoration & Authenticity

Ford Model A is listed here with a 28X3 tire size for the 1904 model year. The available replacements shown in that size are Universal Vintage Tire ribbed tread products, offered with either all-white or blackwall sidewalls.

If you are restoring a Ford Model A to a specific period standard, the key starting point is the size itself and the overall early-tire appearance that best suits the car. For exact restoration decisions, compare your car against period photographs, factory literature, and brass-era Ford specialists who understand how these earliest cars were equipped and presented.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and judged authenticity of a Ford Model A. On an early brass-era car, tire size, sidewall appearance, and overall visual proportion are highly visible details that can either support or undermine an otherwise careful restoration.

Collectors and judges usually notice whether a Ford Model A looks properly grounded on its wheels, even before they study mechanical details. Choosing the correct 28X3 size and a sidewall style that matches the restoration approach can help the car appear more coherent, while marque clubs and specialist judges remain the best references for event-specific standards.

Ford Model A tires are available here in both all-white and blackwall sidewall styles. Either can suit a brass-era presentation depending on the restoration's objective, since early motoring displays often place strong emphasis on period appearance as well as raw fitment.

A blackwall Ford Model A usually reads as more restrained and mechanically purposeful, while an all-white tire creates a brighter, more formal show presentation. The right choice depends on whether the car is being restored to a specific historical image, a club judging target, or a broadly period-correct touring and display standard.

Safety & Road Use

Ford Model A tires in 28X3 are specialty collector tires intended for a very early brass-era automobile, and road use should be approached conservatively. A car of this age needs more than good tires alone; wheel condition, rim integrity, steering, brakes, and chassis hardware all have to be in sound operating order before any public-road movement is considered.

In practical terms, a Ford Model A is best treated as a low-speed collector car suited to carefully planned outings, demonstrations, and short local drives rather than modern traffic demands. If the car is newly restored or newly acquired, a specialist pre-drive mechanical review is a sensible step before regular use.

Before driving a Ford Model A, check tire inflation, visible casing condition, tube-related air retention, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and the overall seating of the tire on the rim. Because this is a brass-era platform, you should also inspect steering play, brake function, wheel bearings, and any looseness in suspension or chassis attachments.

Those checks matter because even a correctly sized 28X3 tire cannot compensate for worn mechanical systems on a very early automobile. A brief walkaround and mechanical once-over before each outing helps keep a Ford Model A predictable and reduces the chance of discovering a problem only after the car is already underway.

A Ford Model A should be driven at very modest speeds that respect both its brass-era design and the limitations of early-style tires, wheels, and braking systems. Even with fresh replacement tires, the car belongs to an era far removed from modern road performance, so speed should be governed by caution rather than by what traffic around it is doing.

For most owners, that means keeping a Ford Model A to gentle local operation, parade duty, or short exhibition runs where conditions can be controlled. Smooth acceleration, wide following distances, and avoidance of rough surfaces are part of using these cars responsibly and preserving both the tires and the car itself.