Ford Model B Tires
Ford Model B was one of the very early Ford automobiles, built in the brass era when open motoring, simple mechanical design, and narrow high-pressure tires defined the driving experience. Produced for 1905, Ford Model B belongs to a period when tire sizing looks unfamiliar to modern buyers and wheel details matter more than the size code alone might suggest. Tire selection is non-trivial because the listed size uses an antique diameter-by-section format rather than a modern rim-based system. Before choosing a tire for a Ford Model B, confirm the wheel dimensions on the car itself and verify that the tire matches the original style of restoration you are aiming to preserve.
Ford Model B Tire Size Guide
Ford Model B uses one listed tire size across its 1905 production run: 28x3. This is an antique diameter-by-section size, so the 28 refers to the tire's outside diameter in inches and the 3 refers to its section width, rather than the wheel diameter. Available products in this size include two Universal Vintage Tire ribbed tread options with all-white and blackwall sidewalls. Products in this size are made to order. A tube is required.
Ford Model B Tires by Year
The year listing shows which tire size applies to each Ford Model B production year and is the quickest way to match a car to its correct fitment. The leading number in the Ford Model B size code is the tire's outside diameter, not the wheel size, so the wheel itself should be checked before selecting a tire. Ford Model B was produced in a short brass-era run, so original vehicle literature or an experienced marque specialist remains a wise reference when finishing a restoration.
1905 Ford Model B
- 28X3
Best Ford Model B Tires for Sale
Two products from one brand are offered for Ford Model B fitment in 28x3, with both all-white and blackwall sidewall styles available. The available products are made to order.
28X3 Products
These are the available products for 28X3.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ for Ford Model B focuses on early antique tire sizing, how to interpret 28x3 correctly, what made-to-order means for available products, and how to care for brass-era tires on a low-use collector car.
Size Basics & Fitment
Ford Model B uses one listed tire size: 28x3 for 1905. That is the only size shown for the model in this year range, and the available products are offered in that antique-format size with both all-white and blackwall sidewall treatments.
Because 28x3 is an early brass-era size, the code should not be read like a modern passenger-car tire. A Ford Model B owner should treat the size as the starting point, then confirm the actual wheel dimensions and overall restoration goals before choosing between the available sidewall styles.
On a Ford Model B, 28x3 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 28 identifies the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, while the 3 identifies the nominal section width in inches. It does not state the wheel diameter the way a modern tire size would.
That distinction matters because many modern buyers assume the first number is the rim size, which is not the case on a Ford Model B. When working with an antique-size tire, verify the wheel itself and match the tire style to the character of the car, especially on a brass-era restoration where visual correctness is part of the appeal.
Ford Model B uses an antique-size tire code, so the rim diameter is not spelled out in the 28x3 marking. The size tells you the tire's outside diameter and section width, but the wheel diameter must be confirmed from the wheel itself and the tire specifications for the products being considered.
That is one of the most important fitment checks on a Ford Model B, because an antique-size marking can look complete while still leaving out the wheel measurement a buyer needs. On an unrestored or long-stored car, verify the wheel before moving forward so the tire choice matches the hardware actually fitted to the vehicle.
Yes, a Ford Model B using 28x3 antique-format tires requires tubes. This is the expected arrangement for a brass-era tire in this type of size and construction, and it should be treated as part of the complete fitment rather than an optional extra.
A tube-equipped setup is part of how an early Ford Model B tire package functions, so tube condition and compatibility deserve the same attention as the outer tire itself. If the car is being prepared for tours, shows, or demonstration driving, inspect the full wheel, tire, and tube assembly together rather than evaluating the casing alone.
Buying the Right Tire
A 1905 Ford Model B is listed with one tire size, 28x3. That simplifies the search, but the antique format still requires care because the size identifies outside diameter and width rather than the wheel diameter in the modern sense.
The practical approach is to confirm the wheel actually on the car, then choose the 28x3 tire in the sidewall style that best suits the restoration. That matters most on early cars, where replacement wheels, long storage, or older restoration work can leave a Ford Model B wearing components that differ from what a buyer expects.
Ford Model B tires are available here in two sidewall styles: all white and blackwall, both in 28x3. That gives owners a choice between a brighter period presentation and a more understated appearance while staying within the listed size for the car.
Sidewall style can affect the finished look of a Ford Model B almost as much as the wheel itself, especially on a brass-era restoration where every visual detail stands out. If authenticity is the priority, compare the sidewall choice against period photographs, restoration history, and the intended level of show judging rather than choosing on appearance alone.
For Ford Model B, the available 28x3 tires are listed as made to order. That means made-to-order is a characteristic of the products offered in this size rather than a separate fitment category or a difference in how the tire fits the car.
A Ford Model B owner should treat made-to-order status as part of planning a restoration or maintenance schedule, especially if the car is being prepared for an event or a fresh recommissioning. The key fitment question does not change: confirm the wheel and select the correct 28x3 tire in the sidewall style that matches the car's intended presentation.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Ford Model B should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, and ozone sources. Clean wheels and tires before storage, maintain proper inflation for the fitted assembly, and avoid leaving the car on damp floors for long periods.
Because a Ford Model B is a brass-era automobile with narrow antique tires, long static loads can stress the casings and tubes more quickly than many owners expect. Rolling the car slightly from time to time or supporting it appropriately during long-term storage helps reduce flat spotting and preserves both the appearance and service life of the tire package.
Tires on a Ford Model B should be inspected before every drive and again after any long storage period. Check inflation, sidewall condition, tread surface, bead area, tube-related leakage signs, and the condition of the wheels themselves, since the assembly works as a system on an early car.
Frequent inspection matters on a Ford Model B because brass-era tires can spend long stretches parked and then be expected to carry the car at low speeds with very little warning if something has deteriorated. A careful once-over in the garage is far easier than dealing with a failure during a parade, show movement, or short road outing.
Ford Model B tires should be replaced when age, cracking, separation, hardening, repeated air loss, or visible structural deterioration appears, even if tread still looks acceptable. On a brass-era car, age and storage history often matter more than tread depth because the tire may have seen very low mileage over many years.
That principle is especially important for a Ford Model B that is driven only occasionally, since infrequent use can hide deterioration until the car is put back into motion. If an older tire is already on the car, have the assembly evaluated carefully before use, and be particularly cautious with any period-looking tire whose age cannot be established with confidence.
Restoration & Authenticity
Ford Model B is represented here with 28x3 tires in a ribbed tread pattern, offered by Universal Vintage Tire in both all-white and blackwall versions. That establishes the listed size and style family available for the car, but early Ford production and restoration history can leave individual cars with differences that should be checked against period references.
For an authenticity-focused Ford Model B restoration, the most useful approach is to start with the 28x3 size and then compare tread appearance, sidewall presentation, and wheel details to original literature, surviving examples, and marque expertise. Early cars often reward that extra step because small visual differences are highly visible on a brass-era chassis.
Yes, correct tire fitment can influence both the presentation and judged credibility of a Ford Model B. On a brass-era automobile, tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall proportion are prominent visual elements, so an incorrect or visually inconsistent tire choice can distract from an otherwise careful restoration.
Owners pursuing show judging or top-tier restoration work should consider tires part of the historical presentation, not just a functional necessity. Matching the Ford Model B to the proper 28x3 format and a sidewall style that suits the period appearance helps the car look complete, and marque clubs or experienced early Ford restorers can help refine the final choice.
Ford Model B tires are available here with all-white and blackwall sidewalls in 28x3, and either can shape the character of the finished restoration. On a car from 1905, sidewall appearance is a visible period detail rather than a minor cosmetic choice, especially because the tire profile is tall and narrow.
The right answer for a Ford Model B depends on the restoration goal. A buyer aiming for a specific historical presentation should compare the sidewall style to period imagery, previous restoration choices, and any show standards that apply, while a more general collector restoration can use the available style that best matches the car's overall visual direction.
Safety & Road Use
A Ford Model B is a brass-era automobile, so any road use should be approached conservatively even when correctly sized new tires are fitted. The car's original design, braking, steering, and overall mechanical capability belong to a much earlier motoring world than modern traffic, and the tires are only one part of that equation.
In practice, a Ford Model B is best treated as a low-speed collector car suited to short, carefully planned drives, parade movement, and show use rather than routine modern-road service. Before any public-road outing, make sure the entire car has been reviewed with early-vehicle safety in mind, not just the condition of the tires.
Before driving a Ford Model B, check tire inflation, visible casing condition, wheel security, valve condition, and any signs of tube leakage or bead disturbance. Because the car is from the brass era, it is equally important to inspect steering, brakes, wheel bearings, and basic chassis integrity before moving it under its own power.
That broader pre-drive check matters because a Ford Model B depends on the whole mechanical system working in harmony at low speed. Even if the 28x3 tires appear sound, an overlooked wheel or chassis issue can turn a short demonstration drive into a much larger problem, so a methodical inspection is part of responsible ownership.
A Ford Model B should be driven at very modest speeds consistent with brass-era touring and exhibition use. The tire format, vehicle design, and age of the overall platform all point toward restrained operation rather than sustained fast road driving, even when the tire size and style are correct.
For most owners, that means treating a Ford Model B as a low-speed historical automobile and planning routes, traffic exposure, and stopping distances accordingly. If the car has been newly restored or returned to service after long storage, begin with brief, controlled operation and build confidence only after the entire vehicle has proven itself mechanically sound.