Graham Special Tires

Graham Special uses six listed tire sizes across the years covered here: 28X5.50 for 1930, 550-18 for 1930-1931, 30X6.00 for 1930, 6.00-18 for 1930, 6.00-17 for 1931, and 600-16 for 1935 and 1939. The rim diameters directly confirmed in available products are 18 inches for 550-18 and 16 inches for 600-16, while 6.00-18 and 6.00-17 identify 18-inch and 17-inch rims within the size code itself. The antique-style 28X5.50 and 30X6.00 sizes do not state wheel diameter in the code.

That spread means year alone is not enough, especially for 1930 and 1931. Start by checking the exact year, then verify the wheel diameter on the car, and finally compare the existing tire size or original vehicle paperwork before choosing among the listed options.

On a Graham Special, 28X5.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 28 refers to the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, while 5.50 refers to nominal section width. It does not mean a 28-inch wheel, and it does not directly state the rim diameter the way a later size such as 550-18 or 600-16 does.

That distinction matters because modern buyers often assume the first number is the wheel size when it is not. If your Graham Special carries an early size written with an X, confirm the wheel diameter separately from the actual rim before trying to match a replacement tire.

A 1930 Graham Special has four listed sizes because that model year appears with multiple fitment configurations: 28X5.50, 550-18, 30X6.00, and 6.00-18. Those sizes are not simple duplicates, and they point to differences in wheel diameter and overall tire dimensions rather than one interchangeable setup. Two of them are early diameter-by-section sizes, while the others are later numeric forms tied to 18-inch rims.

For a 1930 Graham Special, the practical answer is to identify the exact wheel and the size already fitted before replacing anything. If the car is a restoration, compare the wheel diameter, the tire size stencil, and any surviving factory or club references so you choose the correct 1930 configuration rather than another one from the same year.

Graham Special does not use one universal wheel diameter across the years listed here. The available fitments include 18-inch applications, a 17-inch application in 1931, and later 16-inch applications in 1935 and 1939. On sizes such as 550-18, 6.00-18, 6.00-17, and 600-16, the wheel diameter is part of the code, while antique sizes such as 28X5.50 and 30X6.00 require a separate wheel check.

If you are standing beside the car and only need one thing to confirm first, make it the rim diameter. Once the wheel size is verified, the list narrows quickly and it becomes much easier to separate an early 18-inch Graham Special from a later 16-inch car.

A 1930 or 1931 Graham Special should be matched by checking three things together: the model year, the wheel diameter, and the tire size already associated with the car. For 1930, the listed choices are 28X5.50, 550-18, 30X6.00, and 6.00-18. For 1931, the listed choices are 550-18 and 6.00-17, which means two different wheel-based fitments are possible within that single year.

Begin with the actual rim measurement rather than the body style or trim assumptions. If the car is restored, compare the wheels and any surviving period paperwork; if the car is an older restoration, also verify that the tires currently on it were not substituted from another Graham application sometime in its life.

Graham Special tires in the currently supported sizes shown here are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall form. The 550-18 offerings include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall choices, and 600-16 is also offered in all three of those sidewall styles. That gives owners room to aim either for a restrained period look or a more formal whitewall presentation depending on the particular car.

Sidewall style should follow the character of the restoration as much as the size itself. A preserved driver may suit blackwalls, while a more formal restoration may call for a whitewall treatment that matches the era and presentation level of the Graham Special.

The currently listed Graham Special products are spread across several brands, including Excelsior, Firestone, BFGoodrich, Michelin, Coker Classic, Avon, Ford Script, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Camac. Those brands appear within the supported 550-18 and 600-16 sizes rather than across every listed fitment year. Some lines focus on passenger-style bias-ply tires, while others lean toward specialty military or utility tread patterns in 600-16.

Brand choice comes after the fitment is settled. Once the correct size and wheel diameter are confirmed, the remaining decision is usually about appearance, period character, and intended use rather than whether one brand can substitute for a different size.

Graham Special coverage includes a wide mix of series names, including Comp H, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Double Rivet, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Turbospeed Mk4, Excelsior Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Tourist Crossply, Traction Mileage, Goodyear Military NDT, Deluxe All-Weather, Firestone Classic Military, Firestone Military NDT, Military NDT, NATO CJ110, and Firestone Classic Truck. All are bias-ply in the currently listed products, but they differ in visual style, tread character, and whether they present as passenger, military, or utility-oriented tires.

For a Graham Special owner, the practical divide is between passenger-car presentation and specialty-use tread styles. A touring or show restoration usually points toward the passenger-oriented classic bias-ply lines, while the military and truck-pattern offerings in 600-16 are more specialized and should be chosen only if they match the intended look and use of the car.

A Graham Special should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, heaters, and electric motors. Bias-ply collector tires do best when the car is kept clean, the inflation is checked regularly, and the vehicle is not left for long periods on a dirty or damp floor. If storage will be extended, moving the car occasionally helps prevent flat spotting.

Owners who store a Graham Special through an off-season should make tire care part of the normal preservation routine rather than an afterthought. Covering the tires from light, keeping the car indoors, and reducing long-term stress on one contact patch will help preserve both appearance and ride quality.

Tires on a Graham Special should be inspected before each meaningful drive and again during routine seasonal maintenance. Look for sidewall cracking, weathering, tread separation, irregular wear, low inflation, and any sign that an older wheel or tube is affecting the tire's shape. On a collector car that sees light use, age and storage conditions are often more important than mileage.

A short pre-drive walkaround goes a long way with a Graham Special, especially on bias-ply tires. If the car has been sitting, roll it out slowly, let the tires warm up, and recheck inflation and visible condition before committing to a longer road outing.

Tires on a Graham Special should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, flat spotting that does not recover, vibration, or structural concerns show up, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out. A tire that looks presentable on the outside may still be unsuitable for driving if the casing, tube, or internal structure has deteriorated.

That is especially true on a low-mileage Graham Special that spends more time parked than driven. Have older tires inspected by a specialist as part of the car's maintenance cycle, and treat age-related condition as seriously as visible tread wear when deciding whether the car is still road-ready.

Graham Special appears here with several period-appropriate size formats rather than one single original tire specification across all years. Early applications include 28X5.50 and 30X6.00 diameter-by-section sizing, while later listings include 550-18, 6.00-18, 6.00-17, and 600-16 numeric bias-ply sizes. The available product families for supported sizes are all bias-ply, which is consistent with the era represented by the Graham Special.

Original fitment should be confirmed against year-specific Graham references, surviving factory literature, and marque club knowledge. That matters most on 1930 and 1931 cars, where the model name alone does not narrow the tire choice to a single size.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Graham Special is judged and how convincingly it presents as a restoration. Size, sidewall style, tread character, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks properly sorted for its year and configuration. An otherwise strong restoration can look noticeably off if the wheel diameter or sidewall treatment does not match the car's period character.

For owners concerned with show presentation or long-term value, tire choice should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than a final accessory decision. Marque clubs, period photos, and original literature are the best references for deciding whether a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation suits a particular Graham Special.

Graham Special tires in supported modern offerings are available as blackwalls, wide whitewalls, and double-whitewalls. Any of those can be visually appropriate depending on the exact year, the car's trim level, and the style of restoration being pursued. The key is matching the sidewall treatment to the character of the specific Graham Special rather than assuming one style fits every year in the span.

A restrained driver-quality restoration may favor blackwalls, while a more formal or fully presented car may suit a whitewall treatment. If originality matters, compare the tire style to period photographs and marque references before settling on a sidewall design.

A Graham Special can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and fitted to wheels that are equally sound. The listed currently supported products are bias-ply tires, so they should be approached as period-style equipment rather than modern high-speed touring tires. Safety depends on the total condition of the tire, tube, wheel, suspension, and steering system together.

Public-road use should be matched to the car's era and mechanical condition. A well-sorted Graham Special can be enjoyed responsibly, but it should be driven within the limits of an early collector car and inspected carefully before any extended outing.

Before driving a Graham Special, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign of rubbing or uneven wear. On a bias-ply collector car, also pay attention to steering play, brake condition, wheel bearings, and whether the car has been sitting long enough for the tires to develop temporary flat spots. If the car has older tires, inspect them with extra care before road use.

A few careful minutes in the garage can prevent most avoidable tire-related problems. For a Graham Special with mixed restoration history, also verify that all four tires match in size and type before driving, since an incorrect substitute can upset both appearance and road manners.

A Graham Special on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that suit the age of the car, the road surface, and the mechanical condition of the vehicle. Even with new production bias-ply tires, the overall experience is different from a modern car, with more sensitivity to crown, tramlining, and steering correction. The tire should be treated as one part of a complete prewar driving system rather than as permission to use modern cruising speeds.

The practical approach is to build speed gradually, judge how the Graham Special feels, and stay well within the comfort zone of the car. Smooth secondary-road touring is a better match for these tires and chassis than sustained high-speed use.