Jordan JE Tires
Jordan built its reputation in the 1920s on stylish, upscale automobiles marketed with far more flair than most of its rivals, and the Jordan JE belongs to that late independent-car era. Produced for 1928, Jordan JE sits at a point when American tire sizing was moving away from earlier outside-diameter conventions toward newer numeric wheel-diameter sizing. That makes tire selection for Jordan JE less straightforward than the single model year might suggest, because two different size systems appear for the same year and they do not describe the wheel in the same way. The first thing to confirm on any Jordan JE is which rim diameter the car actually carries before choosing a tire.
Jordan JE Tire Size Guide
Jordan JE uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1928 model year. Rim diameter changed within production, with 18-inch and 24-inch rims both appearing in the fitment range for 1928. Jordan JE also uses an antique diameter-by-section size format on one listing, where the leading number gives the tire's outside diameter rather than the wheel diameter.
30X6.00 is an antique-format size used on 1928 Jordan JE applications. The 30 indicates an overall tire diameter of about 30 inches, the 6.00 indicates nominal section width, and the matching rim diameter is 24 inches rather than 30 inches. Choose this size only for a Jordan JE fitted with 24-inch rims, and confirm the wheel itself before selection.
6.00-18 is a numeric bias-ply size also used on 1928 Jordan JE applications. The 6.00 identifies the nominal section width and the 18 identifies the rim diameter in inches. Choose this size only for a Jordan JE fitted with 18-inch rims, since the same model year also appears with a different wheel diameter.
Jordan JE Tires by Year
Jordan JE production includes both 24-inch and 18-inch wheel fitments in 1928, so the specific rim diameter on the car should be confirmed before selecting a tire. The leading number in the 30X6.00 size is the tire's outside diameter, not the wheel size, while 6.00-18 uses the more familiar wheel-diameter format. These year listings are best used alongside the actual wheel measurement and any original vehicle paperwork you have for the car.
1928 Jordan JE
- 30X6.00
- 6.00-18
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on the two-size 1928 Jordan JE fitment split, the difference between antique and numeric sizing, and the practical checks that matter when matching a tire to a late-1920s Jordan.
Size Basics & Fitment
Jordan JE uses two tire sizes in 1928: 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. The 30X6.00 size corresponds to a 24-inch rim, while 6.00-18 fits an 18-inch rim. Those are not interchangeable descriptions of the same wheel, and they represent two different fitment paths within the same model year.
The practical step is to identify the actual wheel on the car before choosing a tire. Measure the rim, compare the stamping if present, and check any surviving factory literature or restoration records. On a Jordan JE, getting the wheel diameter right matters more than relying on the model year alone.
On a Jordan JE, 30X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 30 refers to the tire's approximate overall outside diameter in inches, and the 6.00 refers to the nominal section width. It does not mean the car uses a 30-inch wheel; the matching rim for this size is 24 inches.
That distinction is important because antique-size notation can mislead modern buyers who expect the last number to be the rim diameter. If your Jordan JE carries the larger-diameter wheel fitment, 30X6.00 may be correct, but the wheel itself should be checked before moving ahead with a period-style tire choice.
A 1928 Jordan JE can show two listed sizes because the fitment split is tied to rim diameter. One application uses 30X6.00 on a 24-inch rim, while another uses 6.00-18 on an 18-inch rim. The difference is not just a wording change between old and new size systems; it reflects different wheels.
That means a Jordan JE owner should verify the specific wheel fitted to the car rather than choosing by year alone. Restored cars, long-stored cars, and cars assembled from mixed parts can all create confusion, so the safest route is to confirm the rim diameter first and treat the year listing as a starting point.
Jordan JE appears with two rim diameters for 1928: 24 inches with the 30X6.00 tire size and 18 inches with the 6.00-18 tire size. The antique-size code does not reveal the wheel diameter by itself, so the rim dimension has to be matched to the actual fitment rather than assumed from the tire label.
Checking the rim is especially important on cars from this era because wheels and tires were sometimes changed during restoration or over decades of use. Measure bead seat diameter if possible, inspect the wheel profile, and compare what is on the car with any marque references you trust for Jordan JE fitment.
Buying the Right Tire
The correct tire size for a 1928 Jordan JE is confirmed by the wheel fitted to the car. If the car has a 24-inch rim, the matching listed size is 30X6.00. If the car has an 18-inch rim, the matching listed size is 6.00-18.
Start with the wheel itself rather than the old tire, because old sidewalls can be damaged, mismatched, or simply absent. A careful measurement, plus any original service information or restoration notes for your Jordan JE, will do more to prevent an expensive fitment mistake than choosing from the year listing alone.
Made-to-order on a Jordan JE tire means the product is built as a specialty collector-vehicle tire rather than treated as a routine modern replacement. That status usually applies to uncommon sizes and period-style constructions needed for older automobiles whose tire demand is far smaller than that of current passenger cars.
For a Jordan JE owner, the important implication is product planning rather than fitment change. A made-to-order tire still has to match the exact size and rim diameter your car uses, and it is wise to settle those measurements first so the tire you choose supports the car's wheel type and restoration goals.
Jordan JE fitment spans two different sizing approaches rather than a long list of modern-style options. One is the older outside-diameter format, represented by 30X6.00, and the other is the numeric wheel-diameter format, represented by 6.00-18. Those systems reflect different stages in tire sizing practice during the late 1920s.
For the buyer, the key difference is not branding language but how the size identifies the wheel. On a Jordan JE, the antique-style code requires extra care because the first number is tire diameter, while the numeric code states the wheel diameter directly. Reading the size correctly prevents choosing a tire for the wrong rim.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Jordan JE should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with petroleum products. Tire pressure should be maintained at the appropriate operating level for the tire fitted, and the car should not sit for long periods with all weight bearing on one contact patch.
Collectors often improve long-term results by moving the Jordan JE periodically or supporting the car to reduce flat spotting and casing stress. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and regular visual checks for cracking, sidewall distortion, or bead-area deterioration all help preserve both appearance and serviceability on a low-use antique car.
Tires on a Jordan JE should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals, especially because a late-1920s car may see infrequent use separated by long storage periods. Check sidewalls, tread, valve areas, and the bead region for cracking, weathering, cuts, looseness, or irregular wear that could point to wheel or suspension issues.
That routine matters even more on a Jordan JE than on a modern car because age, storage history, and low annual mileage can hide deterioration. If the car is driven in tours or events, add an inspection after the outing as well. A specialist familiar with antique and pre-war tires can spot problems that a casual garage check may miss.
Tires on a Jordan JE should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, casing distortion, repeated air loss, or impact damage makes continued use questionable, even if the tread still looks serviceable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on cars that spend much of their lives parked or used only for occasional events.
The decision should be driven by condition and age history rather than tread depth alone. If a Jordan JE carries very old tires, including period pieces retained for authenticity, have them evaluated by a specialist and consider reserving them for display use. Mechanical sympathy matters on a car from this era, and the tires are a critical part of that equation.
Restoration & Authenticity
Jordan JE is associated here with two 1928 tire sizes: 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. That tells you Jordan JE fitment spans both an older outside-diameter convention and a newer numeric wheel-diameter convention within the same year. It does not reduce the car to a single one-size answer without checking the specific wheel arrangement on the individual automobile.
For restoration work, the most accurate path is to compare the car's existing wheels with period literature, surviving factory information, and Jordan club or historian guidance. Matching the Jordan JE to the correct size system helps preserve both appearance and stance, which are central to an authentic late-1920s restoration.
Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and judged credibility of a Jordan JE because wheel diameter, tire profile, and overall stance are highly visible on a 1920s automobile. Using the wrong size can alter proportions, fender clearance, and the period look in ways that experienced judges and marque enthusiasts notice quickly.
On a Jordan JE, the issue is especially important because 1928 includes both 24-inch and 18-inch wheel-related sizes. A carefully restored car benefits from tire dimensions that suit its actual wheel equipment, and owners pursuing show accuracy should compare their fitment with accepted Jordan references and event judging standards before finalizing the setup.
Jordan JE sidewall correctness depends on the specific tire offered in the size that matches your wheels and on the restoration goal for the car. On automobiles from the late 1920s, sidewall appearance is part of the visual character, and period-correct choices should complement the era, wheel finish, and intended presentation standard rather than follow a universal rule.
The best approach is to choose the sidewall style that aligns with the exact Jordan JE tire size you need and the way the car is being restored, whether for driving, local show display, or formal judging. Comparing period photographs, sales literature, and marque-club guidance will usually point you toward the most convincing result.
Safety & Road Use
A properly selected tire in the correct size can support public-road use for a Jordan JE, but safety depends on far more than tread alone. Wheel condition, tube and flap condition where applicable, inflation, brake performance, steering integrity, and the overall mechanical state of the car all have to be considered together on a late-1920s automobile.
A Jordan JE should be driven with the limitations of its era in mind, even when fitted with fresh collector tires. Conservative speeds, smooth road surfaces, and careful pre-drive checks are part of responsible operation. The tire must match the actual rim diameter on the car, because a size error creates a basic safety problem before the drive even begins.
Before driving a Jordan JE, inspect tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread integrity, valve condition, and wheel security. Also check that the tire size installed matches the wheel diameter on the car, since Jordan JE appears with both 24-inch-rim and 18-inch-rim fitments in 1928. A quick look at brakes, steering play, and fluid condition should be part of the same routine.
That pre-drive habit matters because antique automobiles often spend long stretches parked between uses. Small issues that would be obvious on a daily driver can go unnoticed on a collector car until the first mile of the outing. A few careful minutes in the garage can prevent damage to a rare Jordan JE and make the drive far more predictable.
A Jordan JE should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that suit both the age of the chassis and the type of collector tire fitted. Even with correctly matched tires, a 1928 automobile does not deliver the braking, steering response, or road isolation of a modern car, so speed should always leave a wide margin for stopping distance and surface changes.
The sensible standard is to let the car, road, and tire condition set the pace rather than traffic pressure. Smooth secondary roads and relaxed touring speeds are much kinder to a Jordan JE than sustained fast running. Owners should also remember that a mechanically sound car with correctly fitted tires is still an antique machine, not a modern highway cruiser.