La Salle 340 Tires

La Salle 340 uses three listed sizes across 1930 and 1931: 31X6.20 for 1930, 650-19 for 1930 and 1931, and 700-18 for 1931. The 650-19 products fit 19-inch rims, while 700-18 fits 18-inch rims. The 31X6.20 code is an older diameter-by-section style and should be matched carefully against the car's existing wheel and tire information.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not enough if the car has been changed over time. Start by measuring or reading the wheel diameter on the car, then match that to the listed size family. A La Salle 340 with 19-inch wheels belongs in the 650-19 group, while an 18-inch-wheel 1931 car belongs in the 700-18 group.

On a La Salle 340, 31X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size code. The first number, 31, is the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, not the wheel diameter. The second number, 6.20, is the nominal section width, so the code describes the tire's outer dimensions rather than directly naming the rim size in the way later modern sizing does.

That matters because a buyer can easily mistake the 31 for a wheel size, which would be incorrect. When dealing with a La Salle 340 carrying an older style marking like 31X6.20, compare the existing wheel, surviving tire markings, and vehicle literature before moving ahead. Early pre-war cars often sit right at the point where sizing conventions overlap.

La Salle 340 uses both 19-inch and 18-inch rim diameters in the listed range. The 650-19 products fit 19-inch rims and cover 1930 as well as part of 1931, while 700-18 fits 18-inch rims for 1931. The 31X6.20 code does not state its rim diameter in the size itself, which is why older size markings require extra care.

For a buyer, wheel diameter is the first hard checkpoint because an 18-inch tire will not fit a 19-inch rim and vice versa. Before selecting anything for a La Salle 340, inspect the wheel directly for stampings or measure it across the bead seat area. That verification matters more than relying on registration year or assumptions about originality.

La Salle 340 uses pre-war bias-ply tire formats in the available range, including 650-19 and 700-18, and those listed products are bias-ply construction. Those period fitments are tube-type applications, so a tube is required. That is consistent with the way early 1930s passenger car tires were built and serviced.

Using the correct tube matters for both fitment and durability on a collector car that may sit for long periods between drives. Match the tube to the tire size and wheel condition, and inspect the rim carefully for rust, pitting, or burrs before mounting. A sound tube-and-rim combination is just as important as choosing the correct outer tire size.

Confirming the correct tire size for a 1930 or 1931 La Salle 340 starts with the wheel diameter and the surviving size information already on the car. A 19-inch wheel points you toward 650-19, while an 18-inch wheel points you toward 700-18. If the car carries an older marking such as 31X6.20, use that as a clue but verify it against the wheel and other period references tied to the exact car.

Collector cars often have replacement wheels, mixed spare assemblies, or older restorations that do not perfectly match the year on the title. Check all four road wheels and the spare, then compare sidewall markings, wheel stampings, and restoration paperwork if available. That process is usually enough to separate a correct La Salle 340 fitment from a close-looking but incorrect pre-war size.

La Salle 340 tires in the listed range are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles, although the exact choices depend on size. The 650-19 offerings include blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while 700-18 adds blackwall, wide whitewall, and a double-whitewall option. Those choices let a buyer tune the look toward a more restrained factory-style appearance or a fuller concours-style presentation.

For a restoration-minded La Salle 340, sidewall style should be chosen with the car's intended presentation in mind. Blackwalls typically suit a more conservative period look, while whitewall variants can emphasize the formal styling that many luxury-adjacent pre-war cars carried. If the car is being judged, compare the sidewall treatment to period photography, marque references, and the overall character of the restoration.

La Salle 340 tires in the listed sizes are offered by Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, and STA, depending on size and intended use. Firestone appears in both Classic Bias Ply and Balloon series, Lester appears in Classic Bias Ply, Excelsior appears in Comp H, and STA appears in Transport Highway for 700-18. That gives the La Salle 340 buyer a mix of traditional passenger-car styling and a heavier-duty alternative in one size.

Brand choice on a collector car usually comes down to how original-looking the finished car needs to be and how the car will be used. A touring-oriented owner may prioritize a familiar period silhouette and sidewall treatment, while someone sorting out a utility or special-purpose setup may look more closely at the heavier-duty 700-18 option. Keep brand selection secondary to correct size and wheel diameter.

La Salle 340 has several distinct series in the available range: Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Balloon, Comp H, and Transport Highway. The Classic Bias Ply and Balloon lines are both period-style bias-ply passenger tires, while Comp H is another vintage-pattern bias-ply option. Transport Highway stands apart as a military and truck-oriented bias-ply offering in 700-18 rather than a typical passenger-car presentation.

That means a La Salle 340 owner should think about the car's purpose before choosing among series. For a standard restoration or touring car, the passenger-car bias-ply families will usually be the natural place to focus. The heavier-duty Transport Highway option may suit a specialized use case, but it should be selected only after confirming that the wheel, clearance, and intended application genuinely call for it.

A stored La Salle 340 should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Bias-ply tires on a pre-war car can flat-spot if left standing in one position for long periods, especially when the car is heavy and seldom moved. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and correct inflation are all part of preserving both the tires and the overall ride quality.

If the La Salle 340 will sit for months at a time, move it occasionally or place it on supports that reduce sustained load on the tires. Avoid letting the tires rest in damp conditions or against surfaces that can trap moisture around the casing and wheel. Good storage habits slow sidewall aging and help keep an expensive pre-war tire set from deteriorating before its time.

Tires on a La Salle 340 should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check at regular intervals even if the car sees very little mileage. On a pre-war collector car, age, storage conditions, and wheel condition can matter more than tread wear. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, deformation from long storage, valve stem issues, and any evidence of tube or rim trouble.

That routine is especially important because a La Salle 340 may spend more time parked than driven, which can hide tire aging until the car is put back on the road. Include the spare in the same inspection cycle, since it may be older or less frequently checked than the road tires. A specialist familiar with early bias-ply construction is worth involving during seasonal servicing.

A La Salle 340 tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, impact damage, or chronic air loss suggests the casing is no longer trustworthy, even if the tread still appears deep. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out. That is especially true on pre-war bias-ply tires, where visual condition alone does not always tell the whole story about structural health.

Treat time and condition as seriously as tread depth on a La Salle 340. If a tire has spent years stationary under load, has begun to show uneven shape, or simply feels dry and brittle, it is no longer a good candidate for continued road use. Replacement decisions on a low-mileage collector car should be conservative, especially before any tour, event, or highway movement.

La Salle 340 is associated here with 31X6.20, 650-19, and 700-18, all of them period-style pre-war sizes. The available tire families include Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Balloon, Comp H, and, in one 700-18 case, Transport Highway. That mix shows that more than one period-appropriate construction style and presentation exists within the size range tied to the La Salle 340.

For a restoration, the right answer depends on the exact year, wheel diameter, and the standard of originality being pursued. A touring restoration may simply need the correct size and an era-appropriate sidewall, while a judged car may need closer alignment with period photographs, surviving original paperwork, or marque-club guidance. Size correctness comes first, then series and sidewall style refine authenticity.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a La Salle 340 is judged and how convincing the restoration appears to knowledgeable enthusiasts. Wheel diameter, sidewall treatment, overall tire profile, and period-correct construction all influence whether the car looks right for 1930 or 1931. A visually incorrect tire can distract from otherwise excellent paint, trim, and coachwork on a pre-war luxury-class automobile.

From a value standpoint, the tire choice on a La Salle 340 signals the restorer's attention to detail. Buyers and judges tend to notice when the car sits properly on the right diameter wheel with an era-appropriate sidewall style. If authenticity matters, compare the car to period images and consult La Salle and Cadillac-era specialists before finalizing the tire presentation.

La Salle 340 tires are available here in blackwall, wide whitewall, and, for one 700-18 option, double-whitewall form. Any decision about correctness should be tied to the car's year, trim presentation, and the style of restoration being pursued. On a pre-war American car in this class, sidewall treatment is a major visual element because it changes the stance and overall formality of the finished car.

A conservative restoration may favor blackwalls, while a more formal show presentation may lean toward wide whitewalls. The key is consistency with the rest of the car rather than simply choosing the boldest sidewall available. Period sales literature, surviving original photos, and marque-club input are the best ways to decide which La Salle 340 sidewall style looks historically right.

A properly fitted, correctly mounted, and well-maintained set of period-style bias-ply tires can be suitable for driving a La Salle 340 on public roads within the limits of the car and the tire design. These are pre-war style tires, not modern high-speed radials, so their handling, braking feel, and stability characteristics are different from contemporary passenger-car tires. Safety starts with correct size, sound wheels, proper tubes, and careful inspection.

Road use in a La Salle 340 should be approached as vintage motoring, not modern commuting. Keep speeds moderate, allow greater stopping distance, and remember that steering feel and lane tracking will reflect early-1930s chassis design as much as tire construction. A freshly restored car should be sorted gradually before any longer trip, especially if its wheels, brakes, or suspension history is uncertain.

Before driving a La Salle 340, check inflation, sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel hardware, and any sign that the tire has shifted or settled on the rim after storage. Because the La Salle 340 uses tube-type pre-war bias-ply fitments, the condition of the wheel and tube matters along with the outer casing. Also confirm that all four road tires and the spare match the intended size family for the wheel diameter on the car.

That inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine including brakes, steering, and wheel bearings. A collector car can look sound in the garage yet reveal problems only once it is rolling and loaded. Making tire inspection habitual on a La Salle 340 reduces the chance of discovering an age-related issue far from home.

A La Salle 340 on original-type bias-ply tires should be driven at prudent vintage-car speeds rather than pushed as if it were equipped with modern radial touring tires. The car's early-1930s chassis, braking, and steering systems all set practical limits that are at least as important as the tire itself. Even when the tire is new, the overall driving experience remains that of a pre-war automobile.

In practice, that means building speed gradually, avoiding abrupt lane changes, and treating sustained high-speed travel with caution. The best road pace for a La Salle 340 is the one at which the car feels settled, steers cleanly, and leaves generous room for braking. If the car feels nervous, wanders, or reacts poorly to road grooves, slow down and inspect the entire running gear.