Locomobile 70 Tires

Locomobile 70 is listed with two tire sizes for 1928: 31X6.00 and 600-19. The 600-19 size uses a 19-inch rim, while 31X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size whose wheel diameter is not contained in the code itself and must be identified separately from the wheel or matching specifications.

That means a 1928 Locomobile 70 owner should not assume both sizes fit the same wheel. Start by checking the tire marking on the car, then measure or verify the wheel diameter before selecting a replacement. The year gets you close, but the wheel and existing fitment determine which of the two listed sizes is actually correct.

On a Locomobile 70, 31X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 31, refers to the tire’s approximate overall outside diameter in inches, and the second number, 6.00, refers to nominal section width. It does not directly tell you the wheel diameter the way a modern or later numeric size does.

That distinction matters because many buyers read the first number as if it were the rim diameter, which would be incorrect here. If your Locomobile 70 carries this style of size marking, inspect the wheel itself and compare the overall proportions of the tire and rim before choosing a replacement. Antique-format tires require more careful verification than later numeric sizes.

A 1928 Locomobile 70 can show two listed sizes because the model year appears with two different tire notation systems: 31X6.00 and 600-19. That usually points to a difference in wheel and tire setup rather than a simple alternate brand choice, since one size is antique diameter-by-section and the other is a numeric bias-ply size tied to a 19-inch rim.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not enough. Check the wheel diameter on the car, read any remaining sidewall markings, and compare the tire’s overall height and section width to the listed sizes. If the car is already assembled, the existing wheel is often the fastest way to sort out which of the two fitments belongs on that specific Locomobile 70.

Locomobile 70 uses at least one confirmed 19-inch rim application through the 600-19 size. The 31X6.00 listing does not state rim diameter in the size code, because antique-format sizing uses overall tire diameter and section width rather than wheel diameter as the visible marking.

That is why the wheel itself becomes the key reference point on a Locomobile 70 with antique-format sizing. Measure the rim diameter carefully or confirm it from the installed wheel before selecting a tire. If the car uses 600-19, the rim diameter question is already answered; if it uses 31X6.00, the wheel must be checked directly.

Confirming the correct tire size for a 1928 Locomobile 70 starts with identifying whether the car is set up for 31X6.00 or 600-19. Read any markings on the existing tires, verify the wheel diameter, and compare the current tire’s overall proportions. On this model year, 600-19 corresponds to a 19-inch rim, while 31X6.00 requires separate rim verification.

Original literature, restoration records, and marque expertise can help if the car has been altered over time. Cars that have passed through multiple owners sometimes carry later substitutions, so the wheel on the car matters as much as the year itself. A careful measurement now is far easier than correcting the wrong fit once the tires are mounted.

The currently listed Locomobile 70 product offering includes a wide whitewall style in 600-19. No other sidewall style is shown in the available product set for this model page, so the visible option here is a period-style wide whitewall paired with bias-ply construction.

For a luxury car such as Locomobile 70, sidewall appearance plays a major role in the finished look of the restoration. If your goal is period presentation, compare the available whitewall style to period photos, surviving examples, and the way your particular body and trim are being restored. Sidewall style is part fitment, part historical presentation.

The available Locomobile 70 product listing on this page shows 1 brand: Lester. The listed offering is a Lester 600-19 bias-ply tire with a wide whitewall sidewall treatment, which places it squarely in the traditional collector-tire category rather than a modern radial replacement style.

Brand matters less than getting the right size, construction type, and visual character for the car. Once the wheel diameter and size are confirmed, compare the tire’s sidewall style and overall profile to the kind of restoration you are building. For a car of this era, appearance and proportion are every bit as important as the basic size marking.

A Locomobile 70 should be stored on a clean, dry surface away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Keep the tires properly inflated for the weight they are carrying, avoid prolonged contact with petroleum products, and move the car periodically so one area of the casing is not loaded in the same spot for months at a time.

For a low-use collector car, storage habits have a direct effect on tire life and appearance. If the car will sit for an extended period, many owners reduce stress on the tires with careful support and regular visual checks. Good storage will not stop aging, but it does help preserve shape, sidewalls, and ride quality.

Tires on a Locomobile 70 should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals even if the car sees very little mileage. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, flat spotting, uneven wear, bead issues, and any change in how the tire sits on the rim.

Pre-war collector cars often spend long periods parked, and that can hide age-related problems until the car is put back into motion. A short inspection in the garage is worthwhile every time the car comes out. On a heavy luxury automobile, catching a problem early is far better than discovering it once the car is underway.

Tires on a Locomobile 70 should be replaced when age, casing condition, cracking, hardening, impact damage, or separation become evident, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out, especially on cars that are driven sparingly and stored for long intervals.

A handsome sidewall and deep tread do not guarantee that an old tire is still suitable for service. Age matters as much as mileage on a pre-war car, and replacement decisions should reflect how the car is actually used. If there is any doubt about the casing condition, a specialist inspection is the sensible next step.

Locomobile 70 is associated here with two size references for 1928: 31X6.00 and 600-19. The available product offering shown is a Lester Classic Bias Ply in 600-19 with a wide whitewall, which reflects the period-style replacement market rather than proving one single original factory tire across every surviving car.

For an authenticity-focused restoration, the best approach is to verify your individual Locomobile 70 against original sales literature, period photographs, and marque records. Cars of this level were often restored over decades, and wheel changes can happen long after production. Getting the tire right means matching the actual car, not just the model name.

Correct tire fitment can materially affect both the appearance and the credibility of a Locomobile 70 restoration. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the tire size, sidewall treatment, and overall stance look appropriate to the era and to the way the car was restored, especially on a rare luxury marque where presentation carries real weight.

That does not always mean one universal answer for every surviving Locomobile 70, because wheel and tire choices may vary by how a particular car was equipped or restored. The strongest approach is to match the tire to the actual wheel on the car and to support that choice with period references. Correct proportions can lift the entire restoration.

The currently shown Locomobile 70 option in 600-19 is a wide whitewall, which is visually consistent with many premium late-1920s luxury car restorations. Because sidewall style contributes so much to the car’s visual character, the correct choice depends on how your Locomobile 70 is being restored and what period appearance you are trying to replicate.

A concours-style restoration should compare the chosen sidewall look with period imagery, surviving unrestored examples, and the car’s body style and trim level. Some restorations favor a more formal look, while others emphasize show presentation. On a marquee automobile like Locomobile 70, sidewall style is never a small detail.

A correctly sized, properly mounted, and well-maintained tire can be suitable for limited public-road use on a Locomobile 70, but the car’s age, weight, braking system, steering geometry, and overall mechanical condition matter just as much as the tire itself. A period-style bias-ply tire should be treated as part of an older driving system, not as a modern high-speed setup.

That means sensible speeds, careful route planning, and a full mechanical check before regular road use. A collector car of this type is happiest when driven within its period capabilities rather than pushed into modern traffic expectations. Tire selection is only one part of making a Locomobile 70 roadworthy and enjoyable.

Before driving a Locomobile 70, inspect tire pressure, sidewalls, tread, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign that the tire is shifting or settling poorly on the rim. Also check steering play, brake response, suspension condition, and whether the car has been sitting long enough to develop flat spots or age-related stiffness in the tires.

A slow, methodical pre-drive routine is especially important on a pre-war luxury car because weight and age amplify small problems. If the car has not been driven recently, begin with a short, cautious test rather than a long outing. The goal is to let the entire chassis, including the tires, prove itself under gentle use first.

A Locomobile 70 running period-style tires should be driven at conservative speeds that respect the design of both the tire and the car. Even with fresh collector tires, this is not the kind of automobile to treat like a modern touring car, because its chassis, steering, braking, and tire construction belong to a very different era of road use.

The right pace is the one that keeps the car settled, predictable, and comfortably within its mechanical limits. Smooth secondary-road driving is usually far more appropriate than sustained fast traffic. If your Locomobile 70 still carries an older restoration or long-stored components, reduce speed further until the whole car has been professionally evaluated.