Plymouth Export Tires

Plymouth Export was part of Plymouth’s early effort to build durable, value-minded cars for overseas and varied market use during the opening years of the 1930s. Built across 1930 and 1931, Plymouth Export belongs to a period when American cars were moving through rapid changes in wheel, tire, and chassis design while still retaining many prewar service conventions. Tire selection for Plymouth Export is not always straightforward because the size listings include both an older diameter-by-section style and a later numeric size, and those formats do not communicate wheel diameter in the same way. Before choosing a tire, confirm whether the car carries the 19-inch rim setup associated with the listed available products.

Plymouth Export Tire Size Guide

Plymouth Export uses 2 distinct tire sizes across the 1930 to 1931 production span. One of those sizes uses an antique diameter-by-section format, where the leading number identifies the tire’s outside diameter rather than the wheel diameter. That distinction matters here because 29X5.00 and 500-19 describe tire sizing in different ways, so the actual rim diameter must be verified on the wheel and against the product specifications.

29X5.001930Antique diameter-by-section

29X5.00 is an early-style size used on 1930 Plymouth Export applications. The 29 indicates an overall tire diameter of about 29 inches and the 5.00 indicates nominal section width, while the wheel diameter is not contained in the size code itself. Choose 29X5.00 only when your 1930 Plymouth Export is specifically set up for that sizing convention, and verify the actual rim diameter on the car before proceeding.

500-191930-1931Numeric bias-ply

500-19 fits Plymouth Export applications in 1930 and 1931 and is the size tied to the available products here. The 500 indicates a nominal 5.00-inch section width and the 19 identifies a 19-inch rim diameter, with listed products built for 19-inch wheels and 4-inch to 5-inch rim widths. Choose 500-19 when your Plymouth Export has 19-inch wheels; the listed tires are bias-ply designs, and a tube is required.

Plymouth Export Tires by Year

The year listing breaks Plymouth Export tire sizes down by model year so you can narrow the options before comparing products. Plymouth Export shows more than one size in 1930, so match the car’s existing wheel and size convention rather than relying on year alone. The leading number in 29X5.00 is the tire’s outside diameter, not the wheel size, while 500-19 identifies a 19-inch rim directly.

Best Plymouth Export Tires for Sale

Available Plymouth Export tire offerings cover 2 products from 2 brands in the listed sizes. Confirm the exact year, size format, and 19-inch rim diameter on the car before selecting.

500-19 Products

These are the available products for 500-19.

Bias Ply

Excelsior Comp H | 500-19

Excelsior - Comp H

SidewallBlackwall
Rim Diameter19 in
Rim Width4 in
Weight20 lb
Max Load—
Buy Now
Performance & Racing

Firestone Dirt Track | Ribbed Front | 500-19

Firestone - Dirt Track

SidewallBlackwall
Rim Diameter19 in
Rim Width4.00 - 5.00 in
Weight19 lb
Max Load895@32 psi
Buy Now

Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQ below focuses on the two different size formats used on Plymouth Export, how to confirm the correct year-specific fitment, and what to know about bias-ply collector tires for a low-use prewar car.

Size Basics & Fitment

Plymouth Export uses two listed tire sizes across 1930 and 1931: 29X5.00 and 500-19. The 29X5.00 size appears for 1930, while 500-19 appears for both 1930 and 1931. The available products tied to 500-19 use a 19-inch rim diameter, but 29X5.00 is an older-style size code that does not state wheel diameter in the size itself.

That means year is only the starting point for a correct choice on Plymouth Export. A 1930 car may need either the antique-format size or the numeric 500-19 size, so the wheel and the car’s existing setup need to be checked before choosing a tire. On 1931 Plymouth Export, the listed fitment narrows to 500-19, which simplifies selection if the car still carries the proper 19-inch wheels.

On Plymouth Export, 29X5.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 29 refers to the tire’s approximate outside diameter in inches, and the 5.00 refers to nominal section width. Unlike a modern or later numeric size, the wheel diameter is not stated in the code, so you cannot read the rim size directly from 29X5.00.

That older sizing style is one reason early Plymouth Export fitment needs more care than later collector cars. If your car is marked or equipped for 29X5.00, inspect the actual wheel and compare it with original references for the specific car. Do not assume that the leading 29 means a 29-inch wheel, because it does not; it describes the tire’s outside diameter.

A 1930 Plymouth Export has two listed sizes because that year includes both 29X5.00 and 500-19. Those are not simply two ways of writing the same thing; they represent two different sizing conventions, with 29X5.00 using an older diameter-by-section format and 500-19 using a numeric size that identifies a 19-inch rim.

For a 1930 Plymouth Export owner, that means the car’s exact wheel setup matters more than the calendar year by itself. Start by reading the existing tire size if it is trustworthy, then confirm the wheel diameter directly. If the car has been restored or altered over the years, original references or a Plymouth specialist can help determine which of the two 1930 listings belongs on your particular car.

Plymouth Export fitments here are bias-ply sizes from the early prewar era, and the available 500-19 products are bias-ply construction. For collector tires in antique and early numeric bias-ply formats like these, a tube is required. That applies especially to 500-19 as listed here and is the right working assumption for Plymouth Export applications in this size family.

Tube fitment should be handled as part of the wheel-and-tire package rather than as an afterthought. Make sure the wheel is clean, sound, and appropriate for tube-type service, and use the correct tube and flap arrangement where required. On an early car such as Plymouth Export, careful tube installation is part of getting reliable service and avoiding pinching, abrasion, or slow air loss.

Buying the Right Tire

The quickest way to confirm the correct tire size for Plymouth Export is to identify the model year first, then verify the wheel and the size convention on the car itself. A 1931 Plymouth Export uses 500-19 in the listed range, while a 1930 Plymouth Export may use either 29X5.00 or 500-19. The two 1930 options are different size systems, so visual confirmation of the wheel and tire markings matters.

On a restored or long-stored Plymouth Export, begin with the actual rim diameter and compare that against the intended size rather than trusting an old tire alone. If the car has non-original wheels, a previous owner may have changed the setup. Original owner literature, restoration records, or marque-specific expertise can help settle the question before you commit to a tire that matches the year but not the wheel.

The listed Plymouth Export products come from two brands: Excelsior and Firestone. Both available products are in 500-19, and both are blackwall bias-ply tires. The Excelsior offering is in the Comp H series, while the Firestone offering is a Dirt Track Ribbed Front tire in the same 500-19 size.

Brand choice on Plymouth Export should come after basic fitment is settled. First confirm that your car uses 500-19 on a 19-inch rim; once that is established, you can compare the available constructions and intended use. A road-oriented restoration and a more specialized period-style application may point to different choices even when the nominal size is the same.

The listed Plymouth Export products are offered in blackwall sidewall style. Both available 500-19 tires use black sidewalls, which is fully in keeping with the practical look expected on many prewar applications. No alternate sidewall style appears in the listed Plymouth Export products for the available size offerings.

For a Plymouth Export owner, that makes the sidewall decision straightforward if the car is being kept close to a period-correct working appearance. The more important choice becomes selecting the correct size and intended use rather than choosing between cosmetic sidewall treatments. If visual authenticity matters for show presentation, compare the tire’s overall profile and tread style as closely as the sidewall itself.

The listed Plymouth Export products include two tire series: Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track. Both are bias-ply tires in 500-19, but they represent different styles of use and presentation within the same nominal size. The Firestone tire is specifically identified as a Ribbed Front Dirt Track design, while the Excelsior tire is listed in the Comp H series.

For a Plymouth Export owner, the series matters after basic fitment has been confirmed. A tire intended to evoke period competition or specialty use may not be the same choice you would make for a conventional road-going restoration. Compare the tread style, visual character, and intended role of the car so the tire supports the way your Plymouth Export will actually be used and displayed.

Maintenance & Longevity

A Plymouth Export should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Early bias-ply collector tires do best when the car is kept clean, the tires are inflated appropriately for storage, and the vehicle is not left sitting for long periods on dirty, damp concrete. Prewar tire constructions benefit from gentle conditions and regular attention.

If the Plymouth Export will sit for an extended period, move it occasionally to avoid prolonged flat spotting and inspect the sidewalls for cracking or distortion. Many owners also reduce stress by keeping the car lightly supported so the full vehicle weight is not carried by one contact patch for months at a time. Good storage habits are especially important on low-use collector cars that may appear sound but age quietly.

Tires on a Plymouth Export should be inspected before each drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car sees very little mileage. On a prewar collector car, check inflation, sidewall condition, tread separation signs, valve stems, and the condition of the tube-type wheel assembly. Bias-ply tires can age out from time, storage conditions, and inactivity long before tread wear becomes the deciding factor.

A practical routine is to give the Plymouth Export a quick visual and pressure check every time it leaves the garage, then perform a deeper inspection several times through the driving season. If the car has been parked for months, inspect it as though it were coming out of long-term storage. Early signs of cracking, bulging, uneven shape, or persistent air loss deserve immediate attention from a specialist familiar with vintage tires.

Plymouth Export tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, repeated air loss, impact damage, or structural distortion appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires on prewar cars often reach the end of safe service life through time and storage rather than mileage. Tread depth alone is a poor guide on a low-use Plymouth Export that spends long periods parked.

The wisest approach is to treat every older tire on Plymouth Export as a service item that needs periodic age review, not just wear review. If the car has sat for years, or if the tires are of uncertain age, have them evaluated before returning the car to regular movement. Replacement decisions should become more conservative when the car will be driven beyond short local outings, tours, or controlled event use.

Restoration & Authenticity

Plymouth Export is associated here with two period-appropriate size listings: 29X5.00 for 1930 and 500-19 for 1930 to 1931. The available modern listings in 500-19 include Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track series products, but those product names should not be treated as proof of original factory brand fitment. What matters first is matching the correct size system and wheel setup for the specific car.

For a restoration, the right path is to confirm the exact tire size that belongs on your Plymouth Export before focusing on brand or tread style. Early cars could vary through production, market, or later restoration history, and surviving cars are often altered over time. Original Plymouth literature, period photos, and marque-club expertise remain the best references when authenticity is part of the restoration goal.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both presentation and judging on a Plymouth Export. Judges and knowledgeable buyers tend to notice whether the tire size, profile, sidewall appearance, and overall stance suit the year and character of the car. A Plymouth Export wearing the wrong size system or an obviously mismatched wheel-and-tire combination can look out of proportion even before anyone checks details.

For value and authenticity, tire choice should support the car’s period-correct appearance rather than simply filling the wheel openings. The right tire can improve how a Plymouth Export sits, steers, and presents at a show, while the wrong one can undermine an otherwise careful restoration. If the car is being prepared for judged events, compare your selection against club standards and recognized Plymouth restoration references.

On Plymouth Export, the listed Comp H and Dirt Track series are both available in 500-19 bias-ply form, but they are not presented as the same style of tire. Comp H is listed as an Excelsior series product, while Dirt Track is a Firestone series with a Ribbed Front designation. That means the distinction is less about size and more about tread character, visual presentation, and intended style of use.

For a Plymouth Export restoration, that difference matters if you are trying to match a particular period look. A conventional road-car presentation may call for a different appearance than a car built to echo early competition or specialty use. Once the 500-19 size and 19-inch wheel requirement are confirmed, the series choice becomes a question of authenticity, stance, and how closely the finished car reflects its intended era and purpose.

Safety & Road Use

A properly selected and properly installed tire can be suitable for limited public-road use on Plymouth Export, but safety depends on far more than tread alone. Wheel condition, tube condition, inflation, alignment, brake performance, steering integrity, and the overall mechanical state of the car all matter on an early 1930s vehicle. Bias-ply collector tires should be matched to the car’s intended use and driven within the limits of the chassis.

In practice, Plymouth Export should be treated as a vintage automobile with vintage responses, not as a modern traffic car. Even with good tires, stopping distances, steering feel, and directional stability will differ from contemporary vehicles. Before using the car on public roads, make sure the entire running gear has been checked so the tire is part of a safe system rather than the only fresh component on an otherwise neglected car.

Before driving a Plymouth Export, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and whether the tires are seated properly on the rims. On a tube-type prewar setup, confirm there are no signs of slow leakage, distortion, or rubbing that could indicate trouble inside the assembly. A brief look at steering, brakes, and suspension is just as important as the tire inspection itself.

That pre-drive routine matters because Plymouth Export combines early chassis design with low-use collector-car realities. Cars that sit can develop issues between outings, even if they were fine on the last drive. Make the inspection habitual and conservative; if a tire shows cracking, bulging, or unusual shape, postpone the drive until the assembly has been evaluated by someone familiar with vintage wheels and bias-ply service.

Appropriate speed for Plymouth Export on period-style bias-ply tires should be conservative and in keeping with the design limits of an early 1930s automobile. These cars were built for a different road environment, and tire choice does not change that basic reality. Smooth, moderate touring speeds are far more appropriate than sustained high-speed running, especially when the car’s exact wheel, brake, and suspension condition may vary from one example to another.

The practical rule is to let the condition of the entire Plymouth Export set the pace, not just the fact that the tires are new or serviceable. Avoid abrupt maneuvering, high heat, rough pavement at speed, and long fast runs that ask too much of an early chassis. A careful owner treats speed as part of preservation, helping the tires, wheels, and mechanical systems work within the range they were built to handle.