Reo 31 & 35 Series Tires

The Reo 31 & 35 Series uses 650-18 in the 1932 model year. The available tires for that fitment are built for 18-inch rims, with a listed rim width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches. Both currently listed options are bias-ply Firestone Balloon tires, offered in blackwall and wide whitewall versions.

That means the first fitment check is not choosing between multiple sizes, but confirming that your Reo 31 & 35 Series still has 18-inch wheels of the proper width. If the car has had wheels changed during its life, verify the rim diameter stamped on the wheel or measured directly before selecting a tire.

On a Reo 31 & 35 Series, 650-18 is a period numeric bias-ply size. The 650 designates a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches, and the 18 designates the wheel diameter in inches. It is a traditional prewar tire format rather than a later metric or modern radial size code.

For a restorer, that code matters because it helps preserve the car’s stance and visual proportion. It also tells you that modern size-conversion shortcuts are not the place to start; the right approach is to match the original numeric size and confirm the wheel itself is an 18-inch rim within the listed width range.

Yes. The Reo 31 & 35 Series fitment shown here is a bias-ply 650-18 application, and a tube is required. That is consistent with the construction and period of the car, where tube-type fitment is part of the normal wheel-and-tire setup.

When replacing tires on a Reo 31 & 35 Series, tube service should be treated as part of the tire installation rather than as an optional extra. The wheel condition matters as well, so it is wise to inspect the rim, flap needs, and bead area at the same time to avoid damaging a fresh tube during mounting.

A 1932 Reo 31 & 35 Series is listed with one tire size: 650-18. The matching products are specified for 18-inch rims and a rim width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches. That makes wheel diameter and wheel width the key confirmation points on the actual car.

Start by checking the tire currently fitted, then compare that with the wheel itself rather than relying only on what a previous owner installed. If your Reo 31 & 35 Series is a restoration, it is also smart to compare against period literature or a marque specialist so the car’s stance and presentation stay consistent with the era.

Reo 31 & 35 Series tires in 650-18 are available here in two sidewall styles: blackwall and wide whitewall. Both are Firestone Balloon bias-ply tires, and the wide whitewall version is listed with a 3.50-inch whitewall treatment.

The choice comes down to the look you want for the car. A blackwall usually suits a more restrained, utilitarian, or factory-simple presentation, while a wide whitewall delivers a dressier prewar appearance that can better match a fully restored car with bright trim and more formal visual detailing.

The Reo 31 & 35 Series products listed here are from Firestone. Both available 650-18 options fall under the Firestone Balloon series, with one blackwall version and one wide whitewall version. No other brands are represented in the current fitment selection for this model page.

That simplifies the decision because you are choosing mainly between visual presentation rather than between multiple manufacturers. For most owners, the more important distinction will be whether the car is being finished for touring, display, or judged restoration, since that affects whether the whitewall or blackwall look is the better match.

A Reo 31 & 35 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and large temperature swings. Clean tires last better than dirty ones, and long periods on one spot can stress the casing and sidewall. Prewar bias-ply tires also benefit from being kept away from solvents, electric motors, and heaters.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it slightly from time to time or place it on stands in a way that does not overload the tires. Proper inflation matters during storage as much as on the road, because an underinflated collector tire can develop flat spotting and casing stress even when the car is seldom driven.

Tires on a Reo 31 & 35 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals even if the car is used only occasionally. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, exposed cord, valve condition, and any sign that the tube or rim may be causing trouble. Prewar cars deserve especially close attention because age-related issues can matter more than mileage.

A practical routine is to make a quick visual walk-around standard practice, then schedule a more detailed inspection at least seasonally. If the car has been stored for months, inspect it before moving any meaningful distance, because collector tires can change condition while parked just as much as they do during active use.

A Reo 31 & 35 Series tire should be replaced when age, cracking, casing fatigue, impact damage, or persistent air-retention problems appear, even if the tread still looks respectable. Collector cars often accumulate very little mileage, so visual wear is not the best measure of tire health. On prewar bias-ply applications, age and structural condition carry far more weight than remaining tread depth.

That is why periodic professional inspection is important for a seldom-driven car. If a tire shows sidewall deterioration, has an uncertain service history, or has spent long periods under load, replacement is usually the wiser path than trying to stretch its life simply because the tread pattern still presents well.

The Reo 31 & 35 Series fitment shown here centers on a 650-18 balloon-type bias-ply tire for the 1932 model year. The available products are Firestone Balloon tires in blackwall and wide whitewall form. That establishes the correct period tire type and size family represented for this model page.

For a historically precise restoration, the next step is matching the sidewall treatment and visual finish to the specific car you are restoring. Factory literature, surviving original cars, and marque specialists remain the best references for deciding whether a simpler blackwall or a more formal whitewall presentation is the better fit for your Reo 31 & 35 Series.

Yes, correct tire fitment can influence both presentation and judging on a Reo 31 & 35 Series. Size, sidewall style, and overall period character affect the car’s stance and visual credibility, especially on a prewar automobile where wheel-and-tire proportion is easy to spot. A tire that looks too modern or too wide can change the whole impression of the car.

For owners preparing a car for shows, using the proper 650-18 format and an era-appropriate sidewall style is usually more important than chasing novelty. Judging standards vary, so it is wise to check club rules and compare with accepted restorations to make sure your tire choice supports the level of authenticity you want.

Reo 31 & 35 Series tires are available here in blackwall and wide whitewall form, both in the Firestone Balloon series. Either can suit a prewar restoration depending on how the specific car was originally trimmed and how formal a presentation you want. The wide whitewall creates a more dressy visual statement, while blackwall keeps the appearance simpler and more restrained.

The best choice depends on the car’s finish level, trim, and intended judging standard. If you are restoring a Reo 31 & 35 Series to a particular factory presentation, compare period photos and club references so the sidewall style supports the car’s overall character rather than competing with it.

A properly fitted, properly maintained tire of the correct 650-18 size can be appropriate for limited public-road use on a Reo 31 & 35 Series, provided the rest of the car is equally roadworthy. Tire safety on a prewar car is inseparable from wheel condition, tube condition, brake performance, steering play, and suspension health. The tire alone does not make the car safe.

That means road use should be approached as a system check, not just a tire choice. A Reo 31 & 35 Series that is used for tours or local driving should be inspected as a complete mechanical package, and owners should drive within the capabilities of an early-1930s automobile rather than expecting modern-car behavior.

Before driving a Reo 31 & 35 Series, check inflation, visible tire condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any sign of tube or bead trouble. Also inspect the tread and sidewalls for cracking, bulges, or cuts, and make sure the spare is serviceable. On a prewar car, steering, brakes, and wheel-bearing condition are just as important as tire condition.

A short pre-drive inspection is one of the best habits a collector-car owner can develop. Because a Reo 31 & 35 Series may spend long periods parked between outings, small issues can appear without warning, and catching them in the garage is far easier than discovering them once the car is out on the road.

A Reo 31 & 35 Series should be driven at modest, conservative speeds that respect the design limits of a 1932 automobile and its period-style 650-18 bias-ply tires. Even with fresh tires, the handling, braking, steering geometry, and road manners of a prewar car are very different from those of later vehicles. Stability and stopping distance matter more than whether the engine can go faster.

In practice, that means smooth touring rather than sustained high-speed use. If your Reo 31 & 35 Series is newly restored or newly fitted with tires, begin with short low-speed runs and confirm that the car tracks properly, the wheels stay secure, and the entire chassis behaves as expected before attempting longer drives.