Reo Flying Cloud Tires

Reo Flying Cloud uses several different tire sizes across its 1927 to 1935 run. The listed sizes are 30X6.20 and 650-18 for 1927 through 1929, with 1929 also showing 30X6.00 and 6.00-18, then 6.50-17 for 1931, 650-16 and 700-16 for 1934, and 6.25-16 for 1935. The product-backed rim diameters in the available listings are 18 inches for 650-18 and 16 inches for 650-16 and 700-16, while the other sizes should be confirmed directly from the wheel and vehicle setup.

That spread means a buyer should never choose a Reo Flying Cloud tire by model name alone. Start with the car's year, then verify the wheel diameter stamped on the rim or measured across the bead seat, and finally match the exact size convention used on the car so an early balloon-era setup is not confused with a later numeric fitment.

On a Reo Flying Cloud, 30X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 30 refers to the tire's approximate outside diameter in inches, and the 6.20 refers to the nominal section width. That is different from later modern-looking sizes, because the first number is not the wheel diameter and the rim size must be identified separately.

That difference matters because a car wearing an antique-style size can easily be misread by a modern buyer who assumes the first number is the rim diameter. When working with a Reo Flying Cloud from the late 1920s, confirm the actual wheel before selecting a tire, and compare the mounted tire size to any surviving service records, chassis tags, or marque references tied to the specific car.

A 1929 Reo Flying Cloud has four listed tire sizes: 30X6.20, 650-18, 30X6.00, and 6.00-18. Those sizes indicate a configuration split within the same model year rather than one universal fitment. The shared presence of both antique-style and later numeric 18-inch sizing suggests that wheel and equipment differences within 1929 are the key reason multiple choices appear.

For a 1929 Reo Flying Cloud, the practical next step is to identify the exact wheel and the size already fitted, not simply the model year. Check the rim diameter first, then compare the existing tire markings and wheel proportions, because choosing between a 30-inch overall-diameter size and an 18-inch rim size requires more than a year-only match.

Reo Flying Cloud uses more than one rim diameter over its production span. The available listings confirm 18-inch applications in the 1927 to 1929 range for 650-18, a 17-inch application in 1931 through size 6.50-17, and 16-inch applications by 1934 and 1935 through sizes such as 650-16, 700-16, and 6.25-16. Antique sizes like 30X6.20 and 30X6.00 do not state the rim diameter in the code itself.

That makes the wheel itself the deciding factor on a Reo Flying Cloud. If the car is a late-1920s example, do not assume an antique-style marking tells you the rim diameter; if it is a later car, verify whether it is a 17-inch or 16-inch setup before narrowing to the final size.

A 1934 Reo Flying Cloud has two listed tire sizes: 650-16 and 700-16. Both use 16-inch rims, but they differ in nominal section width, and the available products also reflect slightly different rim-width ranges. That means year and rim diameter alone are not enough to settle the choice.

For a 1934 Reo Flying Cloud, confirm the exact size by checking the tire currently on the car, the wheel width, and the body or equipment configuration if known. The narrower 650-16 and wider 700-16 can change clearance and appearance, so a careful look at the actual wheel and fender space is more reliable than assuming all 1934 cars used the same tire.

Reo Flying Cloud tire offerings include both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles in the available 650-18, 650-16, and 700-16 product groups. The 650-18 selection includes blackwall and wide whitewall Firestone Balloon options, while the 16-inch selections expand that further with multiple blackwall and whitewall bias-ply choices across several brands and series.

That gives a Reo Flying Cloud owner room to match the car's intended look. A blackwall generally suits a more restrained or utility appearance, while a wide whitewall leans toward a fuller period presentation, so the best choice depends on whether the car is being preserved as-driven, restored for show, or styled to reflect a more formal late-1920s to mid-1930s character.

The available Reo Flying Cloud products come from Firestone, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, Tornel, and Avon. Those brands appear across the supported 650-18, 650-16, and 700-16 sizes, with the broadest spread of options in the 16-inch applications. Some are passenger-car style bias-ply offerings, while others are truck or military-pattern choices in the same nominal sizes.

For a Reo Flying Cloud owner, brand choice should follow the car's use and presentation rather than the logo alone. A whitewall passenger-car bias-ply usually suits a restoration-minded street car, while truck-oriented tread patterns belong only on vehicles that genuinely need that look or duty style in a same-size 16-inch application.

Reo Flying Cloud products appear in several series families, including Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Excelsior Bias Ply, Transport, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Firestone Classic Truck, Firestone Classic Military, Tornel Classic Truck, Military NDT, and Traction Mileage. The main differences are period styling, passenger-car versus truck-oriented intent, and tread character within the same nominal size.

For selection, a Reo Flying Cloud owner should first separate passenger-car bias-ply tires from military or truck-style offerings, then decide on blackwall versus whitewall presentation. Once the correct size and general type are established, the series choice becomes a matter of period appearance, tread style, and how closely the finished car should resemble a formal restoration versus a utility-minded setup.

A Reo Flying Cloud should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Collector tires age as much from environment as from mileage, and early-style bias-ply constructions especially benefit from stable conditions and regular pressure checks while the car is parked.

For longer storage, keep the Reo Flying Cloud on a clean surface, move it occasionally to avoid prolonged flat spotting, and avoid leaving the full vehicle weight in one position for months at a time. If the car will sit for a season, many owners also use stands or slightly increase movement frequency so the tires are not asked to carry an unchanged load indefinitely.

Tires on a Reo Flying Cloud should be inspected before each meaningful drive and more thoroughly several times during the driving season. On a low-use collector car, time and storage conditions matter more than tread wear alone, so pressure, cracking, sidewall condition, tread separation, bead area condition, and tube-related issues deserve regular attention.

That routine matters even more on a Reo Flying Cloud because the car spans early and mid-period tire conventions that are less forgiving of neglect than modern daily-driver tires. A close inspection before tours, shows, or transport helps catch age-related problems early, especially on cars that have sat for long periods or still wear older restoration rubber.

A Reo Flying Cloud tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulging, cord exposure, or any sign of structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and a period-looking casing can still be unsuitable for road use if the rubber has become stiff or compromised.

For a Reo Flying Cloud that sees occasional use, replacement decisions should be driven by condition and age rather than mileage alone. If the car carries older restored tires, or if any specialty or period-style tire has uncertain age history, a specialist inspection is the prudent step before relying on it for anything beyond static display.

Reo Flying Cloud did not use one single tire type across all years in this range. The listed sizes move from late-1920s balloon-era and antique-style markings into later numeric 16-inch and 17-inch bias-ply sizes, and the available product families include passenger-car series such as Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, and other period-style lines.

For an accurate Reo Flying Cloud restoration, the right approach is to match the exact year and wheel setup first, then choose a series and sidewall style that suit the era and the way the car was equipped. Factory literature, surviving photographs, and marque-club references remain the best tie-breakers when more than one period-correct looking option could suit the same year.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Reo Flying Cloud is judged and perceived. Size, sidewall treatment, and overall tire profile play a major role in stance, fender fill, and period character, and judges or knowledgeable buyers will often notice when the wheel diameter or tire type does not align with the car's production era.

For a Reo Flying Cloud being restored to a high standard, the goal is not only to find a tire that mounts, but one that looks and proportions correctly for the year and configuration. Marque clubs, restoration photos, and period sales material are especially helpful when choosing between blackwall and wide whitewall presentations or between narrower and wider same-rim alternatives.

Reo Flying Cloud restorations can be finished with either blackwall or wide whitewall tires within the currently available product selections. Both styles appear in the supported sizes that have current products, especially the 650-16 and 700-16 groups, and 650-18 also offers both looks in an appropriate balloon-style presentation.

The correct choice for a Reo Flying Cloud depends on the personality of the specific car and the restoration target. A wide whitewall creates a more formal, upscale period appearance, while a blackwall often suits a plainer or more understated presentation, so photographs, trim level cues, and the intended judging standard should guide the final decision.

A properly selected, correctly mounted, and well-maintained tire can make a Reo Flying Cloud suitable for careful public-road use, but the car should always be treated as a pre-war automobile with period handling, braking, and suspension limitations. The available offerings here are bias-ply designs, which are appropriate to the era and behave differently from modern passenger-car radials.

On a Reo Flying Cloud, safety depends on the whole vehicle, not the tires alone. Before regular road use, confirm wheel condition, steering components, brake performance, alignment, and inflation practices, then drive the car within the modest pace that suits an early collector automobile rather than expecting modern highway behavior.

Before driving a Reo Flying Cloud, inspect tire pressure, visible cracking, sidewall cuts, bead seating, wheel fasteners, and any signs of rubbing or uneven wear. Because this model spans several rim diameters and early size conventions, it is also wise to confirm that all four tires match in size family and that the spare is not an unrelated older fitment left over from a past restoration.

A short pre-drive walkaround does more for a Reo Flying Cloud than many owners realize. Add a check of brakes, steering play, and wheel bearing condition, then keep the first few miles gentle so any vibration, pull, or heat buildup can be noticed before the car is asked to do sustained road work.

A Reo Flying Cloud should be driven at conservative speeds that respect the character of a late-1920s to mid-1930s automobile and the behavior of bias-ply tires. Even with fresh tires in the correct size, the car's steering geometry, brakes, suspension, and chassis were designed for a very different traffic environment than modern interstate travel.

The practical rule is to let the condition of the specific Reo Flying Cloud set the pace rather than trying to match contemporary traffic. Moderate secondary-road speeds, smooth inputs, and extra following distance are far more appropriate than sustained high-speed operation, especially on cars that are newly restored, seldom driven, or still being sorted mechanically.