Reo Royale Tires

Reo Royale fitments in this year range are 700-18 for 1931, 650-18 for 1934, 650-16 for 1935 and 1936, and 700-16 for 1935. The 700-18 and 650-18 sizes are both 18-inch rim applications, while 650-16 and 700-16 are 16-inch rim applications. All listed products for these sizes are bias-ply designs.

The practical takeaway is that year alone is not always enough, especially for 1935. Start by confirming the wheel diameter on the car, then match the size to the production year and the wheel width range that suits the tire you are considering. That approach will narrow the choices far more reliably than selecting by make and model alone.

On a Reo Royale, 700-18 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 indicates a nominal 7.00-inch section width, with the decimal omitted in period sizing, and the 18 indicates an 18-inch rim diameter. That size is listed for the 1931 Reo Royale and appears in several passenger-car and specialty bias-ply tire lines.

For a restorer or driver, the important point is that 700-18 is not interchangeable with 700-16 simply because the section width looks similar. The rim diameter must match exactly, and the wheel width should also suit the tire chosen. If your Reo Royale has had wheels changed over the decades, measure the rim before treating 700-18 as the correct answer.

The 1935 Reo Royale is listed with both 650-16 and 700-16. Those two sizes share the same 16-inch rim diameter, so the split is not caused by a wheel-diameter change within that model year. It points instead to a configuration difference within the 1935 Reo Royale range, such as trim level, body style, or another equipment variation.

That means a 1935 owner should not choose only by model year. Check the tire currently on the car, verify the wheel width, and compare against any surviving factory literature, restoration records, or marque knowledge tied to that specific car. On a transitional early-1930s model like Reo Royale, those details matter more than broad year-range assumptions.

Reo Royale uses both 18-inch and 16-inch rim diameters in the years covered here. The 1931 and 1934 applications are 18-inch, while the 1935 and 1936 applications are 16-inch. The change to 16-inch wheels appears in 1935, which is the key fitment dividing line for this model group.

That wheel-diameter change is the first thing to verify before looking at sidewall style, brand, or tread pattern. A tire for an 18-inch rim cannot be mounted on a 16-inch wheel, even if the size family looks period-correct. On a Reo Royale that has seen restoration work or wheel swaps, measuring the rim directly is the safest starting point.

A 1935 Reo Royale can use either 650-16 or 700-16, so the right choice depends on the specific configuration of the car rather than the year alone. Both sizes fit 16-inch rims, but they differ in nominal section width and can pair with somewhat different wheel-width ranges. That makes 1935 the one year in this group where closer verification matters most.

Check the existing tire size if the car has a known-correct restoration, inspect the wheel diameter and width, and compare those findings against period literature or marque expertise tied to your exact car. That process will usually settle the choice quickly. It also helps you avoid selecting a tire that is technically mountable but visually or dimensionally wrong for the way the car was equipped.

Reo Royale tire offerings in these sizes include blackwall, wide whitewall, and, in 700-18, double-whitewall styles. The broadest variety appears in the passenger-car bias-ply selections, especially in 650-16 and 700-18. The truck and military-oriented specialty tires are generally blackwall.

For a restoration-minded owner, sidewall style is often as important visually as tread pattern. Blackwalls usually suit a more restrained or utility appearance, while wide whitewalls and double whitewalls create a more formal prewar presentation. The right choice depends on how your Reo Royale is being restored and whether authenticity, touring use, or period style is the main goal.

The brands represented across Reo Royale sizes here are Firestone, Lester, Excelsior, STA, BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Garfield, Goodyear, Tornel, and Avon. Not every brand appears in every size, and the biggest concentration of brand choices is in the 16-inch applications. Some offerings are clearly passenger-car focused, while others come from military or truck-oriented lines.

Brand selection on a Reo Royale should come after you settle the correct size and wheel diameter. Once fitment is confirmed, you can compare brands by sidewall style, tread character, and how closely a given series matches the look you want. That sequence keeps the decision rooted in fit first and aesthetics second, which is usually the right order for prewar tire selection.

Reo Royale offerings here span several distinct series, including Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Comp H, Excelsior Bias Ply, Transport, Transport Highway, Super Traxion, STA Classic Military, Firestone Classic Military, Tornel Classic Truck, Military NDT, and Traction Mileage. Some are period passenger-car bias-ply lines, while others are military or truck-oriented designs built around heavier-duty use cases and different tread character.

For most Reo Royale restorations, the passenger-car series will be the natural starting point because they better match the look and intent of an upscale early-1930s automobile. The military and truck series may suit specialized uses or unusual builds, but they can change both appearance and road manners. Choose the series only after confirming the correct size, rim width, and the visual direction of the car.

A Reo Royale should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and long exposure to moisture. Clean concrete is better than bare earth, and stable temperatures are easier on vintage-style casings than repeated heat swings. If the car will sit for extended periods, keeping it out of standing weight on one contact patch helps preserve the tire's shape.

Many collectors either move the car slightly at intervals or support it in a way that reduces prolonged load on the tires. That is especially helpful on bias-ply tires, which can flat-spot more readily during storage than modern radials. Good storage habits do not just protect the tire; they also preserve how smoothly the Reo Royale feels when returned to service.

Tires on a Reo Royale should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly several times during the season, even if the car sees only occasional use. On an early-1930s collector car, long periods of inactivity can hide age-related issues that are not tied to tread wear alone. Inspection should include air pressure, sidewall condition, bead area, valve hardware, and any change in shape or stance.

Bias-ply collector tires reward routine attention because they often spend far more time parked than accumulating miles. A quick pre-drive walkaround can catch weathering, underinflation, or a slow leak before it becomes a roadside problem. If the Reo Royale is driven on tours, add another inspection after the outing while the tire's behavior is still fresh in your mind.

Tires on a Reo Royale should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, persistent air loss, or structural irregularities begin to appear, even if the tread still looks substantial. Collector tires often age out before they wear out because the car is used lightly. Visible tread depth alone is not a reliable measure of serviceability on an early-1930s automobile.

If a Reo Royale has sat for years, a specialist inspection is wise before returning it to regular road use. Tires that look attractive can still have age-related internal decline, especially on cars that spend long periods parked. Replacement timing should be guided by condition, storage history, and intended use, with more conservative decisions for touring than for static display.

Reo Royale used more than one size across the years covered here, including 700-18, 650-18, 650-16, and 700-16. The available tire series include both balloon-type passenger-car lines and later classic bias-ply reproductions, which reflects the period's changing tire design landscape rather than a single universal answer. The original fitment for any one car depends on its exact year and configuration.

For an authenticity-focused restoration, the best approach is to identify the car by year, confirm the wheel diameter actually fitted, and then compare the tire style to period photos, surviving literature, and marque references. That helps separate a merely mountable tire from one that truly suits the car's stance and presentation. Reo Royale deserves that extra step because its production years span a real fitment transition.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Reo Royale is judged and how seriously a restoration is received. Size, sidewall treatment, and overall tire profile all contribute to the car's stance, proportions, and period appearance. On a prewar luxury model, those visual cues are noticeable even to people who may not know the exact tire code by memory.

A Reo Royale restored with the wrong rim diameter or an obviously mismatched tire profile can lose some of the visual authority that makes the model special. If concours presentation matters, consult marque clubs, period photography, and judging standards before settling on a whitewall width or specialty tread. Proper tire choice is one of the simplest ways to make the whole car look convincingly right.

Reo Royale tires in these sizes are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and, for 700-18, double-whitewall form. Any of those can create a period look, but they do not convey the same character. Blackwalls present a more restrained appearance, while wide whitewalls and double whitewalls give the car a more formal, upscale prewar presence.

The right choice depends on how your particular Reo Royale is being restored and what visual reference you are following. A car restored for judged authenticity should match period evidence as closely as possible, including whitewall width rather than simply choosing any white sidewall. A touring-oriented restoration may allow more freedom, but the sidewall style should still support the car's era and body style.

Properly fitted, correctly inflated, and well-maintained bias-ply tires can be suitable for road use on a Reo Royale within the car's vintage operating envelope. The key is choosing the correct size for the actual wheel diameter and intended use, then keeping the tires in sound condition. Passenger-car bias-ply tires and heavier-duty truck-pattern options are not interchangeable in purpose just because they share a nominal size.

Road safety with a Reo Royale depends as much on the condition of the whole car as on the tires themselves. Steering, brakes, wheel bearings, alignment, and tube or valve condition all matter before the first drive. A carefully prepared car on the right tires can be enjoyable on secondary roads, but it should always be driven with respect for prewar handling and braking limits.

Before driving a Reo Royale, check that the tire size matches the rim diameter, verify inflation, and inspect the sidewalls and tread for cracks, bulges, or irregular wear. Look closely at valve stems and hardware, and confirm that all tires on the car are of compatible type and purpose. If the car uses specialty military or truck-pattern tires, make sure that choice was intentional and suits the way the car will be used.

A short pre-drive routine goes a long way on an early-1930s car. Add a check of wheel fasteners, steering feel, and brake response before committing to a full outing. Reo Royale is a substantial prewar automobile, and confidence on the road starts with making sure the tires are not just attractive, but correctly fitted and supported by a sound chassis.

A Reo Royale on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds that suit both the tire construction and the overall mechanical character of the car. Even when the tires are new reproductions, they are meant to preserve vintage driving manners rather than mimic modern high-speed radial behavior. Smooth, steady touring is more appropriate than sustained fast highway running.

The practical limit should be set by tire condition, inflation, balance, road surface, and the health of the braking and suspension systems, not just by what the engine can do. Build speed gradually and pay attention to how the car feels. If the Reo Royale wanders, shakes, or feels unsettled, treat that as a signal to stop and inspect rather than simply driving through it.