The 1928 Durant 55 Series came from an era when independent automakers were still carving out their place in a fast-changing American market, and tire selection was a much more specialized part of keeping a car on the road. For a vehicle like this, period fitment matters because wheel size, construction, and visual character all shape how the car looks and drives. The 1928 Durant 55 Series uses bias-ply tire sizes 29X5.00 and 500-19 on 19-inch rims. Available choices center on traditional blackwall bias-ply tires, including different series with distinct purpose and presentation. The right decision starts with confirming which size is on the car now and whether the goal is restoration-minded appearance or active road use.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1928 Durant 55 Series
The 1928 Durant 55 Series uses two primary tire sizes, and both are bias-ply fitments tied to 19-inch wheels. Because the same sub-model can appear with either size, the first step is confirming the exact wheel and tire setup already on the car before choosing a replacement. After that, the decision shifts to selecting the right style and intended use within the correct size.
The 29X5.00 designation uses an antique diameter-by-section format, where 29 refers to the tire's approximate overall diameter in inches and 5.00 refers to its approximate section width. It is a bias-ply fitment that suits the pre-war character of the 1928 Durant 55 Series and reflects the way many cars of the period were originally sized. This format matters because it describes the tire differently from later numeric bias-ply sizing. Choosing 29X5.00 begins with verifying that your wheels and current fitment were set up for this diameter-based size rather than the alternate 500-19 format.
The 500-19 designation is a numeric bias-ply size, with 5.00 indicating nominal section width in inches and 19 identifying the wheel diameter. On a 1928 Durant 55 Series, this is a traditional bias-ply fitment for a 19-inch rim and is the size supported by available product choices. Current options include Excelsior and Firestone blackwall tires, with series such as Comp H and Dirt Track offering different character within the same size. This size is worth evaluating carefully when the car is driven regularly and you want to compare available tire lines within the proper vintage format.
Sub-model fitment is straightforward here because the covered 6 Cyl. version can use the same two primary tire sizes. Checking the exact sub-model still helps keep the search focused, but the more important task is confirming which of the two tire formats is already on the car.
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1928 Durant 55 Series 6 Cyl.
The 1928 Durant 55 Series 6 Cyl. can use either 29X5.00 or 500-19, both in bias-ply construction. That makes tire selection less about trim differences and more about confirming the wheel and existing size format before choosing a period-style replacement.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1928 Durant 55 Series Tires for Sale
Available 500-19 choices for the 1928 Durant 55 Series include Excelsior and Firestone blackwall bias-ply tires. The product grid is most useful for comparing tire series, intended use, and rim-width specifications within this vintage 19-inch fitment.
These FAQs focus on the tire sizes used on the 1928 Durant 55 Series, how the 19-inch fitment should be interpreted, and what to review before choosing tires for restoration, display, or road use.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1928 Durant 55 Series?
The 1928 Durant 55 Series uses two primary bias-ply tire sizes: 29X5.00 and 500-19. Both sizes are associated with the covered fitment for this vehicle, and the 1928 Durant 55 Series 6 Cyl. can appear with either one.
The key is not assuming the two formats are interchangeable just because they both relate to this car. One is an antique diameter-by-section size and the other is a numeric bias-ply size, so the right starting point is checking the wheels and the size already mounted on the vehicle before selecting a replacement tire.
What size rim does a 1928 Durant 55 Series use?
The 1928 Durant 55 Series uses a 19-inch rim. That rim diameter is directly tied to the 500-19 size, and the overall fitment for this vehicle centers on 19-inch wheels with bias-ply construction.
Rim diameter should be confirmed on the actual car before ordering tires, especially on an older vehicle that may have had wheel changes over the years. Measuring wheel diameter and checking rim width are both worthwhile, since correct tire selection depends on matching the tire size format to the wheel actually installed.
Do all 1928 Durant 55 Series sub-models use the same tire size?
The covered 1928 Durant 55 Series 6 Cyl. can use the same two primary tire sizes as the model core: 29X5.00 and 500-19. There is no separate alternate size pattern within that sub-model beyond those two bias-ply fitments.
That keeps sub-model identification fairly simple, but it does not eliminate the need to inspect the car itself. On a vehicle of this age, the practical question is which size format is currently in use and whether the wheel setup matches it, since replacement selection should follow the actual rim and tire arrangement on the vehicle.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 500-19 tire for a 1928 Durant 55 Series?
Start with the basics: confirm that 500-19 is the size actually on the car, verify the 19-inch wheel, and stay with bias-ply construction if that is the fitment being retained. Within 500-19, available choices differ by brand, tire series, sidewall style, rim-width specification, and intended character.
For this Durant, the available 500-19 options are blackwall tires from Excelsior and Firestone, including Comp H and Dirt Track series. One selection factor is how the car will be used, since a restoration-oriented display car may call for a different presentation than a vehicle intended for more regular operation.
What sidewall styles are available for 1928 Durant 55 Series tires?
The available 500-19 products for the 1928 Durant 55 Series use a blackwall sidewall style. That gives the current product selection a traditional, understated appearance that suits many pre-war cars without introducing later decorative sidewall treatments.
Sidewall style matters because it changes the visual balance of an older vehicle even when the size stays the same. If appearance is part of the goal, compare blackwall options alongside the tire series and intended use, and make sure the chosen tire still aligns with the wheel setup and overall presentation of the car.
What brands offer tires for the 1928 Durant 55 Series?
The 500-19 fitment for the 1928 Durant 55 Series is available from Excelsior and Firestone. Those products stay within bias-ply construction and give the buyer more than one brand path within the same vintage size category.
Brand alone should not be the only deciding factor on a car like this. It helps to compare the tire series, rim-width specifications, and the tire's intended use so the final choice matches how the Durant will actually be presented and driven rather than relying on name recognition by itself.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1928 Durant 55 Series?
A period-style starting point for a 1928 Durant 55 Series is one of its primary bias-ply sizes, either 29X5.00 or 500-19, depending on the wheel and tire format already on the car. Keeping the correct vintage size family preserves the car's proportions more faithfully than forcing a later-style substitute.
Appearance decisions should follow the actual setup on the vehicle and the level of historical accuracy you want to maintain. When exact originality matters, compare the car against period photos, marque-club guidance, and restoration records so the selected size and visual treatment support the kind of restoration you are building.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1928 Durant 55 Series restoration?
Correct tire fitment matters a great deal on a 1928 Durant 55 Series because tire height, width, and construction strongly influence stance and overall visual character. Using one of the proper bias-ply sizes keeps the car closer to the proportions associated with late-1920s fitment.
Restoration-minded buyers should treat tire selection as both a mechanical and visual decision. Even within an accepted size, details such as sidewall style, tire series, and wheel compatibility affect the finished result, so it pays to confirm the existing wheel setup before choosing a tire simply because it looks close at first glance.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1928 Durant 55 Series?
Yes, modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1928 Durant 55 Series. Changes to wheels, rim width, suspension height, steering components, or fender clearances can all alter whether a given vintage-size tire is still appropriate for the car.
That matters even more on older vehicles, where decades of repairs or updates may have changed the original setup. A careful check of wheel diameter, wheel width, and visible clearance around the tire is a smart step before replacing either 29X5.00 or 500-19, especially if the car has not remained completely stock.
What should I inspect before driving a 1928 Durant 55 Series on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels, valve stems, mounting condition, and the basic condition of the suspension and steering components. Tire pressure should be set appropriately for the tire in use, and the car should be checked for any rubbing, unusual lean, or signs that the tire is not seated properly.
A collector vehicle also deserves a broader walk-around before driving. Look for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, and any loss of air, then recheck clearances after the first short drive. That extra caution is worthwhile on a 1928 vehicle where wheel condition and mechanical wear may affect tire behavior.
How should tires on a collector 1928 Durant 55 Series be maintained?
Tires on a collector 1928 Durant 55 Series should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly, and protected from long periods of heat, direct sunlight, moisture, and ozone exposure. Even when tread looks good, age and storage conditions matter because collector cars often spend long stretches parked.
Regular inspections are important whether the car uses 29X5.00 or 500-19. Check for sidewall cracking, flat spotting, cuts, and air loss, and pay attention to any vibration or pull once the car is back on the road. Good maintenance starts with the tires, but it also includes watching the condition of the wheels underneath them.
