The 1931 Durant 14 Series comes from the final chapter of Durant Motors, an era when independent American makes still carried distinct styling and road character. For owners preserving one of these cars, tire choice plays a major role in both appearance and basic drivability because the car uses a 500-19 bias-ply fitment on a 19-inch rim. That keeps the selection grounded in traditional construction, with available choices centered on blackwall presentation and period-appropriate bias-ply character rather than modern radial substitution. The real decision is choosing the right 500-19 tire for how the car will be shown, maintained, and driven while confirming the wheel setup matches the original-style specification.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1931 Durant 14 Series
The 1931 Durant 14 Series uses one primary tire size: 500-19 in bias-ply construction on a 19-inch rim. The covered 6 Cyl. sub-model shares that same fitment, so the main choice is not between multiple sizes but between the available tire types within 500-19 and whether the car's current wheels still match the original-style rim diameter and width.
The 500-19 size is a vintage numeric bias-ply designation in which the 500 indicates an approximate 5.00-inch nominal section width and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On a 1931 Durant 14 Series, that means a traditional bias-ply tire matched to a 19-inch rim, which suits the car's pre-war construction and period road feel. Available choices in this size include Excelsior and Firestone blackwall tires in different series, including Comp H and Dirt Track. Selecting among them comes down to intended use, sidewall presentation, and making sure the wheel width falls within the tire's usable range.
Fitment is straightforward for the covered 1931 Durant 14 Series sub-model because the same primary tire size is used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car has not been altered with a different wheel setup over time.
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1931 Durant 14 Series 6 Cyl.
The 1931 Durant 14 Series 6 Cyl. uses the same 500-19 bias-ply fitment as the model core, keeping tire selection focused on the proper vintage size rather than alternate diameters. That makes the decision more about choosing the right blackwall tire series and confirming the existing 19-inch wheels still suit the intended tire.
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 1931 Durant 14 Series Tires for Sale
Available 500-19 choices for the 1931 Durant 14 Series come from Excelsior and Firestone, both in bias-ply blackwall form. The main differences in the product grid are tire series, intended character, rim-width compatibility, weight, and whether a more road-oriented or racing-inspired presentation better suits the car.
Common questions for the 1931 Durant 14 Series usually center on 500-19 fitment, 19-inch wheel compatibility, bias-ply tire selection, restoration-minded appearance, and the inspections worth making before putting a low-use pre-war car back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1931 Durant 14 Series?
The 1931 Durant 14 Series uses a 500-19 tire size in bias-ply construction. That size is the primary fitment for the covered model and is also used on the 1931 Durant 14 Series 6 Cyl., making the basic size question fairly straightforward for this vehicle.
The important next step is confirming that the car still has 19-inch wheels and an appropriate rim width for the tire being considered. On a collector car of this age, wheels may have been changed over the years, so matching the actual wheel setup to the tire's requirements is just as important as choosing the correct vintage size code.
What size rim does a 1931 Durant 14 Series use?
The 1931 Durant 14 Series uses a 19-inch rim with its 500-19 tire fitment. Available products in this size are built for 19-inch wheels, and the product range also shows that rim-width compatibility matters within that same rim diameter.
Rim diameter is only part of the check on an older vehicle. A buyer should also verify the actual wheel width before choosing a specific 500-19 tire, since some options are built around a 4-inch rim while others allow a wider range. That helps avoid selecting a tire that suits the diameter but not the wheel width already on the car.
Does the 1931 Durant 14 Series 6 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1931 Durant 14 Series 6 Cyl. uses the same 500-19 bias-ply tire size as the overall 1931 Durant 14 Series fitment. That consistency keeps selection focused on the proper vintage size instead of sorting through multiple original diameters or construction types.
Even with shared fitment, it is still worth checking the wheels currently on the car before choosing a tire. Pre-war vehicles are often restored, repaired, or updated over long ownership histories, and a different wheel width can affect which 500-19 product makes the most sense for road use, display, or a more traditional period-style presentation.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 500-19 tire for a 1931 Durant 14 Series?
Start with the basics: the tire should be the correct 500-19 size, bias-ply construction, and compatible with the car's 19-inch wheel. From there, the real choices are product character, usable rim width, and whether the tire's style better suits a restoration-minded road car or a more specialized presentation.
A careful comparison should include brand, tire series, sidewall style, and any load or weight figures that matter to your intended use. The available 500-19 options are blackwalls from Excelsior and Firestone, but they are not identical in specification. Matching the tire to the wheel and the way the car will actually be driven is more useful than choosing by name alone.
What brands offer tires for the 1931 Durant 14 Series?
The available 500-19 tires for the 1931 Durant 14 Series come from Excelsior and Firestone. Both options stay within the vehicle's bias-ply format and blackwall appearance, which keeps the overall look consistent with the sort of tire presentation many pre-war owners want.
Brand choice should be weighed alongside the tire series and wheel requirements, not treated as the only decision. Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track represent different product lines within the same size, so it helps to compare the intended character of each tire, the compatible rim width, and whether the car is being set up mainly for display, limited road use, or a specialized purpose.
What tire series are available for the 1931 Durant 14 Series?
Two tire series are available in 500-19 for the 1931 Durant 14 Series: Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track. Both are bias-ply blackwall tires, but they represent different product families rather than duplicate versions of the same tire.
That matters because series differences can shape the buying decision even when the size stays the same. Looking at the tire series helps separate a more traditional vintage replacement choice from a more specialized performance and racing-oriented option. The better choice depends on how the Durant is being used and whether the car still carries wheels that match the product's rim-width requirements.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1931 Durant 14 Series?
A period-style starting point for a 1931 Durant 14 Series is the original-size 500-19 bias-ply format on a 19-inch rim. Staying with that vintage size and construction preserves the proportions and traditional visual character that suit a pre-war Durant better than moving away from the established fitment.
The finer decision comes down to the tire series and the way the car will be presented or driven. Since the available options are blackwalls, the look remains restrained and appropriate for the era. Owners pursuing exact restoration detail should still compare their car against marque references, restoration photography, and other historical sources before treating any modern tire offering as exact-original in appearance.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1931 Durant 14 Series restoration?
Yes, correct tire fitment matters on a 1931 Durant 14 Series because tire size and construction strongly affect stance, wheel-fill, and the overall visual balance of a pre-war car. Using the proper 500-19 bias-ply format helps the vehicle retain the kind of presentation enthusiasts expect from a restoration-minded Durant.
Fitment also matters mechanically, since the wrong rim diameter or an unsuitable wheel width can create problems even before appearance is considered. On an older restoration, it is smart to inspect the actual wheels already on the car and compare them to the tire being considered. That check helps keep the result visually appropriate while avoiding preventable mounting or clearance issues.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1931 Durant 14 Series?
Yes. A 1931 Durant 14 Series may have had wheel, suspension, or brake changes over the decades, and any of those can affect how a 500-19 tire fits in practice. Even when the original size is straightforward, an altered wheel width or a non-original 19-inch wheel can change the range of suitable tire choices.
That is why the actual car should be checked before final tire selection. Measure the wheel diameter and width, inspect clearance at the fenders and steering components, and look for signs of prior modifications. A vintage vehicle can still call for the correct original-style size while needing a different product choice within that size because of its current mechanical setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1931 Durant 14 Series on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for damage or excessive corrosion, confirm the tire is properly matched to the rim, and make sure each tire is mounted, inflated, and seated correctly. It is also worth checking steering movement and visible clearance around the fenders, suspension, and brake components at full lock.
A pre-war car deserves a broader mechanical once-over before the first serious drive. Examine wheel bearings, brake function, valve stems, and signs of uneven ride height that could affect tire clearance. After the first few miles, recheck pressure and look for any rubbing or unusual wear. Early follow-up matters because collector cars often spend long periods parked between outings.
How should 500-19 tires on a collector 1931 Durant 14 Series be maintained?
500-19 tires on a collector 1931 Durant 14 Series should be kept clean, properly inflated, and inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, or slow air loss. Since cars of this age are often driven infrequently, tire condition can decline from time, storage, and environment even when tread wear remains minimal.
Storage conditions make a real difference on a low-use pre-war vehicle. Keeping the Durant away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources helps preserve the tires between drives. Periodic inspection of the wheel and tire as a set is also important, especially before event use or longer trips, because age-related issues often show up long before the tire appears worn out.
