1927 Reo Tire Fitment Guide

1927 Reo vehicles in this fitment range use two tire sizes: 30X6.20 and 650-18, and both are associated with the 1927 Reo Flying Cloud. The 30X6.20 size mounts on a 20-inch rim, while the 650-18 size mounts on an 18-inch rim. For 650-18 applications, the supported rim width is 3.25 to 3.50 inches.

That means the first fitment question on a 1927 Reo is not brand or sidewall style, but which wheel diameter your Flying Cloud actually carries. Once that is settled, the choice becomes much simpler because both sizes are bias-ply and remain appropriate to the car’s era. Checking the size molded on the existing tire, confirming the wheel diameter, and comparing the wheel to the actual car should happen before any final selection.

On a 1927 Reo, 30X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 30, refers to the overall tire diameter in inches, and the second number, 6.20, refers to nominal section width. It is a bias-ply format used in the pre-war period, and in this application it corresponds to a 20-inch rim setup on the Flying Cloud.

That style of size code reads very differently from later numeric or modern metric sizing, so it is easy to misidentify if you are used to contemporary tires. For a collector Reo, the main takeaway is that 30X6.20 signals an early-style tire and wheel combination that should be matched carefully to the wheel already on the car. If the wheel is not 20 inches in diameter, this is not the correct replacement size.

On a 1927 Reo, 650-18 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 portion refers to nominal section width, written without a decimal point in the common shorthand of the period, and the 18 indicates an 18-inch rim diameter. This size is used on Flying Cloud applications and is offered in blackwall and wide whitewall versions.

For most owners, 650-18 is the more familiar of the two 1927 Reo sizes because it follows the numeric bias-ply pattern seen across many late 1920s and early 1930s cars. It still needs to be matched to the correct wheel, though, since an 18-inch tire cannot substitute for a 20-inch fitment. After confirming the wheel diameter, you can narrow the choice by appearance, especially if your restoration calls for either a blackwall or a whitewall presentation.

1927 Reo tires in 650-18 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. Firestone offers the size in a plain blackwall version and in a Firestone Balloon version with a 3.50-inch whitewall. Both are bias-ply tires, which keeps the construction appropriate to the period even though the sidewall appearance changes the overall visual character of the car.

A blackwall usually gives a more restrained, workmanlike pre-war look, while a wide whitewall creates a more dressed-up presentation that many owners prefer on restored touring cars and sedans from the late 1920s. The right choice depends on how your particular 1927 Reo is being finished and how original you want the appearance to be for your market and body style. Period photos, marque references, and judging standards can help settle that detail.

Firestone is the available brand in the listed 650-18 fitment for 1927 Reo vehicles. The offered tires are part of the Firestone Balloon line and come in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions. All of them use bias-ply construction, which is consistent with the era of the 1927 Reo Flying Cloud.

For a buyer, that means the key comparison is less about switching among multiple manufacturers and more about selecting the right size and sidewall treatment for the car you have. Firestone’s long association with vintage American tire styling makes it a natural fit visually for a late-1920s Reo. Once the wheel diameter is verified, appearance and restoration intent become the main remaining questions.

For a 1927 Reo in 650-18, the main difference between the Firestone Balloon blackwall and the Firestone Balloon 3.50 Inch Whitewall is sidewall appearance. Both are bias-ply Firestone Balloon tires built for 18-inch rims with a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range. The blackwall version also carries a listed maximum load figure of 1205 pounds at 36 psi, and the two versions differ in weight as well.

The practical decision usually comes down to presentation rather than basic fitment, since both tires serve the same size category on the same wheel diameter. Owners aiming for a simpler, less ornate late-1920s look often lean blackwall, while those restoring a more formal visual treatment may prefer the wide whitewall. It is worth checking the exact side profile and stance you want, because whitewall width can noticeably influence the car’s period-correct appearance.

For 1927 Reo applications in 650-18, the supported rim width range is 3.25 to 3.50 inches on an 18-inch rim. That range is specific to the listed 650-18 products. The other 1927 Reo size, 30X6.20, uses a 20-inch rim, so wheel diameter must be confirmed before any rim-width question is addressed.

A collector car owner should treat rim width and rim diameter as separate checks. Even if a tire appears close in overall size, a mismatch in wheel diameter stops the fitment immediately, and a mismatch in rim width can affect tire profile and seating. Measuring the wheel or verifying it against the car’s current setup is a smart step when buying for a 1927 Reo that may have seen wheel changes over the decades.

The listed 650-18 products for 1927 Reo do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size designation here, so the deciding factor should be the specific tire’s sidewall marking and the wheel design actually on the car. With a pre-war vehicle such as a 1927 Reo Flying Cloud, many original-style wheel and tire combinations are commonly paired with tubes because of the era’s wheel construction and restoration practice.

That makes this a setup question rather than something to assume from size alone. Before fitting a tire to a 1927 Reo, confirm whether the wheel is intended for tube use, inspect the condition of the rim well and valve hole, and match the tube decision to the specific tire you select. If the car is being restored for authenticity, tube choice should also follow the wheel and tire style being used.

A 1927 Reo should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age sidewalls. Bias-ply tires also benefit from proper inflation during storage and from either periodic movement or relief from static loading during long layups. Clean floors and protection from standing moisture matter as much as climate control on a pre-war collector car.

That routine helps preserve both the tire casing and the car’s ride quality when it goes back on the road. Bias-ply tires can develop temporary flat-spotting more readily than a modern radial after sitting, so avoiding long periods in one position is worthwhile. If the 1927 Reo will be stored for a season, inspect the tires before and after storage rather than waiting until the first drive of the year.

On a 1927 Reo, tire life should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than mileage, because collector cars often see limited annual use. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are about five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age when applicable.

That approach matters more on a low-use pre-war car than trying to estimate service life by miles traveled. Sidewall weathering, repeated long-term storage, and time under load can age a tire that still looks barely worn. If a 1927 Reo is used for tours, shows, or occasional road miles, age-based replacement planning is one of the best ways to avoid being caught by a tire that looks presentable but has simply grown old.

Tires on a 1927 Reo should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, pressure loss, and any signs that the tire has shifted or seated poorly on the wheel. On a pre-war car, valve stems and the condition of any tube-related hardware deserve the same attention as the tread and sidewall.

Short local drives can hide problems that only become obvious when the car is fully warmed up or driven for a longer distance. A brief inspection routine takes only a few minutes and suits the way most collector Reos are used. If the car has been sitting, roll it slightly and inspect the full circumference rather than checking only the portion of the tire that is visible at first glance.

A 1927 Reo Flying Cloud would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the sizes associated with the model here are 30X6.20 and 650-18. Both are period-correct size conventions for a late-1920s American car, with the antique diameter-by-section style reflecting earlier sizing practice and the numeric bias-ply format reflecting the evolving conventions of the time. No original equipment tire brand should be assumed unless you have surviving factory literature for your specific car.

That means restoration accuracy starts with verifying which size belongs on your particular Flying Cloud, especially if the car has changed hands or been rebuilt over the decades. Original wheel equipment, body style, and market-specific details can influence what is most authentic. Marque clubs, period sales literature, and surviving unrestored examples are the best references when a 1927 Reo is being judged closely for originality.

Correct tire fitment does matter when a 1927 Reo is judged for authenticity, because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size convention, construction type, and sidewall appearance as part of the car’s overall presentation. On a pre-war American car, a bias-ply tire in the correct size family is usually far more consistent with period appearance than a visibly modern alternative. Whitewall versus blackwall presentation can also affect how authentic the finished car looks.

The importance of that detail rises with the seriousness of the event and the standards of the sponsoring club. A local cruise night may treat appearance loosely, while concours or marque judging may care about whether the tire’s size style and sidewall treatment fit the car’s year and character. If your 1927 Reo is being prepared for judged display, confirm the expected standard with the event or club before finalizing tires.

For a restoration-minded 1927 Reo owner using 650-18 tires, both Firestone Balloon options keep the correct bias-ply construction and the same 18-inch fitment category, but they present the car differently. The blackwall version delivers a more understated period look, while the 3.50 Inch Whitewall creates a brighter, more formal side profile. Both share the same basic tire family and rim-width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches.

That distinction matters because visual correctness on a late-1920s car is often judged from several feet away before anyone looks at small details. A whitewall can transform the character of a 1927 Reo, but it should match the body style, trim level, and restoration theme you are pursuing. If authenticity is the goal, compare your choice against period photos and marque guidance instead of choosing strictly by personal taste.

1927 Reo tires can be appropriate for road use when they are the correct size, properly fitted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition, but they should be understood as bias-ply tires designed around the needs of a pre-war automobile. No speed rating is shown here for the listed 1927 Reo fitments. On a car of this age, overall mechanical condition, braking capability, steering play, and suspension health often matter at least as much as the tire itself during normal highway travel.

The practical takeaway is to drive a 1927 Reo within the limits of both the tire and the vehicle, especially on long or fast roads. Bias-ply tires can track and respond differently than modern radials, and an older car’s chassis will have its own character as well. A careful pre-drive inspection, sensible cruising speed, and realistic expectations are more important than trying to make a 1927 Reo behave like a modern car.

For 1927 Reo tires in 650-18, one listed product carries a maximum load figure of 1205 pounds at 36 psi. That number is a tire rating point, not automatically the same thing as the factory-recommended operating pressure for every 1927 Reo Flying Cloud. Inflation should be set with the vehicle’s original guidance in mind, while staying within the tire manufacturer’s rated limits for the specific tire you are using.

That matters because pressure choice affects wear, ride quality, steering feel, and casing stress on a light-use antique vehicle. You should avoid borrowing a pressure figure from another size or from a different tire family, even within the same year and make. The best practice is to start with the vehicle’s original recommendation when available, then confirm that your chosen tire’s construction and rating support that setting.

Before taking a 1927 Reo on a longer drive, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and pressure loss. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is usable, and make sure the tire size on the car matches the wheel diameter actually fitted. On a pre-war car, a tire check should be part of a broader walk-around that also includes wheels, brakes, steering, and basic fluid and electrical checks.

That extra attention pays off because long drives place more heat and sustained load into the tire than short local use. A 1927 Reo that has been sitting can look fine in the garage and still reveal problems once it is asked to cruise for an extended stretch. Building a repeatable pre-tour routine helps catch age-related issues early and makes the car more enjoyable and predictable on the road.