1928 Auburn Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Auburn vehicles use six sizes across three model series: the 115 Series uses 30X6.50 and 650-18, the 76 Series uses 28X5.25 and 5.25-18, and the 88 Series uses 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. All of the listed sizes are bias-ply, but they are not shared across the full 1928 Auburn lineup. Among the rim-based sizes with current product detail, 650-18 mounts on an 18-inch wheel and uses a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range.

That means a 1928 Auburn owner needs to identify the series first, not just the year and make. The antique sizes use overall tire diameter and section width in the code, while the numeric sizes identify a nominal width and wheel diameter. If your car already has wheels and tires installed, check the sidewall marking and the wheel itself before choosing between the series-specific options.

On a 1928 Auburn, 30X6.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 30 refers to the tire’s approximate overall diameter in inches, and the 6.50 refers to its nominal section width. It is a bias-ply size used on the 1928 Auburn 115 Series, and it belongs to the older sizing language commonly found on late-1920s automobiles.

That style of marking is different from a later rim-based size such as 650-18, which identifies wheel diameter directly in the code. If your Auburn still follows the earlier sizing convention on its existing tires or in its restoration history, 30X6.50 points you toward the correct family of fitment. It is wise to compare the sidewall marking on the car with the actual wheel setup before moving from an antique-format size to a rim-based numeric one.

No, 1928 Auburn models do not all use the same tire size. The 76 Series, 88 Series, and 115 Series each have their own pair of sizes, and no single size is shared across all three series. The 76 Series uses 28X5.25 and 5.25-18, the 88 Series uses 30X6.00 and 6.00-18, and the 115 Series uses 30X6.50 and 650-18.

That series-by-series split is important because a buyer can easily assume all late-1920s Auburns ran the same tires when they did not. If you are ordering by memory or by a title record alone, you can land on the wrong size family. Confirm the series badge, chassis identification, and the size already fitted to the car so you are comparing the right Auburn model before choosing a tire.

For 1928 Auburn tires with current product availability in 650-18, sidewall choices include blackwall and wide whitewall. Both are offered in Firestone Balloon bias-ply form for the 1928 Auburn 115 Series. The rest of the 1928 Auburn sizes listed for the 76 Series and 88 Series are part of the fitment range, but the available sidewall-style detail here centers on 650-18.

On a late-1920s Auburn, sidewall appearance has a strong effect on the car’s finished look. A blackwall typically reads more restrained and utilitarian, while a wide whitewall gives the car a more formal, upscale period presence that suits many luxury and near-luxury prewar restorations. If show authenticity matters, compare your choice with period photos, restoration references, and the standards of the club or event where the car will be judged.

Firestone makes the currently listed tires for 1928 Auburn vehicles in 650-18, where two Firestone Balloon bias-ply options are available. Those choices cover both blackwall and wide whitewall styling for the 1928 Auburn 115 Series. No other brand appears in the available product range tied to this year-and-make page.

For a prewar American car, that keeps the buyer’s decision focused less on comparing multiple brands and more on matching the correct Auburn series, the correct size, and the right visual style for the car’s intended use. If your 1928 Auburn is a 76 Series or 88 Series, start by confirming the exact size on the car first, then compare available products within that series-specific fitment path.

For the 1928 Auburn 115 Series in 650-18, the two listed Firestone Balloon tires differ primarily in sidewall appearance and listed specifications. One version uses a 3.50 inch whitewall and weighs 29 pounds, while the blackwall version weighs 25 pounds and also carries a listed maximum load of 1205 pounds at 36 psi. Both are bias-ply tires for 18-inch wheels with a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range.

That makes the choice mainly a matter of the look you want and the specification details attached to the individual product, rather than a change in basic fitment family. A wide whitewall can transform the visual character of a late-1920s Auburn, especially on a more formal restoration. Before choosing, compare the sidewall treatment already used elsewhere on the car so the tires match the overall restoration theme.

For 1928 Auburn tires with available wheel detail, the 650-18 size fits an 18-inch rim with a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range. That fitment applies to the 1928 Auburn 115 Series. The remaining 1928 Auburn sizes are series-specific as well, so wheel and tire selection should stay tied to the exact model rather than assumed across the whole Auburn lineup.

Rim width matters because even when two tires look close in nominal size, the proper mounting range affects shape, footprint, and sidewall behavior. If your Auburn still carries original-style wheels, measure the wheel and compare it with the tire size already fitted before making a change. On prewar cars, decades of wheel swaps and restoration work can leave a car with a different setup than expected.

Original 1928 Auburn wheels cannot be treated as universal across all tire sizes because the Auburn 76 Series, 88 Series, and 115 Series each use their own size pair. The rim-based sizes shown here are 5.25-18, 6.00-18, and 650-18, so 18-inch wheel fitment appears across the numeric-size side of the range. Even so, that does not make every 18-inch Auburn wheel interchangeable across all sizes and series.

Wheel diameter is only the first checkpoint. Width, wheel design, and the car’s existing restoration history still need to be confirmed before mixing sizes between series. If your car has been in long-term ownership or restored decades ago, inspect the stamping or measure the wheel directly. Treat a matching 18-inch diameter as compatibility to investigate further, not as automatic approval to run every listed Auburn size.

A 1928 Auburn should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall cracking. Because every listed 1928 Auburn fitment here is bias-ply, long static periods can also encourage flat-spotting. Keeping the car clean, the tires properly inflated, and the storage area free of moisture goes a long way toward preserving the casing.

If the car will sit for months, move it periodically so the tires do not rest on the same contact patch the entire time, or support the car appropriately if that matches your storage practice. Collector cars often age their tires more by calendar time than by miles. A little storage discipline helps preserve both ride quality and appearance on a prewar Auburn that may only come out for occasional drives and events.

Tires on a 1928 Auburn usually age out before they wear out. For a collector vehicle, a sensible rule is to begin evaluating tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of tread depth. The date code on the tire is the starting point for that age calculation, even if the car has seen very limited mileage.

Bias-ply tires on low-use prewar cars can still look presentable long after their rubber has hardened or begun to deteriorate internally. That is why visual appearance alone should not decide whether an older Auburn tire stays in service. If the car is driven at road speeds, used on tours, or stored in variable conditions, age becomes even more important than miles traveled since installation.

Tires on a 1928 Auburn should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and any sign that the tire has been losing pressure while parked. On an older collector car, it is also wise to check the spare at the same time so it is usable if needed on the road.

Frequent inspection matters because prewar cars are often driven infrequently, and issues can develop while the car is simply sitting. A brief walk-around with a pressure check can catch problems before they turn into a roadside failure. If the car has been stored for a season, roll it into daylight and inspect both sidewalls on each tire rather than checking only the visible outer face.

The 1928 Auburn 115 Series used bias-ply tires, which is consistent with the standard construction of the period. Within the 1928 Auburn range, the 115 Series is associated with 30X6.50 and 650-18, both bias-ply sizes. Original equipment branding could vary by market, dealer practice, and surviving records, so the important first point for authenticity is matching the correct size family and construction type to the specific series.

For most restorers, construction, size code, and sidewall presentation matter more than trying to force a modern substitute into an original-style build. If your car is being restored for a judged event, compare your tire choice with factory literature, period photography, and marque-club guidance for your exact body style and market. That approach keeps the car visually correct without relying on assumptions from another Auburn series.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1928 Auburn because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts will notice whether the car wears the proper size family, bias-ply construction, and an era-appropriate sidewall look. A 76 Series, 88 Series, or 115 Series fitted with the wrong Auburn-series size can stand out immediately. Even when a tire physically mounts, a visibly incorrect diameter or sidewall treatment can hurt authenticity.

For a car restored to original standards, the goal is to make the tires look like they belong to the car’s year and model, not merely to fit the wheel. That is where antique-size versus numeric-size presentation can become important on late-1920s vehicles. Event standards can differ, so the best practice is to compare your planned tire choice with the expectations of the Auburn club, the judging body, and period reference material.

On the 1928 Auburn, antique-size tires such as 30X6.50, 30X6.00, and 28X5.25 describe overall tire diameter and nominal section width, while numeric sizes such as 650-18, 6.00-18, and 5.25-18 identify nominal width and wheel diameter. Both groups listed for Auburn are bias-ply and period-appropriate to the late 1920s. The difference is less about modern versus old construction and more about which historical sizing convention applies to the specific series and wheel setup.

That distinction matters in restoration because the sidewall code itself is part of the visual story on a prewar car. If you are trying to recreate a highly authentic presentation, the marking format should agree with the car’s established fitment rather than simply approximating dimensions. Before changing from one code family to another, verify what is on the car now and compare that with period references for your exact Auburn series.

1928 Auburn tires can be used for road driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and matched to the vehicle’s actual wheel setup. Every listed 1928 Auburn fitment here is bias-ply, and the available 650-18 products do not list multiple speed-rating letters to sort between. On a late-1920s car, tire condition is only one part of the equation because braking, steering, suspension, and overall mechanical health have just as much influence on safe highway use.

A prewar Auburn should be driven with an understanding of its era, not by the expectations of a modern sedan. Even if the tire itself is suitable, the rest of the vehicle may set the real limit on comfortable sustained speed. Before any highway outing, make sure the tires are fresh, the pressures are correct for the application, and the car is mechanically prepared for the kind of driving you have planned.

Inflation pressure for 1928 Auburn tires should follow the factory recommendation for the car whenever that guidance is available, then be cross-checked against the tire maker’s limits for the specific reproduction tire you are using. In the currently available 650-18 fitment for the 1928 Auburn 115 Series, one Firestone Balloon tire lists a maximum load of 1205 pounds at 36 psi. That figure is a load-and-pressure ceiling for that tire, not a blanket pressure setting for every Auburn size.

The safest way to approach inflation is to treat each Auburn size as its own application rather than borrowing a number from another series. A 76 Series, 88 Series, and 115 Series should not be assumed to want identical pressures just because they are from the same year. If you are unsure, start with the vehicle literature and then confirm the tire’s own marked limits before setting final cold pressures.

Before taking a 1928 Auburn on a longer drive, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of age-related hardening. Check cold inflation pressure, make sure the valve stems are sound, and confirm that the spare is aired up and serviceable. On a prewar car, it is also wise to inspect the wheels themselves for looseness, damage, or evidence that an older restoration has left mismatched components in service.

A longer outing deserves a wider mechanical check as well, since tire reliability on a 1928 car depends on the whole vehicle being ready for the trip. Verify steering feel, brake operation, wheel-bearing condition, and general roadworthiness before heading out. That quick preparation routine helps you catch small problems at home instead of discovering them after the Auburn is fully loaded and several miles from the garage.