1928 Dodge Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Dodge vehicles use six sizes across three models, and each model has its own pair. The 1928 Dodge 4-128 uses 29X5.00 or 500-19, the 1928 Dodge 6-Sen. uses 31X6.00 or 600-19, and the 1928 Dodge 6-Vic uses 29X5.25 or 5.25-19. All of those sizes are bias-ply fitments and all mount on 19-inch wheels, but they are not interchangeable across the full 1928 Dodge range simply because they share the same wheel diameter.

Model identification is the first step before narrowing down a tire. Once you know whether you have a 4-128, 6-Sen., or 6-Vic, you can decide whether to follow the earlier diameter-by-section wording or the corresponding numeric designation tied to that model. Wheel diameter stays constant at 19 inches, but section width and overall tire proportions change by model, so confirm the actual wheel and the model before making a final choice.

On a 1928 Dodge, 29X5.00 is an antique diameter-by-section tire size. The first number refers to the tire's approximate overall diameter in inches, while the second number refers to the section width. For the 1928 Dodge lineup, 29X5.00 belongs to the 4-128 and represents a bias-ply fitment mounted on a 19-inch wheel rather than a universal size used on every 1928 Dodge model.

That older style of size marking matters if you are restoring a car with attention to period tire nomenclature. Many owners also encounter a matching numeric size when researching replacements, so it helps to understand that the antique wording and the later numeric wording can point to the same model family while using different naming conventions. If your goal is authenticity, compare the tire marking style as carefully as the size itself.

No, 1928 Dodge models do not all use the same tire size. The 4-128 uses 29X5.00 or 500-19, the 6-Sen. uses 31X6.00 or 600-19, and the 6-Vic uses 29X5.25 or 5.25-19. Each of those pairs is tied to its specific model, even though all of them fit 19-inch wheels and all are bias-ply in construction.

That difference is important because a buyer cannot work from year and make alone on a 1928 Dodge. A six-cylinder sedan and a four-cylinder model may both be Dodge products from the same year, yet they use visibly different tire proportions. If the body style or model stamping is unclear, verify the car's exact series before moving from broad year-make research to a final tire selection.

Current 1928 Dodge tire offerings shown here include blackwall and wide whitewall styles, depending on size. The 500-19 fitment for the 1928 Dodge 4-128 is available as a blackwall through Excelsior and Firestone, while the 600-19 fitment for the 1928 Dodge 6-Sen. appears as a wide whitewall through Lester. Sidewall style therefore changes with the size and model rather than being the same across the entire 1928 Dodge lineup.

Sidewall choice influences the finished look of the car as much as the tread itself. Blackwalls generally suit a more understated late-1920s appearance, while a wide whitewall creates a more formal and dressier presentation that many owners associate with upscale vintage styling. If your car is being judged, confirm what is appropriate for your specific model, body style, and intended presentation standard before settling on sidewall appearance alone.

Three brands appear in the current 1928 Dodge product range here: Excelsior, Firestone, and Lester. Excelsior and Firestone both cover the 500-19 size used on the 1928 Dodge 4-128, while Lester covers the 600-19 size used on the 1928 Dodge 6-Sen. All of those products are bias-ply tires, but the brand mix depends on the specific size rather than applying across every 1928 Dodge model.

Brand availability matters because it shapes the sidewall look and the type of product character offered in a given size. A 4-128 owner comparing 500-19 options will see a different set of choices than a 6-Sen. owner looking at 600-19. If you are deciding among brands, start by confirming the model and size first, then compare the available sidewall styling and any load information that appears within that exact fitment.

Both the Excelsior Comp H and the Firestone Dirt Track Ribbed Front are 500-19 blackwall bias-ply tires for the 1928 Dodge 4-128, but they differ in published details. The Excelsior lists a 4-inch rim application and weighs 20 pounds, while the Firestone lists a 4.00- to 5.00-inch rim-width range, weighs 19 pounds, and carries a stated maximum load of 895 pounds at 32 psi. That makes the Firestone the more fully specified of the two in this size.

The practical difference is not that one is universally right and the other wrong, but that each should be matched to the wheel and the way the car is being presented. A buyer with known wheel-width measurements may find the wider published rim-width range helpful, while another may be focused more on brand preference or tread character. Compare the actual wheel before choosing between two products that share the same nominal size.

Published rim-width guidance appears for the 500-19 size used on the 1928 Dodge 4-128. One Excelsior 500-19 application is listed for a 4-inch rim, while one Firestone 500-19 application is listed for a 4.00- to 5.00-inch rim-width range. All 1928 Dodge sizes shown here fit 19-inch wheels, but the detailed width guidance that appears in the current product range is tied to that 500-19 fitment rather than to every size across every model.

Rim width deserves a direct measurement, especially on a car that may have changed wheels over the last century. Shared wheel diameter does not automatically mean every tire profile is suitable for every wheel width. If your Dodge still has original-style wheels, compare the measured rim width with the requirements of the exact tire you are considering rather than assuming any 19-inch vintage tire will behave the same on the car.

The currently shown 1928 Dodge products do not carry TT or TL markings in the size descriptions here, so tube status is not presented as a mixed feature within the listed range. All of the available products are bias-ply tires for 19-inch applications, which aligns with the era when tube-type wheel and tire setups were common on late-1920s automobiles. The main point for a 1928 Dodge owner is to match the tire to the wheel construction actually on the car.

A vintage wheel can be just as important as the tire when determining whether a tube is appropriate. If your Dodge retains original-style demountable or wire-era hardware, inspect the wheel condition, flap needs, and valve-hole setup before mounting any tire. A tire purchase should be paired with a wheel-condition review so the whole assembly is correct, serviceable, and suitable for the age of the car.

All 1928 Dodge tire sizes listed here mount on 19-inch wheels, so original 19-inch Dodge wheels are in the correct diameter family for the tires associated with these models. That does not mean every 19-inch tire should be moved freely from one 1928 Dodge model to another, because the cars use different section widths and overall tire dimensions according to model. Wheel diameter compatibility is shared, but fitment remains model-specific.

The safest approach is to treat original wheels as a starting point rather than a blanket answer. Confirm the wheel's actual width, condition, and intended model before matching a tire to it. A 4-128, 6-Sen., and 6-Vic may all sit on 19-inch rims, but the right tire still depends on the car you own and the size family associated with that model.

A 1928 Dodge should be stored in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and move the car periodically so the same portion of each bias-ply tire is not carrying load for months at a time. Long static storage is especially hard on vintage-style bias-ply tires because they can develop temporary flat spotting more readily than later radial designs.

If the car will sit for an extended season, many owners either roll it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces constant loading while still protecting the suspension and wheels. The goal is preserving the tire's shape and the sidewall's condition, not just the tread. Good storage habits matter as much for a collector car that sees occasional use as they do for a freshly restored show car.

Tire life on a 1928 Dodge is usually judged more by age and condition than by mileage, because collector cars often travel relatively few miles each year. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating vintage tires closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to consider replacement around ten years regardless of remaining tread, with the DOT date code helping establish age on newer reproduction products. Rubber hardening, cracking, and carcass aging matter more than odometer totals on a late-1920s car.

A lightly used tire can still be an old tire, and that distinction is important on a vehicle that may spend much of its life indoors. Storage history, inflation habits, and exposure to heat or ozone all influence longevity. If your 1928 Dodge is driven only for tours, parades, or local events, make age-based inspection part of ownership so the tire's condition does not get overlooked simply because the tread still looks deep.

Tires on a 1928 Dodge should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, signs of loose valve hardware, and pressure loss between uses. Because late-1920s wheel and tire systems can involve tube-type practices and older rim designs, the inspection should extend beyond the tread to the valve area and the wheel itself.

A short local drive can hide problems that become serious at sustained road speed or after heat builds in the casing. Frequent inspection is one of the simplest ways to protect both the car and the occupants, especially when the vehicle spends long periods parked. Make the spare part of the same routine, since a century-old touring plan is only as useful as the condition of the backup tire you carry.

A 1928 Dodge 4-128 would have been fitted with bias-ply tires, which was standard practice for the era. The size pair associated with that model is 29X5.00 and 500-19, reflecting the period transition between antique diameter-by-section wording and numeric size conventions. The key point for originality is that the 4-128 belongs to that size family, not to the larger 6-Sen. fitment or the different-width 6-Vic fitment.

For a restoration, the choice often comes down to how closely you want to mirror period markings and appearance. Some owners prioritize the antique-style size expression on the sidewall, while others work from the later numeric equivalent that corresponds to the same model family. If your Dodge is being restored to a very specific market, body, or judging standard, compare your research with marque specialists and club references before finalizing the exact presentation.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1928 Dodge because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size family, construction type, and sidewall appearance immediately. A 1928 Dodge belongs in a bias-ply world, and using the wrong model's size or an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment can detract from an otherwise accurate restoration. The difference between a 4-128, 6-Sen., and 6-Vic tire fitment is part of presenting the car faithfully.

Showing standards vary by event, but tire details are rarely invisible on a late-1920s car because the wheel and tire occupy so much visual space. If concours accuracy is the goal, verify the correct size pair for your model and compare sidewall style with the presentation standard you are aiming for. Marque clubs and event judging guides are the best places to confirm what a particular show will consider acceptable or incorrect.

A 1928 Dodge can be associated with both antique diameter-by-section sizing and numeric sizing, depending on the model. Antique sizes such as 29X5.00, 31X6.00, and 29X5.25 express approximate overall diameter and section width, while numeric sizes such as 500-19, 600-19, and 5.25-19 emphasize nominal section width and wheel diameter. Both systems belong to the same late-1920s tire world, but they present the fitment in different language.

That difference matters most in restoration and historical presentation. Owners seeking a more early-era look may prefer the antique wording where available, while others may use the numeric equivalent tied to the same model because it is easier to recognize in later tire literature. The important thing is to stay within the correct size family for the exact 1928 Dodge model rather than mixing a correct marking style with the wrong underlying fitment.

1928 Dodge tires can be suitable for road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within the limits of a bias-ply vintage vehicle, but no speed ratings are shown here for the listed 500-19 and 600-19 products. The available products are all bias-ply tires, which deliver an authentic period driving character rather than the feel of a modern radial. On a late-1920s Dodge, overall safety at normal road speeds is influenced at least as much by brakes, steering, suspension, wheel condition, and general mechanical health as by the tire alone.

The practical takeaway is to view highway use realistically. A carefully prepared 1928 Dodge may handle moderate touring very differently from modern traffic expectations, even when the tires are fresh. Before any sustained road trip, check age, inflation, wheel condition, and the rest of the chassis so the whole car is ready for the pace you plan to maintain rather than assuming a new-looking tire by itself answers the question.

Inflation pressure on a 1928 Dodge should follow the specific tire and the vehicle's original guidance rather than one blanket figure for every model. One Firestone 500-19 product for the 1928 Dodge 4-128 lists a maximum load of 895 pounds at 32 psi, which is a rating point for that tire and not automatically the day-to-day operating pressure for every 1928 Dodge application. The 600-19 product shown here does not list a comparable pressure figure in the same way.

Use the owner's literature or trusted marque guidance to establish the car's intended operating pressure, then confirm that choice against the tire maker's recommendations for the exact reproduction tire you are using. Vintage cars are sensitive to inflation changes, and a pressure that is too high or too low can affect steering feel, ride, and tread wear. Keep the pressure matched to the exact size and product rather than borrowing values from another 1928 Dodge model.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Dodge, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and stable air pressure, and check the spare with the same care. Look closely at valve hardware, wheel condition, and the fit between tire and rim, especially on an older car where wheel age can be as important as tire age. The tire check should be part of a wider pre-drive review that includes brakes, steering, wheel bearings, cooling, and basic fluid condition.

Longer drives generate more heat and place more sustained demand on a vintage chassis than a brief neighborhood outing. A tire that appears acceptable in the garage may reveal age or inflation problems once the car has been moving for an hour. Taking a few extra minutes to inspect the full tire and wheel package before departure is one of the simplest ways to make a 1928 Dodge tour more predictable and less stressful.