1928 Graham Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Graham vehicles use ten distinct sizes across five model families. The 10 Series uses 29X5.00 or 500-19, the 14 Series uses 29X5.25 or 5.25-19, the 19 Series uses 29X5.50 or 550-19, the 29 Series uses 31X6.00 or 600-19, and the 35 uses 31X6.20 or 650-19. Where numeric products are available, all of those numeric sizes mount on 19-inch rims, with published rim-width guidance varying by size: 500-19 at 4 to 5 inches, 550-19 at 2.50 to 3.00 inches, and 650-19 at 3.25 to 3.50 inches.

The practical point is that a 1928 Graham owner cannot choose by year and make alone. Graham changed tire size as each series grew larger, so the correct starting point is the exact model designation on the car, then the wheel and sizing convention already in use. Once that is confirmed, you can narrow the choice by appearance, such as blackwall versus wide whitewall, instead of guessing across the whole lineup.

On a 1928 Graham tire, 29X5.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 29, refers to the tire's approximate overall outside diameter in inches, and the second number, 5.00, refers to nominal section width. Unlike a modern or later numeric size, it does not name the wheel diameter directly in the size code.

That matters because a 1928 Graham owner looking at an antique-format size should not assume it works like a later 500-19 or 550-19 marking. Antique-format and numeric sizes can describe period-correct options for the same model family, but they communicate dimensions differently. If your car is a 10 Series, 29X5.00 is tied specifically to that model and should be matched to the actual wheel and restoration direction before choosing a tire.

On a 1928 Graham tire, 500-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.00 portion is the nominal section width, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For 1928 Graham applications, 500-19 belongs to the 10 Series and is one of the clearer late-1920s size conventions because the rim diameter is stated directly in the code.

That makes 500-19 easier for many modern buyers to interpret than an antique diameter-by-section size. It still should not be treated as interchangeable with every 1928 Graham, because each series has its own size pair. If your car uses a 19-inch wheel and falls within the 10 Series fitment, then 500-19 is the correct numeric path to explore, with available blackwall bias-ply products from Excelsior and Firestone.

No, 1928 Graham models do not all use the same tire size. The lineup steps upward by series, with the 10 Series using the smallest pair, the 14 and 19 Series using progressively larger sizes, and the 29 Series and 35 using the largest. Each model family has its own two-size pairing, and no single size is shared across the entire 1928 Graham range.

That means identifying the model is essential before you get into sidewall style or brand preference. A 1928 Graham 35, for example, belongs in the 31X6.20 or 650-19 range, while a 10 Series belongs in the 29X5.00 or 500-19 range. If the car's paperwork is unclear, confirm the series from the body plate, registration history, or a Graham marque specialist before moving ahead with tire selection.

Sidewall style availability on 1928 Graham tires depends on the size. 500-19 is offered in blackwall form, 550-19 is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall, 600-19 is available as a wide whitewall, and 650-19 is offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall. Those choices all remain within period-style bias-ply construction, but they give the car a noticeably different visual character.

For a late-1920s American car like a 1928 Graham, sidewall choice affects restoration tone as much as fitment. Blackwalls generally suit a more restrained or utilitarian presentation, while wide whitewalls create a more formal, upscale look associated with many show-oriented restorations. If authenticity matters for judging, confirm the expected sidewall treatment for your exact model and market with a marque club before settling on appearance alone.

Several brands cover 1928 Graham applications, depending on size. Excelsior and Firestone are offered in 500-19, BFGoodrich is offered in 550-19, Lester is offered in 600-19, and Firestone plus Lester are offered in 650-19. All of the available products for these Graham sizes are bias-ply tires, which keeps the overall construction style aligned with the period.

Brand choice on a 1928 Graham usually comes down to whether your size has one maker or several, and whether you want a blackwall or whitewall presentation. The broadest menu appears in 650-19, while some smaller or more specialized sizes have fewer choices. Once your model and size are confirmed, brand becomes a secondary decision shaped by appearance, published rim guidance, and the kind of restoration character you want the car to carry.

For the 1928 Graham 35, both Firestone and Lester offer 650-19 bias-ply tires, but the available versions differ in style and published details. Firestone appears in blackwall and wide whitewall forms, including Balloon-series versions with a listed 3.25-3.50 inch rim-width range, and one wide whitewall version carries a published load figure of 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Lester also appears in 650-19 as a wide whitewall bias-ply option.

That gives a 1928 Graham 35 owner room to choose by presentation and wheel compatibility rather than by size alone, since all of these stay within the same 650-19 fitment. If your priority is a specific sidewall look or matching a wheel that falls within the published Firestone range, those details can help narrow the choice. A car being restored for show may also lean differently than one being finished for touring appearance.

Published rim-width guidance for 1928 Graham tires varies by size. In the currently available product range, 500-19 appears with 4-inch and 4.00-5.00 inch recommendations, 550-19 appears with a 2.50-3.00 inch recommendation, and 650-19 appears with a 3.25-3.50 inch recommendation on some Firestone Balloon versions. All of those figures are size-specific and should stay attached to the tire size they belong to.

The key takeaway is to measure or verify the actual wheel before ordering, especially on a car that may have had wheels swapped during decades of restoration or storage. A 1928 Graham owner should never transfer a rim-width figure from one size to another just because all of them are period bias-ply tires. Matching the exact size to the published wheel range is one of the simplest ways to avoid stance, bead, and fitment problems.

Original 1928 Graham wheels should not be assumed to work with all tire sizes across the lineup. The numeric sizes that have products available all use 19-inch rims, but each Graham series uses its own specific size pair, and published rim-width recommendations differ from one size to another. A wheel suitable for 500-19 is not automatically suitable for 550-19, 600-19, or 650-19.

That is especially important on cars that have been apart for many years or assembled from mixed parts. Even within the same make and year, Graham scaled tire dimensions as the models became larger and heavier. If you are working with original wheels, confirm the wheel diameter first and then compare the wheel width against the tire size you intend to use rather than assuming cross-compatibility within the 1928 range.

A stored 1928 Graham should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Clean, dry floors are better than damp surfaces, and the car should be rolled periodically or supported appropriately during long static storage to reduce flat-spotting in bias-ply tires.

Those habits matter because collector cars often age their tires by time rather than by mileage. Bias-ply casings on a 1928 Graham can take a temporary set when left in one position for extended periods, and cosmetic cracking usually starts long before tread wears out. Good storage preserves appearance, improves the feel of the first miles after recommissioning, and reduces the chance that an old-looking sidewall surprises you before a tour.

Tires on a 1928 Graham should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than by tread depth. A sensible collector-car practice is to inspect them closely after about five to seven years of service and to consider replacement as they approach ten years, even if the car has been driven very little. The DOT date code on the tire is the starting point for determining actual age.

That guideline fits how most pre-war cars are used: occasional drives, local shows, and long stretches of storage. A 1928 Graham can have tires that look nearly unworn yet still be too old for comfortable road use because rubber hardens, sidewalls crack, and casing integrity changes over time. If the age is near the upper end of that range, replacement becomes a preventative decision rather than a mileage-based one.

Tires on a 1928 Graham should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, and pressure loss, and pay attention to how the car settles after sitting because an aging bias-ply tire can telegraph problems through shape and ride feel. The spare should be checked on the same schedule as the four road tires.

Frequent inspection is especially worthwhile on a collector car because long idle periods can hide deterioration until the next trip. A short local drive may not reveal the same issue that becomes obvious on a sustained run at road speed. Making tire checks part of your regular pre-drive routine on a 1928 Graham helps catch age-related problems early, before they become a roadside inconvenience or a larger safety concern.

A 1928 Graham 10 Series would have originally used bias-ply tires, because radial passenger-car fitments were not part of normal American production practice in that era. Within the 1928 Graham range, the 10 Series is associated with 29X5.00 and 500-19, which reflects the late-1920s overlap between antique diameter-by-section sizing and numeric rim-diameter sizing. No original-equipment brand should be assumed from reproduction choices alone.

For restoration work, that means the right first step is confirming the model and the wheel currently on the car, then matching the tire size convention that suits your accuracy goals. If the car is being judged, event standards may care about size format, construction, and sidewall treatment as much as basic fitment. Graham owners chasing factory-level detail should compare period literature and consult marque clubs for market- and body-style-specific guidance.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when a 1928 Graham is being prepared for show or judged restoration. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size matches the model series, whether the construction is period-correct bias-ply, and whether the sidewall treatment suits the car's era and presentation. A modern-looking or incorrect-size tire can alter both stance and authenticity even if it physically fits the wheel.

That is why tire choice on a 1928 Graham should be treated as part of the restoration, not as an afterthought. The 10 Series, 14 Series, 19 Series, 29 Series, and 35 all carry different size pairings, so a one-size-fits-all approach is easy to spot. If the car will be shown under marque-specific rules, use club guidance and period references to confirm what will be considered acceptable for your exact model.

For the 1928 Graham 19 Series, BFGoodrich offers 550-19 in both blackwall and 3.25-inch wide whitewall versions within the same Silvertown Classic Bias Ply family. Both use the same 550-19 size, both are bias-ply, both carry the same published maximum load of 1040 pounds at 32 psi, and both share the same 2.50-3.00 inch rim-width recommendation. The visible difference is the sidewall treatment and the slight weight difference between versions.

That makes the decision primarily an authenticity and appearance question rather than a fitment one. A blackwall gives a more restrained period look, while the wide whitewall creates a dressier presentation that many restorers prefer on upscale late-1920s cars. If your 1928 Graham 19 Series is being built with show judging in mind, choose the sidewall style that best matches the car's intended trim level and the standards of the event.

1928 Graham tires can be used for normal road driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and inflated properly, but they are all bias-ply offerings in the available fitments here. No explicit modern speed ratings are published in these 1928 Graham product sizes, so the practical limit is usually set by tire condition, inflation, and the car's own pre-war braking, steering, and suspension character rather than by a posted high-speed rating on the sidewall.

That means highway use should be approached with the same caution you would apply to any late-1920s car. A well-prepared 1928 Graham can be driven on modern roads, but sustained speed should be matched to the tire's age, the road surface, and the broader mechanical readiness of the vehicle. Before any higher-speed trip, confirm that the tires are recent enough, evenly inflated, and free of cracking, bulges, or casing distortion.

Inflation pressure for a 1928 Graham should follow the tire maker's rated pressure and the vehicle manufacturer's original guidance for the specific model and size. Published load-and-pressure figures appear on some available sizes, including 500-19 at 895 pounds at 32 psi, 550-19 at 1040 pounds at 32 psi, and one 650-19 version at 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Those numbers belong only to those exact tires and should not be transferred across the lineup.

Because 1928 Graham fitment changes by series, pressure should be treated as a size-specific decision, not a year-and-make shortcut. Start with the factory recommendation for your exact model if you have the original literature, then compare it with the tire manufacturer's information for the reproduction tire you are using. If the car's wheel and tire combination has changed during restoration, verify the pressure strategy before road use.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Graham, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, tread separation, bulges, embedded debris, and signs of uneven wear. Check inflation when the tires are cold, inspect the valve stems, and confirm that the spare is usable and aired properly. On an older bias-ply car, it is also smart to look for any tire that has sat under load long enough to take a severe flat spot.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-tour review that includes brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, and general fluid checks. A 1928 Graham often sees occasional use rather than daily driving, so dormant issues can show up only when the car is asked to run farther from home. Spending a few extra minutes on tire condition and pressure before departure is one of the easiest ways to make the trip more predictable.