1928 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1928 La Salle vehicles use four bias-ply tire sizes: 30X5.77, 30x5, 32X6.20, and 650-20. All four are associated with the 1928 La Salle 8 Cyl. model line rather than being split among separate La Salle models for the year. Among those sizes, 650-20 is the one with a confirmed 20-inch rim diameter and a listed rim width range of 3.00 to 5.00 inches.

That means a 1928 La Salle owner should not assume every 1928 La Salle wheel accepts every listed size. The practical first step is to verify the size already fitted to the car, then confirm the wheel diameter stamped on the rim or measured at the bead seat. Once that is settled, you can narrow the choice to the correct period-style bias-ply fitment instead of trying to compare unrelated sizes.

A 30X5.77 tire for a 1928 La Salle uses the older antique diameter-by-section format. The first number, 30, refers to the tire’s overall diameter in inches, while 5.77 refers to the nominal section width. It is a bias-ply type of sizing common to the late 1920s, when many American luxury and prestige cars still used tall, narrow tires identified by outside diameter rather than only by wheel diameter.

That older sizing language can be confusing if you are more familiar with later numeric sizes like 650-20. On a restoration, the main takeaway is that 30X5.77 is not just another way of writing a modern metric tire size. It points you toward an era-correct casing style and profile, so the right next step is to compare it directly to the tire already on the car and confirm the wheel before choosing a replacement.

A 650-20 tire for a 1928 La Salle uses the later numeric bias-ply format. The 6.50 figure represents the nominal section width in inches, and the 20 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For this application, available products confirm a 20-inch rim and show fitment on rims from 3.00 to 5.00 inches wide, all in bias-ply construction.

That makes 650-20 easier for many buyers to decode than the earlier diameter-by-section sizes used elsewhere on the same year and make. It is still a period-style tall-profile tire, but the wheel diameter is explicit in the size itself. If your La Salle carries 20-inch wheels, this is the fitment with the broadest current product selection and the clearest set of sidewall choices.

For 1928 La Salle tires, the listed sidewall styles appear in the 650-20 size and include both blackwall and wide whitewall options. Firestone offers both a blackwall version and a 3.75-inch whitewall version, while Denman and Deka offerings in the same size are blackwall. All of these are bias-ply tires, which keeps the visual character in line with the period.

Sidewall choice changes the presentation of the car as much as the tire size does. A blackwall usually suits a more restrained or utility-minded restoration approach, while a wide whitewall gives the car a more formal, upscale late-1920s appearance. If authenticity matters for a judged car, compare your intended sidewall style to period photos and any marque-specific guidance for your body style and market.

The listed brands for 1928 La Salle vehicles appear in the 650-20 size and include Firestone, Denman, and Deka. Firestone is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, while Denman and Deka are offered as blackwall bias-ply tires in classic truck-oriented lines. Each of these stays within the traditional bias-ply construction that suits a 1928 application.

Brand choice here is less about changing the basic construction and more about selecting the presentation and product character that fits your car. Firestone gives the broadest visual range because it includes a whitewall option, while the others keep the look straightforward and utilitarian. Once the size is confirmed, compare sidewall appearance, intended use, and wheel compatibility rather than assuming every brand offers the same visual result.

For the 1928 La Salle in 650-20, Firestone is offered in both blackwall and 3.75-inch wide whitewall versions, while Denman and Deka are listed as blackwall bias-ply tires. The Firestone products include a stated maximum load of 2120 pounds at 60 psi and a rim width range of 3.00 to 5.00 inches. The listed weights also differ, with Firestone shown at 28 or 33 pounds depending on sidewall version and Denman and Deka at 32 pounds.

Those differences mainly matter in appearance and application details, not in converting the car to a different type of fitment. A whitewall Firestone changes the visual character of the car substantially, while the blackwall options stay closer to a simpler period look. Before choosing among them, confirm that your wheel falls within the stated rim-width range where provided and decide whether your goal is formal presentation or a more understated restoration style.

Rim width information is listed for the 1928 La Salle in size 650-20, where available tires fit rims from 3.00 to 5.00 inches wide. The same product listings confirm a 20-inch rim diameter for that size. Other 1928 La Salle sizes in the year-and-make range do not need to be treated as sharing that same wheel specification automatically, because they are separate antique-era fitments.

That makes wheel verification an important part of the ordering process on a late-1920s car. If your La Salle uses 650-20, measure the wheel carefully and make sure it lands within the supported width range. If the car carries one of the antique diameter-by-section sizes instead, inspect the wheel and existing tire markings directly so you do not cross over from one vintage fitment system to another by mistake.

The listed 1928 La Salle products do not show TT or TL markings in the size field, so the available 650-20 listings should be treated as traditional vintage-style bias-ply fitments rather than assumed modern tubeless replacements. On a 1928 luxury car with original-style wheels, inner tube use is commonly part of the setup, especially when the wheel design itself predates modern tubeless practice.

The practical move is to inspect the exact tire sidewall marking and match it to the wheel you are actually using, rather than assuming all vintage-style tires are interchangeable in tube practice. Tube condition, flap needs where applicable, and valve-stem compatibility all matter on a car of this age. If your La Salle still carries original or restored wheels, a vintage tire specialist can help confirm the complete assembly.

A 1928 La Salle should be stored away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that accelerate sidewall aging. Keep the floor dry, maintain inflation, and move the car periodically so the same section of the tire is not carrying the load for months at a time. Because all listed 1928 La Salle fitments are bias-ply, they are especially prone to flat-spotting during long static storage.

Collectors who store a La Salle for the season often roll the car slightly every few weeks or support it in a way that reduces prolonged load on the tires. The goal is to preserve the casing shape and limit stress cracking, not just keep the tread clean. If the car is displayed more than it is driven, tire care becomes part of preservation rather than simple maintenance.

Tires on a 1928 La Salle should be judged more by age and condition than by miles traveled. A useful collector-car rule is to evaluate them closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread still looks healthy. The date code on the tire helps establish age, while visible cracking, hardening, or distortion matters just as much.

That approach fits cars like a La Salle because many see limited annual mileage but long periods of storage. A tire can age out long before it wears out, especially on a heavy pre-war luxury car with tall bias-ply casings. If the car’s history is uncertain, replacing old tires before regular road use is often wiser than trusting tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1928 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and pressure loss. On a vintage bias-ply setup, valve stems and any tube-related hardware deserve attention as well, because a slow leak or aged stem can become a road problem before the tread itself gives warning.

Frequent inspection matters more on a collector car than it does on a modern daily driver, because long periods of inactivity can hide deterioration until the next trip. A short walk around the car and a hand-check of each tire’s condition can prevent damage to rare wheels and bodywork. Include the spare in the routine, since a period car is only as road-ready as its backup tire.

A 1928 La Salle 8 Cyl. would originally have been fitted with bias-ply tires, because radial passenger-car fitments were not part of normal American production practice in this era. The sizes associated with 1928 La Salle include 30X5.77, 30x5, 32X6.20, and 650-20, all of them bias-ply specifications. The correct one for a particular car can depend on the wheel and the exact original fitment used on that vehicle.

For a restoration, that means construction type is straightforward but exact size still needs verification at the car. Original manuals, surviving tire tags, period photos, and marque-club expertise can help settle whether your La Salle should wear an antique diameter-by-section size or the numeric 650-20. It is best not to assign a specific original-equipment brand unless your own car’s history or factory literature confirms it.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1928 La Salle, especially in concours or authenticity-focused judging. Size, construction, profile, and sidewall style all influence whether the car presents as period-correct. On a late-1920s American luxury car, a visibly modern tire format or the wrong visual treatment at the sidewall can stand out almost immediately against the body proportions and wheel design.

That does not mean every event enforces the same standard, but it does mean tire choice should be deliberate rather than incidental. A blackwall versus a wide whitewall can change the car’s visual era cues, and an incorrect size can alter stance and fender clearance in ways judges notice. Before a serious show, compare your planned fitment with period references and the standards used by the hosting club.

For the 1928 La Salle in 650-20, the available sidewall treatments include blackwall and a 3.75-inch wide whitewall. Both remain bias-ply tires, so the main difference is visual presentation rather than a change in basic construction. A blackwall gives the car a more restrained, functional look, while a wide whitewall lends a more formal and upscale appearance that suits the luxury character of many late-1920s American cars.

Choosing between them depends on the story you want the car to tell. If you are restoring a conservative road car or following a specific historic photo, blackwall may be the better visual match. If you want a grander luxury presentation, a wide whitewall can be highly appropriate, but it is still worth checking period references so the sidewall treatment aligns with the car’s body style and presentation era.

1928 La Salle tires can be used for road driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and properly matched to the wheel, but they are still vintage-style bias-ply tires on a late-1920s automobile. No speed ratings are shown for the available 1928 La Salle products, so safe operation should be approached through condition, inflation, and realistic use rather than by assuming modern high-speed capability. On a car of this age, braking, steering, suspension, and road-surface response often set the real limit before the tire does.

That means highway use should be thoughtful and conservative, especially on long trips or in fast modern traffic. A freshly inspected bias-ply tire on a well-sorted La Salle can be entirely appropriate for touring, but the car should be driven within the expectations of its era. Smooth inputs, moderate speeds, and close attention to temperature, pressure, and handling feel are part of safe use.

Inflation pressure for 1928 La Salle tires should follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for the original fitment and the tire maker’s guidance for the specific reproduction tire you are using. In the available 650-20 products, Firestone lists a maximum load of 2120 pounds at 60 psi, but that figure is a maximum-rated load-and-pressure point rather than a universal running pressure for every 1928 La Salle tire size. The other listed sizes should not automatically inherit that same number.

The practical lesson is to avoid treating one pressure figure as interchangeable across all four fitments. Start with the guidance for the exact size on the car, then confirm even wear and stable handling once the car is in service. If original literature and current tire guidance differ, use the recommendation intended for the specific tire and wheel combination actually installed on your La Salle.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 La Salle, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of carcass distortion from extended storage. Verify inflation, check valve stems, and make sure the spare is usable and inflated as well. Because the car uses tall period-style bias-ply tires, it is also smart to look closely at wheel condition and bead seating, especially if the wheels are original or restored.

Tires are only one part of trip readiness on a car from 1928, but they are the part that directly connects every other mechanical system to the road. A careful pre-drive check should also include brakes, steering play, wheel-bearing feel, and basic fluid inspection. When the tires and chassis are both sorted, the La Salle is far better prepared for the kind of touring these elegant cars are still enjoyed for.