1928 Locomobile Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Locomobile vehicles use four distinct sizes, and they are split by model. The Locomobile 70 uses 31X6.00 and 600-19, while the Locomobile 80 uses 30X5.77 and 30x5. All four are bias-ply vintage fitments, but they are not interchangeable across the full 1928 Locomobile range because the listed sizes belong to specific models and include different size conventions.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a confident tire decision on a 1928 Locomobile. Start by confirming whether your car is a 70 or an 80, then verify the wheel diameter and the size marking that matches your existing wheel and restoration plan. The 600-19 fitment clearly mounts on a 19-inch rim, while the antique-style 30X5, 30X5.77, and 31X6.00 sizes should be matched carefully to the wheel already on the car.

On a 1928 Locomobile, 31X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 31, refers to the tire's approximate overall diameter in inches, while 6.00 refers to nominal section width. That differs from later numeric sizing, where the number after the dash is the wheel diameter. On the 1928 Locomobile lineup, 31X6.00 is associated with the Locomobile 70 and remains a bias-ply vintage fitment.

This matters because a modern buyer can easily mistake the first number for wheel size when reading an antique tire code. If your Locomobile 70 uses 31X6.00, treat it as part of an older sizing system rather than as a direct modern equivalent. Matching the tire to the wheel already on the car, and confirming the actual rim before ordering, is the best way to avoid crossing antique and later numeric conventions.

No, 1928 Locomobile models do not use one shared tire size. The Locomobile 70 is listed with 31X6.00 and 600-19, while the Locomobile 80 is listed with 30X5.77 and 30x5. Every listed fitment is bias-ply, but the size families are tied to the specific model rather than to the make as a whole.

For an owner, that changes the first step in the buying process. Instead of deciding only by appearance, you need to identify the model and confirm which size convention your car is built around. That is especially important on late-1920s luxury cars, where surviving wheels, coachwork histories, and restoration choices can all affect what is currently mounted on the vehicle.

Among currently listed 1928 Locomobile tire products, the available sidewall style shown is Wide Whitewall in 600-19. That style is paired with a Lester bias-ply tire for the Locomobile 70. No additional sidewall style variation appears in the listed products for the other Locomobile sizes on this page.

A sidewall decision on a car like a 1928 Locomobile is partly about authenticity and partly about presentation. Whitewall treatment can strongly influence the car's visual character, especially on large luxury automobiles from the late 1920s. If you are preparing a formal restoration or show car, compare the sidewall style on the tire with period photos, surviving factory literature, and the standards used by the club or event where the car will be judged.

The currently listed 1928 Locomobile product offering includes Lester in the 600-19 size. That tire is a bias-ply product with a Wide Whitewall sidewall style, and it applies to the Locomobile 70 fitment group. No other brand appears in the listed product range here for the remaining 1928 Locomobile sizes.

Brand choice on a pre-war luxury car is usually less about switching between radically different modern tire categories and more about finding the correct vintage size and appearance. Start with the size that matches your model, then compare the available brand within that size for sidewall styling and intended presentation. For a Locomobile, preserving the right stance and visual period feel is often as important as simply matching the measurements.

The right tire for a 1928 Locomobile starts with the model, not just the year and make. The Locomobile 70 uses either 31X6.00 or 600-19, while the Locomobile 80 uses 30X5.77 or 30x5. All listed sizes are bias-ply vintage constructions, so the key choice is matching the correct size family and wheel rather than choosing between bias-ply and radial behavior.

A practical approach is to inspect the car's current wheel and tire markings, then compare them with the fitment assigned to your exact model. If the car is already restored, also consider whether you are trying to preserve an earlier antique-style size marking or move to a later numeric size that still belongs to the same model's fitment history. That helps keep both the car's stance and its historical character in line with the period.

The listed 1928 Locomobile products do not include a published rim width range for the available 600-19 offering, and no current product details appear for the other sizes on this page. What is clear is that 600-19 mounts on a 19-inch rim, while the antique-style sizes 31X6.00, 30X5.77, and 30x5 need to be matched to the correct original-style wheel built for those tire codes.

Because late-1920s fitment can be sensitive to wheel type, the safest path is to measure and identify the actual wheel before selecting a tire. On a collector car like a Locomobile, wheels may have been changed during earlier restorations, and a size marking alone does not tell the whole story. A wheel specialist or marque expert can help confirm whether the rim currently on the car matches the tire family you intend to use.

The currently listed 600-19 product for 1928 Locomobile does not carry a tube-type or tubeless marker in its visible size description here, and the other listed fitment sizes do not have active product details attached on this page. Since all listed sizes belong to a late-1920s bias-ply collector application, tube use should be confirmed against the actual tire's sidewall marking and the wheel design being used.

That check matters because tube choice is tied to both the tire and the rim, especially on older wheels with lock-ring or vintage drop-center designs. Before fitting a tire to a 1928 Locomobile, confirm whether the exact product is marked tube-type and whether the wheel requires a tube regardless of tire construction. Matching the valve stem, flap needs, and wheel condition to the chosen assembly is just as important as choosing the correct size.

A 1928 Locomobile should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that can age sidewalls. Because these fitments are bias-ply vintage tires, long static periods can encourage flat-spotting and sidewall stress sooner than many modern drivers expect. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation all help the tires hold shape during storage.

Owners who keep a Locomobile parked for extended periods should move the car periodically or use stands placed correctly to reduce sustained load on one contact patch. If the car is displayed more than driven, inspect the tires visually even when mileage is low, since environmental aging often matters more than tread wear on collector cars. A fitted spare should be protected in the same way as the four road tires.

Tires on a 1928 Locomobile should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than by miles traveled. A common collector-car rule is to begin close evaluation around five to seven years of service and to give serious replacement consideration as tires approach ten years from the date code, even if the tread still looks healthy. Bias-ply tires on low-use cars can age out long before they wear out.

That guideline is especially important on a large pre-war luxury car, where weight, storage habits, and long idle periods can all affect the casing. Check the sidewalls for cracking, inspect the tread base for separation signs, and verify the age of the spare as well. If the car's history is uncertain, replacing aged tires before regular road use is often a wiser decision than trusting appearance alone.

Tires on a 1928 Locomobile should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall checking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and loss of air pressure, and make sure the tread remains securely bonded and evenly seated. On a collector car of this age, a careful inspection routine is part of normal operation, not an extra precaution.

Longer trips call for a closer look at valve stems, the spare tire, and the wheels themselves. If your Locomobile uses tube-type components, inspect for slow leaks and stem condition as part of that routine. A few minutes in the garage can prevent being stranded by a problem that developed during storage rather than on the road.

For a 1928 Locomobile 70, bias-ply construction is the period-correct starting point, and the listed fitments are 31X6.00 and 600-19. That aligns with what buyers would expect from a late-1920s American luxury automobile, when bias-ply tires were standard and vintage sizing conventions varied between antique overall-diameter codes and later numeric markings. No original-equipment brand should be assumed without confirming the specific car's market history and surviving references.

If originality matters, focus first on the correct size family and sidewall presentation rather than on brand assumptions. Large luxury cars from this era were sometimes restored more than once over their lives, so surviving wheel and tire combinations may not reflect factory delivery. Marque clubs, period sales literature, and original photos are the best next step if you want to confirm which of the Locomobile 70's listed bias-ply sizes is most appropriate for your particular car.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1928 Locomobile because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction, stance, and sidewall appearance very quickly. A car from this era is expected to wear an era-appropriate bias-ply tire, and an incorrect size family or visibly modern-looking treatment can change the car's overall proportions. Even when the wheel still accepts the tire, visual accuracy remains part of authenticity.

For show use, match the tire not only to the model but also to the presentation standard of the event. Touring events may be more flexible than high-level concours judging, while marque-specific shows can be stricter about antique versus numeric size conventions and whitewall treatment. Reviewing the judging rules in advance helps you decide whether to prioritize historical precision, touring practicality, or a compromise between the two.

A 1928 Locomobile 80 restoration should begin with the correct bias-ply vintage size family listed for that model: 30X5.77 or 30x5. Both are antique diameter-by-section style markings, which immediately place the car in an earlier tire-language tradition than the numeric 600-19 used on the Locomobile 70. That distinction affects not just fitment but also how authentic the finished car looks to an informed observer.

When restoring for period appearance, compare the wheel currently on the car with period photos and surviving unrestored examples before choosing between those two Locomobile 80 sizes. A tire with the right overall visual proportion can do more for authenticity than a loosely similar replacement from a different size system. If the car will be judged, ask the relevant Locomobile or pre-war club whether one size is preferred for your body style or restoration class.

1928 Locomobile tires can be used for road driving when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and fitted to wheels that match the tire properly. The currently shown 600-19 product does not display a visible speed rating letter here, so the tire should be treated as a vintage-style bias-ply collector application rather than as a modern high-speed touring tire. On a car of this era, braking, steering, suspension condition, and overall mechanical health often matter as much as the tire itself.

Practical highway use comes down to moderation and preparation. Keep speeds sensible for the age and design of the automobile, make sure inflation is correct, and avoid assuming that a fresh-looking vintage tire makes the whole car ready for modern traffic conditions. A well-sorted Locomobile can be driven enjoyably, but it should be approached with the limits of a late-1920s chassis and tire design in mind.

Inflation pressure for 1928 Locomobile tires should follow the guidance for the exact size and tire you are using, together with the factory recommendation for the car when available. The currently listed 600-19 product does not show a published maximum load-and-pressure figure here, and the other sizes do not have active product details attached on this page. Pressure should never be borrowed casually from a different size family simply because the car is the same make and year.

The right approach is to start with the vehicle's original literature or a trusted marque reference, then compare that with the reproduction tire maker's current recommendations for the exact casing fitted. Collector vehicles often run pressures chosen for ride quality and load distribution rather than for modern fuel-economy priorities. Once inflated, monitor wear pattern and handling feel, and recheck pressure regularly because seasonal swings can affect a seldom-driven car noticeably.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Locomobile, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, loose tread, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is equally roadworthy. Confirm that the wheel hardware is secure and that the tires have not developed flat spots or pressure loss during storage. On a car of this age, tire condition is only one part of the preparation, but it is one of the first items that should be checked.

A sensible pre-drive routine also includes checking brakes, steering play, cooling system health, and fluid levels, since the tire's capability means little if the rest of the car is not equally ready. If the trip will include sustained speeds or rougher roads, give the wheels and valve stems extra attention before departure. That kind of preparation helps a Locomobile remain enjoyable on the road instead of becoming a preventable roadside repair.