1928 Moon Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Moon vehicles use four sizes across two model lines: the 72 Series uses 29X5.50 and 550-19, while the 80 Series uses 31X6.20 and 650-19. All of these are bias-ply fitments and all mount on 19-inch wheels. Listed rim width guidance appears for the currently offered numeric sizes, with 550-19 fitting 2.50 to 3.00 inch rims and 650-19 fitting 3.25 to 3.50 inch rims on the products that publish that range.

The practical takeaway is that year and make alone are not enough on a 1928 Moon. You need to identify the series first, then confirm which of that model’s two size expressions matches the wheel and restoration direction of your car. Once the model is settled, the remaining choice usually comes down to the exact size marking and the sidewall look you want.

On a 1928 Moon, 29X5.50 is an early diameter-by-section size. The first number refers to the tire’s approximate overall diameter in inches, and the second number is the nominal section width in inches. That format belongs to the prewar bias-ply era, when tire markings often described the tire as a physical package rather than using the later numeric convention centered on section width and rim diameter.

That matters because a 29X5.50 marking looks unfamiliar to modern buyers, but it is normal for late-1920s cars. If your 72 Series carries this antique-style size expression, treat it as part of the car’s period fitment identity rather than trying to compare it directly to a modern metric radial code. The best next step is to verify the actual wheel and compare the size to the specific 72 Series options before choosing a tire.

On a 1928 Moon, 550-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.50 indicates nominal section width in inches, and the 19 indicates wheel diameter in inches. That style of marking became a familiar way of identifying many American bias-ply tires, and for the 1928 Moon 72 Series it corresponds to one of the correct 19-inch fitment paths available in reproduction form.

The helpful part for buyers is that 550-19 products are available with published rim width guidance and sidewall choices, so it is easier to compare options within the size. If your car is a 72 Series and the wheel matches the listed range, 550-19 can be a straightforward route to a usable reproduction tire without moving outside the period-correct bias-ply category.

1928 Moon tires are offered in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall form within the currently available numeric sizes. The 550-19 choices from BFGoodrich include one Blackwall and one Wide Whitewall, while the 650-19 offerings include Blackwall versions from Firestone and a Wide Whitewall option from both Firestone and Lester. All of these are bias-ply tires sized for period-correct 19-inch applications.

Sidewall style is usually a presentation decision after the model and size are confirmed. Blackwalls often suit a more understated factory-period look, while wide whitewalls can complement a more formal restoration style common on late-1920s American cars. If the car will be judged, check the expectations of your marque club or event, since sidewall treatment can matter almost as much as the tire size itself.

Three brands appear in the currently offered 1928 Moon sizes: BFGoodrich in 550-19, and Firestone plus Lester in 650-19. Every listed product is a bias-ply tire intended for 19-inch fitment. Within those sizes, the brand mix also affects appearance choice, because the available products span both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall presentations rather than a single visual style.

That brand spread means your options depend partly on which Moon series you own. A 72 Series buyer choosing 550-19 is looking at BFGoodrich offerings, while an 80 Series buyer in 650-19 can compare Firestone and Lester. The most useful way to narrow the field is to start with the correct model and size, then compare sidewall style, published rim range, and any listed load information within that size.

For the 1928 Moon 80 Series, the listed 650-19 choices differ mainly in series, sidewall appearance, and published specifications. Firestone appears in both a Classic Bias Ply blackwall and the Firestone Balloon line in blackwall and 3.50-inch whitewall form, with the Balloon products listing a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range and the whitewall version showing 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Lester appears as a Wide Whitewall 650-19 in its Classic Bias Ply line.

That makes the decision less about one brand being universally better and more about matching the tire to your restoration goals and wheel. If you want a Firestone-branded presentation or need the published rim-range guidance shown on the Balloon line, those details may steer the choice. If your priority is a wide whitewall look in the correct 650-19 size, Lester also belongs in the comparison.

Published rim width guidance appears for the currently offered numeric sizes on 1928 Moon vehicles. The 550-19 products list a rim width range of 2.50 to 3.00 inches, while the 650-19 products that publish the measurement list 3.25 to 3.50 inches. All four known 1928 Moon sizes mount on 19-inch wheels, but rim width still changes between the smaller 72 Series fitment family and the larger 80 Series family.

That means wheel diameter alone is not enough when you are trying to fit a tire correctly. Before settling on a tire, measure the actual wheel or confirm its specification so the selected product falls within the allowed range for that size. This is especially important on cars that may have had wheel swaps, mixed parts, or older restoration work done decades ago.

All of the known 1928 Moon sizes for 1928 use 19-inch wheels, so the wheel diameter is consistent across the 72 Series and 80 Series fitments. That said, the listed rim width ranges for the available numeric sizes are not the same, with 550-19 and 650-19 calling for different wheel widths. Shared diameter does not automatically mean every 19-inch Moon wheel is appropriate for every size in the lineup.

The smart approach is to verify the wheel that is actually on the car before assuming one series tire can be swapped onto another series wheel. A 72 Series and an 80 Series may both use 19-inch tires, but the wheel-width needs move with the size family. Treat original wheels as candidates for reuse, then confirm the specific tire’s published fit range before mounting.

A stored 1928 Moon should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from electric motors, chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Clean, dry floors and a stable indoor climate help preserve both the casing and sidewall finish on bias-ply tires. Because 1928 Moon fitments are bias-ply, prolonged static storage can also encourage temporary flat-spotting more readily than many later radial designs.

For a collector car that sits for long periods, keeping the tires properly inflated and moving the car occasionally is usually helpful. Some owners also use stands or reposition the car periodically to reduce continuous load on one contact patch. If the Moon is shown with wide whitewalls, regular gentle cleaning and indoor storage also help keep the sidewalls from discoloring prematurely.

On a low-use collector car such as a 1928 Moon, tire life is usually governed more by age than by tread wear. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating collector tires closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat the ten-year mark as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The tire’s date code, overall condition, and storage history all matter.

That age-based approach is especially important on prewar cars because they may log very few miles while still experiencing rubber hardening, sidewall checking, or internal aging. If a Moon has been part of an older restoration, check the actual age of the tires instead of assuming they are serviceable because they still look period-correct. Appearance alone is not a reliable guide to remaining safe road use.

Tires on a 1928 Moon should be checked before every drive and inspected more thoroughly before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and pressure loss, and pay close attention to the condition of valve stems as well. On a car of this age, a problem that begins as a minor storage-related defect can become much more important once the car is driven at road speed.

A longer pre-drive check should also include the spare, since collector cars often rely on a trunk-mounted or side-mounted spare that has aged as much as the road tires. If the car has sat for months, inspect it again after a short initial drive to see whether any cracks or handling issues become more obvious once the tires warm and flex. Frequent inspection is simply part of owning a prewar car responsibly.

A 1928 Moon 72 Series would have originally used bias-ply tires, because radial construction was not yet part of normal American passenger-car fitment in that era. The known size expressions tied to the 72 Series are 29X5.50 and 550-19, both mounted on 19-inch wheels. Those two markings reflect the period transition between older diameter-by-section conventions and the numeric bias-ply style many collectors recognize more readily today.

For restoration work, the important point is to match the 72 Series to the correct size family and an era-appropriate bias-ply construction. If you are chasing strict factory or judging accuracy, it is worth checking period literature or a Moon marque specialist for market-specific details on sidewall treatment and exact presentation. Original-equipment brand assumptions should be avoided unless you have car-specific proof.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1928 Moon because judges and informed enthusiasts will notice whether the size, construction type, and sidewall style suit a late-1920s American car. A visible mismatch such as the wrong size family for the series, an obviously modern construction, or a sidewall treatment that does not fit the car’s restoration theme can distract from an otherwise careful presentation. Tire appearance is part of the car’s stance and period character.

That does not mean every show applies exactly the same standards, but it does mean tire choice should be considered early in the restoration plan rather than as an afterthought. If your Moon is being prepared for formal judging, compare your intended tire against event standards and marque-club guidance before mounting a full set. It is much easier to correct sidewall or size decisions on paper than after the car is finished.

For the 1928 Moon 72 Series, both 29X5.50 and 550-19 are bias-ply fitments tied to the same model family, but they express size in two different period conventions. The 29X5.50 format emphasizes approximate overall diameter and section width, while 550-19 gives nominal section width with the wheel diameter called out directly. Both belong to the late-1920s tire world, not to modern metric radial sizing.

In restoration terms, the difference is often about how closely you want the tire marking and visual presentation to align with a particular period look. The antique-style marking can appeal to owners seeking an earlier appearance language, while the numeric 550-19 route may be easier to compare in currently available reproduction offerings. On a judged car, the right answer depends on the specific standard you are trying to satisfy.

1928 Moon tires can be suitable for normal road use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, in good condition, and driven within the limits of both the tire and the car. The currently listed 1928 Moon products are all bias-ply tires, and no explicit speed ratings are shown for them here. On a car from 1928, the broader mechanical picture matters just as much, because braking, steering, suspension, and overall vehicle dynamics are from a very different era than modern highway traffic.

That means highway use should be approached with realistic expectations rather than judged by tire construction alone. A well-sorted Moon on fresh tires may be fine for moderate touring, but sustained high-speed interstate driving is a different question from occasional collector-car use. Evaluate the whole car, keep speeds sensible for the vehicle’s age, and avoid treating a reproduction bias-ply tire as permission to drive a 1928 automobile like a modern sedan.

Pressure should follow the specific tire size and product, not a one-number rule for every 1928 Moon. The listed 550-19 BFGoodrich products show a maximum load capacity of 1040 pounds at 32 psi, and one listed Firestone 650-19 whitewall shows 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not universal recommendations for every Moon application, and they should not be transferred from one size family to another.

For actual running pressure, start with the factory guidance for your exact car if you have access to original literature, then compare that with the tire maker’s published limits for the reproduction tire you are using. A 72 Series on 550-19 and an 80 Series on 650-19 should not be treated the same by default. Correct pressure depends on the specific size, tire design, and the weight carried by that particular model.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Moon, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, tread damage, bulges, embedded debris, and signs of uneven wear or previous repairs. Confirm cold inflation pressure, make sure the valve stems are sound, and check that the spare is inflated and usable. Since 1928 Moon fitments are prewar-style bias-ply tires, it is also wise to look for age-related stiffness or visible flat-spot effects if the car has been sitting.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-trip inspection that suits a 1928 car, including wheel fasteners, brakes, steering play, and basic fluid and fuel-system condition. Longer drives place more heat and sustained load into the tires than local show trips do, so small issues become more important. A careful walk-around before departure is one of the simplest ways to preserve both the car and the trip.