1928 Reo Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Reo vehicles use four sizes across two models. The Flying Cloud uses 30X6.20 and 650-18, while the Wolverine uses 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. The 650-18 products mount on 18-inch rims with a listed rim-width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches, and the 6.00-18 Wolverine size also indicates an 18-inch wheel by its code.

Model identification comes first because these sizes are not shared across the full 1928 Reo lineup. After that, compare the wheel and tire already on the car to determine whether it is set up for the earlier diameter-by-section style or the 18-inch balloon-tire style. That simple check narrows the correct path much faster than starting with year and make alone.

On a 1928 Reo tire, 30X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 30 refers to the tire's overall outside diameter in inches, while 6.20 refers to the nominal section width. That format belongs to the older vintage way of sizing tires and appears on the 1928 Reo Flying Cloud.

That code matters because it is different from later balloon or modern metric sizing. A buyer looking at 30X6.20 should think in terms of preserving an earlier visual profile and matching the car's existing wheel setup, not treating it as interchangeable with 650-18 simply because both belong to the same year and make family.

On a 1928 Reo tire, 650-18 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 indicates nominal section width, and the 18 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This size is used on the 1928 Reo Flying Cloud, and current offerings in that size include Firestone bias-ply tires in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles.

650-18 represents the balloon-tire convention that became common in the late 1920s, so it gives a different visual and fitment path than an antique 30-inch overall-diameter size. If your Flying Cloud is already wearing 18-inch wheels, that is the first clue that 650-18 may be the relevant direction to confirm before choosing a specific tire.

For 1928 Reo tires, the currently listed sidewall variety appears in 650-18 for the Flying Cloud. That size is available in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions from Firestone, and both are bias-ply constructions. The other 1928 Reo sizes shown here do not add additional sidewall styles to the product range.

Sidewall choice changes the visual character of a late-1920s car more than many buyers expect. Blackwalls usually suit a restrained factory-style appearance, while a wide whitewall creates a more dressed, period-flavored presentation that many restorers associate with upscale late-1920s styling. If appearance is driving the decision, sidewall style can matter nearly as much as size.

Firestone is the brand represented in the currently available 1928 Reo product range shown here, specifically in 650-18 for the Flying Cloud. Both available options in that size are bias-ply Firestone Balloon tires, offered in different sidewall styles. No second brand appears in the active product selection for the sizes listed on this page.

That makes the buying decision more about selecting the correct size and sidewall presentation than comparing across several manufacturers. For a 1928 Reo owner, the important next step is matching the car to the proper size family first, then deciding whether the visual finish of a blackwall or wide whitewall better suits the car's restoration goals.

For a 1928 Reo in 650-18, both choices are Firestone Balloon bias-ply tires built for 18-inch rims with a listed rim-width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches. The clearest difference is sidewall style: one is a blackwall and the other is a 3.50-inch wide whitewall. The blackwall listing also carries a stated maximum load of 1205 pounds at 36 psi and a lower listed weight than the whitewall version.

That means the decision is largely visual unless a restorer has a specific reason to match one product detail over another. A blackwall usually keeps the presentation more understated, while the wide whitewall gives the Flying Cloud a more formal late-1920s look. If originality standards matter for a show car, compare the sidewall appearance against period photos and marque guidance.

Rim-width guidance is available for 1928 Reo in size 650-18. That size fits 18-inch rims with a listed width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches. The other 1928 Reo sizes on this page do not add a separate rim-width listing here, so the usable range confirmed in the current product selection centers on the 650-18 Flying Cloud fitment.

Rim width matters because the same nominal tire size can behave differently if mounted on a wheel outside its intended range. Before choosing a 650-18 tire, measure the actual wheel or verify it against a known original wheel specification for your car. That extra step is especially worthwhile on cars that may have changed wheels during decades of restoration or storage.

A 1928 Reo should not be assumed to use the same original wheels with both of its model-specific tire sizes. The 650-18 and 6.00-18 sizes clearly call for 18-inch rims, while 30X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size and should be treated as a separate wheel-and-tire convention until the wheel on the car is physically confirmed.

That is why wheel verification belongs ahead of product selection on a 1928 Reo. If your car already has 18-inch wheels, the numeric balloon size is the relevant direction to explore for that model. If it is wearing an antique diameter-by-section tire, treat that as a sign the car may be set up differently and confirm the wheel before moving further.

A 1928 Reo stores best in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, furnaces, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing flat spotting and age-related sidewall checking when they sit in one position too long. Keeping the tires clean and the car out of standing moisture also helps preserve the rubber and the wheels.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it occasionally to change the tire contact patch or support it in a way that reduces constant load on the carcass. Maintain correct air pressure during storage and inspect the spare as carefully as the road tires. Collector cars often age their tires more from inactivity than from mileage.

Tires on a 1928 Reo should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than miles driven. A useful collector-car rule is to begin evaluating them closely once they reach roughly five to seven years of age and to treat about ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread depth still looks good. The date code on the tire is the starting point for that timeline.

Vintage cars often accumulate very little mileage, so old rubber can look serviceable long after its structure and flexibility have begun to decline. Sidewall cracking, repeated pressure loss, hardening, or visible distortion matter more than odometer readings on a low-use 1928 Reo. If the car's tire age is uncertain, replacing on age is usually wiser than stretching service life.

Tires on a 1928 Reo should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look closely for sidewall cracking, tread separation, embedded debris, uneven wear, cuts, bulges, and signs that the tire is no longer holding pressure consistently. On a collector car, problems often develop slowly and become noticeable only when the car finally goes back on the road.

A quick walkaround is not enough before a touring event or club drive. Put a gauge on each tire, inspect the spare, and check valve-stem condition at the same time. Frequent inspection is especially important on a late-1920s car because the tires are only one part of a much older system that can sit inactive for long periods between drives.

A 1928 Reo Flying Cloud would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the sizes associated with the model here are 30X6.20 and 650-18. That places the Flying Cloud right in the late-1920s transition period when earlier diameter-based sizing and balloon-type numeric sizing could both be relevant depending on wheel equipment and body application. Original-equipment branding should be confirmed separately if that level of authenticity matters.

For most restorers, the practical takeaway is that size family and construction type come before brand detail. If your goal is authenticity, compare your car's existing wheels, surviving literature, and period photos, then verify the exact setup with a Reo club or marque specialist. That approach is more reliable than assuming every 1928 Flying Cloud left the factory identically equipped.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1928 Reo, especially in judged classes focused on restoration accuracy. Size, construction type, overall visual profile, and sidewall style can all affect whether the car looks properly era-matched. On a late-1920s automobile, an obviously incorrect size family or a sidewall treatment that clashes with the car's intended presentation can stand out quickly.

That does not mean every event judges to the same standard. Some shows are tolerant of practical touring choices, while concours-style events may scrutinize details much more closely. Before finalizing a tire, compare the car against the rules for the event you care about most and use a Reo club or knowledgeable judge as the tie-breaker on sidewall appearance and exact size family.

A 1928 Reo Wolverine belongs to the same bias-ply period and is associated here with 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. Those two sizes reflect the same broader late-1920s shift seen elsewhere in the industry, where older diameter-by-section conventions coexisted with balloon-tire numeric sizing. The key point is that original-style fitment for a Wolverine starts with bias-ply construction and the correct model-specific size family.

Restorers should use the wheel currently on the car as the first clue, then verify against period references tied to the Wolverine rather than the Flying Cloud. The two Reo models do not share the same fitment pattern, so copying another 1928 Reo without checking the model can send a restoration in the wrong direction. Marque clubs remain the best source for trim- or body-specific confirmation.

1928 Reo tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and inflated properly, but all fitments shown here are bias-ply rather than modern radial designs. Bias-ply tires have period-correct construction and driving manners that differ from modern passenger-car tires, especially in tracking, response, and flat-spot sensitivity after storage. On a car from 1928, the vehicle's own brakes, steering, suspension, and overall mechanical condition are often just as important as the tire itself.

Safe road use depends on treating a 1928 Reo like a well-maintained vintage automobile, not like a modern commuter. Keep speeds appropriate to the tire, the road, and the car's capabilities, and inspect the tires carefully before longer runs. If your driving plans involve frequent sustained road speeds, overall vehicle condition and realistic expectations matter more than chasing a modern driving feel from a period-type tire.

Inflation pressure on a 1928 Reo should follow the specific tire size and the manufacturer's rating for that exact product, while also respecting the vehicle's original recommendations where applicable. In 650-18, one listed Firestone Balloon blackwall carries a maximum load of 1205 pounds at 36 psi. That figure should not be transferred automatically to 30X6.20, 30X6.00, or 6.00-18.

The best approach is to start with the car's original handbook or marque reference, then compare that against the pressure guidance for the exact reproduction tire you are using. Vintage cars can be sensitive to overinflation and underinflation in different ways, especially with bias-ply construction. Matching pressure to the exact size and product is more important than using one blanket number for every 1928 Reo.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Reo, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, exposed cords, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign of separation. Check cold inflation pressures, verify that valve stems are sound, and make sure the spare is inflated and usable. A longer outing on a vintage car asks more of old rubber than a short local drive does.

Tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-trip routine that also covers brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluids, and cooling. On a late-1920s automobile, a small issue ignored at home can become a major inconvenience once the car is hot and miles from the garage. Giving the tires a deliberate, hands-on check is one of the quickest ways to reduce risk before departure.