1928 Studebaker Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Studebaker vehicles use four sizes across three models. Commander and Dictator use 29X5.50 and 550-20 on 20-inch rims, while President uses 31X6.20 and 650-19 on 19-inch rims. Current rim width guidance appears on some available products, including 3 inches for 550-20 and 3.25 to 3.50 inches on certain 650-19 offerings, so the wheel should be checked against the exact size being considered.

The practical takeaway is that year and make are only the starting point for 1928 Studebaker fitment. A Commander or Dictator owner should stay within the 20-inch family, and a President owner should stay within the 19-inch family. Once the model is confirmed, the next step is comparing the two period size conventions used for that model and choosing the sidewall style and product series that best matches the car’s restoration goals.

On a 1928 Studebaker, 29X5.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number refers to the tire’s overall diameter, about 29 inches, and the second number is the nominal section width, about 5.50 inches. On 1928 Studebaker applications, this size belongs to Commander and Dictator models and corresponds to the same general 20-inch fitment family as 550-20.

That matters because many modern buyers are more familiar with later numeric or metric tire codes and may not immediately recognize this earlier convention. If your car is a Commander or Dictator and you are restoring it with strong attention to period presentation, this style of size marking often aligns naturally with the late-1920s look. It should still be matched to the actual wheel and tire product you plan to run, since construction details and wheel recommendations matter just as much as the printed size.

No, 1928 Studebaker models do not all use the same tire size. Commander and Dictator share 29X5.50 and 550-20, both on 20-inch rims, while President uses 31X6.20 and 650-19 on 19-inch rims. The split reflects the difference between Studebaker’s mid-range cars and its larger senior model rather than a single all-model fitment.

That means identifying the model is the first fitment step, especially if the car has changed hands, been partially restored, or is missing original paperwork. A President should not be treated like a Dictator or Commander just because the year and make match. Once the model is confirmed, compare the tires already on the car, the wheel diameter, and the sidewall style you want so the replacement stays in the correct family for both fit and appearance.

For a 1928 Studebaker Commander or Dictator, 29X5.50 and 550-20 belong to the same period bias-ply fitment family, but 550-20 is the size with current product choices represented in blackwall and wide whitewall BFGoodrich offerings. Both are late-1920s style sizes rather than modern radial substitutes, so the decision is less about changing the car’s driving character and more about staying in the correct era and choosing the product presentation that suits the car.

Owners usually make that choice by starting with the wheel diameter and then considering how original they want the tire’s sizing language and appearance to feel. If your Commander or Dictator already has 20-inch wheels and you want a straightforward path to available products, 550-20 is the most practical place to compare current options. If your goal is a highly period-minded restoration, the antique-style 29X5.50 designation is worth discussing with a Studebaker specialist before finalizing the tire.

1928 Studebaker tires currently appear in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, depending on size. In 550-20 for Commander and Dictator, BFGoodrich is offered in blackwall and wide whitewall form. In 650-19 for President, Firestone and Lester offerings include blackwall versions as well as wide whitewall options, giving owners more than one visual direction within the correct bias-ply era.

That choice affects the finished look of the car more than the basic fitment. A blackwall usually suits a more restrained, utilitarian, or understated presentation, while a wide whitewall gives a more formal and upscale appearance that many owners prefer on prominent late-1920s cars. If authenticity matters for a judged restoration, compare the sidewall style against period photos, surviving original cars, and marque-club guidance for your specific body style and market.

Current 1928 Studebaker tire offerings include BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Lester, depending on size. BFGoodrich appears in 550-20 for Commander and Dictator, while Firestone and Lester appear in 650-19 for President. All of the currently listed products for these sizes are bias-ply tires, which keeps the available choices aligned with the construction style expected for a 1928 American car.

Brand choice usually comes down to which size your model uses and what sidewall look you want rather than a universal one-brand answer for every 1928 Studebaker. A President owner, for example, can compare Firestone and Lester within 650-19, while a Commander or Dictator owner evaluating 550-20 is looking within the BFGoodrich range shown here. It is worth comparing rim recommendations, load listings where present, and sidewall style before deciding which product best matches the car’s intended use.

Rim width guidance on 1928 Studebaker tires depends on the size and the individual product. In 550-20, available BFGoodrich products list a 3-inch rim width. In 650-19, certain Firestone Balloon products list a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range. That means rim width should be checked by the exact tire product, not assumed across every tire in the same general family.

This is especially important on a car that may have had wheel changes over the years or that uses restored original wheels whose dimensions are not immediately obvious. A Commander or Dictator owner considering 550-20 should confirm that the wheel matches the 3-inch recommendation, while a President owner comparing 650-19 products should verify whether the wheel falls within the listed 3.25 to 3.50 inch range. Matching the tire to the wheel is just as important as choosing the correct size code.

Within each 1928 Studebaker model family, the paired sizes use the same basic rim diameter. Commander and Dictator sizes 29X5.50 and 550-20 belong to the 20-inch family, while President sizes 31X6.20 and 650-19 belong to the 19-inch family. That means the model-specific size pairs are diameter-compatible in principle, but wheel width still has to match the tire you intend to run.

The important distinction is that original wheels from a Commander or Dictator should not be treated as interchangeable with President fitments simply because all three are 1928 Studebakers. Start by confirming the wheel diameter on the actual car, then compare the wheel width with the recommendations shown for the tire series you want. On an unrestored or long-restored car, that extra check helps avoid forcing a period-correct tire onto a wheel that is not actually the right match.

A 1928 Studebaker should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Because these are bias-ply applications, long static storage can also encourage temporary flat-spotting more readily than most modern radials. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and avoiding petroleum contamination around the tires all help preserve the rubber.

If the car sits for long periods, move it occasionally so the tires are not bearing weight in the same spot for months at a time, or use stands if the storage plan and suspension setup make that practical. Keep the tires inflated to the pressure appropriate for storage and inspect them before the car goes back on the road. Collector cars like 1928 Studebaker models often age out their tires long before they wear out, so storage conditions matter more than mileage.

Tires on a 1928 Studebaker are usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage. A sensible rule is to begin evaluating collector-car tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to consider replacement at roughly ten years regardless of remaining tread, especially on a low-use bias-ply application. The DOT date code, overall storage history, and visible condition all matter more than how many miles the car traveled.

That approach fits the way most surviving 1928 Studebaker cars are actually used: occasional drives, shows, tours, and long periods of storage. A tire that looks nearly new in tread depth can still be too old for confident road use if the rubber has hardened or the sidewalls are beginning to crack. If you are unsure where a tire falls in its service life, age, storage history, and a careful visual inspection should guide the decision before the next driving season.

Tires on a 1928 Studebaker should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and any sign that the tire is losing pressure between uses. On a collector car, it is also wise to inspect the spare, since it may be the oldest tire on the car and can be overlooked for years at a time.

Frequent inspection matters because age-related deterioration often appears before tread wear becomes a concern on a lightly driven 1928 Studebaker. If the car has been stored for a while, check whether the tires have developed flat spots and give them time to round out on a cautious initial drive. A quick pre-drive routine also helps catch wheel and valve issues early, which is valuable on a car built in an era when every component is now many decades old.

A 1928 Studebaker Commander would have originally used bias-ply tires, since bias construction was standard for American passenger cars in that era. Within the 1928 Studebaker range, Commander uses the same 20-inch tire family as the Dictator, represented here by 29X5.50 and 550-20. That places the Commander firmly in the late-1920s balloon-tire period rather than in any later radial or modern metric sizing era.

For restoration work, the key is usually getting the size family, construction type, and sidewall presentation correct before worrying about finer cosmetic details. A blackwall or wide whitewall choice can change the tone of the restoration, and event standards can differ on what is most appropriate for a particular body style or trim level. If you are aiming for high-level authenticity, compare your car with period literature and consult Studebaker marque resources before making the final call.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1928 Studebaker, especially in judged classes where era accuracy is part of the presentation. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the car has the correct size family, proper bias-ply construction, and a sidewall style that suits the period. A Commander or Dictator wearing a President-size tire, or a car with a visibly later-looking construction or profile, can look wrong even to a casual observer.

That does not mean every event applies the same standards, but accuracy in size and appearance almost always strengthens the car’s credibility. A touring-oriented local show may be more forgiving than a marque-specific or concours-style event, yet the visual effect of the tire is still a large part of the car’s stance and character. If judging matters, confirm the model first, then compare your tire choice against accepted Studebaker restoration references and club guidance.

For the 1928 Studebaker President, Firestone and Lester both appear in 650-19 bias-ply form, but they are not presented identically. Firestone options include blackwall and a wide whitewall Balloon version, with certain products listing a 3.25 to 3.50 inch rim width range and one whitewall version carrying a 1430-pound-at-36-psi load listing. Lester appears here as a wide whitewall 650-19 option with a heavier listed weight than the blackwall Firestone entries.

That means a President owner can compare more than just brand names. Sidewall appearance, the presence of a stated rim-width range, and whether a load listing is shown may all influence the final choice depending on how the car is being restored or driven. If your wheel width is already known, that can narrow the decision quickly; if authenticity is the priority, then the brand’s visual profile and sidewall style may matter just as much as the basic size.

1928 Studebaker tires can be suitable for road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly mounted, and inflated appropriately for the product and vehicle. The currently represented 1928 Studebaker options are all bias-ply tires, which deliver an authentic driving feel but behave differently from modern radials in tracking, steering response, and sensitivity to road crown. On a car of this age, the overall mechanical condition often matters as much as the tire itself.

A well-sorted 1928 Studebaker is still a prewar-style automobile in the way it stops, rides, and responds, so sensible cruising expectations are part of safe operation. Highway use should be approached with an honest view of the car’s brakes, steering, suspension, wheel condition, and age of the tires already fitted. Before any sustained road trip, make sure the tires are not merely the right size, but also free of age-related cracking, impact damage, or irregular wear.

Inflation pressure on 1928 Studebaker tires should be matched to the exact tire size and product rather than guessed across the entire lineup. Available 550-20 products list a maximum load of 1075 pounds at 32 psi, while one 650-19 Firestone wide whitewall listing shows 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket recommendation for every 1928 Studebaker application.

The best approach is to start with the vehicle manufacturer’s original guidance for the model, then compare it with the reproduction tire’s rated pressure and load information. A Commander or Dictator should not automatically use a President figure, and one 650-19 product’s rating should not be transferred to another without checking. Running the proper pressure helps preserve handling, wear pattern, and casing life, particularly on bias-ply tires that are more sensitive to underinflation than many owners expect.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Studebaker, inspect all four road tires and the spare for visible cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and stable air pressure. Confirm that the tires match the model’s correct size family, with Commander and Dictator staying in the 20-inch group and President in the 19-inch group. Wheel condition, lug security, and valve condition should be checked along with the tires themselves.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that also covers brakes, steering play, fluid levels, cooling system condition, and basic electrical reliability. On a car from 1928, even a short tour can become stressful if one aging component is overlooked. A careful once-over before departure is often the difference between a confident, enjoyable drive and discovering roadside that an old spare, weak valve, or mismatched tire was never really ready for use.