1928 Whippet Tire Fitment Guide

1928 Whippet vehicles in this guide use two sizes: 28X4.75 and 475-19, and both apply to the 1928 Whippet 96 Series. The 475-19 products listed here mount on a 19-inch rim and specify a 3-inch rim width. Both sizes are bias-ply, but they represent different period sizing conventions rather than a modern bias-ply versus radial choice.

The practical next step is to verify which size is already on your car or which wheel the car is built around. A 1928 Whippet can be years removed from its original configuration, so the safest path is to inspect the sidewall markings and wheel diameter before choosing a tire. That keeps the decision focused on the actual setup of your 96 Series rather than assuming every surviving car is configured the same way.

On a 1928 Whippet, 28X4.75 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 28 refers to the tire's overall outside diameter and the 4.75 refers to the nominal section width. It is a bias-ply format from an earlier sizing system that many late-1920s vehicles still used or transitioned away from depending on wheel and application.

That matters because 28X4.75 is not read the same way as a later numeric size such as 475-19. A buyer comparing the two should not assume the first number means wheel diameter in both cases. If your 1928 Whippet already wears an antique-format tire, keep that format in mind when matching replacements and verify the actual wheel before switching to a different style of period sizing.

On a 1928 Whippet, 475-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 4.75 refers to the nominal section width and the 19 refers to the wheel diameter in inches. Listed 475-19 tires for the 1928 Whippet carry a 900-pound maximum load rating at 32 psi and mount on a 19-inch rim with a 3-inch rim width.

That makes 475-19 easier for many modern buyers to interpret than the older 28X4.75 format, because the wheel diameter is built directly into the code. If your 1928 Whippet is already fitted with 19-inch wheels and numeric-size tires, staying with 475-19 keeps the match straightforward. It also opens up visible sidewall choices, which can influence whether the finished car reads more understated or more formal in period style.

For a 1928 Whippet, the choice between 28X4.75 and 475-19 is mainly about matching the wheel and the sizing system your car is actually using, because both are bias-ply tires. This is not a bias-ply versus radial decision. The 96 Series appears with both sizes, so the correct answer depends on how the individual car is set up today.

Owners aiming for historical accuracy usually start by preserving the size format already associated with the car's wheels and restoration plan. If your 1928 Whippet is already on 19-inch numeric-size equipment, 475-19 is the more direct path and currently offers clear product choices. If the car is built around the antique-format 28X4.75 size, keep the focus on confirming that fitment rather than treating the two codes as interchangeable.

1928 Whippet tires in the listed 475-19 size are available in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall sidewall styles. Both are Goodyear bias-ply tires in the Deluxe All-Weather line. The 28X4.75 size is also part of 1928 Whippet fitment, though sidewall style details are not shown here for that size.

Sidewall appearance has a strong effect on how a late-1920s car presents. Blackwalls give a simpler, more restrained look, while a wide whitewall creates a dressier period appearance that many restorers prefer on show-oriented cars. The best choice depends on the visual direction of your 1928 Whippet and the standards you are trying to meet, especially if the car is being prepared with authenticity in mind.

Goodyear is the brand represented in the listed 475-19 tires for 1928 Whippet vehicles. Those products are part of the Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather series and are offered in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall forms. All listed examples in that size are bias-ply tires built around a 19-inch rim application.

For a buyer, brand choice here is less about comparing several current manufacturers and more about deciding whether the available Goodyear presentation matches the restoration goal. If your 1928 Whippet is using 475-19, the bigger decision may be sidewall style rather than construction or speed category. If your car uses 28X4.75 instead, first confirm that size before comparing any brand-specific options tied to a different fitment.

For 1928 Whippet vehicles, the listed 475-19 tire uses a 19-inch rim and specifies a 3-inch rim width. That gives a clear wheel target for the numeric-size fitment on the 96 Series. A rim width is not separately listed here for 28X4.75, so the two sizes should be treated individually rather than assuming one wheel specification automatically covers both.

Before mounting new tires, measure the wheel you have rather than relying on memory or old paperwork. Many restored or long-owned cars have had wheel changes over the decades, and a 1928 Whippet is old enough that small hardware differences can matter. Confirming rim dimensions first prevents confusion between the antique-format and numeric-format fitments and helps you avoid choosing a tire only because the size code looks familiar.

The listed 1928 Whippet products do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size descriptions shown here, so the practical approach is to verify the construction details of the exact tire and wheel combination you plan to use. On vehicles from the late 1920s, tube use is often part of the original-style setup, especially with period wheels and bias-ply applications.

A careful buyer should inspect the wheel design, condition of the rim, valve-stem arrangement, and the sidewall markings of the specific tire before installation. If your 1928 Whippet is being restored for authenticity, tube use may be part of keeping the setup consistent with the era. If the car is already assembled and road-ready, matching the replacement tire to the current wheel and tube arrangement is the safer path than making assumptions.

A 1928 Whippet should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, roll the car periodically if possible, and avoid leaving it parked for long periods on damp concrete or oil-contaminated surfaces. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing temporary flat spots during extended static storage.

If the car will sit for months, many collectors either move it occasionally or use stands to reduce the time the full vehicle weight rests on one contact patch. Tire covers help protect sidewalls from light exposure, and a clean storage area reduces moisture-related deterioration around the wheel and valve area. Good storage habits preserve both appearance and drivability, which matters on a lightly used 1928 Whippet as much as tread wear does.

Tires on a 1928 Whippet usually age out before they wear out, because collector cars often see limited annual mileage. A sensible rule is to evaluate them closely after about five to seven years of service and to treat around ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish actual age.

A late-1920s car often spends more time parked than driven, so condition matters more than odometer miles. Sidewall cracking, hardening, flat-spotting, and repeated air loss are stronger replacement signals than tread depth alone. If your 1928 Whippet is used for tours or longer events, age-related caution becomes even more important because old-looking but little-driven tires can still be the weak point once the miles begin to add up.

Tires on a 1928 Whippet should be checked before every drive and given a more thorough inspection before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, embedded objects, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, and slow pressure loss. On a collector vehicle from this era, it is also wise to inspect valve stems and the spare at the same time.

That routine matters because a 1928 Whippet may go from weeks of sitting to a full day on the road, which can expose problems that were not obvious in storage. Regular checks also help catch wheel or alignment issues early, especially with bias-ply tires that can show wear patterns differently from modern radials. A short inspection before departure is one of the simplest ways to keep a vintage trip uneventful.

The 1928 Whippet 96 Series belongs to an era when bias-ply construction was the standard fitment type, and the listed sizes for the model are 28X4.75 and 475-19. Those two sizes reflect period-appropriate sizing conventions seen during the late 1920s. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and history, so the most reliable starting point is confirming the size and wheel setup on the individual car.

For a restoration, matching the correct size family and bias-ply construction usually matters more than chasing a brand assumption. Sidewall appearance can also influence how authentic the finished car looks at a glance. If your 1928 Whippet will be judged, use marque-club resources, factory literature, and period photography to confirm what is appropriate for your body style and restoration goal before settling on a final tire presentation.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1928 Whippet because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction, and sidewall style immediately. A late-1920s car is expected to wear period-appropriate bias-ply tires, and an incorrect size family can change the car's stance and visual balance. Whitewall treatment versus blackwall treatment can also affect whether the car reads as properly finished for the presentation standard you are pursuing.

For a local show, visual consistency may be enough, but formal judging often rewards closer adherence to period conventions. That means your 1928 Whippet should be evaluated not only for whether the tires fit, but whether they suit the era and the way the car is being represented. Event-specific standards can differ, so it is worth checking with marque clubs or judging guides before making a final cosmetic and fitment decision.

For the 1928 Whippet, the listed 475-19 options share the same Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather series, the same bias-ply construction, the same 900-pound load rating at 32 psi, the same 19-inch rim diameter, and the same 3-inch rim width. The visible difference is the sidewall treatment: one is Blackwall and the other uses a 2.875-inch Wide Whitewall.

That means the choice is primarily about presentation rather than a change in basic fitment or load rating. A blackwall usually gives a cleaner, simpler look, while a wide whitewall delivers a more formal late-1920s appearance that many restorers associate with higher visual impact. On a 1928 Whippet being prepared for shows or period styling, that aesthetic distinction can be every bit as important as the size itself.

1928 Whippet tires can be suitable for regular road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and matched to wheels in good order. The listed 475-19 products do not show a speed rating letter, so the wiser approach is to treat them as period-style bias-ply tires and drive within the limits of the vehicle and the road conditions. On a late-1920s car, braking, steering, suspension condition, and overall mechanical health often matter as much as the tire itself.

A carefully prepared 1928 Whippet can handle normal touring, but it should not be driven as though it were a modern car. Leave extra stopping distance, avoid sustained high-speed running, and pay close attention to balance, vibration, and pressure retention before longer trips. Safe highway use begins with the entire car working as a system, so the tire choice should be paired with a realistic understanding of vintage vehicle dynamics.

For the listed 1928 Whippet 475-19 tires, the stated maximum load figure is 900 pounds at 32 psi. That is a tire rating figure, not automatically the same thing as the vehicle's recommended operating pressure. Inflation for a vintage car should be checked against the owner's manual or period service literature, while also respecting the current tire manufacturer's published limits for the exact tire you are using.

The key is to avoid borrowing a pressure figure from one size and applying it to another without confirmation. A 1928 Whippet using 28X4.75 should be treated on its own terms rather than assumed to match the 475-19 setup. Proper inflation affects steering effort, ride quality, tread wear, and casing life, so it is worth checking pressures cold and revisiting them any time the car's load or use changes.

Before a longer drive in a 1928 Whippet, inspect all tires for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs of age-related hardening. Confirm cold inflation pressure, look over the valve stems, and inspect the spare with the same care as the four road tires. On a car of this age, it is also smart to check wheel fasteners, brake function, steering response, and general fluid condition before departure.

The tire inspection should be part of a broader vintage-car routine, not a separate task done in isolation. A 1928 Whippet rewards steady, preventive attention, especially if it has been sitting between outings. Catching a weak spare, a leaking valve, or an early sidewall crack in the garage is far better than discovering it miles from home, and that mindset is central to enjoyable touring in any pre-war automobile.