1929 Auburn Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Auburn vehicles use six model-specific tire sizes across three series. The 120 Series uses 30X6.50 and 650-18, the 80 Series uses 28X5.50 and 550-18, and the 90 Series uses 30X6.00 and 6.00-18. Every listed size is bias-ply, but the fitments are split between antique diameter-by-section sizing and numeric 18-inch rim sizing.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1929 Auburn. You need to confirm your exact series first, then verify whether the car is running the antique-format fitment or an 18-inch wheel using the numeric size. Where product guidance is listed, 650-18 fits rims from 3.25 to 3.50 inches wide and 550-18 fits listed rims from 3 to 4 inches wide depending on the product.

On a 1929 Auburn, 30X6.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The 30 refers to the tire's approximate overall diameter in inches, while 6.50 refers to its nominal section width. That format predates the later emphasis on rim diameter in the size code and is used here on the 1929 Auburn 120 Series.

Seeing a size like 30X6.50 usually tells you the car is set up around an earlier prewar tire convention rather than a later numeric 18-inch designation. It should not be treated as interchangeable with other Auburn sizes just because the numbers seem close. If your 120 Series is wearing old tires or has mixed spare-wheel history, confirm the actual wheel and existing fitment before choosing a replacement.

On a 1929 Auburn, 550-18 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.50 indicates nominal section width, and the 18 is the wheel diameter in inches. For this Auburn year, 550-18 is tied to the 80 Series and appears in several bias-ply versions from Excelsior, Firestone, and BFGoodrich.

That numeric code is more directly wheel-oriented than an antique size like 28X5.50, so it starts the fitment conversation with the rim diameter. It also opens up sidewall choices that change the car's appearance, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions. If you are restoring an 80 Series, use the wheel on the car and the look you want to guide the final decision, not just the fact that both sizes belong to the same model family.

No. The 1929 Auburn 80 Series, 90 Series, and 120 Series each use their own pair of bias-ply sizes. The 80 Series uses 28X5.50 and 550-18, the 90 Series uses 30X6.00 and 6.00-18, and the 120 Series uses 30X6.50 and 650-18.

That model split matters because the right tire is tied to both the series and the wheel format on the car. Auburn's late-1920s lineup covered different chassis classes, so tire sizing was not one-size-fits-all across the make. If you are starting with a recently acquired car, confirm the body tag or series identification before treating another 1929 Auburn owner's size as a safe match for your own.

Sidewall style depends on size. In 650-18, Firestone offers blackwall and wide whitewall choices. In 550-18, the available styles include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall across Excelsior, Firestone, and BFGoodrich products. All of those listed options are bias-ply constructions suited to the prewar character of a 1929 Auburn.

The visual effect is significant on a late-1920s car. Blackwalls typically give a more restrained, utilitarian presentation, while whitewall treatments create a more formal period look often associated with upscale prewar automobiles. If appearance matters for restoration or show presentation, choose the correct size first and then narrow the tire by sidewall style so the tire complements the stance and era feel of your specific Auburn series.

Three brands appear in the available 1929 Auburn tire range: Firestone, Excelsior, and BFGoodrich. Firestone is available in both 650-18 and 550-18, while Excelsior and BFGoodrich appear in 550-18. Every listed option for this year and make is a bias-ply tire, which aligns with what buyers expect for a 1929 American luxury and near-luxury automobile.

Brand choice on a prewar car often comes down to the combination of correct size, sidewall appearance, and the specific product's wheel-width or load listing. Firestone gives the broadest cross-size presence here, while the 550-18 fitment offers the widest brand variety overall. Once you know your Auburn series and wheel format, compare brands within that size instead of trying to compare across different Auburn model families.

Within 550-18 for a 1929 Auburn, Firestone and BFGoodrich differ in sidewall presentation, listed rim fitment, weight, and stated load figures. The Firestone blackwall and double-whitewall versions are listed for 3.25-inch rims and carry up to 1125 pounds at 32 psi, while the BFGoodrich wide whitewall is listed for a 3-inch rim and carries 1000 pounds at 32 psi. The BFGoodrich example is also heavier than the Firestone blackwall in the listed specifications.

Those differences matter most when you are matching the tire to the wheel already on the car and to the appearance you want. A narrow-rim setup and a strong preference for a wide whitewall may point you one way, while another wheel and a more restrained sidewall treatment may point another. Compare the actual rim width on your 80 Series wheel before making the final choice.

Rim width guidance is listed for the 18-inch numeric sizes that have active product coverage. The 1929 Auburn 650-18 options are specified for rims from 3.25 to 3.50 inches wide. The 550-18 options span listed rim widths from 3 inches to 4 inches depending on the product, with some tires called out for 3-inch, 3.25-inch, or 4-inch rims.

That variation means rim width should be checked against the specific tire you are considering, not assumed from the size code alone. A 550-18 Auburn owner has more than one rim-width path within the same nominal size, while 650-18 is narrower in its approved range. Verify the wheel before selecting the product so the tire's profile and fit stay consistent with the intended setup.

The listed 1929 Auburn products do not carry TT or TL markings in the size descriptions here, so tube status is not separated by product in the way seen on some later tires. Because these are all prewar-style bias-ply fitments for late-1920s Auburn applications, owners commonly treat tube use as part of the wheel-and-tire setup rather than assuming modern tubeless practice.

The practical step is to inspect the wheel type and confirm the intended mounting method before installation. Original-style split-era and riveted prewar wheels often lead owners to use tubes even when a size listing itself is not marked that way. If your Auburn still wears original wheels, check the wheel condition, flap and tube needs, and valve-hole compatibility as part of the tire decision rather than as an afterthought.

A 1929 Auburn should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Keep the tires properly inflated, avoid prolonged contact with standing moisture, and roll the car periodically if it remains on the ground for long stretches. Bias-ply tires are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during static storage than modern radials.

Collector cars that sit for months often age their tires faster from environment than from mileage. If the Auburn will be parked for a season, moving it occasionally or supporting it in a way that reduces sustained load can help preserve shape and casing condition. Good storage habits protect both blackwall and whitewall sidewalls and make the first drive of the season much less eventful.

Tires on a 1929 Auburn should be judged more by age and condition than by miles traveled. A useful collector-car rule is to evaluate tires closely once they reach roughly five to seven years of age and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread wear is minimal. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age on modern reproduction products.

That approach fits cars like Auburns because they are often driven lightly but still exposed to time, temperature swings, and long stationary periods. A tire can look serviceable from the tread alone and still be aging out through the casing and sidewall. If the car's service history is unclear, checking age early is one of the smartest ways to avoid trouble on a low-mile but older set of tires.

Tires on a 1929 Auburn should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, embedded debris, and pressure loss, and make sure the spare is in equally usable condition. On a prewar bias-ply setup, visual condition matters as much as tread depth because age-related deterioration often appears first at the sidewall and bead area.

Longer trips deserve a more careful check that includes valve stems, wheel hardware, and any tube-related service items if your wheel setup uses tubes. A short local drive may hide problems that become obvious only after heat builds on the road. Regular inspection is especially important on a 1929 car because the tire is only one part of an older mechanical system that asks for steady, preventive attention.

A 1929 Auburn 80 Series would have been associated with bias-ply construction, since that was standard American passenger-car practice in the late 1920s. Within the Auburn range for this year, the 80 Series uses 28X5.50 and 550-18 sizes depending on the wheel format fitted to the car. No original equipment brand should be assumed from that alone, because dealer supply, market practices, and surviving wheel history can all affect what appears on a given car today.

For a restoration, the right starting point is the model series and the wheel actually on the vehicle, followed by the correct size convention and sidewall look for the way the car will be judged or presented. If your 80 Series has a long ownership history or mixed spare-wheel parts, a marque club or Auburn specialist can help confirm whether the car should wear the antique-format size or the numeric 18-inch equivalent.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1929 Auburn because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall presentation immediately. A late-1920s Auburn shown for originality should present a period-appropriate bias-ply construction in the proper model-specific size, and a sidewall treatment that suits the car's era and class. Obvious mismatches in size code or a modern-looking visual profile can distract from an otherwise accurate restoration.

That does not mean every event scores tires the same way, but it does mean tire selection is part of the car's visual authenticity. Choose the correct Auburn series first, then make sure the tire size matches the wheel format the car is actually using. If the car is headed for marque-specific judging, review that event's standards and ask Auburn specialists whether blackwall, wide whitewall, or another presentation is most appropriate.

For the 1929 Auburn 550-18 size, Firestone and Excelsior differ in wheel-width guidance, sidewall treatment, and listed weight. The Excelsior Comp H is a blackwall tire listed for a 4-inch rim and weighs 18 pounds, while Firestone's listed 550-18 products include blackwall and double-whitewall versions for 3.25-inch rims with weights of 19 and 23 pounds. Firestone examples also carry stated load figures up to 1125 pounds at 32 psi.

That makes the comparison less about a broad brand hierarchy and more about matching the tire to the wheel and visual goal of the car. An 80 Series owner with a 4-inch rim and a blackwall preference may be drawn to one path, while a car with a 3.25-inch rim and a whitewall-focused restoration may point another way. Wheel measurement should come before brand loyalty on this fitment.

The listed 1929 Auburn tires are all bias-ply products, and no speed ratings are shown in the available size listings here. In practical use, a properly selected and well-maintained bias-ply tire can be suitable for normal road driving within the limits of the tire, the wheel, and the car itself. On a 1929 Auburn, the broader safety picture also includes prewar braking, steering, suspension, and overall mechanical condition.

That means highway use should be approached with the habits appropriate to a late-1920s automobile, not a modern sedan. Stable pressures, sound wheels, even wear, and conservative speeds matter more than chasing theoretical top-end capability. Before any sustained road trip, make sure the car tracks properly, the tires are the correct model-specific size, and the rest of the chassis is prepared for the same use you expect from the tires.

Inflation pressure on a 1929 Auburn should follow the needs of the exact tire size and product, not a single blanket number for the whole make. Within the listed products, 650-18 carries a maximum load figure of 1205 pounds at 36 psi on one Firestone example, while 550-18 products show figures such as 1125 pounds at 32 psi and 1000 pounds at 32 psi depending on the tire. Those numbers are load-and-pressure ratings, not universal Auburn factory settings.

Use the original Auburn literature or marque guidance for the car's intended operating pressure, then compare it with the reproduction tire maker's specifications for the exact tire you choose. Do not transfer a pressure from 650-18 to 550-18 or from one Auburn series to another just because both are bias-ply tires. Correct inflation is one of the easiest ways to improve steering feel, wear pattern, and road manners on a prewar car.

Before a longer drive in a 1929 Auburn, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation, and uneven wear, then confirm cold inflation pressure and the condition of the spare. Check valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any tube-related service items if your wheel setup uses tubes. A prewar car also deserves a broader look at brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluids, and the cooling system before adding highway miles.

The point is to treat the tires as one part of a complete readiness check rather than as an isolated component. Auburns are capable, stylish touring cars of their era, but age makes small issues compound quickly on a longer trip. A careful walk-around and under-hood inspection before departure usually catches the kind of developing problem that could otherwise turn a pleasant drive into a recovery exercise.