1929 Franklin Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Franklin vehicles use four sizes across three model series: 31X6.00 and 600-19 for the 1929 Franklin 130 Series, and 31X6.20 and 650-19 for the 1929 Franklin 135 Series and 137 Series. The two numeric sizes, 600-19 and 650-19, both mount on 19-inch rims. For 650-19, certain Firestone Balloon products specify a 3.25 to 3.50-inch rim width range.

That means there is no one-size-fits-all answer for a 1929 Franklin. Start by identifying the series, then confirm whether the car is wearing an antique diameter-based fitment or a 19-inch wheel. On a restored car that may have changed wheels over the years, the series number alone is helpful, but the actual rim diameter on the car is what closes the loop before you choose a tire.

On a 1929 Franklin, 31X6.00 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number refers to the tire's overall diameter, about 31 inches, and the second number refers to a nominal section width of 6.00 inches. It is a bias-ply style size associated with early automotive sizing conventions and applies here to the 1929 Franklin 130 Series.

That style of marking looks unfamiliar to many modern buyers because it does not call out a rim diameter the way later numeric and metric sizes do. If your Franklin 130 Series still uses this antique-size convention, the goal is usually to preserve an earlier visual character and construction style. If the car has 19-inch wheels instead, the companion fitment path is the numeric 600-19 size rather than another antique-coded tire.

On a 1929 Franklin, 600-19 and 650-19 are numeric bias-ply sizes. The 600 or 650 portion indicates a nominal section width of 6.00 or 6.50 inches, while the 19 identifies a 19-inch rim diameter. Within the 1929 Franklin range, 600-19 belongs to the 130 Series, while 650-19 belongs to the 135 Series and 137 Series.

Numeric sizing is usually easier for today's buyer to work with because the wheel diameter is stated directly in the code. That makes it a practical checkpoint on cars that have been restored long ago or assembled from parts over time. Once you know you have a 19-inch Franklin wheel, the remaining step is matching the correct width code to the correct series instead of assuming all 1929 Franklins share the same tire.

1929 Franklin tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, but the choices depend on size. The 600-19 size is offered as a Lester Wide Whitewall, while 650-19 includes Firestone blackwall options and both Firestone and Lester wide whitewall options. The antique sizes listed for 1929 Franklin models are part of the fitment picture, but the available sidewall-style variety shown here is tied to the numeric 19-inch products.

For a late-1920s American luxury car like a Franklin, sidewall style can materially change the car's visual character. A blackwall often suits a more restrained service-era appearance, while a wide whitewall emphasizes a fuller period presentation many restorers prefer. If the car will be judged, verify the sidewall treatment expected for your body style, market, and event standard before settling on appearance alone.

Two brands are represented for 1929 Franklin fitments: Firestone and Lester. The 600-19 size is available from Lester, while the 650-19 size includes Firestone and Lester options. All listed products for these Franklin fitments are bias-ply tires, keeping them aligned with the construction style associated with the period.

Brand choice on a collector Franklin often comes down to the specific size your series uses and the look you want on the car. A 130 Series owner working with 600-19 will have a narrower brand path than a 135 or 137 Series owner using 650-19, where sidewall presentation and series selection are broader. Once the series and size are confirmed, compare the available brand and sidewall combinations rather than assuming every Franklin fitment has the same menu.

For a 1929 Franklin in 650-19, Firestone appears in multiple versions, including blackwall and wide whitewall Balloon tires, while Lester appears as a wide whitewall offering. The Firestone Balloon versions list a 3.25 to 3.50-inch rim width range, and one Firestone wide whitewall Balloon tire carries a maximum load rating of 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Listed weights also vary, with Firestone entries at 28 to 31 pounds and the Lester wide whitewall at 32 pounds.

Those distinctions make the 650-19 category more than a simple brand swap. Some owners will focus first on sidewall appearance, while others may want the added clarity of a published rim-width range within the Firestone Balloon line. On a Franklin 135 or 137 Series, comparing those details against your wheel and the visual target of the restoration is more useful than choosing by brand name alone.

Rim width guidance is available within the 1929 Franklin fitments for 650-19 Firestone Balloon products, which specify a 3.25 to 3.50-inch rim width range. The numeric 600-19 and the antique-size fitments are part of the year's tire picture as well, but the published rim-width range attached here is specifically tied to certain 650-19 products. Both numeric Franklin sizes use 19-inch rims, but width still needs to match the tire's intended range.

That makes wheel measurement especially worthwhile on a Franklin that has been restored, re-wheeled, or converted over the decades. Confirm the actual rim width before selecting a 650-19 product, particularly if you are looking at a Firestone Balloon tire. With vintage cars, small differences in wheel hardware and restoration history matter, so using the existing wheel as the final reference point is safer than relying on appearance alone.

The listed 1929 Franklin tire products do not carry TT or TL markings in the size descriptions, so the setup should be confirmed against the specific tire's sidewall marking and the wheel design being used. On a car from 1929, tube-type service is often part of the restoration conversation because original-style wheels and period tire construction frequently go hand in hand. The practical answer depends on both the tire specification and the wheel itself.

A buyer should treat tube use as a setup item, not an assumption. If your Franklin retains original-style wheels, confirm whether the wheel and tire combination is intended for tube-type service before mounting. That is also the right time to inspect the condition of the rim band, valve opening, and any aged hardware, since a correct tube installation depends just as much on wheel condition as on the tire chosen.

A 1929 Franklin should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Bias-ply tires also tend to develop temporary flat-spotting more readily during long static periods than later radial designs. Keeping the car clean, dry, and off damp ground helps protect both the tire casing and the wheel.

For longer storage, many collectors slightly reduce load on the tires by moving the car periodically or using properly placed stands that support the chassis without stressing suspension components. Avoid letting a Franklin sit for months with the same contact patch carrying full weight. When the car comes back into service, drive gently at first to let any flat spotting work itself out before taking on a longer road outing.

On a 1929 Franklin, tire life is usually judged more by age, storage conditions, and inspection findings than by mileage alone. Collector-car tires often need close evaluation once they are around five to seven years old, and many owners treat the ten-year point as a replacement threshold even if tread depth still looks good. The DOT date code on the tire is the starting point for understanding age.

That approach matters because a low-mile Franklin can still be running on tires that appear presentable but have aged internally. A car that is driven only to shows and weekend events may never wear out the tread in the modern sense, yet time, heat cycles, and storage environment still work against the casing. Regular age tracking is a better guide than odometer reading when planning replacement intervals.

Tires on a 1929 Franklin should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, embedded debris, and signs of pressure loss. Because a 1929 car may use tube-type service depending on the tire and wheel combination, valve stems and any tube-related hardware deserve the same level of attention as the tread and sidewall.

Frequent inspection is one of the simplest ways to avoid problems on an older touring car. A Franklin that has been sitting for weeks can lose pressure slowly, and an underinflated bias-ply tire can alter steering feel and ride character quickly. Making tire inspection part of your pre-drive ritual also gives you a chance to catch wheel issues, loose trim rings, or age-related cracking before the car is out on the road.

A 1929 Franklin 130 Series would have been associated with bias-ply construction, since that was the standard tire technology of the period. Within the fitments used on the 130 Series, both 31X6.00 and 600-19 appear, reflecting the late-1920s overlap between antique diameter-based sizing and more direct rim-diameter numeric sizing. No specific original-equipment tire brand should be assumed without marque-specific confirmation.

For restoration work, that means the right answer starts with the exact wheel and series configuration on your own Franklin rather than a blanket assumption about every 130 Series car. If you are preparing for judged competition, verify market- and body-specific expectations with Franklin club resources or event organizers. The important authenticity markers are usually size family, construction type, and sidewall presentation before brand enters the conversation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1929 Franklin because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the size, construction, and sidewall style suit the era and the specific series. A Franklin presented for originality should generally wear period-appropriate bias-ply construction, and an obviously mismatched size family or sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise careful restoration. The 130 Series and the 135/137 Series do not share the same size pair, so model identification matters here.

Show standards vary, but the tire decision is never just cosmetic on a pre-war luxury car. A wide whitewall may be appropriate for one restoration goal, while a blackwall may better suit another, and the wrong series-specific size can undercut the whole presentation. If the car is being prepared for formal judging, check the event's standards and compare them against your Franklin's actual wheel and series combination before finalizing the tire choice.

For the 1929 Franklin in 650-19, Firestone Balloon tires appear in blackwall and wide whitewall versions and list a 3.25 to 3.50-inch rim width range, while the Lester Classic Bias Ply offering appears as a wide whitewall. One Firestone Balloon wide whitewall tire also lists a maximum load capacity of 1430 pounds at 36 psi. The listed product weights differ as well, with Firestone entries at 28 to 31 pounds and the Lester at 32 pounds.

Those details matter in restoration work because they influence both appearance and how closely you can match a desired period presentation. A restorer might choose between a more restrained blackwall look and a more formal wide whitewall stance before getting into finer spec differences. On a Franklin 135 or 137 Series, compare the rim-width range and sidewall treatment against the car's wheels and restoration goal before deciding which 650-19 path makes the most sense.

1929 Franklin tires in the sizes shown here are bias-ply products intended for vintage vehicles, and safe highway use depends on the condition of the tires, correct inflation, proper wheel fitment, and the mechanical state of the car as a whole. No speed ratings are shown in these Franklin tire size markings, so the prudent approach is to drive within the limits of the tire, wheel, and vehicle system together. On a car from 1929, brakes, steering, suspension, and road crown sensitivity often shape comfortable cruising speed as much as the tires do.

A well-sorted Franklin can certainly be enjoyed on public roads, but it should be driven with vintage-car expectations rather than modern-car assumptions. Before any sustained highway use, confirm the tires are fresh enough, correctly inflated, and free of age damage. If the car has not been driven regularly, begin with shorter outings to evaluate tracking, heat buildup, and overall stability before committing to a faster or longer trip.

Inflation pressure on a 1929 Franklin should follow the vehicle's factory guidance where available, while also respecting the pressure limits published for the specific reproduction tire you choose. Within the listed Franklin fitments, one Firestone Balloon 650-19 wide whitewall shows a maximum load capacity of 1430 pounds at 36 psi. That figure is tied to that specific tire and should not be transferred automatically to 600-19, antique-size fitments, or other products in the range.

The right practice is to start with the owner's-manual recommendation or established Franklin service guidance, then make sure your chosen tire supports that use within its own published limits. Inflation is especially important on bias-ply tires because it strongly affects steering feel, carcass shape, and wear pattern. When in doubt, confirm the exact product's sidewall marking and use that together with vehicle guidance rather than relying on another size's pressure figure.

Before a longer drive in a 1929 Franklin, inspect each tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, tread damage, and stable air pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is usable, and make sure the wheel hardware is secure. Tire condition is only one part of the preparation, but on a pre-war car it deserves close attention because an aged bias-ply casing can look acceptable at a glance while still needing replacement.

A longer outing is also the time to think beyond the four road tires. Make sure the jack, tools, and roadside equipment suit the wheel and tire setup on the car, especially if it uses a tube-type arrangement. Then pair the tire inspection with a broader mechanical once-over of brakes, steering, cooling airflow, and fluids so the Franklin is ready as a complete touring car, not just a car with freshly checked tires.