1929 Hupmobile Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Hupmobile vehicles use four sizes across two model lines. The Hupmobile A uses 29X5.50 and 550-19, while the Hupmobile M uses 31X6.00 and 600-19. All of those sizes mount on 19-inch rims, and the listed 550-19 products fit rim widths from 2.50 to 3.00 inches.

That split means the first fitment question is not sidewall style or brand, but whether your car is an A or an M. Once the model is confirmed, you can stay within that model's size family and then compare antique-size notation versus numeric-size notation, along with the whitewall or blackwall look that suits your restoration goals.

On a 1929 Hupmobile, 29X5.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number refers to an overall tire diameter of roughly 29 inches, while 5.50 refers to the nominal section width in inches. It is a bias-ply fitment used on the Hupmobile A.

That older sizing language is common on late-1920s cars and can look more era-correct to restorers who want the tire marked in an earlier style. If your goal is to match the way early tire sizes were commonly expressed, this notation matters. If your goal is easier comparison with later replacement sizing, the paired 550-19 designation is often the more familiar reference point.

On a 1929 Hupmobile, 550-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.50 figure represents nominal section width in inches, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This size is used on the Hupmobile A and appears in available BFGoodrich products in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles.

Numeric sizes became a very common way to identify replacement tires on cars from this period, so many owners find them easier to compare when reviewing current offerings. For an A model, 550-19 is the practical shopping size because actual products are readily listed under that code. It still preserves a bias-ply construction appropriate to the age and character of the car.

1929 Hupmobile tire offerings include both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles, depending on size. In 550-19 for the Hupmobile A, BFGoodrich is available in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall form. In 600-19 for the Hupmobile M, the listed Lester offering is a Wide Whitewall.

Sidewall style changes the visual character of the car as much as the tire brand does. A blackwall usually gives a more restrained, utilitarian appearance, while a wide whitewall leans into period luxury and show presentation. The right choice depends on how your 1929 Hupmobile is restored, how formal you want it to look, and whether your event standards favor a particular period appearance.

Two brands appear in current 1929 Hupmobile fitments. BFGoodrich covers 550-19 for the Hupmobile A, while Lester covers 600-19 for the Hupmobile M. Both are offered in bias-ply construction appropriate to the period of the car.

Brand choice is tied partly to model because the available sizes differ between the A and M. An A owner will compare BFGoodrich options within 550-19, while an M owner looking at 600-19 will be looking at Lester. Once the correct size family is established, compare sidewall style and overall restoration goals before settling on a final tire choice.

For a 1929 Hupmobile A in 550-19, both BFGoodrich tires share the same bias-ply construction, 19-inch rim diameter, 2.50 to 3.00 inch rim width range, and 1040-pound load capacity at 32 psi. The main differences are sidewall appearance and weight. The blackwall version is listed at 21 pounds, while the 3.25 inch whitewall version is listed at 23 pounds.

That makes the decision mostly visual rather than structural for most restorers. If you want a simpler, more understated look, the blackwall is the cleaner period style. If you want more visual presence and a stronger prewar show-car impression, the whitewall delivers that effect while keeping the same basic fitment and load specification.

A listed rim width range appears for 1929 Hupmobile A tires in size 550-19. That size fits 19-inch rims measuring 2.50 to 3.00 inches wide. The other listed fitments for 1929 Hupmobile also use 19-inch rims, but their width range should be confirmed against the exact tire chosen.

Rim width matters because an otherwise correct diameter can still produce an undesirable profile if the wheel is too narrow or too wide for the tire. Before finalizing a tire, compare the wheel actually on your Hupmobile to the tire maker's approved range. That is especially useful on older cars that may have had wheels swapped during long ownership histories.

All listed 1929 Hupmobile tire sizes mount on 19-inch wheels, so the overall rim diameter remains consistent across the A and M fitment families. Even so, the sizes are not interchangeable across all models, because the A uses 29X5.50 and 550-19 while the M uses 31X6.00 and 600-19.

That means original wheels can only be considered interchangeable after the model and wheel dimensions are confirmed. Matching 19-inch diameter alone is not enough. If your car still has its original wheels, keep the tire choice within the correct A or M size family first, then verify the wheel width against the specific tire being considered.

A 1929 Hupmobile should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Because these fitments are bias-ply tires, they are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static periods than a modern radial would be.

Keeping the car clean, properly inflated, and moved periodically helps reduce stress on the casing. If the car will sit for an extended season, many collectors either roll it occasionally or support the weight in a way that reduces prolonged loading on one contact patch. Storage practices do as much for longevity as mileage does on a lightly used antique car.

Tires on a 1929 Hupmobile are usually judged by age and condition more than by tread wear, since many collector cars see limited annual mileage. A good rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach about five to seven years of age and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement point, regardless of remaining tread depth.

The date code on the tire helps establish age, but appearance and service history matter too. Sidewall cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, impact damage, or long storage in poor conditions can shorten useful life. Antique cars often look lightly used, so it is easy to overestimate tire health if you focus only on tread and ignore age-related rubber deterioration.

Tires on a 1929 Hupmobile should be inspected before every drive, and more carefully before tours, events, or any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, weather checking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and signs that the tire is no longer holding pressure consistently. The valve stem and the spare should be included in the same routine.

Frequent inspection is especially important on antique cars because they are often driven infrequently and can develop age issues between outings rather than through high mileage. Catching a crack, a bruised sidewall, or a failing valve stem in the garage is far preferable to finding it at road speed. A few minutes of inspection can prevent a spoiled event day and protect hard-to-replace wheels.

A 1929 Hupmobile A would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and its listed fitment family is 29X5.50 and 550-19 on 19-inch wheels. That aligns with late-1920s American practice, when bias-ply construction was standard and antique-size and numeric-size expressions often describe the same general fitment family rather than radically different wheel types.

For a restoration, that makes bias-ply construction the natural starting point if your goal is authenticity. The remaining decisions usually center on the exact size marking you want visible and whether a blackwall or whitewall presentation best matches your car's history and intended judging environment. Marque clubs and period sales literature are still the best sources for market-specific confirmation on a particular body style.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1929 Hupmobile because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size family, construction type, and sidewall style quickly. On a car from 1929, a bias-ply tire in the proper size family is typically much more in keeping with authentic presentation than a visibly modern construction or an obviously mismatched sidewall treatment.

Showing standards vary by club and event, so the most important step is matching your tire choice to the level of originality the event expects. A touring driver may accept a less exact cosmetic match, while a concours entrant usually pays closer attention to the visible size notation and sidewall appearance. If your Hupmobile will be judged, review event rules before making the final call.

A 1929 Hupmobile M also belongs squarely to the bias-ply period, and its listed tire family is 31X6.00 and 600-19 on 19-inch wheels. That larger fitment reflects the M's place as the bigger model in the lineup rather than a change in wheel diameter, since the family still uses a 19-inch rim.

For restoration purposes, the important thing is to stay within the M-specific size family and keep the construction appropriate to the era. A whitewall can be visually appropriate depending on how the car is finished, but the most important authenticity point is not confusing M sizes with the smaller A-model fitments. Model identity comes before appearance details on this year of Hupmobile.

1929 Hupmobile tires can be used on modern roads when they are in sound condition, correctly fitted, and operated within the limits of the specific tire and the car itself. The listed 1929 Hupmobile products here are bias-ply tires, and no speed rating letter is shown in the available size descriptions. On a car of this era, brakes, steering, suspension, and road manners often shape comfortable cruising speed at least as much as tire capability does.

Safe highway use starts with realism about the car's age and design. Fresh rubber does not turn a 1929 automobile into a modern freeway car, and driving style should reflect that. Before longer road use, check inflation, condition, and wheel integrity, then drive at speeds appropriate to the vehicle's mechanical state and the behavior of a bias-ply antique chassis.

Inflation pressure on a 1929 Hupmobile should follow the tire maker's specification for the exact size and the vehicle maker's guidance when available. In the listed 550-19 BFGoodrich fitments, the tire carries a maximum load of 1040 pounds at 32 psi. That figure is a tire rating point, not a universal pressure to apply automatically to every 1929 Hupmobile size.

Use the pressure that suits the actual vehicle, tire, and intended load, rather than copying a number from one size family to another. The Hupmobile A and M use different tire sizes, so pressure assumptions should stay with the exact tire you are fitting. If you are sorting out a restored car with mixed parts, confirm the model, size, and product before setting inflation.

Before a longer drive in a 1929 Hupmobile, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cord, irregular wear, and stable air pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm the spare is usable, and make sure the tire size on the car matches the model's correct A or M fitment family. The wheel itself should also be free of obvious damage or looseness.

Tires are only one part of pre-drive preparation on a car this old, but they are one of the easiest things to assess before leaving home. A careful walk-around can also reveal aging rubber, underinflation, or a wheel issue that would be far more troublesome on the road. On a vintage Hupmobile, prevention is usually simpler than roadside correction.