1929 Locomobile Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Locomobile vehicles in this guide use two tire sizes: 30X6.20 and 650-18, and both apply to the Locomobile 86 rather than being split across different model lines. Those two sizes are not interchangeable by default because they do not share the same wheel diameter. The available 650-18 products fit 18-inch rims with a listed rim width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches.

That makes wheel identification the first step on a 1929 Locomobile. If your car is set up for 18-inch balloon tires, you can stay within the 650-18 range and compare blackwall versus wide whitewall appearance. If your car uses the 30X6.20 fitment, treat that as a separate antique-size application and confirm the actual wheel and existing tire markings before choosing a replacement.

On a 1929 Locomobile, 30X6.20 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 30, refers to the tire’s approximate overall outside diameter in inches, while 6.20 refers to its nominal section width. This is an older sizing convention associated with prewar bias-ply tires rather than the later modern metric system.

That matters because a 30X6.20 tire is chosen by matching an established antique-size fitment, not by comparing it directly to a modern P-metric radial. Owners restoring a prewar luxury car often encounter these older designations, and the safest path is to verify the size already on the car, confirm the wheel diameter, and keep the tire selection aligned with the wheel and restoration goal.

On a 1929 Locomobile, 650-18 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 indicates the nominal tire section width, and the 18 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It belongs to the balloon-tire era, when lower-pressure, larger-section tires became common on upscale American cars for a more substantial stance and more compliant ride.

For a collector, 650-18 is easier to recognize than the older diameter-by-section style, but it still needs to be matched carefully to the correct wheel. Current offerings in this size include both blackwall and wide whitewall versions, so once the 18-inch wheel is confirmed, the remaining decision often comes down to the visual character you want for the finished 1929 Locomobile.

A 1929 Locomobile should use 30X6.20 or 650-18 only according to the wheel and fitment the car is set up for, since both are bias-ply tires but they are built around different wheel diameters. This is not mainly a question of older-versus-newer construction, because both listed sizes are bias-ply. It is a question of matching the proper fitment already established on the car.

The practical approach is to inspect the existing tire markings, measure the wheel diameter, and confirm whether your car is wearing the antique-style 30X6.20 fitment or the 18-inch 650-18 balloon fitment. Once the fitment is confirmed, then you can make a restoration-minded choice within that size, such as blackwall versus wide whitewall presentation where products exist.

For 1929 Locomobile applications in the available 650-18 size, both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles are offered. The blackwall version gives a more restrained, utilitarian prewar look, while the wide whitewall version delivers a more formal luxury presentation that many owners associate with upscale American cars of the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Choosing between them depends on how your 1929 Locomobile is being presented. A blackwall can suit a simpler, understated restoration theme, while a wide whitewall can better emphasize the elegant visual weight expected of a prestige marque. If you are preparing for judged events, it is wise to compare your planned sidewall style with period photos and the standards used by the specific club or event.

Firestone is the listed brand for the current 650-18 tire offerings for 1929 Locomobile vehicles. Those products are part of the Firestone Balloon line and are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. Both use bias-ply construction, which is appropriate to the period character of a late-1920s luxury American car.

That means brand choice is less of a dividing line here than making sure the size and appearance match your car correctly. If your 1929 Locomobile uses 650-18, the decision comes down more to sidewall presentation and fitment details than comparing multiple brands in the same size. Owners pursuing show accuracy may also want to review period imagery and marque references before making a final selection.

For 1929 Locomobile vehicles using 650-18 tires, the listed rim width range is 3.25 to 3.50 inches on an 18-inch wheel. That range applies to the currently available 650-18 products and should be treated as the working fitment window for that size. A proper rim match helps the tire maintain its intended profile and mounting behavior.

When dealing with a prewar collector car, it is smart to verify the actual wheel before selecting a tire, especially if the car has been restored or modified over the decades. If your 1929 Locomobile is set up for the separate 30X6.20 fitment, confirm that wheel independently rather than assuming the same rim dimensions carry over from the 650-18 application.

Original 1929 Locomobile wheels cannot be assumed to work with both listed tire sizes, because 30X6.20 and 650-18 do not share the same wheel diameter. The available 650-18 products are built for 18-inch rims, while the 30X6.20 fitment belongs to a different wheel setup. That makes wheel diameter the first compatibility checkpoint.

On a nearly century-old car, wheels may have been changed at some point, so visual similarity is not enough. Measure the wheel, confirm the tire marking already on the car, and inspect the rim condition before choosing a replacement. That approach avoids trying to force a size onto a wheel it was never meant to use and keeps the tire decision tied to the car’s actual hardware.

A 1929 Locomobile 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 prematurely. Bias-ply tires also benefit from keeping the car on a clean surface and moving it periodically, since long static storage can encourage temporary flat-spotting and sidewall stress.

If the car will sit for an extended period, maintain inflation, keep the tires clean, and consider using stands or repositioning the car occasionally to spread the load. Collector cars often age their tires more by environment than by mileage. Good storage habits preserve appearance, reduce cracking risk, and make the car more pleasant to return to service when driving season comes back around.

Tires on a 1929 Locomobile are usually evaluated more by age than by miles traveled. A sensible collector-car rule is to begin watching them closely around five to seven years of service and to treat about ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, even if tread remains. The DOT date code on the tire is the usual reference for age.

That timeline matters because a prewar luxury car may accumulate very little mileage while still exposing its tires to heat cycles, sunlight, moisture, and long parked periods. A tire that looks acceptable at a glance may still be aging internally. Regular age tracking helps owners avoid relying on old rubber simply because the car is lightly used and outward wear appears minimal.

Tires on a 1929 Locomobile should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, cuts, bulges, weathering around the bead, and any loss of air pressure. On an older collector car, it is also smart to examine the spare at the same time rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Frequent inspection is especially important because a car from 1929 may spend long intervals parked between drives. Problems can develop quietly in storage, then only become obvious once the car is rolling at speed. Building tire checks into your normal pre-drive routine gives you an early warning before a cosmetic issue turns into a roadside problem.

A 1929 Locomobile 86 would have been fitted with bias-ply tires, since radial passenger-car fitments were not part of normal American luxury-car practice in that period. The sizes associated with the model here are 30X6.20 and 650-18, reflecting the late-1920s overlap between older antique-style sizing and balloon-tire conventions. No original-equipment brand should be assumed solely from modern replacement offerings.

For restoration work, that means construction type and size are the first authenticity markers to get right. If you are trying to match a specific body style, coachbuilt variant, or delivery-market presentation, period sales literature, surviving original cars, and Locomobile or prewar luxury marque specialists are the best next references for confirming the exact fitment your car should carry.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when showing a 1929 Locomobile, especially in authenticity-focused judging. Size, construction type, and sidewall presentation all affect whether the car reads as properly restored for its era. A visibly incorrect wheel diameter match, an out-of-period sidewall treatment, or a modern-style tire substitute can draw attention immediately on a prewar luxury car.

That does not mean every event applies the same standard, but it does mean tire choice should support the story your restoration is telling. Owners who want stronger judging confidence should confirm the proper size first, then compare blackwall versus wide whitewall appearance in the context of the car’s body style, market history, and the expectations of the specific event or club.

For a 1929 Locomobile using 650-18 tires, the Firestone Balloon line is offered in both a blackwall version and a 3.50-inch whitewall version. Both are bias-ply tires for 18-inch rims with the same listed rim width range of 3.25 to 3.50 inches. The blackwall version carries a listed max load capacity of 1205 pounds at 36 psi, while the whitewall listing emphasizes appearance and carries a higher listed weight.

Most owners will choose between them on visual grounds rather than expecting them to change the essential period character of the car. The blackwall suits a more restrained presentation, while the wide whitewall brings a richer formal look that can complement a prestige 1929 Locomobile very well. If appearance authenticity is central to your project, period photos can help settle the choice.

1929 Locomobile tires can be suitable for normal road use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition. The currently listed 650-18 offerings are bias-ply tires, so their road feel will follow period construction behavior rather than modern radial behavior. On a car of this age, brakes, steering play, suspension condition, and general mechanical health often matter as much as the tire itself at ordinary highway speeds.

That means the question is less about chasing modern high-speed expectations and more about matching the tire to the car and using the car within its intended character. Before longer road use, inspect the tires carefully and make sure the entire chassis is ready for travel. A well-prepared 1929 Locomobile should be approached as a complete vintage system, not just a tire choice.

Inflation pressure on a 1929 Locomobile should follow the tire manufacturer’s rating for the exact size and product, while also taking the car’s original operating guidance into account. For the listed 650-18 blackwall Firestone Balloon tire, the load figure is 1205 pounds at 36 psi. That figure belongs to that specific tire and should not be transferred automatically to the 30X6.20 fitment or to a different product.

The right practice is to start with the correct size on the correct wheel, then compare the tire’s own pressure guidance with the vehicle’s period recommendations. Collector cars respond noticeably to pressure changes, especially on bias-ply tires, so avoid guessing. A measured approach helps preserve ride quality, steering feel, and even tread wear while keeping the car true to its intended road manners.

Before a longer drive in a 1929 Locomobile, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, tread issues, bulges, and air loss, and make sure the spare is serviceable as well. Confirm inflation, look over the valve stems, and check that the wheels and rims are clean and sound. Because this is a prewar car, tire readiness should be part of a broader mechanical review rather than a standalone check.

A thoughtful pre-drive inspection should also include brakes, steering, wheel bearings, fluids, lighting, and cooling-system condition. Vintage luxury cars can cover distance well when prepared properly, but they reward owners who take a methodical approach before setting out. Treat the tire inspection as the first visible step in making sure the entire 1929 Locomobile is ready for a longer run.