1929 Moon Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Moon vehicles in this guide use two sizes: 29X5.50 and 550-19, and both are associated with the 1929 Moon 72 Series. Those sizes are not interchangeable by default because they do not share the same wheel diameter. The 29X5.50 size is an antique diameter-by-section fitment for a 20-inch wheel, while 550-19 is a numeric bias-ply size for a 19-inch wheel. For 550-19, the listed rim width range is 2.50 to 3.00 inches.

That makes wheel verification the first step on any 1929 Moon tire purchase. If your 72 Series still has its original-style wheels, check the actual rim diameter stamped on the wheel or confirm the size already mounted on the car before moving forward. Once you know whether the car takes the 20-inch antique-format tire or the 19-inch numeric tire, the rest of the decision becomes much simpler and keeps you from chasing a size that cannot mount to your existing wheels.

On a 1929 Moon, 29X5.50 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number, 29, refers to the tire's overall diameter in inches, and 5.50 is the nominal section width. Unlike later numeric and metric sizing, this style does not use the final number to show wheel diameter right in the code, so buyers often need to know the antique sizing convention to interpret it correctly. In this application, it corresponds to a 20-inch rim fitment.

That older naming system matters because it can be mistaken for a more modern size format when you first see it. If your 1929 Moon 72 Series is set up for 29X5.50, you should treat it as a distinct antique-type fitment rather than a close cousin to 550-19. The safest path is to confirm the wheel itself, then follow the antique-format size exactly instead of trying to convert it loosely by appearance or nominal width alone.

On a 1929 Moon, 550-19 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.50 indicates nominal section width, written without the decimal in the size code, and 19 is the wheel diameter in inches. This is a later and more familiar style of prewar sizing than the antique diameter-by-section format, but it is still a period bias-ply specification rather than a modern metric radial size. For the available 550-19 products, the matching rim width range is 2.50 to 3.00 inches.

That means a 1929 Moon owner should read 550-19 primarily as a 19-inch wheel requirement first and a section-width description second. If your car is already wearing 19-inch wheels, staying within the published rim width range helps preserve proper mounting shape and appearance. It also narrows the available choices to sidewall style rather than forcing a major fitment decision, since the current 550-19 offerings are all bias-ply BFGoodrich products.

A 1929 Moon owner should not choose between 29X5.50 and 550-19 as if they were simple alternatives on the same wheel. Both are bias-ply tires, but they fit different rim diameters, with 29X5.50 tied to a 20-inch wheel and 550-19 tied to a 19-inch wheel. The decision is therefore based on the wheel equipment actually on your 72 Series, not on a preference for one construction over another. They represent two different fitment paths within the same model year.

Start by inspecting the wheels already on the car or by checking the sidewall of the existing tires if they are known to be correctly matched. If the car is a restoration, compare what is on the vehicle with period references and marque knowledge for your specific example. Once the wheel diameter is confirmed, you can focus on appearance details such as blackwall versus whitewall in the 550-19 range, instead of trying to select a tire by size code alone.

For 1929 Moon applications in the currently listed product range, the 550-19 size is available in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles. Both are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires, and both share the same listed load capacity and pressure figure. That means the visible difference is mainly the sidewall presentation rather than a change in basic construction. No separate sidewall-style spread is shown here for 29X5.50.

Sidewall choice can change the finished character of a late-1920s car more than many owners expect. A blackwall look is often favored for a restrained, businesslike appearance, while a wide whitewall creates a more formal and visually prominent period presentation. If your 1929 Moon is being restored for show use, it is worth checking period photos, club guidance, and the market presentation you want before deciding, because sidewall styling can affect how authentic the finished car feels.

The listed 1929 Moon tire products in this range come from BFGoodrich, specifically in the 550-19 size. Both available options are part of the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply family, with one blackwall version and one 3.25-inch whitewall version. That keeps the current 19-inch product selection straightforward, because the brand and basic construction stay the same while the sidewall appearance changes. The 29X5.50 fitment is identified as a used size for the 72 Series, but no brand breakdown is added here for that size.

For a buyer, that means brand comparison is not the central issue on the 550-19 side of the 1929 Moon fitment picture. The more important questions are whether your car uses the 19-inch size at all and which sidewall style suits the vehicle's restoration direction. If you are comparing a Moon intended for touring with one intended for judged display, the right brand conversation starts only after the correct wheel size and visual treatment are settled.

For a 1929 Moon using 550-19 tires, the BFGoodrich blackwall and BFGoodrich 3.25 Inch Whitewall share the same size, bias-ply construction, 19-inch rim diameter, 2.50 to 3.00-inch rim width range, and 1040-pound load rating at 32 psi. The main differences are sidewall style and listed weight: the blackwall is shown at 21 pounds, while the wide whitewall is shown at 23 pounds. Both belong to the same Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series.

That makes the decision largely an appearance and presentation choice rather than a change in fitment requirements. If your 1929 Moon restoration calls for a more understated period look, the blackwall may align better with that goal. If you want the visual richness associated with many upscale late-1920s cars, the wide whitewall can shift the car's stance and character noticeably while staying within the same basic tire family and wheel fitment range.

For 1929 Moon vehicles using the 550-19 size, the listed rim width range is 2.50 to 3.00 inches on a 19-inch wheel. That range applies to both of the available BFGoodrich 550-19 products. Staying within the stated rim width range matters because it helps the tire maintain its intended section shape and mounting profile. The 29X5.50 size is also part of the 1929 Moon 72 Series fitment picture, but no separate rim width range is added here for that size.

When checking a set of original or restored wheels, measure the wheel carefully rather than assuming all late-1920s rims are the same. If your 1929 Moon uses 550-19, the 2.50 to 3.00-inch range gives you a concrete setup target for the wheel itself. That verification step is especially worthwhile on collector cars that may have changed wheels over the decades, because a period-looking rim is not always the same as a rim that correctly matches the tire.

The currently listed 550-19 products for 1929 Moon applications are identified by size and construction but do not carry a separate tube-type or tubeless marker in the product naming shown here. On a late-1920s wheel, many owners and restorers treat tube use as part of the normal setup because original wheel designs from the era commonly predate modern tubeless practice. The 29X5.50 fitment is also a period bias-ply application where tube use is often part of the broader wheel-and-tire setup conversation.

The practical move is to inspect the wheel design and confirm the specific tire's sidewall marking before assembly. A restorer working with original 1929 Moon wheels should also pay attention to the condition of the rim base, valve hole, and any surface corrosion that could affect sealing or tube life. If your installer is familiar with prewar wheels, they can help determine whether the safest and most authentic setup for your car includes tubes, flaps, or other period-correct hardware.

Original 1929 Moon wheels cannot be assumed to accept both listed tire sizes, because 29X5.50 and 550-19 use different rim diameters. The 29X5.50 fitment corresponds to a 20-inch wheel, while 550-19 mounts on a 19-inch wheel. Even though both are bias-ply sizes used on the 72 Series, they are not simply alternate sidewall treatments or alternate brands for the same rim. Wheel diameter decides which one belongs on the car.

That means a buyer or restorer should not try to move back and forth between the two without physically confirming the wheel. If a car has been apart for restoration, has mixed spare parts, or has gone through earlier owner modifications, checking every wheel individually is wise. Once rim diameter is settled, you can then confirm rim width and visual style, but the first gate is whether the wheel itself is 19 or 20 inches.

A 1929 Moon should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Because the known 1929 Moon fitments here are bias-ply designs, long static storage can also encourage flat-spotting more readily than many modern radial owners expect. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation all help preserve the tire's shape and sidewall condition during off-season storage.

If the car will sit for long stretches, move it periodically or use stands in a way that supports the vehicle safely and relieves some constant load from the tires. Collectors who prefer to keep the car on its wheels should at least roll it enough to change the contact patch from time to time. A little attention during storage can make the first drive of the season smoother and can help preserve the look of a properly restored 1929 Moon.

Tires on a 1929 Moon should be evaluated by age as much as by wear, because collector cars often accumulate very little mileage while the rubber continues to age. A sensible rule is to inspect them closely after about five to seven years of service and treat the ten-year point as a serious replacement threshold even if the tread still looks presentable. The DOT date code or manufacturer date marking is the key reference, not just how fresh the tire appears from a few feet away.

That age-first approach is especially important on a low-use prewar car, where cosmetic condition can hide internal hardening and loss of flexibility. If your 1929 Moon is driven only to events, tours, or local outings, do not let the light use create a false sense of security. A tire that still looks attractive on a restored car may already be past the age where it belongs on a vehicle expected to travel at road speed.

Tires on a 1929 Moon should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, signs of impact damage, and any loss of air pressure between uses. On a collector vehicle of this age, it is also wise to inspect valve stems and the wheel condition itself, since tire problems are sometimes tied to the age of surrounding components rather than the casing alone.

A quick pre-drive walkaround catches many issues while they are still small and manageable. For a 1929 Moon that spends much of its life parked, inspection matters even more because deterioration can happen quietly between drives. If the car is set up with tubes, include the valve hardware and any signs of slow leakage in your routine, and do not overlook the spare if you expect it to serve as part of your roadside contingency plan.

A 1929 Moon 72 Series would have been a bias-ply car when new, because radial construction was not part of normal American passenger-car practice in that era. The fitment picture here includes both 29X5.50 and 550-19 as 1929 Moon 72 Series sizes, showing that period-correct replacement work starts with identifying which of those wheel-and-tire combinations belongs on your particular car. Original-equipment branding should not be assumed from modern replacement offerings alone.

For an accurate restoration, use the car's wheel equipment, surviving literature, factory photos, and Moon club or marque-specialist guidance to narrow the correct original-style fitment. That is especially helpful if the car has had wheels or tires swapped over many decades of ownership. Once the correct size path is confirmed, the next authenticity choices usually center on sidewall treatment and the overall visual character that best matches a late-1920s Moon.

Correct tire fitment absolutely matters when a 1929 Moon is judged for authenticity. On a prewar car, judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the tire size, construction type, and sidewall presentation are appropriate to the era and the vehicle's intended market appearance. A mismatch such as the wrong wheel-diameter fitment or an obviously out-of-period sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise careful restoration. Bias-ply construction is part of that authenticity picture for a 1929 car.

Even if your Moon is not headed for concours judging, proper fitment still shapes how convincingly the car presents. The right tire gives the vehicle the correct visual stance and avoids the subtly incorrect proportions that happen when modern assumptions are applied to antique sizing. For event-specific expectations, marque clubs and judging manuals remain the best references, because they can address the finer details that separate a sound driver restoration from a top-level show car.

In restoration terms, the BFGoodrich blackwall and wide whitewall 550-19 tires for a 1929 Moon share the same basic fitment and construction, so the distinction is visual rather than dimensional. Both are bias-ply 550-19 tires for 19-inch wheels with the same listed load rating and rim width range, but the whitewall version adds a 3.25-inch white sidewall and carries slightly more weight. That makes them two presentation choices within the same fitment family.

A restorer should choose between them according to the car's desired period look rather than hoping one will solve a fitment issue the other cannot. Whitewalls can give a 1929 Moon a more upscale, dressier appearance, while blackwalls often suit a cleaner and more understated presentation. If your car is being built to match a particular photo, body style, or judging standard, compare those references before deciding which sidewall treatment tells the most convincing story.

1929 Moon tires can be used for road driving when they are in good condition, correctly fitted, properly inflated, and matched to the wheel they are designed for, but they remain period-style bias-ply tires on a late-1920s automobile. No speed-rating letter is shown on the listed 1929 Moon tire products here, so the better safety lens is to treat the whole vehicle as an antique system whose brakes, steering, suspension, and road manners matter as much as the tire itself. A sound tire does not turn a 1929 car into a modern highway machine.

That means highway use should be approached with mechanical sympathy and realistic speed expectations. If your 1929 Moon is regularly driven beyond local roads, make sure the tires are fresh enough, the wheels are true, and the rest of the chassis is equally ready for sustained travel. Many antique cars are limited more by stopping distance, crosswind sensitivity, and general handling behavior than by any raw tire-speed figure, so safe use depends on the complete car.

For the listed 1929 Moon 550-19 tire products, the published load figure is 1040 pounds at 32 psi. That gives you a tire-specific reference point for the available 19-inch BFGoodrich options, but it should not automatically be transferred to the 29X5.50 size or treated as the factory operating pressure for every 1929 Moon configuration. Inflation on an antique car should balance the tire maker's rating with the vehicle manufacturer's original guidance where available.

The best practice is to start with the original owner's manual or trusted period specification for your exact 1929 Moon setup, then make sure it stays within the tire manufacturer's limits for the product you are actually using. Keeping the two sizes separate in your thinking matters, because a pressure figure that appears with one product family is not a universal answer for the entire year and make. Recheck pressures regularly, especially after long storage periods.

Before a longer drive in a 1929 Moon, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, and confirm that the spare is usable as well. On a car of this age, also look closely at valve stems, wheel condition, and any signs that the tire has shifted or settled oddly during storage. Since the 1929 Moon fitment picture includes two different wheel diameters, make sure all road wheels and the spare actually match the intended size setup.

That tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive check that includes brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluids, and lighting. Antique cars reward careful preparation, and a well-sorted 1929 Moon is far more pleasant to drive than one hurried onto the road after a long rest. A few extra minutes in the garage can prevent the common collector-car problems that turn an enjoyable tour into a roadside interruption.