1931 Buick Tire Fitment Guide

1931 Buick vehicles use three different tire sizes across four model lines. The 50 Series uses 5.25-18, the 60 Series uses 550-19, and the 80 Series and 90 Series share 650-19. The 50 Series is the only one here on an 18-inch rim, while the 60, 80, and 90 Series all use 19-inch rims. Where rim width guidance is available, 550-19 fits rims from 2.50 to 3.00 inches wide, and 650-19 products with listed fitment use rims from 3.25 to 3.50 inches wide.

That means a 1931 Buick owner should identify the series first, not just the year and make. The 19-inch cars are not all interchangeable, because the 60 Series and the larger 80 and 90 Series still use different tire sizes even though they share the same rim diameter. If your Buick has been restored or re-wheeled over the years, compare the actual wheel diameter and tire markings on the car before choosing a replacement.

On a 1931 Buick, 5.25-18 is a numeric bias-ply size. The first number refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the second number refers to the wheel diameter in inches. In this case, 5.25-18 belongs to the 1931 Buick 50 Series and mounts on an 18-inch wheel. It is a period-style size from the era before modern metric markings became standard.

Understanding that code matters because it is easy to confuse a width change with a rim-diameter change on prewar cars. For a 1931 Buick 50 Series, the important takeaway is that the tire is tied to an 18-inch wheel, not the 19-inch wheels used on the rest of the 1931 Buick lineup. If the car has had decades of restoration work, confirm the wheel itself before assuming the original size is still in place.

No, 1931 Buick models do not all use the same tire size. The 50 Series uses 5.25-18, the 60 Series uses 550-19, and the 80 Series and 90 Series use 650-19. All of those are bias-ply sizes, but they are not interchangeable across the entire model range because both width and, in some cases, wheel diameter change from one series to another.

This matters most when a buyer knows only that the car is a 1931 Buick but has not yet confirmed the series. A tire that is right for a 60 Series will not be the correct size for a 50 Series, and the senior 80 and 90 Series need the larger 650-19 size. Matching the tire to the correct series preserves both fitment and the visual proportions Buick intended for each chassis.

1931 Buick tires are available in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall styles in the sizes that currently have product coverage. The 550-19 size for the 60 Series is offered in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall from BFGoodrich, and the 650-19 size for the 80 and 90 Series is offered in Blackwall and Wide Whitewall from Firestone and Lester. All of these are bias-ply tires suited to a prewar Buick's period appearance.

The right sidewall choice depends largely on how you want the car to present. Blackwalls tend to suit a more restrained, workmanlike, or driver-oriented look, while wide whitewalls give a more formal and show-oriented appearance that many collectors associate with luxury-minded prewar cars. If originality matters for competition or marque judging, check period photos, factory literature, or Buick club resources for your exact body style and market presentation.

Three brands appear in the current 1931 Buick fitment range: BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Lester. BFGoodrich covers 550-19 for the 60 Series, while Firestone and Lester cover 650-19 for the 80 and 90 Series. The available products remain within traditional bias-ply construction and offer period-looking sidewall options rather than modern metric replacements.

Brand choice on a prewar Buick is often as much about presentation as it is about fitment, especially when more than one sidewall style is available. If your goal is a consistent restoration theme, compare the exact size your series requires first, then look at which brand offers the sidewall treatment and visual character that best matches the car. Staying within the correct series-specific size is still the first priority.

For 1931 Buick 80 Series and 90 Series fitments in 650-19, Firestone and Lester both offer bias-ply tires, but the product details are not identical. Firestone Balloon versions include Blackwall and 3.50-inch Wide Whitewall styles, and the listed fitment range includes 3.25 to 3.50-inch rims, with one whitewall example carrying a 1430-pound load rating at 36 psi. The Lester option in 650-19 is a Wide Whitewall bias-ply tire with a listed weight of 32 pounds.

That comparison makes the decision less about basic compatibility and more about presentation and setup details. Owners who want a Firestone-branded look or need the listed rim-width guidance may lean that direction, while others may prefer the Lester wide-whitewall appearance for a particular restoration style. Compare the wheel on your Buick and the exact sidewall look you want before settling on one series over another.

Rim width guidance is available for two of the 1931 Buick sizes with current product coverage. The 550-19 size used on the 60 Series fits rims from 2.50 to 3.00 inches wide, and listed 650-19 products for the 80 and 90 Series fit rims from 3.25 to 3.50 inches wide. Both of those sizes mount on 19-inch wheels, but they do not share the same width range.

That distinction is important because matching wheel diameter alone is not enough on a prewar Buick. A 19-inch wheel from one series is not automatically the right width for another series' tire size. Before ordering, measure the wheel if possible or verify it against trusted Buick reference material so the tire's intended profile and bead seating match the wheel it will actually be mounted on.

The currently listed 1931 Buick products do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size notation, so the practical assumption for a 1931 prewar Buick should begin with the wheel and application rather than the sidewall name alone. These are period-style bias-ply tires for cars originally built in an era when tube-type wheel setups were common. Whether your specific Buick should run tubes depends on the wheel design and how the wheel has been restored.

A 1931 Buick owner should inspect the wheel carefully before mounting new tires, especially if the car still uses original-style multi-piece or riveted-era rims. Even when the tire itself looks correct, the wheel may still call for tubes, flaps, or fresh valve hardware to be set up properly. If there is any doubt, have the wheel evaluated by a shop familiar with antique and prewar applications before final assembly.

Original 1931 Buick wheels cannot be treated as universal across all sizes in the lineup. The 50 Series uses 5.25-18 on an 18-inch wheel, while the 60, 80, and 90 Series use 19-inch wheels, with 550-19 for the 60 Series and 650-19 for the 80 and 90 Series. Even within the 19-inch group, the listed rim-width ranges differ between 550-19 and 650-19 products.

That means an original wheel from one 1931 Buick series should not automatically be paired with another series' tire size just because the car is from the same make and year. Restored cars sometimes carry swapped wheels from other Buicks or other GM cars, so checking the actual wheel on the car is worth the effort. A correct match protects both fitment accuracy and the way the tire sits and wears once mounted.

A 1931 Buick 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 sidewalls. Bias-ply tires also benefit from stable inflation pressure during storage and from keeping the car off damp concrete when possible. If the Buick will sit for long periods, periodic rolling or carefully supporting the vehicle can help reduce flat-spotting stress.

Prewar cars are often driven less than their tires age, so storage habits matter as much as mileage. A Buick that looks fine in the garage can still develop weather checking, casing stress, or shape distortion if it sits in one position for months at a time. Regular visual checks during storage and a clean, climate-stable environment will do more for tire longevity than simply covering the car and leaving it untouched.

Tires on a 1931 Buick should be judged primarily by age and condition rather than by miles driven. Collector-car tires are commonly evaluated closely once they reach about five to seven years of service, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration as they approach the ten-year mark regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire sidewall is the starting point, followed by a close look at cracking, hardening, deformation, and how well the tire still holds pressure.

A lightly used Buick can wear very little tread while the tire itself grows too old for confident road use. That is especially true on prewar cars that spend long periods parked between events. If the car's service history is unclear, age out the tire before trusting appearance alone, and treat any sign of sidewall aging or recurring pressure loss as a reason to inspect the full assembly more closely.

Tires on a 1931 Buick should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough check before tours, club events, or longer road outings. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, and any sign that the tire has been run underinflated. On a prewar car, it is also smart to inspect valve stems, wheel hardware, and the spare so that the whole tire package is ready if a roadside issue develops.

Frequent inspection is especially important because many 1931 Buicks are driven intermittently rather than daily. Problems often appear from aging and storage conditions long before tread wear becomes obvious. Making tire inspection part of your normal pre-drive ritual helps catch issues while they are still minor, and it gives you a chance to compare all four road tires and the spare for consistency before heading out.

A 1931 Buick 50 Series would have originally used bias-ply tires, which was the standard construction for American passenger cars in that period. Within the 1931 Buick range, the 50 Series uses the 5.25-18 size on 18-inch wheels. That makes bias-ply construction and the correct numeric size the key restoration markers, rather than a modern radial substitute. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and dealer practice, so the most important point is matching the proper size and era-correct construction.

For a restoration, getting the series and size right has a visible effect on both stance and authenticity. If you are preparing a car for marque-level judging, confirm body-style and market-specific expectations through Buick club references, period photos, or factory literature. Those sources can help settle questions about presentation details such as sidewall treatment, while the tire size and bias-ply construction establish the correct foundation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1931 Buick, especially at events that judge authenticity closely. Judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the tire size matches the proper Buick series, whether the construction is appropriate to the period, and whether the sidewall style suits the car's restoration theme. A 50 Series wearing a senior-car size, or a prewar Buick wearing a visibly modern tire style, can disrupt the proportions and period presentation of the car.

Even on less formal show fields, the right tire helps the car look settled and believable. The practical approach is to confirm the correct series first, then decide whether a blackwall or wide whitewall presentation best matches the way your Buick is being restored. For event-specific rules, local and national Buick judging standards are the best guide, since expectations can differ between preservation, touring, and concours environments.

For the 1931 Buick 60 Series in 550-19, both BFGoodrich options share the same basic fitment and construction. Each is a bias-ply 550-19 tire with a listed load capacity of 1040 pounds at 32 psi, both fit 19-inch rims from 2.50 to 3.00 inches wide, and both belong to the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply family. The main difference is sidewall appearance, with one in Blackwall and the other in a 3.25-inch Wide Whitewall, along with a small weight difference.

That means the choice is primarily visual rather than structural for a 1931 Buick 60 Series owner. A blackwall gives a simpler, more understated look, while the wide whitewall creates a more formal prewar presentation that many restorers prefer on upscale cars of the era. If your Buick is being built to a specific show standard, compare your intended sidewall treatment against period references before making the final call.

1931 Buick tires can be appropriate for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and matched to a mechanically healthy car, but they remain period-style bias-ply tires and should be driven with that in mind. No explicit speed ratings are shown for the current 550-19 and 650-19 offerings. On a car from 1931, overall roadworthiness depends just as much on brakes, steering, suspension condition, wheel integrity, and how the car is loaded as it does on the tire itself.

The practical takeaway is to think in terms of the entire vehicle system, not just the tread and sidewall. A properly prepared Buick can handle moderate touring use, but it should still be driven in a way that respects prewar handling and stopping distances. Before regular highway travel, inspect the tires closely, confirm inflation, and make sure the rest of the chassis is equally ready for sustained road speeds.

Inflation pressure on a 1931 Buick should follow the correct size and the specific tire's rating rather than a one-pressure-fits-all rule. For 550-19 BFGoodrich products, the listed load figure is 1040 pounds at 32 psi. For one Firestone Balloon 650-19 whitewall product, the listed load figure is 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not blanket vehicle settings for every 1931 Buick size and model.

Because 1931 Buick fitments vary by series, pressure should be checked against both the vehicle reference and the exact tire being used. Start with the owner's manual or trusted Buick literature for the car's intended service conditions, then compare that with the tire maker's published rating for the reproduction tire on the car. Avoid carrying a pressure number from one size to another, since the 50, 60, 80, and 90 Series do not all use the same tire.

Before taking a 1931 Buick on a longer drive, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, irregular wear, and stable inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm that the spare is usable, and make sure each tire matches the correct size for the Buick series. On a prewar car, it is also wise to inspect the wheel condition itself, since the tire can only perform properly if the wheel is sound and correctly prepared.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive routine on a 1931 Buick. Brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, cooling, and fuel-system reliability all matter on a longer outing, especially if the car has been parked for extended periods. Tires are often the first thing a driver notices, but the safest road experience comes from treating the Buick as a complete antique vehicle system rather than evaluating the tires in isolation.