1931 Dodge Tire Fitment Guide

1931 Dodge vehicles use two different tire sizes, and each one belongs to a specific model family. The 1931 Dodge 6 Cyl. uses 500-19 bias-ply tires on 19-inch rims, while the 1931 Dodge 8 Cyl. uses 550-18 bias-ply tires on 18-inch rims. Rim-width fitments shown within these sizes range from 4 inches to 4.00-5.00 inches for 500-19 products and from 3 inches to 4 inches across the 550-18 offerings.

That split means the first thing to confirm is whether your Dodge is a six-cylinder or eight-cylinder car, because the tire size and wheel diameter change with the model. Once the model is identified, you can narrow the choice further by sidewall style and product character instead of guessing between sizes that were never meant to interchange across the full 1931 Dodge lineup.

On a 1931 Dodge, 500-19 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 5.00 figure refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. That sizing format was standard in the era and is different from later alphanumeric or metric systems that modern drivers may be more familiar with.

For a 1931 Dodge 6 Cyl., the practical point is that 500-19 is not just a styling preference; it is the correct size family for that model’s 19-inch wheels. If your car still carries older tires with faded markings, confirming the wheel diameter and comparing it against the six-cylinder model identity is the surest way to avoid crossing into the 8 Cyl. fitment by mistake.

On a 1931 Dodge, 550-18 is also a numeric bias-ply size, with 5.50 indicating the nominal section width and 18 indicating the wheel diameter in inches. It belongs to the same prewar sizing family as 500-19, but it is a different fitment with a different wheel requirement. In the 1931 Dodge range, this size is used by the 8 Cyl. models rather than the 6 Cyl. cars.

That makes 550-18 the size to focus on if you own a 1931 Dodge 8 Cyl. and want the correct period-type tire construction. It also gives you more visual choices than the six-cylinder size, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments, which can materially change the final appearance of an early-1930s restoration.

1931 Dodge tire sidewall choices depend on the size and model. The 500-19 size used on 1931 Dodge 6 Cyl. cars is offered in blackwall form. The 550-18 size used on 1931 Dodge 8 Cyl. models appears in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, giving the larger Dodge a broader range of visual presentation.

A blackwall look generally suits a more restrained, working-era presentation, while whitewall treatments can complement the more formal character many owners want from an eight-cylinder early-1930s car. If authenticity matters for judging or period style, match the sidewall look to the way your particular Dodge is being restored and check event-specific expectations with a Dodge or broader prewar marque community.

1931 Dodge tire options come from Excelsior, Firestone, and BFGoodrich, depending on the size. The 500-19 six-cylinder size is available from Excelsior and Firestone, while the 550-18 eight-cylinder size includes Excelsior, Firestone, and BFGoodrich offerings. All of the listed choices remain within the bias-ply construction style appropriate to the period.

Brand selection becomes more important once you have confirmed the correct size for your Dodge model. Some owners start with sidewall appearance first, especially on 550-18, while others focus on whether they want a more straightforward blackwall presentation. Narrowing the search by model, then by sidewall style, usually makes the final brand decision much more straightforward.

Within the 550-18 size for 1931 Dodge 8 Cyl. models, Firestone and BFGoodrich differ most clearly in sidewall presentation and listed fitment details. Firestone appears in blackwall and 3.25-inch double-whitewall versions, both with a listed max load of 1125 pounds at 32 psi and a 3.25-inch rim width. The BFGoodrich 550-18 is a 3.00-inch wide whitewall with a listed max load of 1000 pounds at 32 psi and a 3-inch rim width.

Those distinctions matter if you are trying to match a particular restoration look or stay close to an existing wheel setup. A Firestone double-whitewall creates a different visual effect from the BFGoodrich wide whitewall, and the listed rim-width differences are worth confirming against the wheels currently on the car before you settle on one product over the other.

1931 Dodge rim-width requirements vary by tire size and product. In 500-19, listed rim widths include 4 inches and 4.00-5.00 inches. In 550-18, listed rim widths include 3 inches, 3.25 inches, and 4 inches depending on the specific tire. Those measurements reflect the wheel widths the tire makers associate with each product, not one universal rule for every 1931 Dodge wheel.

The safest approach is to confirm your actual wheel width before choosing a tire, especially if the car has been restored, re-wheeled, or mixed from parts over the years. On a prewar Dodge, even a correct tire size can present setup issues if the wheel width does not align with the product you intend to run, so checking the wheel itself is as important as identifying the model.

The available 1931 Dodge products shown in 500-19 and 550-18 do not carry tube-type or tubeless markings in the size descriptions provided here. Since these are prewar bias-ply fitments on early-1930s wheels, many owners treat tube compatibility and wheel condition as part of the overall setup decision rather than assuming every tire will be installed the same way.

A careful check of the specific tire’s sidewall marking and the construction of the wheel on your Dodge is the right next step before finalizing the setup. Split-era service practices, wheel condition, valve-stem provisions, and restoration changes can all affect whether tubes are appropriate, so it is wise to confirm the combination with the tire maker or a prewar wheel-and-tire specialist.

A 1931 Dodge should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing temporary flat spotting and age-related sidewall cracking when they sit in one position for long periods. Keeping the tires properly inflated and the car on a clean surface helps reduce stress during storage.

If the Dodge will sit for an extended season, roll it periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch. Owners who prefer not to use stands can still improve tire life by moving the car occasionally and avoiding damp floors. A simple storage routine does a great deal to preserve both the look and serviceability of vintage bias-ply tires.

Tires on a 1931 Dodge are usually judged by age and condition more than by mileage, because collector cars often see limited annual use. A sound rule is to begin close inspection once tires reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point even if tread depth still looks acceptable. The DOT date code, when present on the tire, is the starting point for determining age.

That matters because a lightly driven prewar Dodge can still be riding on tires that look decent from a few feet away but have hardened rubber, internal aging, or cracking. Replacement timing should be based on age, storage history, and inspection results rather than how many miles the car has traveled since restoration or weekend use began.

Tires on a 1931 Dodge should be inspected before every drive, and they deserve a more thorough check before longer tours or show travel. Look closely for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven tread wear, and any sign that a tire is losing pressure between outings. On an older collector car, the valve stems and the spare should be included in the inspection routine as well.

Frequent inspection is especially important on a low-use car because age-related issues can advance while the Dodge is parked, not just while it is being driven. Catching a pressure loss, weather checking, or a damaged spare before departure is far easier than dealing with it roadside, particularly on a car whose wheel, jack, and roadside service procedures belong to another era.

A 1931 Dodge 6 Cyl. would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the 500-19 size aligns with that period construction and wheel format. Early-1930s American passenger cars were built around bias-ply tires rather than later radial designs, so staying with the correct numeric bias-ply size preserves the basic stance and appearance expected of the model. Original brand choice could vary by market and delivery history.

For most restorers, the important point is matching the six-cylinder Dodge to the correct size and construction first, then refining the choice by sidewall appearance and brand preference. If you are chasing exact factory-delivery authenticity for a specific body style or market, a Dodge club, period literature, or a prewar judging resource is the best place to verify any finer original-equipment details.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when a 1931 Dodge is judged for authenticity. Size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all influence whether the car presents as period-appropriate, and judges or knowledgeable enthusiasts will quickly notice an incorrect wheel diameter or a sidewall style that looks out of step with the car’s restoration theme. On a prewar car, tire choice is part of the vehicle’s visual identity.

That means a six-cylinder Dodge wearing 500-19 blackwalls tells a different story than an eight-cylinder car on 550-18 whitewalls, and each should be chosen with the model and restoration goal in mind. If you are preparing for formal judging, confirm the event’s standards through Dodge marque resources, since some venues are more strict than others about period-correct sidewall treatment and construction details.

A 1931 Dodge 8 Cyl. belongs to the same bias-ply period, and its proper size family here is 550-18. That size fits the 18-inch wheels associated with the eight-cylinder Dodge models and keeps the car within the construction style expected of an upscale American automobile from 1931. The era-correct question is less about switching construction and more about choosing the sidewall presentation that suits the car’s restoration approach.

Because 550-18 is offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments, an owner has meaningful appearance choices while still staying within a period-type bias-ply fitment. If you want the car judged as closely as possible to a specific original configuration, compare your body style and historical references with club guidance before deciding which sidewall treatment best matches your Dodge.

1931 Dodge tires can be suitable for normal road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and installed on wheels that are equally sound. The tires listed here are all bias-ply products, and no speed-rating letters are shown for these sizes. On a car of this age, the broader limits on comfortable sustained speed often come from 1931-era braking, steering, suspension, and road manners as much as from the tire itself.

That puts the emphasis on realistic use rather than modern freeway expectations. A properly sorted Dodge on fresh, correctly fitted tires can be enjoyable on the road, but longer high-speed running should always be approached with respect for the car’s prewar design. Tire age, inflation, wheel condition, and overall mechanical health all deserve attention before treating a 1931 Dodge like a newer touring car.

For 1931 Dodge tires, pressure should be matched to the specific tire size and the manufacturer’s own rating rather than borrowed from another size. In the available products here, several 550-18 tires list maximum load figures at 32 psi, including 1125 pounds at 32 psi on Firestone options and 1000 pounds at 32 psi on a BFGoodrich version. A 500-19 Firestone product lists 895 pounds at 32 psi.

Those figures are load-and-pressure ratings, not a blanket instruction to run every tire at its listed maximum. The right next step is to compare the product’s stated rating with the pressure guidance in the Dodge owner literature or trusted restoration references for your specific model. Staying size-specific matters, because a pressure figure attached to one prewar tire should never automatically be transferred to another.

Before a longer drive, inspect every tire on the 1931 Dodge for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation, and any sign of pressure loss. Check the spare as carefully as the four road tires, because a period-style spare that has aged out is little help on tour day. Wheel hardware, valve-stem condition, and evenness of wear also belong on the pre-drive checklist.

Tires are only one part of the preparation on a 1931 Dodge, so the car also deserves a broader age-appropriate mechanical review before heading far from home. Brakes, steering play, cooling, lubrication, and fuel-system condition all affect how safely and comfortably the car can cover distance. A good tire inspection works best when it is part of that larger prewar touring routine.