1931 Durant Tire Fitment Guide

1931 Durant vehicles use two tire sizes: 475-19 and 500-19. The 475-19 size fits the 1931 Durant 10 Series and 12 Series, while the 500-19 size fits the 1931 Durant 14 Series. Both sizes are bias-ply and both mount on 19-inch rims, but they do not use the same rim width. The 475-19 products shown use a 3-inch rim, while the 500-19 products use 4-inch rims or, in one case, a 4.00 to 5.00 inch rim range.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly for a 1931 Durant. The practical first step is confirming whether your car is a 10 Series, 12 Series, or 14 Series, then checking the wheel on the car before finalizing a tire. A 19-inch rim is common across the lineup, but the correct tire size still changes by series. Getting that detail right helps preserve both fitment accuracy and the car’s proper pre-war stance.

On a 1931 Durant tire, 475-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 475 portion is the older nominal section-width designation used in period tire sizing, and the 19 identifies the rim diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not encode the same information a later radial size would. On 1931 Durant applications, 475-19 is used on the 10 Series and 12 Series.

Understanding that older size code helps avoid mixing pre-war numeric sizes with later radial or alphanumeric formats that may look similar at a glance but are not direct equivalents. If your Durant is a 10 Series or 12 Series, 475-19 is the size to focus on, and then the next choice becomes sidewall appearance rather than switching constructions. That is especially important on a restoration where the visual profile matters as much as the basic fit.

No, not all 1931 Durant models use the same tire size. The 10 Series and 12 Series share 475-19 tires, while the 14 Series uses 500-19. All three models use 19-inch wheels, so the difference is not rim diameter but the model-specific tire size itself. That makes the 14 Series distinct from the smaller Durant series in its fitment requirements.

This matters because many pre-war cars can look similar at a glance, especially after decades of ownership changes, restoration work, or swapped parts. A buyer or restorer should identify the series first and then verify the wheel already on the car before committing to a tire. That extra step is worthwhile on a 1931 Durant because choosing by year alone can easily put a 14 Series owner into the wrong size category.

1931 Durant tire sidewall styles vary by size. In 475-19, Goodyear offers both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall versions, giving 10 Series and 12 Series owners a clear appearance choice within the same basic size and construction. In 500-19, the available products are Blackwall, which applies to the 14 Series offerings listed here. All of these choices remain within the pre-war bias-ply category appropriate to the period.

For a restoration-minded owner, sidewall style can affect the car’s visual character almost as much as the body trim. A Blackwall tends to suit a more restrained early-1930s presentation, while a wide whitewall creates a dressier look that some owners prefer on show cars. Since the available sidewall treatments differ by size, the right path is to identify the Durant series first and then decide which appearance best matches the way your car is being restored or presented.

Three brands appear in the available tire range for 1931 Durant vehicles: Goodyear, Excelsior, and Firestone. Goodyear covers the 475-19 size used on the 10 Series and 12 Series, while Excelsior and Firestone appear in the 500-19 size used on the 14 Series. All of them are bias-ply offerings, which is consistent with what buyers expect for a 1931 American car.

Brand choice on a 1931 Durant is tied first to size, not just preference. Owners of a 10 Series or 12 Series will be choosing within the Goodyear 475-19 range, while 14 Series owners will be comparing the 500-19 options from Excelsior and Firestone. That makes it useful to settle the car’s series and the look you want before narrowing by brand, especially when sidewall treatment and rim-width compatibility can matter as much as the name on the tire.

For 1931 Durant 14 Series fitment in 500-19, the Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track share the same nominal size, blackwall appearance, and bias-ply construction, but they differ in details. The Excelsior lists a 4-inch rim and a 20-pound weight, while the Firestone lists a 4.00 to 5.00 inch rim-width range, a 19-pound weight, and a maximum load figure of 895 at 32 psi. The Firestone is also identified as a ribbed-front Dirt Track series tire.

That means the choice is not simply one of brand name. A 14 Series owner should compare the actual wheel on the car and decide whether a more road-car-oriented presentation or a specialty tire character better matches the intended use. Since both are model-correct in size but differ in their stated rim-width compatibility and product character, checking the wheel and the vehicle’s role before selection is more useful than assuming any 500-19 will serve the same purpose.

Rim width requirements for 1931 Durant tires depend on the series and tire size. The 475-19 tires used on the 10 Series and 12 Series are listed for 3-inch rims. The 500-19 tires used on the 14 Series are listed on 4-inch rims, with one Firestone option showing a broader 4.00 to 5.00 inch rim-width range. All of the listed tires share a 19-inch rim diameter, but width still varies by size and product.

That is why checking the wheel itself matters before choosing a tire for a 1931 Durant. A restorer working from loose parts or a car with replacement wheels should not assume every 19-inch Durant wheel is the same. Matching the tire to the proper rim width helps maintain the intended profile and avoids forcing an old numeric size onto an unsuitable wheel. On the 14 Series in particular, product-to-product rim-width compatibility is worth comparing before making a final choice.

Original 1931 Durant wheels can only be shared across both tire sizes if the wheel matches the correct rim width for the specific tire. Both 475-19 and 500-19 mount on 19-inch rims, so the wheel diameter is common across the lineup. The limitation is width: 475-19 is listed on a 3-inch rim, while 500-19 is listed on 4-inch rims or, for one product, a 4.00 to 5.00 inch range.

In practical terms, a 19-inch Durant wheel is not automatically interchangeable just because the rim diameter matches. If your car still has its original wheels, keep the tire size tied to the model series it was built for and verify the wheel width before fitting anything. If the car has had wheels swapped over the years, measure the rim rather than relying on assumption. That is the simplest way to avoid a mismatch between an otherwise correct pre-war tire and the wheel carrying it.

A 1931 Durant should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, furnaces, welders, and other ozone-producing sources. Because 1931 Durant fitments are bias-ply, long static storage can encourage temporary flat-spotting and can also accelerate age cracking if the tire is left under-inflated or exposed to heat. Clean floors, stable temperatures, and proper inflation help reduce those stresses during lay-up.

If the car will sit for extended periods, move it periodically to change the tire’s contact patch or support the vehicle in a way that reduces prolonged loading. Owners who keep a pre-war Durant on display should also pay attention to garage humidity and avoid parking where one side of the car gets regular sun through a window. Tire care during storage is simple, but it matters on an older collector car where age and inactivity often affect the tires more than mileage does.

Tires on a 1931 Durant usually age out before they wear out. On a collector vehicle that sees occasional use, it is wise to begin evaluating the tires closely once they reach the five- to seven-year range and to treat around ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire is the best guide to age, since a pre-war car often accumulates very little annual mileage.

That age-based approach is more realistic than waiting for visible wear bars or trying to judge by miles driven. A 1931 Durant may spend long periods parked, and time, heat cycles, and storage conditions all affect rubber integrity. Even a tire that still looks usable from a few feet away can be due for replacement if it has hardened, cracked, or simply aged beyond a comfortable service window. Collector ownership calls for calendar awareness as much as visual inspection.

Tires on a 1931 Durant should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation, uneven wear, and signs that the tire is losing pressure between uses. Since these are bias-ply pre-war fitments, also pay attention to how the car feels in the first miles after sitting, because a change in ride or tracking can be an early warning that the tires deserve closer examination.

A more thorough inspection several times a season is a good habit even for a lightly used Durant. Check the spare as carefully as the four on the ground, because spares on collector cars are often older and more neglected than the mounted set. If the car is used in tours or parades, give the tires a second look after the event as well. Frequent, brief checks are one of the easiest ways to protect both the tires and the vehicle.

A 1931 Durant 10 Series would originally have been fitted with bias-ply tires, since that was standard construction for American passenger cars of the period. Within the currently applicable fitment range, the 10 Series uses 475-19, and the same size also applies to the 1931 Durant 12 Series. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer supply, or later replacement history, so the most dependable reference point is the correct size and period construction rather than assuming a single universal brand.

For restoration work, that means the strongest authenticity foundation is choosing a 475-19 bias-ply tire and then deciding which sidewall treatment best suits your car’s intended presentation. If you are preparing a higher-level judged car, marque clubs, period sales literature, and surviving unrestored examples are useful for confirming whether a particular sidewall look matches your specific car’s history. Getting the construction and size right is the first step; finer details depend on the standard you are restoring to.

Correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1931 Durant because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice size, construction type, and sidewall appearance immediately. A 10 Series or 12 Series on 500-19 tires, or a 14 Series on 475-19 tires, would stand out as incorrect fitment. On a pre-war American car, a bias-ply construction is also part of the expected period look, so using the proper type supports the car’s overall authenticity even before finer details are considered.

The practical impact depends on the level of showing you plan to do. A local display car can leave more room for personal preference, especially in sidewall style, while concours-oriented events often reward closer attention to period presentation. Owners who want to be especially precise should review the event’s judging rules and compare them with marque-club guidance before finalizing a tire choice. On a 1931 Durant, correct fitment is both a visual and historical detail, not just a mechanical one.

For the 1931 Durant 10 Series and 12 Series, the Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather Blackwall and the Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather 2.875 inch Whitewall share the same 475-19 size, the same bias-ply construction, the same 19-inch rim diameter, the same 3-inch rim width, the same 15-pound listed weight, and the same 900 lbs. at 32 psi load rating. The meaningful difference between them is sidewall treatment rather than fit, load, or basic construction.

That makes the choice largely one of presentation. If your goal is a simpler, more restrained early-1930s look, the Blackwall may suit the car’s character. If you want a dressier visual statement within the same proper size and tire family, the Wide Whitewall gives that effect without changing the basic fitment. For a restoration-minded Durant owner, this is a useful example of how appearance choices can be made without stepping away from the correct model-specific tire size.

1931 Durant tires can be suitable for normal road use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within the limits of both the tire and the car itself. The available 1931 Durant fitments here are bias-ply, which means they deliver period-correct construction rather than the feel of a modern radial. No speed-rating letters are listed for these sizes, so the sensible approach is to treat highway driving with the expectations appropriate to an early-1930s automobile.

On a car like a 1931 Durant, the broader mechanical condition of the vehicle often matters as much as the tires once speeds rise. Brakes, steering, suspension, wheel bearings, and alignment all affect stability and confidence on longer or faster runs. A freshly fitted tire cannot compensate for an unrestored chassis or neglected running gear. If the car is sorted and the tires are properly fitted and maintained, road use can be enjoyable, but the driving style should remain appropriate to the era.

Inflation pressure for 1931 Durant tires should begin with the car’s original factory guidance if you have it, then be checked against the reproduction tire’s own rated information. In the currently available range, the 475-19 Goodyear products list 900 lbs. at 32 psi, and the 500-19 Firestone product lists 895 at 32 psi. Those figures are tied to those specific products and should not be transferred from one size or brand to another as a universal Durant setting.

The best practice is to treat the tire maker’s rating as the tire’s capability and the original vehicle recommendation as the starting point for real-world use on the car. Since a 1931 Durant is light by modern standards and often driven at modest speeds, proper inflation is more about preserving tire shape, steering behavior, and even wear than chasing modern ride targets. Recheck pressure regularly, especially after storage, because collector cars often sit long enough for small pressure losses to matter.

Before a longer drive in a 1931 Durant, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and secure valve hardware, and make sure each tire is holding pressure properly. Include the spare in that check, since a spare on a pre-war car is often older than the tires in service. Confirm that the tires on the car match the correct series fitment as well, because a 10 Series or 12 Series should be on 475-19 tires while a 14 Series should be on 500-19.

Tire inspection should be part of a broader pre-drive routine on a car of this age. Wheel fasteners, brakes, steering play, fluid levels, and basic electrical reliability all deserve attention before a tour or club event. A 1931 Durant rewards preparation, and the tires are one of the easiest systems to inspect thoroughly before departure. Taking a few extra minutes in the garage can prevent a small tire issue from becoming the reason a vintage outing ends early.