1931 Essex Tire Fitment Guide

1931 Essex vehicles use one tire size: 500-19. Within the 1931 range covered here, that size applies to the Essex Super 6, and the available tires are bias-ply designs built for a 19-inch rim. Listed wheel fitment information places this size on a 4-inch rim, with one available product also accommodating a 4.00- to 5.00-inch rim-width range.

That simplicity is helpful because you do not need to sort through multiple original sizes across the model line. The important checks are whether your car still has its correct 19-inch wheels and whether the wheel width falls within the range supported by the specific tire you are considering. Once those basics are confirmed, the decision becomes one of product style and intended use rather than size conversion.

On a 1931 Essex, 500-19 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The 500 portion is the nominal section width expressed in the older inch-based style, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Because it is a bias-ply format rather than a modern metric radial size, the code reflects an earlier tire-sizing system common on American cars of the early 1930s.

Reading the size correctly matters because a modern-looking replacement code is not automatically interchangeable with an original numeric size. If you are trying to keep the car visually faithful to its era, the 500-19 designation helps preserve the tall, narrow profile that suits a 1931 Essex. It also keeps you focused on products intended for 19-inch pre-war wheels instead of later passenger-car fitments.

Yes. The 1931 Essex range covered here uses the same 500-19 tire size across the model lineup, which in this case centers on the Essex Super 6. There is no split between different Essex models for the year, and there is no second rim diameter to compare against when choosing tires.

That means identifying the year and make gets you most of the way there, but it is still wise to confirm the wheels currently on the car. Early cars are often restored, repaired, or modified over long ownership histories, and wheel swaps are not unheard of. A quick check of the actual rim diameter and width prevents ordering a historically correct size for a wheel that has been changed at some point.

Available 1931 Essex tires in 500-19 are offered in blackwall form. That matches the restrained, functional look many owners want on an early-1930s car, especially one positioned as a practical American six rather than a later postwar car where wider styling variation became more common. No alternate sidewall treatment appears within the current 500-19 choices here.

For a restoration, blackwall sidewalls are usually the natural visual fit for a 1931 Essex because they preserve the understated pre-war appearance of the car. If your goal is a clean driver rather than formal show judging, the same sidewall style still works well because it avoids adding a later visual cue to an otherwise era-correct wheel and tire package.

Two brands appear in the current 1931 Essex fitment range: Excelsior and Firestone, both in the 500-19 size and both in bias-ply construction. Excelsior offers the Comp H series, while Firestone appears with a Dirt Track Ribbed Front product in the same size. Each keeps the correct basic size and wheel diameter for the Essex Super 6.

Brand choice on a pre-war car usually comes down to the type of look and application you want within the same general fitment family. Since both options remain in 500-19 bias-ply form, you are not deciding between completely different sizing philosophies. Instead, compare the individual tire's intended character, supported rim width, and whether its appearance suits the way your 1931 Essex is being restored or driven.

Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track are both offered in 500-19 for 1931 Essex applications, and both are bias-ply blackwall tires for 19-inch rims. The Excelsior lists a 4-inch rim width 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 published load figure of 895 pounds at 32 psi.

Those differences mean the choice is less about raw size and more about matching the tire to the wheel and intended presentation. If your wheel width sits near the broader range shown for the Firestone, that may influence your comparison. If your priority is staying within a straightforward 4-inch rim spec, the Excelsior may align neatly with that setup. Either way, confirm the actual wheel dimensions before making the final call.

The available 500-19 tires for 1931 Essex fit 19-inch rims, and the published rim-width guidance depends on the product. One 500-19 tire is specified for a 4-inch rim, while another supports a 4.00- to 5.00-inch range. That means wheel diameter is fixed at 19 inches, but acceptable rim width can vary between individual tires even within the same nominal size.

That variation matters because early wheels are not all identical, especially after decades of restoration work and parts interchange. Before choosing a tire, measure the wheel width or verify it through a trusted shop familiar with pre-war rims. Staying inside the individual tire's approved width range helps preserve the intended tread profile and keeps the fitment aligned with how the tire was built to seat and carry load.

The available 1931 Essex products here are identified by size and construction, but no tube marking is shown in the tire size line itself. Because tube fitment on early wheels depends not only on the tire but also on wheel design and condition, many 1931-era applications are treated carefully and verified against the actual rim before final setup.

On a car as old as a 1931 Essex, the practical move is to inspect the wheel type, bead seat condition, and valve arrangement before deciding on tube use. If the car retains original-style wheels, a marque specialist or experienced vintage tire installer can help match the setup properly. That is especially worthwhile on pre-war cars, where the wheel often influences the final tube decision as much as the tire itself.

A 1931 Essex should be stored in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, furnaces, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Because the car uses bias-ply tires, long stationary periods can also encourage temporary flat-spotting more readily than a radial would. Clean, stable flooring and protection from standing moisture help preserve both the tires and the wheels.

If the car will sit for months, maintain inflation, roll it periodically, or use stands in a way that does not stress the suspension or frame. Owners who drive only occasionally often benefit from a regular monthly routine that includes moving the car and checking pressure. Good storage habits matter as much as tread depth on collector vehicles, since age and environment usually determine tire condition before mileage does.

Tires on a 1931 Essex are best judged by age and condition rather than by mileage alone. Collector-car tires often cover relatively few miles, so a tire can look serviceable in tread depth while still aging in the casing and sidewall. A sensible rule is to begin close inspection and evaluation around five to seven years of age and to treat roughly ten years as a serious replacement consideration, regardless of remaining tread.

Check the manufacturing date code where available and inspect for cracking, hardening, separations, or changes in ride quality that suggest age-related decline. Bias-ply tires on seldom-driven pre-war cars can age out long before they wear out. If the car has been in storage or its tire age is uncertain, a careful inspection before regular road use is more important than relying on visual tread depth alone.

Tires on a 1931 Essex should be inspected before every drive, and the check should be more thorough before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread damage, cuts, bulges, signs of impact, and any unusual wear pattern that could point to an alignment, wheel, or suspension issue. Pressure retention matters as much as appearance on an older car, especially one that may sit between drives.

A second-level inspection every few months is smart for low-mileage collector use, including a close look at valve stems, wheel condition, and the spare if one is carried. Small issues become more important on a pre-war car because braking, steering, and chassis response are less forgiving than on a modern vehicle. Catching problems early helps preserve both safety and the car's overall driving character.

A 1931 Essex Super 6 would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the applicable size here is 500-19. That aligns with the period's tall, narrow tire proportions and 19-inch wheel practice used on many early-1930s American passenger cars. The key originality markers are the correct size, the correct pre-war bias-ply construction, and an appearance that suits the car's market position and year.

If you are aiming for strict historical accuracy, keep the focus on matching the size and construction first rather than chasing a brand assumption. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, dealer practice, or restoration history, so marque clubs and period factory literature remain the best final check for show-level work. For most owners, staying with a 500-19 bias-ply blackwall is the essential first step toward an authentic result.

Correct tire fitment matters on a shown 1931 Essex because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice whether the tire size, construction, and sidewall appearance fit the car's era. A 500-19 bias-ply blackwall supports the upright stance and visual proportions expected on an early-1930s Essex. A visibly later-style construction or an out-of-era sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise careful restoration.

The level of importance depends on the event. A local cruise-in may care more about presentation than strict authenticity, while marque judging or higher-level concours standards can be more exacting about tire details. If your car is being prepared for competitive showing, verify expectations with the hosting club or judging body so the tire choice supports the class standard instead of working against it.

For a 1931 Essex, both Excelsior Comp H and Firestone Dirt Track keep you in the correct 500-19 bias-ply size on a 19-inch rim, but their published specifications are not identical. The Excelsior is listed at 20 pounds with a 4-inch rim fitment, while the Firestone is listed at 19 pounds with a 4.00- to 5.00-inch rim-width range and a maximum load figure of 895 pounds at 32 psi.

From a restoration standpoint, that means the finer details of your wheel and the look you want should guide the decision more than the basic size itself. Owners concerned with event presentation may compare tread and styling cues alongside the published dimensions. Owners building a roadgoing antique may pay closer attention to wheel-width compatibility and the tire's stated load-and-pressure pairing for setup confidence.

1931 Essex tires in the available fitment are bias-ply designs, and they should be used with the realistic expectations appropriate to a pre-war automobile. No published speed rating letter appears in the listed 500-19 products here, so the safer approach is to treat road use conservatively and remember that a 1931 chassis, brakes, steering, and suspension are usually the limiting factors before a collector tire's basic capability becomes the issue.

A well-maintained 1931 Essex can certainly be driven on modern roads, but sustained high-speed highway use is a different question from occasional secondary-road touring. Safe operation depends on the whole car being sound, including wheel condition, alignment, brake performance, and tire age. If your plans include longer or faster driving, inspect the car comprehensively and drive within the comfort zone of both the vehicle and its bias-ply tires.

Inflation pressure for a 1931 Essex should follow the factory guidance for the car and the maximum-rated information shown for the specific tire you choose. One available 500-19 tire lists a maximum load capacity of 895 pounds at 32 psi, but that figure is a load-and-pressure rating for that tire, not a blanket operating pressure for every 500-19 product or every Essex setup.

Use the vehicle's original recommendations as your baseline and then make sure the tire you select is being operated within its own stated limits. Early cars can be sensitive to pressure changes in ride, steering feel, and tread contact, so avoid assuming that one product's published maximum should be copied directly to another. Keeping pressures consistent side to side is just as important as choosing the number itself.

Before a longer drive in a 1931 Essex, inspect the tires for visible cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and any sign that the casing has aged or been damaged. Confirm cold inflation pressure, look over the valve stems, and check that the spare is usable if the car carries one. Since the fitment is a 500-19 bias-ply on a pre-war chassis, wheel security and general wheel condition deserve close attention as well.

Tires are only one part of the pre-drive routine on an antique car, so include brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, fluid levels, and lighting in the same inspection. A 1931 Essex rewards a slower, more deliberate approach to touring than a modern vehicle does. Taking time to review the whole car before departure reduces the chance that a small tire or chassis issue turns into a trip-ending problem on the road.