1931 La Salle Tire Fitment Guide

1931 La Salle vehicles use two tire sizes within the La Salle 340 range: 650-19 and 700-18. Both are bias-ply sizes, but they do not mount on the same rim diameter. The 650-19 fits a 19-inch rim, and available products in that size include examples built for 3.25- to 3.50-inch rim widths. The 700-18 fits an 18-inch rim, with available products built for 3.75- to 4.00-inch rim widths.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose correctly for a 1931 La Salle. Start by checking the actual wheel diameter on your La Salle 340, then match the tire size to that wheel before considering sidewall style. Once the correct size is confirmed, the remaining decision is mainly visual and restoration-oriented, since both sizes stay within the proper early-1930s bias-ply character.

On a 1931 La Salle, 650-19 is a traditional numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 identifies the tire's nominal section width, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric size, and it does not describe a radial tire. In current offerings for 1931 La Salle, 650-19 appears in bias-ply construction with blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments.

That decoding matters because a 650-19 tire belongs only on a 19-inch wheel, not on an 18-inch wheel used by some other 1931 La Salle 340 fitments. If your car has 19-inch wheels and you want a tire that preserves the proper visual stance and period feel, this is the size family to evaluate. After that, your choice usually comes down to whether the restoration calls for blackwall simplicity or a whitewall presentation.

No. The 1931 La Salle lineup centers on the La Salle 340, but even within that single model you will find both 650-19 and 700-18 applications. Those sizes are not interchangeable because they mount on different rim diameters. A 650-19 belongs on a 19-inch wheel, while a 700-18 belongs on an 18-inch wheel.

The practical takeaway is that identifying the car as a 1931 La Salle 340 is only the first step. Before selecting a tire, inspect the wheels already on the car or verify the setup through restoration records if the vehicle has been apart. That approach prevents ordering by model name alone and helps keep the finished car visually and mechanically consistent with the wheel equipment actually fitted to it.

A 1931 La Salle owner should choose 650-19 or 700-18 according to the wheel diameter already on the car, not as a simple preference swap. Both sizes are bias-ply and both suit the period, but they mount on different rims: 19 inches for 650-19 and 18 inches for 700-18. The 650-19 offerings center on blackwall and wide whitewall styles, while 700-18 adds a double-whitewall option within the Firestone range.

Once wheel diameter is confirmed, your decision becomes a styling and restoration question rather than a construction comparison. If your La Salle 340 is built around a more restrained appearance, blackwalls may be the natural fit; if you want more visual emphasis, whitewall options are available in both sizes. The key is matching the tire to the existing wheel first, then choosing the sidewall treatment that best suits the car's presentation.

1931 La Salle tires are available in several period-appropriate sidewall styles depending on size. In 650-19, current choices include blackwall and wide whitewall. In 700-18, current choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall. All of these offerings are bias-ply tires, which keeps the overall construction in line with the era even as the visual treatment changes.

Sidewall style can change the personality of a 1931 La Salle more than many owners expect. Blackwalls usually create a more understated early-luxury look, while whitewalls draw more attention to the wheel opening and brightwork. For a judged restoration, it is wise to verify what appearance is appropriate for your car's body style, market, and restoration goal, since show standards often consider sidewall treatment along with size and construction.

Firestone and Lester both offer tires for 1931 La Salle applications. In 650-19, Firestone and Lester are both represented, with Firestone appearing in classic bias-ply and balloon-style offerings and Lester appearing in a wide whitewall bias-ply option. In 700-18, the currently listed products are Firestone bias-ply tires, including blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions.

Brand choice for a 1931 La Salle usually comes down to the combination of size, sidewall look, and series character you want for the car. Some owners narrow their search by appearance first, especially when trying to capture a particular restoration style, while others begin with the wheel diameter and then compare brands inside that size only. Keeping the comparison within the correct size prevents mixing visual preference with fitment questions.

Available 1931 La Salle tire products show distinct rim-width ranges by size. For 650-19, listed examples are built for 3.25- to 3.50-inch rims. For 700-18, listed examples are built for 3.75- to 4.00-inch rims. Those ranges reinforce that the two sizes are tied to different wheel packages rather than being casual substitutes for one another.

Before mounting a new set, compare your actual wheel width and diameter to the tire you intend to use. That is especially important on a restored 1931 La Salle, where wheels may have been changed during the car's life or mixed from different sources. If your wheel dimensions fall within the appropriate range for the size you need, you are starting from a much sounder fitment position than choosing by appearance alone.

1931 La Salle tires are offered in period-style bias-ply sizes, but the individual products here are not marked with a uniform tube-type or tubeless designation in the size line. On an early-1930s car like a La Salle 340, tube use is commonly tied to the wheel design and the exact tire being mounted rather than assumed from the size code alone. That makes the tire-and-wheel combination more important than the sidewall style when answering the tube question.

The right approach is to verify the wheel construction on your own 1931 La Salle and then confirm the specific product's sidewall marking before assembly. Original-style rims, lock-ring designs, or restored wheels may have different requirements than later replacement wheels. Taking that extra step helps avoid setup problems and gives you a cleaner path to selecting tubes, flaps, and valve hardware that match the wheel and tire correctly.

A 1931 La Salle should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to developing temporary flat-spotting when they sit in one position for long periods, and long exposure to heat and ozone can harden the rubber and age the sidewalls prematurely. Clean, stable storage conditions matter more than mileage on a collector car that is driven occasionally.

Moving the car periodically, slightly changing the tire's contact patch, and keeping inflation pressure checked during storage all help protect the tires. For longer inactive stretches, many owners use stands or cradles to reduce stress on the casing, provided the vehicle is supported properly. Good storage habits preserve ride quality and appearance, which is especially worthwhile on a large, elegant 1931 La Salle that may spend more time displayed than driven.

Tires on a 1931 La Salle are usually judged by age and condition more than by accumulated miles. A collector tire should be inspected closely once it reaches about five to seven years of age, and many owners begin serious replacement consideration as it approaches ten years, even if tread remains. The DOT date code and the tire's physical condition matter more than odometer readings on a low-use antique automobile.

That is important because a 1931 La Salle may see light seasonal driving, parade use, or show use that never wears the tread out in a modern sense. Sidewall cracking, hardening, repeated air loss, and casing changes are more meaningful warning signs than tread depth alone. If the tires are older and the car is expected to travel farther than local events, replacing by age can be a smarter choice than waiting for visible failure.

Tires on a 1931 La Salle should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Check for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and signs that the car is losing pressure during storage. Because early collector cars can spend long periods parked, a quick visual inspection is not enough by itself; pressure retention and general casing condition matter just as much as appearance.

A more thorough check at regular intervals helps catch age-related issues before they become roadside problems. Pay close attention to valve stems, spare-tire condition, and any hardware associated with tube-based wheel setups if your car uses them. On a 1931 La Salle, tire inspection should be part of the broader pre-drive routine that also includes brakes, steering, cooling, and wheel fastener checks, since the car's age makes every system worth reviewing.

A 1931 La Salle 340 would have been fitted originally with bias-ply tires, which was the standard construction of the period. The sizes used within the 1931 La Salle 340 range include 650-19 and 700-18, depending on the wheel equipment on the individual car. Original-equipment branding can vary by market, production timing, and restoration history, so construction type and size are the most dependable starting points when recreating an authentic setup.

For restoration work, begin by confirming the wheel diameter currently on the car and comparing it to surviving records, photos, or unrestored examples. That keeps the project anchored to the proper size family before you decide between blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation. If you are aiming at a highly exact restoration, a La Salle or Cadillac club can help verify body-style and market-specific expectations beyond basic size and construction.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1931 La Salle because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice tire size, construction, and sidewall appearance immediately. A bias-ply tire is consistent with the period, while a visibly modern construction or an incorrect sidewall treatment can distract from an otherwise accurate restoration. The difference between 650-19 and 700-18 also matters because wheel diameter affects the car's stance and visual proportion.

For a show-focused car, the safest path is to confirm wheel diameter first and then select a sidewall style that suits the level of authenticity you want to present. Some events are more forgiving than others, but high-level judging usually rewards details that support the car's era and character. Event rules and marque-club guidance are worth reviewing if the goal is concours accuracy rather than a visually sympathetic touring restoration.

For a 1931 La Salle, Firestone Classic Bias Ply and Firestone Balloon products overlap in period construction but differ in series presentation and, in some listed cases, in published dimensions such as rim-width range and weight. In 650-19, Firestone Balloon examples are shown for 3.25- to 3.50-inch rims, while the Firestone Classic Bias Ply listing in that size focuses more simply on the tire itself. In 700-18, both series appear, with Firestone Balloon and Firestone Classic Bias Ply offerings sharing the same 18-inch rim diameter and listed 3.75- to 4.00-inch rim-width range.

That means the choice is less about changing the underlying period character and more about selecting the exact series and sidewall treatment that align with your car. Comparing the individual product details inside the correct size can help separate a blackwall touring look from a more formal whitewall presentation. On a 1931 La Salle, that level of detail matters because the tire is part of the car's overall stance and visual finish, not just a maintenance item.

1931 La Salle tires in the available sizes are bias-ply products, and no separate speed rating letter is shown in the listed size markings. That does not automatically make them unsuitable for road use, but it does place the focus on proper condition, correct inflation, and realistic expectations for an early-1930s luxury automobile. On a car of this era, braking, steering, suspension condition, and overall mechanical health often shape real-world touring confidence as much as the tires themselves.

A well-sorted 1931 La Salle can be driven on modern roads within the limits of the car and the tires, but sustained speed should always reflect the vehicle's age and setup. Before any highway use, confirm that the tires are fresh, evenly worn, and matched to the correct wheel diameter. Owners who plan regular longer-distance touring should also make sure the rest of the chassis is equally ready, since tire safety on a prewar car is only one piece of the whole package.

Inflation pressure for a 1931 La Salle should be set with the tire size and the specific tire's rated information in mind, not borrowed from another size. In the available 700-18 range, listed products show a maximum load capacity of 1520 pounds at 36 psi. A listed 650-19 whitewall example shows 1430 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not a blanket recommendation for every car condition or every wheel setup.

For actual service pressure, compare the vehicle's original factory guidance with the reproduction tire manufacturer's information for the exact tire on the car. That helps you avoid overgeneralizing from one product or one size to another. On a 1931 La Salle, the right pressure should support the car's weight, preserve ride quality, and keep the tread working evenly, so treat the published maximum as a limit rather than your default setting.

Before a longer drive in a 1931 La Salle, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, unusual wear, and secure valve stems, then confirm that pressures are even and appropriate for the exact size fitted. Check the spare as carefully as the road tires, since many vintage cars carry a spare that is older or more neglected than the set on the ground. On an antique luxury car, a tire that looks acceptable at a glance can still be aged out or compromised from long storage.

A tire inspection should be part of a larger pre-trip routine that includes wheel fasteners, brakes, steering play, fluids, cooling-system condition, and basic lighting. Because a 1931 La Salle is a substantial prewar car, small mechanical issues can become much more noticeable once distance and heat build. Taking the time to inspect both the tires and the rest of the car before departure makes touring more predictable and helps protect a restoration that may be difficult to duplicate.