1931 Plymouth Tire Fitment Guide

1931 Plymouth vehicles use two different tire sizes depending on model. The Plymouth Export uses 500-19, while the Plymouth PA uses 475-19. Both are bias-ply sizes for 19-inch wheels. The listed 500-19 products fit rim widths from 4 inches to 5 inches depending on the tire, while the listed 475-19 products fit a 3-inch rim.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1931 Plymouth. You need to confirm whether the car is an Export or a PA first, then match the tire to the wheel already on the car. Once size is settled, the next decision is usually sidewall appearance and the overall style of restoration you want to achieve.

On a 1931 Plymouth, 500-19 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 500 portion refers to the tire's nominal section width in the older inch-based sizing system, and the 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. For 1931 Plymouth applications, that size belongs to the Export model and is offered here in bias-ply construction only.

Modern buyers often expect a more detailed code with aspect ratio and radial marking, but prewar numeric sizes are much simpler than that. The key is not to translate 500-19 into a modern metric size by guesswork. If your 1931 Plymouth is an Export, stay with the correct 500-19 format and then verify the wheel width against the specific tire you are considering.

For a 1931 Plymouth, 475-19 is also an older numeric bias-ply size. The 475 identifies the nominal section width and the 19 indicates a 19-inch wheel diameter. Within the 1931 Plymouth range, this size applies to the PA model and is available in traditional bias-ply construction with either blackwall or wide whitewall styling.

That size code is important because it separates the PA from the Export even though both use 19-inch wheels. A buyer restoring a 1931 Plymouth PA should focus on keeping the 475-19 size rather than assuming any 19-inch prewar tire will do. After confirming the model, compare the tire's sidewall style and rim-width requirement to the car's actual wheels and restoration goals.

1931 Plymouth tire choices include both blackwall and wide whitewall options, depending on size. The 500-19 tires offered for the Export are blackwall only, while the 475-19 tires for the PA are available in blackwall and wide whitewall versions. All of these are bias-ply tires, which keeps the overall construction appropriate to the prewar era.

A blackwall usually suits a more restrained, workmanlike prewar presentation, while a wide whitewall creates a dressier period look if that matches the car's trim level, market presentation, or show target. Whitewall width and style can matter to judges and marque enthusiasts, so restorers aiming for strict authenticity should compare their choice against period photos, club guidance, and the character of their specific car.

Three brands are represented for 1931 Plymouth fitments here. The 500-19 size for the Export is available from Excelsior and Firestone, while the 475-19 size for the PA is available from Goodyear. All of the listed offerings are bias-ply tires, but they differ in styling and intended character within their correct vintage format.

Brand choice should follow size first, since the two models do not share the same tire size. Once the model is confirmed, compare the available brands by sidewall appearance, rim-width compatibility, and whether the tire's overall presentation matches a stock restoration, a period-style driver, or a more specialized visual theme. On a prewar Plymouth, the right brand is the one that suits the correct size and the finish you want.

The two 500-19 choices for a 1931 Plymouth Export differ in brand, series character, rim-width range, weight, and load information. The Excelsior Comp H is a blackwall bias-ply tire listed for a 4-inch rim and weighs 20 pounds. The Firestone Dirt Track Ribbed Front is also a blackwall bias-ply, weighs 19 pounds, fits 4.00- to 5.00-inch rims, and carries a listed load rating of 895 pounds at 32 psi.

Those differences matter because two tires in the same nominal size can still suit different goals. A restorer should compare the actual wheel width on the car and decide whether a more traditional street-style presentation or a more specialized ribbed-front look is appropriate. Matching the tire's character to the car's intended use and appearance is more useful than choosing by size code alone.

Rim width depends on the specific tire size and product used on a 1931 Plymouth. The listed 475-19 Goodyear tires for the PA fit a 3-inch rim. The listed 500-19 tires for the Export fit either a 4-inch rim or a 4.00- to 5.00-inch rim, depending on which product is selected. All of these fitments use 19-inch wheel diameter.

That is why wheel measurement matters even after you confirm the model. Two 19-inch wheels are not automatically the same in width, and a tire that is correct in diameter can still be wrong for the rim. Before choosing a 1931 Plymouth tire, verify the wheel's actual width and match it to the specific tire's approved range instead of assuming all 19-inch prewar wheels interchange equally.

A 1931 Plymouth PA and a 1931 Plymouth Export both use 19-inch tires, so the wheel diameter is shared across the two model-specific sizes. That means the basic diameter relationship is the same, but the tires themselves are not interchangeable by model because the size and rim-width requirements differ. The 475-19 offerings are listed for 3-inch rims, while the 500-19 offerings start at 4 inches.

Original wheels can often remain part of the restoration, but they still need to match the exact tire size used on that model. A 19-inch wheel alone does not settle the question. Measure the wheel width, confirm the car's model designation, and check the actual tire's approved fitment range before mounting anything on an original 1931 Plymouth wheel.

A 1931 Plymouth should be stored in a cool, dry, dark environment with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, furnaces, battery chargers, and other ozone sources. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting when they sit in one position for long periods, so proper inflation and occasional movement matter. Clean floors and stable temperature help reduce moisture-related deterioration as well.

For a collector car that spends long stretches parked, roll the car periodically or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on the tires if the storage plan allows. Long-term storage habits can affect ride quality as much as tread wear on a low-mileage prewar car. Keeping a 1931 Plymouth out of sun and ozone is one of the easiest ways to preserve both blackwall and whitewall sidewalls.

Tire age is usually more important than mileage on a 1931 Plymouth. Collector-car tires are often evaluated closely once they reach about five to seven years of age, and many owners begin considering replacement at around ten years regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age, and visible cracking, hardening, or casing damage can make replacement appropriate sooner.

A lightly driven prewar car can fool owners into thinking the tires are still fresh because the tread looks good. Rubber ages even when the car is seldom used, especially if it has been stored in poor conditions. A 1931 Plymouth that appears road-ready may still be riding on old tires, so age and condition should guide the decision more than miles traveled.

Tires on a 1931 Plymouth should be checked before every drive and inspected more thoroughly before longer outings. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and slow pressure loss. Whitewalls also deserve extra attention because discoloration can sometimes hide early surface aging that is easier to see on a clean tire.

A more careful inspection is especially worthwhile before touring events or sustained road use, since prewar cars place a premium on preventive maintenance. Check the spare as well, because it may be older than the road tires and still expected to serve in an emergency. Frequent visual inspection is one of the simplest ways to keep a 1931 Plymouth safer and more reliable on the road.

A 1931 Plymouth PA would have originally used a bias-ply tire, since radial passenger-car fitments were not part of normal American production practice in that era. Within the fitments covered here, the PA uses size 475-19 on a 19-inch wheel. Period-correct appearance also extends beyond the size itself to sidewall treatment, since blackwall and whitewall choices can change the car's finished look.

For a restoration, the safest approach is to begin with the correct 475-19 bias-ply size and then refine the choice according to how your specific car was delivered or how it is judged in your target event. Factory literature, surviving photos, and Plymouth marque clubs are the best way to confirm market-specific presentation details. Size and construction should be settled before cosmetic details are chosen.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1931 Plymouth because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often look at size, construction type, and sidewall appearance as part of the car's overall authenticity. On a prewar Plymouth, an incorrect size, the wrong model-specific fitment, or a sidewall treatment that does not suit the period presentation can stand out quickly. Bias-ply construction is generally expected for a stock-authentic restoration from this era.

That does not mean every event uses the same standards, but tire choice is rarely invisible on a serious restoration. A 1931 Plymouth PA wearing 500-19 tires, or an Export wearing the narrower PA size, would raise obvious fitment questions before the car even moves. Match the size to the model first, then confirm the sidewall style against the event's judging language and marque-club guidance.

The 475-19 tires available for the 1931 Plymouth PA share the same basic Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather bias-ply construction, the same 19-inch rim diameter, the same 3-inch rim requirement, and the same listed load rating of 900 pounds at 32 psi. The primary difference is sidewall appearance: one is a blackwall and the other carries a 2.875-inch wide whitewall.

That means the decision is mostly visual rather than structural. A blackwall tends to support a simpler, more understated prewar look, while the wide whitewall gives the car a more upscale period presentation. If authenticity is the goal, use period photos, original sales literature, and club resources to decide which look fits your specific 1931 Plymouth PA most convincingly.

A properly maintained 1931 Plymouth tire in the correct size and good condition can be used for normal road driving, but these are bias-ply prewar fitments and should be treated as such. No speed ratings are listed for the available 500-19 or 475-19 products here. On a car of this era, overall roadworthiness depends just as much on brakes, steering, wheel bearings, suspension condition, and alignment as it does on the tires themselves.

Highway use should be approached with respect for the car's age and handling character rather than with modern-car expectations. Bias-ply tires tend to follow road contours differently than modern radials, and a 1931 Plymouth's chassis will communicate that clearly. Before longer or faster travel, inspect the tires carefully and make sure the rest of the car is equally ready for sustained road use.

The listed load-and-pressure figures for 1931 Plymouth tires are size specific. The 500-19 Firestone Dirt Track tire is rated at 895 pounds at 32 psi, and the 475-19 Goodyear Deluxe All-Weather tires are rated at 900 pounds at 32 psi. Those figures describe the tire's rated load at that pressure, not necessarily the factory operating pressure that Plymouth originally recommended for every driving condition.

Use the original owner's manual or period service information for the vehicle's intended inflation guidance, then compare that with the tire manufacturer's rating for the specific reproduction tire you are using. Avoid borrowing a pressure figure from one size or series and applying it to another by assumption. Correct inflation on a 1931 Plymouth affects wear, ride quality, steering feel, and casing life.

Before a longer drive in a 1931 Plymouth, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, tread separation, embedded objects, and proper inflation. Confirm that the spare is usable, that valve stems are sound, and that each tire matches the model-specific size the car requires. A quick glance is not enough on a prewar car that may spend much of its life parked between outings.

Tires are only one part of the preparation, but they are one of the easiest problems to catch before the trip begins. A longer outing is also the right time to check wheel fasteners, steering play, brake operation, fluid levels, and basic tool and jack readiness. A 1931 Plymouth rewards careful pre-drive routine far more than last-minute improvisation at the roadside.