1932 Auburn Tire Fitment Guide

1932 Auburn vehicles use four bias-ply tire sizes: 550-17, 6.00-17, 6.50-17, and 700-17. The 100 Series uses 550-17, 6.00-17, and 6.50-17; the 160 Series uses 6.00-17 and 6.50-17; and the 160A Series uses 700-17. Every one of those sizes mounts on a 17-inch rim. Rim-width guidance appears in the available product range for 700-17, where applications cover 4-inch rims and a 3.5-to-4.0-inch range depending on the tire.

That means a 1932 Auburn owner should identify the exact series first, then confirm the tire size already fitted to the car or specified for that chassis. The year and make alone are not enough, because Auburn used different widths within the same 17-inch wheel diameter. If your car has had wheel changes during its life, verify the wheel and tire combination together before choosing a replacement.

On a 1932 Auburn, 550-17 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 5.50 figure refers to the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric code and it is not a radial marking. Within the 1932 Auburn range, 550-17 is used on the 100 Series.

That older numeric style is typical of pre-war American tire sizing, so the goal is to match the period-correct size code rather than translate it loosely into a modern passenger-car tire. For a 100 Series owner, 550-17 is the narrower of the sizes shown for that model family. It is also offered with several sidewall appearances, which matters if you are matching a restoration theme as closely as possible.

No, 1932 Auburn models do not all use the same tire size. The 100 Series can use 550-17, 6.00-17, or 6.50-17, the 160 Series uses 6.00-17 or 6.50-17, and the 160A Series uses 700-17. All of those tires are bias-ply and all fit 17-inch rims, but the width and model application change across the lineup.

For a buyer, that means the first fitment question is model identification, not simply whether the car is a 1932 Auburn. The overlap between the 100 Series and 160 Series can cause confusion, while the 160A Series stands apart with its larger 700-17 size. Checking the series designation, the current wheel, and the tire size already on the car helps avoid choosing a width that belongs to a different Auburn chassis.

1932 Auburn tires are available in several sidewall styles depending on size. In 550-17, BFGoodrich offers Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions. In 700-17, Firestone and Ensign offerings include Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall as well. The 6.00-17 and 6.50-17 fitments are part of the Auburn range too, though sidewall-style selection is not shown here for those sizes.

For a pre-war Auburn, sidewall style changes the visual character almost as much as wheel finish or hubcap detail. A blackwall tends to suit a more restrained or driver-oriented presentation, while whitewall treatments emphasize the formal luxury look many owners want on a 1930s car. If show authenticity matters, compare the sidewall treatment on your car against period photos, marque references, and the specific restoration style you are trying to match.

1932 Auburn tires are available here from BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Ensign, depending on size. The 550-17 fitment appears in BFGoodrich offerings, while the 700-17 fitment is available from Firestone and Ensign. All of these are bias-ply products appropriate to the era of the car. Brand choice, then, is tied first to the correct size for your Auburn series and only second to sidewall appearance or series preference.

That matters because not every brand is represented in every Auburn size. A 100 Series owner looking at 550-17 is choosing among BFGoodrich sidewall variations, while a 160A Series owner in 700-17 can compare Firestone and Ensign options. Once the fitment is settled, brand selection becomes a question of presentation, product specifications, and how closely you want the finished car to reflect a particular period look.

For the 1932 Auburn in 700-17, Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 differ in available sidewall styles, load figures, rim-width range, and listed weight. Firestone Balloon appears in Blackwall, Double-Whitewall, and Wide Whitewall versions, generally on a 4-inch rim, with a listed maximum load of 1480 pounds at 36 psi. Ensign B5 appears as a Blackwall with a 3.5-to-4.0-inch rim-width range and a listed maximum load of 1,901 pounds at 36 psi.

A 160A Series owner can use those differences to narrow the choice according to wheel width and the visual style of the car. Firestone offers more visible sidewall variety, while the Ensign listing provides a wider stated rim-width range and a higher published load figure. The best approach is to verify your actual wheel width first, then decide whether your priority is a blackwall appearance or one of the whitewall styles available in the Firestone line.

All listed 1932 Auburn tire sizes use 17-inch rims, but rim-width guidance is only shown within the available 700-17 product range. Firestone 700-17 Balloon tires are listed for 4-inch rims, while the Ensign B5 700-17 is listed for a 3.5-to-4.0-inch rim-width range. That gives a clear setup window for the 160A Series fitment. The other Auburn sizes in this year range still require a correct wheel match, but the specific rim-width figures are not presented here.

The practical takeaway is to measure the wheel on the car before selecting a tire, especially on a pre-war vehicle that may have had wheel swaps over the decades. Even when the tire size code looks right, wheel width can affect how the tire seats and how authentic the finished stance appears. If your Auburn has been restored or modified before your ownership, confirm the wheel itself rather than relying only on the sidewall currently fitted.

Original 1932 Auburn wheels can share tire diameter compatibility across the listed sizes because every fitment in this year range uses a 17-inch rim. That means 550-17, 6.00-17, 6.50-17, and 700-17 all belong to the same wheel diameter family. Diameter compatibility alone does not make them interchangeable across every Auburn model, though, because the tire widths and series applications differ.

A buyer should treat 17-inch compatibility as only the first checkpoint. The correct next steps are to verify the car's series, inspect the wheel width, and confirm the size intended for that chassis. On a restored Auburn, that is especially important because a wheel may physically accept a tire that is not visually correct or properly matched to the original fitment range of the car.

A 1932 Auburn should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that can age rubber. Bias-ply tires, like the sizes used on 1932 Auburn models, can develop temporary flat spotting more readily during long static storage than later radial designs. Clean floors, steady temperatures, and correct inflation help reduce strain on the casing while the car sits.

Owners who store a 1932 Auburn for extended periods should roll the car occasionally or support it in a way that reduces continuous load on one contact patch. That is especially worthwhile on a rarely driven pre-war car with tall sidewalls. Before returning the car to the road, inspect the sidewalls and tread, then drive gently at first so the tires can round back out after storage.

Tires on a 1932 Auburn are usually judged by age and condition more than mileage, because collector cars often see limited annual use. A sound rule is to evaluate them closely once they reach roughly five to seven years of service and to treat about ten years as a serious replacement point regardless of tread depth. The DOT date code on the tire helps establish age, and cracking, hardening, bulges, or persistent vibration can move replacement higher on the priority list.

That age-based approach matters because a 1932 Auburn may cover only a few hundred miles a year yet still sit through seasons of heat, cold, and storage. A tire that looks usable at a glance may no longer be a good candidate for regular driving or touring. If the date code and condition point to age-related decline, replacing the tires is usually more important than trying to squeeze extra service life out of old rubber.

Tires on a 1932 Auburn should be inspected before every drive, with a more thorough check before any long outing or tour. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, uneven wear, low pressure, and any sign that the tire is no longer holding its shape normally. On a car of this age, it also makes sense to inspect the valve stems carefully and to check the spare, since it may be decades old even if it has never been used.

A short pre-drive inspection is one of the easiest ways to prevent trouble on a pre-war car. Bias-ply tires often communicate problems through visible shape changes or steering feel, so pay attention during the first few miles as well. If the Auburn has been sitting for weeks or months, inspection should be even more deliberate, because age and storage conditions can change a tire's condition long before the tread appears worn.

The 1932 Auburn 100 Series used bias-ply tires, which was the standard construction for American cars of that period. Within the 1932 Auburn range, the 100 Series is associated with 550-17, 6.00-17, and 6.50-17 sizes, all on 17-inch rims. Auburn owners seeking originality should focus first on matching the correct size and bias-ply construction for their particular car rather than trying to force a one-size answer across every 100 Series example.

That is especially important because surviving pre-war cars often passed through multiple owners, restorations, and wheel changes. If your goal is a highly accurate restoration, compare your car's present wheel and tire setup against factory literature, period photographs, and Auburn-specific club guidance. Market variations, body styles, and prior restoration choices can all influence what appears on an individual car today.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1932 Auburn because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice size, construction type, and sidewall presentation quickly on pre-war cars. A bias-ply tire in the proper numeric size aligns with the period, while the wrong width or an obviously modern construction can change the stance and visual proportions of the car. Sidewall treatment matters too, since blackwalls and whitewalls create very different impressions on a 1932 Auburn.

For local shows, a well-presented Auburn may still be appreciated regardless of small tire-detail differences, but concours-style judging is usually stricter about authenticity. Owners pursuing top-level presentation should verify not only the tire size but also whether blackwall, double whitewall, or wide whitewall is appropriate for the look they want. Event standards can vary, so Auburn marque clubs and specific judging manuals remain the best final authority.

The 1932 Auburn 160A Series is associated here with 700-17 bias-ply tires on 17-inch rims. That construction is fully in keeping with the era, since radial passenger-car fitments had not yet become the American standard. Among current options in that size, blackwall and whitewall-style bias-ply choices are available, but originality still begins with selecting the correct 700-17 size for the 160A chassis.

A 160A owner aiming for a faithful pre-war presentation should use the 700-17 fitment as the baseline and then choose the sidewall style that best suits the restoration theme of the car. Whitewall treatments often accent the formal luxury look many owners want, while blackwalls can suit a more understated appearance. For trim-specific or body-style-specific confirmation, compare the car against period Auburn references and trusted marque specialists.

1932 Auburn tires can be suitable for highway use when they are in good condition, correctly fitted, and used within the capabilities of both the tire and the car. The listed 1932 Auburn products here are bias-ply tires, and no speed ratings are shown in the available size offerings. On a pre-war Auburn, normal highway travel is often limited more by the vehicle's age, braking, steering, suspension, and overall mechanical condition than by modern high-speed expectations.

That means the smart approach is to view highway use as a complete-vehicle question, not just a tire question. Fresh, properly inflated bias-ply tires can serve well for collector driving, but they will not feel like modern radials and should be driven accordingly. Before sustained road use, make sure the Auburn tracks properly, the wheels are true, and the rest of the chassis is ready for the speeds you plan to maintain.

Inflation pressure on a 1932 Auburn should follow the vehicle's factory recommendation when available and the tire maker's rated limits for the specific reproduction tire. Within the listed 700-17 offerings, Firestone products show a maximum load of 1480 pounds at 36 psi, while the Ensign B5 shows 1,901 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are load-and-pressure ratings for those individual tires, not a blanket instruction to run every 1932 Auburn tire at the same pressure.

The practical step is to use the correct size first, then cross-check the vehicle's original guidance against the tire's own specifications. Pre-war cars can respond noticeably to pressure changes in steering feel, ride quality, and tread contact, especially with bias-ply construction. Avoid transferring a pressure figure from 700-17 directly to 550-17, 6.00-17, or 6.50-17 without confirming the correct application for the tire actually fitted to your Auburn.

Before a longer drive in a 1932 Auburn, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and proper inflation, then check that the spare is usable as well. Confirm that the wheels are secure, the valve stems are in good condition, and the car has not developed any flat-spotting or vibration after storage. Tire condition is only one part of the checklist, but it is one of the most visible and important on a pre-war car.

A longer outing also calls for a broader mechanical look at brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, and the general readiness of a car that may spend more time parked than driven. Tall bias-ply tires can hide age-related issues until the car is moving at speed, so a careful inspection before departure saves trouble later. If anything about the Auburn's handling or tire condition feels questionable, sort it out before committing to the drive.