1935 Auburn Tire Fitment Guide

1935 Auburn vehicles use five sizes across two model families: the 51 Series uses 650-16 and 700-16, while the 53 Series uses 550-17, 6.25-16, and 600-16. All five are bias-ply sizes, but they do not all share the same rim diameter. The 51 Series sizes mount on 16-inch rims, the 53 Series includes both 16-inch and 17-inch fitments, and listed rim-width guidance appears on some sizes, including 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-16, 4.50 to 5.50 inches for 700-16, and 4.00 to 4.50 inches for 600-16.

That means year and make alone are not enough to choose a tire for a 1935 Auburn. Start by confirming whether your car is a 51 Series or 53 Series, then verify the wheel diameter already on the car before narrowing the choice by sidewall style or brand. On a prewar Auburn, wheel changes over the decades are not unusual, so the safest approach is to compare the current wheel and tire markings against the intended series fitment before ordering.

On a 1935 Auburn, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The first number is the nominal section width designation used in period sizing, and the second number is the wheel diameter in inches, so a 650-16 mounts on a 16-inch rim. For 1935 Auburn applications, that size belongs to the 51 Series and appears in blackwall and wide whitewall versions from several brands.

Numeric prewar sizing does not read like a modern metric tire, so the most important takeaway is the wheel diameter and the fact that the size itself is part of the car's authentic fitment language. If your 1935 Auburn is a 51 Series and already wears 16-inch wheels, 650-16 is one of the correct places to focus. After that, the choice becomes visual and presentation-oriented rather than a switch to a different construction type.

No, 1935 Auburn models do not all use the same tire size. The 51 Series uses 650-16 and 700-16, while the 53 Series uses 550-17, 6.25-16, and 600-16. That split matters because the 53 Series spans both 16-inch and 17-inch wheel fitments, so the model family changes the basic size selection rather than just the brand or sidewall treatment.

For a buyer, that makes model identification the first step in the process. If you are still sorting out the car's exact series, use body tags, registration records, and marque references before choosing a tire size. Once the series is confirmed, the size list narrows quickly and the next decisions become much simpler, especially if you are trying to match a restoration's visual style.

1935 Auburn tires are available in several period-appropriate sidewall styles depending on size. The 650-16 and 700-16 selections include blackwall and wide whitewall choices, 550-17 adds double-whitewall alongside blackwall and wide whitewall, and 600-16 includes blackwall and wide whitewall options. All of these are bias-ply tires, which keeps the overall look in line with what a mid-1930s Auburn would have worn in its era.

Sidewall style can change the car's presentation dramatically even when the size stays the same. Blackwalls usually give a more restrained, technical look, while wide whitewalls emphasize the luxury and show-car personality many Auburn owners want. If originality standards matter for your specific restoration or judging class, compare the sidewall treatment to period photos and consult Auburn marque specialists before making the final call.

Several brands cover 1935 Auburn fitments, depending on size. In 650-16, choices include BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield. In 700-16, the listed brands are Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. In 550-17, BFGoodrich is represented, while 600-16 includes BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Avon, and Firestone. That gives Auburn owners a mix of traditional American-brand presentation and specialized vintage-tire offerings.

Brand choice on a prewar Auburn often comes down to the visual look you want, the sidewall style available in your size, and how closely you want the finished car to echo period character. It is worth deciding on the size first and then comparing the brand families available inside that size, because the strongest brand spread appears in some fitments and is much narrower in others.

For 1935 Auburn applications in 600-16, Avon Turbospeed and Firestone Classic Bias Ply differ in the way they are marked and in some of their published specifications. The Avon offering appears as 600H16 93H, carries an H speed rating with a 130 mph ceiling, lists a maximum load of 1,433 pounds, and weighs 24 pounds. The Firestone 3.25 Inch Whitewall is marked 600-16, lists a maximum load of 1,400 pounds at 32 psi, fits 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims, and also weighs 24 pounds.

Those differences matter most if you are comparing how modernized the markings are versus how traditional the tire looks on the car. Firestone leans into classic sidewall presentation, while the Avon entry brings a published speed rating into the picture. Either way, the tire still needs to match the correct 1935 Auburn series and wheel diameter before you weigh those secondary specification differences.

Published rim-width guidance for 1935 Auburn tire sizes varies by size. The 650-16 size is paired with 4.50 to 5.00 inch rims on the listed products, the 700-16 size is paired with 4.50 to 5.50 inch rims, and the 600-16 size is paired with 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims. The 550-17 and 6.25-16 listings here do not add a rim-width range to compare against those sizes.

That makes the actual wheel measurement worth checking before you settle on a specific tire, especially on a prewar car that may have had wheel changes or mixed parts over the years. Matching the size code alone is not the whole job. If your wheel falls near the edge of a listed range, verify the exact product's fitment guidance rather than assuming every tire in that nominal size behaves the same way.

The listed 1935 Auburn tire products are bias-ply offerings, but the size markings shown here do not consistently identify tube-type or tubeless construction with TT or TL designations. On a car from 1935, tube use is commonly part of the original-style wheel and tire setup, especially with prewar rim designs and bias-ply construction. The exact requirement still needs to be matched to the wheel you are using and the sidewall marking of the specific tire selected.

That matters because tube decisions are driven by the combination of tire and wheel, not by the vehicle year alone. If your Auburn retains original-style wheels, confirm tube requirements before mounting tires and make sure the valve hardware, flap needs if applicable, and stem fit are all correct for the rim. Treat tube fitment as a setup step to verify, not an assumption to carry from one product to the next.

A stored 1935 Auburn should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that can accelerate sidewall aging. Because 1935 Auburn tires are bias-ply, they are more prone to developing temporary flat spotting during long static periods than a modern radial would be. Clean, dry floors and stable temperature conditions are much better for long-term tire health than damp concrete and fluctuating heat.

If the car will sit for extended periods, maintain inflation, move it periodically, or use stands correctly if the storage plan calls for taking weight off the tires. The goal is to avoid one contact patch carrying the load in the same place for months at a time. A prewar luxury car is heavy enough that storage habits show up quickly in ride quality and sidewall condition when driving season returns.

On a 1935 Auburn, tire life is usually determined more by age, storage conditions, and maintenance than by mileage. Collector cars often see limited annual use, so a tire can look acceptable while still aging out internally. As a practical rule, tires should be evaluated closely once they are five to seven years old, and replacement becomes a serious consideration around ten years from the date code even if tread wear is still light.

That is especially important on a prewar car because the consequences of a tire failure can be amplified by older suspension, braking, and steering design. Check the date code on every tire, including the spare, and do not let low mileage create false confidence. If the car has been displayed more than driven, age and environment still count heavily in the decision.

Tires on a 1935 Auburn should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look closely for sidewall cracking, weather checking near the bead, tread separation signs, punctures, unusual wear, and pressure loss. Because many prewar cars run tube-based style setups, it is also wise to pay attention to valve stem condition and any slow leaks that might suggest service is needed before the car is driven at road speed.

Frequent inspection matters because collector cars often spend long stretches parked, and problems can develop between outings rather than during them. A quick walkaround before departure catches most issues early. On a car like a 1935 Auburn, that simple habit protects both the vehicle and the driver by making tire condition part of the same routine as checking fluids, brakes, and lights.

A 1935 Auburn 51 Series would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the listed 51 Series sizes are 650-16 and 700-16. Those sizes reflect the period-correct construction and sizing language expected on a mid-1930s American luxury car. Original-equipment branding could vary by market, supplier arrangement, and the exact car, so the key authenticity points are the correct size family, the proper bias-ply construction, and an era-appropriate sidewall style.

For a restoration, that means starting with the exact series and wheel diameter before worrying about brand preference. If your car is being prepared for serious judging, compare surviving factory literature, period photography, and marque-club guidance to the tire you intend to use. A 51 Series restored with the right construction and visual character will usually present more convincingly than one wearing a size or sidewall treatment from the wrong fitment family.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1935 Auburn because judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts notice the overall stance, sidewall treatment, and whether the construction matches the period. On a car from 1935, the expected baseline is bias-ply construction in the proper numeric size for the exact series. A mismatched wheel diameter, the wrong size family, or a sidewall style that does not suit the restoration theme can stand out immediately.

Even outside formal judging, tire fitment strongly affects how authentic the car looks in profile. Auburn styling is dramatic enough that proportions matter, and an incorrect tire can upset that balance. If the car will appear at marque events, use club standards and event rules to decide how strict you need to be, especially when choosing between blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall treatments.

In 650-16 for the 1935 Auburn, BFGoodrich and Garfield are both offered as bias-ply options with a listed maximum load of 1,580 pounds at 32 psi and a 4.50 to 5.00 inch rim-width range. The visible distinction in the listed examples is sidewall presentation: the BFGoodrich example shown is a 3.75 inch whitewall, while the Garfield example is a Zig Zag Tread wide whitewall. Both are 16-inch fitments for the 51 Series.

That means the comparison is less about basic fitment and more about appearance and brand character. If your goal is a specific period visual impression, tread styling and whitewall treatment can matter as much as the size itself on a prewar Auburn. Once you know 650-16 is the correct fitment for your car, those details become the meaningful differences to compare.

1935 Auburn tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition, but they remain bias-ply tires and should be driven with the manners of a prewar car in mind. Speed ratings shown in these fitments vary by product, including L-rated examples in 700-16 with a 75 mph ceiling and H-rated examples in 600-16 with a 130 mph ceiling. Those ratings describe the tire's marked capability, not the overall capability of a 1935 Auburn as a complete vehicle.

In real use, the car's brakes, steering geometry, suspension condition, and general mechanical freshness usually matter more than tire speed potential at normal highway speeds. A well-sorted Auburn on fresh, correctly sized tires is a very different proposition from one on aged rubber and old chassis components. Treat the tire as one safety system inside a much larger pre-drive readiness picture.

Inflation pressure for 1935 Auburn tires should be matched to the exact size and product you are using, not borrowed from another Auburn size just because the wheel diameter is similar. The listed examples include 650-16 at 1,580 pounds at 32 psi, 700-16 at figures including 1,800 pounds at 36 psi and 1,900 pounds at 36 psi, and 600-16 at 1,400 pounds at 32 psi with one Avon example listed at 1,433 pounds. Those are product ratings, not universal vehicle settings for every Auburn fitment.

Use the vehicle's original literature as your starting point for factory-type operating pressures, then compare that guidance with the specific reproduction tire's published rating and intended load. Do not transfer a 700-16 pressure number to a 600-16 or 650-16 application. On a collector car, getting pressure right affects ride, steering feel, tread wear, and the visual stance of the car all at once.

Before a longer drive in a 1935 Auburn, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and correct pressure, and do the same for the spare. Pay close attention to valve stems and any sign of a slow leak, especially if the wheel setup uses tubes. A prewar car should also have its broader mechanical basics checked, including brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, cooling system condition, and fluid levels.

Longer drives reward preparation more than luck in a car of this age. A thorough inspection lets you catch tire and chassis issues while still at home rather than on the roadside. If the Auburn has been sitting, give the tires extra attention during the first few miles as they round back out and come up to normal operating feel after storage.