Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series Tires
Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series automobiles sit in the final prewar years, when Packard was building large, prestigious American cars with the road manners and visual presence buyers still prize today. The 1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series belongs to an era when tire choice affects not just appearance, but steering feel, ride quality, and restoration correctness. Tire selection here is more straightforward than on many earlier cars because the year range uses one listed size, but construction type and sidewall style still matter. Before choosing tires for a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, confirm that the car is riding on the correct 16-inch wheels and appropriate rim width.
Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series Tire Size Guide
Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series uses one listed tire size across its 1937 production span: 825-16. This is a numeric bias-ply size, with 825 indicating a nominal section width of about 8.25 inches and 16 indicating a 16-inch rim diameter. The available tires fit 16-inch wheels with a 5.00 to 6.00 inch rim width range and are offered in BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply form. Blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles are both available, and because this is a bias-ply application, a tube is required.
Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series Tires by Year
The year listing below shows the tire size used for the 1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series and helps narrow the correct fitment by production year. This application uses a 16-inch wheel with one listed size, so the main check is that the car still carries the proper rim diameter and width. These listings are especially useful when comparing a restored car against its current wheels and tires.
1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series
- 825-16
Best Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series Tires for Sale
Two BFGoodrich products are available for Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series fitment in 825-16, including blackwall and wide whitewall versions. Confirm the tire size and 16-inch rim diameter on the car before selecting between sidewall styles.
825-16 Products
These are the available products for 825-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAQ below focuses on what matters most for Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series fitment: decoding the 825-16 size, confirming 16-inch wheels, choosing between blackwall and wide whitewall styles, and caring for bias-ply tires on a collector car.
Size Basics & Fitment
The listed tire size for the 1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series is 825-16. The available products use a 16-inch rim diameter, fit rims from 5.00 to 6.00 inches wide, and are offered as bias-ply tires in both blackwall and wide whitewall form.
That makes the first fitment check fairly simple: verify that your Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series still has 16-inch wheels and that the rim width falls within the stated range. If the car has been modified over the years, measure the wheel before choosing a tire so the replacement matches both the wheel and the character of a prewar Packard.
An 825-16 size on a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series is a traditional numeric bias-ply designation. The 825 indicates a nominal section width of about 8.25 inches, while the 16 indicates the rim diameter in inches.
That sizing format is typical of American cars from the late 1930s and should not be confused with later metric radial markings. When replacing tires on a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, the code gives you the basic width and wheel diameter, but you should also confirm rim width and stay with the proper bias-ply construction for an authentic look and feel.
The listed Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series application uses a 16-inch rim diameter. The available 825-16 tires are specified for 16-inch wheels with a compatible rim width range of 5.00 to 6.00 inches.
Wheel diameter is the non-negotiable starting point in tire selection because a 16-inch tire only fits a 16-inch wheel. On a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series that has seen decades of restoration or parts swapping, checking the actual wheel stamping or measuring the rim helps prevent choosing a tire that is correct in appearance but wrong for the wheel.
The Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series application shown here uses bias-ply tires, and a tube is required. That requirement follows the construction type used in this fitment and the period wheel design these cars typically use.
Using the proper tube matters for air retention and reliable service on a collector car that may spend long periods parked between drives. When fitting new tires to a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, tube condition should be treated as part of the tire installation rather than as an afterthought.
Buying the Right Tire
Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series tires in 825-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles. Both are offered in the same BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series and share the same basic fitment dimensions.
The right choice depends on how your Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series is restored and presented. A blackwall usually suits a more restrained or utilitarian appearance, while a wide whitewall gives the car a more formal prewar look that many owners prefer on senior Packards.
The available Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series tires listed here are from BFGoodrich. Both products are in the 825-16 size and use the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply series, with one blackwall option and one 4.625 inch whitewall option.
Because the brand count is narrow for this application, the key decision is less about manufacturer comparison and more about selecting the sidewall style that matches your car. Owners of a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series should focus on correct size, proper wheel dimensions, and the visual presentation appropriate to the restoration.
A 1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series uses 825-16 tires on 16-inch wheels, with the available tires fitting rims from 5.00 to 6.00 inches wide. The main choices within that fitment are blackwall or wide whitewall, both in bias-ply construction.
Start by reading the existing tire size, then verify the wheel diameter and rim width on the car itself. If your Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series has been restored, checking period photos, factory literature, or marque-club guidance can help you decide whether the blackwall or wide whitewall presentation is the better match.
Maintenance & Longevity
A Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Clean floors, proper inflation, and minimizing prolonged weight on one contact patch all help preserve collector tires.
If the car will sit for long periods, moving it slightly from time to time or using appropriate supports can reduce flat-spotting. Prewar bias-ply tires on a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series benefit from careful storage because low annual mileage often means age, not tread wear, becomes the limiting factor.
Tires on a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series should be visually inspected before each drive and given a more thorough inspection at regular service intervals during the year. Check inflation, sidewall condition, tread surface, valve area, and any signs of uneven wear or age-related cracking.
Collector cars often spend more time parked than driven, so problems can develop without accumulating many miles. A Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series also deserves periodic inspection of tube-equipped assemblies, since air loss, wheel condition, and mounting issues can affect drivability long before the tread appears worn out.
Tires on a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series should be replaced when they show age cracking, hardening, impact damage, persistent air loss, casing deformation, or other signs that the structure is no longer trustworthy, even if tread depth still looks usable. On collector cars, visible tread can outlast the safe service life of the tire itself.
That is especially important on a heavy prewar car, where old rubber and old tubes can compromise ride and control. If a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series has sat for years or carries tires of uncertain age, a specialist inspection is wise before any meaningful road use.
Restoration & Authenticity
The listed fitment for the 1937 Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series is 825-16, and the available replacement tires are bias-ply BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply products. Sidewall choices include blackwall and wide whitewall, which gives restorers options within the correct listed size.
For a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series being restored for high-level authenticity, the final decision should follow original factory literature, surviving photos, and marque-club references for the specific car. That is particularly helpful when deciding whether blackwall or whitewall presentation best matches the way the car would have been equipped or delivered.
Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both the judged presentation and the perceived value of a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series. Size, construction type, and sidewall appearance all influence whether the car looks properly finished for its period.
On a senior prewar Packard, judges and knowledgeable buyers notice details like whether the tire profile and sidewall treatment suit the era of the car. Matching the Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series to the proper 825-16 size and an era-appropriate sidewall style helps preserve the visual authority these cars are known for.
Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series tires are available here in blackwall and wide whitewall styles, and either can be appropriate depending on how the individual car is being restored. Both sidewall options are offered in the same bias-ply series and correct listed size.
A restorer should match the sidewall style to the car's trim level, presentation, and restoration goal rather than choosing on appearance alone. For a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, period photographs, original sales materials, and marque specialists can help settle whether a more formal whitewall look or a plainer blackwall finish is the better historical choice.
Safety & Road Use
A properly fitted new bias-ply tire in the correct 825-16 size can be suitable for public-road use on a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series when the rest of the car is mechanically sound. Safety depends on far more than tread alone, especially on a heavy prewar automobile with period steering, brakes, suspension, and tube-type tire practice.
That means the tire should be treated as one part of the overall roadworthiness of the car. Before regular use, a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series should have its wheel condition, alignment, brake system, and inflation practices reviewed so the tire can perform as intended within the limits of a 1937 touring car.
Before driving a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, check tire inflation, sidewalls, tread condition, valve stems, and the general security of each wheel and hubcap. Because this fitment uses bias-ply tires and tubes, any loss of pressure or visible deterioration deserves attention before the car moves.
A sensible pre-drive routine also includes a quick look at brake response, steering free play, and fluid leaks, since tire performance on a prewar Packard depends on the whole chassis working together. Even short drives in a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series are better approached with the habits of a careful custodian rather than a modern commuter.
A Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series running period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at speeds appropriate to the car's age, condition, and mechanical readiness rather than pushed like a modern automobile. Even with correct new tires, the overall driving experience remains defined by 1930s chassis design, braking distances, and steering behavior.
Owners generally get the best results by keeping speeds moderate and allowing generous margins for stopping and lane changes. On a Packard 1506, 1507 & 1508 Series, smooth inputs and conservative road use do more to preserve both safety and the car itself than any attempt to chase modern highway behavior.