Packard 1700 Series Tires

The Packard 1700 Series uses one tire size across the years listed here: 650-16 for both 1938 and 1939. The available products for that size are built around a 16-inch rim, with most listings showing recommended rim widths in the 4.50 to 5.00 inch range and one option listed for 4.00 to 4.50 inch rims.

That makes year identification fairly straightforward, but size alone is not the only decision. A Packard 1700 Series owner should also separate standard passenger-car bias-ply tires from the heavier-duty military and truck-style 650-16 options so the chosen tire matches the car's intended appearance, ride character, and service use.

A 650-16 size on a Packard 1700 Series is a traditional numeric bias-ply designation. The 650 represents a nominal section width of about 6.50 inches, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the products offered for this application, that size is consistently paired with a 16-inch rim.

For a modern buyer, the important takeaway is that 650-16 is not a metric size and should not be compared casually with modern radial sizing without careful measurement. If your Packard 1700 Series still wears original-style wheels, staying with the proper numeric bias-ply size preserves the stance and proportions these late-1930s Packards were designed around.

Most Packard 1700 Series tire choices in 650-16 are bias-ply products, and for traditional passenger-car applications in this type and era, a tube is generally required. One heavier-duty 650-16 listing is specifically marked tubeless, but that is a truck-type product rather than the standard passenger-car style most restorers and collectors would use.

The practical step is to match the tire, the wheel, and the intended use as one package. If your Packard 1700 Series is running original-style wheels and period-type bias-ply passenger tires, plan around tube use and make sure the wheel condition and tube setup are correct before the tires are fitted.

Packard 1700 Series tires in 650-16 are offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, Garfield, Excelsior, Lester, Goodyear, STA, and Tornel. Those brands cover both standard passenger-car bias-ply styles and heavier-duty Military & Truck types within the same overall size.

That broad brand spread gives a Packard 1700 Series owner room to prioritize different goals. Some buyers will focus on a period-correct blackwall or wide whitewall appearance, while others may need a more utility-oriented tread or load rating. The best choice depends on whether the car is being restored for judging, driven on tours, or used in a more work-oriented setting.

Packard 1700 Series tires in 650-16 are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles. The whitewall offerings include several branded variants with different whitewall widths, while the blackwall options span standard passenger-car tires as well as military and truck-style tread patterns.

For a Packard 1700 Series restoration, sidewall choice changes the car's visual character almost as much as wheel trim. A buyer trying to match an original look should compare the tire to period photos, surviving cars, and Packard reference material, while a driver-focused owner may simply choose the sidewall style that best suits the finished car.

Packard 1700 Series tires in 650-16 appear in several distinct series, including Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, Excelsior Bias Ply, Transport, STA Classic Military, Super Traxion, Transport Highway, Tornel Classic Truck, and Firestone Classic Truck. Some are passenger-car bias-ply lines aimed at restored automobiles, while others are truck or military-oriented designs with different tread intent and service character.

That means a Packard 1700 Series owner should choose by use case, not by size alone. A formal restoration or touring car usually points toward the passenger-car bias-ply series, while utility-style treads belong more naturally on specialty applications where a heavier-duty look or working-tire behavior is desired.

A Packard 1700 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, and chemicals that can accelerate rubber aging. Keep the tires properly inflated, clean the sidewalls with mild soap and water only, and avoid letting the car sit for long periods on damp concrete or oil-stained surfaces.

Long-term collector storage is easier on the tires when the car is moved periodically or the load is reduced with proper stands placed under the chassis, not under suspension points that can distort geometry. If the Packard 1700 Series remains parked for months at a time, rotating the tire contact patch helps reduce flat spotting in bias-ply casings.

Tires on a Packard 1700 Series should be inspected before every drive and more carefully at regular intervals even if the car sees very little mileage. On a collector car with bias-ply tires, that means checking inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation, bead condition, valve stems, and any signs that the tube or flap arrangement may be causing trouble.

Low annual mileage can hide age-related deterioration, so occasional visual checks are not enough. A Packard 1700 Series that is used for tours, shows, or seasonal driving benefits from a full once-over at the start of each driving season, especially if the car has spent the winter parked with the full vehicle weight resting on the tires.

A Packard 1700 Series tire should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, bulges, cord exposure, impact damage, or irregular casing shape appear, even if tread depth still looks usable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out, and that is especially true on low-mileage prewar cars that spend much of their time parked or trailered.

The practical rule is to judge a Packard 1700 Series tire by condition and age as much as by tread. If there is any doubt about casing integrity, tube condition, or the history of an older tire, have it examined by a professional familiar with vintage bias-ply tires before trusting it for road use.

The Packard 1700 Series uses 650-16 sizing in the years covered here, but the available replacement choices include several different bias-ply series rather than a single original-equipment specification. Among the options are passenger-car lines such as Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Coker Classic Bias Ply, Garfield Classic Bias Ply, Lester Classic Bias Ply, Deluxe All-Weather, and Excelsior Bias Ply.

For restoration work, that means size is the first requirement and exact brand or tread style is the second. A Packard 1700 Series owner aiming for strict factory accuracy should compare surviving evidence, period photographs, and Packard club resources to determine which series appearance best matches the specific car being restored.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Packard 1700 Series is judged and perceived, because tire size, sidewall style, and tread character strongly influence the car's stance and period presentation. Even when the size is right, a truck-style tread or the wrong sidewall treatment can change the visual impression of a restored late-1930s Packard.

That matters most when the Packard 1700 Series is being prepared for concours display, marque judging, or a high-level restoration where small authenticity details are scrutinized. Matching the tire's overall look to the car's trim level, finish style, and period image can support both judging outcomes and long-term collector appeal.

Packard 1700 Series tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall form, and either can change the historical character of the finished car. The offered whitewall choices vary by brand and width, while blackwalls remain available in both standard passenger-car and more utility-oriented patterns.

The correct restoration choice for a Packard 1700 Series depends on how the individual car was equipped and how closely the owner wants to mirror its original appearance. Period photos, surviving unrestored cars, and Packard marque references are the best guides when choosing between a more formal whitewall presentation and a plainer blackwall look.

A properly selected and properly maintained tire can be suitable for public-road use on a Packard 1700 Series, but the car still operates with prewar design limits and should be driven with that in mind. The available 650-16 offerings include traditional bias-ply passenger tires as well as heavier-duty truck-style options, so safety begins with choosing the type that matches the vehicle and how it will be used.

On the road, a Packard 1700 Series should be driven conservatively and inspected more carefully than a modern car. Tire age, wheel condition, tube setup, steering condition, and brake performance all matter together, because even the correct tire cannot compensate for mechanical problems elsewhere in the chassis.

Before driving a Packard 1700 Series, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, wheel hardware, valve stems, and any sign of air loss or tube trouble. On a prewar Packard, the tire check should also be part of a broader look at steering play, brake response, wheel bearing condition, and whether the car has been sitting long enough to develop flat spotting.

That routine is especially important with bias-ply tires because they can reveal storage-related issues quickly once the car is moving. A short, low-speed shakedown after long storage is a sensible way to let the Packard 1700 Series settle back into service before committing to a longer tour or highway run.

A Packard 1700 Series on original-type bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate speeds appropriate to a late-1930s collector car rather than at modern traffic pace whenever conditions allow. The limiting factors are not only the tire design, but also the age of the vehicle, the road surface, the wheel and brake condition, and the driver's familiarity with bias-ply handling.

In practice, a Packard 1700 Series is happiest when driven smoothly, with generous following distance and gradual steering inputs. If the car has older tires of uncertain age, has been stored for long periods, or carries a heavier-duty tread not chosen for passenger-car ride quality, keeping speeds conservative is the smart approach.