Packard 1701 Series Tires

Packard 1701 Series uses one listed tire size: 700-16 for 1938. All available products tied to this fitment use a 16-inch rim, and several specify an appropriate rim width range of 4.50 to 5.50 inches. The product mix includes classic passenger-car bias-ply tires in blackwall and wide whitewall form, along with military or truck-style bias-ply alternatives in the same nominal size.

That means the size question is straightforward, but the final choice still depends on how the car is being restored and driven. A formal Packard restoration will usually call for a passenger-car tread and sidewall style, while a heavier-duty NDT, NDCC, or truck-pattern tire is a different visual and functional direction. Start by confirming the wheel measures 16 inches across the bead seat and that the car has not been altered to a different size during its life.

On Packard 1701 Series, 700-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 700 indicates a nominal section width of about 7.00 inches, while the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. In the available products for this size, the tires are bias-ply constructions and fit 16-inch rims, with several listings also calling out a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range.

For a collector-car owner, that code matters because it tells you both the general tire profile and the wheel size the tire is built around. It does not tell you whether the tire is a blackwall, wide whitewall, military pattern, or passenger tread, so those details still need to be matched to the car’s intended appearance and use. If you are trying to preserve a 1938 Packard look, the sidewall style and tread design are almost as important as the size itself.

Packard 1701 Series uses bias-ply tires in the listed 700-16 size, and a tube is required. That applies across the available passenger-car and military or truck-style offerings tied to this fitment. Even though the sidewall and tread patterns vary, the construction type remains bias-ply throughout the listed range.

Inner tube choice is part of the complete fitment, not an afterthought. The tube should match the tire size and the valve stem arrangement of the wheel, and the condition of the rim itself matters because rust, pitting, or burrs can damage a new tube quickly. On a restored Packard, it is good practice to inspect the inside of every wheel before mounting the new tires so the tube, flap if used, and tire all work together properly.

Packard 1701 Series tires are offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles within the 700-16 size. The available passenger-car selections include blackwall and wide whitewall bias-ply tires, while the military and truck-oriented 700-16 options are blackwall only. That gives owners a choice between a more formal period luxury appearance and a more utilitarian presentation.

Sidewall style should match the restoration goal of the specific Packard 1701 Series. A wide whitewall usually suits a late-1930s luxury-car look, while a blackwall can be appropriate for a more restrained period presentation or for a car that is not being restored for show emphasis. The important point is to choose the sidewall style after the correct size is settled, not the other way around.

Packard 1701 Series tires in 700-16 are available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA. Those brands cover a mix of classic passenger-car bias-ply tires, whitewall options, and heavier-duty military or truck-style designs. Firestone appears in both passenger-car and military-pattern offerings, while BFGoodrich and Lester support the more traditional collector-car side of the fitment.

Brand choice usually comes down to the look you want and the role the car will play. A show-oriented Packard 1701 Series may lead you toward a classic bias-ply tire with period-style sidewalls, while a car used for display moves, loading, or unusual service might point you toward a sturdier blackwall pattern. Once the correct size and wheel diameter are confirmed, compare the tread style, sidewall treatment, and overall visual character rather than choosing by brand name alone.

Packard 1701 Series products in 700-16 appear across several series, including Lester Classic Bias Ply, Traction Mileage, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Military, Tornel Classic Truck, and Military NDT. Those series separate into two broad groups: traditional passenger-car bias-ply lines and more utilitarian military or truck-oriented designs. The differences are mainly in tread pattern, sidewall styling, load-focused design, and the overall visual impression on the car.

For most restored Packard 1701 Series cars, a classic passenger-car bias-ply series will be the more historically sympathetic route, especially if the car is being presented as a luxury automobile rather than as a functional utility vehicle. The military and truck series can share the same nominal size yet give the car a much heavier-duty appearance. When comparing series, think in terms of restoration character first, then operating needs, because the same 700-16 code covers distinctly different personalities.

Packard 1701 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, ozone sources, and petroleum contamination. Tires on collector cars age from time, environment, and load exposure as much as from mileage, especially when the car sits for long periods. Maintaining correct inflation and keeping the tires clean helps preserve both the casing and the sidewall appearance.

If the car will remain parked for an extended time, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces long-term flat spotting and concentrated load on one section of the tire. Many owners also use tire cradles or slightly overinflate within safe limits for storage, then reset pressure before driving. A Packard of this era is heavy enough that storage habits make a real difference in how smoothly the tires perform when the car returns to the road.

Tires on a Packard 1701 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular service intervals, even if the car covers very few miles. Collector-car tires can develop age-related cracking, sidewall weathering, tread separation concerns, tube issues, or pressure loss while the vehicle is simply sitting. Bias-ply tires also deserve close attention for uneven wear, casing shape changes, and any sign of impact damage.

A useful routine is to check inflation, sidewalls, tread surface, and valve stems before moving the car, then inspect the wheels and inner areas whenever the tires are off. If the Packard is shown more often than it is driven, inspections matter even more because low annual mileage can hide developing age problems. Catching issues early protects the tire, the wheel, and the bodywork of a valuable prewar car.

Tires on a Packard 1701 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, casing hardening, persistent vibration, puncture history, sidewall damage, or structural concerns appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often age out long before they wear out. A tire that looks presentable from a few feet away may still be unsuitable once a close inspection reveals drying rubber, internal deterioration, or distortion.

Replacement decisions should be driven by condition and age rather than mileage alone. On a heavy prewar Packard, an aging bias-ply tire can compromise ride quality and place extra stress on the chassis if ignored. If a car has sat for years, assume the tires need careful evaluation before any meaningful road use, because elapsed time is one of the biggest factors in vintage tire safety and reliability.

Packard 1701 Series is covered here with the 700-16 size for 1938, and the available replacements are all bias-ply tires in that fitment. The present choices include classic passenger-car bias-ply series as well as heavier-duty military or truck-style lines that share the same nominal size. That means the size itself is clear, but the historically correct tread and sidewall treatment for a specific car should be matched to its restoration standard.

For authenticity work, the smartest approach is to use the size as the fixed point and then compare the sidewall style and tread character to factory literature, period photos, and Packard club guidance. A luxury Packard generally looks most natural on a passenger-car style tire rather than a military or truck pattern. Owners pursuing formal judging should verify the expected appearance of the sidewall before settling on the final tire choice.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect the presentation, judging results, and perceived value of a Packard 1701 Series. On a prominent prewar luxury car, the wrong tire profile, tread character, or sidewall treatment can stand out immediately even when the size itself is technically usable. Judges and experienced collectors often notice whether the tire supports the period look of the car as a whole.

That does not always mean there is only one acceptable visual answer, but it does mean the chosen tire should align with the car’s restoration philosophy. A touring driver may accept a simpler blackwall presentation, while a high-level restoration may need a more specific whitewall look. If the car is headed for marque judging, review Packard club standards and period reference material before mounting the final set.

Packard 1701 Series tires in the listed 700-16 size are available in blackwall and wide whitewall forms. Both sidewall styles can suit late-1930s cars depending on the exact restoration objective, but they create very different visual effects. The passenger-car product range is where the whitewall options appear, while the military and truck-oriented offerings remain blackwall.

For a luxury Packard restoration, wide whitewalls often deliver the fuller period presence many owners want, especially on a car with formal trim and brightwork. Blackwalls can still be appropriate where a more restrained factory look, a driver-focused build, or a non-show presentation is the goal. The key is consistency: the sidewall style should support the car’s body style, trim level, and intended era-correct appearance rather than being chosen only for contrast.

A properly fitted new production tire in the correct 700-16 size can be suitable for public-road use on a Packard 1701 Series when the tire, tube, wheel, brakes, steering, and suspension are all in sound condition. The available products for this car are bias-ply designs, so they should be driven with the manners and limits of period construction in mind. Heavier-duty military or truck patterns may also behave differently from passenger-car tread designs.

Road safety with a prewar Packard depends on the entire vehicle, not just the tire itself. Before regular driving, have the wheels inspected, set inflation correctly for the chosen tire, and make sure the chassis is aligned and free of worn steering components. A freshly restored car that still has old tubes, rusty rims, or poor front-end geometry can feel unstable even when the tires are new.

Before driving a Packard 1701 Series, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any sign of tube-related leakage or uneven stance. Because the listed tires are bias-ply, the car should also be checked for flat spotting after storage and for any pulling or shimmy once it begins moving. If the car wears a military or truck-style tire, inspect for correct seating and uniform wear just as carefully as with the passenger-car tires.

A short walk-around and a careful first mile are good habits with any collector Packard. Listen for thumping, feel for vibration through the steering, and stop if the car wanders or develops a sudden pull. Those symptoms can point to pressure loss, wheel issues, tube trouble, or a chassis problem that should be corrected before the car is driven farther.

Packard 1701 Series should be driven at speeds appropriate to a heavy late-1930s car running bias-ply tires, even when the tires are new. Bias-ply construction delivers a different feel from modern radials, with more sensitivity to road crown, tramlining, and steering correction at speed. The safest approach is to treat the car as a prewar automobile first and a modern traffic participant second.

In practice, that means building speed gradually, leaving extra stopping distance, and avoiding sustained high-speed use unless the entire car has been thoroughly sorted. The tire may be new, but the chassis design, braking capability, steering geometry, and overall road behavior remain period in character. A Packard 1701 Series is happiest when driven smoothly and deliberately rather than pushed to modern expectations.