Packard 1707 & 1708 Series Tires

The Packard 1707 & 1708 Series in this model group uses 825-16 for the 1939 production year. The available tires are built for 16-inch rims, with a listed rim width range of 5.00 to 6.00 inches. Both products are bias-ply BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires, and both carry a maximum load rating of 2030 pounds at 46 psi.

That makes size selection straightforward, but wheel confirmation still matters on an older restoration. Measure the actual rim diameter and check the wheel width before choosing a tire, especially if the car has had wheels changed during past restoration work. Once the wheel dimensions are confirmed, the remaining choice is mainly sidewall appearance rather than size.

On a Packard 1707 & 1708 Series tire, 825-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 825 indicates the nominal section width with the decimal omitted, and the 16 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. It is an older sizing system used on many prewar American cars and differs from later metric or alphanumeric radial markings.

Understanding that format helps prevent ordering a modern-looking substitute that may not suit the car visually or physically. For this Packard, 825-16 points you toward a proper 16-inch bias-ply application with the correct tall prewar profile. Confirm the wheel size on the car itself and then choose the sidewall style that best matches your restoration goals.

Yes, the Packard 1707 & 1708 Series fitment shown here is a bias-ply application in an older numeric size, and a tube is required. Both listed 825-16 products are bias-ply tires rather than modern tubeless radial designs. That tube-type setup is consistent with the period construction expected on a 1939 senior Packard.

Tube selection should match the tire size and the wheel being used, and the condition of the rim matters just as much as the tire itself. A clean, correctly prepared wheel helps prevent chafing, slow leaks, and mounting problems. If the car has been restored many years ago, inspect the existing tubes and rim strips rather than assuming they are still serviceable.

For a 1939 Packard 1707 & 1708 Series in this model group, the listed tire size is 825-16 on a 16-inch rim. The products shown for that size also specify a 5.00 to 6.00 inch rim width range, which gives you another useful checkpoint. Because only one size is listed here, the main fitment issue is verifying that the car still has the proper wheel diameter and width.

Start with the wheel, not the old tire. Older tires can be mismatched, worn beyond legibility, or replaced decades ago with whatever was available at the time. Measure the rim, review restoration records if you have them, and compare the sidewall style on the car with the appearance you want before replacing the full set.

Packard 1707 & 1708 Series tires in 825-16 are available here in two sidewall styles: blackwall and wide whitewall. Both are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires with the same size, construction, load capacity, and rim fitment range. The visual difference is the sidewall treatment rather than a change in dimensions or wheel compatibility.

That means your choice comes down to restoration character and presentation. A blackwall can suit a more understated or factory-minded appearance, while a 4.625-inch wide whitewall creates the fuller luxury look many owners want on a senior prewar Packard. Match the sidewall style across all four wheels, and include the spare if visual consistency matters to the car’s overall presentation.

The available tires for the Packard 1707 & 1708 Series in this fitment are from BFGoodrich. Both listed options are part of the Silvertown Classic Bias Ply line and are offered in the same 825-16 size. The difference between them is sidewall appearance, with one blackwall and one wide whitewall version.

Since there is one brand in this application, the decision is less about comparing manufacturers and more about choosing the right look for the car. Review the wheel diameter, rim width, and intended presentation of the Packard before deciding. Owners building for concours, touring, or period-style display often make their choice based on sidewall style first.

The Packard 1707 & 1708 Series products listed here are all from one tire series: BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply. That means there is no split here between radial and bias-ply, or between multiple prewar construction families. Both available tires share the same basic series construction and fitment, with appearance separated only by blackwall versus wide whitewall styling.

For the buyer, that simplifies selection because the series decision has already been narrowed to a single period-style bias-ply family. The practical question becomes whether your Packard restoration should wear a more formal blackwall or a more visually prominent whitewall. Once that aesthetic decision is made, confirm the wheel dimensions and install a matched set with proper tubes.

A Packard 1707 & 1708 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, heaters, and ozone sources. Bias-ply collector tires do best when they are clean, properly inflated, and not left sitting in contamination from oil, solvents, or standing water. Long static storage under the full weight of a large prewar car can also encourage flat spotting.

Owners who store a Packard for long stretches should move the car occasionally, maintain inflation, and consider load-sharing practices appropriate to the storage setup. Even when the car is indoors, the environment matters as much as mileage. Good storage habits preserve sidewall condition, reduce stress on the casing, and help the tires remain presentable as part of the overall restoration.

Tires on a Packard 1707 & 1708 Series should be inspected before every drive and more thoroughly at regular intervals during the season. On a heavy prewar car running bias-ply tires and tubes, visual checks for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, air loss, and uneven wear are especially important. The spare should be inspected as carefully as the road tires.

Collector cars often accumulate little mileage, which can hide age-related issues until the car is finally driven. A garage-kept tire can still degrade from time, prior underinflation, or wheel condition. Make inspection part of the car’s normal prep routine, including a look at valve stems, wheel hardware, and inflation pressure, so small issues are caught before they become roadside problems.

Tires on a Packard 1707 & 1708 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, deformation, repeated air loss, or casing damage appear, even if the tread still looks deep. Collector tires often age out before they wear out, particularly on cars that are driven lightly and stored for long periods. Bias-ply construction and tube-type service make regular age-based evaluation especially important on a large prewar Packard.

Do not judge serviceability by tread depth alone. A handsome sidewall can still hide internal deterioration, and an older restoration may be carrying tires far past their sensible road-use life. If there is any doubt about age or structural condition, have the tires evaluated by a specialist familiar with collector vehicles and replace them as a set when consistent performance and appearance matter.

The Packard 1707 & 1708 Series fitment shown here is 825-16, and the available replacement products are BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply tires. The listing supports a period-style bias-ply presentation for this 1939 Packard model group, but it does not narrow originality to a single sidewall treatment beyond the available blackwall and wide whitewall options. Both remain visually appropriate prewar-style choices depending on the car’s restoration direction.

Owners pursuing strict factory authenticity should compare the car against surviving photos, sales literature, judging manuals, and marque-club references. Senior Packards are often restored to a very high standard, so small details such as sidewall style can matter. Start with the correct 825-16 size and then align the appearance choice with the historical presentation you are trying to recreate.

Yes, correct tire fitment can affect both judging and perceived value on a Packard 1707 & 1708 Series. Size, construction type, sidewall style, and overall visual proportion all influence whether the car looks historically right. On a senior prewar Packard, tires are especially visible because they contribute so much to stance, road presence, and the finished look of the wheel openings.

A car wearing the right 825-16 bias-ply tire with an era-appropriate sidewall treatment will usually present better than one fitted with a mismatched modern substitute. Judges and knowledgeable buyers often notice tire profile and sidewall character immediately. If the car is being restored for competition or premium sale, align the tire choice with the standards used by Packard experts and marque organizations.

Packard 1707 & 1708 Series tires in this fitment are available in blackwall and wide whitewall form. Either can suit a prewar restoration depending on the exact presentation, trim, and historical direction of the car. Both listed choices share the same 825-16 size and bias-ply construction, so the decision is about appearance rather than basic fit.

A restorer aiming for a restrained formal look may prefer blackwalls, while a car intended to show the fuller luxury character associated with senior late-1930s Packards may look best on wide whitewalls. Period photos of the specific car type are the best guide. Keep the sidewall choice consistent across the whole set so the finished restoration looks deliberate and historically coherent.

A properly fitted new bias-ply tire in the correct 825-16 size can be suitable for road use on a Packard 1707 & 1708 Series when the rest of the car is equally sound. Tire safety on a heavy 1939 luxury car depends not only on the tires, but also on wheel condition, tube condition, alignment, steering integrity, brakes, and suspension health. Public-road use should be approached as a whole-vehicle readiness question.

That matters because a prewar Packard can feel stable and impressive while still carrying hidden age-related issues elsewhere in the chassis. Before regular driving, inspect or service the complete rolling and braking system rather than treating tire replacement as the only safety step. A correct new tire improves the foundation, but the car still needs to be mechanically ready for modern traffic conditions.

Before driving a Packard 1707 & 1708 Series, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, lug security, and whether all tires match in size and construction. On a bias-ply 825-16 setup, it is also wise to confirm that the tubes are holding air consistently and that the rims are in sound condition. The spare should be checked too, since it may be decades old even when unused.

Beyond the tires, pre-drive checks should include brakes, steering free play, fluid levels, and wheel bearing condition. Older luxury cars can mask problems with their substantial weight and smooth ride. A careful inspection routine reduces the chance of discovering a preventable issue once the car is already moving, especially if the Packard is only driven occasionally.

A Packard 1707 & 1708 Series on period-style bias-ply tires should be driven at moderate, conservative speeds that respect both the tire design and the overall capability of a prewar chassis. Even with fresh tires, the car was engineered for a different road environment, with different braking distances, steering response, and suspension behavior than a modern vehicle. Tire choice supports the car’s character, but it does not modernize it.

The practical approach is to drive the Packard smoothly, leave generous stopping distance, and avoid sustained high-speed use unless the car has been carefully evaluated for that purpose. Heat, load, road surface, and mechanical condition all matter. Owners who treat these cars as touring antiques rather than modern highway machines generally get the safest and most satisfying results.