Packard 840 Series Tires

Packard 840 Series uses 700-19 for the 1931 model year. All available tires in this fitment are bias-ply designs built for a 19-inch rim, with some products specifying a 3.75 to 4.00 inch rim width. That makes the basic fitment straightforward: one size, one rim diameter, and multiple period-style tire choices within that size.

The practical decision is less about finding the correct size and more about matching the tire to the car’s intended presentation. A formal restoration may call for a different sidewall look than a regularly toured car, so verify the wheel diameter on the car and then choose the version of 700-19 that best suits its period appearance and use.

On Packard 840 Series, 700-19 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 700 indicates a nominal 7.00-inch section width, and the 19 indicates the wheel diameter in inches. This is an older sizing convention typical of prewar American cars, and it differs from later alphanumeric and modern metric tire markings.

Understanding that code matters because the 19-inch figure is the wheel size the tire fits, not the tire’s outside diameter. If a Packard 840 Series has replacement wheels or has been apart during restoration, check the actual rim before selecting a tire so the size code and the wheel diameter agree.

Packard 840 Series uses a 19-inch rim with its 700-19 tire size. Several available products also specify a recommended rim width of 3.75 to 4.00 inches, which is useful when checking an unrestored wheel or confirming a rebuilt wheel set. There is no year-to-year rim diameter change within this model group.

That means wheel confirmation is mainly a safeguard against later substitutions rather than a production split. If the car has been modified, stored with mixed parts, or restored from incomplete pieces, measure the wheel and compare it to the tire specification before moving on to sidewall style and brand selection.

Packard 840 Series should be fitted with inner tubes when using its available 700-19 bias-ply tires. The current offerings in this fitment are all bias-ply products, and that aligns with normal prewar tire practice. On a car from this era, tube use is part of proper fitment rather than an optional extra.

Tube choice should match the tire size and wheel condition, especially on a collector car that may sit for long periods between drives. When preparing a Packard 840 Series for road use, inspect the rim, flap and tube arrangement, and valve stem area carefully so the complete assembly is suited to the wheel as well as the tire.

Packard 840 Series tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall form within the 700-19 size. Those options allow the owner to choose between a more restrained appearance and a more formal prewar presentation. All are offered within bias-ply constructions suited to the period character of the car.

For a preservation-minded Packard 840 Series, sidewall choice affects the car’s visual stance almost as much as wheel finish or hubcap detail. Owners restoring a specific historical appearance should compare the sidewall style on the car against period photos, factory literature, or Packard club guidance before settling on the final look.

Packard 840 Series tires are available from Firestone and Lester in the 700-19 size. Within those offerings, the series include Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Lester Classic Bias Ply. That gives owners a choice between established vintage-style lines while staying within the correct basic size and construction type.

Brand choice usually comes down to the appearance and character you want from the finished car. A Packard 840 Series intended for judged display may call for a different visual emphasis than one prepared for occasional touring, so compare tread and sidewall presentation after confirming that the size and wheel dimensions are right.

Packard 840 Series is offered in Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Lester Classic Bias Ply series within the 700-19 size. Firestone Balloon appears in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions, while the classic bias-ply series offerings provide additional period-style bias-ply choices. All remain within the same basic 19-inch prewar fitment rather than representing a radial-versus-bias split.

For an owner, the choice between series is usually about period look, casing character, and restoration emphasis rather than a change in wheel diameter or modern construction type. If the goal is to preserve the Packard 840 Series’ early-1930s character, compare the series alongside the sidewall treatment that best matches the car’s intended final presentation.

Packard 840 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, ozone sources, and petroleum products. Bias-ply tires on a heavy prewar car can take a set if left standing in one position for long periods. Clean, stable storage conditions matter as much as tread depth on a collector car that sees only occasional use.

If a Packard 840 Series will sit for weeks or months, move it periodically or support it in a way that reduces long-term flat spotting and stress on the casing. Keep inflation consistent, inspect the sidewalls before each outing, and avoid letting an otherwise sound-looking prewar tire spend years carrying the full weight of an unmoved car.

Tires on a Packard 840 Series should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check at regular intervals even when the car is not being used. On a prewar bias-ply application, the key points are inflation, sidewall cracking, tread separation signs, bead condition, and the state of the tube-equipped wheel assembly.

Collector cars often age their tires through time and storage rather than mileage, so infrequent use should not be treated as light use. A Packard 840 Series that appears ready for a short local drive can still have age-related tire concerns, making a close visual inspection and periodic professional evaluation part of routine ownership.

Tires on a Packard 840 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, vibration, casing distortion, or any sign of structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks deep. Prewar bias-ply tires can age out long before they wear out. Tread depth alone is not a reliable guide on a car that spends much of its life parked or displayed.

A Packard 840 Series used for tours, club events, or road demonstrations deserves a conservative approach to tire age and condition. If there is any doubt about a tire’s history, storage life, or internal condition, have it evaluated by a specialist familiar with vintage tire construction before trusting it for anything more than static display.

Packard 840 Series is represented here with a 700-19 prewar bias-ply fitment, and the available series include Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Lester Classic Bias Ply. Those series reflect the kind of period-style construction and appearance associated with early-1930s luxury cars. The size itself is the key starting point for maintaining an authentic stance and wheel relationship.

Owners chasing factory-level accuracy should use the 700-19 size as the baseline, then compare sidewall treatment and series choice against Packard literature, surviving original cars, and marque-club judging guidance. On a Packard 840 Series, authenticity usually comes from getting the size, profile, and overall visual character right rather than focusing only on brand name.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect how a Packard 840 Series is viewed in both judging and the collector market. Size, sidewall style, and period-appropriate construction all influence whether the car looks properly finished for its era. On a prominent prewar luxury model, an obviously incorrect tire profile can disrupt the entire visual balance of the restoration.

For that reason, owners should treat tires as part of the restoration plan rather than a final convenience purchase. A Packard 840 Series prepared for judging benefits from checking accepted marque standards, period photos, and club expertise so the tire size and sidewall presentation support the quality of the rest of the car.

Packard 840 Series tires are offered in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall versions in 700-19. Any of those can suit an early-1930s luxury car depending on the specific look being restored, with blackwall giving a restrained appearance and whitewall variations delivering a more formal period presentation. The correct choice depends on how the individual car was equipped and how it is being restored.

A careful restoration should compare the Packard 840 Series against period photos, coachwork style, trim level, and owner-club references before settling on sidewall color. Sidewall style is highly visible on a tall 19-inch tire, so choosing the right one has a major effect on the stance and authenticity of the finished car.

Bias-ply tires in the correct 700-19 size can be appropriate for public-road use on a Packard 840 Series when they are properly fitted, inflated, and matched to a mechanically sound car. That said, a 1931 Packard remains a prewar automobile with braking, steering, and suspension characteristics far removed from modern traffic expectations. Tire condition is only one part of road safety.

A sensible owner should treat road use as occasional, measured driving rather than routine modern commuting. Before taking a Packard 840 Series into traffic, make sure the wheels, tubes, alignment, brakes, and steering system have all been checked to the same standard as the tires themselves.

Before driving a Packard 840 Series, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, valve stems, wheel security, and any sign of uneven wear or casing distortion. Because the car uses tube-type prewar bias-ply tires, the condition of the complete wheel-and-tube assembly matters, not just the outer tread. A quick walkaround is useful, but a hands-on inspection is better.

It also makes sense to think beyond the tires themselves. A Packard 840 Series should have its brakes, steering play, wheel bearings, and suspension examined regularly, because even a correctly fitted tire cannot compensate for mechanical issues that change how the car tracks, stops, or reacts at speed.

A Packard 840 Series on period-style 700-19 bias-ply tires is best driven at conservative speeds that respect both the tire construction and the design limits of a 1931 automobile. Even when the tires are new, the driving experience remains distinctly prewar, with slower steering response and greater sensitivity to road surface and tracking. Comfortable touring pace is more appropriate than sustained high-speed use.

The right approach is to let the car, road, and conditions set the pace rather than trying to keep up with modern freeway traffic. Owners who use a Packard 840 Series for local events, tours, and secondary-road driving will usually get the most enjoyable and mechanically sympathetic results from a moderate-speed approach.