Packard 845 Series Tires

Packard 845 Series uses one tire size in this range: 700-19 for 1931. All five available products are built around that same size, and each one uses a 19-inch rim diameter. Some of the 700-19 offerings also specify a recommended rim width range of 3.75 to 4.00 inches, which is worth checking on the actual wheel.

That simplicity helps, but the right choice still depends on how the car is equipped and how you want it to present. A Packard 845 Series restored for formal judging may call for a different sidewall look than a touring car, so verify the wheel diameter first, then compare sidewall style and series type to the car’s restoration goal.

On a Packard 845 Series, 700-19 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 700 portion denotes a nominal section width of about 7.00 inches, while 19 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. That makes it a period numeric sizing format rather than a modern metric or alphanumeric code.

Understanding that code matters because it guides both fit and authenticity. A modern-looking replacement size may alter the car’s stance, steering feel, and visual balance, so owners restoring or preserving a Packard 845 Series usually start with the original numeric format and then choose the tread series and sidewall style that best suits the car.

Packard 845 Series uses bias-ply tires in 700-19, and a tube is required with this type of fitment. Every available product in this size is listed as bias ply, with no radial alternatives in the range shown here. That makes tube use part of the normal installation approach for Packard 845 Series tires in this size.

Inner tubes are not an afterthought on a car of this era. When fitting tires to a Packard 845 Series, the condition of the rim, flap, and tube setup should be checked carefully so the complete assembly supports reliable operation and preserves the correct pre-war driving character.

Packard 845 Series tires are available with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles in 700-19. Blackwall appears across multiple offerings, while Firestone Balloon versions add both a 4.25-inch whitewall and a 4.25-inch double whitewall option. Those choices let owners match the car’s finish level and presentation more closely.

Sidewall style can strongly affect the visual character of a Packard 845 Series, especially on a large luxury car where the tire is prominent in profile. Owners pursuing strict period presentation should compare the sidewall treatment to factory literature, period photographs, and marque-club guidance before choosing between blackwall and whitewall treatments.

Packard 845 Series tires in 700-19 are available from Firestone and Lester. Firestone appears in both Balloon and Classic Bias Ply offerings, while Lester is represented by its Classic Bias Ply line. That gives Packard 845 Series owners more than one brand path within the same original size.

Brand choice often comes down to the kind of restoration or driving experience you want. Some owners prioritize a balloon-style period look, while others focus on a more general classic bias-ply presentation, so it helps to compare brand, series, and sidewall style together instead of treating size alone as the deciding factor.

Packard 845 Series tires are offered in three distinct series: Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Lester Classic Bias Ply. All are bias-ply 700-19 tires for 19-inch rims, but the series names reflect different period-style construction families and visual character. Firestone Balloon also appears in several sidewall treatments, including blackwall and whitewall variations.

That means the decision is not only about size, but also about the kind of historic look you want the Packard 845 Series to carry. Owners building a highly era-conscious car often weigh balloon-style presentation against a more general classic bias-ply look, then use sidewall style to fine-tune the final appearance.

Packard 845 Series should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space with the tires protected from sunlight, ozone sources, and prolonged contact with oil or solvents. Because this is a large pre-war car on bias-ply tires, stable storage conditions matter for both the rubber and the casing shape. Clean floors, proper inflation, and avoiding long exposure to heat are basic essentials.

If the car sits for extended periods, move it occasionally or support it in a way that reduces flat spotting and casing strain. Packard 845 Series owners who keep the car on display or in seasonal storage should also check inflation regularly, since an underinflated bias-ply tire can age poorly even when the car is hardly driven.

Tires on a Packard 845 Series should be inspected before each drive and given a more thorough review at regular intervals during the season. On a pre-war car using bias-ply tires and tubes, inspection should include air pressure, visible cracking, tread condition, sidewall distortion, valve stems, and any change in how the car sits on the tires.

That routine matters because collector cars often accumulate age faster than mileage. A Packard 845 Series may see only occasional use, but age, storage conditions, and tube-related issues can still affect roadworthiness, so regular visual checks and periodic hands-on inspection by someone familiar with vintage tire service are prudent.

Tires on a Packard 845 Series should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, separation, repeated air loss, or tube-related issues appear, even if the tread still looks serviceable. On collector vehicles, time and storage conditions often matter more than miles driven. Pre-war bias-ply tires deserve especially cautious evaluation because deterioration can be subtle before it becomes serious.

A Packard 845 Series that is driven infrequently can still outlive the safe service life of its tires. If there is any doubt about rubber age or structural condition, have the tires and tubes inspected by a vintage tire specialist and treat appearance alone as an unreliable guide to continued road use.

Packard 845 Series uses 700-19 in the available range here, with offerings in Firestone Balloon, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and Lester Classic Bias Ply series. That confirms the original-size format, but it also shows that more than one period-style tire family exists within that size. The car’s exact original presentation may depend on how a specific Packard 845 Series was delivered or later restored.

Owners pursuing strict originality should use 700-19 as the starting point, then compare tread family and sidewall treatment with period Packard literature, surviving original cars, and marque-club references. That approach helps narrow the choice between balloon-style and other classic bias-ply presentations without drifting away from the correct size.

Correct tire fitment can absolutely affect both judging and perceived value on a Packard 845 Series. Size, sidewall style, and the overall period character of the tire all contribute to whether the car presents as an authentic early-1930s Packard. Even when the size is correct, an inappropriate sidewall treatment or visibly modern-looking substitute can distract from an otherwise careful restoration.

For owners preparing a Packard 845 Series for concours or marque events, tire selection should be treated as part of the restoration plan rather than a final accessory decision. Marque clubs, period photos, and authentic restoration references are the best way to confirm whether blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation suits the specific car.

Packard 845 Series tires are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall form within the 700-19 size. Any of those may suit a restoration depending on the exact look being pursued, the car’s trim level, and how closely the owner wants to follow a specific period appearance. On a luxury pre-war Packard, sidewall style has a major effect on the car’s finished visual stance.

Choosing the correct sidewall for a Packard 845 Series restoration is best done by matching the tire to the car’s target presentation rather than by preference alone. A formal, concours-minded restoration may point one way, while a preserved touring car may point another, so period Packard references and marque expertise remain the best final check.

A properly fitted new bias-ply tire in the correct 700-19 size can be appropriate for public-road use on a Packard 845 Series when the car itself is mechanically sound. Tire condition is only one part of the equation on a 1931 luxury automobile, since brakes, steering, wheel condition, suspension, and tube installation all affect safety just as much as tread and sidewall condition.

Road use should match the age and design of the Packard 845 Series rather than modern traffic expectations. Owners should think in terms of careful collector-car driving, moderate speeds, generous following distance, and routine mechanical inspection, especially if the car is newly restored or has been sitting for long periods.

Before driving a Packard 845 Series, check tire inflation, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and whether the car sits evenly on all four tires. Because the car uses 700-19 bias-ply tires with tubes, it is also wise to watch for any signs of slow air loss or movement at the rim that could point to installation or tube issues.

A pre-drive routine should extend beyond the tires to the rest of the car. Packard 845 Series owners are best served by treating every outing as a vintage-car exercise: inspect the wheels and brakes, make sure the steering feels normal, and avoid assuming that a low-mileage collector car is automatically ready for road use.

Appropriate speed for a Packard 845 Series on period-style 700-19 bias-ply tires should be conservative and matched to the car’s age, condition, and road environment. Even with correctly sized new tires, a 1931 Packard was engineered for a different era of highway use, and its overall driving limits are set by the complete vehicle, not just the tires.

In practice, Packard 845 Series owners should favor smooth secondary-road driving and avoid sustained fast running simply because modern traffic allows it. A measured pace reduces stress on the tires, tubes, wheels, and chassis while preserving the calm, dignified touring character that suits a large luxury Packard of this period.