The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. sits in the upper tier of prewar American motoring, where smooth multi-cylinder power, long-wheelbase luxury, and formal styling all shaped the driving experience. Cars of this class place a premium on tire appearance as much as fitment, because the tires are such a visible part of the car’s stance. The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. uses a 750-17 bias-ply tire on a 17-inch rim. Within that size, there are traditional blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall choices, along with several bias-ply series. The right selection depends on whether the goal is formal restoration character, touring use, or simply confirming the wheel setup already on the car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.
The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. uses one primary tire size: 750-17, a bias-ply fitment for a 17-inch rim. The Base sub-model uses that same size, so the main decision is not which size fits, but which version of 750-17 best suits the car’s wheel dimensions, appearance, and intended use.
In the 750-17 size, the 7.50 portion refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, while 17 identifies the wheel diameter. This is a traditional numeric bias-ply format, which matches the period construction style expected on a prewar luxury car such as the 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. Available choices include Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA offerings, with blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall treatments depending on the tire series. That makes 750-17 less a question of size selection and more a matter of choosing the right look, load capability, and wheel compatibility for the specific car.
Fitment is straightforward across the covered 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. sub-models. The tire size remains consistent, so the key step is confirming wheel details and choosing the right 750-17 tire style for the car’s restoration or road-use goals.
1
1934 Packard 12 Cyl. Base
The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. Base uses the same 750-17 bias-ply fitment found across this application. That keeps size selection simple and shifts the decision toward sidewall appearance, tire series, and confirming that the wheel width matches the version of 750-17 being considered.
The tire sizes listed on this page assume factory-standard vehicle configuration. The following modifications may affect tire fitment and are not reflected in this guide:
Suspension changes (lowering, lift kits, spring replacements)
Body alterations (fender modifications, custom bodywork)
If your vehicle has been modified from factory specifications, verify tire clearance before purchase.
Best 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. Tires for Sale
Available 750-17 options span Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA, with traditional bias-ply construction across several series. Buyers can compare blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall presentations, along with meaningful differences in rim-width specifications and load-oriented tire character.
Showing 6 of 10
Bias Ply
Firestone Balloon 4.75 Inch Double Whitewall | 750-17
These 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. tire FAQs focus on 750-17 fitment, 17-inch rim considerations, sidewall and brand choices, restoration-oriented appearance, and the checks worth making before putting a prewar Packard back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.?
The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. uses a 750-17 bias-ply tire. That is the primary fitment for this application, and the covered Base sub-model uses the same size, so there is no separate sub-model tire-size split to sort through on this page.
The practical decision is choosing the right 750-17 tire within the available product range. Before ordering, confirm that the car still has 17-inch wheels and check wheel width, since some 750-17 tires are built for narrower rims while others are intended for wider truck-style applications.
What size rim does a 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. use?
The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. uses a 17-inch rim with its 750-17 tire fitment. That rim diameter is the critical wheel measurement because the tire bead must match the wheel diameter exactly before any other sizing or appearance considerations come into play.
Rim diameter alone is not the whole story on a prewar vehicle. It also helps to verify actual wheel width and confirm that the car still has its intended wheels, especially if it has been restored, modified, or assembled from long-stored parts over time.
Does the 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. Base uses the same 750-17 bias-ply tire size as the overall application shown here. That keeps fitment straightforward and means the main differences are found in the tire choices available within that size rather than in the size itself.
Even with shared fitment, the right tire can still vary by the way the car is finished and driven. A formal restoration may call for a whitewall presentation, while a more restrained look may favor blackwall, and wheel-width compatibility still needs to be checked.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 750-17 tire for a 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Start with the basics: the tire must be 750-17 and built for a 17-inch rim. From there, compare the tire’s bias-ply construction, intended character, sidewall treatment, and wheel-width specification so the tire suits both the Packard’s setup and the way the car will be used.
Appearance matters on a car of this era, so blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall options can change the visual impression significantly. It also helps to separate passenger-car style tires from heavier truck-oriented 750-17 options, since they can differ in load focus and rim-width requirements.
What sidewall styles are available for 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. tires?
The 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. has 750-17 tire choices in blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Those sidewall treatments create very different visual results, even though they share the same basic size and bias-ply construction format.
A blackwall keeps the presentation understated, while double-whitewall and wide whitewall options give the car a more formal prewar look. For a restoration-minded purchase, it is worth matching the sidewall style to the car’s finish and historical direction rather than selecting on size alone.
What brands offer tires for the 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Available 750-17 tires for the 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. come from Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA. Those choices cover traditional passenger-car styled bias-ply tires as well as heavier-duty offerings in the same nominal size.
Brand selection should be considered alongside tire series, sidewall style, and wheel-width compatibility. Firestone and BFGoodrich options are especially relevant for traditional prewar appearance, while Tornel and STA choices may appeal more when a load-oriented or utility-focused 750-17 is being evaluated.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.?
A period-style 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. usually starts with the correct 750-17 bias-ply size and a sidewall treatment that suits the car’s presentation. Firestone Balloon and BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply options fit that traditional direction more naturally than truck-oriented tires in the same size.
The final choice depends on how formal or understated the restoration is meant to look. When exact originality matters, compare the tire’s sidewall style and overall presentation with marque references, period photographs, or restoration documentation rather than assuming any one whitewall or blackwall treatment is automatically correct.
How does tire construction affect the appearance of a restored 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Tire construction has a strong effect on how a restored 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. looks because bias-ply tires carry the visual character most people associate with prewar American luxury cars. In this application, 750-17 is offered in bias-ply form, which preserves that traditional stance and sidewall presence.
Construction also influences which sidewall styles are available, including blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall versions. On a car with full fenders, exposed wheels, and strong period styling, those details become highly visible, so the tire should support the restoration’s overall visual intent as well as fitment.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1934 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Yes. Even though the primary size is 750-17, fitment can change if a 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. has aftermarket wheels, different wheel widths, brake updates, suspension work, or body alterations. Any of those changes can affect how a tire seats on the wheel or clears surrounding components.
A vintage car should always be checked as it sits today rather than assumed to match its original configuration. Measuring wheel diameter and width, then inspecting fender, steering, and suspension clearance, helps prevent choosing a tire that matches the nominal size but not the actual vehicle setup.
What should I inspect before driving a 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for condition and correct size, make sure the new 750-17 tires are properly mounted, and confirm inflation, valve hardware, and overall clearance. A careful walkaround should also include checking for rubbing at full steering lock and through normal suspension travel.
On a prewar Packard, the tires are only one part of the readiness check. It is equally important to inspect the rest of the running gear, especially if the car has been stored for long periods, because steering, brakes, wheel bearings, and suspension condition all affect how safely the car uses its new tires.
How should 750-17 tires on a collector 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. be maintained?
Collector-car 750-17 tires should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and air loss, and protected from long exposure to sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources. Regular movement and occasional position checks also help prevent long-term flat spotting during storage.
Because many prewar cars are driven infrequently, tire age and storage condition deserve as much attention as tread depth. A 1934 Packard 12 Cyl. that looks fine at rest can still have tires that need closer evaluation before touring, especially after seasonal storage or long periods off the road.