The 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. sits firmly in the great prewar luxury era, when Packard’s twelve-cylinder cars were known for refinement, presence, and long-wheelbase touring character. Tire choice matters on a car like this because the wrong size or sidewall treatment can change both stance and visual balance. This Packard uses a 750-17 bias-ply tire on a 17-inch rim, keeping the fitment rooted in traditional prewar construction. Within that size, there is still meaningful choice in blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall presentations, along with passenger-car and heavier-duty offerings. The right selection depends on whether the goal is restoration-minded appearance, touring use, or careful confirmation of the wheel setup already on the car.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.
The 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. uses one primary tire size: 750-17, a bias-ply fitment for a 17-inch rim. The Packard 12 Cyl. Base uses that same size, so the main decision is not between multiple primary fitments but between sidewall appearance, tire series, and making sure the tire matches the wheel width and intended use of the car.
In a numeric bias-ply size like 750-17, the 750 refers to a nominal section width of about 7.50 inches, while 17 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. On the 1936 Packard 12 Cyl., this is a traditional bias-ply fitment that suits the car’s prewar proportions and period driving character. Available choices include Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA options, with blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall sidewall treatments across series such as Firestone Balloon, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Tornel Classic Truck, and Super Transport. The practical choice comes down to appearance goals, wheel-width compatibility, and whether the car is being set up as a restoration-oriented passenger car or for heavier-duty use.
Fitment is straightforward across the covered 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. range because the available sub-model uses the same primary tire size. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car has not been altered with different wheels or a nonstandard setup over the years.
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1936 Packard 12 Cyl. Base
The 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. Base uses the same 750-17 bias-ply tire size on a 17-inch rim. That keeps selection centered on sidewall style, tire series, and wheel-width compatibility rather than sorting through multiple primary sizes.
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 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. Tires for Sale
Available 750-17 choices span Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA, with blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The product grid is most useful for comparing traditional passenger-car series against heavier-duty truck-style bias-ply options, along with wheel-width and load-spec differences.
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Bias Ply
Firestone Balloon 4.75 Inch Double Whitewall | 750-17
Owners of a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. usually want clarity on the 750-17 fitment, 17-inch rim compatibility, sidewall appearance, and what to inspect before putting a prewar Packard back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.?
The 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. uses a 750-17 tire size. This is a numeric bias-ply fitment mounted on a 17-inch rim, and the covered Base sub-model uses that same primary size.
That makes the first step fairly simple: confirm that the car still has 17-inch wheels and is not running a later wheel conversion. After size is confirmed, the real choice becomes sidewall style, tire series, and matching the tire’s rim-width specification to the actual wheel on the car.
What size rim does a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. use?
The primary tire fitment for the 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. is built around a 17-inch rim. The 750-17 size itself points to that wheel diameter, and the available products for this fitment are all designed for 17-inch applications.
Rim diameter should be confirmed before ordering because a collector car may have had wheels changed at some point in its life. Wheel width matters too, especially since available 750-17 tires cover different rim-width ranges depending on the specific tire series and intended use.
Does the 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. Base use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. Base uses the same 750-17 bias-ply tire size as the core fitment for this vehicle. That keeps primary tire sizing straightforward within the covered sub-model range.
Even with shared size, selection can still vary based on how the car is being presented and driven. A restoration-minded owner may focus on whitewall style, while another owner may be comparing blackwall or heavier-duty offerings and checking that the wheel width matches the chosen tire’s requirements.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 750-17 tire for a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Start with the basics: the correct 750-17 size, bias-ply construction, and a 17-inch wheel. From there, compare the tire’s intended character, whether it is a traditional passenger-car design or a heavier-duty truck-style offering, along with its sidewall treatment and wheel-width specification.
Appearance is especially important on a prewar Packard because sidewall style has a big effect on how the car sits visually. It also helps to confirm load specifications and the actual wheel setup already on the car, since available 750-17 products vary meaningfully in rim-width range and load capacity.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. tires?
The 750-17 fitment for a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. is available in blackwall, double-whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. Those choices give the car a noticeably different visual character even when the tire size stays the same.
Blackwalls tend to give a more understated look, while whitewall treatments create a stronger prewar luxury presentation. Since sidewall appearance is separate from basic fitment, the smart approach is to choose the style that suits the car’s restoration direction while still checking wheel-width compatibility and the tire series itself.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Available 750-17 tires for the 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. come from Firestone, BFGoodrich, Tornel, and STA. Those brands cover both traditional passenger-style bias-ply options and heavier-duty military or truck-oriented designs in the same overall size category.
Brand alone should not be the only deciding factor on a car like this. It is more useful to compare the tire series, sidewall style, load specification where stated, and the wheel-width range so the final choice matches the Packard’s appearance goals and the actual wheels installed on the vehicle.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.?
A period-style starting point for a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. is the correct 750-17 bias-ply size on a 17-inch rim. Within that fitment, traditional passenger-car series such as Firestone Balloon or BFGoodrich Silvertown Classic Bias Ply align more naturally with a restoration-oriented luxury presentation than truck-style alternatives.
The final decision usually comes down to sidewall appearance and how strictly the car is being restored. Owners pursuing high-detail authenticity should compare the chosen tire against marque references, period photography, or other Packard-specific documentation, since correct size alone does not prove a specific sidewall treatment is exact for every car.
Which sidewall style suits a period-style 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.?
A 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. can be presented with blackwall, double-whitewall, or wide whitewall tires in the 750-17 size. On a large prewar luxury car, whitewall styles usually create a more formal and visually rich presentation, while blackwalls look more restrained.
The best choice depends on the look of the car rather than on size alone, because all three styles share the same basic fitment category. Wheel finish, body color, and restoration intent all influence which sidewall treatment looks most appropriate once the correct 17-inch wheel and bias-ply construction are confirmed.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl.?
Yes. A 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. may have had wheel changes, brake updates, suspension work, or other modifications during its long life, and any of those can affect how a 750-17 tire works on the car. Even when the size appears correct, the actual wheel setup still matters.
Careful owners should check wheel diameter, wheel width, and available clearance before selecting a tire, especially if the car has non-original wheels or altered ride height. It also helps to verify steering clearance at full lock and inspect for body or suspension interference before regular road use.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. on new tires?
Inspect the wheels, valve stems, and the overall condition of the suspension and steering before putting a 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. back on the road. The tires should be set up on sound 17-inch wheels, and the car should be checked for proper clearance and any visible rubbing points.
Road readiness on a prewar collector car also includes checking tire pressure, fastener security, and whether the car tracks straight without unusual vibration. A short local test drive is a sensible first step, followed by another inspection for air loss, sidewall contact marks, or any sign that the setup needs adjustment.
How should 750-17 tires on a collector 1936 Packard 12 Cyl. be maintained?
Collector-car tires in 750-17 should be inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and air loss, even if the Packard is driven only occasionally. Low-mileage storage does not stop tires from aging, so appearance alone is not enough to judge condition.
Proper storage helps preserve the tires between drives. Keeping the Packard away from prolonged sunlight, heat, moisture, and ozone sources can reduce premature deterioration, and periodic pressure checks are important because an underinflated vintage tire can change both ride behavior and tread wear on a heavy prewar car.
