The 1936 Packard 1400 Series came from a period when Packard balanced luxury, engineering confidence, and strong road manners in the upper American market. For many owners today, that means tire choice is about preserving the car’s prewar character as much as keeping it properly supported on the road. The 1936 Packard 1400 Series uses a 700-17 bias-ply tire on a 17-inch rim, which keeps the fitment squarely in traditional prewar territory. Available choices include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall presentations across Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 offerings. The real decision is matching the car’s intended appearance and use while confirming the wheel setup remains true to the original size.
Which Tire Size Is Right for The 1936 Packard 1400 Series
The 1936 Packard 1400 Series uses one primary tire size: 700-17 in bias-ply construction on a 17-inch rim. Because the fitment is straightforward, the main choice is not between multiple primary sizes, but between sidewall style, tire series, and the kind of restoration-oriented presentation or road use you want from that correct-size tire.
A 700-17 size uses a vintage numeric bias-ply format in which the leading number refers to the tire’s nominal section width in inches, with 7.00 inches represented as 700, and the final number identifies a 17-inch rim. On a 1936 Packard 1400 Series, this keeps the tire selection in the proper prewar bias-ply category and maintains the traditional look and wheel relationship expected for the car. Within this size, available options include Firestone and Ensign products with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles. Choosing among them comes down to the appearance you want, the wheel width you are working with, and how closely the car is being kept to a period-style presentation.
Tire fitment is straightforward across the covered 1936 Packard 1400 Series sub-models, with the same primary size used throughout. Checking the exact sub-model still helps confirm that the car remains on its intended wheel and tire setup before selecting a replacement.
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1936 Packard 1400 Series 8 Cyl.
The 1936 Packard 1400 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-17 bias-ply fitment as the model line overall. That makes tire selection more about choosing the right sidewall style and tire series for the car’s presentation while confirming the 17-inch wheel setup is still in place.
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 1400 Series Tires for Sale
Available 700-17 choices for the 1936 Packard 1400 Series include Firestone and Ensign bias-ply tires in Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5 series, with blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall treatments. Rim-width compatibility also varies slightly within the product lineup.
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Bias Ply
Firestone Balloon 4.25 Inch Double Whitewall | 700-17
Common questions for the 1936 Packard 1400 Series usually center on the 700-17 tire size, 17-inch rim fitment, bias-ply construction, sidewall appearance choices, and the checks worth making before putting a prewar Packard back on the road.
Tire Size & Fitment
What tire size fits a 1936 Packard 1400 Series?
The 1936 Packard 1400 Series uses a 700-17 tire size in bias-ply construction. That is the primary fitment for the model and it places the car in a traditional prewar tire format built around a 17-inch wheel.
That makes the next decision less about size and more about choosing the right version of 700-17 for the car. Sidewall style, tire series, rim-width compatibility, and the condition of the wheels all matter, especially on a collector vehicle that may have been altered, stored for long periods, or fitted with replacement wheels years ago.
What size rim does a 1936 Packard 1400 Series use?
The 1936 Packard 1400 Series uses a 17-inch rim with its 700-17 tire fitment. Product offerings in this size are built around that 17-inch wheel diameter, with some variation in the wheel-width ranges they suit best.
Rim diameter is the first thing to confirm before ordering tires, but wheel width is also important on a car of this era. A 17-inch wheel that is too narrow, too wide, or not true can affect how a bias-ply tire seats and presents, so it is worth measuring the wheels on the car rather than assuming they are unchanged.
Does the 1936 Packard 1400 Series 8 Cyl. use the same tire size?
Yes. The 1936 Packard 1400 Series 8 Cyl. uses the same 700-17 bias-ply tire size as the model line overall. That keeps sub-model fitment simple and allows the owner to focus on selecting the right tire style within the correct size.
Even with shared fitment, it still helps to inspect the actual wheel setup before replacing tires. Older collector cars sometimes carry mixed wheels, outdated replacements, or long-ago changes that are not obvious at a glance, and confirming the car still has matching 17-inch rims avoids a preventable fitment mistake.
Choosing the Right Tire
What should I consider when choosing a 700-17 tire for a 1936 Packard 1400 Series?
Start with the correct 700-17 size, then compare construction, sidewall style, tire series, and wheel-width suitability. For the 1936 Packard 1400 Series, the available options stay within bias-ply construction, but they differ in appearance and in the wheel-width ranges they are intended to work with.
That means the right choice depends on how the car is being used and presented. A touring-focused driver may prioritize wheel compatibility and general road readiness, while a restoration-oriented owner may care more about whether a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall better matches the Packard’s overall visual character.
What sidewall styles are available for 1936 Packard 1400 Series tires?
The 700-17 tire choices for a 1936 Packard 1400 Series include blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall sidewall styles. Those options allow the same primary size to be tailored toward a more understated driver presentation or a more formal prewar luxury appearance.
Sidewall style changes the look of the car far more than many owners expect, especially on a large prewar Packard with prominent fenders and visible tire profile. The best choice depends on the appearance being pursued, and owners concerned with exact historical presentation should compare their choice with marque-specific references and period photos.
What brands offer tires for the 1936 Packard 1400 Series?
Firestone and Ensign both offer 700-17 tires for the 1936 Packard 1400 Series. The available product lines include Firestone Balloon and Ensign B5, giving owners a choice of traditional bias-ply offerings rather than a single one-brand solution.
Brand alone should not be the only deciding factor. It is worth comparing the sidewall treatment you want, the rim-width range each tire suits, and practical details such as load figures and overall vehicle use, especially if the Packard is driven regularly rather than displayed or used only for occasional parade-speed outings.
Restoration & Appearance
Which tire should I choose for a period-style 1936 Packard 1400 Series?
A period-style 1936 Packard 1400 Series starts with the correct 700-17 bias-ply fitment. From there, the choice usually comes down to whether the car looks right to you with a blackwall, wide whitewall, or double-whitewall presentation and which tire series best suits the kind of restoration you are pursuing.
Because appearance standards can vary between surviving cars, restored examples, and event judging expectations, exact originality should be checked against Packard-specific references rather than assumed from tire size alone. Even so, staying with the proper bias-ply format preserves the overall stance and visual character expected of a mid-1930s Packard.
Does correct tire fitment matter for a 1936 Packard 1400 Series restoration?
Yes. Correct tire fitment matters on a 1936 Packard 1400 Series because tire size and construction have a major effect on stance, wheel appearance, and the way the car fills its fenders. A proper 700-17 bias-ply fitment supports the prewar look far better than an improvised modern-size substitute.
Appearance is only part of the equation. Using the right size also helps the owner avoid wheel-diameter mismatches and clearance surprises that can come from old modifications or replacement wheels. On a restoration-minded Packard, the tire should support both the visual presentation and the actual mechanical setup of the car.
Fitment, Maintenance & Road Use
Can modifications affect tire fitment on a 1936 Packard 1400 Series?
Yes. Modifications can affect tire fitment on a 1936 Packard 1400 Series even when the correct original tire size is known. Replacement wheels, brake work, suspension changes, ride-height alterations, or body and fender repairs can all change the space available for a 700-17 tire.
That is why it helps to inspect the actual car instead of relying only on catalog fitment. Wheel diameter, wheel width, and basic clearance at the fender, steering, and suspension should all be checked, particularly on a prewar car that may have had many decades of repairs, parts swapping, or long-term storage between tire changes.
What should I inspect before driving a 1936 Packard 1400 Series on new tires?
Before road use, inspect the wheels for correct diameter and sound condition, confirm the tires are properly seated, and check for adequate clearance through steering travel and suspension movement. A 1936 Packard 1400 Series should also be checked for obvious alignment issues, loose components, and any signs that an old wheel or chassis problem remains unresolved.
New tires cannot compensate for weak rims, worn steering parts, or neglected suspension hardware. It also makes sense to confirm air pressure, look over the sidewalls after the first few miles, and monitor for unusual pull, vibration, or rubbing, especially if the car is returning to service after long inactivity.
How should 700-17 tires on a collector 1936 Packard 1400 Series be maintained?
700-17 tires on a collector 1936 Packard 1400 Series should be kept properly inflated, inspected regularly for cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, and protected from long exposure to heat, sunlight, moisture, and ozone sources. Collector cars that see limited use still need routine tire checks because age can matter as much as mileage.
Bias-ply tires also benefit from periodic inspection of wheel condition and valve hardware, since an older car’s storage history can hide problems that are not obvious until the vehicle is back on the road. A brief visual check before each drive and a more thorough inspection before longer trips is a sensible routine.
