1939 Packard Super 1703 Tires

The 1939 Packard Super 1703 uses a 700-16 tire size. That is a vintage numeric bias-ply fitment, and it is the primary size associated with this Packard model, including the covered Base sub-model.

The practical question is less about choosing between multiple sizes and more about confirming that the car still has the correct 16-inch wheel setup. A restored or modified Packard may have had wheels changed over the years, so it is worth checking wheel diameter, wheel width, and overall clearance before selecting among the available 700-16 tires.

The 1939 Packard Super 1703 uses a 16-inch rim with its 700-16 tire fitment. That 16-inch measurement is the wheel diameter the tire is built to mount on, and it is the key wheel dimension to confirm before ordering.

Rim diameter should match the tire exactly, but wheel width still matters when comparing individual tire options. Several 700-16 choices in this fitment call for a 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range, so checking the actual wheel on the car helps narrow the right tire and avoids surprises with mounting or overall tire shape.

Yes. The 1939 Packard Super 1703 Base uses the same 700-16 bias-ply tire size as the core fitment for this model. There is no separate primary size to sort through for that covered sub-model.

That consistency makes the buying process simpler, but it still helps to confirm what is actually on the car today. Older collector cars are often restored over decades, and wheel changes, commercial-use substitutions, or specialty tires from an earlier owner can alter what is mounted even when the intended fitment remains 700-16.

Start with the correct 700-16 size and make sure the tire matches the Packard’s intended character. For this car, the main variables are bias-ply construction style, sidewall appearance, rim-width compatibility, and whether the tire is a traditional passenger-car design or a more utility-oriented military or truck pattern.

A formal restoration often leans toward a classic wide whitewall, while a more restrained look may favor a blackwall. It also helps to compare the wheel width on the car against the tire’s mounting requirements and think honestly about use, since occasional touring, display use, and a utility-focused setup can point toward different product choices within the same 700-16 size.

The 1939 Packard Super 1703 has 700-16 tire choices in both blackwall and wide whitewall form. Those two sidewall styles create very different visual results even though they share the same primary size and bias-ply construction format.

Wide whitewalls usually suit the formal pre-war luxury presentation many Packard owners want, while blackwalls deliver a plainer and more understated look. The right choice depends on how the car is being finished, the era-specific appearance you are aiming for, and whether the vehicle is restored as a showpiece, a road car, or something in between.

Available 700-16 tires for the 1939 Packard Super 1703 include choices from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, Firestone, Tornel, and STA. Those brands appear across several bias-ply product lines, with both passenger-car and military or truck-style patterns represented in this size.

Brand should be considered alongside the tire’s series, sidewall treatment, and intended use rather than by name alone. A Packard owner selecting for restoration appearance may focus on a classic whitewall passenger tire, while someone evaluating a blackwall utility-style tire should pay closer attention to tread pattern, rim-width specs, and the role the car will actually serve.

A period-style 1939 Packard Super 1703 usually starts with the correct 700-16 bias-ply size and a tire that preserves the tall, formal look associated with pre-war American luxury cars. Within that size, the strongest visual decision is often between a wide whitewall presentation and a more understated blackwall.

For many restorations, the choice comes down to how the car is documented, trimmed, and presented rather than to fitment alone. When exact originality matters, compare the tire choice against marque-club guidance, period photography, or restoration records so the sidewall treatment and overall look support the specific Packard you are finishing.

Yes, correct tire fitment matters because the tire has a major effect on both stance and authenticity of presentation. Using the proper 700-16 bias-ply size helps the 1939 Packard Super 1703 maintain the proportions and visual balance expected of a restored pre-war luxury car.

Fitment also affects practical details beyond appearance. The wrong wheel diameter, an unsuitable rim width, or a utility-style tread chosen without considering the car’s restoration theme can change how the Packard sits and looks. Even on a car driven sparingly, the tire should suit the wheel, the body clearance, and the restoration goal.

Yes. A 1939 Packard Super 1703 may be intended for 700-16 tires on 16-inch wheels, but aftermarket wheels, brake conversions, suspension changes, or body alterations can affect what actually works on the car today. Even small setup changes can alter clearance or wheel compatibility.

The safest approach is to measure the wheels currently on the vehicle and inspect clearance at the fenders, steering components, and suspension before selecting a tire. That matters especially on an older car that may have passed through several owners, where modifications done years earlier are not always obvious at first glance.

Before road use, inspect the wheels for damage or corrosion, confirm the tire is mounted on the correct 16-inch rim, and look over valve stems, lug hardware, and overall tire seating. A collector car also deserves a quick review of steering and suspension condition before fresh tires are put into service.

Once the Packard is on the ground, check inflation, verify that the tires clear the body and chassis through steering travel, and recheck for any rubbing after a short drive. A new set of tires cannot compensate for worn mechanical parts, so the whole wheel-and-tire system should be treated as part of the inspection.

Collector-car tires should be kept clean, properly inflated, and inspected regularly for cracks, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and slow air loss. On a 1939 Packard Super 1703, long storage periods can be just as important as mileage because age and environment affect a low-use bias-ply tire over time.

Storage conditions matter, so it helps to keep the car away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, standing moisture, and ozone-producing equipment. Moving the Packard occasionally, monitoring pressure before each outing, and giving the tires a careful visual inspection before longer drives will do more for road readiness than mileage alone suggests.