1946 Packard Clipper Tires

A 1946 Packard Clipper uses either 6.50-15 or 700-15 bias-ply tires, depending on the sub-model. The Clipper 6 and Clipper 8 use 6.50-15, while the Clipper Super 8 uses 700-15. Both sizes are built around a 15-inch rim, so the difference is in the tire size assigned to each version of the car rather than a change in wheel diameter.

The practical step is identifying the exact sub-model before choosing a tire. Cars that have been restored over many decades can pick up replacement wheels or mixed components, so it helps to confirm the wheel diameter and compare the size now on the car to the proper Packard Clipper fitment before ordering.

The 1946 Packard Clipper uses a 15-inch rim with both of its primary tire sizes. That applies whether the car takes the 6.50-15 fitment used on the Clipper 6 and Clipper 8 or the 700-15 fitment used on the Clipper Super 8. The key distinction is the tire size assigned to the sub-model, not a different rim diameter.

Rim diameter is only the first check on a collector car. Wheel width, wheel condition, and any past changes to the car’s wheels should also be reviewed, especially if the Clipper has had replacement rims installed at some point or is no longer wearing the same type of tires it used during an earlier restoration.

No. The 1946 Packard Clipper line uses two different tire sizes across its sub-models. The Clipper 6 and Clipper 8 share 6.50-15 bias-ply tires, while the Clipper Super 8 uses 700-15 bias-ply tires. All of them use 15-inch rims, but the size itself changes with the specific Packard Clipper version.

That means the sub-model name matters before comparing brands or sidewall styles. A buyer looking at the wrong size can end up with the right rim diameter but the wrong overall fitment direction for the car, so the door is not just open to appearance differences but to a basic size mismatch as well.

Start by confirming that the car is a 1946 Packard Clipper Super 8, since 700-15 does not apply to every Clipper sub-model. From there, compare the available bias-ply choices by intended use, sidewall style, tire series, and brand. In 700-15, options include classic passenger-style tires as well as more utilitarian military, traction, and transport-oriented selections.

The best choice depends on how the car is meant to look and drive. A wide whitewall creates a very different presentation than a blackwall, and a passenger-car bias-ply tire creates a different impression than a heavier-duty commercial-style series. Wheel width should also be checked where product specifications provide a usable range.

For the 700-15 Packard Clipper fitment, available sidewall styles include blackwall and wide whitewall. Those two treatments create very different visual results on a 1946 Packard, especially on a restoration-oriented car where tire appearance plays a major role in the finished stance and period feel.

Choosing between them comes down to the look you want rather than a universal right answer. A blackwall gives the car a simpler, more understated presentation, while a wide whitewall delivers a more formal postwar appearance. It is worth checking photographs, marque references, and the car’s restoration goal before settling on the sidewall style.

In the 700-15 size used on the 1946 Packard Clipper Super 8, available brands include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. Those products span several series, from classic passenger-style bias-ply tires to military, traction, and transport-oriented offerings, so the brand list also reflects different tire character and visual style within the same basic size.

Brand selection should still follow fitment and intended use. A restoration-minded buyer may focus first on sidewall treatment and vintage presentation, while a buyer using the car for more regular road miles may spend more time comparing series type, rim-width guidance where stated, and load information when it is part of the product specification.

A period-style 1946 Packard Clipper should begin with the correct sub-model tire size and the original-era bias-ply construction approach. That means 6.50-15 for the Clipper 6 and Clipper 8, or 700-15 for the Clipper Super 8. From there, the appearance choice usually narrows to traditional blackwall or wide whitewall depending on the look the finished car is meant to carry.

For many restorations, the tire is one of the first details that changes the car’s stance and visual character. Exact originality can depend on how the individual car was delivered, so buyers pursuing a highly exact restoration should compare the chosen tire style against marque-club guidance, archival photos, or other vehicle-specific historical references.

Bias-ply construction plays a major role in how a restored 1946 Packard Clipper looks because it preserves the vintage sizing language and overall presentation associated with the car’s era. On this Packard, the primary fitments are bias-ply, so the tire’s profile, sidewall treatment, and stance remain part of the car’s traditional postwar appearance.

Appearance is not only about whitewall versus blackwall. The correct basic size for the sub-model also affects how settled and proportionate the car looks on its wheels. Even on a driver-level restoration, staying with the proper Clipper fitment is usually the clearest starting point before comparing individual tire series or cosmetic details.

Yes. Even though the 1946 Packard Clipper has established 15-inch bias-ply tire sizes, modifications can still change what works safely and cleanly on the car. Aftermarket wheels, altered wheel width, suspension changes, ride-height changes, or body repairs around the fender openings can all affect clearance and the suitability of a given tire setup.

A Clipper that has been customized or pieced together from different cars deserves a closer inspection before any tire purchase. Check the wheel diameter actually on the car, confirm the wheel width, and inspect steering and fender clearance at full lock so the selected tire matches the car’s present configuration rather than assumptions about stock condition.

Before putting a 1946 Packard Clipper back on the road with new tires, inspect the wheels, valve hardware, and overall wheel condition, then verify that the tire size matches the correct sub-model. It also helps to look over suspension and steering components, since worn parts can affect how the car tracks and how evenly the tires carry their load.

Collector cars often spend long periods parked, so the tire itself is only part of road readiness. Check for fluid leaks that could reach the tires, make sure the car rolls and steers freely, and confirm inflation is set appropriately for the chosen tire before taking the Packard on a meaningful drive.

Tires on a 1946 Packard Clipper should be inspected regularly for air loss, cracking, cuts, bulges, and uneven wear, especially because collector cars often age differently than daily drivers. Keeping the correct inflation for the tire in use and moving the car periodically can help reduce flat spotting and other storage-related issues common with vintage vehicles.

Storage conditions matter just as much as miles driven. A Packard kept away from prolonged sunlight, excess heat, moisture, and ozone-producing equipment gives its tires a better chance of aging well. It is also smart to recheck the spare and inspect every tire before longer trips, even if the tread still looks relatively fresh.