1929 Packard Tire Fitment Guide

1929 Packard vehicles use four sizes across three model families. The 626 Series uses 30X5.77 and 30x5, both antique-format bias-ply sizes. The 633 Series and 645 Series use 32X6.75 and 700-20, also bias-ply, with the currently listed 700-20 products fitting 20-inch rims. Among the sizes with listed products, 700-20 is approved for rim widths from 3.75 to 4.00 inches in some Firestone applications and 5.00 to 5.50 inches in some BFGoodrich applications.

That means year and make alone are not enough for a safe starting point on a 1929 Packard. A 626 owner should stay within the smaller antique-size family, while 633 and 645 owners should focus on the larger senior-car sizes. If your car already has wheels or old tires fitted, compare the sidewall marking and confirm the wheel diameter before choosing a replacement, especially on a car that may have been updated or re-restored over time.

On a 1929 Packard, 30X5.77 is an antique diameter-by-section size. The first number is the approximate overall tire diameter in inches, and the second number is the nominal section width. That differs from later sizing systems that identify the wheel diameter directly in the size code. On the 1929 Packard range, 30X5.77 belongs to the 626 Series and reflects the older way luxury and premium cars were commonly sized in the late 1920s.

The practical takeaway is that 30X5.77 should not be treated like a modern metric or even a later numeric bias-ply size. If your 626 carries antique-format markings on the tire, wheel, or restoration records, keep that convention in mind when comparing replacement options. Owners trying to preserve a correct pre-war look usually want the sidewall marking and overall visual proportions to remain consistent with the original antique-style sizing system.

On a 1929 Packard, 700-20 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 7.00 refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 20 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Within the 1929 Packard range, this size applies to the 633 Series and 645 Series, not the smaller 626. Available 700-20 tires include multiple sidewall treatments and carry load-and-pressure ratings from 1700 pounds at 36 psi up to 1980 pounds at 42 psi, depending on the specific product.

That makes 700-20 the most straightforward currently listed size for many 633 and 645 owners because current products are available to compare directly. It is still important to verify the wheel on the car, since restored pre-war Packards sometimes have replacement wheels or mixed spare assemblies. Once the 20-inch rim is confirmed, you can narrow the choice by sidewall appearance and the rim-width range approved for the specific tire you are considering.

No, 1929 Packard models do not all use the same tire size. The 626 Series uses 30X5.77 and 30x5, while the 633 Series and 645 Series share the larger 32X6.75 and 700-20 sizes. All are bias-ply fitments, but they belong to different parts of the Packard lineup and should not be treated as interchangeable simply because the cars share the same year and make.

For a buyer or restorer, that means identifying the series is the first real fitment step. The senior Packards use a larger tire family than the junior 626, and choosing by body appearance alone can lead you in the wrong direction. If the car's original series plate, wheel diameter, or old tire markings are still present, use those details to confirm the correct tire family before moving to whitewall style or brand preference.

For 1929 Packard vehicles, the currently listed 700-20 choices are available in blackwall, wide whitewall, and double-whitewall styles. Firestone offers wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions in 700-20, while BFGoodrich offers both wide whitewall and blackwall versions in the same size. All of those listed products are bias-ply tires intended for the 633 Series and 645 Series.

Sidewall style is often the biggest visual choice once size is settled on a pre-war Packard. A whitewall or double-whitewall can reinforce the formal luxury look many restorers want, while a blackwall can suit a more restrained presentation or a specific restoration goal. If you are building the car toward judged authenticity, compare your choice against period photos, surviving factory literature, and the standards used by the marque club or event where the car will be shown.

Current listed tires for 1929 Packard vehicles come from Firestone and BFGoodrich, both in 700-20 for the 633 Series and 645 Series. Firestone's listed options include wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions, while BFGoodrich's listed range includes wide whitewall and blackwall offerings. All are bias-ply constructions consistent with the period character of the car.

Brand choice on a car of this era usually comes down to appearance details and the exact product specification rather than a simple one-brand-fits-all answer. For senior 1929 Packards, compare the sidewall style you want with the rim-width range and load figure of the individual tire. If your goal is a historically convincing look, either of these long-established American names can suit the car well when the size and sidewall treatment are matched to the way you plan to present it.

On 1929 Packard 633 and 645 models using 700-20 tires, the listed Firestone and BFGoodrich products differ in sidewall choices, approved rim-width ranges, weight, and load-and-pressure figures. Firestone's listed 700-20 tires fit 3.75 to 4.00-inch rims and include wide whitewall and double-whitewall versions, with one example rated at 1930 pounds at 40 psi. BFGoodrich's listed 700-20 tires fit 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims and include wide whitewall and blackwall versions, with examples rated at 1700 pounds at 36 psi and 1980 pounds at 42 psi.

Those differences matter because pre-war cars can carry different wheel setups depending on restoration history. A sidewall style that looks right on the car still has to match the wheel you have. Before settling on one series over the other, confirm the actual rim width on your Packard and then decide whether your priority is blackwall versus whitewall appearance or matching a particular visual style from the period.

For 1929 Packard vehicles with listed 700-20 products, approved rim widths vary by tire. Firestone 700-20 applications are shown for 3.75 to 4.00-inch rims, while BFGoodrich 700-20 applications are shown for 5.00 to 5.50-inch rims. That range applies to the 633 Series and 645 Series products currently available in 700-20. The other 1929 Packard sizes do not have listed rim-width figures here.

That spread is wide enough that you should not assume every 700-20 tire fits every 20-inch Packard wheel. Measure the wheel you actually have or verify it through restoration records before selecting a tire. This is especially important on pre-war cars that may have had wheels changed decades ago. Matching the tire to the wheel's true width helps preserve proper section shape, load behavior, and the visual stance expected on a senior Packard.

1929 Packard fitments are all period bias-ply sizes, and the currently listed 700-20 products do not carry a tube-type or tubeless marking in the size notation shown here. On a vehicle from 1929, tube use is commonly part of the original-style wheel and tire system, especially with wooden-artillery or early demountable-rim arrangements typical of the era. The exact setup should be confirmed against the wheel construction and the marking on the specific tire selected.

The right way to approach tube use on a 1929 Packard is as a wheel-and-tire system question, not just a tire-size question. Inspect whether your wheels are built and sealed in a way that supports tubeless service, and most restorers of cars this old will verify tube and flap requirements before final mounting. If your car still carries original-type wheels, tube compatibility and valve-stem condition deserve attention at the same time as the tire choice.

A stored 1929 Packard should be kept away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone-producing equipment that accelerates rubber aging. Clean, dry floors and stable temperatures are better than damp garages or spaces with large seasonal swings. Because all listed 1929 Packard tires are bias-ply, they are more prone to temporary flat spotting during long static periods than a modern radial would be.

For practical collector care, keep the tires properly inflated, move the car periodically if possible, and avoid letting one contact patch carry the same load for months at a time. Some owners use cradles or stands during long-term storage, but the goal is simply to reduce stress concentration and environmental damage. A cloth cover helps block light, but it should not trap moisture around the tire or wheel.

Tires on a 1929 Packard should be judged by age and condition more than by mileage, because collector cars often travel very little. A sensible rule is to inspect them carefully once they are five to seven years old and to treat roughly ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration even if tread remains. The DOT date code on a current reproduction tire is the clearest way to establish age.

That matters on a pre-war Packard because a lightly driven car can still be riding on rubber that looks presentable but has hardened internally or begun to crack at the sidewall and bead area. If the car's road use includes tours, hill-country driving, or repeated summer heat cycles, age becomes even more important. Tire age should be reviewed as part of routine collector-car planning, not only when a failure appears imminent.

Tires on a 1929 Packard should be inspected before every drive and again before any longer outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, cuts, bulges, irregular wear, and pressure loss, and do not forget the spare. On a car that may use tubes as part of an original-style setup, valve-stem condition also deserves attention because stem deterioration can mimic a simple pressure leak until it becomes a roadside problem.

Frequent inspection matters more on a low-use collector car than many owners expect. A 1929 Packard may sit for weeks, then suddenly be asked to cover a club tour or parade route without recent heat cycling to reveal weaknesses. Taking a few minutes to inspect each tire, confirm pressure, and watch for changes in ride feel or steering response can prevent damage to expensive bodywork and hard-to-replace wheels.

The 1929 Packard 626 Series used bias-ply tires in antique-format sizes, specifically 30X5.77 and 30x5 within the 1929 Packard range. That aligns with what would be expected for a premium American car in the late 1920s, when bias-ply construction was standard and antique diameter-by-section sizing was still common. A specific original-equipment brand should be confirmed through Packard factory literature, surviving delivery paperwork, or marque-club resources for the exact body and market.

For restoration work, the key point is preserving the correct type of tire as well as the right size family. A 626 judged for authenticity will usually be better served by an antique-format bias-ply presentation than by a later-looking substitute. If the car has changed hands many times or carries replacement wheels, use the original series identification and period references to confirm what belongs on that chassis before finalizing a concours-oriented tire choice.

Correct tire fitment matters greatly when a 1929 Packard is prepared for judged events. On cars from this period, judges and knowledgeable enthusiasts often notice whether the size family, construction type, and sidewall treatment fit the age and presentation of the automobile. A 626 wearing a size associated with the larger 633 and 645 models, or a senior Packard wearing the wrong visual sidewall treatment, can look out of character even before detailed judging begins.

The practical standard is to match the tire to the specific series first, then refine the sidewall style to suit the restoration goal. Event rules can differ, especially between marque judging, AACA-style judging, and touring-focused gatherings, so checking with the relevant Packard club or show committee is wise. That extra step helps avoid a costly correction later and gives the car a more convincing overall stance and period presence.

On a 1929 Packard, antique sizes such as 30X5.77 and 32X6.75 describe the tire by overall diameter and nominal section width, while a numeric size such as 700-20 gives the nominal section width and the wheel diameter. All of the 1929 Packard fitments listed here are bias-ply, so the main difference is the sizing convention and the model family they belong to, not a change from bias-ply to radial construction.

That distinction matters because restorers often encounter both systems when researching late-1920s cars. Antique-format markings tend to align closely with how the car was originally represented in period literature, while numeric sizing can be easier to navigate where modern reproduction availability exists. On a Packard, the safest route is to follow the size family tied to your exact series rather than trying to translate between systems without checking the wheel and the restoration goal.

1929 Packard tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and used within the design limits of the specific tire. The currently listed 700-20 products for 633 and 645 models do not show speed ratings in the size markings provided here, so they should be approached as traditional bias-ply pre-war tires rather than high-speed modern touring tires. On a 1929 Packard, the car's own brakes, steering geometry, suspension, and road manners are often more limiting than tire capability at normal touring speeds.

Highway safety on a car of this age comes from the whole vehicle being prepared, not from tire selection alone. Fresh, age-appropriate tires are important, but so are wheel condition, brake adjustment, front-end condition, and realistic cruising expectations. If the car is newly restored or recently awakened from long storage, begin with shorter drives and recheck temperature, pressure retention, and steering response before committing the car to longer two-lane or interstate travel.

Inflation pressure on a 1929 Packard depends on the exact tire size and product. In the currently listed 700-20 range for 633 and 645 models, example load-and-pressure ratings include 1930 pounds at 40 psi, 1980 pounds at 42 psi, and 1700 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures are product ratings, not universal Packard settings, and they should not be transferred automatically to the 626's 30X5.77 or 30x5 sizes.

Use the Packard owner's literature or marque guidance as the starting point for the vehicle's intended operating pressure, then compare that with the individual tire manufacturer's rating for the specific product you are fitting. The right pressure on a pre-war luxury car affects ride quality, steering feel, tread wear, and tube life if tubes are used. Check pressures cold and keep a record, especially if the car sees only occasional use.

Before a longer drive in a 1929 Packard, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cord, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation. Confirm that the spare is usable, that the valve stems are sound, and that each wheel's mounting hardware is secure. On a pre-war car, this tire check should happen alongside a broader review of brakes, wheel bearings, steering play, cooling system health, and basic fuel-system reliability.

Longer drives expose weaknesses that short local trips may never reveal. A tire that appears acceptable around town can heat up differently after sustained running, especially on a heavy luxury car from the Classic Era. Carry the tools and knowledge needed to deal with a roadside tire issue, and make the first substantial outing a shakedown run rather than a high-speed, no-stop itinerary.