1938 Packard Tire Fitment Guide

1938 Packard vehicles use three tire sizes: 825-16 for the Packard 12 Cyl., 650-16 for the 1600 Series and 1700 Series, and 700-16 for the 1601 Series, 1701 Series, and 8 Cyl. All three sizes mount on 16-inch rims. Listed rim width ranges are 5.00 to 6.00 inches for 825-16, 4.50 to 5.00 inches for 650-16, and 4.50 to 5.50 inches for 700-16 where specified by the tire manufacturer.

That means the key fitment decision for a 1938 Packard is not rim diameter so much as identifying the correct series or engine family first. Once the model is confirmed, you can narrow the choice to the proper numeric size and then choose the sidewall look that best matches your restoration or touring goals.

On a 1938 Packard, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 portion refers to the nominal section width in inches, and the 16 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. This size belongs to the 1938 Packard 1600 Series and 1700 Series, and it appears in period-correct bias-ply reproductions with both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall treatments.

Modern buyers often mistake these older numeric sizes for direct measurements in every dimension, but they are best understood as period sizing conventions for bias-ply tires. If your Packard is a 1600 or 1700 Series car, staying with 650-16 preserves the intended stance and fitment relationship those models had within the 1938 Packard lineup.

No, 1938 Packard models do not all use the same tire size. The Twelve uses 825-16, the 1600 Series and 1700 Series use 650-16, and the 1601 Series, 1701 Series, and 8 Cyl. models use 700-16. Every size in the range is bias-ply, but the width grouping changes with the model and series.

That matters because ordering by year and make alone can easily put you into the wrong size. Packard’s 1938 lineup included both junior and senior cars, so the badge on the hood is only the starting point; the exact series designation is what determines the correct tire size for your car.

1938 Packard tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles across the sizes offered here. The 825-16 size from BFGoodrich comes in either Blackwall or Wide Whitewall, 650-16 includes both styles from several brands, and 700-16 is also offered in both Blackwall and Wide Whitewall versions. That gives Packard owners a choice between a more restrained touring appearance and the broader whitewall look many restorers associate with upscale prewar American cars.

Sidewall style does not change the underlying fitment, but it changes the finished character of the car quite a bit. If your goal is authenticity for a formal or luxury-oriented Packard presentation, wide whitewalls are often the visual direction buyers pursue, while blackwalls can suit a plainer touring look or a more understated restoration.

Several brands cover 1938 Packard applications. The 825-16 size is available from BFGoodrich, 650-16 is available from BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield, and 700-16 is available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. All are bias-ply offerings within the fitments covered here, and the available brands vary by size rather than appearing uniformly across the whole Packard range.

That brand spread is useful because it lets you compare visual style and product character within the correct size for your model. A Packard owner should first confirm whether the car calls for 650-16, 700-16, or 825-16, then compare the brands offered in that size instead of assuming every Packard tire option is available for every 1938 model.

For 1938 Packard applications in 700-16, BFGoodrich and Firestone differ mainly in sidewall treatment, stated load figure, and weight in the products listed here. The BFGoodrich 700-16 is a Blackwall rated at 1900 pounds at 36 psi with a listed weight of 26 pounds and a rim width range of 4.50 to 5.50 inches. The Firestone 700-16 is a Wide Whitewall rated at 1800 pounds at 36 psi with the same 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim width range and a listed weight of 29 pounds.

That makes the choice less about basic fitment and more about the presentation you want on the car. If your Packard restoration calls for a blackwall look, the BFGoodrich option aligns with that appearance, while the Firestone emphasizes a wider whitewall visual. Either way, the tire still needs to match the correct 700-16 fitment for the specific Packard models that use it.

1938 Packard rim width requirements depend on the tire size. The 825-16 tires list a rim width range of 5.00 to 6.00 inches, 650-16 tires list 4.50 to 5.00 inches where specified, and 700-16 tires list 4.50 to 5.50 inches where specified. All of the covered Packard sizes use a 16-inch rim diameter, but the acceptable rim width changes with the tire width.

That is why a 16-inch wheel alone is not enough information when setting up a prewar Packard. Before mounting new tires, measure the wheel or confirm the wheel specification on the car, especially if the car has had wheel changes over the years. Matching the tire to both the correct model and the correct rim width helps preserve proper profile and handling behavior.

The tires listed for 1938 Packard fitments are all bias-ply products, but the individual size markings shown here do not consistently call out tube-type or tubeless status in the product names. Prewar Packards commonly used wheels and tire constructions from an era when inner tubes were normal practice, especially with bias-ply fitments of these sizes. That makes tube compatibility something to verify on the specific tire and wheel combination you plan to use.

The practical step is to inspect the wheel design and the exact sidewall marking of the tire you choose before assembly. If your Packard still runs original-style prewar wheels, many restorers and service shops will approach the setup as a tube-based installation unless the tire and wheel combination clearly supports another arrangement.

All 1938 Packard tire sizes covered here mount on 16-inch rims, so the wheel diameter is common across the range. Even so, the sizes do not share the same width requirements: 825-16 calls for a wider rim range than 650-16, and 700-16 sits between them. Original Packard wheels can therefore only be treated as interchangeable if both the wheel diameter and width match the tire being fitted.

That matters most when a car has been pieced together from several donor vehicles or when spare wheels have been swapped over the decades. A 16-inch Packard wheel may physically accept the bead diameter, but the actual rim width still needs to suit the chosen tire. Checking the wheel before mounting is the right way to avoid an expensive mismatch.

A stored 1938 Packard should be kept in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and other ozone-producing equipment that accelerates rubber aging. Bias-ply tires are especially prone to flat-spotting when the car sits in one place for long periods, and sidewalls can harden or crack faster if exposed to heat and ozone.

For a Packard that spends much of the year parked, keep the tires properly inflated, move the car periodically, or support it in a way that reduces long static loading if the storage period is extended. Clean, dry floors and tire covers also help preserve the sidewall finish, especially on wide whitewall tires that owners often want to keep bright and unmarked.

On a 1938 Packard, tire life is usually governed more by age than by mileage. Collector vehicles often accumulate few miles, but the rubber still ages from time, heat cycles, storage conditions, and ozone exposure. A good rule is to begin evaluating collector tires closely once they are around five to seven years old and to treat around ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread depth.

The date code on the tire is an important reference, but it should be considered alongside actual condition. A lightly driven Packard with old-looking sidewalls, recurring air loss, or visible cracking should move up on the replacement priority list. Age-based thinking is especially important on prewar cars because they may appear roadworthy long after the tire rubber has started to deteriorate.

Tires on a 1938 Packard should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, tread separation, embedded debris, irregular wear, bulges, and pressure loss. Because these are prewar-size bias-ply fitments, it is also wise to pay attention to valve stems and the general condition of the spare so the full set is ready for service.

A Packard that only comes out for shows or occasional tours can go a long time between meaningful checks if the owner is not intentional. Making tire inspection part of the startup routine helps catch age-related problems early, and it is far easier to deal with a weak tire in the garage than on the roadside during a club drive or touring event.

A 1938 Packard 12 Cyl. would have been fitted in the bias-ply era, and the correct size for the model covered here is 825-16. That aligns with what buyers expect on a senior Packard Twelve of the late prewar period, when larger luxury cars commonly used larger-section numeric bias-ply tires. Sidewall appearance could vary by market taste and presentation, but the size and bias-ply construction are the starting points for authenticity.

Owners pursuing a highly accurate restoration should confirm any body-style or delivery-specific details with Packard club literature or a marque specialist, especially if the car has unusual history. Even when the tire size is settled, judging standards can place separate emphasis on sidewall style, overall profile, and how closely the finished tire complements the character of a senior 1938 Packard.

Correct tire fitment matters on a 1938 Packard because prewar judging often pays close attention to size, construction, and sidewall appearance. A Packard judged for authenticity is expected to wear the proper numeric bias-ply size for its series, and a visibly incorrect width or a sidewall style that clashes with the intended presentation can stand out quickly. On senior luxury cars in particular, the tire’s visual proportion is part of the car’s overall period character.

That does not mean every show follows the same standard, but it does mean tire choice is more than a maintenance decision on a restoration. Before finalizing a set, compare the look you want with the rules of the club or event where the car will appear. Marque-specific judging guides are the best source for event-level detail beyond the correct base size and construction.

For the 1938 Packard 12 Cyl. in 825-16, the BFGoodrich choices share the same basic size, bias-ply construction, 16-inch rim diameter, 5.00 to 6.00 inch rim width range, and load rating of 2030 pounds at 46 psi. The main difference is sidewall treatment and listed weight. One version is a Blackwall at 31 pounds, while the other is a 4.625-inch Wide Whitewall at 33 pounds.

That makes the decision largely visual rather than structural for a correct 825-16 Packard Twelve fitment. Owners restoring a more formal or upscale senior-car appearance often favor the broader whitewall look, while a blackwall can suit a more restrained presentation. Either version keeps the correct senior-series size, which is the first requirement for authenticity.

1938 Packard tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, in good condition, properly inflated, and matched to sound wheels. All of the fitments covered here are bias-ply, and one listed 700-16C product carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to 75 mph. The other products shown are traditional prewar-style bias-ply offerings, so the practical limit is often shaped as much by the car’s age, braking system, steering, and suspension condition as by the tire itself.

For most Packard touring use, the goal should be stable, conservative road speeds rather than treating a prewar luxury car like a modern highway cruiser. A well-sorted Packard can travel comfortably, but safe use depends on the whole vehicle being ready for the trip. Tire condition, wheel integrity, alignment, and mechanical condition should all be part of the decision before longer highway driving.

Inflation pressure for 1938 Packard tires should start with the vehicle’s factory recommendation for the model and size, then be checked against the tire manufacturer’s rating for the exact reproduction tire you are using. Several listed tires include load-and-pressure references: 650-16 appears at 1580 pounds at 32 psi, 700-16 appears at 1800 pounds at 36 psi and 1900 pounds at 36 psi depending on product, and 825-16 appears at 2030 pounds at 46 psi.

Those numbers are not interchangeable settings to apply across the whole Packard range. Use the figure tied to your exact size and product as the tire’s capacity reference, then compare it with the factory guidance for ride and handling on your specific Packard model. Keeping a prewar car at the right pressure helps the tire carry properly and also protects steering feel and tread wear.

Before a longer drive in a 1938 Packard, inspect every tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Check the spare as well, since many collector cars still rely on a trunk-mounted or sidemount spare that has seen little recent attention. The wheel itself should be sound, and the valve stems should be in good condition before the car is asked to cover meaningful distance.

A longer trip in a prewar Packard also deserves a broader mechanical once-over that goes beyond the tires. Brake operation, cooling, charging, steering play, and fluid levels all matter on an older touring car. If the tires pass inspection but the rest of the chassis has not been checked recently, the safest plan is to treat the tire review as one part of a full pre-drive preparation routine.