1939 Packard Tire Fitment Guide

1939 Packard vehicles use three tire sizes: 650-16, 700-16, and 825-16. The 1700 Series uses 650-16, the 1701 and 1702 Series plus the 1705 Super and Super 1703 use 700-16, and the 1707 and 1708 Series use 825-16. All three are bias-ply sizes built for 16-inch rims, but they are not interchangeable across the full Packard lineup because their section widths and wheel-width requirements differ.

That means the first fitment question on a 1939 Packard is always the series identification, not just the year. Rim-width ranges also step up with size: 650-16 products run on 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims, 700-16 products with published fitment run on 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims, and 825-16 products fit 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims. Matching the tire to both the proper Packard series and the actual wheel keeps the car visually correct and mechanically sensible.

On a 1939 Packard, 650-16 is a numeric bias-ply tire size. The 6.50 portion is the nominal section width designation used in period tire sizing, and the 16 identifies the rim diameter in inches. On this Packard application, 650-16 belongs specifically to the 1700 Series and is offered in both blackwall and wide whitewall versions from several vintage-tire brands.

Modern buyers sometimes read numeric sizes as if they were later metric radials, but they function differently and belong to an earlier tire-sizing system. If you own a 1700 Series car, 650-16 is the size family to start with, then your next decision is the sidewall presentation and the exact rim width on the car. That approach keeps the tire choice tied to the proper prewar Packard application instead of treating all 16-inch tires as the same.

No, 1939 Packard models do not all use the same tire size. The 1700 Series uses 650-16, the 1701 and 1702 Series plus the 1705 Super and Super 1703 use 700-16, and the largest 1707 and 1708 Series cars use 825-16. Every size mounts on a 16-inch rim, but the tires are scaled to different parts of the Packard range.

That distinction matters because the lineup spans junior and senior Packards, and the tires need to match the car's intended stance and wheel fit. If you are unsure where your car falls, start by confirming the series number on the vehicle before comparing brands or sidewall styles. Once the model family is settled, the rest of the tire decision becomes much simpler and far less likely to send you toward the wrong 16-inch size.

1939 Packard tires are available in both blackwall and wide whitewall styles, although the exact choices depend on the size. The 650-16 size offers both blackwall and wide whitewall options, 700-16 also offers both styles, and 825-16 is available in blackwall and wide whitewall from BFGoodrich. That gives owners of every 1939 Packard size family a choice between a more understated presentation and a brighter formal look.

For a prewar luxury make like Packard, whitewall styling is often closely associated with restored show presentation, while blackwalls can suit a more restrained or utilitarian appearance. The right choice depends on your car's restoration direction and how you want the finished vehicle to read visually. Once the sidewall style is settled, make sure the selected product still matches the correct Packard series and wheel-width range for the size your car requires.

Several brands cover 1939 Packard applications, with availability changing by size. The 650-16 size is offered by BFGoodrich, Coker Classic, Firestone, and Garfield; 700-16 is available from Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone; and 825-16 is offered by BFGoodrich. All of them serve the prewar Packard market with bias-ply construction, but the brand mix is broader in the smaller and mid-range sizes than it is in the largest senior-car fitment.

That size-by-size brand spread means owners of a 1700 Series or 700-16 Packard generally have more room to compare tread presentation and sidewall appearance, while 825-16 buyers have a narrower but still era-appropriate choice set. It is usually smarter to choose the correct size first and then compare brands within that size, rather than starting with a brand name and hoping it covers your particular Packard series.

For 1939 Packard vehicles that use 700-16, BFGoodrich and Firestone both offer bias-ply tires but with different presentations and published specs. The BFGoodrich listing is a blackwall Silvertown Classic Bias Ply rated at 1900 pounds at 36 psi, with a published rim-width range of 4.50 to 5.50 inches. The Firestone listing is a 4.00-inch whitewall Classic Bias Ply rated at 1800 pounds at 36 psi, also for 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims.

The practical difference is less about one being universally preferable and more about whether you want a blackwall or whitewall look within the same Packard size family. Both fit the same published rim-width range, so the visual effect and the exact product specification become the main deciding points. On a prewar Packard, those appearance choices can change the car's character noticeably even when the tire size itself stays exactly the same.

1939 Packard rim-width requirements depend on tire size. The 650-16 products with published wheel guidance fit 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims, 700-16 products with published wheel guidance fit 4.50 to 5.50-inch rims, and 825-16 products fit 5.00 to 6.00-inch rims. All three sizes mount on 16-inch wheels, but the larger Packard sizes call for correspondingly wider rims.

That is why wheel diameter alone is not enough when choosing replacement tires for a 1939 Packard. A 16-inch wheel may still be wrong for a given tire if the width falls outside the recommended range. Before settling on a tire, measure the wheel or confirm its actual width through a trusted Packard source, especially if the car has had wheels changed during its life or if the original wheels are no longer on the vehicle.

Original 1939 Packard wheels can only be used with the tire sizes that match both the car's Packard series and the wheel's actual width. All three Packard sizes for 1939 use 16-inch rims, so the shared diameter helps, but 650-16, 700-16, and 825-16 do not all share the same width requirements. A wheel suitable for a 650-16 tire is not automatically suitable for an 825-16 tire.

The practical takeaway is that a common rim diameter across the lineup does not make every original wheel universal. If your Packard still wears its original-style wheels, verify the width before moving between tire sizes or replacing a mixed set. That step is especially important on senior Packards, where the widest 825-16 fitment expects more wheel width than the smaller junior-series tires used elsewhere in the 1939 range.

A 1939 Packard should be stored in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, battery chargers, furnaces, and other ozone-producing sources that can age rubber. Keep the tires clean, maintain proper inflation, and avoid long periods on wet concrete or soil. Because all listed 1939 Packard fitments are bias-ply, they are more prone to temporary flat-spotting during long static storage than a modern radial would be.

If the car will sit for extended periods, rolling it periodically or supporting the vehicle appropriately can reduce stress on one contact patch. Many collector owners also use tire cradles or reposition the car from time to time to help preserve shape. Good storage habits protect the sidewalls and tread appearance, which matters on a prewar Packard where the tire is a visible part of the car's overall presentation.

Tires on a 1939 Packard should be judged more by age and condition than by mileage. A collector car may accumulate very few miles while the rubber still hardens, cracks, or loses reliability over time, so many owners begin evaluating closely at around five to seven years and treat about ten years as a strong replacement consideration. The manufacturing date on the tire helps establish the tire's true age.

That matters because an older Packard often sees occasional use, and low annual mileage can create a false sense of security. A tire that still has good tread depth may still be too old for confident road use if the sidewalls are cracking or the casing has deteriorated with time. Keeping an eye on age protects the car, the occupants, and the restoration effort invested in the vehicle.

Tires on a 1939 Packard should be inspected before every drive and again before any extended outing or touring event. Look closely for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, irregular tread wear, and pressure loss, and check that the spare is in serviceable condition as well. A bias-ply collector tire may spend long stretches parked, so visual checks are especially important before the car returns to the road.

Frequent inspection helps catch age-related issues before they become roadside problems. It is also the right time to look over valve stems and confirm that the car is sitting evenly, since unusual stance can hint at pressure loss or a mismatch in tire size. On a prewar Packard, a few minutes of inspection before departure is part of responsible stewardship, not an extra step.

The 1939 Packard 1700 Series uses 650-16 tires, and for a 1939 Packard the original construction type would have been bias-ply rather than radial. That matches the replacement tire types available for the model today, including blackwall and wide whitewall versions. Original-equipment branding could vary by market and delivery history, so the most reliable way to refine a factory-authentic presentation is to pair the correct size and construction with period-appropriate appearance details.

For a restoration, start with the correct 650-16 bias-ply foundation and then decide whether your car's intended presentation calls for blackwall or whitewall styling. Owners pursuing stricter authenticity should compare their car against period photos, surviving originals, and Packard club guidance for body style and market-specific expectations. That approach keeps the restoration anchored in the known Packard size while allowing finer details to be confirmed within the hobby.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1939 Packard, especially in restoration-focused events where the overall presentation is judged for period accuracy. Size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect how authentic the car looks, and using the wrong size family for the series can change the stance immediately. On a prewar luxury car, even a correct-diameter wheel can still look wrong if the tire is too narrow, too wide, or styled out of character.

For that reason, a show-minded owner should verify the Packard series first and then choose the proper 650-16, 700-16, or 825-16 bias-ply fitment before comparing cosmetic details. Wide whitewalls may suit many restored Packards visually, but event standards can differ. Marque clubs and the rules for the specific judging venue are the best places to confirm how closely originality will be evaluated.

For 1939 Packard vehicles using 650-16, BFGoodrich and Garfield both offer wide whitewall bias-ply tires with very similar published working specifications. Each lists a maximum load capacity of 1580 pounds at 32 psi, each fits 4.50 to 5.00-inch rims, and both are aimed at period-style prewar applications. The visible distinction comes more from brand identity and tread/sidewall presentation than from a major difference in the basic fitment envelope.

That means owners choosing between them should think first about restoration style and brand preference, not about a dramatic change in wheel compatibility. If the car is being built for a particular historical look, comparing the sidewall treatment and tread character against photos of similar Packards can be worthwhile. Either way, the main authenticity priority remains keeping the 1700 Series on the correct 650-16 bias-ply size.

1939 Packard tires can be suitable for normal road and highway use when they are the correct size, in sound condition, and used within their intended limits. The listed Packard applications are all bias-ply, and one 700-16 product carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to a 75 mph ceiling. Other products in these Packard sizes do not always publish a speed letter in the size marking, so the exact rating should be confirmed on the tire you choose.

On a prewar Packard, real-world highway confidence depends on more than the tire alone. Brake condition, steering integrity, suspension wear, wheel condition, and the general operating character of a 1939 luxury car are often just as important as the tire's own rating. Staying within sensible touring speeds and keeping the entire vehicle mechanically sorted is the right way to think about road use with an older Packard.

Inflation pressure on 1939 Packard tires should be matched to the exact tire size and product you are using rather than borrowed from another Packard size. Published examples include 650-16 tires rated to 1580 pounds at 32 psi, 700-16 tires rated to 1800 pounds at 36 psi or 1900 pounds at 36 psi, and 825-16 tires rated to 2030 pounds at 46 psi. Those figures are tire ratings, not blanket inflation instructions for every Packard application.

The best practice is to begin with the Packard factory recommendation for your specific model and compare it with the tire maker's guidance for the reproduction tire you selected. That keeps you from overinflating or underinflating by assuming one published rating applies to the entire 1939 Packard line. Pressure has a strong effect on ride, wear, steering feel, and casing health, especially with bias-ply tires on a heavy prewar car.

Before a longer drive in a 1939 Packard, inspect each tire for cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded debris, uneven wear, and proper inflation, and make sure the spare is usable. Confirm that the tire size on the car matches the Packard series and that the wheels are appropriate for the tire's rim-width range. On an older bias-ply setup, it also helps to look for signs of long-storage flat-spotting before setting out.

That tire check should be part of a broader pre-drive routine that includes brakes, steering, wheel bearings, and the rest of the car's core running gear. Prewar Packards are capable touring cars when prepared properly, but they reward careful inspection more than modern vehicles do. Starting with healthy, correctly fitted tires is one of the easiest ways to make a longer outing more predictable and enjoyable.