1942 Packard Tire Fitment Guide

1942 Packard vehicles use three sizes: 6.50-15 for the 2000 Series and 2001 Series, 700-15 for the 2003 and 2006 Series, and 700-16 for the 2004 Series. All three are bias-ply sizes, but they do not all mount on the same wheel diameter. The 6.50-15 and 700-15 sizes use 15-inch rims, while 700-16 uses a 16-inch rim. Listed rim width guidance appears on some products for 700-15 at 5.00 to 5.50 inches and for some 700-16 products at 4.50 to 5.50 inches.

That split means year and make alone are not enough when ordering for a 1942 Packard. The first step is confirming the exact series and checking the actual wheel diameter already on the car. Owners of 2000 or 2001 Series cars should start with 6.50-15, owners of 2003 or 2006 Series cars with 700-15, and owners of the 2004 Series with 700-16. If the car has been modified over the years, verifying the wheel before choosing a tire is especially important.

On a 1942 Packard, 6.50-15 is a traditional numeric bias-ply size. The 6.50 portion identifies the nominal section width in inches, and the 15 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. It is not a modern metric radial code, so it does not read the same way as a P-metric size. Within the 1942 Packard range, 6.50-15 belongs to the 2000 Series and 2001 Series.

That matters because a buyer looking only at the 15-inch wheel diameter could easily confuse 6.50-15 with 700-15, even though they are different sizes. For a junior-series Packard restoration, staying with the correct numeric bias-ply size preserves the proper proportions and period character. Before moving ahead, compare the sidewall marking on the existing tire, confirm the series designation on the car, and make sure the wheel itself is the original 15-inch type for those models.

No, 1942 Packard models do not all use the same tire size. The 2000 Series and 2001 Series use 6.50-15, the 2003 and 2006 Series use 700-15, and the 2004 Series uses 700-16. That means Packard split the lineup across two wheel diameters and three distinct sizes rather than carrying one universal fitment through the year.

For an owner, the practical takeaway is simple: identify the model series first, then match the tire size to that series. This is especially important on prewar cars, where decades of wheel swaps and older replacements can blur what belongs on the car now. A 15-inch Packard wheel does not automatically mean the same tire size across every model, and a 2004 Series requires a different starting point altogether because it uses a 16-inch rim.

1942 Packard tire choices include both blackwall and wide whitewall sidewall styles in the available 700-15 and 700-16 product ranges. Firestone and BFGoodrich offer both blackwall and wide whitewall versions in 700-15, while Lester, Firestone, and other 700-16 options include both blackwall and wide whitewall styles as well. All of these listed options remain bias-ply, which suits the prewar Packard era.

Sidewall choice usually comes down to the look you want the car to present. A wide whitewall often suits a formal, fully restored prewar Packard appearance, while blackwall versions can fit a more restrained presentation or a service-style look. If your goal is show authenticity, sidewall width and visual profile should match the character of the specific car and market it represents, so it is wise to compare against period photos and marque-club guidance before choosing.

Several brands serve 1942 Packard applications. In 700-15, available brands include Firestone, BFGoodrich, and STA. In 700-16, available brands include Lester, Avon, BFGoodrich, and Firestone. All of the listed products for these Packard sizes are bias-ply tires, but they vary in sidewall appearance and, in some cases, load and speed markings.

Brand choice often follows the kind of restoration you are building. Firestone and BFGoodrich appeal to buyers who want familiar American classic-tire names with passenger-car whitewall and blackwall options, while STA and Avon bring more specialized character in certain applications. Once you know the correct size for your Packard series, compare the available brands by sidewall style, construction details, and any published load or speed marking that matters for how the car will actually be used.

For a 1942 Packard using 700-15, both Firestone and BFGoodrich offer bias-ply passenger-car tires with blackwall and wide whitewall versions. Firestone lists a 4.125-inch whitewall and a blackwall version, both rated at 1700 pounds at 32 psi, with a 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim width range. BFGoodrich also offers a 4.125-inch whitewall in 700-15 with the same 1700 pounds at 32 psi load figure and the same 5.00 to 5.50 inch rim width range.

That means the practical differences are more about brand preference and appearance than a major change in fitment. Both are appropriate for the 2003 and 2006 Series Packards that use 700-15, and both preserve the expected bias-ply character. If you are matching a full set to a period look, compare the sidewall treatment and the visual details you prefer. If you are replacing a single tire or a pair, staying consistent with the rest of the car matters just as much.

Rim width guidance is available on some 1942 Packard tire products, and it varies by size. For 700-15, listed passenger-car products show a rim width range of 5.00 to 5.50 inches. For 700-16, listed passenger-car products show a rim width range of 4.50 to 5.50 inches. The 6.50-15 fitment is part of the 1942 Packard lineup as well, but the products shown here with detailed rim-width guidance are concentrated in the 700-series sizes.

Use that information as a wheel check, not as a shortcut between sizes. A correct Packard wheel must match both the diameter and the tire’s acceptable width range. Before mounting new tires, measure the actual wheel or confirm it through a trusted wheel reference, especially on cars that may have been altered over the decades. Prewar wheels can look similar at a glance, and an incorrect width can affect how a bias-ply tire sits and behaves on the road.

The listed 1942 Packard products are bias-ply tires, but the available markings here do not show a tube-type or tubeless designation across the range in a way that supports one blanket rule for every product. On a 1942 Packard, tube use often depends on the exact tire construction and the wheel style the tire is being mounted to. With prewar wheels, tube use is a common part of proper setup even when buyers assume the tire itself tells the whole story.

The right approach is to check the sidewall marking on the specific tire you select and pair that with the wheel’s design and condition. Original-style Packard wheels, especially older riveted or multi-piece service-era wheels, deserve careful evaluation before mounting. If you are preserving an original wheelset, have the wheels inspected and follow the tire maker’s guidance on tube use, flap requirements where applicable, and valve-stem compatibility rather than making assumptions from size alone.

A stored 1942 Packard should be kept in a cool, dry space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, battery chargers, and other ozone sources that age rubber. Bias-ply tires can develop flat-spotting more readily than modern radials when a car sits in one position for long periods. Clean, dry floors are preferable to damp surfaces, and tire pressures should be maintained so the carcass is not supporting the car underinflated.

For longer storage, roll the Packard periodically to change the tire’s contact patch or support the car appropriately so weight is not left on one spot for months at a time. Avoid tire dressings that leave the sidewall greasy or attract contaminants. If the car wears wide whitewalls, keeping them clean and out of sunlight preserves appearance as well as rubber life. A thoughtful storage routine does more for longevity than simply driving the car less often.

Tires on a 1942 Packard should be judged more by age and condition than by tread wear. Collector cars often accumulate very few miles, so the rubber may age out long before the tread is consumed. A sensible rule is to begin paying close attention around five to seven years of service and to treat roughly ten years as a point where replacement deserves serious consideration, regardless of how good the tread still looks.

The best way to track that is by checking the tire’s date code and inspecting the sidewalls and tread regularly. Cracking, hardening, deformation, chronic air loss, or any visible structural concern should move replacement higher on the priority list. On a Packard that spends much of its life parked, old-looking tires are often a more meaningful warning sign than mileage. The spare should be checked by age as well, since it is usually forgotten until it is suddenly needed.

Tires on a 1942 Packard should be inspected before every drive and given a more thorough check before any extended outing. Look for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, embedded objects, unusual tread wear, and signs that the tire has been run underinflated. On older collector cars, pressure retention matters because a tire that slowly loses air between drives can appear acceptable until the car is put back on the road.

A seasonal inspection should also include the valve stems, the spare, and the condition of the wheels themselves. If tubes are part of the setup, pay close attention to stem alignment and any signs of creeping or stress around the stem opening. Bias-ply tires also respond noticeably to pressure changes, so keeping them at the correct pressure for use helps preserve shape and road behavior. Small issues caught in the garage are much easier to solve than roadside failures.

A 1942 Packard 2000 Series uses the 6.50-15 size, and for a car of this era the original construction would have been bias-ply rather than radial. That matches the fitment pattern across the 1942 Packard range, where every listed size is a bias-ply size. Original equipment branding could vary by market and supply, so the most reliable baseline for authenticity is first getting the size and construction right.

For a restoration, the practical goal is to match the Packard’s series-correct size, then choose the sidewall presentation that suits the car’s historical character and the standards of the event where it will be shown. If you are chasing factory-delivery accuracy, consult period photos, sales literature, and Packard club resources for market-specific details. Tire branding and whitewall treatment can matter visually, but they come after confirming the correct 6.50-15 bias-ply foundation.

Correct tire fitment matters a great deal when showing a 1942 Packard because tire size, construction type, and sidewall style all affect how authentic the car appears. A Packard judged for originality should wear the right series-specific size, and a visibly incorrect wheel diameter or obviously modern construction would stand out quickly on a prewar luxury car. Even when a judge does not score the tire in isolation, the tire shapes the stance and overall period impression of the vehicle.

That means a 2004 Series should not be treated the same as a 2000 Series simply because both are 1942 Packards. Whitewall width, blackwall versus whitewall choice, and overall tire proportions should support the car’s restoration theme. Event standards can differ, so buyers aiming at concours-level presentation should confirm what their specific Packard club or judging body expects. A tire that is mechanically usable may still look out of place on a car restored to strict prewar standards.

For a 1942 Packard using 700-16, Firestone and BFGoodrich both offer bias-ply passenger-car options, but the available specifications are not identical. Firestone’s listed 4.00-inch whitewall carries a max load of 1800 pounds at 36 psi and fits 4.50 to 5.50 inch rims. BFGoodrich’s blackwall version carries a max load of 1900 pounds at 36 psi and fits the same 4.50 to 5.50 inch rim range.

A restorer should read that as a choice shaped by visual presentation as much as by specification. Firestone brings a wide whitewall look that suits many formal prewar cars, while the BFGoodrich blackwall offers a more restrained appearance with a slightly higher listed load figure. Since both are proper bias-ply constructions for the era, the deciding factor often becomes how original you want the car to appear and whether you are matching an established look already used elsewhere on the vehicle.

1942 Packard tires can be suitable for highway use when they are the correct size, properly mounted, correctly inflated, and in sound condition. The listed 700-16 Avon version carries an L speed rating, which corresponds to a 75 mph ceiling, while other listed products in these Packard sizes do not show a speed letter in the available markings. All of the listed Packard fitments are bias-ply tires, so their road feel will be more period-correct than modern in character.

On a prewar Packard, the tire is only one part of the highway equation. Brakes, suspension, steering condition, wheel integrity, and overall mechanical health are just as important as the tire itself, and often more limiting at normal road speeds. A well-sorted car on fresh bias-ply tires can be driven confidently within its intended envelope, but sustained high-speed use should always reflect the capability of the entire vehicle rather than the tire alone.

Inflation pressure on a 1942 Packard should follow the original vehicle recommendation for the specific model and the rated pressure shown for the exact tire you choose. Some listed 700-15 products show 1700 pounds at 32 psi, while some 700-16 products show 1800 pounds at 36 psi or 1900 pounds at 36 psi. Those figures describe the tire’s rated load capacity at a given pressure and should not be treated as one universal inflation number for every 1942 Packard size.

The right method is to start with Packard’s model-specific guidance, then confirm that the chosen reproduction tire is being used within the tire maker’s own pressure limits. Do not transfer a pressure from a 700-16 tire to a 6.50-15 or 700-15 setup just because the cars are from the same year. Pressure affects how a bias-ply tire carries the car, steers, and wears, so taking a few minutes to verify the correct number is worth it.

Before a longer drive in a 1942 Packard, inspect every tire for sidewall cracking, cuts, bulges, uneven wear, and proper inflation. Check that the valve stems are in good condition, confirm that the spare is usable, and look closely at the wheels for damage or corrosion that could affect bead seating. Since these Packards use series-specific sizes, it is also wise to confirm that all four road tires and the spare are matched correctly to the wheel diameter on the car.

A longer outing is also the right time for a broader pre-drive check that includes brakes, steering, wheel bearings, and suspension components. Tires can only do their job if the rest of the chassis is equally ready. Bias-ply tires often telegraph problems in alignment or inflation more quickly than modern radials, so any pull, shake, or unusual wander should be addressed before a trip rather than accepted as normal old-car behavior.