Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

While I'm waiting for the paperwork to get straight so I can buy my much anticipated 640, I'm pondering tires.

Original Packard magazine ads virtually NEVER show whitewall tires on their cars of this vintage, and looking at archival videos on Youtube, it seems that whitewall tires on anything, from the mid-1920s to the late-1930s, was pretty darned rare. Looking at the videos, no matter how stately the car, from Rolls Royces to Auburns and Duesenbergs, VERY few were on the streets back then with whitewall tires.

I know it's a matter of personal preference, but, if they really weren't popular when these cars were new, when did they suddenly become popular? It's definitely got me rethinking things and putting repro blackwalls on the car now. Thanks!

Rather than judging based on looking at magazine ads, I'd recommend looking at factory and period photographs. You may reach the same conclusion but the photos are more representative than advertisements.

Thanks, did that too, and yes, same conclusion. Apparently whitewalls on larger cars across the board were not a thing in the late 1920's and early 1930's - looks like it was on smaller cars starting in the mid-1930's, but not the big boys.

Just strikes me as very curious why they're seemingly standard issue now when they weren't back when the cars were new. Thanks.

Take a look at Cadillac. They sold lots of cars with white sidewalls. Rolls-Royce no except for Jackie Coogan. He loved them. Double whitewalls are something not seen anymore.

Plenty of whitewalls in this factory photo from 1932 of some Light Eights awaiting delivery.

Attach file:

---

  900 Deliveries cr.jpg (200.19 KB)

I'm fairly uneducated on the topic, but I do recall hearing the same thing I read on Wikipedia regarding early whitewall adoption:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewall_tire#cite_note-4

"The status of whitewall tires versus blackwall tires was originally the reverse of what it later became, with fully black tires requiring a greater amount of carbon black and less effort to maintain a clean appearance these were considered the premium tire; since the black tires first became available they were commonly fitted to many luxury cars through the 1930s. During the late-1920s gleaming whitewalls contrasted against darker surroundings were considered a stylish, but high-maintenance feature. The popularity of whitewalls as an option increased during the 1930s. "

The original premium of blackwall tires would also account for why the magazines showcase them more prominently, I'd imagine.

Quote:

1932 seems to have been the year Packard embraced whitewalls, although in photos they're still not wildly popular. I've still not found a single 1927-1931 factory Packard advertisement or promo photo that shows any of their cars wearing whitewall tires. GM. Auburn, and Cord, seem to have started the trend on their larger cars, but it really seems they didn't start to catch on until 1932/1933, and even then, in very limited numbers.

Attach file:

---

  packard-1929.jpg (49.81 KB)