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Looks awesome Joey! I'll be doing that soon, due to all the problems I have had holding air. That is a color I had been considering. A dark blue to resemble the once original "Yosemite blue poly".

-Garrett

Thanks, Garrett.
That is Porsche Midnight Blue, AKA "Nachtblau." I think it closely resembles my original color, Packard Blue Metallic. It's almost black.

Garrett,

The wheel I sandblasted, primed with PPG epoxy and painted dark blue is doing well and holding air. As long as you have a fairly smooth painted surface where the bead meets the rim, I don't think you'll ever have a problem with these old Packard wheels with a tubeless tire.

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I just put some used 225-75R15 used radials on the two front wheels, in order to be able to drive with some degree of safety while I save the money to buy the Diamondback Wide Whites. I spent $40 per tire, mounted and balanced.

What a difference! Amazing ride, smoothness, and stability. If you look at the photo of the old tire in the previous post you will understand why.

The more interesting thing is this- I was dead set on the wide white walls. After seeing the car, even with the black primer, with these radial black walls, I really am surprised how much I like the look. So now, I'm leaning more towards the opinion of @su8overdrive. Check out his opinions on tires.

<a href="http://s1067.photobucket.com/albums/u430/joeyearl/?action=view?t=aa8ed782.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u430/joeyearl/aa8ed782.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

<a href="http://s1067.photobucket.com/albums/u430/joeyearl/?action=view?t=3269a308.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u430/joeyearl/3269a308.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

The tire in the last picture held air?

Jim, the cracked bias ply tire held air because it had a tube. It wasn't pleasant to drive on though!

Both new (used) tires are holding air just fine.

I sandblasted, primed and painted the rims, giving extra attention to the bead areas. Bought used tubeless radials. If they leak, it won't be because of the wheel.

Personally, I've become a big fan of blackwall over whitewall tires on most cars.

I like the way the car looks with them!

Have to agree on that body style and dark color the blackwalls look very good. Am actually surprised at how appropriate they are.

Was browsing thru the archive looking for other examples on later models and while there are a few 51-4, IMO they don't work as well. Some were factory photos, others were by owners. Whether that was due to them mostly being on lower end models or the photography might be a question.

Interestingly, out of close to 500 photos, could only find a couple on 55-6 and they were on less than pristine condition cars. None on factory photos. On the cars that had them, didn't think they looked that appropriate either -- Not sure why they stuck out but suppose it might be because of the more squared looking car and paint treatment. The big blob of black nothing in the front half really draws the attention. At any rate, to me they sure seem to dress the car down.

On the few that had them, not quite convinced the narrower whitewalls look that good in real life either.

So, Howard, what you are saying, is that most Packards in the fifties were seldom seen wearing anything but whitewalls?

If you read su8overdrive's posts, he has very strong opinions concerning whitewalls. He says that they are used more than they should be today, on cars that didn't wear them back in the day. He doesn't care for them at all, and thinks they are overused.

If we had some shots other than aerial of the field of 50th anniversary Packards, I would like to see how many of those vehicles have whitewalls.

Personally, as I said before, I'm starting to lean towards su8's point of view.

I read his post and while I agree on many of the points, also disagree on some. Like so many other things, it all boils down to personal taste. He's probably right on the overuse though. Looking at photos of Packards my father had, all but one was blackwall -- but he was not much into anything extra that cost money without a purpose so that might have a lot to do with it.

Here are a couple of factory photos. Granted, both special promotions but don't see many black tires. Looking thru the golden anniversary photos from dealerships or other factory photos around that time and other anniversary year cars also doesn't show many black tires.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=11552&cid=52 andpackardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=9044&cid=78

There are several factory photos of the 21st series showing blackwall but wonder if that was by design or by shortage. Also some 51-4 with black tires but almost all on lower end models.