Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

This is going to be a fun one for you out there. I have a 1947 Custom Super Clipper. Its tire are Coker wide whitewall radials installed in March. The curious thing about the car is that its original spare tire is mounted in trunk, OEM, never used. Goes without saying that I will never use, since I am sure the inner tube has turned to dust by now. I don't want to get rid of this tire, but I am not going to keep it in my basement, so I have to find some kind of alternative that allows me to keep most of the usable space in the trunk.

I have always had a spare tire in my cars and I don't want to go on a tour without one, but a full-size spare in addition to the original spare would take up too much room to carry anything else. That brings me to the idea of using a donut spare which would take up a lot less space. I am not sure about the size of a donut spare for my car, but I would appreciate some feedback from you out there in Packard Land.

If I were on a tour, I would want a full-size spare. Period.

Keep the relic tire at home and only have it in the car in place of the new full-size spare when you are going to local shows.

While it would be neat in a museum car, I am not sure how much it would be appreciated or recognized by the normal car show participant.

The original can be kept as is as a wall art in your shop to worship.

Get another factory rim and put a full size spare...I would never risk a donut spare for the value of an antique car.

My 2.5 cents

Unless it can be ordered from some specialty tire shop I don't believe you will find any modern off the shelf wheel that can carry a donut tire and will have a large enough center hole to fit on the Packard drum.

Craig you are not far from Ross. He can probably sell you a spare 55 Clipper rim.