Where To Buy White Wall Tires _TOP_
Whitewall tires have reached iconic status on classic vehicles of the fifties and sixties, but did you know that whitewalls were optional and sometimes not optional on cars and trucks from the twenties, thirties and forties, too?
where to buy white wall tires
Speak to a Tire Expert to find out what tires came on your car or truck from the factory, then shop online for hundreds of whitewall tires for sale in our online store. Whitewall tires are available in the diminutive pin white 3/8" stripe all the way up to the whopping 4" plus wide whitewall tires.
Early automobile tires were made of pure natural rubber with various chemicals mixed into the tread compounds to make them wear better.[2] The best of these was zinc oxide, a pure white substance that increased traction and also made the entire tire white.[2] However, the white rubber did not offer sufficient endurance, so carbon black was added to the rubber to greatly increase tread life.[3] Using carbon black only in the tread produced tires with inner and outer sidewalls of white rubber. Later, entirely black tires became available, the still extant white sidewalls being covered with a somewhat thin, black colored layer of rubber. Should a black sidewall tire have been severely scuffed against a curb, the underlying white rubber would be revealed; it is in a similar manner that raised white letter (RWL) tires are made.
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. On April 6, 1934, Ford introduced whitewall tires as an $11.25 (equivalent to $228 in 2021) option on all its new cars.[4] But automobile designs incorporating streamlining directed visual interest away from tire walls.
Wide whitewall tires reached their height in popularity by the early-1950s. The 1957 production version of the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was fitted with whitewalls that were reduced to a 1" wide stripe floating on the tire sidewall with a black area between this stripe and the wheel rim. The whitewall stripe width began to diminish as an attempt to reduce the perceived height of the wheel/tire. During the decade, increasingly lower vehicle heights were in vogue. During the 1950s, Fender skirts also covered up white wall tires.[6]
New tires were wrapped in paper for shipping, to keep the white stripe clean, and for preventing the black of other tires from rubbing on the whitewall side.[8] Maintaining a clean sidewall was an issue. Some motorists added aftermarket "curb feelers" that were attached at the bottom of the wheel opening lip to help reduce scraping the whitewall tire against curbs.[9]
The single-sided whitewall remained a desirable option through the 1970s, becoming a hallmark of "traditional luxury". Radial tires made by Vogue Tyre featured a narrow whitewall with a thin gold stripe line toward the edge of the tire. They were most often fitted to luxury cars.[11]
Full-fledged wide whitewalls have made a return within modified car culture. The resurgence of traditional hot rods, customs, retro, lowriders and resto-cal cars have also contributed to the resurgence in whitewall tires.
Although wide whitewalls are virtually nonexistent as a factory option on modern automobiles, they are still manufactured in original bias-ply or radial form by specialty outlets such as Coker Tire and Vogue Tyre. The last car available in the United Kingdom with whitewall tires was the Kia Pride. Some companies manufacture wide whitewall inserts - the so-called "Portawall" inserts are usually sold through Volkswagen Beetle restoration companies. Another modern incarnation has been tire decals, which can be applied to a normal tire to give the whitewall look.
Whitewall tires, also known as white sidewall tires, are really popular with classic car enthusiasts. In the old days, whitewall tires were a premium upgrade, as they made your car look a bit flashier. (Red line tires were popular too. Read more about those here.)
Originally, tires were produced using only rubber, which was a pure white substance. Therefore, the first tires sets were completely white. Later, to strengthen their durability, performance, and tread life, brands added carbon black and other raw materials to the tread compounds, which turned tires black.
However, in order to save on production costs, manufacturers only covered the tread area with this new black substance. This created the first white tires for cars, as white rubber was still visible on the entire sidewall. Yet, even these tires were fazed out by the 1970s when full black, radial tires became the norm.
Today you can find different whitewall rubber tires available for sale. You can equip your car with white tires which only have white lettering or ones that have a wide or narrow white stripe on their sidewall. These tires are only single-sided whitewall models made with white tire paint.
Many tire brands design raised white letter tires which do not have a stripe on their sidewall. The second most popular option is tires with a narrow whitewall. These are usually sold for modern vehicles. However, wide whitewalls with white stripes are still being produced.
Specialized tire brands, like Vogue Tyre and Coker Tire, still provide wide whitewall tires for sale. Muscle cars with white tires need models that ensure their authenticity. This is where a nostalgic, bias-ply whitewall tire set comes into play.
That reason is their durability. Pure white rubber does not offer it. These tires scuff easily, their white areas turn yellow, and they do not offer the performing durability and service life needed. Changing tires every day is not what vehicle owners wish for.
In the 1970s, when black wall tires became popular, brands also started switching to manufacturing radial models. This construction and the durable tread compound mix of black models enabled their better performance, handling, and service life.
Apart from their compound durability and structure, there was another problem with white walls. Tires like this cannot be produced with smaller sidewalls. This is important, as low-profile tire sets offer better handling, steering responsiveness, and driving stability. As a result, drivers had better control over the vehicles, resulting in a safer drive.
When cleaning whitewalls, be sure to use a special white wall cleaner. These cleaners enable the tire to clean the tire wall without damaging the white rubber areas. Steer clear of products with harsh chemicals as well, as all-natural cleaners will work the best.
Once you have the cleaning product, the fun begins. Use a soft rag and a hose to wet the tires. Apply the cleaning product to the sidewall. Ones that come in spray bottles can simply be sprayed on the tires, while liquid cleaners need to be mixed with water in a bucket.
Now, it's time to scrub the tire's surface thoroughly. Work the cleaned into the sidewall, but do not use a harsh brush or rag as they can damage the white wall tire paint. Scrub until the sidewalls are fully clean. When this process is done, rinse the tires with water.
Yes, it is possible to have whitewall tires on modern vehicles. However, most brands do not produce fully white wall tires anymore. Yet, there are a couple of manufacturers still dealing with bias-ply, whitewall tires.
However, most vehicles need radial models. They are unable to securely perform with anything less. Therefore, manufacturers have started producing various whitewalls with radial structures, but they are not the same as they used to be.
When cleaning whitewall tires, it is important to purchase soft whitewall cleaners. These products protect and clean the white rubber area on the sidewalls. It does this without damaging the tire in the process. Scrub, rinse with water, and you are done.
Yes, you can use a whitewall cleaner to clean your tires. But, you need to make sure it is not a bleach white tire cleaner, as bleach and other harsh chemicals, will damage the narrow or wide whitewall, or white lettering on the tire sidewall. Use tire cleaners make specifically for whitewalls.
White wall tires, also known as white side wall tires, were a common feature in earlier cars. These tires were known for having a stripe or entire sidewall of white rubber. Used from roughly 1900 to the mid-1970s, this style of tire was featured prominently on nearly every major automobile. The use of white wall rubber for tires was traced to Vogue tire and Rubber Co in Chicago, known for making said tires for use in horse and chauffeur-drawn carriages.
These early tires were produced with pure natural rubber and had various chemicals, such as Zinc Oxide, mixed into the tread compounds to make them wear better. Zinc Oxide was a pure white substance that increased traction and also made the entire tire white. Carbon black was added to the tire formula when white rubber was found to have insufficient endurance properties. This amount of carbon black was first added to the tread, allowing the side wall of the tires to initially remain white. For several reasons, such as cost, impracticality, cleanliness, and attention, white wall tires eventually went out of vogue in favor of tires with carbon black expanding from tread to the side walls.
Tires with white walls tend to call a lot more attention from nearby drivers, whereas tires with black walls tend to be more inconspicuous and go unnoticed. As time went on, drivers realized they preferred the look of tires that were more low profile. The side walls of tires were a fairly generous color of white, and manufacturers used white letters to visually break up a large sidewall, giving it a more athletic look. 041b061a72