What is the point of white wall tires?
Using white rubber to add style to a tire’s sidewall dates back into the early 1900s. In those days, the white rubber of wide, whitewall tires not only added style, but also acted as the sidewall’s outer protective layer. Modern whitewalls frequently cost two to three times more than comparable all-black tires. The price gap stems from genuine manufacturing challenges that make these tires expensive to produce.Whitewall tire manufacturing requires more steps than standard blackwall tires, and this has always been the case, dating back to the 1920’s. The white rubber is used early in the tire production process, and requires additional work after the tire comes out of the mold.Full-fledged wide whitewalls have made a return in 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.There are now only limited numbers of manufacturers selling white wall tyres. They also exist for bikes, where their light-reflecting properties mean they are used primarily for improved visibility. white wall tyres used to be less valuable than their black counterparts; now, it’s the other way round.Whitewall Tire Paint is a specially formulated rubberized paint with excellent bonds to most types of tires. Costs only a few dollars per tire. Perfect for all cross-ply tires and most radials. Water-based formula is easy to apply and clean up.
Are white wall tyres illegal?
ARE WHITE WALL TYRES ILLEGAL? Yes, white wall tyres are legal. The legality stems from removing the tyre lettering size on the side wall. Vehicles must not be fitted with radial tyres on the front wheels and cross ply tyres on the rear wheels. Furthermore, it is illegal to have a cross ply tyre on one side with a radial on the other.
Can you still buy white wall tyres?
There is a wide variety of white-wall tyres available with a variety of different height, or thickness of full white-wall or white wall band. We do also offer the service of having your choice of white-wall height built into the side wall of your classic car tyre. Black wall tires and white wall tires typically offer comparable performance and longevity, as these attributes are more influenced by the tire’s construction and rubber compound than the color of the sidewall. White wall tires require more maintenance to retain their appearance.
Are whitewall tires expensive?
Modern whitewalls frequently cost two to three times more than comparable all-black tires. The price gap stems from genuine manufacturing challenges that make these tires expensive to produce. Vogue Tyre and Rubber Co. In 1918, founder Harry Hower and the Woodbury family invented the whitewall tire, and in 1935, the company partnered with Goodyear in a partnership that still exists today.
Why did we stop using white wall tires?
It wasn’t until 1910 that B. F. Goodrich started adding carbon black to its tires, as this ingredient added strength and durability to the rubber. Soon, most new cars rolled out of the factory on black tires, as this updated chemistry resulted in a stronger tire. The Historical Roots The black color of tires dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early tires were made of solid rubber, which was naturally a dull gray or brownish hue. These early tires had various issues, including poor durability and limited traction.