Choosing White Wall Tires For A Classic Car

White wall tires are recognizable by their sides of white rubber that were fitted to automobiles in the 1950s and 1960s. Although they are no longer the factory option for modern cars, they are the first choice for vintage car aficionados when they want to give their collection a classic, oldies vibe. Today, the Lincoln town car is the only car that comes with a factory option for narrow white walls.

History of White Wall Tires

In the 1920s, cars with white rings were a symbol of affluence. They often required more maintenance compared to their black counterparts and the single-sided tire remained highly popular among rich town car owners even up to the 1970s. Whitewall wheels were originally fitted on most cars before mid-1960. They were gradually replaced because they lacked traction. Carbon black was coated over the rings to solve this problem, which resulted to all-black wheels. Some companies coated carbon black on the treads and left the inner and outer sides white, which produced the classic version.

Radial versus Bias Ply White Wall Tires

Two types of whitewalls are sold by most shops today—the radial and the original bias ply. The radial whitewalls last longer than bias construction wheels, which extend diagonally from bead to bead and form a criss-cross pattern. The radial wheels have ply cords that extend from bead to bead at right angles to the center of the tire in a parallel pattern. Vehicles that came out before 1965 came with bias ply technology. This changed when the radial design was developed. By the ‘70s, radial whitewalls where seen in most cars on the road. Due to its design, the radial tire has the advantage of increased safety, better handling and economy compared to its bias ply counterpart. Radial designs are known for their longevity, easier steering and minimum rolling resistance.

Top Manufacturers of White Wall Tires

Most original manufacturers of this kind of tire still offer these wheels straight from the original molds. Top sources for classic whitewalls include American Classic, Coker Classic and BF Goodrich. Coker has the largest classic tire collection, including collections from US Royal and Firestone. Other specialty outlets that offer these wheels include Diamond Back Classics and Lucas Classic Tires. Motor Spot is another top source for tires with collections that include Goodyear, Premium Sport and BF Goodrich.

Secondhand whitewall wheels are sold by most automobile shops. Other options include auction sites like eBay. Those who will not mind doing a little digging can head out to junkyards where different types of wheels can be found and are much cheaper compared to tires sold online. One may need to do a little bit of cleaning with finds from the junkyard but one just might be lucky enough to stumble upon rubber tires in good condition. Collectors can also look up postings on craigslist.com. There are classic car owners who may want to dispose of their classic white wall tires at prices that are cheaper compared to most shops.

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