All You Need to Know About White Wall Tires

Nowadays, muscle and luxury cars equipped with white wall tires are a sign of style. But, no matter of the whitewall stripe width, such tires are hard to come by.

Why did manufacturers turn their back on whitewall tires? Can you still buy a whitewall tire set online?

While it is true that entirely black tires have conquered the market, white stripe and letter tires are still available for purchase. It's just that fewer tire brands manufacture them.

How Are Whitewall Tires Made?

Modern white-walled tires are manufactured in a different manner than old models were.

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.

Enough of a history lesson: let's talk about modern whitewall tires.

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.

The Problem With White Tires

Okay, we lied... there is still a little bit of history coming up in this section.

If white rubbed tire sets are so aesthetic, why did they go extinct? Well, there is one major issue why manufacturers and consumers have switched to black tires.

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.

This urged tire brands to make the switch and start manufacturing sturdier black tires. These new tires were made with carbon black, and featured radial structures.

Blackwall Tires vs. White Wall Tires

When looking at the difference between whitewalls and black tires, we need to highlight the following: modern whitewall tires are made to withstand the elements as their black counterparts do.

Yet, when it comes to a black tire vs. an original whitewall tire, there is a major distinction.

That is: black tires are more durable.

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.

All in all, black models are safer, stronger, and their production cost is lower than whitewall tires.

How to Clean White Wall Tires?

Cleaning tires can be a lengthy process. Well, at least tire cleaner manufacturers want you to believe that...

The tire market is oversaturated with various cleaning products, each telling consumers that they need this and that because of ... reasons?

You do not need special and fancy cleaners. Find the one that works for you and stick with it. Just be sure to not choose one made with harsh chemicals.

But, the question remains: how to clean white wall tires? The answer is similar to our reply to "
"how to clean tires?", there are just a couple of more steps.

Grab the Cleaner

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.

Wet the Tires

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.

Scrub and Rinse

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.

To keep the whitewall tire white, you can use additional protecting products. You can also clean the tires with water every two weeks.

White Wall Tires on Modern Cars

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.

Are There Still White Wall Tires for Sale?

Yes, white wall tires are still available for sale. However, they are not the wide white sidewall, bias-ply models of the mid-20th century.

Instead, tires are designed with raised white letters, narrow lines, or even with red or gold stripes. This gives vehicle owners a wider selection when searching for aesthetic tires.

If you are interested in purchasing such models, why not check out Priority Tire's offers?