White Walls (Just a question not trying to start a debate)

[robgross1930]

With the exception of a few Model A’s, white walls have always looked out of place on a Model A in my opinion. I especially dislike them when the color of the wheel is not far from white, e.g., straw or crème colored wheels. Looks odd in my opinion.

At the same time, I don't like any wheel/tire combination that causes people to focus on them instead of the car, e.g., black wheels and white walls look like white rings rolling down the road. Reminds me of an old steam locomotive rather than a car.

 

[dwollam]

It is kinda hard to tell the color of the walls in a black and white photo, but it looks like you backed up into them when the paint was wet.

I'm thinking it looks like a trailer hitch ball, not a "rub".

I had whitewalls on a '29 Tudor I sold to my sister in law. I had it at my house one day while I was debating on what color wheels/tires for my '31 Roadster Pickup. Whitewalls were out of the question.... until I tried her 19" red wheels w/ wide whites on the pickup. That's all it took. Everyone present chose the red wheels w/ whitewalls. Been that way ever since.

Dave

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Two Guys lived in an apartment for a LOOOONG time.----"We've soiled this place, may we repaint it before we leave?----OH, that's so NICE of you"!!!-----
They painted it BLACK!!!
Bill W.

 

[H. L. Chauvin]

Humble Opinion on Whitewalls:

A. Lots depends on "who" one is trying to impress with whitewalls.

B. With magazine(s) or actual photos of Model A's, with different tires, ask several individuals which do they prefer; for example,

1. Ask both young and senior females; and,

2. Ask both young and senior men.

3. Finally, ask your wife ..... she is in charge .... so do the answers in 1. & 2. above matter?

C. Please let us know what you decide to buy .... thousands of ears are anxiously waiting for one or several individual's "correct" answer.

 

[Hoogah]

C. Please let us know what you decide to buy .... thousands of ears are anxiously waiting for one or several individual's "correct" answer.

Well, I was just being mischievous by asking the "innocent" question really. I even used the same set of words found in the title of another current thread that went the same way. Only a couple of guys got it - Todd3131 and Doug V. But that's OK, it's an issue that obviously needs LOTS of discussion.

So, I'm not in the market. I inherited the WWs that are on my original E28 Phaeton when I bought it, and they're still in good knick. I don't mind them. I think they're kind of cheeky/pretentious!

Now let's get back to the opinions!

 

[C26Pinelake]

Well, I was just being mischievous by asking the "innocent" question really. I even used the same set of words found in the title of another current thread that went the same way. Only a couple of guys got it - Todd3131 and Doug V. But that's OK, it's an issue that obviously needs LOTS of discussion.

So, I'm not in the market. I inherited the WWs that are on my original E28 Phaeton when I bought it, and they're still in good knick. I don't mind them. I think they're kind of cheeky/pretentious!

Now let's get back to the opinions!

You waste everyone's time!

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

The whitewall argument has given me such a headache that I can't think straight.
Now I need to take two whitewalls and go rest for a few hours.

 

[California Travieso]

In the '50's my 48 Ford Coupe and my 1957 Chevy two-door both had whitewall tires because most American cars had WW's then, especially the wide ones.

When the imported sports cars came in in the 50's and 60's they all had BW's because they wanted to identify with rally and road racing cars. In the early 50's the 6 cylinder Corvettes and 50's T-Birds had WW's. By the 60's the muscle cars and imported cars all had BW's because they wanted to identify with track cars, e.g., drag racers and road racers. Even my 40 HP VW had BW's.

its pretty hard to find WW's on modern cars, my BMW and my wife's Lexus both have BW's, they would look odd with WW's.

WW's are pretty much reserved for classic and antique cars like my wife's 29 Roadster, although, when we buy new tires for the Roadster, we'll probably by BW's.

David Serrano

 

[ed thibodeau]

I have them on my tudor. I don't like them but my wife does, enough said.

 

[JBill]

I'd guess that the majority of the people participating on this board, not all, probably grew up in an era when most sporty cars had white walls (late forties, fifties, sixties). If we had a car that didn't, we either painted them on or added those rubber deals that fit under the edge of the rim. Younger people have grown up with cars that never had black walls, so they have a different idea of what a car should look like, or what is "cool."

 

[C26Pinelake]

I don't remember ever being at a car show where a people's choice award was given to a car with black walls. Wayne

 

[DougVieyra]

JBill - " If we had a car that didn't, we either painted them on or added those [white] rubber deals that fit under the edge of the rim."
_________________________

Bill is talking about - "Port-A-Walls" ? I still have a NOS set of four - never got around to mounting them on the tires/wheels.

 

[Brace Bailey]

I have another reason to go White Walls.

The Wife factor has been pretty well established- and mine really wanted
White Walls on my 61 Corvette I was building. Problem is... big brakes and
C4 suspension required 17" wheels, and narrow sidewall / wide tires just don't seem to have 2" white walls any more.

So... Next project was a 1930 Pick up. I promised it would be all original, and
When I got a deal on a set of 5 Firestone WWs... I was all set.
Then I picked up a very nice set of welled front fenders.
So.. what the heck... now I have six White Walls.

 

[jm29henry]

I love my white walls but it does take time to keeping clean and bright

 

[bnchief]

Do what you want to do it is your car if you like them great do not worry about what other people think. But then i never asked for opinions on my wife either.

 

[todd3131]

I love my white walls but it does take time to keeping clean and bright

Every body says they are hard to take care of I don't get that I have had them on my car since seventy five and other cars also along with white raised letters on my trucks. To clean them all I do is spray them with purple power or one of the other good strong cleaners and wash them at the car wash or a simple scrub brush and since them off that easy. I also have a friend that I help with his collection he has whitewalls on 8 or nine cars and they clean up the same. Secret is to not use westlys that stuff is worthless.

 

[C26Pinelake]

Every body says they are hard to take care of I don't get that I have had them on my car since seventy five and other cars also along with white raised letters on my trucks. To clean them all I do is spray them with purple power or one of the other good strong cleaners and wash them at the car wash or a simple scrub brush and since them off that easy. I also have a friend that I help with his collection he has whitewalls on 8 or nine cars and they clean up the same. Secret is to not use westlys that stuff is worthless.

I have w/w on 17 of 19 cars and I find Westleys to be the best there is. The strong cleaners dry out the tire, Wayne

 

[Cornishman]

I have gone through my life seriously disliking white walled tyres. Then I bought my Model A. It had been standing for 20-30 years, indoors and sheltered, and the tyres were shot. With my car white walls were the only choice, as with its white roof black tyres would look all wrong. More expensive and harder to source but the correct decision. White walled tyres would look stupid on my other cars, horses for courses.

 

[Bruce Adams]

Sometimes they can give a nice look, particularly if you like flashy. I just love the new whitewalls. Here I am with the W/W's in the rumble, off to the tire center, and upon return. You Decide !

 

[Fred K-OR]

Looks sharp, not authentic but sharp.....

Yes, yes, yes---