Why do old cars have white tires?

Answer 1

it was the style back then so people get them to keep there cat looking original

the old ads always included white wall tires

like they add custom wheels now

Answer 2

The v-e-r-y first tires were made from natural rubber, which was white. Carbon was added to improve traction which made the tires black. Later on, it was just a question of style and status. By the 1920's whitewall tires were considered to add elegance to a vehicle and show that you were affluent enough to own an expensive car and live in a neighborhood with paved roads. Trucks, farm vehicles, and inexpensive cars driven by the plebeian masses had bourgeois blackwall tires.

By the 1950's this trend filtered down to Buicks and Pontiacs and eventually everyday Fords and Chevys. By the 1990's the trend was pretty much over.

Answer 3

The THICK white walls are to keep the temperature down (white reflects, as black keeps heat). By keeping the temperature relatively lower (during hot days), the tires remain at optimal pressure, making the ride smoother. As a hot (blackwall) tire will have an increase tire pressure, it will make the ride rough.

An additional 10*F will increase your tire pressure by 2PSI.

The thin white lines on most of todays tires are for looks only and don't really serve a purpose. There are still tire manufacturers (like Vogue) that make thick white walls. At a price....(about $200ea)

Or you can do what I do, and fill the tires with Nitrogen, instead of Oxygen. This keeps the tire-pressure very even, during extreme colds and hots. (Costco now carries nitrogen).

Answer 4

in the very early days before 1915 or so tires were naturally white because the manufacturers didn't add carbon black to them, they started adding it in the late teens because it made them look cleaner & it was discovered they lasted longer with carbon black added to the natural rubber formula.
later on white sidewalls with black treads became popular on luxury cars just for appearance sake & because the wealthy owners had full time chauffeurs & mechanics to keep them clean.
whitewall tires didnt become popular on ordinary cars until the 30s & then they were an extra cost option.
tires can be made in any color & for a brief time in the late 50s tires were offered in blue. red & even yellow instead of black but they never became popular so the fad didnt last.

Answer 5

white wall tires today are used mainly for looks. way back in the day of early automotive times, tires were all white, they were not vulcanized and therefore they melted in very hot weather. black tires were and they withstand very high road temps. white walls stuck around because for the most part, looked nice. white wall can be a thin stripe, lettering, or full sidewall.

Answer 6

from what i have heard, the first tires made had to have the white stuff put in the mold to keep sidewalls from sticking when removing hot tire....and it kinda got left there and someone liked it. do not know how true this is,sound like a good story though.

Answer 7

It looks plain cool and this is coming from fifteen year old. What can I saw it's classy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewall_tire

If personal likenings of teenager isn't enough.

Answer 8

For looks and coolness.