White walls and Model A/AA Fords...

[Steve Plucker]

I know this has been discussed time and time again but just when did the "White-walled tire" become a fixture on our cars and trucks here in the USA?...What was the year they were first produced?

I am asking this because when viewing the January/February 1974 issue of Ford Life there is a 1930 photo of a 1930 Cabriolet, sporting "Dayton Thorobred 4:75 x 19 tires" on page 12.

Then the "centerfold" in the same issue is that of a 1929 AA Closed Cab "car hauling" truck which is hauling four (4) 1929 Model A Ford cars. The Model AA Ford truck has a full set of an unknown brand of "double" White-walled tires on it.

Ohhhh those white-walled tires...Say it ain't so...Say it ain't so!!!!!

Pluck

[J Franklin]

The whitewalls on the delivery truck were equivalent to the flags surrounding a used car lot, they wanted all eyes to turn and look. My bet.

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

The whitewalls on the delivery truck were equivalent to the flags surrounding a used car lot, they wanted all eyes to turn and look. My bet.

That is fine, but again: "when did the "White-walled tire" become a fixture on our cars and trucks here in the USA?"

Thanks.

Pluck

[Clydes 31 P/U]

Steve, Went through the Old Ford Pics posting found some pics on there that others have posted look at posts #46,75,114 and#131 one has a date on it. Hope I haven't misunderstood your ?

[J Franklin]

I would hazard a guess that it was in the late 40's early 50's after the deprivations of the depression and after the close of WWII. People were starting to think things were looking up.

[Steve Plucker]

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Hmmmmm....Guess I better restate my question:

When did the White-wall tire first become available in the USA...what year were those first White-walled tires produced?

It is well understood that "production" Model A/AA Fords did not have them...I think.

Thanks.

Pluck

[ChicagoBob]

Wikipedia (which is difficult to verify) reminds us that auto tires originally were all white, but that this changed with the addition of carbon black to the rubber compound to increase durability, meaning that all-black tires were eventually considered "premium." They report that cosmetic whitewalls first appeared in the late 1920s. This would be only about 15 years later.

Most other websites parrot this history, usually word-for-word. Jalopy Journal ran an article in 2006 that traced whitewalls to a Chicago company and dates them at about the same time. See http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=215. They followed it later with an interesting interview on the subject with George Barris.

Looks like an item that began as utilitarian later became stylish (like roadsters).

[IrishHills]

1903 Ford Model A Runabout

[Special Coupe Frank]

The all-white tires were also usually smooth back before WW-I, so without any tread, I'll bet they were slippery.

Steve, I don't have an exact date for you, but I have seen dozens of factory photos / dealer photos of various cars taken between 1920 and 1930 and they are wearing WWW tires ( can't tell if they are double WWW or not ). And I have seen 1920's -early 1930's photos of Model T Fords wearing white / light sidewall tires - these were everyday cars, not show-cars.

WWW's did exist between WW I and the Depression.

Jeff's comment about only the tread "cap" being compounded with carbon-black rubber would account for the "double WWW" appearance.

There used to be a nice reprint of the 1927 Sears Catalogue... I remember tires, chains, Scandanavia Lining, and other car-stuff, but don't specifically recall anything about WWW / BW... anybody here in Ford-land have a copy of that catalogue and could check ?

[Bruce Adams]

I have seen lots of photos of whitewalls during the 1920s and Paris cabs had a lot of them in the WW I photos while transporting troops to the front in 1914.

Here is a Ford ad for the Cabriolet showing white walls.

[Steve Ciccalone]

Frank, when you see these very early photos of whitewalls, they are actually all white tires. Given road conditions, the treads and edges blackened quickly leaving the impression that the tires were whitewalls. I have plenty of antique motorcycle photos like this.

Although available, WWS were not common by circa 1930 even on the big cars. I've seen plenty of photos of CCCA eligible cars of the day with blackwalls.

Originally Posted by Special Coupe Frank

The all-white tires were also usually smooth back before WW-I, so without any tread, I'll bet they were slippery.

Steve, I don't have an exact date for you, but I have seen dozens of factory photos / dealer photos of various cars taken between 1920 and 1930 and they are wearing WWW tires ( can't tell if they are double WWW or not ). And I have seen 1920's -early 1930's photos of Model T Fords wearing white / light sidewall tires - these were everyday cars, not show-cars.

WWW's did exist between WW I and the Depression.

Jeff's comment about only the tread "cap" being compounded with carbon-black rubber would account for the "double WWW" appearance.

There used to be a nice reprint of the 1927 Sears Catalogue... I remember tires, chains, Scandanavia Lining, and other car-stuff, but don't specifically recall anything about WWW / BW... anybody here in Ford-land have a copy of that catalogue and could check ?

[A bones]

MY two cents, I read years ago that the discovery of black rubber was a wartime mishap (graphite? if memory serves) at the plant. Rather than waste the batch they found through use that the alteration (contamination) resulted in superior wear characteristics. They went into regular production only to find that the public didn't care for the look and insisted on using the familiar white tires. The manufacturers found a compromise with a layer white rubber on the sidewall. Though Ford into the twenties (T model) used either black or all white tires, I heard an "expert" at an AACA meet declare there never was an A model built with white walls. Using them is merely "gilding the lily". Enjoy your day. I've never research this

[A bones]

oops finger bumped mouse pad before finishing. I've never researched this and hope Y'all can verify Model A manufacture practices.

[Special Coupe Frank]

Okay, here goes with some vintage photos of new / nearly new 1920's cars. many with dealer plates on them, most wearing WW tires.

[Bruce,Upstate NY]

Some were available in the early, perhaps earlier. I've removed worn out wsw's from cars that came off the road in 1922. Red walls also were made in the teens. The old white tires were natural rubber grayish until hardened, presumably by the sun, but under the surface were gray.

[Clem Clement]

The Ford truck book shows a special AA being deliverd with WWW.
Clem
And Pluck, you may have heard, my 39 Peeekup has 2 white walls on Momma's side. Momma ain't ridin in no work truuuck but she will go along with WWWs and beauty rings on her side.

[Steve Ciccalone]

I have an original m/c tire off a 1917 Henderson. Red sidewalls with black non-skid tread.