All of us saw it in the old, gangster movies: motorcycles with elegant whitewall tyres. Today, there are a few manufacturers on the market offering retro models. Some recommend also the “alternative” methods of painting white stripes on one’s own tyres by hand. Is it a good idea?
The charm and elegance of some motorcycles depends on stylised tyres – sometimes this addition decides of the final effect that most of users of two-wheeled vehicles wish to achieve. In this case, we are talking not only about oldtimers, in the case of which whitewall tyres are as irreplaceable as a well-matched tie which fits in with your shirt and suit, but also about modern cruisers or choppers. It all depends not only on the nature of the machine but also on individual taste of the owner.
Whitewall Dunlop motorcycle tyres for Harley-Davidson.
Let’s begin with the obvious – tourist whitewall tyres will always be a little more expensive than any stripeless tyres of the same type. The reason for this is simple: models of the type are manufactured in smaller batches. Additionally, the Polish market, despite the increasing number of motoring fans, never was and can never be the most responsive market for this kind of products.
Dunlop and the magic of Harley
There are several brands of whitewall motorcycle tyres on the Polish market. Let’s have a look at the offers. Dunlop provides a wide range of tyres. For example, Harley-Davidson (created in cooperation with the well-known motorcycle manufacturer). Other classic models are D404W (designed based on the legendary tread pattern for Harley-Davidson), Cruisemax, K177, and D402 – sold with a single whitewall and a wide whitewall.
Whitewall tyres top up Harley-Davidson motorcycles perfectly.
The Avon gangster offer
You can find several retro tyres in the Metzeler offer. The flagship product of the German brand, perfectly known to all motorcyclists in the world, is ME880 Marathon. Another option may be the High Mileage version – manufactured with a narrower whitewall on its side. Proceeding further: the Avon brand has a tyre in its catalogue the sole name of which – Gangster Retro Whitewall Tire – makes it clear what style we are dealing with. The British manufacturer offers also the AV71 Cobra tyre (of course the whitewall version with a wide whitewall).
A well-known company, Metzeler, also produces motorcycle whitewall tyres.
You may also buy whitewall models from one of the tyre tycoons on the global market. Bridgestone – Exedra G702 fitted in such motorcycles, as for example: Suzuki C90T, Yamaha Road Star Silverado or Royal Star Tour, as well as Exedra G722 and Exedra G705 OE Whitewall. On the other hand, Continental offers the Conti Milestone model in two versions – WW (wide whitewall) and WS (whitewall single). There is also Maxxis M6011R Classic WW. If we look for a cheaper option, we may choose one of the Japanese Shinko – 777 Whitewall, Classic 240 Whitewall or 250 Whitewall.
DIY?
A significant cost that you have to pay to equip your motorcycle with retro tyres gives rise to many home-made ideas of how to make your own whitewalls circulating among their owners. One of the ways to do this is to buy the so-called “diplomats” – white rubber bands which you fit in between the tyre and the wheel rim. Thanks to them, simple tyres look like the ones with whitewalls and at first glance it is difficult to notice the difference. However, some people point out that the bundles damage tyres after longer use – they cut tyres along their edge. For some reasons, the “diplomats” are manufactured for display cars. Moreover, they lose shape pretty fast and stop fitting tight with the tyre. Another thing is the fact that their installation is not the easiest things in the world, though some people try to glue them to the tyre.
The home-made “whitewalls” have no such charm and
are not that durable as the ones provided by the manufacturer.
On the Internet, you may find dozens of ideas of how to paint such white stripes on your own and which paint to use. Flexible paints are the best but some people experiment with paints used in swimming pools and on asphalt. Leaving other factors alone, the artistic value of such an undertaking is hard to imagine. Especially, when the white pigment starts to crack and peel off on the tyre which stretches and strains under pressure. In such a situation, everybody has to answer a question: is the decision to use doubtful half measures really more cost-effective than buying ready-made whitewalls?
The history of whitewalls
To round things up, let’s mention a funny historic paradox. Nowadays, whitewall tyres are deemed to be the most prestigious tyres, providing the classic motorcycles and luxurious cars with the unique elegance. In the past, it was the other way round. The first American company to manufacture tyres with a white sidewall was Vogue Tire and Rubber Co., initially producing horse-drawn carriages. It was in 1914. The first car tyres were manufactured using natural gum enriched with different chemicals to improve their quality. One of them was zinc oxide – a chemical improving traction and turning tyres white. Zink oxide did not make treads strong and durable enough, so soot had to be added to this part of tyre. This is how whitewalls came into being.
The whitewalls trend resurfaced in the 50s.
In the course of time, soot started to be used in all parts of a tyre. This is why tyres are black. Initially, these models were much more expensive than the common “black and white” tyres. They were mounted in luxurious cars, e.g. in 20s and 30s of the past century. As early as before the Second World War, black tyres started to force out whitewalls, which in the end have been found outdated and more difficult to maintain. The trend to use them resurfaced in America in the 50s. Their image started to change then – they became more stylish and elegant. They used to be fitted as an option or even as a basic equipment in some cars and motorcycles today known as classic. In our times, the trend to use whitewall tyres returned due to the passion for vintage vehicles and retro design shared by many manufacturers in the motor industry.
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