White wall tires

[John F.]

Re: White wall tires

62s were the same. Body color wheels with blackwalls.

[Duke W.]

Re: White wall tires

Hmmm, never knew that. JG?




Whitehall Michelin X-ONE's on our '72 E-Type coupe, made in USA in 1997. They were still like new when I took them off a few months ago. Spare still in the boot still brand new appearance, never touched pavement. The 4 takeoffs still looked fine but told the new owner I'd get new Coopers on it. I put the 4 oldies out by the road for county pickup. Takes about a week for them to get here after calling in Walked by the kitchen window next day, some guy in a van stopped, started loading up. I ran out and told him they're 24 years old and not good for highway. He said they look new, thanks, I'll be ok. Nothing like good old American rubber.

BTW, another option.... Black shoe polish on the whitewalls, then reverse them.... lol

Rich

I think Jaguar may have offered a whitewall option on early E-types, but only for the USA. Back in the day (pre Armor-All) there was white and black tire paint. I used the black to paint the whole outside of the tire then used the white paint for to fill in the "Michelin X" block letters... made my own white letter tires before they became popular factory options.

The paint was pretty durable, gave a nice satin sheen and made the tires easy to wash with just soap and water on a rag.

Duke

[Frank D.]

Re: White wall tires

Right, but if you're not going through judging, who cares. I don't like the look of that '63 only feature. Very few jobs were built with either the base rayon or optional nylon blackwalls, but it added cost and complication to the production process, which is probably why it ended if not for aesthetic reasons.

Duke

My car will never see a judging field again while I own it, but I do like to attempt to keep things correct - plus I think the white walls just set off the Riverside Red nicely. I am in some very preliminary negotiations to sell the car so the next owner can do as he pleases.

[Mike E.]

[Frank D.]

[Dan D.]

Re: White wall tires

I remember them. And I had a set on my 52 Ford as well. They were the in-thing back then, as no body had any money to buy new tires.

My 52 Ford convertible had a 1954 Oldsmobile engine hooked to a 1937 Cad-LaSalle floor shift transmission. With that set-up, you were king of the hill back then.

-Dan-

[Frank D.]

Re: White wall tires

I just wonder what those kids at Discount Tire would think if I showed up with Port-A-Walls, or if they'd even mount a tire with them atttached.