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If it weren't for the black color additive to tires, most would be white since latex rubber is white. That could be one reason why so many antique cars look good with white wall tires because back when they were new, they had little choice.

The cars that are over a century old look good in white wall tires that are the balloon tires. They often have wooden-spoked wheels that use light-colored wood, so it seems appropriate that the tires are white. In the book "Encyclopedia of American Automobiles" by G. N. Georgano which was published in 1971, there are examples of cars with white wall tires and those with black. A 1909 Rauch & Lang electric is shown with white walls as is a 1902 Prescott steam surrey and six-wheeled 1903 Pullman touring car. The 1902 Rambler and the 1904 Cadillac are shown with black wall tires.

Often the color of the car lends itself to white walls. A white 1937 Cord or a deep blue 1933 Duesenberg SJ Roadster look best with white walls. White walls present the impression of a clean car. Also, they look snazzy on cars that at the time mainly millionaires and movie stars could afford. Black tires seemed so common while white walls seemed elegant and appropriate for expensive cars that also could be driven at over 100 mph.

Since many roads were dirt roads back a few decades, black wall tires were more appropriate because white walls had to be cleaned often to be presentable. A Model T Ford was black to begin with. So white walls would look out of place on one. A Chevy was an everyday car that competed in price with a Ford as did Ramblers. Basic black tires were needed by these basic cars. It didn't matter if they were driven through the mud.

Cars that had white walls often were driven in cities or on paved roads so that the tires kept cleaner longer. I know that if I were driving a 1935 Auburn boat tail speedster, it would have white wall tires. I would want to show it off to everyone and white wall tires indicate that I am proud of my machine. I want to be seen in it and have people say wow when I pass by or even when I have it parked for everyone to see. But if I had a black 1928 Packard sedan, it would have black wall tires. It may be more expensive than many cars. But it would be driven everywhere; even where the suspension gets a workout due to the ruts and mud holes.

In antique car shows, some of the fanciest cars have white wall tires. A 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk like the one I grew up looking at back in Indiana had to have white wall tires as did the 1910 green Stanley Steamer I saw at a department store when I was going home from work a quarter century ago. And just because the Stanley is nearly a century old, don't consider it slow. If the driver holds the throttle open for three minutes on the highway, he could have the police on his tail because he will be doing over 65 mph.

If I were a judge at an antique car show, I would rate cars with white wall tires higher as long as the cars are fast, expensive, and not black. But for black cars or "common" cars, black wall tires are appropriate. Also, people notice cars with white wall tires and admire them more, it seems. Black walls for everyday cars and white walls for special cars. Remember, white excites.

Learn more about this author, Rick Badman.
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