Re: Whitewall Tires.... Hmm....

Posted by cortes121 On 2021/5/19 17:14:21

I'm fairly uneducated on the topic, but I do recall hearing the same thing I read on Wikipedia regarding early whitewall adoption:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitewall_tire#cite_note-4

"The status of whitewall tires versus blackwall tires was originally the reverse of what it later became, with fully black tires requiring a greater amount of carbon black and less effort to maintain a clean appearance these were considered the premium tire; since the black tires first became available they were commonly fitted to many luxury cars through the 1930s. During the late-1920s gleaming whitewalls contrasted against darker surroundings were considered a stylish, but high-maintenance feature. The popularity of whitewalls as an option increased during the 1930s. "

The original premium of blackwall tires would also account for why the magazines showcase them more prominently, I'd imagine.