VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 White Wall Size

I searched this but found nothing. So if I missed it, just shoot me.

What in the world is the consensus as to the width of the white walls for any given year. Let's say for a 41 because that will benefit me most. I've seen 21/2, 23/4, 3, and other sizes 600x16. (Don't hold me to those sizes, I'm just making the point here.) Anyway, I think this is relatively important and especially helpful when converting to radials.

As tires have reached well over $200.00 apiece, I don't want to make a mistake that could be the source of negative comment.

Best, Charlie

Try Wallace Wade in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for tires.

Apparently Wade Wallace does not sell whitewall tires any more. If you go to their web site, they have a link for vintage tires and the link redirects you to another site called Specialty Tires USA online. When you get there, they list 3 tire styles that are vintage, none of which are white wall.

After pouring over the internet for several days for some budget whitewall tires for my 41 chevrolet, The best deal I could find was from an outfit in Orange, California. 16 x 6.00 tube type 4 ply 3" Whitewall Coker Tires for $114.00 each.
Company is called Motorspot.INC They have a gazillion tires and nice pictures of what they look like. Does that price
sound reasonable?

V/r

Al

The white wall in 1941 was about 3 1/2" wide. That is the width of the Goodrich available today. Ihave the second set on my '39 at this time and that brand has a white wall that stays white. My other favorite would be the Firestone. That white wall is 3 1/4" and still within the limits of what was available in 1941-1948.
If you want a nice white wall that stays whie don't go for a lower priced tire . You get what you pay for.

I called Wallace Wade because their web site isn't active any longer. They told me it's down because they were making some changes. I would advise calling their 800 number and asking about their prices and availability.

What is their 1-800 number?

Al,

Wallace Wade (1-800-666) TYRE has great prices too. Their same tires are only $118.00

Al,

Check out kelseytire.com they have the original molds from Goodyear and produce a 600/16 ERA Tire with a 3.5" ribbed white wall, I've bought 2 sets in 8 years. a bit pricey like
$170.00 each + $16.00 for the tubes. I beleive they are more than worth the cost....

Wes Marquis

The Good Year with the ribbed white walls never look good to me an a GM car. GM did not use Good Years from 1933-1942 and when they did offer white walls they had the smooth side wall. Its a good looking tire for a Chrysler product because that is what they used. They mounted the straight rib TREAD on the fronts and the diamond TREADS on the rear from 1940-1942. So the front and rear tires did not match.

Thanks everyone.

Gene, I favor B.F. Goodrich, also. Three inch WW seems a little wide, though. I don't have one to look at right now. I did pick up a set from Coker at Hershey three years ago. They were for a guy to whom I had sold a 51 pickup. He restored it (very close to original. Though, he painted it in gray with black fenders and wheels). Those BFGs really set it off.

I am grateful for the heads up on the durability of the whites to stay white also.

Thanks again, everyone who responded.
Charlie

U.S Royal Air Ride. Does anyone know how far back that goes. These are not whitewall and on the 41 when I purchased it, and on the spare too.

v/r

Al

I put a new set of US Royal Air Rides on a 39 chev coupe
in spring of 1946.. Sure made a difference on the ride..

The US Royal Air Ride came out in 1947 and was available as an option on the 1948. The option included going to 15" wheels.
The 6.70X16 would have been the size used to replace the 6.00X16 on a 1941. The 6.70X15 had the same diamerter as a 6.00X16.
(they were not quite out yet in 1946....infact tires were still hard to come by in 1946.) In fact the 1946 model cars did not even come with a spare tire.
The Air Ride (which had terrible sidewalls) was discontinued in mid 1954 and replaced by the US Royal 8.

The "Big Four" of the tires industry all had a low pressure tire in 1948. Good Year the Super Cushion, Goodrich the Low Pressure (name) and Firestone the Super Baloon.

Does anyone know the last year allstate tires were made ?
And witch manufacture made them ?

Allstate tires were made by Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co.
I would guess they were made up into the mid '80's.
There was a new set on my 1957 when I bought it and they would have been installed in about 1980. I "removed" them and installed a set of Goodrich because the Allstate white walls were more like yellow walls. The Allstate was a very popular colector car tire in the '60's and '70's, They had a seperate antique car tire section in the Sears catalog. When the "other" brands came along the Allstates kinda died away.

Thanks gene, I have allstate tires on my 39, so now i know about how old they are. I'll be looking at some Firestone or goodrich tires.Any pro's or con's on these ?
decisions,decisions......

I have the Goodrich on my '39. I think they look good as far as propotions go and the white stays nice and white after they are cleaned a few times. My third set of tires on the '39 and the second set of Goodrich.