How the Whitewall Tire Was Developed

Industrial Chem Labs and Services is a Deer Park, NY, firm that offers a full range of products for degreasing, odor control, sanitization, and general cleaning. One of Industrial Chem Labs and Services’ automotive products is a concentrated cleaner designed specifically for whitewall tires.

Whitewall tires are named for the off-white hue of natural rubber, which made up the first commercial tires produced. Zinc oxide was used to brighten the color until BFGoodrich introduced carbon black in 1910 as a way of boosting rubber durability and strength. Black sidewall tires soon became the standard.

The whitewall tire was an accident that resulted from early cost-cutting, as some manufacturers only added carbon black to the surface tread. This resulted in white sidewalls that were ultimately refined into a decorative element. A white rubber strip would be added to an all-black carcass during the production process. A popular tire upgrade as part of an “appearance package,” the whitewall’s popularity continued until the early 1960s, when wide whitewall tire models were phased out.

Since the mid-1990s, wide whitewall tires have again become commonly available and are prized among custom builders and hot rod enthusiasts. Given their aesthetic function and susceptibility to dirt and grime, owners of vehicles with whitewall tires must clean them with a quality product on a regular basis.

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