White Wall Motorcycle Tires

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, while motorcycle streamlining and skirted fenders eventually rendered the two-sided whitewall obsolete.

The availability of white wall tires was limited during the supply shortages of raw materials during World War II and the Korean War.

Wide white wall tires reached their zenith in popularity by the early-1950s. The 1957 production version of the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was fitted with whitewalls that were reduced to a 1" wide stripe floating on the tire sidewall with a black area between this stripe and the wheel rim. The white wall stripe width began to diminish as an attempt to reduce the perceived height of the wheel/tire, during the decade increasingly lower vehicle heights were in vogue.

Wide whitewalls generally fell out of favor in the U.S. by the 1962 model year. They continued as an option on the Lincoln Continental for some time thereafter but most common were narrower 3/4"-1" stripe whitewalls. During the mid-1960s variations on the striped whitewall began to appear; a red/white stripe combination was offered on Thunderbirds and other high-end Fords, and triple white stripe variations were offered on Cadillacs, Lincolns, and Imperials. Whitewall tires were a popular option on new cars during the 1950s and 1960s, as well as in the replacement market.

Upgrading your motorcycle tires is one of the best investments you can make in your bike. They can totally change the way your bike handles in the corners. How it reacts on multiple surfaces. They can also determine whether or not you'll cut that extra half a second off your start at the strip.

So many people bikers focus on adding more power to their bike, that they forget the handling. You can have all the power in the world, but if your bike can't transfer it to the ground effectively then it's meaningless. That's why aftermarket motorcycle tires are so important. That's also why I created this guide, to help you choose the right tire for your bike.

Street Bike Tires:

Now technically any bike that rides on the street can be considered a "Street Bike", but I'm referring specifically to sport bikes. Now the with street bike tires you don't have too many options, because there built for performance and handling.

* Sport Touring Tires

Sport touring bike tires combine the best of both worlds. They give you racing performance, with the longevity of touring tires.

* Sportbike Tires

These are full on race tires. They have awesome grip, and make your bike handle like a dream, however they do not last that long at all. You'll have to replace these every few months.

* Touring Tires

These tires are meant for the daily rider and the road trip enthusiast. They're built for multiple weather conditions, and road surfaces. These can easily last you up to 6 months or more depending on your riding style.

Cruiser Motorcycle Tires

Cruisers can encompass both chopper style bikes all the way to the luxury goldwing touring bikes. Cruiser tires don't come in too many styles either, and are mainly built for longevity.

* Blackwall / Whitewall Tires

The name says it all; they either have an all black side or a white ring that's found on the earlier bikes. All of these are mainly touring tires, except for the chopper tires, which are a lot wider and sportier.

Dirt Bike Motocross Tires

Dirt bikes can encompass full on dirt bikes and the dual sport bikes that are built for on and off road. Dirt tires range from full on off road all the way to dual purpose daily driver.

* Dual Sport Tires

Dual sports are designed for both on and off road riding. There smoother like sport tires, but the tread is spaced out more like off road tires. These will hold up well in most weather conditions and will do decent on most dirt roads, just don't expect to hit a supercross track with these.

* Motocross Tires

Motocross tires are built specifically for off road. They have really knobby tread and will do well in dirt, mud, and rock climbing. They do not hold up well on pavement, so refrain from taking them on road.

* Sand Tires

Sand tires are exactly that, there built for the dunes. They have paddles on them that are designed to keep your going even in the deepest of sand. Do not ride these on any other surface.

Scooter Tires

Scooter tires are very similar to street and cruiser tires. They are mainly all sport touring tires, and can last you up to 20,000 miles plus depending on your riding style.

So depending on your riding style, you'll need to choose your bike tire wisely. Different tires have different purposes, and if you misuse them, you'll blow through tread really quickly. Hopefully this bike tire guide helped you in your purchasing decision. Safe Riding!

Related Posts

Posted in: Motorcycles