I just bought a black/black 67 Cutlass. It has red pinstriping across the top fenders. Very sharp. My question is ...Do you guys like blackwall tires or raised white letters on a car like this. (It has black accent Rally Wheels)

I would really like to put a set of Red Line tires and poverty caps on but can't afford it right now so thinking about flipping the tires to black wall side. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Blackwalls IMHO are for bigger wheel/tire combos that don't even give you a choice of a RWL option.

When it comes to old school type 14/15 inch wheels on a car like yours ... I say RWL all the way.

 

A black car with blackwall tires is going to be overpowering. You need something to break up all that black. With the red fender stripe, redlines are the bomb, but I understand about the expense.

 

x2 what PackRat says. If you have the bigger tire and wheels combo blackwalls look better. I am partial to the raised white letters on the older cars.

 

I think the RWL's.

 

I can go either way, it depends on the wheel. I put RWL's on mine.

 

I love this site...Thanks for all the input. Keepin' the RWL!

 

RWLs


bill

 

I just did this all this week. The spokes are gone & the Rallys with raised whites are on. I agree that the car being black & all that black rubber may kill the car, the white will make it pop...But like always in the end do what u like best.. Good luck..

 

I like black steel wheels with the white letter showing. I have run the dog dish hub caps but now roll with no hubcaps at all. I may have to try the blackwall look for something different

 

About 40 years ago I remember a guy in my hometown that would cut a shallow grove into the sidewall and install a colored inlay. Whatever color you wanted. Red, green, blue etc. he could do a narrow or wide line or even 2 or 3 narrow lines. It was cool, you could customize your tires to match your car. I haven't heard of anyone else doing this and have no idea if anyone still does.

 

You left out the obvious choice of REDLINES.

These were an option on your car when new & look amazing on the right car. With your black paint & red stripes this might be a winner.

 

The OP did mention Red Lines ...

But said he was trying to avoid the higher cost of them.

I don't doubt they would probably look good .....

But he wanted a cheaper solution of RWL or blackwalls ... so RWL it was.

I had a similar dilemma when I had my 72 Toro.

I always loved the 1.6 width whitewalls of the later 70's - mid 80's stuff.

It was not correct for 72 ... but I really wanted them as I think that look just works on the bigger cars.

Not too skinny of a WW ... but yet not too over-the-top by being too thick & gaudy.

Then I priced a set of them out.
(would have been a custom order at the time IIRC)



So much for those ...

And on to another much cheaper solution I went.

 

If you already have white letter tires on the car here is an idea. Take 2 of your wheel tire combo in and have changed to blackwall out. I would then try them on the car and see how they look. If you like it do up the other 2 or switch 'em back.

 

I like RWL bias ply tires on cars that originally came with them.

I dont like muscle cars (or any cars) with BFGs, Cooper Cobras, or Firehawk white letter tires. I turned them in on my 65 and my F-150. If it were my car Id turn them in until I had the cash to get some redline tires.

Black car, with black top and black interior. My old man has never had anyone say it needs white letter tires to break up all the black.

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"and that's all I got say bout that"

 

Another idea...flip it to the black walls and add red vinyl stripe around the rims. They sell these on line and it has the same effect of red line tires. Custom cut to fit any size rims. I just ordered a set and I figure if I don't like them I can take them off. Pretty cheap way to go and the pictures look great.

 

Ok, a bit new, and a simple question.

Redoing my 1970 W31 and want to turn the tires so the letters are on the outside. If I need to paint the letters what is the best way?

By the way the tires are each 50s.

Juan

 

Go after them with an SOS pad before you do anything else. You might be surprised how well they clean up.

 

OldsDave,
thank you for your suggestion. I will try that in the morning. I did make one look brand new with oxy-clean and a lot of elbow grease.

But, one tire has scuff marks, thus some letters are "dirty" looking even after scrubbing with oxy-clean. Thus, if I have to paint, how best?

As always, thanks to everyone.
Juan

 

hey Freebeer;

i'm not sure if they are still in production but a few years back Goodyear produced their Eagles w/ Yellow lettering, like how their tires are which are supplied for NASCAR. Just a thought if you're looking to get away from "the norm". With the car triple BLACK, the yellow would really stand out.

just a thought as an option from the standard white Raised Lettering.


BTW...you wouldn't be part of Freebeer & Hotwings would ya??

 

juanpablo,

years ago I knew some over the road truckers (owner operators) and to keep their rigs looking good they used a marker of some sort, I think it was like a white wax/grease stick. Some of these guys were so good at it,you could barely tell their lettering wasnt factory origional.

I never asked where they got the stuff from,I would guess a local auto parts store or a truck stop.

 

I have been looking for white letter tires for my olds sort of dreaming ahead it is a 69 so I don't know if redlines would look right it would have come with goodyears, but I can not find any goodyear white letter tires in 15" with RWL? is this possible? I see the BFG's but everyone has then so BFD LOL I also saw firestones but they were repops and that place wanted a bundle ( like 300+ each) anyone have a source for goodyear rwl tires? in a radial..

 

Toyo makes a whitewall in that size, I'm not sure about white lettering though. Also I believe Goodyear stopped making the 15" with whitewalls and white lettering. I went to a local Goodyear and this is the info they gave me a while back when I was lookin' for replacements of my Uniroyal Tigerpaws. Best of luck to you. I'll post again if I come across something =)

 

FYI Redlines were optional on all 1969 Cutlass & 442s from the factory

WHen it comes to RWL tires you only need Two Words....Mickey Thompson.

Just put these on my 1972 442 W-30 on repo argent silver 15" SS 11 rims from Specialty Wheel & love the look & the tires.

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`those do look good!!!

 

OldsmobileDave! What size are those Mickey's?

tom
68 442 needs new shoes
70 F85

 

Front wheels are 15 x 7" with 225 70 15s. Rears are 15 x 8" with 4.5" BS wearing 275 60 15s.

DSCN6725.jpg

DSCN6728.jpg

DSCN6743.jpg

 

OldsDave,
I did the SOS pad scrubbing today, and that did the job! Given these tires are 37 years old, but always keep inside, I'm a bit leary to flip them, for likely to rip the sidewalls. I did replace the valve stems, rebalanced, and pulled a roofing nail from one.

Of white lettering, I came across a product called iron cross inovations: http://ironcrossinnovations.com/blog...e-letter-tires.

They make a decal that glues to the tire and is suppose to last for a long time. Cost is $25.00/tire. I may go this way, for the blackwalls are raised.

Anyone familar with this product?

Thanks for everyone's help.
Juan

 

To everyone,
here is a web site that lists conversion data for all tires, plus some technical data. Just wanted to say thanks.

http://www.turbinecar.com/tires.htm

regards,
juan

 

Juan, if your tires are really 37 years old I would be very careful driving with them, they could be dry rotted in places you can't even see. Check them out inside and out. I have a 70 sitting around with 10 year old tires and they have all blown out

 

+ 1

I had a 10 year old set of BFG T/A's with hardly any miles on them that spent close to 1/2 their life inside.

While dry rot didn't seem to be a big issue .....

(1) of them developed a bad belt in @ the middle of the thread.

Not even (2) months later another did the same.

Felt like I had a bent axle.

Ended up replacing them all in the end.

 

Everyone,
I agree. Will replace tie rods, bearings, and tires at same time. Will use 70's on front and 60's on the rear. Will be BFGs with white letters out.

Again, thanks to everyone.
Juan

 

Im running 15x8's in the front on my 71 with 235/60's. If i go to 245's will i have rubbing issues or will I be ok?

 

OldschoolMuscle71,
I'm not an expert, but you can get specs from TireRack.com. This shows that the 245s are 0.5" taller than the 235s, which removes 1/4" from the clearance.

If you, I would turn the front tires as far as possible, either right or left, and measure clearance. Then force the bumper and/or fender down to simulate hitting road bumps and have someone measure clearance. Allow for some error on your part, for tires can vary in height.

I know first hand, for I put 50s on all 4 of my tires, and being smaller in diameter I thought they would clear, but didn't, they rubbed when I hit potholes. So.....had to stiffen coil springs. Believe me, you don't want to get into that.

Also, look carefully at the availability and price of the tires and choose the one that is most popular, for the other size may be discounted in the future.

Just some suggestions.
Juan

 

picked up some 245/60/15 cooper cobra radial GTs and they fit just fine. looks better too

 

I would not ever, ever, did I say ever, put 37 year old tires on street car!

 

Sorry for the delay...I ended up flipping my tires to black wall side and putting a red stripe on the rims to match the red pin stripe. Looks real nice IMO. I am not part of the Freebeer dual...just like the name LOL.

Tom