Carbon black protects the tire from the damaging effects of UV light and ozone, two known elements that contribute to the deterioration of the tire. And because carbon black makes the tire stronger, it leads to a more reliable drive. This, in turn, keeps the driver of the car safer.
White wall tires began to disappear from the market when manufacturers began to decrease the height of the tires. The thick white stripe along the sidewalls did not allow tire brands to create tires with lower sidewall profiles. For this reason, entirely black tires became popular.
Naturally grown and harvested rubber is off-white. About 100 years ago, people figured out how hard it was to keep it clean, and the car tire companies starting adding carbon-black. The “whitewall” tire was the last vestige of that as the white part shrank from a “sidewall” to a stripe until it was totally gone.
Some companies still offer whitewall tires in the modern world, although their applications typically fall with retro-styled cars and restorations.
Tracy posed the question of the color transition to Michelin, which informed him that tires changed color when manufacturers began adding carbon black around 1917. It wasn't for cosmetic purposes.
Then, in 1895 the first rubber tires were invented. Since the original color of rubber is milky white, these tires were white. So, those black tires that you see today were originally white.
Originally, tires were off-white in color, due to the color of the natural rubber formula. Tire manufacturers then added zinc oxide to the formula, which gave the tires a brighter white appearance. White tires were not a status symbol or aesthetic feature—it was just how the tires were produced.
The History
When the first automobile was invented, it's tyres were made from natural rubber. Chemicals were then added to make them tougher and more durable. A white substance, zinc oxide, was added to increase traction and it also gave the tyre a white appearance.
Whitewall tires or white sidewall (WSW) tires are tires having a stripe or entire sidewall of white rubber. These tires were most commonly used from the early 1900s to around the mid 1980s.
What color is natural rubber? Natural rubber is harvested from rubber trees, processed and shipped worldwide. Before processing, natural rubber exits the tree in the form of a white, milky latex. Unless the latex is contaminated, that means the natural color of rubber straight from the tree is white.
Coloured Tires Don't Last As Long
Despite being a neat concept, coloured tires simply are just not as durable. For example, cars that are not treated with carbon black are good for about 5,000 miles before needing to be replaced. Tires made with carbon black can be driven for 50,000 miles or more.
“The stabilizing chemical, carbon black makes the tires black. It prevents damage from UV light, draws heat away from parts of the car that tend to get hot when driving, and makes the tires durable.”
As time goes on, whitewalls largely disappear, with some white-letter tires taking their place. Most modern rubber is totally blacked out, yet some of today's customizers are bringing back contrast lettering on tires.
Originally rubber tyres were white, the natural colour of rubber, but making them black actually produces a much stronger and longer lasting tyre. This is because they turn black when carbon black is added to the rubber, and carbon black makes a lot of difference to a tyre!
These additives come in the form of oils, detergents, waxes, antioxidants, parabens, and more, and sometimes they can "bloom" to the surface of a new tire. While some may not like the appearance, we recommend not trying to clean it.
A brown stain on the sidewall of a tire is commonly referred to as “tire blooming”. Antiozonants are added to the rubber during the manufacturing process to help the tire last longer. When it rises to the surface over time, it turns the rubber brown. This can be scrubbed off with a tire cleaner.
It is used as a stabilising chemical, which is combined with other polymers to create the tread compound of a tyre. Once added to the rubber, carbon black increases the strength and durability of the tyres, which is understandably seen as a desirable trait for tyre manufacturers and car drivers.
Tires weren't colored black until 1912, thus, Bibendum is white. Prior to 1912, tires were either grey-white or had a light translucent beige hue.
Also, the cost to manufacture raised white letter tires is significantly higher than standard tires and more likely to result in defects during production. This means even if you can locate a raised letter tire in your size, with the brand and performance you desire, it will not come cheap!
When automakers first started using rubber tires, they were white, the color of natural rubber. And while bright, colorful tires do exist, they've never quite caught on.
The blue stuff is actually a soap stuff that they put on there to protect the white lettering in transport so it won't get damaged and look as good as it can look when you finally get the tyres on your car.
What about pink tires under your pink Ferrari California? In China, this is made possible by Double Star Tires from the great city of Qingdao in Shandong province. Double Star developed a patented process to make tires in any color. Fittingly, this new product is called 'Rainbow.