The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Wide white walls for '53 3100

I'm interested in dressing up my 53 a little and am thinking about wide white walls. Any opinions about the correct size white walls? I see them from 2 1/2 to 4 inches wide. I see ads for Coker, Firestone and a few others. Any comments, opinions or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.

I would go narrower than 4" myself. I think the very wide whites (4") look better on old Buicks and Packards etc. I had a set of 2 1/2" wides on my 49 but recently replaced them with blackwall tires, black rims and stock hub caps and trim rings. I had a tough time deciding whether or not to go back to whitewalls which are not cheap, so went with the black. And frankly in my opinion and opinions of others, the truck looks better.

Correct size whitewalls for a 1953 truck?

This could be considered a contradiction in terms - an oxymoron?

Whatever size suits your tastes.

I'm with Ol'blu49. I had been lusting for whitewalls but finally went with a big, blackwall tire on black rims.
I'm glad I did. But it's all a matter of preference.

The 6.50 X 16 Firestone Whitewalls from Coker look great. They have a 4'' wall.

Here is my '53 with 215/85/16 Firestone radials:
[img]http://www.whizzerick.com/shoptruck.JPG[/img]

I vote for zero white walls on any truck.

If you like whitewalls, you should put them.

I have 7.50 X 16 bias ply ((Uniroyal) photo in my profile). But then, I didn't want it to look dressy 'cuz that's not what I was after.

Good luck.

Wizzerick- Your truck looks GREAT

Sabrina

If you decide to go with whitewalls I would think that Coker could advise you as to what width would be correct.

What is meant by a "correct" width?

Whitewall tires were not an option on Chevrolet trucks in 1953.

That is why some people above are saying that if you want whitewalls, choose any width that appeals to you. However, no matter what you choose, it will not be "period correct" for a truck - it still might look good - to your tastes.

Maybe "correct" (in the original posting) refers to the size of the white wall on a '53 automobile. Coker could help you with that. In addition, it might also be "period correct" to have other-colored side walls (they were available in the '50s and I think someone posted that they are still available).

Tim

This is Greg Fall's '50 from the gallery.
It looks AWESOME! I believe he is running Firestones.
[img]http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/images/falls_greg_1950_01.jpg[/img]

I'm running WWW on my '53 1/2 Ton. It's a mild custom, so the tires definitely suit the look. Hell, I think the tires MAKE the look.

[img]http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/images/murphy_mark_1953a.jpg[/img]

They're BF Goodrich Silvertown's 4-ply 670-15. Overall diameter is 27.42", cross section is 7", and tread width is 4.5". The white wall height is 3 5/8" (but only 3 3/8" is visible when mounted).

Man, I am digging Greg Fall's '50!

-murph

Whizz, Greg, Murph, I DIG your wheels.

If you like whitewalls go for it.It is your truck.Dont make any difference that someone else doesnt like them.Do it your way.As for size,go to a good tire dealer,he will have the actual measurments of what you are running now and match them up with new WWs.Good luck.

TC, "period correct" WOULD be the more correct statement for sure. Going on the fact that replacement tires were inevitable we can all assume that some truck owners would in fact decide to replace worn out factory tires with "period correct" whitewalls. My point was, that 60's era 1 inch whitewalls were not available in 53. My 59 currently wears four year old 1 1/4" Firestones which are definitely not period correct but fit in the budget during that stage of the resto.

Jack--On my '56, I went with the Coker Classic 2 3/8" WW in a P205/75R15 (you can click on my profile above and see how they look). Like mentioned above, it's YOUR preference as to what you feel looks good. I went with wide whitewalls to somewhat contrast the black color of my truck--I like the way they look on the truck, but, that's just me talkin.

Brian56- Your WW set off your truck just right.

Murph- Yours fit your truck to a tee.

& Greg Fall's '50 looks good enough to eat!

Sabrina

I'd have to agree with the others, if'n you're wanting to do an original resto then your guidelines are cut and dry but if it's a resurrection then it's all personal preference.. and as they say "beauty's in the eye of the beholder."

Greg Fall's '50 works great with the yellow... I think blackwall's would've been too harsh a contrast. And Brian.. I think your '56 looks awesome with the ww... it works especially well because your bumpers and grille are white so it carries thru. Nice ride!