Tires with white side faces were especially popular in the 1950s and 1960s.
A tire could have a very narrow white side surface (as on many European cars) or a very wide white side surface (the 'wide white wall tires', as on many American cars). Vredestein opts for an intermediate format for our classics. The latest Sprint Classic, the 235 VR15 106V for Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud / Bentley S, is also available without a white side wall. Sprint Classic's are available in 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 inch, of which Vredestein now supplies four with a white side wall, namely:
- 6.40 / 7.00 SR13 87S
- 185 / 70 HR15 89V
- 205 / 70 VR15 98W
- 235 VR15 106V
Own solution
Making tires with white side faces is no easy task. The chemicals in the rubber, which protect the tires against ozone and prevent dehydration cracks ('ozone cracks'), also cause the white side surfaces to discolor over time. The white side surfaces then get a dirty tan and that is not a face. Vredestein has found another solution where the chemicals can do their work without discolouring the white side surfaces. Various Vredestein patents now rest on this process. The result is optimum protection against ozone, while the white side surfaces remain white throughout the life of the tire.