Looked better before,,,or now?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 129
From: Fredericksburg Virginia
Letters out are more sporty to me.
I swear by Westley's Bleche-Wite. Way too easy. I've not read any other threads or gotten anyone's opinion, so perhaps there's something that works better...but I don't know how much 'better' you can get than freaking awesome. Just don't spray it indiscriminately. I screwed up a pair of sunglasses by it oxidizing the lens coating. Something with it and aluminum. But if you just spray it on the tire...even better, on a scrubber that you use on the tire...it is wicked stuff.
I swear by Westley's Bleche-Wite. Way too easy. I've not read any other threads or gotten anyone's opinion, so perhaps there's something that works better...but I don't know how much 'better' you can get than freaking awesome. Just don't spray it indiscriminately. I screwed up a pair of sunglasses by it oxidizing the lens coating. Something with it and aluminum. But if you just spray it on the tire...even better, on a scrubber that you use on the tire...it is wicked stuff.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 126
Likes: 11
From: Tulsa
Letters out are more sporty to me.
I swear by Westley's Bleche-Wite. Way too easy. I've not read any other threads or gotten anyone's opinion, so perhaps there's something that works better...but I don't know how much 'better' you can get than freaking awesome. Just don't spray it indiscriminately. I screwed up a pair of sunglasses by it oxidizing the lens coating. Something with it and aluminum. But if you just spray it on the tire...even better, on a scrubber that you use on the tire...it is wicked stuff.
I swear by Westley's Bleche-Wite. Way too easy. I've not read any other threads or gotten anyone's opinion, so perhaps there's something that works better...but I don't know how much 'better' you can get than freaking awesome. Just don't spray it indiscriminately. I screwed up a pair of sunglasses by it oxidizing the lens coating. Something with it and aluminum. But if you just spray it on the tire...even better, on a scrubber that you use on the tire...it is wicked stuff.
For just a quick maintenance after washing I spray some on a folded paper towel in a small spot & rub just the letters & it brightens them up before tire dressing goes on.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
I'll be the contrarian and say it looks better with the letters in. Letters out makes me think tacky redneck muscle car. You don't see many European sports cars of the era sporting white letters.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 182
Likes: 27
From: Somerville Alabama
This kind of thing never mattered to me, but I do think it makes more sense having the white letters showing for some cars such as that chrome bumper car. Always did look better on the cars my friends had or others seen driving around. New sets of tires anyway, when they lose the whiteness they get ugly!
Can't see how white lettered tires could be as good on my '77, I just never owned cars like these before. Went from old family station wagon to a Toyota, motorcycles and other 4 cylinder cars.
Painted my rusted silver wheels black (on black car), ordinary black wall tires, but have the trim rings and rally caps so I've been trying to decide if I should repaint the windshield trim black like it was or remove the old paint (what's left of it) and shine up the metal. I guess if I went with no shiny metal anywhere I might be tempted to use white letter tires to offset an all-black look.
Can't see how white lettered tires could be as good on my '77, I just never owned cars like these before. Went from old family station wagon to a Toyota, motorcycles and other 4 cylinder cars.
Painted my rusted silver wheels black (on black car), ordinary black wall tires, but have the trim rings and rally caps so I've been trying to decide if I should repaint the windshield trim black like it was or remove the old paint (what's left of it) and shine up the metal. I guess if I went with no shiny metal anywhere I might be tempted to use white letter tires to offset an all-black look.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 614
Likes: 186
From: Orlando, Dundee, Val-des-Monts PQ
White letters out, but, between the two pictures, the one with the letters out is a much better photo. Maybe it's the lighting. Which might be making the comparisons bias? On the advertising reply, whenever I buy a new car, I will not close at the end if they don't take off their dealership decal/sticker with no damage. WILL not drive around for years advertising for them. Now maybe if I bought from Hendricks?.........Mark
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,033
Likes: 9,155
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
You can buy glue on red lines that look really good. Im going that route eventually
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,108
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi gg,
Although I was pleased to have the RWL tires on my car back when it was new, and that's the way it is now...given the choice I'd have black walls.
Regards,
Alan
Although I was pleased to have the RWL tires on my car back when it was new, and that's the way it is now...given the choice I'd have black walls.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Jul 18, 2016 at 08:22 AM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,109
Likes: 4,137
From: Kannapolis NC
White letters out, but, between the two pictures, the one with the letters out is a much better photo. Maybe it's the lighting. Which might be making the comparisons bias? On the advertising reply, whenever I buy a new car, I will not close at the end if they don't take off their dealership decal/sticker with no damage. WILL not drive around for years advertising for them. Now maybe if I bought from Hendricks?.........Mark
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,109
Likes: 4,137
From: Kannapolis NC
I wasn't really trying for a European sports car of the era look. I was leaning more toward a Corvette of the era look.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,109
Likes: 4,137
From: Kannapolis NC
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 182
Likes: 27
From: Somerville Alabama
The dealership things left on, license plate frames included just looks wrong to me every time I see that.
I even removed the big S U B A R U letters across the back of one car. Had a 1979 F150 a while with F O R D embossed across the tailgate that I could have done without too, but hey, I guess when it's a Ford or Chevy there's a tendency to let that go.
There was a Chevy dealer when I was a teenager that I might have actually liked to help advertise, but only as a teenager. Dick Balch, breaking up cars and trucks with a sledge hammer.
Last edited by LongRoadHome; Jul 18, 2016 at 10:56 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 494
Likes: 93
From: Bucks County PA
Agree 100%. I've always thought white letters out are more era appropriate and look the best on these cars.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
So you took the Corvette badges off your car? And whatever other brand cars you drive? What about the logos on your sneakers? And also the black side has the same lettering (and the Cobras have those raised long snakes half way around the tire on the black side, that's one of the reason's I switched). If I had known the raised snakes were there I'd have mounted the white out to start with, it has no snakes. It's the "I advertise for nobody..." part that I'm questioning. You have a point though, maybe we should band together and demand payment for displaying brand names on everything. It worked for athletes, why not car owners?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,658
Likes: 3,355
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Like others have said, I very much prefer white letters out!
The brown is actually a reaction with the white rubber compound and the Ozone. The best way to get them white again is to scrub with a stiff brush to scuff the top layer of oxidized rubber off.
The brown is actually a reaction with the white rubber compound and the Ozone. The best way to get them white again is to scrub with a stiff brush to scuff the top layer of oxidized rubber off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,658
Likes: 3,355
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 732
From: Texas City, TX Texas
I agree, blackwalls matter. I think I would like the white letters if they were late 60s-early 70s vintage tires(Wide Ovals, etc.). If they were re-popping Firestone 500s, and they were a quality tire, I run some on my car with the letters showing. THAT would be period correct. Modern tires, not so much. Are the Cooper Cobras not a bargain priced tire? If so, I don't think I'd want to emphasize them.
P.S. I DID take ALL the badges and emblems off my car, and have done so on many other cars. I prefer the clean subtle look. If a Torch Red Corvette could ever be considered subtle...
P.S. I DID take ALL the badges and emblems off my car, and have done so on many other cars. I prefer the clean subtle look. If a Torch Red Corvette could ever be considered subtle...
Last edited by Richard Daugird; Jul 18, 2016 at 02:20 PM. Reason: Grammar