White Walls vs. Blackwalls

[schoeney]

Ok Guys + Girls. Would like to know what you think about WWW versus BW.

I have heard different opinions.

From Real Bikers don't need those Sissy White Walls, they are harder to clean, and you can't get them in all brands + sizes.

On the other hand White Walls are classy, safer, and really finish off the look of a Nomad (or other retro).

Please weigh in !!

[trip]

To me.....it depends on what bike we're talking about. If we're talking about a Nomad....then I prefer blackwalls. If we're talking about a Kawasaki Vulcan Classic all tricked out with chrome....then I prefer whitewalls.

Just my 2 centavos worth.

[csguru]

Actually the reason I'd stick with black walls is the (reported) higher instance of failure of the white walls. I recently picked up a set of rubber for my wife's old rauder and one of the popular posts was about the problems with white walls and specifically about how Dunlop moved manufacturing from one country to another and ever since the white wall failure rate has jumped.

/shrug

my .0005 cents

Correction, it was Metzler that moved manufacturing..

[ringadingh]

I think on the right bike whitewalls finish off the look. I have them on mine, and to me it enhanced the appearance. It gives the bike a nostalgic look of a traditional V Twin Also keeping them clean is well worth the effort in my opinion . Ive never had a problem with them as of yet, I have ME880's .

[samkjr]

I honestly prefer the look of whitwalls on bikes like ours, but I know I am way too lazy to keep them clean. Therefore, blackwalls it is. Maybe I could go for blackwalls with raised white lettering like my truck though.

[Top Cat]

schoeney, just curious as to why you think WW are safer. I heard the seam where the white and black meet is not as strong as an all black wall.
I heard this years ago, not recently because of overseas manufacture.

[audiogooroo]

Depends on the bike and the color of the bike.

[schoeney]

Top Cat-

The "safer" was just a matter of more visibility. I know whitewalls pale in comparicon to a bright colored jacket, helmet, or more lights, but they are a little more noticeable than blackwalls.

As far a whitewalls having having a higher failure rate i was not aware of that.

Adiogooroo,
Whatever color you ride....that beautiful green in your case!

What I heard more than once was that the ME880 whitewalls were delaminating on the freeway. Since I wanted to run ME880's, that was enough to put me off the whole idea.

I'm not sure how that vote fits into the poll.

[aj]

I was going to ask about the "Safer" comment, vision maybe, if the're clean but is there other reasons?

[oldbikers]

I think it depends on the owner if you like WW go for it I am just to lazy to clean them and I prefer BW

[Yellow Jacket]

Like a couple of others here, I like the looks of the whitewalls. Realistically, I know I'm too frigging lazy to keep them clean so it's blackwalls for me.

[nomad]

WWW....all the way. as of this posting i am looking at the ME880 or dunlop. i will have one or the other shortly!!

[csguru]

Follow up on alleged whitewall issues:

http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...s-concern.html

http://motorcycletirereviews.com/25-1-marathon880.html

It appears the problems started when the moved manufacturing from Germany to Brazil.

Although most of the posts I found in looking for Marauder tires had to do with Metzler there were a few finger pointing at Dunlop.

I don't know about issues with any other bikes, and hadn't heard of problems with the blackwalls. I just read about issues with the whitewalls and from people that own Vulcans.

A couple complained about sidewall seperation, and one said that large chunks flew off the tread on the freeway.

My first thought was, "these guys were running them too flat and they came apart" but they swear they weren't and evidently this is no isolated thing.

I have Me880's on my bike and a spare set of new ME880's plus a backup set of used ones (all blackwalls) in my garage and I just went out to check them. I have 3 of each. The German ones are all marked "Made in Germany" in large letters. The Brasilian ones are marked "Made in Brasil" in letters so tiny you can hardly find them. I checked them over, and no damage is evident. but I'll be keeping a much closer watch on my tires from now on.

And I think this is the last set of Metzlers for me.