Tire Cutting, making Wide whites

[HoupPhotography]

I didn't share this when I had them done so.... a little late but it made it.

Long story short, I bought some "port-o-walls" and they flung off in less than 1 mile. A friend of mine at Discount told me there used to be a guy that came around and "cut" your tires to make white walls, so he gave me his number and said, he didn't know if he was still alive...... because he was "up there" when he came to the discount shops.

So I called and sure enough (licky for me) he is still alive and kickin', but due to his age, 75, and two replace knee's and one hip, he can't get around so I need to come to his house.

So I get there, we chat a little, then he pulls out magazine after magazine with him featured in articles "cutting" tires... from the original Bat mobile, one of Al Capone's original cars (being restored) and countless other vehicles.

He not only "cuts" tires, he can also paint a red, white or gold thin stripe around the tire, he use's a really cool/innovative machine.

I've heard of this being done, on here actually, I think SOM posted a youtube video of a guy doing it in the driveway with a hand grinder....

The way this machine works, he jacks the car/truck up and sets it on a motorized roller. When he starts grinding, he turns the motor on to rotate the tire, the he turns another motor on that runs a grinding wheel. The grinding wheel has a little strut on it to help keep it steady. It took about an hour and a half for him to do all four tires....

So, here are the photos, post up and let me know what you think.... Oh, he only charges $30 a tire!

The machine



The roller



Cutting....



More Cutting



What he started with



How it ended up..

[ChevLoRay]

Didja know that there's alumina in that white rubber? When I worked at ALCOA, we had several customers who used one of our products as part of the raw materials that went into making white rubber. If you don't know what alumina is, it's made from bauxite. So, the phrase "Like a Rock" may also include some rock in the rubber....and you wondered why it rode like one. I won't divulge the companies who we sold to, but just thought you'd like to know.

This "cutting" is one of those lost arts. And, it seems that I recall some folks using some form of glue to make the Port-A-Walls adhere to the tire. One thing you didn't want to do was curb 'em. Concrete curbs would make 'em wrinkle and tear....it was easy to see who did.

[sdkid]

Looks cool. Does this affect tire life, stability or safety?

[thirdstreettito]

Looks good!

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

Didja know that there's alumina in that white rubber? When I worked at ALCOA, we had several customers who used one of our products as part of the raw materials that went into making white rubber. If you don't know what alumina is, it's made from bauxite. So, the phrase "Like a Rock" may also include some rock in the rubber....and you wondered why it rode like one. I won't divulge the companies who we sold to, but just thought you'd like to know.

This "cutting" is one of those lost arts. And, it seems that I recall some folks using some form of glue to make the Port-A-Walls adhere to the tire. One thing you didn't want to do was curb 'em. Concrete curbs would make 'em wrinkle and tear....it was easy to see who did.

I thought the exact same thing, so I called, and they said, absolutly do not use any adhesion materials... just clean the tire with a good solvent, and sand the inner part of the wheel with 80 grit sand paper... BUT the reality is, they were originally designed for bias ply tires... and they didn't/don't reccomend them for radials.

After watching him cut the tires, I agree it is a lost art.

Originally Posted by sdkid

Looks cool. Does this affect tire life, stability or safety?

From what I've been told, no! The friend of mine and the manager verified, that when he came to the stores and cut the tires, it didn't void the warranty. I havn't had any trouble, but I just had them done in August

[Green Machine]

That is amazing and news to me, I had no idea such a tool was ever made !
I suppose if you had a posi rear, you'd have to put the other side on a jackstand.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

That is amazing and news to me, I had no idea such a tool was ever made !
I suppose if you had a posi rear, you'd have to put the other side on a jackstand.

The entire rear end is in the air when he cutts the tires. the jack in the middle and the "roller" on either side.

[tcb-1]

old school cool!!! me likey!

[68C15]

I would imagine you need to start with white wall tires in the first place.

I certainly like the look and may even do this for my stepper.

was this a home made machine or something commercially available?

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by 68C15

I would imagine you need to start with white wall tires in the first place.

White letter tires have the white band too.

[big_al_71]

I am embarassed to say that I had never heard or seen this till just now..

What an improvement.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by 68C15

I would imagine you need to start with white wall tires in the first place.

I certainly like the look and may even do this for my stepper.

was this a home made machine or something commercially available?

If I'm not mistaken, I think all tires have a white band on the sidewall, (under the black)

The machine WAS commercially available until 1982, the demand died off and so did the company that produced the machines.

I wish I posted this, or took notes, right after I had them done. There is so much information that I forgot.

[69chevybmx]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

If I'm not mistaken, I think all tires have a white band on the sidewall, (under the black)

Only whitewall or white letter tires have the white inlay generally. There are some tires that are available in raised white or raised black letter in the same model. In those cases, there would still be a white inlay. All other black wall tires that are not available in either whitewall or RWL are black all the way though.

There used to be a NASCAR tire made by Goodyear that had yellow raised letters. You could make a wide yellow wall out of that which might look interesting on a yellow(or any other color) truck.

This guy definitely knew what he was doing. The majority of other tires I have seen people do this to are hacked up and less than safe.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by 69chevybmx

Only whitewall or white letter tires have the white inlay generally. There are some tires that are available in raised white or raised black letter in the same model. In those cases, there would still be a white inlay. All other black wall tires that are not available in either whitewall or RWL are black all the way though.

There used to be a NASCAR tire made by Goodyear that had yellow raised letters. You could make a wide yellow wall out of that which might look interesting on a yellow(or any other color) truck.

This guy definitely knew what he was doing. The majority of other tires I have seen people do this to are hacked up and less than safe.

You must of seen that youtube video

[68C15]

Originally Posted by HoupPhotography

You must of seen that youtube video

link????

[OARNGESI]

Thats a nice job does he still do it or was that just a side thing for a frien of a friend

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by OARNGESI

Thats a nice job does he still do it or was that just a side thing for a frien of a friend

Oh, he'll cut tires for anyone... If you want his info, PM me.

[1956cameo]

I was at the local cruise night a month ago and commented on the white wall tires that were on this old 50's model Buick. The owner had told me that the tires were new and cut to make the white walls.

[CheyenneShop]

I'm in - nice write up. My current "Procject C.S.T." will be getting some! I'll PM ya.

[HoupPhotography]

Originally Posted by theCheyenneShop

I'm in - nice write up. My current "Procject C.S.T." will be getting some! I'll PM ya.

Thanks man!!! Just let me know when you need to contact info.....

[lclippard]

I'm sure someone knows this already, but I figured I'd drop a line anyways. Goodyear no longer makes the yellow letter NASCAR tires that is mentioned above. It would be really cool to do though, if you can find any of those in someone's stock. The other tidbit that may or may not be widely known, is that Coker Tire sells new "wide" white wall tires, as well as red stripes, and other vintige tires, including bias ply tires for those true purists out there.

BTW, I am new to the site. I will be starting my build thread shortly.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by lclippard

I'm sure someone knows this already, but I figured I'd drop a line anyways. Goodyear no longer makes the yellow letter NASCAR tires that is mentioned above. It would be really cool to do though, if you can find any of those in someone's stock. The other tidbit that may or may not be widely known, is that Coker Tire sells new "wide" white wall tires, as well as red stripes, and other vintige tires, including bias ply tires for those true purists out there.

BTW, I am new to the site. I will be starting my build thread shortly.

Welcome to the site! Coker, Diamond Back and couple others do the WWW's, redlines, etc, but they are a little pricey. Cutting them is a po man's way of doing them.

Can't wait to see your thread. What are you working on?

[texanidiot25]

I truly never knew that the white walls were actually cut/saved down to a white layer of rubber... I just figured it was white paint.

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by texanidiot25

I truly never knew that the white walls were actually cut/saved down to a white layer of rubber... I just figured it was white paint.

You've never had a big block muscle car with worn out rear springs and white letter or white wall tires huh?

Here's some other ideas for cutting BTW.

[sleepertruck72]

I think it looks awesome !!! That man has skills !!!