Should you add white tyre lettering to your vehicle?
If you're an off-road enthusiast, you've probably seen some rugged trucks and Jeeps sporting tyres with white lettering. Yes, it looks cool but is it right for you? Let's find out in this guide.
What is tyre lettering?
Tyre lettering is exactly what it sounds like - adding coloured letters to your tyre's sidewall. For off-roaders, it's usually white letters on black tyres. You can do this with tyre paint pens, tyre stickers, or by purchasing tyres with raised white lettering, also known as RWL tyres. These tyres are usually custom-made, featuring white letters protruding from the sidewalls.
Using tyre paint pens is one of the most popular choices among car modders since it’s affordable and easy to use.
Why tyres with white writing become popular?
Originally, classic car tyres were light grey or off-white and were primarily made of natural rubber. It wasn't until around World War I that tyre manufacturers started adding carbon black to increase durability, resulting in the black colour as the majority of a tyre ever since, while the sidewalls have generally remained white. These tyres are later called “white wall tyres” or “white sidewall” (WSW) and they are considered stylish.
Decades later, tyres have become completely black to ensure better performance. It has become the industry standard until nowadays.
Some tyre manufacturers used stenciling and other techniques, showing their brand logos, tyre sizes, and other specifications in white to help them stand out from the background.
White lettering on tyres became a hit in the American muscle car era in the 1960-1970s. Those muscle car tyres usually came with white sidewalls or raised white lettering just to give them a more classic look. However, RWL tyres caused some difficulties in the manufacturing process and additional expenses. So, they stopped producing this and the trend declined until tyre stickers emerged.
Modern racing cars often sport tyre stickers with white lettering, sometimes alongside other colours, to display their sponsor logos. These tyre decals have been very popular in motorsports and made a significant cultural influence on car enthusiasts.
Now tyre lettering is making a comeback, especially in the off-road world where people want to make their vehicles look more sporty and unique.
Pros and cons of tyre lettering
Pros
Looks awesome: The nice contrast of white lettering and black rubber makes your off road tyres look more custom and rugged.
Shows off your tyre brand: If you're proud of your tyres, why not display the brand with some tyre markers?
Cons
Gets dirty fast: Off-roading and white don't mix well together. The white letters will become darker faster than you think.
Might wear off: Rocks, mud, and road debris can scrape off your tyre paint when you are on the trail. It might even look worse than normal tyres in the same situation. DIY tyre lettering can fade very quickly. Sometimes it might even crack after a few days if you don’t use a high-quality tyre marker or don’t pay attention when applying it to your tyres.
Extra work: Whether you DIY or go pro, it's another thing to maintain. Expect to clean your tyres often to keep the white letters looking good.
What you should consider before white lettering on tyres
Before you grab that tyre paint pen, ask yourself these questions:
How often do you off-road?
More mud time means more cleaning time.
How much tread life is left?
Tyre lettering takes time and effort. No point in lettering tyres you'll replace soon.
Are you ready for the upkeep?
Keeping those letters white takes work. Even if you try your best, the white paint will get dirty and fade soon.
White lettering can make your off-road rig look cool. However, it's not just about looks, it's about the extra effort too. If you love detailing your 4x4 and want that extra pop on your off road tyres, go for it. If you prefer a low-maintenance ride, maybe skip it.
The tyres you are proud to personalize
The best-looking off-road vehicle is the one that gets used. Whether your tyres have white letters or not, the most important thing is to get out there and enjoy the trails. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO3 are off road tyres made for adventures. Be a proud owner of them and customize them to your heart's content now.
White lettering is coming from the factory on specific tyre sizes only, please check with your nearest dealer.