Everyone had them, they were considered a symbol of luxury, and suddenly they disappeared from the market - the story of white-striped tires

On February 17, 1951, the US government made a decision to ban the production of tires with white sidewalls, known as "whitewall" tires.

During the Korean War, the US government imposed a ban on diverting resources like natural rubber and steel to the military industry.

This measure was part of efforts to optimize production and ensure the supply of the army, the Telegraph reports.

White sidewall tires are a special type of car tire with a white stripe or an entire sidewall made of white rubber.

Their history goes back to the early years of motoring and reflects changes in design, technology and culture for more than a century.

At the beginning of the 20th century, car tires were made of natural rubber, which was white in color.

However, white rubber did not provide sufficient durability, so it became common to add carbon black to the compound to increase the durability and resistance of tires.

This process resulted in a black scale, while the sidewalls were often left white, leading to white sidewall tires.

In 1914, Chicago-based Vogue Tire and Rubber Co. began manufacturing white tires for carriages and automobiles, making them pioneers in this segment.

Their innovative design quickly gained popularity among luxury vehicle owners, and white tires became a symbol of elegance and prestige.

During the 1920s and 1930s, white tires reached the height of their popularity. Their contrast with the darker body colors of the car provided an attractive aesthetic appearance.

Automakers like Ford offered white tires as an option on their vehicles, further increasing their presence on the road.

After World War II, white tires continued to be popular, especially during the 50s.

However, with the outbreak of the Korean War in 1951, the US government halted their production to ensure the diversion of resources to the military industry.

The raw materials needed for tire production, such as natural rubber and steel, were essential for the production of military vehicles, so reducing civilian production became a necessity.

White sidewall tires reached their peak of popularity in the early 50s, but quickly began to fall out of favor with the public.

During this period, car design changed and lower body profiles became fashionable.

Reducing the width of the white stripe was an attempt to reduce the visual height of the wheels.

By 1962, wide white sidewall tires had largely disappeared from the market, although narrow white stripes continued as a luxury option throughout the 70s.

Radial tires with thin white stripes and a gold stripe, such as those produced by the Vogue Tire company, remained popular on luxury vehicles.

Despite modernization and technological innovations, white tires have become a rarity on cars.

The last car in the UK to come with white tires from the factory was the Kia Pride model.

Although they are rare today, they still hold a special place among classic car enthusiasts. /Telegraph/