Originally Posted by
56ford
Anyone know about what year the gumwalls appeared? Blackwalls would be appropriate on say pre 1960 bikes? I have a couple 1950s Hercules that I want to find tires for that look the most period correct.
Gumwalls or skinwalls? Gumwalls are present in the 1962 Raleigh catalog and probably date back a bit more than that. Pretty sure the idea of making high-thread count clinchers with really thin skinwall sides didn't come out until the late-1960s (perhaps in response to tubulars? But what do I know?).
-Kurt