Cyclist0108

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Cyclist0108

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Chombi1 

I could not agree more!!

Choke 

I definitely prefer the look of skinwalls.

Rollfast

Blackwall or Whitewall, depending on the antique I'm on, but lately mostly black because I dig motorcycle style with a tank.

JaccoW

Gumwall (Schwalbe Delta Cruiser 28x622)


Blackwall (Schwalbe Marathon GT Tour 38x622)


And I would like to try these: Skinwall (Continental Grand Prix Urban 35x622)

Ck333

I think it depends on my mood whether I feel heavy hearted or light hearted, I find myself switching wheels often.

Slightspeed

Sometimes it just comes down to a bike's personality. I like the skinwall Paselas on my gold '78 Peugeot, but I think the Gatorskins better fit the look of my '78 Super Course, nearly the same color gold. Both tires are 28s but the black Gators look fatter, somehow.

Slightspeed

My dark green '73 Super Course, first built with Gatorskins, and, at present with skinwall Paselas. I like the skinwall look better on this one.

ThermionicScott 

There are lots of bikes, old and new, where the original and "correct" tires were all-black, but tanwalls never look wrong to me.

jade408

I agree, classic lines I like with skin walls. Not classic lines I like black better.

tkamd73 

Went with Blackwalls, actually dark brown, on this 91 Paramount I just built up. Tried a set of skin walls on it, just didn’t look right, although skin walls do look good on the older classic Paramounts.
Tim

Manny66 

Solid Black tires just look completley wrong to me.

Unfortunately tires with Natural/Tan sidewalls are doubly expensive at the moment as they are "out of Fashion" with the new breed of riders, who think the only color ever invented for bicycles.and clothing is black. Is eveyone EMO now?

tkamd73 

Here’s a real sacrilege, should have gone with skinwalls, but didn’t, just liked the black better. But in the end, it really only has to appeal to me.
Tim

StanSeven

If we all had identical tastes, this place would be boring. I like the variety I’ve seen.

seedsbelize 

I have never liked skinwall tires. All my bikes wear black, no matter the age or personality.

SurferRosa

The decision is made much easier for bikes that don't see rain. I hate dirty, grimey gumwalls.

cudak888 

Funny thing, I got caught in the rain with the all-creme tires on my '51 Raleigh Sports. They came back cleaner than when I left home

Then again, the whole ride was on impeccably clean asphalt.

-Kurt

76SLT 

With the chrome and the wheels, I think the black walls make it all pop. The contrast looks great.

tkamd73 

Thanks @76SLT
Tim

vascoboy

Its a classic bike...

crank_addict

OP's bike is beautiful in that red / chrome. The tire sidewall choice certainly changes it. Could go with either.

Currently going with a black on this early 70's ride.

Interesting the topic of sidewall on vintage sports caes, the cool look in white wall with correct width really sets this example apart from others. (Last pic from just yesterday evening with a nice contrast sky)

seypat

Has this video been posted yet? It definitely relates to the thread.

ThermionicScott 

That was my impression about 10 years ago when I got into road cycling (and with it, C&V road bikes), but I think the tide has been turning! I see more and more tanwall tires on my friends' bikes and in local bike shops. There might still be a price premium, but they're not unusual to see in the wild at this point.

I'm sure that the fact that no local shops stocked decent tanwall tires in 2008-2010 only stoked my desire to get them on my bikes.

JaccoW

Few months later and I have the Continentals now.