Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Photo Gallery => Topic started by: redpagoda on April 13, 2009, 08:51:31

Title: All black vs White walls
Post by: redpagoda on April 13, 2009, 08:51:31
As per original brochures for the 250SL, the whitewall option started from the rim and were approximately 1and 3/8 wide. In later years the 3/4 inch inset became the option and the common replacement. With a dark color I felt the tyres and wheels were a little lost. As with the first photo and now the car with white walls.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Richard Madison on April 13, 2009, 09:50:45
The two tire styles make quite a difference in look...both very nice.

With photo editing software, an owner can now add or take away whitewalls in a photo of the car to see the look before spending money on new tires.

What tires does the Data Card show the car originally came with? I believe that whitewalls were much more common on US version cars.

Richard M, NYC   
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: MichaelB. on April 13, 2009, 19:29:34
I simply adore that wide white. If my reproduction Phoenix thin white walls ever wear out I would like to go with exactly what you show.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: dtuttle123 on April 13, 2009, 21:16:08
Hans pointed out to me that with the white walls, and the older style rims and hub caps that there are 8 concentric rings - which is a really cool visual effect!  I'm not sure I can count eight - but I'll trust that he's correct.

Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: J. Huber on April 13, 2009, 22:00:23
Michael B. I love the look on your car -- and the first photo. Inspirational (since I have the dark top on white -- cannot tell if that one is black or blue?).

Last time I bought tires (2003?) -- I looked for whitewalls briefly but just surrendered to black walls. I would consider it next time although I am ok with BWs.

And Dtuttle, what a pretty red you got there. I do see 8 rings...If you count the rubber. Cool.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Dash808 on April 14, 2009, 09:06:17
All I see are the white walls in your 2nd pic so I like black tires on a dark car like yours.   For me white walls look better on a lighter car, and the 8 ring thing is a neat aspect too!
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: jameshoward on April 19, 2009, 16:45:18
Yep, I make it 8, too, Doug.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: RobMarks on April 25, 2009, 04:47:21
I think the white walls look fabulous.  Please post a few more pics and the specs of the various  tyres.  It's on my long list of want to do's

Here's apic of a black pagoda for sale some time ag that caught my eye.  Don't know whether it's the whitewalls or the color but there is something alluring about it!

rob
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: thelews on April 25, 2009, 13:37:37
The hubcaps are the wrong color.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Garry on April 25, 2009, 14:01:14
Maybe it is the hardtop that is the wrong color!!! :D
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: menesesjesse on May 05, 2009, 16:20:30
Interesting thread here. I have a question about contrast and if mercedes took that into acccout for the pagoda cars.  The wheels and hubcaps usually follow the body color or interior.  Which is correct? Did Mercedes take into account that a white car with white wheels (rims), with whitewall tyres, and white hubcaps probably would not look to fabulous?  I have seen it both ways and like the contrast of using the interior color for the hubcap color and the body color for the wheel but I am unsure if this is correct. What are your thoughts the multiple combos out there.  Thanks
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: waqas on May 05, 2009, 17:07:22
Normally, the hubcap colour matches the hardtop colour. Interior colour never enters the equation.

I've heard conflicting reports about the wheel colour though. Some say it should match the body, others say it should match the hardtop.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: majothelo on May 07, 2009, 13:12:31
Hi friends! Just wanted to show you my 230SL with white walls. Best regards Thomas / Sweden
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: KevinC on May 14, 2009, 01:17:42
I purchased my car with blackwalls but changed to white once I saw the data card suggesting that the car was delivered with this way.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: konstantin23 on June 05, 2009, 05:05:08
Got to admit I really like the look of white walls.
Bought the Ravus rings that attach to any tires, and they look pretty convincing....
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: konstantin23 on June 05, 2009, 05:08:09
Here's one up close shot of the Ravus ring on the rim.
Unless you are really close, you can't really tell.
And if you are close enough to read the tire wall letters, you are being very picky.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: J. Huber on June 05, 2009, 13:59:58
Hey Konstantin, so are these rings that are adhered to existing blackwalls? They look darn good to me.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Bob G ✝︎ on June 19, 2009, 03:22:41
I do not understand the disdain about white wall tires.
They are period options on our cars. My 1968 280SL had the continual tires with white wall tires.
I am going to  put the Colker firestones on my steel rims ford display once the paint and body work is done.
I think it adds to the classic period when these cars came out.

Bob Geco
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: RobMarks on June 19, 2009, 19:21:36
Go The whitewall! they look great.  Would like to see some fatter examples

rob
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Garry on June 19, 2009, 22:57:30
White walls rule!
Rob, an example of 205's but note there are 5mm spacers on the rear for clearance

Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Peter van Es on June 19, 2009, 23:33:01
Guys...

I hope you don't mind me giving this hint... but if you post pictures, to keep quality as best as possible do the following (as described in other posts on this subject):

The pictures will be smaller, but a lot less grainy than these!

Peter
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: RobMarks on June 20, 2009, 11:18:52
They Look good Gary.  I'm just curious to see how thick a whitewall you can go with it still looking the part.

I take it that is Port phillip Bay in the background?  whereabouts?

rob

Quote from: Garry on June 19, 2009, 22:57:30
White walls rule!
Rob, an example of 205's but note there are 5mm spacers on the rear for clearance


Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Garry on June 20, 2009, 12:50:10
I would have really liked to have got the wider white walls but was unable to find any at the time I needed tyres a few years back.  I would like to see a dark colored car with the wider white circles also.

The photo was taken from Williamstown, west of Melbourne looking back on the city on the last drive before fitting the hard top for winter.
Regards
Garry
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: franjo_66 on June 22, 2009, 04:12:34
Hi Garry & Rob (and other aussies)

If you want to get a good range of premium quality whitewall then check out the following website (http://www.classic-usa-cars.com/index1.html)

They stock both thick & thin style whitewall. Lots of pics on the site as well. I've also attached two images of a black W113 with thin & thick style widewalls. I'm still trying to decide which way to go. They both look good !

Rgds
Franjo
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Garry on June 22, 2009, 04:22:44
Rob, realised after sending earlier post that you were talking about wider white walls and not tyre width. :-[

Its a real toss up which way to go for thin or fat.  The wider look more traditional and dated.   
I have terrible trouble keeping my white clean and white.  They yellow off and require really hard scrubbing with a white spirit to get them back every few months and even then they do not appear to come up really white.  The wider ones would be even more difficult to keep good, unless what I have have some problem with them.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Flyair on June 22, 2009, 21:40:32
Garry is right that it is difficult to keep the white parts clean, but once it's done the car looks really great. I prefer the narrower ones though. They are discrete and I find them more elegant.
But... that's quite personal view.
Tastes are not negotiable :D 

Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Kemal on June 22, 2009, 22:05:26
Definitely the hardest part of the car to keep clean  >:(, I have the narrow ones and awhile ago wrote for some advice on cleaning them  :-\.
She wouldn't look or be happy without them. :D

Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD69
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: mbzse on July 19, 2009, 21:21:58
A method I use for keeping the white wall tire strip
white (and not yellowish or dirty) is by means of scrubbing
with steel wool that has some soap in it, then rinse off
with water right away
/Hans in Sweden
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: Kemal on July 19, 2009, 22:28:41
I will try that once I get the soft top fixed.  :-\

Thank you Hans,
Kemal

280 SL
Manual LHD69
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: thelews on July 20, 2009, 02:00:04
Quote from: mbzse on July 19, 2009, 21:21:58
A method I use for keeping the white wall tire strip
white (and not yellowish or dirty) is by means of scrubbing
with steel wool that has some soap in it, then rinse off
with water right away
/Hans in Sweden

Also known as a Brillo or SOS pad.
Title: Re: All black vs White walls
Post by: RobMarks on September 09, 2009, 10:58:04
Heres a pic I came across somewhere on the net (member perhaps)

I think the whitewalls look pretty good, car looks sexy

Thoughts?? are we getting out of the bounds of originality?

rob