So what was the first year for white wall tires? And the last? And was Cadillac the first to have em or the last to get rid of em?
The Earliest Tires started out white...more of a natural rubber. They were quick to crack and fail, carbon was added to protect and strenghthen them.
So did the white wall start out because at first they only strengthened the tread area?
As early as in brass era, Cadillacs could have black or white tires.
White wall tires were standard or optional on Cadillacs well into the 1990s (e.g. from 1992-95 : standard on Broughams, optional on Eldorados, n/a on Sevilles).
The 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis was the last American car with white wall tires as STANDARD equipment, the Town Car of the same year had them as an option.
I think the 1999 Deville DHS was the last Cadillac to have white walls as standard equipment.
Jeremy
Was that 99 the Vouge tire that also had the gold stripe?
There was no DHS in '99. D'Elegance was the mid-level DeVille 1997-1999. Both the base DeVille & DeVille d'Elegance left the factory with narrow WW tires 97 - 99.
DeVille Touring Sedan (DTS), STS & ETC always standard with blackwall.
83-85 Eldorado Touring Coupe had white letter tires.
Uniroyal Royal Seal Goldstripe tires standard on RWD Brougham only from 1988-1992.
No FWD model ever supplied with Goldstripe tires. Vogue goldstripe were aftermarket only, dealer installed in some cases.
I have been searching web for factory catalog of 2000 DeVilles but I have been unsuccessful. If no WW tires appear on any model in 2000, would suggest 1999 was the final year for factory WW in Cadillac.