When do tan wall tires look particularly good or bad?

[cribbit]

Been debating this with some people.

When are tan walls good? Bad? Borderline?

Matte finish ti always looks good with them.

Purple bikes usually look bad with them.

[jtakeda]

personally I think they always look good.

The only scenario I can envision them looking bad is if you got a frame that is painted the exact same color as the tan that is on the tan wall tire and that frame happened to have a matching stem and seatpost. Then it would look bad.

[bike-md]

I am not a fan of tan walls on any "modern" or aero road bike. On everything else it looks awesome. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200626/7b5bb81ba8d14fcb572683d452a99990.jpg

[Jaybee]

I had a bronzish/charcoalish frame that looked pretty bad with tan walls, especially the orangey tan of WTB tires.

The bike I got to replace it - matte black with oil slick logo looks amazing with tan walls.

[oldfatslow]

Tan sidewall tires look good but they are slower than black sidewall tires cuz science.

[vincenz]

I think they look good on white or ti frames. Also look good on silver rims.

Everything else I’d say is a case by case basis..

[Cornfed]

Big fan of tan on orange or brown bikes. Probably comes from being raised in the 70s. Earth tones and all that.

Not good? Dirty tanwalls. Makes any bike look bad.

[many_styles]

They ALWAYS look good.

/thread


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dino Suegiù]

Most people here despise this position, so I'm happily setting up my tent smack dab in the middle of this field in order to forever guarantee my safe social distancing:

It is 2020, halfway to 2021, so gumwall tires look absolutely awful 99.99 % of the time.

On black rims/black builds (frameset from any era/material), and on framesets built after ~1985 (or whenever "modern" is defined, aka "non-lugged steel/non-panel paint/non-Campagnolo C-Record/Delta componentry"/quill stems), gumwall tires look absolutely awful 100.99 % of the time.

;)

[charliedid]

This is like a Seinfeld episode.

[mandurecords]

I like to do a mock up just to not waste money. I'm not great at visualizing in my mind. Gumwall tires do look good on some bikes. Do a mock up.

[Dino Suegiù]

This is like a Seinfeld episode.

Gumwall tires are the puffy shirts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qWFSBqAxR4) of bicycle componentry?

[charliedid]

Gumwall tires are the puffy shirts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qWFSBqAxR4) of bicycle componentry?

Or just sitting around wondering which color black or white is best in a turtleneck? Too late for me to pitch that one to them ;-)

[Dino Suegiù]

or just sitting around wondering which color black or white is best in a turtleneck? Too late for me to pitch that one to them ;-)

https://forums.thepaceline.net/images/icons/icon10.gif

[thirdgenbird]

They ALWAYS look good.

/thread


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This. Always.

[RoosterCogset]

Bound to look good with British Racing Green frame... maybe a tan leather saddle

[GOTHBROOKS]

disc brakes on a 700c frame are the puffy shirts.

[FlashUNC]

I think the onus is on the naysayers to prove they look bad. Cuz they don't.

[choke]

personally I think they always look good.


They ALWAYS look good.

This. Always.There's your answer.

And since pics are always good....

http://hampco.ciocctoo.com/314-1.JPG

http://cycle.ciocctoo.com/frej0409b.jpg

http://cycle.ciocctoo.com/cino8.jpg

[Gsinill]

I think the onus is on the naysayers to prove they look bad. Cuz they don't.


Here you go...

While I wouldn’t necessarily say “bad”, I just think in this case black looks way better.
Have to admit though that I was set on black rims and tires from the beginning and selected the rest of the components accordingly.

I am a huge fan of tan wall tires but I don’t think they are always a good match.

Gray and tan, not really IMHO.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200626/04d466498614f044ac221d3239094745.jpg

[Dino Suegiù]

I think the onus is on the naysayers to prove they look bad. Cuz they don't.

It's not "de bad", it's "de gustibus".

In addition to disliking gumwalls 99.99% I am also not a fan, in general/99.99%, of red, mauve, pink, purple, or tan bicycles. I like almost every other color. And, black tires.


PS: good example Gsinill.

[choke]

Gray and tan, not really IMHO.
And I think the black tires look terrible on that frame.....go figure...

[Seramount]

another non-fan here...have never installed tan wall tires on any bike I've owned.

find them seriously aesthetically unappealing.

same for colored tires, those are especially awful.

[Gsinill]

another non-fan here...have never installed tan wall tires on any bike I've owned.

find them seriously aesthetically unappealing.

same for colored tires, those are especially awful.

+1 on that one

[old_fat_and_slow]

Classic steel ==> tan wall

Modern carbon ==> black

Ti ==> black (tan may work sometimes)

Al ==> ??

[Clean39T]

Just put some fresh Veloflex Master 28s on my Zondas -- we'll see what you all think of them on a modern Celeste frame here shortly.. :banana:

[charliedid]

[QUOTE=Gsinill;2747056]Here you go...

"While I wouldn’t necessarily say “bad”, I just think in this case black looks way better.
Have to admit though that I was set on black rims and tires from the beginning and selected the rest of the components accordingly.

I am a huge fan of tan wall tires but I don’t think they are always a good match.

Gray and tan, not really IMHO."

It just needs to be complete. Tan tires necessitates white tape and saddle. IMO

Honestly

[Llewellyn]

another non-fan here...have never installed tan wall tires on any bike I've owned.

find them seriously aesthetically unappealing.

same for colored tires, those are especially awful.

My thoughts exactly. Only have all-black tyres on each my bikes.

[DeBike]

These kind of questions always bring out the strong OPINIONS. It only matters what you think looks good on your bike. Someone else wants to hate on it, laugh at them.

[Elefantino]

Tan walls look bad in the box.

[gibbo]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200626/367bf29230125198111e271c457ae34b.jpg
Tan for the win 99% of the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dino Suegiù]

another non-fan here...have never installed tan wall tires on any bike I've owned.

find them seriously aesthetically unappealing.

same for colored tires, those are especially awful.

100%.
Kind of clownish tires with one beautiful iconic exception imo:

https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/49/b4/d55a63db772d4221951ac47e105a9d4c.jpg

[72gmc]

Ti ==> black (tan may work sometimes)

If you want to have fun researching this opinion, dig through Stefan's galleries for the bike shots:

https://stefanrohner.exposure.co/spain-tour

[Dino Suegiù]

another non-fan here...have never installed tan wall tires on any bike I've owned.

find them seriously aesthetically unappealing.My thoughts exactly. Only have all-black tyres on each my bikes.

Tan walls look bad in the box.

I'm going to have to mark this day on my calendar, for perpetuity, since today I found not one, not two, but three more heroes...so far! :)

[reuben]

When do tan wall tires look particularly good or bad?
They look best when they match your summer cycling tan.

[Davist]

How could you "never have tan walls" on any bike you've ever owned? blackwalls didn't even come out until the 90s or so. -must be a youngster, I'm jealous :) Couldn't wait for the BMX blackwalls to come out in the early 90s. Now I have one pair of WTB tan walls on my gravel bike, kinda like them but truly more of a blackwall guy.

[FlashUNC]

Here you go...

While I wouldn’t necessarily say “bad”, I just think in this case black looks way better.
Have to admit though that I was set on black rims and tires from the beginning and selected the rest of the components accordingly.

I am a huge fan of tan wall tires but I don’t think they are always a good match.

Gray and tan, not really IMHO.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200626/04d466498614f044ac221d3239094745.jpg

The tan walls look better on that bike.

[R3awak3n]

there are definitely bikes that the tanwall does not work on but overall I think tans look good on most bikes. I really like the look of a tanwall on a deep carbon hoop

[vincenz]

there are definitely bikes that the tanwall does not work on but overall I think tans look good on most bikes. I really like the look of a tanwall on a deep carbon hoop


That’s funny, I think the opposite. I don’t like them much on deeper wheels. Makes it look like a TRON bike. Shallow alu wheels though, works much more of the time, even with alu brake tracks.

Shows this is all about preferences than any “rule.”

Nvm, just don’t use any color other than black or tan [emoji41]

[54ny77]

gumwall tires always look better on everything. always.

everything else is just a compromise!

:cool:

[Hai H. Ho]

I think they look good on white or ti frames.

I saw this ti bike with tan walls recently and thought to myself “This looks pretty good, even for a modern bike.” I would rock it.

[mhespenheide]

I used to prefer tanwalls all the time, no question. I've since come around to thinking that blackwalls can be better. Some frame colors just don't play well with yellow; others do.

[happycampyer]

Personally, I'm in the "it depends camp," and will go either way based on what I think works best with the rest of the bike. Here is a "before and after" where I think the bike looks better with tanwall tires.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dv8pqHX/0/8fc1061b/L/i-dv8pqHX-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-NBvZt3f/0/e048c318/XL/i-NBvZt3f-XL.jpg

Sometimes there is no direct alternative (not aware of any blackwall tubulars with silk casings):
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-H556pM3/0/74430631/X2/i-H556pM3-X2.jpg

[robt57]

These are going on my Helx Disc, if the mastik ever gets here...

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1698002756&stc=1&d=1593104510


These are on there now, the black/tan/Ti thing I stared liking.

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1698001313&stc=1&d=1591387911

Two 650b wheelsets here as well, brownwall Cannonballs and a WTB Bi-Way tan wall set.

Acknowledge that sometimes they just look aweful on some bikes/colors etc.
Thought the Jack Browns looked good on the Pink Crockett, but sold the bike yesterday, kept the Jack Browns...

[OtayBW]

This is like a Seinfeld episode.It's about nothing???

[brucehappy]

Definitely a fan on pink as my Journeyman 650B can attest :-D
https://i.imgur.com/RtdNbQVh.jpg

[robt57]

It's about nothing???

BaZinga!

[charliedid]

It's about nothing???


One could say.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tim Porter]

Tan, of course:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/a583/porterphoto1/.highres/vswC3tLkSF2oRYhYo0oIcA_zpsrv6td48d.jpg

Except maybe black:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/a583/porterphoto1/.highres/SdiOL7HPTjyA6KaxS0qQYg_zpshzydktmd.jpg

[happycampyer]

Tan, of course:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/a583/porterphoto1/.highres/vswC3tLkSF2oRYhYo0oIcA_zpsrv6td48d.jpg

Except maybe black:

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/a583/porterphoto1/.highres/SdiOL7HPTjyA6KaxS0qQYg_zpshzydktmd.jpg

Extra points for a tanwall spare held by a Binda toe strap!

[dbnm]

I've become kinda fond of the tan side walks.

[jpang922]

Tan for the relic and the snob
Black for the progressive and the don’t care

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200627/a426ffca85528e3486933a14e779073c.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200627/a3d4b2ed7aaab229e10deeb89e63a887.jpg

[cribbit]

Personally, I'm in the "it depends camp," and will go either way based on what I think works best with the rest of the bike. Here is a "before and after" where I think the bike looks better with tanwall tires.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-dv8pqHX/0/8fc1061b/L/i-dv8pqHX-L.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-NBvZt3f/0/e048c318/XL/i-NBvZt3f-XL.jpg


Now you're just showing off your ti track frame

[joosttx]

I do like tan wall tires on black bikes. I think they can work. But I am definitely in the black wall tire camp.

[R3awak3n]

Thats an unfair one because bike also looks better with the painted fork

[macaroon]

Been debating this with some people.

When are tan walls good? Bad? Borderline?

Matte finish ti always looks good with them.

Purple bikes usually look bad with them.

They look okay when they're skinny tubular tyres on old steel framed racing bikes. Befitting I guess.

Ti frames look, not awful, but just very very boring.

Tan wall gravel tyres look silly, but it doesn't matter since gravel bikes generally look awful anyway. See the ones posted in this thread: disc brakes, Enve stems, loads of stem spacers, dinner plate cassettes; just ****e.

A better question might be "when do bikes look particularly good or bad?" Most of the bikes posted on here look bad, although I had a browse through a CAAD thread in general discussion a few days ago and there were some nice bikes in there.

[happycampyer]

I love the tanwalls on this old Klein:

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9GcRh5S/0/10b5c0c9/O/i-9GcRh5S.jpg

If anyone has a 19” one just like this in excellent condition, please send me a pm.

[thirdgenbird]

Tan wall gravel tyres look silly, but it doesn't matter since gravel bikes generally look awful anyway. See the ones posted in this thread: disc brakes, Enve stems, loads of stem spacers, dinner plate cassettes; just ****e.

I think tan/brown gravel tires are the only way to go. I’m with you on the enve stems however.

[72gmc]

Re that Klein: if it's an old mtb with the right tires (e.g., Smokes or porcupines) then it is not a debate!

[NONN]

I love the tanwalls on this old Klein:

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-9GcRh5S/0/10b5c0c9/O/i-9GcRh5S.jpg

If anyone has a 19” one just like this in excellent condition, please send me a pm.



I had these Michelin Wild-Gripper-type tires on my 97' Schwinn Homegrown Factory - brings back great memories

[R3awak3n]

I think Tans looked better on my Lobster but black walls also good.


Before -

https://i.imgur.com/D33nGFs.jpg?1


Now -


https://scontent-lga3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/s1080x1080/104040641_278337703245519_8286185484291356065_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=HInCr9fLgOkAX8zZRP6&oh=eaa30e9a62c7c5a550ade38b0d2b82a1&oe=5F19AA28


Just killed that rear tire today and going Tan for the next set

[jemdet]

Gumwall tires look good on rims that are either anodized or silver or black or carbon, but not a mix of two. Black rims with a machined sidewall? No thanks. Ditto carbon rims with an AL brake track.

They also look better the more "serious" the bike is. A highfalutin raw carbon frame with minimal branding, or a good steel frame with the right saddle-to-bar drop.

[Clean39T]

Now?

.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200701/95d96214a8ccdc65c2cfebf19d761af5.jpg

.
.
.

Campy transition underway..

[martl]

I would do black sidewall/black rim/wheel *only* on a very clean build, where the frame is just one color (color as in = not black) and all the other components are mainly black. More colorful bikes *always* profit from a tan sidewall, imo.
Exception would be a very elaborate paintjob like a Pego ciavete, when one doesnt want to draw attention away from the main feature :)

[DHallerman]

I do like tan wall tires on black bikes. I think they can work. But I am definitely in the black wall tire camp.

Only recently did I come around to liking the combo of black and brown (tan being in the brown family). And I think it looks best when I commit to the combo.

That is, my black Gunnar Crosshairs now has a honey colored Brooks saddles, brown leather bar tape, and dark tan sidewalls on some new-to-me René Herse 700x35 tires.

Elegant!

[AngryScientist]

Absolutely, stupidly giddy about rolling these soon.

These will look good on anything.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3g4uMH74F4s/Xvy1XXhTC5I/AAAAAAAAEB8/tNkO5lVMrEEKOCFc-2uZ_F5qig9qkpKagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/IMG_5861.jpg

[cinema]

they look like ass on a wheel with black spokes. black spokes are illegal anyway but just in case anyone didn't get the memo. looks like a lot of law breakers in this thread

[thirdgenbird]

they look like ass on a wheel with black spokes. black spokes are illegal anyway but just in case anyone didn't get the memo. looks like a lot of law breakers in this thread

Haha.

I hate black spokes as well. I still use tan tires on the wheelsets that I have with black spokes. In my opinion, using black tires on those wheels would just be doubling down on bad decisions. I would prefer isolating the mistake to just the spokes.

Please Campagnolo, bring back silver spokes. Your black wheels with stainless spokes were the best...

[cinema]

using black tires on those wheels would just be doubling down on bad decisions. I would prefer isolating the mistake to just the spokes.


i guess this is acceptable temporarily until you divest of them/have to forfeit the wheels to the cops once they pull you over.

[martl]

they look like ass on a wheel with black spokes. black spokes are illegal anyway but just in case anyone didn't get the memo. looks like a lot of law breakers in this thread

God created the sun so its light could reflect in silver spokes. You heard it here first.

[saf-t]

Or just sitting around wondering which color black or white is best in a turtleneck? Too late for me to pitch that one to them ;-)

Is that even a real question?

[Dino Suegiù]

they look like ass on a wheel with black spokes. black spokes are illegal anyway but just in case anyone didn't get the memo.I hate black spokes as well. I still use tan tires on the wheelsets that I have with black spokes. In my opinion, using black tires on those wheels would just be doubling down on bad decisions. I would prefer isolating the mistake to just the spokes.God created the sun so its light could reflect in silver spokes. You heard it here first.

No, this is not the first mention of this at all.

As I heard it, God got sloppy drunk one evening at a Reno, Nevada cowboy bar/strip club during Interbike decades ago and started bragging about "his" sun and silver spokes and the sublime reflections and all that.
Unbeknownst to God, the Devil happened to be in that very same bar that evening, overhead the bragging, and became really irked and jealous.
So, in retaliation, the Devil created tan wall tires, designed specifically to suck every drop of beauty from light itself and to make God and anyone else who ever saw them acutely sick to the stomach.

Some mistakes cannot ever be undone of course, even with giant bottles of Pepto-Bismol, but in order to do his best to atone for his original sin God first pondered hard and then after 6 long and sleepless days created Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35s (Dark Label) with black hubs, black spokes, black nipples, and black rims, and finished them off with Veloflex ProTour RACE Black tubulars. On the 7th day God showed his latest creation to the Devil, who, slack-jawed, collected himself and exclaimed, "OMG, G! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see!"
And, God's stomach now no longer aches as badly as it did.
Until he sees tan wall tires again, that is....

[Web1111a]

Absolutely, stupidly giddy about rolling these soon.

These will look good on anything.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3g4uMH74F4s/Xvy1XXhTC5I/AAAAAAAAEB8/tNkO5lVMrEEKOCFc-2uZ_F5qig9qkpKagCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/IMG_5861.jpg

Are these the Clincher ones and where did you purchase

[jtakeda]

No, this is not the first mention of this at all.

As I heard it, God got sloppy drunk one evening at a Reno, Nevada cowboy bar/strip club during Interbike decades ago and started bragging about "his" sun and silver spokes and the sublime reflections and all that.
Unbeknownst to God, the Devil happened to be in that very same bar that evening, overhead the bragging, and became really irked and jealous.
So, in retaliation, the Devil created tan wall tires, designed specifically to suck every drop of beauty from light itself and to make God and anyone else who ever saw them acutely sick to the stomach.

Some mistakes cannot ever be undone of course, even with giant bottles of Pepto-Bismol, but in order to do his best to atone for his original sin God first pondered hard and then after 6 long and sleepless days created Campagnolo Bora Ultra 35s (Dark Label) with black hubs, black spokes, black nipples, and black rims, and finished them off with Veloflex ProTour RACE Black tubulars. On the 7th day God showed his latest creation to the Devil, who, slack-jawed, collected himself and exclaimed, "OMG, G! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see!"
And, God's stomach now no longer aches as badly as it did.
Until he sees tan wall tires again, that is....

God doesnt exist dude.

Tan walls for life.

[cinema]

God doesnt exist dude.

Tan walls for life.

lmao :banana:

[Dino Suegiù]

God doesnt exist dude.

Tan walls for life.

Dude, I do not believe (in) you:
no self-respecting atheist would be caught dead, and certainly not living for even a split nano-second, on tan wall tires.

[scho74]

i do agree with the silver spokes comments, but black isn't that bad either


https://live.staticflickr.com/2929/32026612934_d711bbb022_b.jpg

[jtakeda]

Dude, I do not believe (in) you:
no self-respecting atheist would be caught dead, and certainly not living for even a split nano-second, on tan wall tires.

man, if you think this strongly about tan walls we should crack open a few of these bottles I have on the shelf and start debating about colored walls--reds, and blues and purples etc.
might make you reconsider your position on tan walls lol

[weisan]

.

[Dino Suegiù]

man, if you think this strongly about tan walls we should crack open a few of these bottles I have on the shelf and start debating about colored walls--reds, and blues and purples etc.
might make you reconsider your position on tan walls lol

Only if you agree to reconsider your position as well.

However, I have previously stated in this thread my complete abhorrence for all colored walls except for green wall Vittorias under professionals during Paris-Roubaix.

Now if instead by "colored walls--reds, and blues and purples etc." you mean the walls of the room you are currently sitting in, well...I am in no way responsible for what you do with a paint brush and roller after you "crack open a few of these bottles [you] have on the shelf"! ;)

[weisan]

https://66.media.tumblr.com/b81fdaa88f799cea16e869534d21eedb/tumblr_p70w83aOGO1r19cyzo1_400.jpg


https://bikebridge.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/trek-bikes-women-open-graphic.jpg

https://bikesmakelifebetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Stylish_Woman.jpg

https://cbuscyclechic.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/tina-fey-bicycle.jpg

https://www.urbandesignembassy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bicycle-parking-bicycles-bikes-36743-672x372.jpg

https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.47/pxe.dc9.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2-bikes.jpg

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/8f4a338c-d967-4ac0-a0c9-3a2299b39a9b_1.d86816f7a6daf8eb776f60083ea0f7b1.jp eg?odnWidth=612&odnHeight=612&odnBg=ffffff

Get it?

[jtakeda]

Only if you agree to reconsider your position as well.

However, I have previously stated in this thread my complete abhorrence for all colored walls except for green wall Vittorias under professionals during Paris-Roubaix.

Now if instead by "colored walls--reds, and blues and purples etc." you mean the walls of the room you are currently sitting in, well...I am in no way responsible for what you do with a paint brush and roller after you "crack open a few of these bottles [you] have on the shelf"! ;)

at the moment the everything has tan walls. i will never reconsider

[ox_rider]

Here you go...

While I wouldn’t necessarily say “bad”, I just think in this case black looks way better.
Have to admit though that I was set on black rims and tires from the beginning and selected the rest of the components accordingly.

I am a huge fan of tan wall tires but I don’t think they are always a good match.

Gray and tan, not really IMHO.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200626/04d466498614f044ac221d3239094745.jpg

I love the gray and tan. Looks smart

[ox_rider]

I like the way this looks.

[adrien]

I like them a lot on Ti. I really like the mix of old and new on this. Makes me want to ride it.

FWIW, not all tan walls are the same. Some are downright brown (like Gravel Kings and GP4 seasons) and others very light tan (Like Vittoria Corsas). I like the Pirelli tan as depicted here.

[kevinvc]

Single speed and fixie are required to have tan walls. Otherwise you lose all hipster cred. No, it's not possible to cover for this by saying you're using black tires ironically.

[Dr Luxurious]

they always look good

.