Deutsch
Örn Sigurðsson / orn@forlagid.is / Iceland
Deutsch
Introduction:
I have been reading the new articles [1] regarding tires and wide white walls. I had the same problem as Scott Gordon [2] when I wanted to have wide white walls on my black 1956 Mercedes-Benz Type 190 Ponton sedan. When I owned my gray 1959 Type 190 in the early 1980s I managed to import 3.5 inch white rings from J.C.Whitney. When I bought the black Ponton, J.C.Whitney had not been selling these rings for many years and I could not find them anywhere. I had new 6.40-13 diagonal (cross-ply) tires, but disliked the black walls. Finally I introduced my problem to a friend of mine, who is a chemical engineer, and together we managed to make a white rubber-paint which is elastic enough to be painted on all kinds of tires and does not crack or peel off.
Now I drive my Ponton with the 3.5 inch wide whites, painted on with this heavy duty rubber-paint. I have also been able to help some friends in the Antique Automobile Club of Iceland, who are now able to paint all four tires for a few dollars, compared to the $1,000 cost of importing the US-made wide white wall tires. Even some motorcycle enthusiasts in California found out about this product and are now ordering the paint to use on their vintage cycles. If some of our Mercedes-Benz Ponton friends are interested, I can arrange to have some cans made up.
This photo shows the whole 1956 Mercedes-Benz Type 190 Ponton sedan along with the "inventor" of the white wall tire paint.
The paint was developed and produced in Iceland by myself with the help of a chemical engineer friend. There is a liquid in the paint which makes it softer and easier to paint which is partly made of thinner. But the main secret behind the formula is a fluid we put into the rubber which keeps it from getting completely solid. Actually the paint gets only 50% solid-hardness, preventing it from cracking on the moving tire. If you apply a small amount of the paint on a plastic film and peel it off after it is dry, you can stretch it like a balloon. That is why it tolerates the fast rotating radial tires, which will destroy all other paint. We also put titanium into the paint to minimize the effect of sunlight on the colour.
Focus on the tire. Click image to enlarge.
Detail of the white wall tire paint. Click image to enlarge.
Application Instructions:
1. Clean the tires well. Use paint thinner (or silicon cleaner) to prepare the tire surface you are going to paint. If the tire surface is very smooth and/or glossy, it is good to use some sandpaper.
2. Stir the paint well and often.
3. Paint 3 coats and let each coat dry for 24 hours.
4. Let the tires dry for 24 hours before use.
5. Equipment should be cleaned with turpentine.
The paint is applied with a brush. It is rather thick with good coverage and adhesion. The first coat covers amazingly well. The second coat completely seals the tire and the third coat will make it stronger and more durable against small accidents, such as contact with a curb. The paint dries slowly allowing all brush marks to disappear.
There is a strong possibility that the tires will show a brown (or yellow) colored rubber-softening material through the paint. Triple layered paint will reduce this discoloration. If the tires are brand new this might be a problem. Then four or even five thin layers of the paint is needed to close in this brown softening material.
If the plan is to spray the paint, please use Toluene as a thinner.
To help keep water and dirt away it is good to spray STP brand Son Of A Gun on the tires, two or three layers before the first drive. It is also a good idea to have tire cleaner in the car, to clean all dirt and grease from the white walls after a journey to the countryside.
This photo shows me and my most favorite Ponton photograph, which was taken in Sindelfingen in 1956. I think my W121 is there somewhere!
FOR BEST RESULTS
Before painting, sand the tires and use a Silicone-Remover (Spirit Wipe) to clean the tires and get rid of all dirt and silicone.Paint the tires with 3 layers of WTP.
Use the Westley´s Bleche-Wite and the sponge to clean off dirt and dis-coloration from the whites.
To achieve a "perfect" curved paint line it is best to outline the desired whitewall area using common automotive painter's tape (pin stripe tape). After painting, the painted outlines must be scored to prevent tearing the paint upon removal of the tape."
Contact / Price / Payment / Distribution:
- Contact orn@forlagid.is to indicate the number of cans you want and your mailing address.
- Price is $25 USD for each 250 ml can of the white wall tire paint. Postage to USA for 1-4 cans is $20. Please write for other prices.
- One can is enough for two coats on all four tires.
- Send prepayment (cash, cashier´s check, Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards, International money order or Western Union money transfer) to:
Orn Sigurdsson
Nokkvavogur 30
104 Reykjavik
Iceland
