I'm thinking about adding white letter stickers to my tires

...just because.  I like white letters, always have, and was really stoked to see Tirerack carried the appropriate sized BF Goodrich Comp TA's that fit the '90 Celica race car.

But everything I'm reading about paints says eventually it will flake and/or turn brown.  Anywhere from a day to a few weeks.  I could even live with renewing it like once a year.

So, I've read a lot of assorted forum posts that say these guys have good products.  Tred Wear Letters  And different styles, fonts, a "rally wall" that might be fun on the snow tires on the GR Corolla.  Thinking a big COOPER on the side.  And if they fail?  Lesson learned.

I'll be honest.  I am never not thinking about this.  Just haven't looked for any company to buy from.

So, following.

I put Tire Stickers on the old 16s I had my e30 rolling on. I thought they were sweet. Easy to put on and stayed adhered for the life of the tire. A little white wall cleaner every so often and they brighten right up. They're not really like stickers but chunks of rubber you glue to the tire.

I can't find a good picture. Just a crappy rolling shot.

Do it!!  I think they're cool, at least on the right car they are.

Another option: Our friends at Condor Speed Shop offer tire stencils. 

Question:

Do these line up with the actual brand markings, or do you just glue them over?

Duke said:

Question:

Do these line up with the actual brand markings, or do you just glue them over?

 

They offer that, it looks like.

https://tredwear.com/tire-kits/factory-style-tire-letter-kit/

Duke said:

Question:

Do these line up with the actual brand markings, or do you just glue them over?

 

I know with the Tire Stickers brand you ordered by letter size. Anywhere from .5" to 2" tall. I went oversized.

A little bit of looking around Google (boss left early, work load is light) didn't show anyone using anything like my example of a "rally wall".  Closest was a Michelin tire I found.

So, maybe just go with letters.  I forgot that yellow letters have gotten popular, Google showed a lot of examples.  A bit of Photoshop on a photo from my phone:

I like this.  I like it a lot.

In reply to Jerry :

Just today I saw a black Dodge Challenger with American Muscle in large white letters repeated twice on the tires. Not a fan, do the letters glow in the dark?

Many years ago when white letters were popular you just buy a lettering marker and do it yourself. 

I've seen a old riced-out Celica with large "Falken" lettering on the tires, but the tires were pretty skinny and something didn't look right. I looked closer, and the tires were actually brand X all seasons.

I'm always experimenting with pics of my cars to see how white letters would look. In fact, I was doing some searching just yesterday. I gotta say, this is the best forum. I recall one automotive brand-centric forum yesterday the guy asks a simple question about sticker longevity and the first ten responses are everyone's pissy opinion on white letters. Ugh

I painted the raised letters with a white oil based paint pen. I thought it would be a 15 minute project that ended up taking hours. 

That at was maybe 5 years ago, it doesn’t look fresh and would be easy to touch up but has held up well.

I will try to post a picture later.

The stickers I've used to crack and yellow eventually. Making somethin gthat thin weather and UV stable has got to be tough. But, two things:

1. The patina they take on is actually kind of cool.

2. If you're tracking or autocrossing the car regularly the lifespan of the stickers isn't any less than the lifespan of the tires. You'll get 8-12 months out of the stickers before they completely fail. (unless you do a lot of automatic car washes which wil reduce the life considerably.)

Just dont advertise a mid-tier brand unless they are paying you.  

Michelin, Continental, BFG - OK

Mastercraft, Cooper - less OK

Name brand stickers on non-name-brand tires - definitely not OK

Like when you see restored cars with RWL Mastercrafts.  Woof.  No sense telling everyone you are poor.  

I can't be the only one that thinks these are the equivalent of JC Whitney stick on hood scoops. Just no.

Tire Stickers offered the "Cooper" font so I went with them, 1" seemed pretty OEM.  Should be back in the 70s next week so that works out.

Hopefully I have enough left to buy a hood scoop.

In reply to Jerry :

Are they going on Cooper tires?

93gsxturbo said:

Just dont advertise a mid-tier brand unless they are paying you.  

Michelin, Continental, BFG - OK

Mastercraft, Cooper - less OK

Name brand stickers on non-name-brand tires - definitely not OK

Like when you see restored cars with RWL Mastercrafts.  Woof.  No sense telling everyone you are poor.  

*sadly puts away stencil for my R-S4s...*

Do you have a complete list of brands that are acceptable to you?

93gsxturbo said:

.........Name brand stickers on non-name-brand tires - definitely not OK 

Did the Simpsons ever have tire names ?

Like Slip-n-slide  etc 

Something like that for a Lemons car :)

This came in on a car bought at auction 

californiamilleghia said:

93gsxturbo said:

.........Name brand stickers on non-name-brand tires - definitely not OK 

Did the Simpsons ever have tire names ?

Like Slip-n-slide  etc 

Something like that for a Lemons car :)

I don't remember anything, even on the Homer or the Canyonaero.  Google gave me this:

Otherwise the tire fire has been a constant.

White letters belong on Radial T/A's. And that's it.

There, I said it. Now get off my lawn.

In reply to ddavidv :

You couldn't be more wrong.