MTFCA Forum

I know this is going to be difficult since most people won't have experience with using both types for a true comparison, but since I need to get onto the waiting list for either of those two 30x3½ Clincher White tires, I gotta make a decision. So, between these two brands of tires, which tire will last longer mileage wise? The Ribbed Universal that is $50 more, -or will the Firestone offer roughly the same mileage as the Universal?

Brent, I have the white ribbed Universal and the tread is worn smooth with less than 500 miles on them. They have also turned brown in the five years I have had them. The discoloration is not from inner tubes because they are temporarily white when scuffed with a red Scotch brite pad. I would not buy them again.

Is their anything in the tires' environment that could contribute to the browning? A number of things can accelerate browning. Some tire cleaning products allegedly contribute to browning of white tires.
Back in the day, the all-white tires wore very rapidly. The advent of lamblack-filled tire rubber greatly increased mileage and overall durability of tires. I don't know if today's white tires use the same material as they did back when. I do know that yellowing/browning is still an issue with modern whitewall tires. Chemical fumes, including fumes from fresh tires, ozone from arc welders or brush-type electric motors, sunlight, and exposure to air all contribute to browning yellowing.

BRENT in 10-uh-C wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 30, 2026 9:30 am

I know this is going to be difficult since most people won't have experience with using both types for a true comparison, but since I need to get onto the waiting list for either of those two 30x3½ Clincher White tires, I gotta make a decision. So, between these two brands of tires, which tire will last longer mileage wise? The Ribbed Universal that is $50 more, -or will the Firestone offer roughly the same mileage as the Universal?

Brent I've been using Universal White ribbed for probly 3 tire changes now and always got less than 4K miles on them
Due to a supply order mixup my usual vender did me a favor and supplied me with the Firestone whities this last time, mounted them late in the season. So far it looks as tho they will last longer but I've also only got about 1500 miles one one pair ( 2 tires) and slightly less on the other pair...I got them "out of sync" for some reason...Likely due to ribbed not wearing as well.

Also the dreaded tires seem to be thicker than the ribbed. Stay tuned! Hope this helps!

A few years back, the browning of white tires was a hot topic. Scores of posts on these boards offered causes and cures, with no definite conclusions. My opinion: ( whatever that’s worth ) the culprit was the composition of the tire material. From reading recent discussions, I believe makers have solved the problem.

As for wearability, I put a set of white Firestones on my Lizzie mid-summer. By the time she went into hibernation in the fall, I had put about 500 miles on them, the parting flash and little vent nubbins on the center line of the tread had not yet worn off, that bodes well for wearability I think. No sign of discoloring.

Well interestingly enough, they have no definitive manufacture date on either brand tire, ...and in a phone conversation this morning, Ricky said that likely means they have not had enough interest to even schedule making another run. They do have a few White Non-Skids in stock, but even my cost on those silly things is $603 a piece. I'd have over $2500 in a set of tires vs about a thousand dollars less with the Firestone whites. It is almost believable that within the next 5 years, you won't be able to buy any White Clincher.

So, I guess I'll just order some Black tires again for this year's touring. Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Cold winters and clean air probably reduce yellowing and browning of white rubber. Higher elevations may also help preserve rubber. An environment free of chemical vapors from any source is probably best for tires.