Nothing can compare to the feeling that you get when you smack that lead hammer down to tighten up your "Ds" (as Daytons are known by most)! Dayton's initial fame came in the early '80s when the vast majority of lowriders felt that wire wheels defined lowriding. Even with all of the other quality manufacturers of wire wheels, Dayton seemed to stand with their head above the pack due to their unique straight-laced design. This clean design harked back to the 1932 race-inspired wheel with all of the spokes going straight to the center of the wheel, only being secured to the car with an adapter and a knockoff.
Daytons were the epitome of what everyone wanted in a day when rims were generally inexpensive. These high-priced Daytons were not only the cleanest rims on the market, they were a status symbol of wealth and prosperity. Using an adapter and knockoff allowed the rim to sit without the lugs interrupting the elegant straight-laced spokes. Though many have since copied the Dayton design, none can compare to the quality and durability that you get when you buy a set of Dayton wire wheels.
Here we have hit another milestone with big rims, which have earned the unofficial designation as the wheel that represents the newest generation of lowriders. Present day rims have not only changed in style, but much like everything else, they've become status symbols. Not wanting to be caught with some "teenage" rims, it's all 20-plus inches here. Size has no limit with owners willing to tweak the suspension as well as the body just to put on the biggest, shiniest set of wheels possible.
So as soon as you bought those 24-inch rims and thought that you were the king of the block, your neighbor pulls up on a set of 26-inch bastards that reek of blatant excess. From manufacturers such as Lexani, Giovanna, Katana and TSW, the refining of their catalogs has already begun and there's no limit to their audacity. One style has managed to stay true to its roots and still carry the same appeal as its ancestors, only the spokes on these mammoth-size wheels are bigger than ever.
The rubber that wrapped these chrome servants of lowriding started with the big, fat "gangster whites." A true look of the '50s, these tires are still in high demand with suppliers doing their best to keep them in stock.
The next mark on the road would be made by Vogue with a tire reserved for Cadillacs and luxury cars. Vogue radials had a tight inset whitewall with a pin-thin gold stripe line to the edge of the tire. Then there's the 5.20s. Originally intended as a replacement tire for early Volkswagens, 5.20 and 5.60 Premium Sportway tires were two-ply tires kindly referred to by most as "bicycle" tires because of their slim figures and mere 5 inches of rubber touching the road. The hiss from a fresh set of 5.20s, along with its profile, helped make this the official lowrider tire for many years.
Sometime around 1984, the company that produced the popular 5.20 line of tires would discontinue their output and close their doors forever. Today, the stockpile of 5.20s has depleted to almost zero, and a set of 5.20s is a prize find for most OG car builders. For those who spent the majority of their time on the road instead of the flatbed, the BFGoodrich P175/75-R14 would find its way on the scene as the smallest tire available in a 14-inch size. Soon after this introduction, even smaller sizes came to the forefront; the P175/70-R14 is an even lower profile tire.
With body styles changing from large to midsize, 14-inch wheels started looking out of proportion, while the need to get as close to the ground as possible would continue. Also, GM "G-body" cars sit higher on the frame than more traditional pre-'79 lowriders, so many switched over to the tire and wheel combo most desired by lowriders today, a P155/80-R13 tire on a 13-inch rim. The preferred rubber of choice in this size would be a Cooper radial, which gives more grip to the road while you're hanging a three-wheel at 90 mph.
Nitto Tires has not only met the demand of the plus-size rims, but has led the way through the latest lowrider trends by offering rubber to accommodate almost any size wheel. A true leader in the tire market for more than 20 years, Nitto has wrapped almost every high-end car from California to New York. So you see, big wheel critics, there's really nothing new when it comes to big wheels and lowriders.