The Wards Riverside Legacy
Wards Riverside Tires represents an important chapter in American automotive history, having equipped countless vehicles during the mid-20th century as Montgomery Ward's house brand of tires. Today, this nostalgic brand has been revitalized to offer meticulously crafted reproduction tires that capture the authentic look, feel, and character of classic American motoring while incorporating modern manufacturing techniques for improved safety and longevity.
Distinctive Classic Tire Collections
The Wards Riverside catalog spans several key eras of American automotive development, offering period-correct solutions for different restoration needs:
American Classic Series
The American Classic Series showcases Wards Riverside's commitment to preserving the elegant styling of America's post-war automotive golden age. These carefully designed tires feature authentic whitewall options in various widths, period-correct tread patterns, and proper sidewall styling that perfectly complement vehicles from the late 1940s through early 1960s. Available in original equipment sizes and bias-ply construction, these tires deliver uncompromising authenticity for show cars and concours restorations while utilizing modern rubber compounds that significantly outperform original tires in durability and resistance to age-related deterioration.
Riverside Performance Line
The Riverside Performance Line recreates the distinctive styling and aggressive stance that defined the American muscle car era. These tires feature the iconic raised white lettering, wide footprints, and bold tread patterns that enthusiasts demand for authentic muscle car restorations. Available in period-correct size designations like F70-14, G70-15, and other original muscle car specifications, these tires provide both the visual impact and enhanced grip that complement Chevelles, GTOs, Mustangs, and other American performance legends while offering improved handling characteristics compared to vintage originals.
Riverside Radial Collection
Recognizing that many classic car owners want to drive their vehicles regularly, Wards Riverside developed their Radial Collection to brilliantly merge vintage aesthetics with modern radial technology. These tires maintain period-correct appearances—including whitewalls, redlines, and authentic tread patterns—while delivering superior handling, improved fuel economy, and substantially longer tread life. This innovative approach makes them ideal for enthusiasts who want their classics to look period-correct while benefiting from contemporary driving dynamics and safety.
Specialty Fitments Collection
Wards Riverside takes particular pride in preserving options for less common classic vehicles through their Specialty Fitments Collection. This range includes hard-to-find sizes and designs for limited production American cars, trucks, and specialty models that other manufacturers might overlook. By maintaining these niche offerings, Wards Riverside has become a valuable resource for restoration specialists working on unique or unusual projects that require period-correct tires that are otherwise difficult to source.
Quality Manufacturing Standards
While honoring the nostalgic appeal of the original Wards Riverside brand, today's reproduction tires benefit from significantly advanced manufacturing processes. All tires meet or exceed current Department of Transportation safety standards while faithfully recreating the visual characteristics that defined different eras of American motoring.
The brand's proprietary rubber compounds are specifically formulated to address the unique requirements of classic tire applications, resulting in products that resist aging, cracking, and UV damage substantially better than both original equipment and lesser quality reproductions. This commitment to modern quality within vintage designs ensures that each tire delivers consistent performance and exceptional longevity while maintaining the authentic appearance that collectors demand.
Key Takeaways
- Wards Riverside offers authentic reproduction tires that capture the nostalgic appeal of a classic American tire brand
- Available in both traditional bias-ply construction for absolute authenticity and modern radial designs for enhanced performance
- Features period-correct styling options including whitewalls, redlines, and raised white lettering
- All tires meet current DOT safety standards while maintaining vintage appearances
- Advanced rubber compounds provide superior resistance to aging, cracking, and UV damage
- Comprehensive catalog includes correct fitments for both common classics and rare specialty vehicles
- Authentic vintage sizing designations available, including non-metric muscle car specifications (F70-14, G70-15, etc.)
For enthusiasts seeking to preserve the authentic character of their classic American vehicles, Wards Riverside Tires delivers period-correct styling combined with modern reliability and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are today's Wards Riverside tires the same as the originals from Montgomery Ward?
While today's Wards Riverside tires faithfully reproduce the appearance and character of the originals sold through Montgomery Ward stores, they feature significantly improved construction and materials. The reproduction tires maintain period-correct tread patterns, sidewall styling, and branding elements that make them visually indistinguishable from original tires, but they utilize modern rubber compounds and manufacturing techniques that provide substantially better safety, durability, and resistance to aging compared to tires produced decades ago.
How do I know which Wards Riverside tire is correct for my classic vehicle?
For most classic vehicles, the original tire size and type can be found in the owner's manual, door jamb sticker, or factory documentation. Wards Riverside provides comprehensive cross-reference guides that convert original tire designations to their current reproduction equivalents. If you're uncertain about the proper fitment for your specific vehicle, their customer service team can offer expert guidance based on your vehicle's year, make, and model to ensure you receive the correct period-appropriate tires that maintain historical accuracy for your restoration project.
What's the difference between Wards Riverside bias-ply and radial classic tires?
Wards Riverside bias-ply tires feature construction similar to original equipment tires from the classic era, with fabric plies running diagonally across the tire. This provides the most authentic handling characteristics and appearance, making them ideal for show cars and concours restorations where absolute period correctness is required. Their radial tires maintain vintage appearances but utilize modern radial construction with plies running perpendicular to the direction of travel, delivering improved handling, fuel economy, and tread life. The choice between bias-ply and radial often depends on whether historical accuracy or enhanced driving performance is your priority.
Are Wards Riverside reproduction tires safe for regular driving?
Yes, all Wards Riverside reproduction tires are manufactured to meet current Department of Transportation (DOT) safety standards. While they maintain the appearance of vintage tires, they incorporate modern materials and construction techniques that provide significantly improved safety compared to original equipment from decades past. That said, drivers should always observe the speed ratings and load indices specified for each tire model and understand that even modern reproductions of vintage designs may have different handling characteristics than contemporary performance tires designed for modern vehicles.
Do Wards Riverside tires include the correct vintage markings and branding?
Yes, Wards Riverside reproduction tires feature historically accurate sidewall markings, including correct branding, size designations, and period-appropriate styling elements. This attention to detail extends to proper whitewall widths for different eras, authentic raised lettering designs for muscle car applications, and correct tread patterns that match the originals. For concours-level restorations where judges scrutinize every detail, these accurate reproductions help ensure maximum authenticity and historical correctness.