# Missle transport vehicles and whitewalls **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368 "2010-08-06T04:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![retterath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@retterath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/retterath)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368/1 "2010-08-06T04:14:10Z")
In a “news” item on Yahoo, there was this picture of a Chinese missle truck. [http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3694/missileww.jpg](http://img210.imageshack.us/i/missileww.jpg/) Now, I find whitewall tires a classy, retro option on your hotrod, but on military vehicles? Not so much. Can anyone explain? I understand using what you have available to you, but Milspec WW’s? Kinda makes it hard to take the missle seriously, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368/2 "2010-08-06T06:39:52Z")
Isn’t white the colour of death in China? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368/3 "2010-08-06T07:44:46Z")
> [@retterath](#): > > In a “news” item on Yahoo, there was this picture of a Chinese missle truck. > > [http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3694/missileww.jpg](http://img210.imageshack.us/i/missileww.jpg/) > > Now, I find whitewall tires a classy, retro option on your hotrod, but on military vehicles? Not so much. > > Can anyone explain? I understand using what you have available to you, but Milspec WW’s? > > Kinda makes it hard to take the missle seriously, doesn’t it? Those TEL’s are probably just parade vehicles, the actual ones in the field most likely dont sport a high vis look, be a flaming red arrow for any A-10s that would be doing scud hunting. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368/4 "2010-08-06T08:07:09Z")
They’re just blinging up their pimpin gat’s, yo. But yeah, probably something they just do for parades. Though a radar cross-section a vehicle like that would have would mean they probably have little to fear from an airborne enemy actually getting close enough to ever notice the tires if it came to it. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368/5 "2010-08-06T11:09:14Z")
You did it three times so I’m guessing it’s not a typo, it is spelled missile. It does make a mockery of the camouflage doesn’t it ;). ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missle-transport-vehicles-and-whitewalls/549368/6 "2010-08-06T19:01:29Z")
Probably also a carryover from the Soviets, who also put whitewalls on their military vehicles for parades thru Red Square.