Continental tire

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For the German corporation, see Continental AG.
1956 Nash four-door sedan with factory color matched Continental tire.
1956 Nash four-door sedan with factory color matched Continental tire.

A Continental tire is an upright, external, mounted spare tire behind an automobile's trunk compartment. The term also describes a non-functional bulge that is stamped into the trunk lid or a cosmetic accessory to the rear of the car giving the impression of a spare tire mount.

The development of the enclosed trunk on automobiles meant the spare tire could be placed out of sight, but this arrangement used up valuable space for carrying luggage. The 1939 Lincoln Continental's short trunk with its external rear spare tire mount was a distinctive design. While this was not the first car to either carry its spare above the rear bumper or integrated into the rear bodywork, it was the first to do it so elegantly and thus this feature became known as a "Continental tire" even if the design was found on other brands.[1] Similar spare tire placements added to vehicles were also described as a "Continental kit". This became a customizing aftermarket appearance accessory during the 1950s.

Early European sports cars had their spare tire attached on the back of the automobile since their trunk or storage space was often very small. In the United States, the external Continental tire mounting was a factory option on various types of cars during the 1950s and early 1960s. On some models, such as on the Nash Metropolitan, Jeepster Commando, Ford Thunderbird, and Mercury Turnpike Cruiser, the Continental tire was a standard feature. Most often, the car's rear bumper was extended and the tire had a fabric or metal cover. The bracket for the spare wheel was designed to swing away for access to the trunk.

Contemporary examples of Continental kits are sometimes found on customized automobiles, first made popular by the pimpmobile craze of the 1970s, not to mention the Pimp My Ride show. Continental tires are known as 'fifth wheels' in hip hop slang.

Numerous compact SUV models of today have an exposed rear mounted spare tire. This is no longer described as a Continental tire. However, the historic Jeep DJ "Surrey Gala" model came with a striped pink and white fabric cover for its so-called "Continental tire mount".

1958 Ambassador by Rambler four-door hardtop with full hub cap within its Continental tire cover.

1959 Imperial with a factory imitation spare tire bulge on its decklid.

Modern version of an outside rear mounted spare tire on a van or recreational vehicle.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Donnelly, Jim. "A Classy Rear" Hemmings Motor News, November 1, 2006.

[edit] See also