In whitewall tire construction, a wide band of white rubber is placed underneath the outer layer of black rubber. These two layers carry no weight and hold no air. They are a facade, covering the integral parts of the tire; plies, belts, liner, chafer, bead, etc. Then the whole "green" tire is pressed into a mold and cured with heat. The mold leaves the tread design on the outer circumference, as well as any lettering, beauty rings, safety and load warnings, etc. on the sidewall. Still all covered with the outer black rubber skin. Then the black rubber is buffed away, in the prescribed areas, to reveal the white rubber. there is a machine made to do this with.