$SnO_2-CoO$/carbon-coated CoO core/shell nanowire composites were synthesized by using electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. In order to obtain $SnO_2-CoO$/carbon-coated CoO core/shell nanowire composites, $SnO_2-Co_3O_4$ nanowire composites and $SnO_2-Co_3O_4$/polygonal $Co_3O_4$ core/shell nanowire composites are also synthesized. To demonstrate their structural, chemical bonding, and morphological properties, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were carried out. These results indicated that the morphologies and structures of the samples were changed from $SnO_2-Co_3O_4$ nanowires having cylindrical structures to $SnO_2-Co_3O_4/Co_3O_4$ core/shell nanowires having polygonal structures after a hydrothermal process. At last, $SnO_2-CoO$/carbon-coated CoO core/shell nanowire composites having irregular and high surface area are formed after carbon coating using a polypyrrole (PPy). Also, there occur phases transformation of cobalt phases from $Co_3O_4$ to CoO during carbon coating using a PPy under a argon atmosphere.