Tire Tread always looks dirty

[Nappers]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

Nice tip on the Last Touch Kevin.

The Master Jedi is in the house!

I love it when Kevin answers, it always works!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

Must be then. It is good to hear not everyone has problems with them. I'm assuming you have their max/high performance tire?

My Crossfire came with Continental ContiSportContact2 (Max Performance Summer) rubber from the factory. Quiet ride (a bit of tram lining though) and they stick like glue on a road course. I've run down much faster cars through the twisty sections on a couple of different tracks.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

That being said... you can definitely clean the tread areas just as you would the sidewalls.

It makes all the difference in the world.

• For a show car on display?
• Or are you talking about cleaning and then dressing the tread area of tires as a regular practice on daily drivers?

Due to wear and tear, inclement weather in some regions, seems kind of like overkill for the average person. The rubber between the tread lugs on the tires on my Jimmy are very noticeable as it's a huge chunk of rubber but you won't find me cleaning or dressing the face or tread of the tires as my Jimmy is a daily driver and it just doesn't matter what the rubber on the face of the tires looks like, (at least to me).

Dressing the outside of the sidewalls helps the tires to look better and of course improve the overall appearance of just about any tire on any car but cleaning and dressing the tread?

Seems kind of overkill, at least for most people...

[mb911]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

My Crossfire came with Continental ContiSportContact2 (Max Performance Summer) rubber from the factory. Quiet ride (a bit of tram lining though) and they stick like glue on a road course. I've run down much faster cars through the twisty sections on a couple of different tracks.

Beautiful car. Our cars share DNA.

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

For a show car on display?
Or are you talking about cleaning and then dressing the tread area of tires as a regular practice on daily drivers?

Well, I always dress the tread, fenderwells, and both sidewalls of the tire on customers cars.

On my truck, I just clean the tread with car wash soap and a pressure washer.
As long as the tires look clean and consistently colored, I don't dress the tread or back side, just with outward facing sidewall.

Seems kind of overkill, at least for most people...

Yes, it is. I am not most people, I guess!
It sure makes the car look pristine, and when the customer sees their car just after its been washed and dressed, they really notice the difference.

Many times, they don't even realize why it looks 'brand new'.
No dirt in the fenderwells, and a satin black finish on the fenderwell plastics, black paint (and the complete tire) really sets off the rest of the car.

[G Force]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

You can clean them with All Purpose Cleaner, All Purpose Cleaner Plus, or Super Degreaser.


Use the appropriate dilution ratios. Most times, you can simply mist them with the solution and then rinse. Of course, a brush or pressure washer helps things along dramatically.



Once you've washed the sidewalls, wheels, fenderwells, and rest of the car and PRIOR to drying...
Mist ONLY the tread areas with a 50/50 mix of Hyper Dressing and water (you can even dilute that down more).









Agreed with dressind sidewalls after good brushing with a mild car shampoo and a flow rinse.
Would super degreaser followed by a pressure rinse tend to dry out tires ?under normal conditions tires keep their good dampness six years even if not used.

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

Always use the least aggressive cleaner first.

In addition, the dilution can be adjusted so that there is just enough cleaner in the solution to loosen dirt, dressing, and oxidized rubber and wax.

Some tires can handle harsh conditions and cleaners better than others, so it depends on the tire brand and type.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Tire Tread always looks dirty

I dress the tread section of my tires from time to time, but not always. It is kind of neat once the contact area wears off the dressing, and it highlights the tread pattern (due to the darkened recessed areas).

It really looks great on larger, meaty tires (Maybe give it a shot on the Jimmy Mike, you might like it...)

A word of caution though, the tires are VERY slippery until the dressing wears off the contact portion...ESPECIALLY on wet surfaces. In fact, I recall a member on a Ranger forum literally sliding off his driveway and crashing into a telephone pole. No joke...