Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

maybe try some Super Degreaser

Not a good idea as Super Degreaser may stain paint if any overspray gets on the paint and dries. Even when using it for cleaning engines, it is recommended that all adjacent painted panels be sprayed with water and left wet prior to using.

Tim

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

All,

I've read all the threads on this topic related to brown tires, blooming, cleaners, dressings, etc. I understand the concept of blooming, but have a set of tires that doesn't seem to clean up the way I'd expect after reading all of the suggestions on this board. They're white-letter tires so although tire dressing will usually dissolve any residual brown hue on the tires, the dressings seem to deposit the residual brown dirt right back on the white letters.

I've tried all kinds of cleaners/degreasers (including the Meguiars products) and a variety of soft and stiff bristled brushes. I can get about 85% of the brown off (as evidenced by what rinses off the tires), but it's that last 15% I wish I could get. I've stopped short of using a product like Bleche-White (as also recommended highly by some here) because of fear of damaging my wheels. Please see the attached pictures.

Any suggestions? Just looking for a 100% clean tire before dressing. Thanks.

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Unfortunately, some tires do indeed bloom more than others making it very difficult if not impossible to make them perfectly black. Some tires even react badly to certain products even designed for that purpose.

What I have found is that using Meg's APC+ and a stiff brass or nylon brush works well. You may have to do the cleaning a few times to remove previous dressings. Eagle One also makes a good product than is sprayed on, scrubbed and then washed off. Then top the tires with Meg's All Season Dressing. Apply the ASD, allow 10 minutes and then wipe down with a dedicated MF towel.

You do need to be careful what products you use as you can easily damage/stain wheels. Believe me!

Try the APC+ and the brass brush and let us know how they turn out!

Tim

[G Force]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

Not a good idea as Super Degrease may stain paint if any overspray gets on the paint and dries. Even when using it for cleaning engines, it is recommended that all adjacent painted panels be sprayed with water and left wet prior to using.

Tim

Super degrease may also dry out your tires,under normal conditions tires loose their good dampness in about six years time.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

I also like Apc+ on tires. Try a couple of applications to get any residual cleaner/ dirt off.

I think if you dressed them with the ALL Season Dressing you will like the look.

Good Luck.

[gjohn28]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

What I have found is that using Meg's APC+ and a stiff brass or nylon brush works well. Tim

Is the 4:1 dilution of APC+ what's recommended for tires?

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

Is the 4:1 dilution of APC+ what's recommended for tires?

I do not even use it that strong. Usually I just use ~6-7:1 for just about everything.

Tim

[gjohn28]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

I do not even use it that strong. Usually I just use ~6-7:1 for just about everything.

Tim

Thanks, Tim.

6-7:1 probably means filling with water to half way between the 4:1 and 10:1 fill lines, right?

This thread is actually quite timely. I was planning on doing a wash today (weather break in upper 50's...) and when I went to get my products I noticed I had no tire cleaner. I had been using Westley's, but want to try out something else. I have plenty of APC+ on-hand and will definitely give it a whirl.

[Nappers]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

I usually run my cleaners at 7:1, with Blue Zero's handy chart, making 32oz of product is handy. Doing the normal filling to the fill ring is not 32oz of product. So...I get more product in my sprayer and even numbers with mixing for 16oz, 32oz and 1 gal if need be.

[Megafast13]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

Really? No different than any other cleaner? Really? Please tell us what other products you have used?

Warnings are used for a reason, one being liability.

Tim

Super Degreaser, APC, etc. All say to wear glasses, apron, gloves, etc. And you cannot inhale the product

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

Super Degreaser, APC, etc. All say to wear glasses, apron, gloves, etc. And you cannot inhale the product

So how do you know the differences between just the couple you have tried compared to your statement with "any" cleaner? Further, do you even know the differences between the products you even mentioned? How about the fact that Super Degreaser will stain paint if any mist is allowed to dry?

[Tuck91]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

i wonder if Safe D Greaser would be a good option, is that discontinued though?

[Andrew C.]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

I'd still suggest Westley's if you want to get your tires as clean as possible. What you should do to protect your rims and car is first spray down the surrounding paint above the tire and then spray down the wheel, getting it as wet as possibly, but try to to get the tire wet. Next spray Bleche White all over the tire and after that rinse the rim very lightly getting all parts of it, but make sure not to get too much of the tire. The water will run off the bottom of the tire, but if you have enough product on the tire, your brush should be able to transfer it from a part that hasn't been washed away. Scrub vigorously on the tire then thoroughly rinse. It works amazing.

[GTO4IBF]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

Wesley's and a stiff brush.
I have been using it for 4 years now and I don't think that there is anything better.
The down side is that it will ruin a shirt if you get it on it.

[rvx290]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

I don't know if you have found a solution, but I had the same problem with a set of BF's on my truck, I tried everything including a few things that guys around here would give me a slap on the wrist for. The absolute best solution I found which I would recommend to anyone is Spray Nine, I stole it out of my wifes home cleaning supply (amongst other things as I got more and more desprate in my quest to kill my pet peeve of brown tires, and sprayed it on the tire, wiped it off an the rag was BROWN.. the tire.......BLACK! I can finally sleep, I am sure you will too if you do the same.

[Hemin8r]

Re: Cleaning tires - I've read all the posts

How do you avoid the wheel? It's got to run right down...

When I've used Wesleys it's usually when I have the wheel off the car. I lay the wheel down to avoid it running down. Gives me a chance to clean the backside of the tire as well.