What is this tire dirt?

[HealthyCivic]

The above 2 photos illustrate some dirt that I find on my tires more and more between washes. See the brown stuff near the tread and near the wheel? What is that? How can I get rid of it? When I wash my car, the wetness hides it but as soon as the tires dry, it looks like that again. I can put a dressing on it like High Gloss gel but as soon as it wears off, the brown stuff is exposed again. I've even scrubbed the areas with a tough tire brush and soap. Does anyone know what this is and if/how I can get rid of it? Thanks.

[Ryan_Bihun89]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Use the Endurance Low Gloss tire gel. This will help the bring back the blackness of the wheel. Thrust me i use it on every car i detail.

Cheers

[Murr1525]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Its called blooming, and is chemicals in the tire moving to the surface. So it wont stop, some are just worse than others.

Best to wash the tire with something like APC, then wash your car, and dress the tires.

[Ryan_Bihun89]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

I repeat. :P

^+1 You know you chemistry Murr,

But i know the Endurance Low gloss tire gel really helps.

[CieraSL]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Maybe you will find this to be of some help:

Most people don't give a lot of thought to their tires except for how they look. Truth be known, your tires are designed to perform under extreme conditions of heat via kinetic energy transfer, high speeds for long periods of time and incredible forces of torque and flexing. That's a lot to ask from a chunk of rubber, inflated with air like a cream filled donut.

The science behind the modern rubber formulas used by major tire manufactures today is both complex and interesting. The rubber itself contains and ingredient called Antiozonant.

Antiozonant is an ingredient that helps to prevent the exterior rubber surface from cracking, checking, oxidizing, and deteriorating. The rubber is designed in such a way as to constantly work its way to the outside of the tire and as such, continually replenish the exterior surface with fresh antiozonant.

After the antiozonant works its way to the outside of the tire and is exposed to the ozone in the air, it turns brown. The technical term for this effect is blooming.

This is why you see a brown film on the surface your tires. You can wash your tires with soap or an all-purpose cleaner and remove this film, but in a few weeks, it's back. That's because the antiozonant continually works its way to the outside of the tires every time you drive your car.

Thus before applying a dressing you really need to do a thorough job of cleaning the outer surface of the tire to remove any spent antiozonant as well as any previously applied dressing and this will prepare the rubber to accept a fresh application of tire dressing.


Meguiar's Tire Dressing Options
To maintain your tires and keep them looking sharp with a deep, dark black color, Meguiar's offers six unique tire dressings that treat the rubber with Meguiar's own special conditioning agents as well as patented antiozonants that replenish your tires' original antiozonants and keep your tires looking blacker longer than generic tire dressings and protectants.

Special polymers actually penetrate and cure to the surface to form a long lasting barrier-film that protects your tires from inclement weather and exposure to corrosive elements. These include:

Hot Shine Tire Spray (Trigger Spray) High gloss formula turns tires a dark black with high shine
Hot Shine delivers a high gloss shine in an aerosol or trigger application. Highly water-resistant polymers combined with antiozonant technology keep tires looking blacker longer, while preventing cracking, browning, and premature aging. The high gloss formula gives your tires a “wet-look” with a dark shine.

G12032 ..... $6.99
32 ounce spray bottle

G12024 ..... $6.49
24 ounce spray bottle



Hot Shine High Gloss Tire Gel
Meguiar's® Hot Shine Tire Gel delivers long-lasting, intense shine without annoying overspray, drips or mess! The smooth, concentrated gel application delivers consistent results for even gloss and deep shine. Engineered to reduce sling, the advanced gel formula helps protect against tire fading and cracking to ensure tires always look hot!

G12416 ..... $5.99
16 ounce bottle



Insane Shine Tire Spray
G13124 Insane Shine Tire Spray delivers the ultimate in high gloss for tires a deep, dark, "insane wet look." Our spray on and walk away formula delivers a high gloss shine. Our Engineered Synthetic Polymers create a protective barrier that helps prevent browning, cracking and premature aging.

G13124 ..... $6.99
24 ounce spray bottle



NXT Generation Insane Shine Tire Coating
NXT Generation Insane Shine Tire Coating is the ULTIMATE in high gloss for tires - a deep, dark, insane wet look that is fast and easy just spray and walk away. Engineered Synthetic Polymers (ESP) combined with specially designed antiozonants create a mirror-like shine that prevents browning and premature aging.

G13115 ..... $7.59
15 ounce aerosol can



Hot Shine High Gloss Tire Coating (Aerosol Spray)
Hot Shine's high gloss formula gives your tires a wet-look with a dark shine. By combining highly water-resistant polymers with antiozonant technology, Hot Shine keeps your tires looking blacker longer while preventing cracking, browning and premature aging. Available in a 15 oz. aerosol or 24 oz. trigger spray
G13815 ..... $6.49
15 ounce aerosol can



Hot Shine Tire Foam
G13919 Hot Shine Tire Foam. Our new foam technology breaks clear on the tire (with no milky mess) leaving a deep, black, rich shine. In one easy step, the thick, luxurious foam coats the tire, quickly penetrates, lifts and releases dirt and road grime leaving behind an even, rich shine.

G13919 ..... $5.49
19 ounce aerosol can



Gold Class Endurance Original Formula
Endurance® continues to be a favorite among enthusiasts looking for extra long lasting performance with a great look. Our unique formulations stop tires from turning brown and eliminate the mess of overspray, drips, streaks and spotted driveways.

G7410 ..... $8.69
10 ounce bottle that comes in a box with one applicator



Gold Class Endurance High Gloss
Endurance® continues to be a favorite among enthusiasts looking for extra long lasting performance with a great look. Our unique formulations stop tires from turning brown and eliminate the mess of overspray, drips, streaks and spotted driveways. 16 oz. High Gloss Gel.

G7516 ..... $7.59
16 ounce bottle


Second, the Sun is a major contributor to drying out and cracking anything, both the visible sun rays, (light), and the invisible sun rays emitted by the sun.

Besides the rays then theirs the heat created by the sun to the surface and the environment. The worst areas for drying and cracking are places were the tires are exposed the extreme sun for a majority of the year. For example out here in the desert where I live the sun pretty much deteriorates everything that's not covered up and protected.

Goes with the territory.

Meguiar's tests all their products to be safe for the surface they are formulated to be used on as long as the products are used according to directions.

[cnfowler]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Use a dedicated wheel cleaner or degreaser on the tires. It will do a better job of cleaning the tires than soap and water.

Colin

[HealthyCivic]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Thanks.

So what I gather from that is:

A. The brown stuff is normal and good.

B. I can't actually stop it from happening but I can mask it.

Correct?

[CieraSL]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Thanks.

So what I gather from that is:

A. The brown stuff is normal and good.

B. I can't actually stop it from happening but I can mask it.

Correct?

Well, you will be removing it, but only temporarily. You'll have to keep cleaning and dressing your tires on a regular basis in order to "fix" it.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Thanks.

So what I gather from that is:

A. The brown stuff is normal and good.

B. I can't actually stop it from happening but I can mask it.

Correct?

You got it. Perfectly normal. Not to worry.

[Murr1525]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

Yeah, a good cleaning to remvoe the 'old' is the best you can do, then dress it.

[JoeDirt]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

I usually just brush it off when I clean my rims, the overspray seems to break it up quite well...

[chris328]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

I have the hot shine tire gel and its fine, I switched from the spray cause it was always getting on my paint around the wheel wells. How do they expect people to spray their tires without it getting on the paint?

Spraying your tires before a wash might work but then you'd be potentially washing off what you just applied to the tires from the car wash run off.

[Murr1525]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

I spray the applicator.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

I spray the applicator.

x2. Seems to me to be the best way to insure even coverage.

[POPPAJ]

Re: What is this tire dirt?

You need to clean your tires!! Then apply the recommended sprays, gels etc.
Use Wesley's tire cleaner. Heavy duty stuff! Very strong, doesn't have to be used often.