RWL are not white anymore
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,102
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, OK
RWL are not white anymore
I just went to the barn and got out a set of BFG 255/60/15 Radial T/A tires I purchased 7 years ago with intentions of putting them on my vette. They still had the blue stuff on the letters, so I scrubbed the blue gunk off a couple days ago. Now the letters are not very bright... they're kind of a light brown / dull white. I tried scotch brite pads, comet, clorox, and bleche-white, and the letters won't come clean. What else can I try to get them gleaming again?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 281
Likes: 1
From: SA
Re: RWL are not white anymore (lou)
I just finished cleaning mine. I still have to get them spun over on the rims. I used an abrasive soap cake. Its used for hand cleaning. Just scrub hard on the letters without to much water. Worked great for me. WHite as new
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 1
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
I don't know how deep the white goes, but I've used a sanding block and fine grit sandpaper on mine several times when they've been in bad shape and gotten them clean.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 883
Likes: 2
From: Hilton Head SC
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
My RWL'S are 12 years old. A white rag and laquer thinner makes them look like new every time. Be very careful that you don't get the thinner near anything else!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
If you haven't had any luck with any of hte above suggestions yet, try Soft-Scrub with Bleach in it (green label instead of blue label). Pour it on a very stiff brush and scrub-a-dub-dub.
Works for me everytime.
Works for me everytime.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
Have you tried white paint?
I remember in high school, using a white grease pen (sold exactly for this purpose) to paint in the raised letters on my Grand Prix's tires. Can anyone say "White Trash?" It looked horrible and lasted a week at best. The tires weren't even cool. They were no name bargain basement radials. As bad as it looked, though, someone liked it. The car was stolen. Funny thing is, when they found the skeleton that used to by my car, it (and the German Shepherd that was living in it) was sitting on top of those very tires...
I remember in high school, using a white grease pen (sold exactly for this purpose) to paint in the raised letters on my Grand Prix's tires. Can anyone say "White Trash?" It looked horrible and lasted a week at best. The tires weren't even cool. They were no name bargain basement radials. As bad as it looked, though, someone liked it. The car was stolen. Funny thing is, when they found the skeleton that used to by my car, it (and the German Shepherd that was living in it) was sitting on top of those very tires...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,102
Likes: 7
From: Fair Oaks, OK
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
Thanks everyone. I'm going to start with the first reply and work my way down. I'll let you all know what worked the best on the letters.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 10,258
Likes: 1
From: Calif.
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
The grease pencil thing works--sort of, for about a week like the earlier poster said. Try visiting your local hobby store and getting a little bottle of Testor's Flat White enamel and a suitable brush. (Get the real stuff, not the water-soluable kind.) That'll work to dress them up and it'll last a little longer than the grease pencil. Usually. Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 76
Likes: 4
From: Bethel Park, PA
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
I am having that exact same problem on my RWL. I just bought BFG TA Radial 245/60/15's for my '71. I have used Westleys Bleche white and also a Brillo pad. Neither did much good. I still have the lt. brown on the edges of the letters and they aren't very white either. I will try some chemicals when I get home.
Instructor
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 136
Likes: 24
From: Chico CA
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
Use cigarette lighter fluid, applied with a cloth.. (Don't smoke anymore, but use lighter fluid for all kinds of cleaning.)
Used it on my new Goodyear Eagles last week. After washing off the blue stuff. The letters were a long ways from WHITE. Cleans them well, and easy to use.
I use tire dressing and------Always get a little black smeared on the white letters. It works well on that also.
Used it on my new Goodyear Eagles last week. After washing off the blue stuff. The letters were a long ways from WHITE. Cleans them well, and easy to use.
I use tire dressing and------Always get a little black smeared on the white letters. It works well on that also.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
The SOS pad idea is a definite winner (the steel wool pads for your kitchen that have the soap in them). Just be very carefull not to let any steel wool near anything you wash your car with (sponges, etc.) I've used them to get very white letters on 20+ year old tires.
Pro
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: Windsor Ontario
Re: RWL are not white anymore (Simon Alexander)
I don't have a problem getting my RWL clean (use Simple Green) but every time I put tire dressing on of any kind, I get streaks on all the letters. Is there any better way to apply the dressing without getting the RWL dirty?