I have 2 year old Bridgestone Radial T/A's with less than 500 miles all around, and it seems that most tire shine spray products stain the white lettering, leaving them looking dull. Can someone recommend a good tire or white wall cleaner that won't erase the white letter paint? I'm nervous about using anything too abrasive. Thanks.

 

Used to be stuff called Westleys bleach white.

 

Seems like it's made by 'Black Magic' (bleche-wite), that stuff and a Brillo pad works for me.

 

That's the best stuff,hands down!

 

I use Westleys bleach white on a paper towel. The Westley stuff would stain my 78 factory aluminum wheels. Be careful where you spray that stuff.

 

I use Westley's bleach white also. I spray it on the dry tire, let is "work" for a couple of minutes before I scrub it with a wet brass wire brush. I've been using that method since the 70s and my white letters and white walls come out looking clean and bright white.

I have read however that another company (Black Magic) bought out Westley's and the product is no longer as good. I have not used a newer formula as I still have plenty in the bottle I bought a few years back.

 

Comet and a damp scrub brush cleans tires off the best. White walls and all

 

 

I heard that too. I hear the guys are using Purple Power now. It's lye, so it will screw up a wheel pronto.

 

I use 180 grit sanding sponge w/dishsoap. Works great

 

A wire brush and a whitewall cleaner is the only way I found. It sucks but it's the price we pay

 

I also have "Goodrich" Radial T/As that are about a year old and will not stay white regardless of cleaning technique. For the record Michelin acquired BF Goodrich several years ago. Somewhere in the transition, probably because Michelin doesn't produce many, if any white lettered tires, they include what they referred to as an ozone protection package in the chemistry of the rubber compound. A side effect of this protection package is that the letters turn brown within a couple weeks of cleaning and get to where they flat out won't come clean. Michelin says that eventually, like after 1,000 miles, the effects of the protection chemicals will wear off and the white will become white again, though also say they'll replace them if you prefer, though assuming replacement tires will do the same, whats the point? Wesleys, Comet, Degreasers and other strong detergents don't work for crap once the letters have turned brown, as one person replied, the only thing that works is to wet sand them, I find 100-120 grit works pretty well, it will take about 25 minutes per tire to carefully resurface the letters to restore them back to white, though I can tell you, the brown will come back in about a month. I certainly wouldn't have bought Radial T/As had I known, there's plenty of better performing blackwalls out there. In fact, had they been on the market I would have purchased COKER's new Wide Oval (Radial) that looks like the original bias plies that came on the early C3s.
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/fire...adial-rwl.html

 

Any soap impregnated steel wool. Inexpensive and works.

 

Bleche-wite and a nylon brush.

 

Brake cleaner, cheap and effective

 

Thanks for the advice. I don't think we get the Wesleys bleche-white here in Canada (never seen it), and had heard about the Comet but thought that would remove the white paint. I Think Acon is right about the white-wall protector. I'm going to try the comet and wire brushes but am weary about using sand paper! Cheers.

 

SOS pads works great.

 

[QUOTE=ddawson;1595241139]SOS pads works great.

We've got those in Canada!

 

Spray 9 works well.

 

I've used all of the above methods and they are work....for a while.

Comet is a chlorine bleach product and it will attack the rubber after prolonged use. The brass brush is too aggressive for me; I just use a nylon 'knuckle' brush and it works fine.

I'm a Westley's Bleech Wite guy (yes, I think I spelled that correctly). Spray on dry tire--ALL of the tire; let sit for a minute but don't let it start to dry; use bristle brush to loosen the dirt; rinse; spray down with Westley's again, scrub again, rinse thoroughly and let dry.

THEN, you wipe on a coating of Nu-Vinyl or Meguiar's for Plastics polymer protectant. That will seal the pores in the rubber so that the tire will not suck up dirt/dust into it. They will be easier to clean and will not require scrubbing for several weeks (or months, if you don't drive it a lot). When done, the tires look like they are brand new.