How to clean white wall tires?

antares · Post by **antares** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:56 am

When i bought my scooter the outer edge of the white walls where a discolored tan. I tried cleaning them with softscrub with bleach and a scrub brush but that didn't work. I don't know how they go that way the bike was brand new. Also what kind of oil do i use to change the oil when it's time?

jmkjr72 · Post by **jmkjr72** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:31 am

well bleach on a tire is not a good idea at all it will destroy the tire

to clean the white walls go to the auto parts store and look at the tire/white wall cleaners

i have an engine degreaser that i use to clean my tires that is rubber safe that i use its great for all around clean up on the scooter it comes in a purple bottle and i got it at autozone

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:43 am

antares wrote:When i bought my scooter the outer edge of the white walls where a discolored tan. I tried cleaning them with softscrub with bleach and a scrub brush but that didn't work. I don't know how they go that way the bike was brand new. Also what kind of oil do i use to change the oil when it's time?

The carbon black from the black rubber leaches into the white making it impossible to ever achieve a real white white after a period of time...the discoloration comes from behind. You can clean off the dirt from the surface as described but the discoloration marches on. Especially since the white-wall layer is quite thin on a scooter tire (thicker on auto tires) allowing that carbon-black easy migration into your whitewalls.

I think it adds a "patina" of sorts to the whitewalls....vintage-y. My BlackJack tires are like that and i think it adds to the effect. My .02 of course.

hairball · Post by **hairball** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:10 am

Try wetting tire and using simple green and a little scrubbing.

Greased lightning will clean it also but you need to work fast and be sure to wet the tire FIRST, then scrub quickly with a stiff nylon brush and rinse very well, total cleaning time From application to rinse should be no more than 1 to 3 minutes...
The rubber will be fine, Its the paint on the rim you need to watch.
Greased lighting will ruin - Anodizing, Paint, Corrode bare metal... It just happens to clean very well.

It will also remove the first layer of skin on your hands, You will notice it the next day when your hands feel like sandpaper... wear gloves or rinse frequently.

If all else fails, use lacquer thinner... DO NOT TOUCH PAINT OR BLACK RUBBER.

TIP... try not to scrub the white and black together and
always rinse quickly.
I use to detail cars, boats and motorcycles and these were tricks we use.

My favorite cleaner of all... I use it to clean my Buddy, Mountain bikes, motorcycles...
Spray and wash, laundry spot treatment, Mix it 50/50 with water, spray it on everything, Lightly scrub the really dirty areas, rinse, and that is it!
Cleans great and smells good too!

.... Be sure to mix with water 50/50, It sprays easier and
and for some odd reason, it cleans better.

It works great on bug stains because it dissolves protein... The best part - its cheap to begin with, and your mixing it with water, doubling the value.

rickko · Post by **rickko** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:34 am

SOS pads & a little elbow grease work real good w/residue rinsing right off. Been using them on whitewalls for nearly 50 years with excellent results!

Major Redneck · Post by **Major Redneck** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:23 am

Goop!

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:41 pm

THIS STUFF! It is not a bleach, it is a tire cleaner specifically for white wall tires. It has been around forever, and it works great!

Modern Buddy

How to clean white wall tires?

How to clean white wall tires?

Re: How to clean white wall tires?

A couple of options...