Tires turning brown

[JAYB]

Hi Guys, I need to know what you guys are using to clean off the tires. My sidealls are all brown. I tried westleys white wall cleaner, and Eagle one a to z wheel cleaner. (the a to z worked the best, as it was amazing how much brown came off..but it never gets it all the way off.) Everytime I wash my mini the tires are horribly brown.

I know some tire dressings can turn your tires brown, and I dont use any. I am the second owner, so I have no idea what the PO used.

I would like to be able to clean the sidewalls completely (remove all the brown), and then add a tire dressing, that wont turn it brown. What do you guys recommend I use to clean them, and protect them?



Thanks
-Jay

[MINIFVR]

I used Megs tire dressing- the stuff that is supposed to last "weeks not days". I can't think of the exact title right now. It comes in a clear container and is purple in color.

[Calogero]

Originally Posted by MINIFVR

I used Megs tire dressing- the stuff that is supposed to last "weeks not days". I can't think of the exact title right now. It comes in a clear container and is purple in color.

Meguiars Endurance High Gloss.

Works great.

[DOPAMINE]

the previous owner used tire dressing probably.

ive never really tried to get the brown off, i just clean the tire and hit it with some light dressing. like a armor-all wipe. the tires dont over shine and they turn black.

[MINIFVR]

Does anyone know which products tend to turn tires brown?

[MLPearson79]

I use Griot's Rubber Cleaner. You just spray the tires down, agitate with a stiff brush, and rinse. All the brown/red stuff (presumabl oxidation? but I don't really know) rinses away. Then just dress like normal!

[BigSky]

Originally Posted by MLWagner79

I use Griot's Rubber Cleaner. You just spray the tires down, agitate with a stiff brush, and rinse. All the brown/red stuff (presumabl oxidation? but I don't really know) rinses away. Then just dress like normal!

Sounds like a plan JAYB.

[kenchan]

i use meg's insane shine spray bottle. dont use too much if you dont
want a glazed donut. i get a nice natural black finish.

[kenchan]

if you use that stuff, make sure you rinse your wheels well and
re-wax them. it will strip away wax. i know cause i have it.

[MiniMaybee]

Originally Posted by JAYB

Hi Guys, I need to know what you guys are using to clean off the tires. My sidealls are all brown. I tried westleys white wall cleaner, and Eagle one a to z wheel cleaner. (the a to z worked the best, as it was amazing how much brown came off..but it never gets it all the way off.) Everytime I wash my mini the tires are horribly brown.

I know some tire dressings can turn your tires brown, and I dont use any. I am the second owner, so I have no idea what the PO used.

I would like to be able to clean the sidewalls completely (remove all the brown), and then add a tire dressing, that wont turn it brown. What do you guys recommend I use to clean them, and protect them?



Thanks
-Jay

Actually that Westley's crap will turn your tires brown. It has bleach in it and that will react the rubber compounds turning them brown. The best you can do at this point is to stop using tire cleaners that are high in alkalinity and/or have bleach. I would try a dressing/cleaner like Wizard Black Renew. I use this or Zaino Z-16 tire dressing. Either product should remove the brown layer on your tires, but you will need a good stiff brush and some elbow grease. After it is gone either product will keep your tires in good shape and nice and black with no tarty shine.

[minjae]

i gotta start using a tire/rim cleaner..that's the area where i dont do as much cleaning on.
but i dont use any and my tires are brown.

[kenchan]

I just wash my wheels and tires using car shampoo and boar's hair brush. Nothing else.

I used the Rubber Cleaner when I changed tire sauce. Otherwise I would rather not use any strong detergents.

[MLPearson79]

Yeah I don't use the rubber cleaner unless I notice that the rubber truly looks dirty (turning brown/red or whatever). My husband didn't know you are supposed to wash your tires when you wash your car, so when we had our little "how to detail the Yukon properly" lesson a few months ago, we used the rubber cleaner on his tires and it was SO gross how much red/brown stuff rinsed off.

So while I wouldn't use it often, it's good for the occassional (once every few months) tire cleaning. And I use 4-Star tire gel after, which I heart muchly.

[MiniMaybee]

Originally Posted by MLWagner79

... which I heart muchly.

[William Courant]

If the tires are dirty, mud, rain, etc, then I just scrub them with a brush and hose them off. Then I use either Turtle wax tire foam or No Touch. the Turtle wax stuff last a bit longer than the No Touch, about 4 washings. Tires always look good and no brown tires. The one guy who said the westly's will turn your tires brown was right. That's a holdover from the days of white wall tires. It did bring the white out but also turned the tires brown after awhile

[kenchan]

i too think it's the stronger detergents causing the browning and drying.

[Detailers Paradise]

Originally Posted by JAYB

Hi Guys, I need to know what you guys are using to clean off the tires. My sidealls are all brown. I tried westleys white wall cleaner, and Eagle one a to z wheel cleaner. (the a to z worked the best, as it was amazing how much brown came off..but it never gets it all the way off.) Everytime I wash my mini the tires are horribly brown.

I know some tire dressings can turn your tires brown, and I dont use any. I am the second owner, so I have no idea what the PO used.

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

Actually that Westley's crap will turn your tires brown. It has bleach in it and that will react the rubber compounds turning them brown. The best you can do at this point is to stop using tire cleaners that are high in alkalinity and/or have bleach.

I agree with MiniMaybee wholeheartedly.

Although Westley's is one of the most effective cleaners out there specifically for whitewalls, it has it's drawbacks... especially on the rest of your (read: non-white) tire. It is most definitely the primary cause, if not THE cause, of your browning. If you must use it for whitewalls, only use it once in a while after your whitewalls have become too gross to clean more safely. And then use a gentle cleaner immediately afterwards to clean off residual Westley's. The rest of the time, or if you don't have whitewalls, use a more gentle cleaner on your tires. Any of 303 cleaners are very gentle and also very effective on tires. Others have already posted other good suggestions as well. Westley's is extremely harsh.

Along the same lines, using a harsh or even semi-harsh wheel cleaner on your tires will also add to tire problems like browning. Use wheel cleaners only on wheels, not tires. As they are completely different materials, the cleaner for wheels and tires must be different. Even pH-neutral wheel cleaners can be too much for rubber. It's usually ok if you overspray your wheel cleaner just a little on your tires but don't spray it directly on your tires as a tire cleaner.

And yes, some tire dressings do cause tire browning. Most of the premium brands are going to prevent browning instead of causing it. So stick with the premium brands and you should be in good shape.

For some good tire facts, check out 303's website:
Why Are Tires Black? (article)

-Heather

[Pendergast]

I use Forever Black. Just wipe it evenly on a clean tire and when it dries the tire looks like new, coal black and not at all shiny.

I found out years ago that Armor All would cause tires to crack. Not saying it still will, I don't know that, but back when there was only one version it definately caused cracking in the sidewall.