Cleaning White Letter Tires

[DJ1967Dart]

Hello fellow enthusiasts - my tires hardly have any miles on them (BF Goodrich Radial TA) but the white lettering has seen better days. Any tips on how to bring back the white lettering to legibility? Stay safe out there.

 

[Jax_1975_Dart]

I’ve never tried this myself but, have heard of people using White paint markers and carefully taking the time to only mark the letters and portions that need to be restored back White.

 

[ken 408 Stroker]

Just did my Lettering and Trim Rings, hope this helps

 

[DJ1967Dart]

Looks great! Thanks for the info gonna purchase and give it a shot. Thanks!

 

[340sport]

Agreed. Westley's bleach white or Castrol Super Clean (purple power) works really well if you are trying to clean the letters (or any tire). A white paint pen works well if you are trying to freshen the paint or if they need a touch up.

 

[DetMatt1]

Old school sos pads or Westley’s with a Scotch Brite Pad.

 

[hofilbert]

This is something someone at a tire factory may actually know more specifically, but I had always heard natural rubber used in tires is really white (we probably all know that), and to get them black the tire makers used, or possibly still use, charcoal as a black pigment color additive. We've all have seen some RWL tires that get brown or browner than others. My tire guy years ago, told me if I want to keep my white letter tires white (winter storage tires/wheels) to take a piece of large cardboard and place between each tire before I stack them. The white rubber absorbs the black pigment from the other black tires when sitting for long periods. This is why the blue stuff we have washed off our white-walls and white letter tires is there. Likewise, the white letters will start to absorb the black around the letter too. I had one tire out of 4 that was browner than the others - I just couldn't get it white. As a last resort, I took a metal file and filed down each white letter to bring them back to white again. It worked. Yes, I also use Westley's and a hand brush each year on my BFGs then spray with a top-coat of tire shine. The key to good tire shine pre-show is to spray it on the night before, heavy, and then DON'T touch it. Leave it alone and then when you come out the next day, the tire shine is either absorbed or evaporated leaving a nice semi-flat black and your wheels and tires are gorgeous...and it pretty much stays that way the rest of the year depending on how much you drive your car.

 

[DJ1967Dart]

thanks for the info guys - beautiful Cuda!

 

[toolmanmike]

Depending on the size and age of TA's you have, Goodyear had issues a few years back with white letters turning brown. It was a defect in the tire and there is no permanent fix. Acetone and a soft bristled brass brush works best. I clean my 255-60/15's every time I get the car out. The front ones (different size) haven't been cleaned for a year and then I only used Wesleys on those.

 

[/sixchall]

SOS pads for me and then follow up with some 303 cleaner and rubber protectant. I put these tires on in 1998 white lettering still looks good. No cracked side walls either. When was the last time you saw Kelly Chargers?

 

[fasjac]

Old school sos pads or Westley’s with a Scotch Brite Pad.

Agee’s! The SOS pad is about as good as it gets.

 

[fasjac]

SOS pads for me and then follow up with some 303 cleaner and rubber protectant. I put these tires on in 1998 white lettering still looks good. No cracked side walls either. When was the last time you saw Kelly Chargers?

View attachment 74930

Just now! I used see them often many years back. Didn’t Arnold Palmer do some commercial stuff for them?

 

[toolmanmike]

Agee’s! The SOS pad is about as good as it gets.

Unless you have BFG's that turn brown.

 

[DJ1967Dart]

Thanks for all the info guys. Used the Bleche Whte and what a difference.

 

[toolmanmike]

Thanks for all the info guys. Used the Bleche Whte and what a difference.View attachment 75136View attachment 75136 View attachment 75138View attachment 75139View attachment 75140

Yep you got the good ones. 255/60-15's had issues for sure.

 

[Raycuda]

I just gave up, and had my new BFG's mounted as blackwalls.

 

[DJ1967Dart]

Nice ride Ray - can't go wrong with a Black Mopar

 

[Raycuda]

Nice ride Ray - can't go wrong with a Black Mopar

It's a ***** to keep clean. I will never buy another black car.

 

[Miguel Duncan]

SOS pads for me and then follow up with some 303 cleaner and rubber protectant. I put these tires on in 1998 white lettering still looks good. No cracked side walls either. When was the last time you saw Kelly Chargers?

View attachment 74930

Are you really riding around on 22 year old tires??!! Tire manufacturers recommend replacing after 7-9 years, regardless of mileage. I suppose spending a lot of time garaged helps extend the rubber life, but I remember opening my trunk once to find the used 14 year old spare tire completely separated apart with no sun exposure. Also remember reading about this in Mopar Action [or Mopar Muscle] magazine about not using tires too long even with low mileage - - Ozone and UV take their toll on rubber compounds, possibly leading to a blow out. Good Luck!