Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

[Patrick T.]

What method do you guys use to clean up your tires before Judging that leaves them with that "perfect patina" that Judges like? At least I'd like to get full credit on condition for the redline Coker's I have on the rims now.

Over the years, I've heard many stories about using lacquer thinner, scrubbing them down with abrasive cleaners like Ajax or the most popular...washing them with Dawn dish washing soap.

I've never had any luck with any of those "spray on" tire cleaners, as they always come out way to shiny. Any comments on how to proceed with this would be appreciated. Thanks, PT

[Kevin G.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

I prefer STP tire protectant, but while having the car judged, one of the chassis judges pulled himself out from under the car holding on to the tire. When he stood up his hand was covered with STP, he replied I don't think this is typical. Lucky for me the exterior guys didn't ding me for it! I never spray the tire directly, I spray the rag then wipe the tires. Just enough to cover the tire.

Kevin

[Brian G.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

We don't have our car judged, but I've always used Lemon Pledge furniture polish.

[Don L.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

We don't have our car judged, but I've always used Lemon Pledge furniture polish.

Me too. After trying all the others, and trying various thinning and wiping methods, I've found that PLEDGE (actually, I now just use the store brand) works great. Not shiny, not greasy, doesn't discolor the letters and oh, that lemony smell!

Really though, with the right amount, (I apply it with the blue heavy paper shop towels) it gives a nice, even, black appearance - like when they were new. Have a look...

[Stuart F.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Don;

Think that is the first time we've seen a picture of your baby. Really looks nice. You've done a real good job with it. The tires do look great as well. I've never tried Pledge, but it looks good. Do you think that it would work equally as well on tires with a lot of side tread?

Back in the old days, when we were cleaning cars for my Buddy's car lot, we used brake fluid to clean up those tires that had been neglected for many years and it seemed to work pretty good. Never had enough guts to use it on my own cars for fear of possible long term affects.

Stu Fox

[Gerard Q.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Meguiar's Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner.

[Don L.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Don;

Think that is the first time we've seen a picture of your baby. Really looks nice. You've done a real good job with it. The tires do look great as well. I've never tried Pledge, but it looks good. Do you think that it would work equally as well on tires with a lot of side tread?

Back in the old days, when we were cleaning cars for my Buddy's car lot, we used brake fluid to clean up those tires that had been neglected for many years and it seemed to work pretty good. Never had enough guts to use it on my own cars for fear of possible long term affects.

Stu Fox

Thanks Stu.

As for what I think about using furniture polish on tires with more tread on sidewalls, I think it will work very well. You're probably considering the scuplted sidewalls for your '63. I also use this product on my radial Uniroyal Tiger Paw GTS drivers. These tires have quite a bit more texture to the sidewalls than my Goodyear Speedways (thanks again, Bill ), and the stuff works at least as well on these as it does on the bias plys...

[Jean C.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Of all the times I have had my cars Flight judged, I do not recall the exterior judges ever making a comment about the finish they expect to see on a tire. Usually the tires are clean and will have whatever sheen resulting from whatever FLAPS tire goop happens to be on my shelf at the time.

I see the show-n-shine guys picking rocks and other debris from the tread pattern before shining the entire tire including the tread surface when prepping for events and I hope we never get to that extreme .

Best regards,

[Brian M.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Now that looks nice.

Meguiar's Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner.

[Paul J.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Don;

Think that is the first time we've seen a picture of your baby. Really looks nice. You've done a real good job with it. The tires do look great as well. I've never tried Pledge, but it looks good. Do you think that it would work equally as well on tires with a lot of side tread?

Back in the old days, when we were cleaning cars for my Buddy's car lot, we used brake fluid to clean up those tires that had been neglected for many years and it seemed to work pretty good. Never had enough guts to use it on my own cars for fear of possible long term affects.

Stu Fox

Stu:

I used to use brake fluid also. Somewhere I heard that you can absorb it through your skin, so we stopped using it and started using Armor All.

On the Goodyear Polyglass GTs that we had, the side walls would eventually pick up a yellow tint when driven. This occurred whether driven in the rain or not. This would disappear with another coat of brake fluid.

As for what it did to the tire, the ones on the front of my 64 were on it when I bought it in 1973, and they show no sign of dry rot.

Paul

[John S.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Meguiar's Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner.

I've also been using Meguiar's Vinyl Cleaner and Conditioner for years. I buy it by the gallon in Carlisle.

[Sydney G.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Does Pledge clean up the white walls at the same time?
MeGuires product?

The walls on the relatively new Goodyears on my '63 look a bit yellowed.
I used to SOS the white walls on the very old tires that were on the car before...but I'm not sure that is such a good idea??

Syd

[Glenn D.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

Gerard
Your tire looks great. I have used Meguiars on my interior and on hoses in the engine compartment. I never thought of using it on my tires. Thanks for the pic.

[Jim W.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

We don't have our car judged, but I've always used Lemon Pledge furniture polish.

I've always used 'Lemon Pledge' on my 79 interior, Great stuff for plastic interior. Never thought of it for the tires. Have used , with good results is STP tire dressing. Goes on with a spray, and buffes to a nice semi-flat shine. The only drawback, is it has a wide spary, so you need to hold the product can somewhat close to your tire. But it give a nice long lasting shine.

[Brian G.]

Re: Cleaning up the tires for NCRS Judging...

I've always used 'Lemon Pledge' on my 79 interior, Great stuff for plastic interior.

Same here. And SOS pads for the RWL on the tires.