Keeping White Wall Tires White

[Valeria H.]

I recently showed my '60 at the Spring Auto Show at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I waited until after arriving at the show and parking to clean and perk up the tires. I was astounded by the yellowing of the white wall tires that really showed up in the sunlight. The tires can not be more than 3-4 years old and have been cleaned several times since application.

I took soft scrub in my detailing kit but it did not seem to "get the job done right". When I detailed the tires at home I had a hose to spray them off after cleaning which was not available at the car show. Did this make a difference?

I attended a Carolinas Chapter meet today and posed this question. Wesley white wall tire cleaner was suggested. Does anyone out there have expertise in white wall maintenance? Any suggestions on products or specific steps/technique?

I was really not pleased with my yellowed white walls. There were even streaks of stark white areas against a pee yellow color. Maybe I need to place a "scat mat" over the threshold of the garage entrance to keep the dogger out of the area. haha (really not the problem)

Valeria

[Jorn J.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Hi Valerie
I use a "multi-spray" which my wife bought one day for "removing spot from carpets" and It was really good, and its important that its not scrubbing the white colour away and only the dirt from the Tires.

Jorn

[David K.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Valeria, I have the same problem at this moment. My white walls look almost like gold lines, but on my '62, it is not something I want. I still have the car covered from Winter, so I have not scrubbed and polished the car yet. I use Westley's as well and I hope it turns them white again.

[Raymond W.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

There was a fairly recent thread on this same topic. Check back in the archives, there were a number of posts that offered various individual's recommendations.

[Paul J.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Valeria,

For many years, the best white wall/white letter cleaner has been Westley's Bleach White. I first started using it in the 70's and it does a better job than anything I've tried, including Brillo pads. It can be sprayed on and hosed off, or just wiped off if you don't have access to a hose. Don't dress your tires until all of it is off, as it will remove anything on the tires.

However, rubber compounds are different today, so I don't know how it works on these newer compounds.

Paul

[Valeria H.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I was concerned about scrubbing the "white" off and did not want to continue to possibly damage the tire's appearance.

I looked for Westleys yesterday but came up empty handed. I know they sell it at auto zone so I'll stop there this next week. We have a "photo op" coming up in 2 weeks for our chapter so I need to get Bella and Trixie looking their best.

Thanks Again!

[Paul J.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I was concerned about scrubbing the "white" off and did not want to continue to possibly damage the tire's appearance.

I looked for Westleys yesterday but came up empty handed. I know they sell it at auto zone so I'll stop there this next week. We have a "photo op" coming up in 2 weeks for our chapter so I need to get Bella and Trixie looking their best.

Thanks Again!

Try Wal-Mart or Pep Boys, they both carry it.

One other thing, I usually use a plastic bristle brush. It helps get the dirt off.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Thanks Paul,
There is a walmart 15 min away. I can stop today. Already have the plastic bristle brush.
Thanks for the tips!

You guys are great!

[Jerry W.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

We haven't seen a glimps of Trixie yet....Got Pics ?...Who gets to drive What ?

[Domenic T.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Valeria,
I use a rather harsh way but it gets scrapes out and absolute white.

Kitchen cleanser and a brush, I put about 1/2 " water in a pan and load the cleanser in, then dip the brush to the bottom, get the cleanser on it , scrub, and it's done in less than a min.

Sounds like it damages but the rubber is impossible to hurt with clenser and a brush.

DOM

[Valeria H.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Valeria,
I use a rather harsh way but it gets scrapes out and absolute white.

Kitchen cleanser and a brush, I put about 1/2 " water in a pan and load the cleanser in, then dip the brush to the bottom, get the cleanser on it , scrub, and it's done in less than a min.

Sounds like it damages but the rubber is impossible to hurt with clenser and a brush.

DOM

What kind of kitchen cleanser do you use? How many times have you applied this to your white walls? I've been concerned about how much abuse white walls will take and how thick is the "white" of a white wall?
Does anyone know this?

Thanks in advance!

[Joe R.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Valeria,

Do you use "Tire Wet" or something similar to make the black part of the tires shine? I hear that's what makes the white walls turn yellow. Easy fix, just do the white walls last.

Joe

[Domenic T.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

What kind of kitchen cleanser do you use? How many times have you applied this to your white walls? I've been concerned about how much abuse white walls will take and how thick is the "white" of a white wall?
Does anyone know this?

Thanks in advance!

Any kind I can find in the kitchen and I think the ones with bleach work better.
I have used it on a set of tires every wash as the black seems to leach into and thru the white (normal).
It won't hurt the rubber.

DOM

[Ken A.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

If you have Coker tires they recommend you use their ww cleaner and not Westley's, however I have tried it, and to me it's useless. They say the bleach in Westley's is harmful to their tires. I have always used Westley's without any problems, but then I don't show my cars. Some of the tire dressings can turn the black, brown, but if you use Westley's each time you wash, this shouldn't happen.

Instead of spraying it on and let it sit per the instructions, I wet the tire, lightly spray it on and do a light scrub with a nylon brush, then go over the entire wheel and tire with a sponge, then hose it off. Notice it says to not let it set on painted surfaces, so that is why I do it this way.

Ken

[Brian M.]

Re: Keeping White Wall Tires White

Try Lemon Pledge as a tire dressing.