TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

[Rob A.]

I'm trying to clean a set of reproduction red lines that have been up in my attic for over 10yrs. I tried regular car wash soap, but when they dried they still had a coating of some kind on them, greenish in color. Is there any product to use, or not to use to try to clean them? I was going to try regular, old Wesley's tire cleaner, but I don't want to discolor the red line area.

[James W.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

Rob,

I don't think I would try Wesley's unless it is as a last resort, you may end up bleaching the red lines pink! I know Wesley's will ruin any aluminum finsh it come in contact with. I would first try an SOS pad and if that doesn't work, try some 3M Weather Strip Adhesive Remover on a clean white rag. The 3M stuff works great for removing the waxy film from the black portion of new tires.

Good Luck,

James West
Omaha, NE.

[Rob A.]

IT CLEANED UP WITH "GOO BE GONE" *NM*

[Terry F.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

Cleanser and a scrub brush. Terry

[Duke W.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

Tires have a coating of mold release, which is not soluble in most soap and water solutions. It may not be visible on new tires, but eventually turns brown.

I've found that mineral spirits will remove it. Just damp and old rag with mineral spirits and wipe it off. Use clean, but old rags as they will not likely be salvageable after being used for this purpose.

Duke

[Jim W.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

Rob, I've used Fantastik spray cleaner since the 1960's to brighten redline tires, old and new. It worked on some old Bluestreaks I had too. I've always had good results with it. Jim Weeks

[Rob A.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

Duke,

You're right, it actually is brown, and now that I've cleaned it off, I think it was the mold release. I don't remember it being there when I put the tires away, but over the years, as you say, it must have turned brown. Anyway, they're clean now...Thanks

[Pat #25912]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

My new DiamondBack redlines came with a warning..."Do not use ANY bleach products" to clean the redlines.

[Stephen W.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

I've used Spray9 deluted 50% with water. I've always noticed the brown run off the tires but never realized it was mold release. I never do the tires in the sun and I do not let the spray9 dry on the tire. Only place I've found spray 9 is an auto parts store.

[Patrick H.]

Re: TIRE CLEANING, WHAT TO USE, NOT TO USE

I've used Westley's on my redlines for 4 years now and it works great.

Patrick

[Richard W.]

It begs the question--should you be driving on...

10 year old tires? May be OK if you are driving around town or have a trailer queen show car, but I would not want to drive a highway speeds very long.

[Rob A.]

Re: It begs the question--should you be driving on

They were put away in my attic about 10yrs ago. (They only had about 200 miles on them) Anyway, they cleaned up nicely.

[Tom Groves]

Re: It begs the question--should you be driving on

Latest data suggests that using tires over 6 years old (regardless of tread) can result in tread separation and serious deflation. These may be good for trailer queen but not for road use.

[Duke W.]

Re: It begs the question--should you be driving on

The useful life of organic material products like tires and hoses varies widely. The initial quality of the materials and processes are big factors along with the service or storage environment.

One reason why I recommend high speed rated tires is that their materials and construction processes are better than cheap, low or no speed rating tires. If quality tires are protected from UV light and ozone, they will last considerably longer than six years.

The current attempt to have tires placarded with a "born on date" is just another hysterical requirement from the "safety ****s" like Joan Claybrook and Clarence Ditlow. Of course all tires already have date codes, so the whole issue appears mute to me. What's really needed is an upgrade in performance standards to get low quality tires off the market, which includes many OE-lookalike tires for vintage cars. Though they are low quality, they are actually very expensive and likely very profitable.

There's no reason why an OE-lookalike radial tire cannot be manufacturered to a high performance standard and include nylon cap belts, but users are willing to pay top dollar for cheap construction as long as it appears original, so there is no incentive to marketers of these products to improve performance standards, and the currect junk they sell is very profitable.

Duke