Keeping tire lettering white

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Keeping tire lettering white

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Chevrolet Forum >> Brand Review >> Detailing >> Keeping tire lettering white

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Keeping tire lettering white - 7/12/2007 3:13:17 PM

EvansBlue

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From: Princeton, NC, USA
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I recently ran across an article about keeping your white letters white so I'll share some of the content in paraphrase form.

Most tires, after a few years of age, start to fade or yellow. Tires that are used every day tend to pick up raod grime and look dingy and dirty. There are a few steps you can take to whiten them. So here are some tips about different things to use and what they do to the rubber.

-Whitening by a strong bleach will fade the black rubber on the rest of the tire, don't use it.
-Degreasers (greased lightning, etc) work well but after many times of use it will start to dry rot the rubber because it is a chemical that works against petroleum. **
-Laquer thinner is by far the best at whitening, but it must be applied only to the letters themselves and without scrubbing.**
-Mineral spirits works with no major side effects to the rubber.
-Bar soap is a good thing to use, but requires a lot of scrubbing. **
-Tire bleach (bleche white, tire clean, etc) is great at cleaning the tire, but not whitening the letters.
-Shoe cleaner/glass cleaner or anything with mild amounts of ammonia work very well.**
-Never use Varsol.

**Care should be taken around aluminum and alloy wheels and all painted rims.

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RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 11/18/2007 4:32:14 PM

73shark

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Joined: 4/17/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: EuroGoldLS-Tire bleach (bleche white, tire clean, etc) is great at cleaning the tire, but not whitening the letters.

I've used Westley's Bleche-Wite for years and found it does very good at both cleaning the tires and white letters. But then I don't let them get that grungy.

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Post #: 2

RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 11/19/2007 2:31:10 PM

EvansBlue

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Neither do I, but I wash workvans too...

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RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 2/18/2008 2:31:12 PM

ehhget

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i just use the papertowel i cleaned my windows with and it works great- little bit of window cleaner does a great job

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Post #: 4

RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 3/2/2008 9:27:04 AM

#1SuburbanFan

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Joined: 1/19/2008
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I know duplicolor makes a paint marker so you can paint your letters white, yellow, or red

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RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 3/2/2008 7:01:13 PM

EvansBlue

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You won't get good results from those. They make a mess if you are not careful.

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RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 3/2/2008 10:55:51 PM

73shark

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Is it very permanent?

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Post #: 7

RE: Keeping tire lettering white - 3/3/2008 9:05:01 AM

EvansBlue

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From: Princeton, NC, USA
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I used them on the old set of goodyears I had. The right rear had some curb scarring, so I went over it with the pen. It wroked really good, but it was splotchy and I put it on too thick in places, it ran when the water hit it and then stained the whole tire a grayish color. The lettering stayed white a long time though.

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Post #: 8