Tire Cleaning??

[QuailEyes]

This may be a silly thread but here goes...

Does anyone have any tips for a good cleaning product for tires? I've always just used dish soap or car wash soap, but I've never been that impressed with the results, just seems to wipe off some surface grime.

Also I don't like using the armorall or any tire shine fluid, but I heard Michelin makes some product that's supposedly safe for the rubber without corroding it.
Basically I want to rejuvenate some slightly older tires, feel free to chime in if you have any advice, info or experience with this issue.

Thanks

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[Kean]

Originally Posted by QuailEyes

This may be a silly thread but here goes...

Does anyone have any tips for a good cleaning product for tires? I've always just used dish soap or car wash soap, but I've never been that impressed with the results, just seems to wipe off some surface grime.

Also I don't like using the armorall or any tire shine fluid, but I heard Michelin makes some product that's supposedly safe for the rubber without corroding it.
Basically I want to rejuvenate some slightly older tires, feel free to chime in if you have any advice, info or experience with this issue.

Thanks

....not a silly thread at all. Things like old dressing residue and grime can make it a chore to get a clean surface on a tire.

Although I find regular cleanings with just soap (and/or an APC) and water with a re-application of a dressing/protectant are usually sufficient for my own vehicles, I sometimes find the need to do a periodic “deep” cleaning to remove caked on residue. In those scenarios, my “go to” product has been a locally sourced product called Eagle One A2Z (readily available through various retail merchants). It’s a tire and wheel cleaner that gets to work as soon as you spray it on the surface.

The sprayer produces a slight foaming action and the gel-like product hangs on fairly well. For tires, you can almost immediately see the product turn brown as it begins to break down dirt and product residue. I usually spray, let dwell for a moment and begin to scrub with a brush (rinsing thoroughly when done). Since my wheels rarely ever require anything stringer than a soap solution to clean, I try to keep products like A2Z off of them. ….to help prolong the life of the sealant that is usually coating them.

In your case, if you’re just looking to revive the look of some old tires that are not necessarily caked with dirt/grime, then a good water based (PDMS – Polydimethylsiloxane) dressing/protectant should do the trick after cleaning. There are a variety of safe products that will leave a natural shine on tires. Personally, I use Duragloss 253 Tire and Rubber Dressing. It can be knocked down to a nice, natural, matte-like finish. Another product that comes to mind is 303 Aerospace Protectant. ….it is also PDMS product that will leave a matte/satin finish when applied as directed. In fact, there are quite a few tire dressings these days are water based vs. solvent based (containing DMS – Dimethyl). ….the latter typically blamed for the cause of accelerated damage of some surfaces they are applied to. The old formulation of Armor All was solvent based before they changed it in the late 80’s/early 90’s.

[Autogeek]

To get the most durability from your tire dressing of choice, the tires should be properly cleaned first. Products like Amazing Roll-Off and Optimum Power Clean do the trick and are cost effective.

[wrc_tunedwrx]

I just use the AP cleaner that we have at work, after wetting the tires down, and a soft brush to get the grime out of the nooks and crannies. A little tire shine a boom! My tires look sweet!