Brown tires after tire shine - Help.
- Thread starter Gawardawg
- Start date
@CapriRacer might have some insight
Some all purpose cleaners will turn tires brown. I discovered this using ZEP Cherry Bomb. I didn't freak out. I went over them with Armor All Spray Foam tire dressing. I sprayed it on and waited a few minutes and then wiped the excess off. They looked really good. The results were a nice black color and a low gloss. Also, wiping them down you don't get the sling off onto your fenders.
First, I am not a rubber chemist, but here's my understanding:
The brown stuff is actually rust colored, because it is an iron based antioxidant (AO). These AO's are in both the tire and some of the tire shine products. They don't harm anything - other than looks.
Some interesting facts:
None of the tire manufacturers makes, markets, endorses, etc, ANY tire shine product. Michelin did for a short time, but they no longer do. I wonder why. Does legal liability have anything to do with that?
I am aware of several tire shine products that are actually harmful to tires. They strip the protective AO's and waxes off the sidewall there by accelerating the aging process. Typically, these contain petroleum distillates.
The brown stuff is actually rust colored, because it is an iron based antioxidant (AO). These AO's are in both the tire and some of the tire shine products. They don't harm anything - other than looks.
Some interesting facts:
None of the tire manufacturers makes, markets, endorses, etc, ANY tire shine product. Michelin did for a short time, but they no longer do. I wonder why. Does legal liability have anything to do with that?
I am aware of several tire shine products that are actually harmful to tires. They strip the protective AO's and waxes off the sidewall there by accelerating the aging process. Typically, these contain petroleum distillates.
You can always paint them black. Not sure if people still do that, and no I'm not recommending the practice.
As someone who worked with rubber for some years, antioxidants are indeed designed to migrate to the surface where they form a barrier against oxygen permeation. That is one important function of these materials in tires. Some cheaper tires no doubt get their costs down by using less expensive ingredients in different amounts so will no doubt see difference . But even higher end brands could use antioxidants that are top of the line but cause this issue.
Ok like to say thanks for the advise and tips. I used the Bkack Magic Blech wite . Had to do it twice. Got 95% of the brown off. The dern Hanooks AT tires gave these tiny little raised lines wrapping around the sidewall. Makes cleaning them a pain in the rump. But I bought some Areo Cosmetics Rubber Care and put on them. It still looks like clean factory rubber. The product got good reviews. But could be a fancy snake oil also. Here is the before pic.
Here is the after pictures.
Product I used. Amazon is where I ordered it from.
This is what I use. It works great. Just wipe off any excess before driving.
https://armorall.com/product/tire-foam-protectant/
https://armorall.com/product/tire-foam-protectant/
Today’s Westleys Bleach White is nothing like the original version.
FYI from an older thread, includes some thoughts from a manufacturer: Vredestein Positive Customer Service
I've used this product on a few sets of tires. If they look brown when fairly new I clean the sidewalls with car wash soap and a brush and then apply the product on dry tires. I rarely have to redo it during the life of the tires. Don't use anything stronger than car wash soap to clean the tires after that.
https://forevercarcare.com/product-info
https://forevercarcare.com/product-info
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