Whitewall tires were popular from the early 1900s to the 1970s. Many are still on the road, usually adorning classic cars
. It goes without saying, if your tires have whitewalls, you should do your best to maintain them and show them off in all of their unique glory. However, keeping whitewall tires looking their best is definitely more challenging than maintaining traditional tires. Brake dust and grime are far more visible on white than black.
Here are three best ways to clean whitewall tires from Jerry
you can use to keep the surface of your whitewall tires clean. Baking soda whitewall cleaner
Using baking soda as a homemade whitewall tire cleaner is just as effective as it is affordable. Most households have all of the materials on-hand.
A cleaning brush (or SOS pads)
Once you have all of the materials, you're ready to begin!
Make the solution: Mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup baking soda in the bowl until a paste forms.
Apply and scrub: Using the brush, apply the paste onto the whitewall. Let sit for 2-3 minutes. Using the same brush, scrub the paste on the tires. You might need to spend some extra time removing stubborn dirt marks or the raised white lettering.
Rinse and dry: Rinse with clean water and towel try.
Try specialized tire cleaner
A specialized wheel cleaner might be more expensive than a baking soda solution, but whitewall tires are an investment worthy of protection—so there's no need to feel guilty for splurging for the best whitewall tire cleaners.
Once you have all of the materials, you're ready to begin!
Purchase the cleaner: Purchase the tire cleaner at an automotive store, general retailer, or online. Two popular brands are Duragloss Whitewall Tire Cleaner
or Black Magic Tire Cleaner
. Apply and scrub: Pour or spray the cleaner on the sponge and spread it over the tire. Using the brush, scrub cleaner onto the whitewall. You may need to spend extra time on stains.
Rinse and dry: When done scrubbing, rinse with clean water and towel dry.
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for whitewall tires
They have "magic" in their name for a reason. Using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can make you feel like you are holding a tiny cleaning genie in the palm of your hand.
Once you have all of the materials, you're ready to begin!
Wet and scrub: Wet the eraser cleaner with water. Scrub whitewall. Spend extra time on tough grime and dirt.
Rinse and dry: Rinse with clean water when done scrubbing. Air or towel dry.
No matter what kind of tires you have on your vehicle, whitewall or otherwise, cleaning your tires and rims gives your vehicle a polished appearance. And, while you're at it, don't forget to check your tire pressure!