Keeping white tires white
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2025 12:36 pm
- First Name: Harry
- Last Name: Bulkeley
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Coupelet
- Location: Galesburg IL
Keeping white tires white
Any suggestions on keeping white tires white? I used Bleche-White but it splattered all over the wheels and fenders. Took a long time to wipe it off. I could mask but do you have alternatives?
-
- Posts: 7831
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Keeping white tires white
To keep them white, keep them away from heat and sunlight and other tires, so far as is possible. As far as I know, using care and patience is the only way to keep cleaning products off paint. Having rinse water ready to hand would be a good idea. Rinse any spatters or drips immediately, and before wiping.
-
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2024 8:47 am
- First Name: T
- Last Name: Gates
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring, 1926 Fordor
- Location: USA
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Keeping white tires white
Sorta depends also on what you mean by "keeping them white"...as in, are they getting the infamous and almost always gonna happen light brown to even yellowish? That you can't stop. It's gonna happen. As far as keeping them "clean white", then usually good old fashioned dish detergent as in Dawn, or even this stuff called "totally awesome" you get at the dollar store works well also. Forget Bleach White, it's no good any more. Nothing better than good ol' soap, warm water, and elbow grease. And some luck. 

-
- Posts: 1675
- Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2022 11:24 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
- Board Member Since: 2015
Re: Keeping white tires white
SOS soap pads were the “go to” back in the 50s for cleaning the wide whitewalls. (and them greasy elbows)

Get a horse !
-
- Posts: 505
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:43 am
- First Name: Art
- Last Name: Ebeling
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 touring 14 runabout
- Location: Hillsboro IL
Re: Keeping white tires white
I noticed that the treads stay whiter than the sidewalls which turn yellow so I took a red scotchpad to the sidewalls and it made quite a difference.
-
- Posts: 7831
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Keeping white tires white
I believe that some inner tubes will cause tires to yellow or brown. Red natural rubber tubes would probably be best. Some tires and tubes have a very strong odor. I suspect the low odor tubes would be a better choice in a white or whitewall tire.