Keeping white tires white

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HarryBulkeley
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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

Post by HarryBulkeley » Wed Oct 08, 2025 10:49 am

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?


TXGOAT2
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First Name: Pat
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
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Re: Keeping white tires white

Post by TXGOAT2 » Wed Oct 08, 2025 2:20 pm

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.


love2T's
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring, 1926 Fordor
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Re: Keeping white tires white

Post by love2T's » Thu Oct 09, 2025 9:08 am

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. :roll:


Rich P. Bingham
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Re: Keeping white tires white

Post by Rich P. Bingham » Thu Oct 09, 2025 10:07 am

love2T's wrote:
Thu Oct 09, 2025 9:08 am
. . . warm water, and elbow grease . . .
SOS soap pads were the “go to” back in the 50s for cleaning the wide whitewalls. (and them greasy elbows) :lol:
Get a horse !


Art Ebeling
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 touring 14 runabout
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Re: Keeping white tires white

Post by Art Ebeling » Thu Oct 09, 2025 3:21 pm

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.


TXGOAT2
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Re: Keeping white tires white

Post by TXGOAT2 » Thu Oct 09, 2025 4:44 pm

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.


schwabd1
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Re: Keeping white tires white

Post by schwabd1 » Thu Oct 09, 2025 9:49 pm

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someone turned me onto "40 Volume", used in beauty shops to bleach hair. I guess kids are using it to bleach out the white soles of their tennis shoes. I tried Bleach White, SOS pads. "Awesome" cleaner from Dollar General, nothing worked. So I thought I'd try the 40 Volume stuff. You have to be careful as it's pretty potent and can burn your skin if not properly handled. You need to brush the 40 Volume on the tire surface and immediately wrap it with clear plastic wrap. It then needs to be exposed to a UV light source.... I used the sun. These tires took 3 treatments, but I was extremely satisfied with the outcome.
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