Ill also throw in a vote for comet and a nylon scrub brush, Also might want to try simple green first. Its pretty mild stuff and works amazing on vinyl too.
i use westleys bleach white, or Superclean. Spray on , scrub with a regular tire brush, hose off and ta da!
i use westley's alot but lately I've found that scrubbing bubbles bathroom cleaner is quicker and easier to handle and doesn't leave the uneven streaking I've had happen with westley's
Ajax or Comet, scrub brush and water. The tires will be worn out before you do any damage to the whitewall. I spent my childhood scrubbing the whitewalls on my parents cars, never did any damage at all.
I use Wesley's Bleche-Wite, correct name. It does not contain bleach (sodium hydrochloride). Here is a link to the MSDS if anyone thinks it contains bleach. Never had any issues with tires, just rinse when you are done as others have also stated. http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/msds/466938.pdf
I used Resolve carpet cleaner the other day because I was out of 409. Worked pretty good, but I won't be making a habit out of it. Someone earlier mentioned lighter fluid to clean of other stuff like tar or sticker glue... In my opinon, nothing beats Laquer Thinner!
Yes, if you read the directions on Bleche-Wite, if definitely says to rinse the tires well after using. I've used the stuff for years, following the directions, and have had no issues.
I have used a product called Bonomi (sp?), located right next to the Comet on the cleaning isle of any grocery store. It is a yellowish-gold round container with a chick, baby bird, on the label. It is ground up limestone and it works great for cleaning and maintaining my Firestone widewhites. It is not even $1 a container. It is the best bang for your buck as far as I am concerned. My $.02.
I've never heard of "wesley's" but if you are speaking of Westley's Bleche-Wite, it contains two powerful corrosives, sodium metasilicate, and sodium orthosilicate.
i use Comet (Ajax, etc), and Westley's, although when it's stubborn, you need a dissolvent like thinner (Goof-Off). Another strong cleaner that works is Easy-Off oven cleaner. I used it exclusively on a motorcycle i had with white rims. The chain lube would really mess them up. Oven cleaner and a hose, they were new again in short order.
Westleys WORKS. Effortlessly, on white walls or blackwalls. It's been my experience it does not cause sidewall cracking, and I've been using it for over 30 years. BTW, anyone still running 20 year old tires should NOT be giving advice on tire safety...
Wesley's, Wesley's, Wesley's, Wesley's, Wesley's... Did I say Wesley's? I just don't get what all the fuss is about. I have used the stuff for 24 years and have yet to find a problem with it and have never had a problem with any of my tires cracking. I am interested from the nay sayers wether or not they have used it and why, if they never used it, would they say it's the worst?? One more thing, my bias Coker's have yet to yellow. Is it just a problem with the radials or something? Use Wesley's. It works. So does SOS pads, Bon Ami and Comet, and thinner. ******Knuckles
I have used westley's it works but it will cause your white walls to crack and chalk, I know this from years of whitewall ownership. the best is castrol super clean, this is what diamondback cl***ic recomends, in fact they warn you NOT to use any cleaner with a bleach(westley's). coker's don't yellow, lucas tires do.if you try castrol superclean multi purpose cleaner (gallons @ walmart) you will become a believer. (to each his own) jdl
I don't understand how you're getting Wesley's to crack your whitewalls. It is NOT bleach-based. Look at the MSDS sheet posted above. Or better yet, just smell it. Are the tires already damaged and its made obvious when cleaned? I have cleaned hundreds of whitewalls with Wesleys, never had one tire with cracked whitewalls. Do NOT use actual bleach on whitewalls.
Westley's Bleach White does not contain any bleach. I have been using this product for twenty years and have never had any problem with cracking or dried out tires. It can cause damage to paint or aluminum wheels but will not damage the tires. Also tires over 8 years old should not be used even if they have good tread as the plies can separate over time and could tear apart at speed on the road.
Ajax with a scrub brush or brillo pad, if it worked for Johnny Zupan cleaning his white walls in the Barris books it's good enough for me.
I should refraise what I said earlier. I live in a very very dry climate. I think that this is something that has to do with my whitewalls cracking. I think the westleys takes the moisturizer out of the tires. I remember from the previous thread that when using westleys you need to use a moisturizer right after that. I dont leave it on when I put it on there. i wash it of right away. My tires where brand new they are a year old now and have cracked. It seemed like alot of guys are saying that it works great are on the eastern seaboard where it is alot more humid than out here in the west.
That stuff coker sells works great for me,used in conjunction with a good stiff brillo pad will whiten them up real quick...no no no to bleach.Educate me on thinner i have never heard of this anyone?
I have 4 cars with wide-whites and all get cleaned with scotch-brite pads and Simple Green. If they are really yellow, mix the Simple Green with BonAmi or Clorox powder, or even Lava soap powder. They come out real white. Weastly's kinda works, but not real white.
I use Westley's Bleche White, rinse it off within 60 seconds and then spray the sidewalls with Pledge furniture polish, which moisturizes and keeps the dust from sticking (antistatic properties). I have also been known to use baby oil to moisturize whitewalls.