White wall cleaner

[Barry Wolk]

I just converted Shelly to the world's best white wall cleaner, mineral spirits.

Don't use paint thinner as that is half strength mineral spirits.

The reason that mineral spirits works so well is that it's a solvent. By wiping it on the surface of any kind of rubber it will dissolve the top layer, taking away any imperfections.

Don't allow the mineral spirits to pool as it will continue to eat away at the white wall. Wiping it on and off is sufficient to do the job.

The white walls on my Porsche tires were yellow and I brought them back to brilliant white.

[Barry Wolk]

Getting the Mark II ready for the Ault Park Concours this week-end. Noticed that the tires I cleaned just last week using a foaming cleaner looked terrible.

Spraying the foam on leaves moisture in the gap between the rim and the tire. First time you use it you get ugly streaks around whitewall. The black part of the tire turned brown and was all splotchy. I decided to go at it with mineral spirits.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG_0795.jpg

[Barry Wolk]

I cleaned the black part of the tire thoroughly, restoring a nice, black, matt finish. I then used mineral spirits on a clean paper towel to wipe down the whitewall, keeping it wet. All of the discoloration came off immediately, but there were some curb rashes left. Continued application of mineral spirits smoothed out all the scuff marks as it slowly removed the damaged top layer.

The final step is to carefully rewipe the black area next to the whitewall again to remove any traces of white chalk left over.

The finished product is distinctly black and white and very natural looking. IMO, tire shine takes away from the appearance of the Mark II.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG_0796.jpg

[crystal59]

Any particular brand of mineral spirits as I am about to tackle whitewalls turned yellow? When you say keeping it wet, do you mean wet with water or mineral spirits? Thanks. Gary

[Barry Wolk]

Wet with mineral spirits. It's actually melts the top layer of chalky or yellowed whitewall. By keeping it wet you are keeping the process going. Wipe dry when satisfied.

Yellow takes a little more time as it is a little deeper into the rubber.

No brand name, mineral spirits is mineral spirits, just don't use paint thinner or you'll run out of elbow grease.

[Barry Wolk]

White enough for you?

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/IMG_0798.jpg

[crystal59]

That is terrific. I hope mine are not too far gone but I will give it a try. Do you rinse off the whitewall after the mineral spirits and do you use gloves when applying the mineral spirits? Gary

[Barry Wolk]

No, I just wipe the surface dry with paper town, which is my preferred mineral spirits delivery system. And yes, I wear gloves. Most of the time.

[crystal59]

Thanks. I will let you know how it turns out. Gary

[Barry Wolk]

Paint store or hardware store. Are you thinking about mineral water, perchance? You don't want to drink mineral spirits.

Wear rubber gloves, Gary. It's a cutting agent used to clean up oil-based paint. Don't get paint thinner, get mineral spirits. There's a strength difference.

[crystal59]

I used mineral spirits on mine the other day, it work great, I then followed up with a wash of Windex.

Most new engines run at 200 to 220* while older ones would run at 180 - 190. Today 90* outside I was running 195 highway and 205 stop-an-go. As measured with a calibrated gauge.

As far as the laser thermometers go, I have two of them, and personally I would not trust their accuracy as far as I could throw them. I have found that just moving the aiming point slightly will give a different reading.

Do you use the windex on the whitewalls after you use the mineral spirits? Gary

[crystal59]

I just converted Shelly to the world's best white wall cleaner, mineral spirits.

Don't use paint thinner as that is half strength mineral spirits.

The reason that mineral spirits works so well is that it's a solvent. By wiping it on the surface of any kind of rubber it will dissolve the top layer, taking away any imperfections.

Don't allow the mineral spirits to pool as it will continue to eat away at the white wall. Wiping it on and off is sufficient to do the job.

The white walls on my Porsche tires were yellow and I brought them back to brilliant white.

Barry. As I get ready to do this, what do mean by do not let it pool and what should I use after the mineral spirits? Water to wash off or as Mad suggested windex? Gary

[Barry Wolk]

Windex is mostly water, so sure, use Windex.

Some people do their whitewalls with the tire lying flat on the ground. If you're doing the tires on the car the fluid can't "pool".

[newmexicomatt]

I use a product called Bleche-White by Wesely. It is what the low-rider crowd uses...sprays on, rinses off. Works great!

[Barry Wolk]

And it breaks down the rubber in the whitewall leaving it checked and chalky and cracked.

I found it to be the worst product ever, but that's just my opinion. If I remember correctly, Coker specifically says you should not use it on their tires.

Try mineral spirits, you'll never go back to that stuff.

[Mad Scientist]

Do you use the windex on the whitewalls after you use the mineral spirits? Gary

Wipe the mineral spirits on with a damp rag, not dripping wet, then to wipe off any excess I used windex.

[Barry Wolk]

Just a reminder, it's a tedious process. You may have to do it several times to get it right, but the results are worth it.

[Dan Szwarc]

Glad to see that Barry is spreading the word.

[crystal59]

Glad to see that Barry is spreading the word.

Thanks Dan for information about buying mineral spirits at Home Depot or Lowes. Gary

[Barry Wolk]

The car is in Meadow Brook next Sunday so I decided to start with the tires. It's much easier to touch up the tires once they've been done with MS before. It takes away just enough rubber to smooth out the crevices that hold dirt.

Just an observation. I've removed the hubcaps to wash them in the dishwasher. I had to use a claw hammer to pry them off. The new wheels hold the caps stationary. When that happened the tabs bit into the steel of the rim. I can almost 100% guarantee that new wheels will keep your hub caps from flying off. It is critically important to use metal stems, though. That's what stops the hubcap creep that wants to bend the rubber valve stem until it breaks.

[crystal59]

The car is in Meadow Brook next Sunday so I decided to start with the tires. It's much easier to touch up the tires once they've been done with MS before. It takes away just enough rubber to smooth out the crevices that hold dirt.

Just an observation. I've removed the hubcaps to wash them in the dishwasher. I had to use a claw hammer to pry them off. The new wheels hold the caps stationary. When that happened the tabs bit into the steel of the rim. I can almost 100% guarantee that new wheels will keep your hub caps from flying off. It is critically important to use metal stems, though. That's what stops the hubcap creep that wants to bend the rubber valve stem until it breaks.

I do not plan on taking off the hubcaps. Will mineral spirits harm the hubcaps if I spill some and wash off right away. Gary

[Barry Wolk]

Virtually nothing will hurt stainless steel.

[Mad Scientist]

I do not plan on taking off the hubcaps. Will mineral spirits harm the hubcaps if I spill some and wash off right away. Gary

No. As far as strong solvent go mineral spirits is way down on the list. It probably wouldn't even hurt the paint. Actually if you pickup some road tar mineral spirits would one way to get it off.

[Dan Szwarc]

MS may degrade any paint on your wheel covers. I have noticed it has a dulling effect on glossy paint when using it to clean grease in the engine bay. Safer to avoid spills than to suffer any effect. You have been notified.

[crystal59]

MS may degrade any paint on your wheel covers. I have noticed it has a dulling effect on glossy paint when using it to clean grease in the engine bay. Safer to avoid spills than to suffer any effect. You have been notified.

Thanks for the heads up. Gary

[newmexicomatt]

I use a product called Bleche-White by a company called Wesely. The low-rider crowd uses it. Just spray it on and hose it off, works really well and couldn't be easier!

[Barry Wolk]

I use a product called Bleche-White by Wesely. It is what the low-rider crowd uses...sprays on, rinses off. Works great!

You already posted that.

Dan, there is no paint on our hubcaps, However there is a vinyl sheet behind the vanes.

However, that was worth mentioning, Dan.

I have found that by buffing the MS residue off of painted surfaces the shiny is restored.

[Doc]

You already posted that.

Dan, there is no paint on our hubcaps, However there is a vinyl sheet behind the vanes.

However, that was worth mentioning, Dan.

I have found that by buffing the MS residue off of painted surfaces the shiny is restored.

I believe that the hubcaps originally were painted behind the vanes, but many have been retrofitted with the black vinyl rings. Anyone using any chemicals on the hubcaps should probably check first to see which condition they have.

[Barry Wolk]

Hmmm.....My hubcaps come from 3 sources and they all have vinyl.

I suppose they could have been painted at one time.

[crystal59]

Hmmm.....My hubcaps come from 3 sources and they all have vinyl.

I suppose they could have been painted at one time.

Are you guys just having fun with me? I was all set to go until the paint /vinyl issue came up. I do want to fool around with those hubcaps and I will not be taking off the wheels or the hubcaps to clean the whitewalls. Gary

[Barry Wolk]

Geez Gary, I just did the first one with the cap on and never got anywhere near the vinyl.

You need to give your worry wart a rest.:rolleyes:

[Shelly Harris]

Gary... please stop using the quote so much. We all know what you're responding too.

Why does it take so many posts to understand you wear gloves, leave the tire on its rim on the car, you dampen a rag with mineral spirits, you wipe the damp rag around on the white wall. Hose down the tire with water.

[Pat Marshall]

Barry, Mark II hubcap backgrounds behind the fins were painted satin black (or red on at least one special order).

[Barry Wolk]

I learned something new today. Thanks.

[Barry Wolk]

Meadow Brook is Sunday and I'm prepping the car much further than normal as it's the hometown show. I started yesterday by removing the hubcaps and washing them in the dishwasher. I then went at the whitewalls.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG_1016.jpg

I know that some people that swear by B-W. My opinion is that the stuff harms your tires. While my evidence is anecdotal I can categorically say that it harmed my tires. The reason I can say this is that I replaced my two front tires and have never used B-W on them. The back two tires developed deep fishers that trapped dirt. The surface is chalky and dried out. I can heal the surface with elbow grease and mineral sprits, but the checking comes back.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG_1022.jpg

This is the front tire. After a first pass I discovered a pretty severe road rash.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG_1017.jpg

After quite a few passes I was able to remove enough of the top layer of white rubber so that it now looks like this. The road rash is barely perceptible. Another 15 minutes work and it should disappear entirely.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/IMG_1019.jpg

The best method I'm finding is to do the entire outside of the tire with MS. Then go at the whitewall. That way you won't get any black stuff on your nicely cleaned white stuff.