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MG MGA - Baby's got a new set of shoes

First non-rainy weekend in a while, and I get to try out my freshly re-trued and repainted wire wheels and new white wall tires. Tires are 165 R15 BF Goodrich Silvertowns, and I'm very happy with the way they look and the way they drive. Now if only I'll be able to keep them clean. Any recommendations for whitewall tire cleaning products?

Mark Lambert

Mark,

I've been looking too. How much and where did you get yours? It seems like the best I can find is around $140 each. ..Dennis

P.S. Sorry I didn't answer your specific question; I know that all of the trial & error specialist we have on the board will give you the good info.
Dennis Suski

I got mine at Coker tire. I wanted the Coker brand tires, which were a bit cheaper, but they were back-ordered with a wait time of 6 weeks, and I didn't want to wait that long. The Silvertowns were $167 a piece, the Coker's $156.
Mark Lambert

Steel wool, elbow grease and a little soap and water.
David Holmes

Just interested, but why is it that the USA is the only country to use white walled tyres (tires)...do they make you go faster?
Gary Lock

Wide Whitewalls are guaranteed to make your car look five miles an hour faster.
David Holmes

Mark,

I have a Rolls royce Silver Shadow with white wall tyres (I prefer non-white wall fr my MGA). In the UK, there is a product called "Brillo pads". They are wire wool pads impregnated with a soapy detergent type thing and are usually used for cleaning ovens. They cost usually a staggering 80p for a pack of about 10, so compared to some "rescommended" methods, they are very cheap.

I'nm sure you must have something like this in the USA - ask your wife ;-)

I just dip one in warm water and gently rub it over the white wall - brings it up a treat!

Good luck,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

Gentleman : I have found over the years the best product to clean white wall tires is a product called Westley's bleach white & a scrub brush. This product can be found at most auto supply shops.

MacKAY
SJ MacKAY

There is a potential problem with using steel wool, that is that tiny pieces of the steel can be embedded in the tire and then start to rust, staining the white wall. I'd suggest using a stainless steel pad instead of a common SOS or Brillo pad. I've heard good reports from the "lead sled" guys on a product called Westley's Bleech White for cleaning white wall tires as well.
Bill Young

You can also try using bronze wool. Used on boats because of the rust factor.
M Gannon

Soft Scrub cleanser and a brush. Also removes the brown discoloration on black tires.
J Heisenfeldt

Formula 409 with bleach works. I used to use it on the raised white letters on the B.F. Goodrich tires on my GTO. Worked great! I've also used the Westley's. Also works very well.

Your car looks great!
P.R. Fahey

If you clean them really well your car could look as good as mine. It may take a lot of work to get that white goo off the tires but I think it's worth it.
(ha ha)

R J Brown

And here I was thinking your car could look as good as mine if only your wire wheels didn't have that strange shiny finish :-)
Mark Lambert

paid extra for that!
but
I do like your colors
R J Brown

This thread was discussed between 08/03/2009 and 13/03/2009

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