Author Topic: How do you clean your tires? (Read 2114 times)

slowjo · « **on:** August 06, 2011, 01:28:49 PM »

What protectent or tire dressing do you use on your motorcycle? I know that you are not to use things such as armor all but what do you use to put some shine back into your tires?

333 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2011, 04:02:57 PM »

Tires were never meant to shine. Soap and water only.

Gordon · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2011, 05:17:21 PM »

Shiny = Slick. The only reason they were shiny when new was because of the mold release agent, which is very slippery.

74cb750 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2011, 07:37:32 PM »

zUuuuhhhmmm....clean tires?
Never happens in my driveway.
I RIDE my bikes.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2011, 07:40:33 PM »

Quote from: Gordon on August 06, 2011, 05:17:21 PM

Shiny = Slick. The only reason they were shiny when new was because of the mold release agent, which is very slippery.

Very slippery......

Don't ask how i know that.....

dave500 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2011, 09:26:14 PM »

if your carefull,spray armourall onto a rag and wipe it on the tyre that way,keeping to the walls only,dont spray the stuff at the tyre,theres plenty of brands of tyre shine in pressure packs,just dont spray directly onto your tyres,cars can get away with it though.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2011, 09:34:56 PM »

Quote from: 74cb750 on August 06, 2011, 07:37:32 PM

zUuuuhhhmmm....clean tires?
Never happens in my driveway.
I RIDE my bikes.

That's my final answer!!!

brandEn · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2011, 10:39:07 PM »

Pledge. Seriously. It works great on the whole bike and cuts through grease pretty good. But like others have mentioned, do not clean any area of the tire contact patch.

333 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2011, 06:33:06 AM »

No no no no no no no. Armour All shouldn't be used because it will make the sire slippery, although that's certainly a good reason. Armour All and things like Pledge shouldn't be used because they have alcohol in them, and will prematurely dry out the tire of it's natural lubricants, which are necessary to keep the rubber pliable.

Once again, NO!

coldwave007 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2011, 09:19:09 AM »

Q: How do you clean your tires?
A: I lean further next time.

Ichiban 4 · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2011, 06:14:52 PM »

First wash the bike and tires with soap and water..then dry well. You can use denatured alcohol on a rag to clean any discolored and/or oxidized surface stuff off the rubber after that. Note: the alcohol partly dissolves the rubber surface (a little)..so may need several applications..and changes of rags..to get absolutely clean. Probably best to stick to the sidewalls mainly in the cleaning/scrubbing process. A light once over on the tread is all that's needed there.

We have used this method to clean old rubber/tires to get bikes ready for resale for the 50+ years I've been involved. Probably goes back to the inception of pneumatic bike tires before that. I have NEVER seen any problems with traction or slippage in all this time. [You'll note also that race bike tires are always wiped down between heats/races. That's not simply rags they're using..but with a little alcohol spray on there too].

Additionally..I've used a little Armor-All..but mainly Honda bike cleaner spray..in recent years on the side walls only..to keep the shine and appearance of the tires looking like new.

It's mainly common sense.. and realizing that the most important aspect of a bike tire is the "footprint" or tread area that needs to be kept relatively free of lubricants..silicones..et al..that one needs to be aware of.

For what it's worth..

Tews19 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2011, 08:26:54 PM »

Quote from: coldwave007 on August 08, 2011, 09:19:09 AM

Q: How do you clean your tires?
A: I lean further next time.

NICE

Soap and water... As stated above shiny equals slippery and unsafe.. Work on the rims, make them pretty

japscrap · « **Reply #12 on:** August 16, 2011, 01:44:05 PM »

Rain.
I never clean tires. Rims yes tires no.

333 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 16, 2011, 02:33:02 PM »

Ichiban- by all means, use alcohol on a vehicle you're selling. Who cares how long the tires will last, it's someone else's problem. But comparing this practice to race tires? A race tire has a life that is measured in weeks at the most, but usually hours. Not really a reason to say that it's okay on our tires.

smileswithadimple · « **Reply #14 on:** August 16, 2011, 06:09:24 PM »

Anyone ever try belch white?

hondaface75 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 16, 2011, 07:34:53 PM »

Soapy water and a bit of steel wool gets em pretty clean. If I want a bit of a shine I put some back to black on a paper towel and rub it in. It doesnt shine too much. Only on the side-wall of course. This is one thing we can all agree on.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2011, 10:53:38 PM »

While you're at it, avoid putting shiney cleaner on your seat as well! Bikes looks really silly when they slip out from underneath your butt at a traffic light...

Magpie · « **Reply #17 on:** August 17, 2011, 08:23:08 AM »

A friend cleans his with brake fluid on a rag, JUST the sidewalls! Looks good.
Cliff.

TwoTired · « **Reply #18 on:** August 17, 2011, 09:11:23 AM »

Seriously. SOS pads, water, and a bit of elbow grease.

Cheers,

Alan F. · « **Reply #19 on:** August 17, 2011, 04:10:14 PM »

Ride in the rain and never clean anything, it's a bike not a paperweight.

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Author Topic: How do you clean your tires? (Read 2114 times)