How to Clean Whitewall Tires on a Motorcycle

Whitewalls really dress up a big cruiser-style bike, making it stand out in a crowd and giving it a true retro look. The problem is that while clean whitewalls are a feast for the eyes and evocative of a bygone era, dirty whitewalls are unattractive and ruin the look of an otherwise perfect turnpike cruiser. To compound the problem, because of their proximity to brakes and exhaust, motorcycles are exceptionally hard on the finish of whitewall tires. Many people clean whitewalls with steel wool and soap, which certainly takes off the street grime, but you'll end up wearing down the white surface prematurely. Here is a better procedure for cleaning whitewall tires on your motorcycle.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bucket of warm water
• Household cleaner (such as Mr. Clean)
• Stiff wicker cleaning brushes (1 medium sized and 1 small "toothbrush" style)
• Garden hose and spray nozzle
• Westley's Bleach White
• Tire dressing (such as Armorall)

1. Park your bike on a stable, flat surface, ideally with drainage garden hose accessibility.

2. Brush off any loose grime on the tires with a stiff dry brush.

3. Spray a light coat of Westley's Bleach White on the surface of the tires. Westley's Bleach White is made for whitewall tires and it really gives them a glow. If you cannot find Westley's in your area, you may try a product such as Simple Green, or mix your own solution of 3 parts water to 1 part chlorine bleach and put it in a spray bottle.

4. Mix some of the household cleaner into the warm water. For tire scrubbing, use a ratio of about 10 parts water to 1 part household cleaner, though this varies with the brand of cleaner you choose. Read the instructions on the bottle for recommendations. Alternatively, if you are thinking green, you can use white vinegar to good effect and have zero environmental impact. If you use vinegar, use a 1 to 1 ratio of vinegar to water.

5. Use your brushes to clean the tires thoroughly. Use the smaller brush to clean your treads and in the ridges at the edge of the white wall section. The wicker brushes are much easier on the white than the more traditional steel wool.

6. Use the hose to rinse the tires thoroughly, then allow them to air dry.

7. Apply the tire dressing once the tires are dry. The use of tire dressing assists in preventing grime build-up and helps to preserve the finish of the tires. Additionally, it makes the next tire cleaning easier.

Tips & Warnings

• Tire dressing and Westley's Bleach White are available at your local automotive supply store.
• Before you use detergents in your driveway, check with local ordinances pertaining to environmental impact and disposal of detergents. Mild household cleaners, such as Mr. Clean, have very low environmental impact and are acceptable in most jurisdictions. Using white vinegar to clean your tires is acceptable in all jurisdictions, and has zero environmental impact.