How to Clean Tire Rubber Off the Exterior of a Car

by William Zane
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rear brake light detail on british sports car image by Bo Widerberg from Fotolia.com

Tire rubber is among the most annoying things that can stick to your car's beautiful paint job. As rubber heats up on tires, it can fly off and land on nearby bodywork. This is a very common occurrence on vehicles that are driven at the racetrack on the weekends, since the tires heat up so much. Blobs and flecks of rubber look unsightly and can eventually even damage the paint if not removed in time. Removing melted tire rubber is easy with the right supplies and approach.

Step 1

Wash the car thoroughly with a mild soap and water. Dry it with clean, dry, lint-free rags.

Step 2

Apply a small amount of WD-40 lubricant either directly on the paint where the tire rubber is stuck or onto a lint-free rag.

Step 3

Gently scrub the tire rubber with the rag until the rubber comes off. The WD-40 should loosen the rubber so that you can remove it from the paint. Repeat the scrubbing until the tire rubber is completely removed from the paint.

Step 4

Wash the car again, especially where the WD-40 was applied. Dry it thoroughly with a clean, lint-free towel. Apply a high quality automotive wax to the area where the tire rubber was stuck on the paint. Buff the wax into the paint until any surface imperfections are removed.

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