Brown Tires

[Blueline]

I have just washed the winter off my car and noticed that the tires have a brown tinge to them. All of them have it to some varying degree, and it really looks ugly on a shiny black car. It is definitely not dirt.
After doing some searching here, I read that it could be the anti-Oxidation bleeding out, but I have never seen this before on other Michelin's (or any tire) I have owned. On those other tires not showing this brown, I have only used Armorall, but since becoming a Meguiars convert, these particular Michelins have only seen Endurance since they were new. Is there something with the Endurance than makes them bleed brown? Is it the particular tires? Does it go away with a new application of Endurance? Any way to stop it from happening?
Thanks.

[TOGWT]

Re: Brown Tires

Blooming - after the antiozonant works its way to the outside of the tyre and is exposed to the ozone in the air, it oxidizes and turns brown. The technical term for this effect is blooming. Many chemical compounds, especially solvents, react vigorously at ambient temperatures as the oxidizing process takes place between water and the tyre's polymer-binding agents. Water tends to wash away the natural oils and micro-waxes that help to maintain the tyres flexibility.

Tyre Cleaning
For any type of protection to work efficiently on rubber it must be able to adhere to the surface. First remove any brake dust, blooming, road tar, grease and grime, wax and oxidized rubber from the surface to properly clean it. The key to tyre dressing durability is deep cleaning the tyre, once clean you should be able to take an old white dry terry towel and rub the tyre surface, it should be almost pristine. A tyre cleaner needs to be strong enough to tackle a heavy build-up of tyre dressings and road grime, but not damage wheel coatings.

It should clean the tyres down to the original rubber surface, this is especially important when you apply a new dressing, as dressings won't adhere to, or create the right shine on dirty rubber. This tyre cleaner is a strong concentrate; spray-and-rinse tyres, without scrubbing, if you are starting on an old, neglected surface, use a fairly stiff tyre brush for the first application and a spray & rinse at least 3-4 times a year

[andyo]

Re: Brown Tires

go to the store and get some wesly's bleach white. it will clean them right up no problem.

[RedSoxRacer]

Re: Brown Tires

go to the store and get some wesly's bleach white. it will clean them right up no problem.

Just make sure you don't get the Bleach White on your rims, it will stain them.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Brown Tires

There's no way to stop it from happening, just stay on top of it with regular cleaning of the sidewall to remove what is naturally occurring. Usually a tire with a longer tread life will contain a higher degree of antiozonant protection and will have a propensity to show more blooming. Some brands of tires will show this more readily than others as well. That's neither good nor bad, it just "is".

[Blueline]

Re: Brown Tires

Thanks for the information. I guess I will just have to deal with it. These are the most expensive tires I have ever purchased, so maybe they "bloom" more.

TOGWT..Thank for the great information.

ANDYO, I am very hesitant to use Wesley's Bleach on the them, as when I look it up, it says "for bleaching white walls and lettering". I have no whitewalls or lettering, and having owned a swimming pool for years, I have seen what damage bleach can do to some items.

REDSOXRACER...my concerns exactly.

MICHAEL, do you have anything from Meguiar's you would recommend in cleaning this up? The rims are chrome if that is any concern.

Thanks all.

[Calais]

Re: Brown Tires

.ANDYO, I am very hesitant to use Wesley's Bleach on the them, as when I look it up, it says "for bleaching white walls and lettering". I have no whitewalls or lettering, and having owned a swimming pool for years, I have seen what damage bleach can do to some items.

It's not actually bleach, its a potent tire cleaner. I highly recommend it as long as you take proper precautions. Hose down your tire and wheel, so in case some overspray gets on the wheel, its already diluted and easier to rinse off before it does damage. Spray liberally on your tires (NOT WHEELS), let it dwell for ~30 seconds and brush it with a stiff bristle brush. Rinse it all off and apply again if necessary. Wear gloves, be sure not to inhale the fumes and make sure the tire/wheel isn't hot when you apply it. At ~$3.50 a bottle, its affordable and extremely effective. I use it on every detail I do. I can't wait to use it on the brand new tires I ordered last week.

[kimchiyuk]

Re: Brown Tires

+1 on the wesley's blech white. I'd add to use a brass bristle brush. They clean MUCH better than nylon brushes, and much quicker.

[Deaner5]

Re: Brown Tires

I agree with the BW recommendations. I actually cut it about 50/50 water to BW. Works great for me. As with any product, follow the directions and use your head.

[eyezack87]

Re: Brown Tires

Endurance gel has a tendency to turn brown IME. I switched to a water based dressing and the problem was pretty much solved. I don't have anymore browning in the tire now

[Blueline]

Re: Brown Tires

Endurance gel has a tendency to turn brown IME. I switched to a water based dressing and the problem was pretty much solved. I don't have anymore browning in the tire now

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I have never had or seen this browning effect on any other tires, either mine or friends who use tire dressings. Nobody I know uses Endurance, and it been the only thing put on my tires since new, so in my experience, (and yours) it is the culprit. Good thing there is little left, as it in going in the garbage.

[Poki]

Re: Brown Tires

TOGWT, just wanted to chime in and thank you for the detailed information you provide and in a way even I can understand. I seem to get a big "ah ha" when you explain things we have all wondered about........

[TOGWT]

Re: Brown Tires

Thank you for those kind words, I'm glad to be of some help

[eyezack87]

Re: Brown Tires

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I have never had or seen this browning effect on any other tires, either mine or friends who use tire dressings. Nobody I know uses Endurance, and it been the only thing put on my tires since new, so in my experience, (and yours) it is the culprit. Good thing there is little left, as it in going in the garbage.

Glad I can help

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Brown Tires

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I have never had or seen this browning effect on any other tires, either mine or friends who use tire dressings. Nobody I know uses Endurance, and it been the only thing put on my tires since new, so in my experience, (and yours) it is the culprit. Good thing there is little left, as it in going in the garbage.

Endurance is not the culprit - there's nothing in it that can cause the browning (technically known as blooming). Anything with any cleaning ability to it will release the antiozonants from the surface and you'll see brown lifting off and, depending on the product, even running off. A good all purpose cleaner used on a tire that has never had the side walls scrubbed will cause a shocking amount of brown to run off the tire, depending on the tire itself. All tires have antiozonants built into them, but the amount varies.

We used to have 4 cars at home, each with a different brand of tire, and only one of them exhibited any browning at all - and it was quite significant. All 4 cars were treated exactly the same way, all 16 tires received the same routine cleaning and dressing. Only the 4 tires on that one car exhibited browning, and they were also the only "high mileage rated" tires of the bunch.

Bottom line, you should use a good quality all purpose cleaner and a tire brush to fully clean your tires before applying any tire dressing. A solvent based dressing is going to provide some light cleaning effect, and this will release the junk that has migrated to the surface. A light water based dressing is not going to do this as dramatically, but if you never clean the tires even a light application of a water based dressing will start to show it. Use a water based dressing with some cleaners in it, like M40, and you'll see it more readily. But if you never clean the sidewalls, any tire dressing you select won't last as long - because non of them are formulated to be applied to dirt.