Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Older Guy]

Is safe to use some kind of tire shine to dress up the black tires?
           Older Guy

[Chains]

Last Time I did it I about crashed when the rear end slid out from under me.  I do not recomend it.

[grc]

It is safe IF you apply it carefully and sparingly with a cloth or sponge and not just spray it all over the place, and make certain to only get it on the actual sidewall and never on the tread.  Unfortunately, that is not how most folks apply tire shine products.

I suggest forgetting about the shine products and just doing a thorough cleaning of the sidewalls with a good tire and wheel brush when you wash the bike.  Can't see if the sidewalls are extra shiny or not when you're rolling down the highway anyway.


Jerry

[Wild Card]

This brings up a related question - what have you found to work best for white walls?  My wife got a Deluxe and a cleaning is due.  I didn't want to use something that would cause the tires to lose traction.    Thanks!

[guppytrash]

I used this all the time on my 2000 RK classic white walls.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2420273

Some say it is bad for the wheels...never had any problems.  I always washed the white walls clean with the Westley's and then the rims with S100.

A stand will be your best friend for cleaning the WW's.

SOS pads work good too.

[Rooster]

Try Ivory dish soap with a scrub brush on the white walls. Also works well on the tile of a swimming pool.

[RetSUBLDO]

This brings up a related question - what have you found to work best for white walls?  My wife got a Deluxe and a cleaning is due.  I didn't want to use something that would cause the tires to lose traction.    Thanks!

Westley's Bleche-Wite does a great job on my Road King Classic and Softail Deluxe white walls.  Just spray and let it work for a few minutes, then use a Mr Clean Magic Sponge to wipe the whitewalls followed by a good rinse.  Keeps the black looking real good also.

Eric

[Older Guy]

I used SOS pads worked the best of anything,I have had 5 bikes with white waLLS. Tried other things but sos pads worked the best.
      Older Guy

[49445CVO]

I used this all the time on my 2000 RK classic white walls.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2420273

Some say it is bad for the wheels...never had any problems.  I always washed the white walls clean with the Westley's and then the rims with S100.

A stand will be your best friend for cleaning the WW's.

SOS pads work good too.

I second this......Best I've found locally. I'm sure there is better online or special order.

[Dr.D]

Westley's Bleche-Wite does a great job on my Road King Classic and Softail Deluxe white walls.  Just spray and let it work for a few minutes, then use a Mr Clean Magic Sponge to wipe the whitewalls followed by a good rinse.  Keeps the black looking real good also.

Eric

We had the same two bikes and used the same cleaner. I bought a small wire brush and used it on the white wall and it really did the number on the hard to remove stains. Rinse very well and polish with S-100. Don't forget to polish every spoke individually.

[Wild Card]

Awesome, thanks for all your input!

[Fired00d]

Is safe to use some kind of tire shine to dress up the black tires?
           Older Guy

Remembered there being threads on this in the past and found the following two when I searched...

What is the SAFE way to keep your tires black?

Tire Shine

You may want to take a look at those for more information... also like Jerry (grc) stated don't spray it on... apply w/rag or sponge and don't get it on the tread. I use/keep mine black everytime I wash/detail the bike.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[49445CVO]

Only bad thing is once you treat the tire(s) with some sort of dressing it always seems to collect alot more road grime or dirt

[TinSpinner]

Only bad thing is once you treat the tire(s) with some sort of dressing it always seems to collect alot more road grime or dirt

Especially if you live/travel on unpaved roads. I live on a short gravel road so I never apply any tire dressing on any of my vehicles for that very reason. Looks good for a minute but after a few trips up and down the gravel road it looks awful, no matter how slow I go.

[RK2K]

This brings up a related question - what have you found to work best for white walls?  My wife got a Deluxe and a cleaning is due.  I didn't want to use something that would cause the tires to lose traction.    Thanks!

I use lacquer thinner.  Fold a shop towel in quarters, flip it occasionally.  Makes your whitewalls 'bright white'