I accidentally scrubbed off my tire's sidewall

[Silverstone]

I had applied black onyx to my fairly new not even two month old Continental DWS tires but this brownish crud kept showing through, so I first washed them with car soap, and then Megs APC and a scuff pad, but they still weren't clean. So I got some Mothers tire and wheel cleaner, a stiff plastic brush, and scrubbed them down. They came nice and clean but when I was done and applied the dressing again I could see that the smooth surface of the rubber was now rougher and wouldn't take a shine. Then I saw where I missed a couple small areas that still have the smooth finish on them and realized what happened.

I didn't even know this was possible with just a plastic bristled brush.

I don't suppose there's any way to fix this so I guess this should be a warning to others. Watch out what kind of brush you use. This was not an actual tire brush made for sidewalls.




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[BobbyG]

Tire sidewalls are designed to be very strong to handle both speed and lateral loads as you steer. I'm not certain what's happened and a photo or two would be of help.

If your tires are that new I'd take them back and have the installer take a look at them. Scrubbing a sidewall to clean it should not have any affect whatsoever unless you're using a wire brush but not a plastic scrub brush...

I use a standard over the counter stiff brush to wash all of mine and have been doing so without incident for 40 years....

[Flash Gordon]

I had applied black onyx to my fairly new not even two month old Continental DWS tires but this brownish crud kept showing through, so I first washed them with car soap, and then Megs APC and a scuff pad, but they still weren't clean. So I got some Mothers tire and wheel cleaner, a stiff plastic brush, and scrubbed them down. They came nice and clean but when I was done and applied the dressing again I could see that the smooth surface of the rubber was now rougher and wouldn't take a shine. Then I saw where I missed a couple small areas that still have the smooth finish on them and realized what happened.

I didn't even know this was possible with just a plastic bristled brush.

I don't suppose there's any way to fix this so I guess this should be a warning to others. Watch out what kind of brush you use. This was not an actual tire brush made for sidewalls.




.

In this case, a picture would be worth a thousand words

[Old Tiger]

I agree with Bobby. The brown stuff is called blooming. Amazing Roll Off takes care of it without too much effort. There is a tire coating called Tuff Stuff that will probably resolve your issue.

[fancyfootwork]

I have the same Continental DWS. Heres a pic of them 10 mins after install ..



I wash my wheels with Megs APC, Daytona speed master, and mothers wheel/tire brush. I haven't had any browning issues. My choice tire gel is DP Gloss Tire Gel and I also use Poorboys Wheel Sealant.

To start, what gel or spray are you using? Sprays should almost rinse off and definitely should come off with a light scrubbing.

[Dubbin1]

I agree with Bobby. The brown stuff is called blooming. Amazing Roll Off takes care of it without too much effort. There is a tire coating called Tuff Stuff that will probably resolve your issue.

What I think he is saying is that he scratched the living crap out of the tire with the brush he used.

Don't think a plastic brush wont hurt the rubber on a sidewall because it can and will.

[Flannigan]

I would say the scuff pad is to blame. Thats an awfully aggressive tool for cleaning tires IMO

[dad07]

What I think he is saying is that he scratched the living crap out of the tire with the brush he used.

Don't think a plastic brush wont hurt the rubber on a sidewall because it can and will.

BINGO! He says he used a SCRATCH PAD first with apc then he used Mothers with a PLASTIC BRUSH,and then they came clean, Then the tire dressing he used made it look like they were scratched.

To the OP what did you use for a dressing?

And some Pics will help you get this corrected.

[Dubbin1]

And some Pics will help you get this corrected.

I don't see how any pictures will get it corrected, he damaged the rubber to the point of not being repairable.

[Scarelane]

Not sure I would ever use a scuff pad on my tires, no matter how dirty. Tough lesson learned I guess....