Proper maintenance of your vehicle's tires depends upon a regular cleaning regimen. Here's how to clean tires using a simple, inexpensive process.
Introduction
At the point where the rubber meets the road, your vehicles' wheels and tires grab a lot of dirt and grime — not to mention collecting layers of brake-pad dust and fine shavings from the rotors. Of these, road salt and brake dust represent particularly caustic threats that can pit your wheels and steal life from your tires.
Both tire manufacturers and installers recommend cleaning your tires and wheels at least every other week to keep them looking great and performing their best.
Environmental Tip: You may be tempted to clean your car in the driveway, and we can't argue the convenience and time savings associated with that. However, car washes are legally required to collect gray water from their washing bays, recycling the water and disposing of the cleaning agents in the proper way. We recommend working there whenever possible.
Cleaning tires can really make a car shine, whether it’s a brand-new model or a trusty old beater. For some reason, it just feels good to walk up to your car and see that you put some love into it. Even once my old ’93 Subaru topped 300,000 miles, I’d make a point of handwashing the tires every few months. I figured if I kept giving it due attention, it would keep rolling indefinitely.
But most people don’t bother. “It’s likely 5% of car owners that hand wash their tires,” says Chris “Moose” Pyle, an auto expert with JustAnswer.com. “Most people use an auto car wash or just drive till it is time to install new tires and never clean them.”
If you’re in that 95%, it’s not a bad idea to try to get in the habit, though, says Duane “Doc” Watson, a technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket.
“The value of clean tires actually goes far beyond aesthetic purposes,” he says. “In some cases, a dirty tire can be the difference between a safe and unsafe drive.”
If you think tire washing might be in your future, here’s how to do it efficiently and correctly.
Tools Required
- Bucket
- Clean & dry towels
- Hose and spray nozzle
- Lug-nut brush (optional)
- Pressure washer (optional)
- Soft/medium-bristled brush
- Waxing mitt or foam pads (optional)
- Wheel brush (optional)
Materials Required
- Baking soda (for whitewalls only)
- Dish soap or mild degreaser
- Warm water
- Wheel cleaner (optional)
- Wheel wax (optional)
Project step-by-step (6)
Step 1
Prep for the Job
- Gather all your equipment and materials before starting the job.
- For the best results when cleaning tires and wheels, work each one through the entire process before moving to the next.
- Above all, make sure your tires and wheels have cooled before washing them and/or applying any cleaning products.
- Dedicate a specific cleaning rag and drying towel to this task. As previously mentioned, tires pick up a lot of dirt and grit from the road as well as collecting caustic brake dust. Keep these contaminants away from the other surfaces of your vehicle.
“You can use the same soap and water you use to wash the car; just make sure to do it last so your bucket is not filled with grit that you smear all over your paint job,” says Pyle. “You can also use spray-on cleaners, but they should not be too aggressive with oil-removing properties. That can dry out a tire, causing dry rot cracks. A scrub brush, wash mitt, or pressure washer works fine.”
Step 2
Start With a Rinse
- Rinse off as much loose grime as possible using a spray nozzle or pressure washer.
- Work the water from several angles and try to remove as much from the interior of the rim as possible.
- Keep the tire wet as you clean it because the moisture provides lubrication and prevents scratching.
- Pro Tip: For a deep cleaning or for extremely dirty rims, you may choose to remove the wheel for cleaning. If you do, work from the back of the tire to the front so that rinsing the back doesn’t re-soil the front.
Step 3
Wash the Tire
- Starting with the tire prevents tire grime from running down over a cleaned wheel face.
- Scrub the surface of the tire with warm water, a mild detergent and a medium- to soft-bristled brush.
- Allow the detergent to sit on the tire for a few minutes to soften the grime, then rinse.
- Repeat scrubbing and rinsing as necessary, being careful to not allow the tire to dry during this part of the process.
- Always finish by rinsing out the brush.
Step 4
Wash the Wheel
- Wet the surface of the wheel.
- Use the brush to scrub with warm, soapy water.
- Use any additional brushes to get into tough spots.
- Repeat wash/rinse as necessary.
- Thoroughly dry both the tire and the wheel with a cloth.
Step 5
Wax Application (Optional)
- If you apply wheel wax to your aluminum wheels, plan to do it every three to four months, which may turn your regular cleanings into a simple high-pressure rinse-and-dry process.
- Apply cream or paste wax with a mitt or foam pad.
- Defer to the instructions provided on the wheel wax you choose.
- Remove/finish with a clean cloth.
Step 6
A Final Step for Whitewall Tires
- Keeping your whitewalls pristine requires an aggressive cleaning routine, including weekly cleanings at minimum that end in this process.
- Apply a 1-to-1 paste of water and baking soda to the whitewall, then leave it to work for several minutes.
- Most of the products available to clean the grime from whitewalls actually shorten the life of the tire.
- Scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush.
- Rinse.
FAQ
Does washing tires help them last longer?
Maybe a little. In theory, a clean tire can help it wear more evenly, giving it a longer lifespan, but it’s a pretty slight difference.
“Some may say the shiny products add oil to the tire sidewall to prevent cracks,” says Pyle. “But what about the back side? There is a sidewall there too, which never gets attention.”
What are the benefits of washing tires?
Keeping your tires’ treads clean enhances their grip on the road. Watson notes that if left unchecked for enough time, a buildup of dirt and debris can also pose issues to other parts of your car, such as the braking system.
Perhaps more importantly, however, is that washing them gets you down to their level, so you inadvertently inspect them while cleaning, says Pyle.
“It makes them look good, assuming you have washed the car, too,” he says. “Things last longer if you take care of them, and if you take care of them, that also means you tend not to abuse them.”
About the Experts
- Duane “Doc” Watson is a technical trainer at Bosch Mobility Aftermarket. He has more than 45 years of experience in automotive repair, has trained thousands of technicians and earned many industry awards, including Chevrolet Technician of the Year and Buick Service Master of the Year.
- Chris “Moose” Pyle is a master-certified technician with 20-plus years of automotive experience. He has also worked as an expert for JustAnswer.com since 2006, where he answers hundreds of car maintenance and repair questions a day.
