Making tires black again(not glossy)

[tom10167]

Hey, so my tires kind of have a faded look to them. Phoenix sun and all. So anyways I'd like to make them black again without buying new tires. I'm not interested in an auto parts shop gloss/oil(or water) based slick substance that makes them shiny, I'm looking for something that well essentially dye the tires jet black.

I seem to recall such a product existing in the car market but couldn't find anything.(the term tire bleach comes to mind but who knows)


You guys know of such a product?

[David 1]

Good point. I like mine nice and black, too, but not glossy. What about shoe polish?
But I think it's important to check the effect of the material. Maybe to be sure that it does not get on the tread area. And make it slippery.
Maybe a coloring agent. Something that has no oil to it. What about the wax or shoe polish idea. What is in shoe polish?
dc

[tom10167]

Yes also I don't want anything that degrades the rubber.(brittle or cracks, etc)

[Thatch]

Well the tire gloss sprays are dangerous on motorcycle tires if you're not careful anyway (they make the tires slick). But since you are just out for a flat deeper black, just used shoe polish. The kiwi cake polish will work great and shouldn't cause you any traction issues (unless you are over applying it) Put it on just like you would a shoe, rub it on with a rag, rub it in good into the surface then buff it off with a horse hair brush.

Just don't let it build up, its a apply it, rub it in, butt if off affair, not an attempt to plaster a new coat on and stay away from the tread if possible to make sure you don't cause y ourself issues

[ridelook]

Forever Black Tire Gel Kit. They sell it on Amazon & other sites. Just google it to find a place to purchase it.

[primalmu]

How 'bout ya just ride more so you have to change your tires more often?!

[clockdaddy]

Originally Posted by Thatch

Well the tire gloss sprays are dangerous on motorcycle tires if you're not careful anyway (they make the tires slick). But since you are just out for a flat deeper black, just used shoe polish. The kiwi cake polish will work great and shouldn't cause you any traction issues (unless you are over applying it)

Any type of wax will make the tires slick. Do not use a cake wax or a liquid wax.
If your set on keeping the tires black, use either black shoe dye or forever black. These do not leave a slippery residue.

CD

[Badlands-4-2]

Most of the tire black sprays that you will find in the auto stores will say on them never to use on a motorcycle.

[tylernt]

One trick I've used to blacken car bumpers etc is shoe dye, NOT polish. Works great. Never tried it on rubber like a tire but I suspect it would work well.

Thing about the dye is it doesn't rub/wash/wear off as quickly as polish will.

[iamjustifyd]

A shoe dye is good for bumpers and trim on a truck? Mine has never been same since I brought it to a car wash and they slathered it with armour all after I asked just to have the inside done.

[tom10167]

Thanks I'll give the shoe dye a shot. This won't compromise the longevity of the tire, will it?

[tylernt]

Originally Posted by iamjustifyd

A shoe dye is good for bumpers and trim on a truck? Mine has never been same since I brought it to a car wash and they slathered it with armour all after I asked just to have the inside done.

I used dye on an old S-10 Blazer and the trim went from light gray to 99% black, looked great. I suppose trim and bumpers might be made out of different types of plastic though, so results may vary. The S-10 stuff was a soft rubbery plastic; harder plastics might not absorb the dye as well.

Originally Posted by tom10167

Thanks I'll give the shoe dye a shot. This won't compromise the longevity of the tire, will it?

I highly doubt it, but I don't know for sure so don't sue me if your tires melt.

[benny hedges]

if your tyres are faded with uv exposure you should change them imo, no saying what damage has happened to the compound of the tyre....

up to you, your life.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by tom10167

Hey, so my tires kind of have a faded look to them. Phoenix sun and all. So anyways I'd like to make them black again without buying new tires. I'm not interested in an auto parts shop gloss/oil(or water) based slick substance that makes them shiny, I'm looking for something that well essentially dye the tires jet black.

I seem to recall such a product existing in the car market but couldn't find anything.(the term tire bleach comes to mind but who knows)


You guys know of such a product?

For what it's worth, according to what I learned from Bridgestone, any tire dressing is usually bad for the compound. It leaches out the protective wax blended in the compound. That waxy substance is what makes your tires look dusty or even green (if anyone remembers those old Mag Mopus tires on the 80s Hondas). The recommendation was a good scrub brush and soap.

If you wear out your tires within about a year, have at it with any sort of tire treatment. Otherwise they will prematurely age due to the petroleum base of the tire cleaner/blackeners.

That's what I was told. One comment he made was to take a look at show car tires, if they have any age on them you'll see lots of tire compound cracking due to the constant detailing with the dressing.

[tom10167]

Originally Posted by benny hedges

if your tyres are faded with uv exposure you should change them imo, no saying what damage has happened to the compound of the tyre....

up to you, your life.

I'll upload some pictures. Frankly, there's brown splotches on them, and it doesn't wash off.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by tom10167

I'll upload some pictures. Frankly, there's brown splotches on them, and it doesn't wash off.

If you really want to know what's going on with the brown splotches, send off the pictures with an inquiry to the actual manufacturer. I would. They can tell you what's going on and how to deal with it. My guess is that it is the preservative wax coming out. Scrub them down with Dawn dish washing liquid with a good stiff bristle brush. If that isn't satisfactory, see if there are any lighter grade dressings and take your chances with the drying out of the tires. Just don't get it on the tread.

Still, I'd contact the company and learn from the experts.

[Rambler]

How long do you use a MC tire ? mine never lasted long enough to worry about it

[primalmu]

How old ARE your tires?

[Badlands-4-2]

I saw the shoe polish trick in the movie "Worlds Fastest Indian". If it worked for him, it obviously works at high speed.

[PJL]

Originally Posted by iamjustifyd

A shoe dye is good for bumpers and trim on a truck? Mine has never been same since I brought it to a car wash and they slathered it with armour all after I asked just to have the inside done.

For the plastic trim on my Jeep, I used Mother's Back to Black and it worked fairly well. Turned more of a charcoal grey, but it's better than chalk white. Wouldn't get that crap anywhere near my bike tires, though.

[tom10167]

Originally Posted by primalmu

How old ARE your tires?

The bike's an 06 with under 4,000 miles.

[67fire]

Originally Posted by tom10167

The bike's an 06 with under 4,000 miles.

Time for NEW tires.

Eric

[MS_Steve]

I'd go with the black bic pen (you'll probably need several)... it might take a couple of days of steady scribbling, to get the tires blacked out completely.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by MS_Steve

I'd go with the black bic pen (you'll probably need several)... it might take a couple of days of steady scribbling, to get the tires blacked out completely.

aren't you thinking of a fat Sharpie? or a few dozen fat Sharpies...