Why do my new tires look dirty? Well! We have the answers. Tires do get dirty if you ride them on the road, but if your new tires look dirty, then there is an entire science behind it.
Tires are an integral part of a car and the only part that touches the road. They bear the entire weight of the vehicle and help you drive easily on uneven terrain. New tires have added advantages. They improve the car’s handling on rough terrain, ensure more grip during rain and enhance the overall safety of everyone in the car. They tend to get dirty over time, but you can easily clean them to make them look new.
However, if you have just bought a new car but the tire looks dirty, it might be because of antiozonant. It is pretty normal if your new tires look dirty because of antiozonant. This is because antiozonant is an element added to the sidewalls of tires to prevent premature cracking and drying. Due to this element, the tire looks brown, which is also called blooming.
To know more about it, read ahead!
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Why Is antiozonant added to tires?
- Antiozonant decreases the rate of crack growth in the tire.
- It provides an effective barrier and prevents ozone from penetrating the rubber tires and drying them.
- It has no adverse effect on the rubber.
- The element enhances the life of the tire.
Why Do Antiozonants Turn Tires Brown?
With time the element pushes its way to the outer edge of the tire. The tire’s rubber is manufactured so that the element keeps moving towards the surface gradually and provides the tire its advantages. When antiozonants come in direct contact with oxygen, a chemical reaction takes place. The reaction leaves a brown residue and causes the tire to turn brown.
Other Reasons For Tires To Turn Brown?
Silicone: silicone does not cause the tire to bloom, just like an antiozonant. However, it is a sticky thing and can attract dust and dirt to the road, which can make the sidewalls of the tires turn brown quickly.
Mold: Mold also does not cause tires to bloom. However, they contribute to the issue as they keep antiozonant on the surface of the tire.
How Do I Get Rid Of Tire Blooming?
The task of removing bloom from the tires is quite simple. All you need to do is collect a few essentials and start with them. We can convert the entire process into simple steps so that they become easy for you to follow.
Step 1: Take a tire and rubber cleaner and a stiff bristle tire brush to remove the brown residue.
Step 2: Take the brush and remove all the dirt and debris from the rims and tires. Don’t use water in this step.
Step 3: Use a hose and rinse the tire thoroughly to remove extra dirt and debris, if any.
Step 4: Take the rubber and tire cleaner, apply it thoroughly on the sidewalls of tires, and leave it for some time as instructed in the cleaner’s manual. You can also prepare your cleaner by mixing one teaspoon of dish soap in 1 liter of water.
Step 5: Now, take the brush and scrub every inch of the tire where there is blooming. Don’t use a steel scrub and use it very harshly as it may penetrate through the rubber and cause air leaks.
Step 6: After scrubbing all four tires, use a pressure washer to remove maximum dirt and brown residue.
Step 7: After the water has all drained, you can use a tire polish spray to make your tires shine.
Will Blooming Reappear After Cleaning?
Yes, blooming will reappear after cleaning. This is because the antiozonants keep working even after several washings. Antiozonants keep moving towards the edge of the rubber and oxidize to produce a brown residue. This process continues till the life of the tire. Even if you seldom use your car, you can see a brown residue on the tires’ sidewalls. Hence cleaning the tires to remove blooming can be a regular task for you.
How To Prevent Tires From Blooming?
- It is necessary to frequently clean the tires to prevent the blooming from reappearing.
- Tire dressing is also an alternative to prevent tire blooming. Tire dressing creates a layer on the tires and prevents them from oxidation. Water-based or silicone-based tire dressings are available in the market.
What Is Tire Dressing For?
Tire dressing is used to give a shine to the faded old rubber tires. They give a new look to the old tires that every car owner dreams of. There are two types of tire dressings: water-based and silicone-based. The former is a mixture of non-greasy synthetic polymers and natural oils, and the latter contains petroleum distillate solvents.
Most of the water-based dressings are environmentally friendly and do not harm rubber over time. On the other hand, silicone-based dressings leave a wet, glossy layer on the tire’s surface. They attract more dust and grime from the road and can also be the reason behind the cracking and drying of the surface.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Tire Dressing?
Advantages:
- Water-based dressings are environmentally friendly.
- It is easy to apply on the surface of the tire. You either spray or wipe it on the surface.
- It enhances the life of the tire and gives them a shine.
- It prevents the tire from fading, cracking, or hardening.
Disadvantages
- If you mistakenly spray the dressing on the brakes, you may damage it.
- Some types of dressings can damage the tires and reduce their life gradually.
- Silicone-based dressings are not environmentally friendly.
- Silicone-based dressing can stick onto the exteriors of the tire and attract more dirt and grime.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean brand-new tires?
In four simple steps, you can clean new tires:
- Gather all the necessary items such as a bucket, bush, cleaner, pressure washer, and dry towels.
- Give the tires a thorough wash from above, under, sides and front.
- Deep clean, scrub and remove all the dirt and grimes from the tire.
- Use a good water-based tire dressing for that added shine.
Why do tires look brown?
Due to the road’s dirt and dust, tires look brown. But if your new tires look brown, then this can be due to blooming. When antiozonants react with oxygen, they leave behind a brown residue known as blooming. Blooming is not harmful to tires. It is just an unavoidable chemical reaction.
Is tire blooming bad?
Tires that turn brown look filthy, aged and rotten. But honestly, blooming is not harmful to tires. It does not deteriorate its quality and life and does not affect its performance. Tire blooming is an inevitable process and does not harm the tire in any way.
On the other hand, blooming is proof that your car’s tires have been protected against oxidation. It is proof that the antiozonant is added to the rubber so that the rubber material allows it to reach through the edge of the tire and thus provides protection to the rubber and increases its life.
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Wrapping Up
If your new tire is turning brown, then there is nothing to worry about. It is just an indication that the antiozonants added to the rubber are working as expected. Some tires may turn brown quickly, while some tires may take some time. It all depends upon the way they are manufactured.
So next time you see your car’s tires have turned brown, don’t panic. Just clean them the way we have explained in the segment above.
If you have any suggestions, share them with us, and if you like our information, share it with people you know.
Happy Driving!
