Sanding on my white walls

[Rodney Bullock]

Well yesterday or rather Saturday I had the Plymouth up on a lift and discovered a nail in the tire:( There was no leak however it made me shake to think that I had "Bad Tire" I'm riding around trying to find someone to fix and remove the tire. Then I remembered I have a spare:) I pulled the spare out and the white wall was dull. I got me some 2000 grit paper and sanded the white wall til all the dulled surface was cleaned and then I washed it. It came out great. My question is will this come back to haunt me later? I read this somewhere might have been here, i drove trouble free all week end I think I will send off for another tire this morning.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Rodney Bullock

[Uncle-Pekka]

Rodney,

Which ghost you are most concerned: The nail wound or the dulled white wall?

I would presume the nail damage, however the title of your thread is misleading me?

Regarding to dulled white wall, I see no problem. As far as I know, what you've done is exactly how white walls should be reconditioned/cleaned.

The nail wound: In case the tire is not leaking, nor shaking in run (=no damage in the radial belt) I would not be worried, but drive on.

In case there is even a slow leakage (pressure dropping slowly during days), I would get the tire to be repaired by professional. You probably know the way they drill a small hole where the wound hole is and insert a conical "rubber rivet", which is vulcanized in. The tire will be as good as ever.

[Young Ed]

Rodney next time try a brillo or SOS pad and lots of water. Cleans very well and shouldnt be as harsh as sandpaper.

[BobT-47P15]

Rodney, I use these items plus a medium stiff bristle brush to clean

whitewalls. Usually does a good job. Have never tried sanding.

If your tires are radials, a nail hole repair should be no problem.

If they are bias with tubes, you can get a tube repair or a new

tube and should be OK. I've been driving with one patched tube

for a few years now and works fine.

Edited December 7, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[JIPJOBXX]

Do you have a Les Swab in your area? They will repair the tire for free!!!!!!! and thats a great price in my books. If the nail is somewhat in the center of the tire tread but is not on the outside by where the tire curves up they will repair it. For some reason I found this out that when you get a nail near the radius part they ueally do not want to fix it. I know the reason but do now want to spend time on that subject. I still have my bias ply and took the car out this weekend and boy talk about cold tires I thought I was rideing on a train.

[old stovebolt]

Well yesterday or rather Saturday I had the Plymouth up on a lift and discovered a nail in the tire:( There was no leak however it made me shake to think that I had a "Bad Tire" I'm riding around trying to find someone to fix and remove the tire. Then I remembered I have a spare:) I pulled the spare out and the white wall a dulled.Co I got me some 2000 grit paper and sanded the white wall til all the dulled surface was cleaned and then I washed it. It came out great. My question is will this come back to haunt me later? I read this somewhere might have been here, i drove trouble free all week end I think I will send off for another tire this morning.

The dull white wall is from oxidation. Using a rough brillo pad or similar object will clean of the surface, but actually amplify the problem by inducing surface abrasions on the sidewall which will increase the area to degrade. The 2000 grit paper is actually much finer grit than steel wool or a brillo pad and would be a better choice. A chemical cleaner, such as "soft scrub" or similar might be better next time. Using a rough pad is kinda like using steel wool to clean chrome, all it does is create very fine scratches which allow more rust to form at a quicker rate.

[BobT-47P15]

Those Brillo pads are fairly fine.....they are about the size of a

charcoal briquette and have soap in them. More like fairly

fie steel wool. They are not those

rough wire-like scrubbers you use on the frying pan.

That Mean Green cleaner, found at Dollar General stores, is on a par

with Simple Green, Fantastic and other household spray cleaners. It does

a better job than some, at least for me.

[Rodney Bullock]

Hey everyone, The white wall was scratched from hitting some sidewalks. It had some semi-deep scratches in it from movie filming. Sanding with 2000 grit is finer than brillo however I do use the brillo at some point. If the dirt or stain is present. When it comes to scratches they should be sanded with dishwashing soap. mean green is good two.

That's why I made it a spare. These are bias ply tires I am talking about they have tubes. I could ride however one bump and that nail could puncture the tube. Pulling the nail might solve the problem however you know the bias ply tires sometimes seal as there is air between the tube and the tire.

It I pull the nail it may deflate any why. When you get a flat on the left rear with that skirt in the way it can be hard let's say on the highway or a dark country road:eek:that's where I normal drive so , no I better take care of it while the weather is nice. That tire is worn Iguess you would not really fix it as the tube is the major part. Pulling the nail just leaves a very small hole.

[48P15Annie]

Give some 'Eagle 1 A2Z All Wheel & Tire Cleaner' a try. Never used it on white walls, but it works wonders on raised white letters.

[Uncle-Pekka]

I know it's not my business, but I need to ask: Why do you run tubes in your radials?

My D24 original rims are of tubeless type and I run tubeless radials without troubles.

Then background why I'm eager to discuss this: I've had two incidents with a setup of a inner tube inside tubeless radials exploding at speed. The latter accident was front tire at speed of 60mph and boy was that a close call.

The thing is, that kind of setup blows air out in a second and then you're really in trouble keeping your car on the road.

Another issue is, that tubeless radials are not designed for inner tube. They seem to "rub" the tube. In both cases I found a really big hole in the tube afterwards. Nearly a size of a playing card.

Also, if you run in a nail a tubeless radial leaks really slow allowing you to drive home. If you blow a inner tube, that's it. "Nailed at the spot"

Somebody say, that their rims don't hold air with tubeless tire due to corrosion. Especially in a situation like that I'd never use a inner tube. Gives me creeps to imagine how the corroded rim rubs the tube on each turn of the wheel. So easy to have rims sand blasted & sprayed with thick coat of epoxy.

Well... that was my gospel today - Drive safely!

[P-12 Tommy]

Rodney's running bias plys.

Tom

[PatS....]

I use Zep Purple, 50% dilution. Spray it on, leave it sit, spray off with wand wash. or brush with stiff bristle brush and rinse off with a garden hose.

They come out like new, and the Zep will take out most scuffs. Great for blackwall tires, too. They come out looking like new.

Home Depot has Zep Purple. Great for all kinds of cleaning. One gallon lasts me a year.

[BobT-47P15]

Uncle Pekka........I ran tubes in my radials becuse I wasn't sure my

1955 Chrysler wire wheels would hold air. Don't know why anyone

does that.

[old stovebolt]

I use Zep Purple, 50% dilution. Spray it on, leave it sit, spray off with wand wash. or brush with stiff bristle brush and rinse off with a garden hose.

They come out like new, and the Zep will take out most scuffs. Great for blackwall tires, too. They come out looking like new.

Home Depot has Zep Purple. Great for all kinds of cleaning. One gallon lasts me a year.

Yes, I forgot about Zep.....it works very well.....got my vote!

[DJ194950]

radials can be run with tubes, but you MUST RUN REAL RUBBER TUBES!!!

anything else is asking for major trouble.instant flat.just like a blowout common in the old days.

i experienced it once, going 60mph in a curve, downhill in traffic.only my angel kept me from the cement wall.

the tire dealer i worked for at the time said they were SUPPOSED to be radial tubes.took them all out same day!

the real rubber tubes are hard to find and extremely expensive. easier not to even go there.

[BobT-47P15]

The tire store said radial tubes were to be used......and the tubes

had that printed on them. I had no problems with them. But, then

I never go very fast in the old Plymouth. Think I had it up to 70

one day briefly while going down a big hill on a four lane highway.

[Rodney Bullock]

I remember when I bought the spokes(kelsey/hayes) wheels for the hawk. Mr. Coker told me I would not need tubes. The old chrysler spokes needed tubes because they would leak air though the rim spoke connection. I have never had that problem with mine.

The new tire came in and is on the rim.the tube was not damaged:)My luck just keeps getting better all the time. I am thinking about a long trip down RT17 this week end. I might take the Plymouth;) The heater is working however only one position on the fan (low) It's cold now:(maybe I need to go to the junk yard to find another switch