The look of your tires has a huge impact on the aesthetic of your whole vehicle. Suppose there are white letters on the tires; that makes a big difference too.
Maybe you don’t like how they look, or they make it too obvious when the tires are dirty. Either way, there are valid reasons to remove them from your tires.
To remove white lettering on tires, you can use a tire brush or a clean cloth to scrub the lettering and work the cleaner into the tire.
You can also try using a mild soap, detergent, and water to scrub the lettering off or a tire cleaner containing a degreaser.
But how do you do that? There are several methods, some of which depend on the exact nature of the lettering. We’ll talk about these various options here.
Removing Stick-On Lettering
Some white lettering is stick-on, attached to your tire via a powerful adhesive. It’s not easy to get off, but it is doable. First, you’ll want rounded tools that could be more sharp or pointy, such as a trim removal tool.
You’ll have to pry the lettering off, but if you slip, you don’t want to damage your tire accidentally.
Naturally, the point of the adhesive is so the letters don’t come off, so it will be a more complex matter to remove them. But there are a few things you can try to do to make the job a little easier.
Heat The Adhesive
Using a hairdryer or a heat gun, you can warm up the adhesive, which will loosen it and make it somewhat easier to remove.
Just be sure not to heat the tire too much, as overheating could damage and break down the rubber. Granted, you’d have to heat it quite a lot to achieve that result.
Use Soapy Water
A soapy water solution can help break down the adhesive holding these letters. Be sure not to use anything too strong, like acetone or bleach, since that could damage the tire.
You may use something like WD-40 but thoroughly clean it away afterwards.
After you get the letters off, there will probably be some adhesive residue on the tires. You can use the same solution to rub that away.
Removing Painted White Lettering
This type of white lettering is painted directly onto your tire. There are a few different things you can try to get rid of them. They all involve using some substance to get the job done.
Use a Tire Cleaner
Products like tire cleaners are easily found at auto parts stores. All you need to do is apply it directly to the lettering you want to get rid of, then let it rest for a few minutes before scrubbing it away with some firm, bristled brush.
This might not get the lettering off completely on the first try, so you may have to do it multiple times.
Use Rubbing Alcohol
This is a pretty simple method, requiring you to take some rubbing alcohol and use a rag. Apply the alcohol to the rag, then start rubbing away at the letters.
The alcohol will help break them down and make it easier to get rid of them.
Just be sure you don’t go crazy about the amount of rubbing alcohol. Too much of it could potentially damage your tires. This method will likely require several attempts to remove the lettering fully.
Paint Over the Letters
If none of the other methods works, you may have to paint over the white lettering, preferably using tire paint.
That said, you can also use spray paint and not worry about it causing any damage to your tires. Make sure you allow the paint to dry completely before you drive your car again.
Methods to Avoid While Removing Lettering
You will not want to do a few things while trying to remove the white lettering on your tires, even if you think it seems like a good idea. First, do not use sharp objects to try and pry stick-on letters off or scrape away at the paint.
One wrong move and you could have a punctured tire on your hands, which is expensive.
You cannot reverse your tires to hide the letters, either. Tires are usually directional and intended to work only when facing the right way.
Do not use harsh chemicals like bleach or acetone, which could dry out the rubber and lead to faster wear and tear.
Finally, refrain from attempting to sand down the tires to eliminate the lettering. This could damage the tires and lead to a blowout while on the road.
Furthermore, some lettering is deeply engraved into the tire and would require you to sand away a lot of rubber to eliminate it effectively, which could also be problematic.
Conclusion
Removing white lettering on tires is a process that requires the use of a tire lettering eraser or a chemical tire paint remover. Using a scrub brush or tire shine product may also be necessary to remove all the lettering remnants fully.
Overall, removing white lettering on tires can be time-consuming, but with the right tools and techniques, it is possible to restore the appearance of your tire