Originally Posted By: slowdime
I use this stuff called "Bleche White", I've got my tires mounted with the white band facing outward. Stuff does a great job at cleaning the tire; doesn't leave it gloss or anything, just clean.
Westley's Bleche White has been around for at least 50 years. It's the original whitewall tire cleaner since the 1950s, maybe earlier. We used gallons of it years ago. Back then, it was strong enough to burn your bare fingers and made tires whiter than white. Not as much use on today's full blackwalls, though. I think I have a gallon of it laying around somewhere. I will add that it was a great wiper rejuvenator, too.
I'm not sure if the latest formula is the same as what we used, however, since the company has changed hands in recent years.
I think the safest and easiest tire "treatment" for today's blackwalls is a quick wipe down with Vinylex or similar light duty rubber cleaner, followed by a regular car washing. Leaves them clean with a nice appearance, but without residue to fling around or affect the compound's native UV chemistry.