brown white wall
brown white wall
Dunlop whitewall installed in march, 6000 miles could never get them white, they are tan and stained. Purchased through Revzilla. Dunlop sent me a new tire as we determined the seal behind the whitewall is bad and the black of the tire is leaching through the whitewall. I found this out on a Hot Rod forum in a google search. The thing I'm pissed about is I had to pay for the mounting and shipping back of the defective tire. Well, at least my bike will have the look I'm after and that is important to me. 45000 mi on that 09 FLHRC and I love it.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
I think you're fortunate they gave you a new tire. I've started using a super course scrubbie pad and Dawn dish detergent on mine. They come clean.
My new rear tire (about 2000 miles) looked like *** after returning from Laconia. Jacked it up and scrubbed the hell out if it for about ten minutes with a course Scrubbie I bought in the paint isle, looks near new.
My new rear tire (about 2000 miles) looked like *** after returning from Laconia. Jacked it up and scrubbed the hell out if it for about ten minutes with a course Scrubbie I bought in the paint isle, looks near new.
Last edited by skypilot_one; Sep 3, 2015 at 06:00 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,187
Likes: 11
From: Ladera Ranch, CA
My new rear Metzeler (well, about a year old now) has done the same thing, so now it doesn't match the front. I have tried Bleach White, Tide and a scrub brush, Dawn and a scrub brush, Magic Eraser, Simple Green and a scrub brush. I've even gone so far as to pull the wheel and set bleach saturated rags on the tire hoping that just the soaking will help. You name it, I've tried it. Nothing has worked and it still looks like ***. The indy I bought it from and Metzeler wouldn't do anything about it. All I can say is I'm glad its the rear tire, that my bike is lowered, and I have CVO bags to help hide the tire as much as I can. It sucks because I still know it's jacked up and it sets off my ADD every time I look at my bike from a distance. If anyone has anything else that may work, throw it out. I'm with the OP.....it bites.
PS: The sig pic is of my OLD tire....nice and white!!
PS: The sig pic is of my OLD tire....nice and white!!
Trending Topics
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Likes: 1
From: Albuq. New Mexico
I have used comet or ajax, water and a plastic bristle brush, works everytime. no need to mess with bleach at all. If they are really bad, just go over it two times and it will be just like new. just rinse it off well as it can leave a white residue on the black portion of the tire if you don't.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
The only thing that worked for me was Duragloss 701 Whitewall Tire Cleaner. I was ready to possibly paint my whitewalls with vinyl paint used for car interiors, no sure how well that works, but thought I'd try Duragloss first. Spray on, wait a minute, then hand scrubbed with a rough brush. Came clean enough for my liking.
I'm not sure where it is available in stores but I ordered online with several other items on a whim.
I'm not sure where it is available in stores but I ordered online with several other items on a whim.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
some of the "discount" tire places sell cosmetic blems.
I know that one of my local businesses has blems for sale for about 60%, when they have them in stock.
Mike
I know that one of my local businesses has blems for sale for about 60%, when they have them in stock.
Mike
