Tire rubber is one of the most irritating things that can ruin the beauty of your car’s paintwork. The rubber on tires can fly off and land on surrounding bodywork when it heats up. Since the tires heat up so rapidly, this is a very regular occurrence on vehicles that travel a lot or at very fast speeds.
Rubber blobs and specks are ugly, and if not removed promptly, they can damage the car’s paint. With regular vehicle maintenance, the correct supplies, and method, removing melted tire rubber is simple. Read on to learn how to get tire marks off car exteriors.
Different Ways to Remove Tire Marks off Cars
It doesn’t matter if your car is new or old, tire marks and scratches can ruin the beauty of your car’s paint job. Read on to find out different methods to get rid of these marks.
1. Toothpaste
Follow these steps when using toothpaste to get rid of skid marks on car paint:
First, get a soft clean cloth and wet it lightly with some water. Smear some toothpaste on it then gently wipe the area with the tire marks until it is clean and free of skid marks. Finally, rinse off with some water and another clean microfiber cloth.
This method is effective when the tire marks or scratches on your car’s paint has not entirely penetrated the clear coat.
Do note that you should not use this method if you have paint on the outside that needs to be removed. This is because toothpaste can function as an abrasive. Always ensure that the surrounding area is clean before you begin the application.
2. Cooking Oil
Although it sounds ridiculous and unusual, it is effective. Add some cooking oil to a clean microfiber cloth. Wipe down the car’s surface with the tire marks continuously until you have nothing left.
Once this is done, you can add some mild dish soap to another clean microfiber cloth to wipe off the oil. Rinse off with plain water and that section is as good as new again.
3. Rubbing Alcohol
You can get rid of tire marks with some rubbing alcohol. Get some paper towels or a clean cloth. Apply some rubbing alcohol to it and wipe down the tire marks until they have completely disappeared.
You can repeat this process if the tire marks are still visible. However, try not to attempt this method more than three times to avoid causing more unintended damage to the car paint.
4. Adhesive Cleaner
To get rid of tire marks on your car paint, you can purchase a can of tar remover or adhesive cleaner. These are available at your local auto parts or hardware stores. These cleaning products are gentle on your car’s paint and will not cause further damage.
Another product to try is the “Black Streak Remover”. This product helps you get rid of annoying tire marks and scratches on your car without ruining the car paint’s finish.
When making use of an adhesive cleaner, you have to apply it in small bits. Make the cleaning process precise and quick, too. Wipe it off lightly and don’t leave it on for too long. Wipe off the excess cleaner with a clean microfiber cloth when done.
5. Washing
Depending on the extent of the damage, some dish wash liquid or car wash liquid and a soft brush can help you get rid of unwanted tire marks on your cars. Gently wash off these marks with a soft brush. Apply some water to rinse of the liquid when you’re done.
Washing with some car wash liquid should get rid of the stains. However, if the marks are deep and beyond surface scratches, you might need to get a repaint done.
6. Clay Bars
Making use of a clay bar does quite the wonder when puzzled on how to get tire marks off the car’s paint. Start off by washing the car with some mild soap and water.
Once it is dry, spray some lubricant on the area marked by the tires. Wipe off the tire marks about 2-3 times with the clay bar. This should get rid of the tire marks.
7. WD-40
This multi-use product can help you get rid of nasty tire rubber marks on your car. Wash the affected spot with some water and soap.
Spray some of the WD-40 product on the spot with the tire marks and wipe it off with a clean microfiber cloth. The WD-40 weakens the rubber and allows it to come off the paint easily. Rinse the spot with some soft soap and water and leave to dry.
This should leave that spot clean and the paint job good as new. This oily product will also give the paint a new shiny and glossy look.
8. Baking Soda
Make a paste with some clean water and baking soda. Gently apply this paste on the affected area with a clean microfiber cloth and wipe it off. The tire marks should come off immediately. You can repeat the process a second time if you don’t get off the marks during the first process.
What Do You Do When The Tire Marks Are Also On Your Concrete?
Unfortunately, if you have a concrete driveway or epoxy garage floor, you’re eventually going to have to deal with those pesky tire marks that will show up. Using a regular cleaning product, concrete degreaser, or automotive brake cleaner should do the trick.
1. Using a regular cleaning product
This method is very useful for mild tire marks or freshly created ones. Look for dish soaps with degreasing properties as those are more effective with stubborn skid marks. For epoxy floors, use a non-filming detergent.
- Mix some mild dishwashing liquid in warm water and splash some over the black mark from the tires.
- Allow the soapy water to sit on the tire tracks for 5 minutes or more so the rubber brunts are softened. Use a stiff broom or deck brush to scrub the loosened rubber off.
- Repeat if you have to until the floor is completely clean.
2. Using a concrete degreaser
This method is very effective against stubborn and older tire marks from a concrete driveway. Commercial concrete degreasers are readily available on the market and they’re useful for removing any kind of stain, not just tire marks.
- Pour some degreaser on the black mark and leave for 15-30 minutes. However, ensure it doesn’t dry out by adding a few more drops intermittently.
- Use a deck brush and a garden hose to completely rinse off the concrete degreaser.
3. Using a Power Washer
If the stains are too stubborn for the degreaser to remove, you might need to use it alongside the mechanical cleaning function of a power washer (also called a pressure washer).
- Soak the floor with the degreaser as outlined above.
- Use the pressure washer on the lowest setting until you completely get how to use it. Also, remember to move it around and avoid remaining on one spot for too long or you risk damaging your concrete.
What Causes Tire Marks on Driveways?
These discerning black tire marks are often noticed on asphalt roads after an accident or incident where the driver has had to brake suddenly. However, suddenly hitting the brakes is not always the cause.
The rubber used to make tires contain a compound called plasticizer to make them more flexible and give them better traction. However, when you drive your car, the tires heat up and cause the plasticizer to soften. When you drive or park the car over some types of sealers, the plasticizer could leach out and stain the sealer.
To the undiscerning eyes, it might appear like pieces of rubber from your car tires have been spread around on the road. Also, when you brake suddenly, it causes friction that could cause the oils in the road asphalt to heat up and warm up the surface of your tires. The black skid marks you can see on the damaged asphalt is a result of this heat-causing friction melting the plasticizer.
The more quality the tires are, the higher the amount of plasticizer they contain and the more chances there are of the tires leaving behind a black mark. Tires with lower quality have lesser plasticizers and will produce fewer tire marks.
How Can You Prevent Tire Marks From Transferring?
As the plasticizer, which is the root cause of the black marks, is important for tire traction, there’s nothing you can do to prevent tire marks from forming. However, you can prevent the buildup of tougher tire stains by cleaning the affected areas regularly using any of the methods we’ve outlined above.
Some people may also put mats where their tires rest while being parked to prevent tire marks from forming.
Conclusion
If you notice a slight or surface tire mark on your car’s paint, then any of the above methods will help you get rid of these marks easily. However, if the marks are deep or strong, you might need to contact a professional for a repaint job.
How to get tire marks off car exteriors just became easy with this guide. You can also read up on how to clean the car’s interior for tips and tricks on making your car look amazing on the inside as well.
