That brings me to tire cleaners. Never use chemical or bleach-based cleaners, as the harsh ingredients can damage the soft white rubber. Natural cleaners, such as our “Wide White” whitewall cleaner or “Big Classic” tire dressing are better for the tire, as they feature a citrus base that will not harm rubber. If you’re having a tough time removing stains from the whitewall, S.O.S. or Brillo pads can be used as a last resort. Without a doubt, frequent cleaning is best for keeping whitewalls in optimal condition, and there are options for lighter cleaners, such as whitewall wipes, that can be used much more frequently. A quick rundown for cleaning any tire on a collector vehicle starts with a good presoak to loosen any debris or dust. From there, you can simply use soap and water to clean the tire. You can use a wash mitten or tire brush to clean the tire, but do not use the same mitten on the exterior finish of the car. A final rinse to wash away the soap or cleaning agent will yield great results, and you can seal those results by using tire dressing. Again, you want to stay away from chemicals that may damage the tires, and many of the department store options are not suggested, as they are silicone based. Standard tire dressings can quickly turn those whitewalls or white letters yellow or brown if used frequently. Another reminder is to frequently check air pressure. It’s an important aspect that helps extend the life of your tire, regardless of how much you drive the car. Low pressure is generally the culprit for many tire-related problems, so check the designated pressure on the door jamb of your car, if it is so equipped. Some Hot Rods and custom applications will require a bit of guesswork to get the combination right, so it’s normal for folks to experiment with different pressures to find the sweet spot. Low pressures can cause the tire to build up too much heat, which can cause premature wear or potential damage to the tire. High pressures can also cause irregular wear and a harsh ride quality. Our sales guys typically suggest starting at around 32 PSI and adjusting accordingly if you find any irregular wear or ill handling characteristics. MECUM.COM • 125 The most important part of taking care of your tires is getting out and using them. That might sound like a sales pitch intended to make you wear out your tires quicker, but your tires will be much healthier rolling down the road than they would be just sitting on a concrete garage floor. For winter or any long-term storage, we do suggest lifting the vehicle so that the weight isn’t resting on the tires. We offer a product called FlatStoppers, which is basically a small cradle that your tires sit in to evenly distribute the weight of the car. Flat spots occur during long periods of storage. Some bias-ply tires can eventually heat up enough to work out the flat spot, but radials tend to hang onto their flat spots a little longer. Our team at Coker Tire wants you to get the most out of your tires, and we stand behind them with our Life of the Tread warranty. To take that another step further, we offer Extended Tire Protection, which costs a few bucks, but it’s a five-year replacement program for tires that become unserviceable or damaged from a cut, impact, sidewall damage or puncture caused by a road hazard. Regardless of your purchase, I encourage you to get out there and drive your collector car. It’s an important part of keeping your car or truck healthy, so enjoy some time behind the wheels.
