How To Keep White Letters On Tires Clean

gregzz [OP] Well-Known Member

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Hey all. Just bought some new Toyo open country tires on Amazon for A LOTTTT cheaper than any tire shop and they sent me tires with white lettering that looks like garbage and I want it gone. I know I can reverse the tires so don't suggest that and thanks!! BUT does anyone know how to safely remove the white lettering without damaging the rubber. I've heard of sand paper (no). SOS pads (no) sharpie black pen (no). I'm thinking Acetone?? Does anyone have any "TIPS"? Not sure if acetone will do damage but I'm leaning that way. Thx for the help in advance. Cheers!!
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Acetone will but probably not completely. Will leave a milky look.
4WD FTW Well-Known Member

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If they are raised, I would take some sandpaper and sand them off. Acetone and something rough will get it off, but will also dry out the rubber :/
gregzz [OP] Well-Known Member

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yeah it's raised so this might take a minute ton"sand" off. Lol
What's the problem with just putting the white lettering on the inside?
4WD FTW Well-Known Member

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I would think the install price all over again. Some tire shops are pretty anal about people bringing them tires from someone else - and charge them up the arse just for mount/dismount. Discount is somewhere between $100-$200 just to mount and balance a set
As far as I know, the actual rubber of the raised lettering is white, through and through. So to remove it you're looking at completely shaving off the lettering.

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CBenfell I don't know sh*t about f*ck

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Dude white letters look good on white trucks whatchyoo mean?
Muddinfun Well-Known Member

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Every white letter tire I have ever seen is a complete sidewall layer of white rubber with a layer of black rubber over the top, except where the letters are raised. Haven't you ever seen a white letter tire that was turned into a wide whitewall because somebody sucks at parallel parking?
spp OC, Kalifornia

Don't know why you insist on leaving the white out rather than just having the tire installed with the white in but an electric hand planer would be my weapon of choice.
BJs installed the white on the outside because they are marked "this side out". I would have to paid to have them reversed. They look okay...
Never BF Goodrich again. They are loud as hell, you can hardly hear the radio.
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Seriously, you're never going to get the white all the way off, its a complete layer of rubber. Just pay (gasp) to have them installed the way you like it
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Since no-one else made the suggestion white paint.
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Mount them white letter in and hit the letters with a quick coat of black plastidip.
As others have said, the white is in the rubber...you aren't going to remove it with sanding or chemicals. The only option is to cover it.
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Plastidip.
Not long ago it was on everything around here. Seems it should be good enough for tires too.

Once upon a time someone had a old SR5 Corolla with Cragars. A new set of tires were in order, but white letter was it in the size needed. So they were mounted in, and the owner shot them with a light coat of flat black so they didn't show when folks snooped under the car. I heard that coverup outlasted the tread wear. So it's an option to consider. Right?
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Wow, you will never get rid of the white lettering. It's an under layer of the tire. Good luck with plastic dip on your tires.
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I worked at a tire shop in college and it's what we did. As you said, the paint outlasts the tread.
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