My dad and I are experiencing the same letter yellowing of the BFG RWL tires on new tires. Mine are 2 years old and it's only on the rears which are a different size. His are 6 months old and doing it on all 4 (same size).
The only method that gets them white on mine is wet sanding the letters with 400 grit wet/dry paper and Dawn. I do not run any tire dressing, however, Dad does.
Westleys used to work until they reformulated, now its 100% worthless. Bleach, soaps, SOS pads, and other so-called tire cleaners do not work. I have yet to call the local auto body/detail shop supplier to inquire if they have something?
Anyone else with the same problem?
Anyone find another more robust solution?
Im sending a note to BFG regarding this as I've seen it on other cars at shows and the owners report the same issue.

 

Try laquer thinner. Greg

 

 

I saw the same post. The guy bought them from Coker. They told him to try wet sanding them with Simple Green. They think it's the black rubber bleeding through. BFG is definitely having a production problem

 

da sander and 400 grit

 

i thought i read somewhere that BFG was replaceing tires because of brown letters ?

musta saw it on another forum or a review, a couple guys on this thread have said BFG replaced tires because of it

https://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar...-tires.354797/

 

I saw this problem on another site. Someone who must have a chemist background did some research and found the anti-ozone stuff they put in the rubber turns brown when the sun hits it. Water, soap, bleach will not help it. Acetone supposedly does a good job, as well as other solvents probably. (like laquer thinner)

 

They used to sell a product called wesleys bleach white. Havent bought it for 20 years though so they probably don't make it anymore.

 

Did a search,blech white. cleans them quick,spray,scrub brush,wash off with hose.

 

 

 

Thanks all. I just submitted a letter to BFG. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.

 

As I understand it the problem arises when the sealer fails that keeps the oils from migrating from the tire carcass to the outside. Usually this discoloring will lessen as time goes on but it is frustrating till the oils leach out. I have a set of wide whites with this problem and Magic Bleach White (replacement for Wesleys) works for me... Tedd

 

I have had a set of BFG's for 2 years and they irritate the crappe outta me for the yellowing problem. Especially at shows when I see great looking tires with really white lettering. Never again BFG's
Zacc

 

Putting the white letters out is kinda of a sponsorship deal the way I look at it.
Cost me 5K to put my logo no bigger than a coke can an Indy Car for the Indy 500... but I sure do enjoy the ride for the month of May.
Flip them to the black and go to www.tirestickers.com and make up your own "Branding".

 

I have the same problem with 2 year old T/A's . They are 235/60/15 I use spray nine with a scrub brush. Seem to stay white for a month or so.
I don't think I will be purchasing BFG's the next time around.

 

Looking forward to an update , Thanks DR.

 

They responded. They gave me a case number and said I have to take them to the distributor from which purchased.

Sooo looks like I have to remove tires and take them in for inspection(they do not mount and balance there as its a warehouse). Always some hoops to jump through and here we go...Cant drive the car there, road salt season. Its never seen road salt and it aint about to now. These were purchased through a distributor cuz I never pay retail. They were mounted by a rod shop with the no-touch machine and an experienced guy who knows how to not scratch chrome, not a tire monkey at the local pimple head big box. Have to do that all over. I see several frustrated tours around the city.

Gona give the Magic Bleach White a go. If it works I'll just send BFG a love note. And yes I will think twice about BFG. We'll see how this warranty is handled. Lets give them a chance to make it right...after some gymnastics from me of course...Happy Happy Joy Joy Ren...Ill update as soon as get off the ride.

Jane...Stop this crazy thing!!!

 

Perhaps good news for some disappointed folks here.😃. I will consider them again when buying new tires.

 

I did this back in 2018. Got replacements and those browned too. I painted them like this guy did. I unscrewed the tip off the paint pen and applied the paint with a wide (but small) artist paint brush. Went on fairly smooth, but its still paint and not right.
The paint comes out like crap if you use the integral standard paint pen tip.

I might try this again? Id have to dig hard for receipts. Strange thing is the fronts and spare, 235/15 are fine. Rears 225/15 browned. (twice).

Great info thanks for posting.
If I do go for it again Ill let ya'll know the outcome.
My next set wont be BFGs regardless. Im going redlines or blackwalls if I can find a tread pattern I like and they have to be made in USA.

 

I am going to try this, but I am going to buy Cooper Cobras.

 

This is why I went with Cooper Cobra tires just a few months ago. Still bright white letters.

 

I use a Brillo pad on my raised white letters.

 

And that has worked since RWL tires were invented. However, the root cause of this problem is the black compounds are leaching up through the white, thus brown.
Apparently, there is a seal between the two colors and that seal is defective.

I used Brillo pads since the 70s with great results. Then switched to Westlys Bleach White until some rocket sciencetist environmentalist tree hugger decided to reformulate it. Now straight water cleans better.
I used every trick in the house to try to whiten up the brown and nothing worked.

This is the result of the white paint pen...applied with a paint brush. The upper tire got the paint. The pic may not show how drastically different the upper tire is from the lower., it is in person.

 

There is a world of difference, it is evident. I used to use a paint pen that looked like a white giant crayon and the paint really wasn't paint is was kind of like oh I dont't know greasy chalky kind of stuff. Anyway it worked pretty good but was difficult to put on and you had to be careful and there was cleanup involved, but it worked well and lasted for a few months anyway.

 

I'll hoard my old bleche white. Working on a Michelin dealer to do this. I have a case with Michelin.

 

The upper tire is definitely brighter, I'll give you that. And great workmanship -- looks like you have a very steady hand.

However, I wish my tires looked as good at your lower one!

 

The first set went mocha brown. Second set wasn't as bad, still not what I paid for and you can not get it white.
The camera doesn't do the brown justice.
The front tires are normal.
Ya the hand is still steady, at least I have that,..lol,

 

Read the Diamondback vs Coker thread in this forum. There's a little bit to what appears to be a service bulletin from BFG. Basically it says the T/As need sunlight to stay white. Otherwise steel wool and soap and water to refresh.

 

I think this is what folks should take away from this. Don't waste your money on yellow/brown RWL tires.

I read recently that the Ironman RB12 whitewalls I have on my 96 98 now turn yellow. The tires I have are just fine, but if I bought a set from the local tire shop for my 71 98 and they turned yellow/brown I'd demand my money back.

 

Like everyone else I’ve tried several types of cleaning products. On a whim last weekend and in a rush to try to get to Cars & Coffee, I grabbed a can of WD-40 Specialist I had in the garage. Using a clean cloth or blue “shop” paper towel I sprayed the cloth with a very small amount and then rubbed over each letter. It seemed to work well. I spent about 5 minutes or so per tire on the first pass. This morning I went back over a couple of letters a second time and they look even better. Since I was rushing, the wheels and tires were not cleaned first. I plan to resolve that this weekend. My tires are about 1.5 years old and browning was not severe but was still very noticeable.

After quick first pass last weekend (photo with flash)



After first pass (photo without flash - still hints of brown)



After a second pass this morning (photo without flash). BF improved, G with no second pass yet shows slight leftover brown. Remnants of WD-40 had not quite dried on BF

.

 

That's really pretty good. I'm gonna look for that stuff. If it doesn't work, I can always use another can of HD penetrating oil! Thanks for the post!

 

Any time. Just FYI, I also tested an old can of Mobil 1 spray similar to WD-40. It also worked well. Regular WD-40 may even work but I didn’t have a can to try.

 

I keep them white and clean with a simple wet sand every spring. I use simple green and 400 wrapped around a paint stick. Takes a few minutes per tire. I have found any bleach product makes them brown quicker.

 

This a link on the BFG Radial T/A webpage regarding the browning.
https://dgaddcosprod.blob.core.windo...w-browning.pdf

 

Thanks for that post of the link to the BFG warranty info. I bought mine in March 2023 through Amazon. Pictured is the DOT on one tire. It sounds like you go by the last four but has anyone made a claim that knows for sure?
Just asking, but will definitely go by a dealer to check.

 

I also assume that any compensation from BFG (Michelin?!) would be pro-rated to reflect the remaining life of the tire. I bought mine seven years ago and have been dealing with brown letters for the last six. They're due to be replaced in 2027.

With Coopers, if they're still being made in my size by then.

 

I figured the same thing. Just curious, have you had any luck finding/using the WD-40 Penetrant? Probably too soon to ask.

 

Little bit.

I'm still wrestling with a fuel line issue left over from last fall so I can get the damn thing running now the weather's reliably nice. Next on the list is the tires. For better or worse, I will post up here with results once I try your treatment.

Thanks again for sharing.

 

No problem. If you get before shots and some good results I may start a new post specifically for cleaning with wd-40 as this post doesn’t seem to get a lot of traffic any more and I did not get any before shots. Might reach more people.