It's a known issue with BFG's for some time know. You'll here of dozens of ways to try to keep them white as well as guys painting them and just turning the black wall side out... I haven't heard anything official from Coker (they make a lot of them) but you might try contacting them.

 

Put a little lacquer thinner on a rag. Simply wipe the letters with the damp rag. Zero effort. If you use tire shine, or armor all it turns them brown/yellow fast.

 

I have heard of doing this on Harley whitewalled tires too. I have BFG's to and they are yellowed. Guess Ill have to try this.

 

Has been discussed before....

BF Goodrich TA yellow

I just purchased a set of radial TA’s and i can not get them white. I’ve read there’s been issues. Are there any other white letter tire options? I need 205/70-14. I’m going to contact them and see what can be done but I don’t want another set. Ed

www.camaros.net

 

Read these negative reviews. It's been a problem for years. I'm running Cooper Cobra G/T's and have no complaints as to the letters turning brown.
Here's a pic I just took. I haven't cleaned the tires for ~500 miles.

Radial T/A®

An American performance icon.

www.bfgoodrichtires.com

 

He already has the tires. The thinner thing takes about one minute per tire. If I don't use tire products mine stay white for months. It's not that big of a deal to get them looking new again.

 

I've used BFG solid white letter tires for decades, never had that problem. I use Westly's Bleche White with a stiff bristle brush to clean them, makes them bright white. I never use tire dressing.

 

The tires everyone is talking about are new production from the last few years and once cleaned up it takes just a very short time before they yellow (actually brown) again. It is very possible size makes a difference as BFG retires some sizes and Coker is licensed to make the retired sizes.

 

Cleanser and a brush works for me. Ditto tire dressing speeds up the brown returning

 

Not like this is new. I had the same problems in 1980. Westleys Bleeche White was the best but I understand it has been sold off or aquired and is not the same.

 

Black Magic has the Bleeche White now. It still works the same, it's still blue and has the same smell too. Been using it since mid eighties, I've always had solid white letter tires since I started driving in 84.

Funny, before I could drive, white letter tires had such appeal to me. First thing I got for my first car was white letter tires. 36 years later I still love my SWL.

 

Castrol Super Clean works well also.

 

I use SOS pads to clean the tires.

 

I just read an article on tire care from Wade Kawasaki, he is the president of Coker tire. He mentions that the use of standard tire dressings can quickly turn whitewalls or white letters yellow or brown if used frequently.

 

Hi
That doesnt make any sense.
I use the same tire dressing on my dailey driver truck with Good Year tires and have had no issues.
The manufacturer is just making excuses so that they dont have to warrenty the tires.

 

Back in the day - 60s - 70s - we used paint sticks, just rubbed relatively solid white paint (like paint crayons) on the raised letters.

 

Boy, do I remember those. Think I still have a white one stored in a container in the basement. I feel as though tire dressings add to this problem. So I don't use them. Most of them collect dirt and dust, and brake dust in my opinion.

 

Had the same problem with my brand new TA's. I just went ahead and painted them with some oil based paint pens from Amazon. Came out great after 7 months they still look like I painted them yesterday.

 

Link to the paint pens you used please.

 

Hi
I am having the same issues on my car, I contacted BF Goodrich and they said the issue is oil seeping into the white lettering due to the fact that I dont drive it much and the tires need to be driven and warmed up so that I dont have that issue.
I told them I have a set from the same time period that are sitting in my garage that are crystal white, so why are they not turning brown?
The ones that are being driven on are turning brown from the heat of the tires.
The offered me a $70 credit for 2 tires, I need all 4 replaced at a cost of @$160 per tire.
Needless to say, I will never buy BF GoodRich tires again.

 

It’s been a known issue for years re: the BFG Brown Letter tires. As understand it’s carbon coming from the rubber inside to outside.

I heard they recently resolved the problem. Don’t know for sure.

Put a new set of them on my GTO a month ago and so far they are good.

 

I would never buy them again due to the fact that I have to pay to replace tires that dont need to be replaced except for the fact that they look old and dirty.

 

Many have found a paint that covers the letters and seems to provide a lasting white. Myself, I would just turn the black walls out and use the tires... Doesn't lessen the overall issue but the tires are usable and expensive to replace.

 

I have the same browning on the letters issue with BFG's I purchased in February, put on the road in May. they started to show signs of turning brown within weeks of washing off the blue protectant.
Not sure how I am going to handle it yet but I'm not happy and I get discouraged reading posts like this.

 

I am not happy about how they dealt with this issue.
I bought the tires cause I wanted raised white lettering on my car.
Even when my car is crystal clean, the tires look dirty, ruins the over all appearnce of the car.
2 of the tires I bought in 2015, they gave me no credit for them due to thier age, but we both know our cars are parked in garages 98% of the time, so age should not be an issue.
I told them I would tell everyone that I meet at car meets and on social media to not buy thier tires.

 

Try the lacquer thinner, bleach white, paint them or try the Castrol SuperClean. Lacquer thinner is the easiest/fastest approach. Or simply turn the black walls out. Or, I guess you could sell them and buy a new set of shoes. All white letters and side walls will eventually stop looking like brand new. It's the nature of the beast. Been dealing with these issues somewhat since the 60's.

 

I've always just cleaned mine with Wesleys when the turn brown. Just put a new set on the convertible a month ago, will see how long they stay white.

 

2 of my cars have BFG RWL and have had no issues. They are a few years old. I do not use tire dressing. I use mothers "Back to Black trim" instead. It holds up longer and leaves a more natural new tire look and does not turn the letters brown.

 

My BFGs are 215/60R15 Fronts, 265/50R15 Rears. Mfr'd: 2003

No cracks, even wear (barely none), and they remain white. I don’t want coopers, other mfr tires or black-wall tires.

it’s infuriating that BFG discontinued these sizes and coker cannot be trusted!

 

My BFGs are 215/60R15 Fronts, 265/50R15 Rears. Mfr'd: 2003

No cracks, even wear (barely none), and they remain white. I don’t want coopers, other mfr tires or black-wall tires.

it’s infuriating that BFG discontinued these sizes and coker cannot be trusted!

I believe they still make those tire sizes. I just purchased some about 2 months ago. I can't chime in on the white letters because mine are still blue from being new. Never washed the blue off them. I didn't want the white letters and had them turned to the inside.

 

Just because the cars are stored inside and not driven often doesn’t mean the tires don’t age and deteriorate. The are many factors that affect tire not just environmental. The chemical components start aging the day the tire is made.

They can look good and not be so. Yes, it’s frustration to replace tires that were used very little in 7-10 year for $1000. However that about $100 a year. Cheap insurance imho.

 

Unfortunately yes. $880 worth of Gatorbacks with only about 8K miles timed out and they do not make them any more.

 

I can definitely tell the difference on the older tires. Just replaced a set on my convertible that were almost 10 years old I think and with the old ones I could spin them very easily and they didn't leave much rubber on the road. The new BFGs hook up much better and leave some nice black stripes when I roast them. The old tires were very hard by comparison. Safe to drive on or not I don't know, but very different performance.

 

I just had the exact same experience. Replaced 10 year old tires with new BF Goodrich TA's. I replaced them not because they were worn, but because of their age. The ride is significantly better. My wife and I go for 100+ mile drives at 80+ mph on the freeway keeping up with traffic. The money spent for me was well worth the piece of mind that we won't have a blow out due to the age of the tires. Cheap insurance.