Why You Can Trust CNET Best Tire Cleaner for 2022
Tires can get dirty and look brown. Use our top picks to clean them and restore their proper finish.
Maintaining your car doesn't begin and end under the hood. So many car owners forget what's arguably one of the most important part of every car: the tires. A car's tires come in direct contact with the road when you drive, so they go through a good deal of wear and tear. And if you don't give them some attention every now and then, they can become grimy pretty quickly. If you want to keep them in good shape, you'll need to regularly clean them with a tire cleaner. We sampled several tire cleaners to find the best option for you.
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Armor All is an oldie but goodie for cleaning tires. The company's tire foam product is a great choice if you're looking for a foaming tire cleaner. You can usually see the tire treatment foam turn an undesirable color as it works to remove stubborn dirt, brake dust and road grime. Armor All says you don't have to scrub, but we like to agitate things a little to get the best result.
Mothers again impresses us with its "value" prices and good products. The company's Wheel and Tire Cleaner is $9 a bottle and works very well for what you pay. No, it's not as good as some of our other top picks, but you can't beat it for the cost.
Comparison of the best tire cleaners for 2022
| Brand | Name | Price | |
| Best tire cleaner overall | 3D | Yellow Degreaser | $15 |
| Best tire cleaner overall runner-up | Black Magic | Bleche Wite | $4 |
| Best foaming tire cleaner | Armor All | Extreme Car Tire Foam Spray | $6 |
| Best tire cleaner spray | Adam's | Tire & Rubber Cleaner | $13 |
| Best value tire cleaner | Mothers | Foaming Tire & Wheel Cleaner | $9 |
Get clean tires with these Roadshow-approved cleaners
Any one of these tire cleaner picks will help you clean your vehicle's tires far better than just dish soap or water. Grab a bottle, scrub those tires and enjoy a fresh-looking finish!
Tire cleaner FAQs
What is the best cleaner for rubber tires?
Any of our tire-cleaning picks listed above will work wonders on your tires to get rid of unwanted dirt and grime. It depends on your budget, but none of our picks is more than $20 for a bottle. You can also look at some options for larger sizes if you think a single bottle may not be enough for your use.
What's the best object to clean tires with?
A scrubbing brush will be your best sidekick when using a tire cleaner. Find something to agitate the product with, and scrub the sidewalls well. There should be plenty of brown and dirt showing up as you scrub. Then, rinse the tires clean with water.
How do I get the brown stuff off my tires?
More often than not, the brown tint to tires comes from either caked-on dirt or tire shine product. Layering new tire shine spray or tire dressing over dirty tires over and over causes the product to collect dirt, grease and grime. Generously spray a tire with tire cleaner and scrub it with a wheel brush to remove the brown-looking grime.
Do tire cleaners ruin tires?
No. You don't have to worry about ruining your tires with a dedicated tire-cleaning product. These products are specifically formulated to clean tires without damaging them, so don't try other oddball cleaners. Just stick to these. Also, tire shine or tire gel can help restore rubber as well as provide a slick wet-tire look for your car.