I bought some slightly used tires. They looked pretty clean. Following a tip from another board I used Westley Bleche Wite tire cleaner. This stuff really works. After spraying this stuff on all kinda of crazy brown crude oozed out of the tire pores. After scrubbing a little then a good rinse these tires look better than brand new.

 

Be careful with that stuff. There are tons of reports out there where people have had their tires turn a greyish after extended uses of the bleach white.

 

i always just use that eagle tire shine stuff, or something close to it.

 

That is a dressing, not a cleaner.

 

Isn't it just don't use stuff that is petroleum based?

 

I use both oil and water based. I've never had a problem with either. Your tread will be gone long before an oil based product would have time to hurt it.