Many drivers use vinegar to clean their car tires, attracted by the fact that it is a cheap product and readily available at home. However, according to the automotive portal SlashGear, this practice can have negative consequences that many people are unaware of.
The main problem lies in the acidity of vinegar and the length of time it remains in contact with the rubber and metallic components of the wheel. Tires are composed of various materials and compounds intended to ensure resistance, flexibility, and durability, so a product that works well on other surfaces may not be suitable for this area of the car. The acidity of vinegar can, over time, contribute to the corrosion of metal parts and, when left to dry on the tire exposed to the sun, can affect the protective coating and the compounds applied at the factory.
Diluting vinegar in water or mixing it with baking soda reduces the acidity, but does not make the use completely safe. Interestingly, vinegar has been used in professional cycling to make rubber softer and more flexible in rainy conditions, but specialists warn that this practice accelerates tire wear and is not recommended for regular use.
Bleach is even more aggressive, as it contains sodium hypochlorite, an oxidizing agent capable of attacking both metal and rubber, which can promote the appearance of cracks and accelerate the dry degradation of tires, especially on the sidewalls. The safest solution is to use specific automotive products, formulated to remove dirt without compromising the rubber or the protective coatings.
