Henry at ColoradoDetail says it straight: No matter how hard you scrub your car’s tires with whatever shelf-ready aftermarket product, you might still be left with musty-looking brown sidewalls. It’s actually a stain, called “blooming.” And Henry wants to show you exactly how you get rid of it.

Blooming shows up as a brownish film on your tire sidewalls

Sometimes it looks chalky or rusty. This happens when a chemical called antiozonant pushes to the surface. 

Tire manufacturers add antiozonants to rubber to protect it from cracking under sunlight and ozone exposure. They’re essential for tire life. But when they react with air, they create that brown haze.

Technically, blooming means your tire is protecting itself. But it also means the surface needs a clean.

You just need 2 household items to get your tires looking new again

The first is a spray bottle filled with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. The next is a rag that you won’t mind throwing out after you’re done.

And this is a single-step process

Spray the solution onto the towel and gently wipe around the sidewall. Be sure to extend the wiping into the tread line a bit (but don’t put it on the actual tread). And you’re done!

Tires go dull for two reasons: one is actual wear. The other is buildup.

Using 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean tire sidewalls works because it breaks down the oily residue that builds up from the road.

Tires collect everything: brake dust, grease, old tire shine. If you see dirt that won’t budge with soap and water, alcohol cuts through all of it fast.

Pro detailers like this trick because it lifts grime without needing aggressive scrubbing. 

Never spray it straight on the tire 

That wastes product and can cause overspray on paint or wheels. Once the towel is damp, wipe the sidewall evenly. The alcohol evaporates quickly, so it doesn’t leave streaks or residue behind.

Alcohol removes all of that. It gets down to the bare rubber, which makes your next layer of tire dressing stick better. That means more even shine and longer-lasting results.

Detailers recommend using 99% alcohol instead of the lower concentration versions from the pharmacy. The higher purity evaporates faster and doesn’t leave water behind. That matters because leftover moisture can interfere with new dressing or attract more dirt.

The trick only works for the sidewall

Never use alcohol on tread. It’s not designed for that surface and could dry it out if overused. 

And always toss the towel when you’re done. It’ll be full of rubber residue and contaminants you don’t want to reapply.

Feedback is mixed

Some commenters are skeptical of the tip:

“Putting alcohol on dries out rubber.”

The pro responded, “So does 100degree dry hot weather in Colorado and almost every other product you use to clean a tire so whats the issue? After we are done we always add a tire dressing.”

This method doesn’t replace a deep clean with a dedicated tire cleaner followed by a high-quality dressing

But it’s great for prep before applying tire shine or between full details. It’s fast, cheap, and effective.

Just don’t use it every week. Alcohol is strong. Too much on your tires and it can dry out the rubber over time. Use it when you need that deep-clean look without the heavy scrubbing.

By the way, you can get 99% Isopropyl Alcohol at hardware stores, some pharmacies, and of course, Amazon.

MotorBiscuit reached out to ColoradoDetail via its TikTok account, @coloradodetail, to see what dressing they use and how often they’d recommend folks apply the alcohol solution.