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Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:05 pm
by lo5707
As part of my new 'Carbon Stealth' build i am removing ALL branding from every component part to give a cleaner finish to the bike (that includes all my Campy SR 2012 components!).

I thought i'd share with you how i got the graphics off of my Conti Supersonic tyres

After a couple of test patches of rubbing, scratching, black permanent marker and a couple of black paint spots, i was having no joy and reside to the fact i would have to keep the graphics on. I started to rub the permanent marker off with a rag towel and the Conti rubberised graphic started to come off.

I started to rub a bit harder with the towel across the graphic and it started to rub off.

I found that you had to do it in patches or alternating between different graphics as a lot of heat can occur during rubbing and i didn't want to damage the supersonic inner tube.

Here are a couple of photos. This worked with Conti but i have not yet tried it on other brands of tyres.

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Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:05 pm
by Weenie

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Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:16 pm
by Elrey
What did you use beside a towel? Acetone?

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:24 pm
by lo5707
Just the towel. The heat caused by the friction causes the rubberised brand paint to simply break away. It took a good hour to do one tyre like this. There may have been quicker way to do it - i.e. with a solvent but this way seemed to be working well and allowed me to control exactly how it was removed rather than relying on a solvent which may have caused unwanted side effect to the rubber.

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 2:25 pm
by quattrings
seems like an awful lot of work to do to a disposable item.
Surprised you could still type this down, with the inevitable blistering on your hands and al. :D

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:27 pm
by lo5707
quattrings wrote:seems like an awful lot of work to do to a disposable item.


When you have spent 20 hours sanding down carbon cranksets to remove paint jobs, or 8 hours removing the clear coat from carbon brakes and brake pad shoes just to get the right effect for your new build you have been obsessing about building for 2 years.........an hour removing the yellow and white branding from tyres that will not go with the look of the bike is nothing really.

Or am i just being too meticulous? :roll:

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:40 pm
by crohnsy
You appear to still be using the presta vale nut and cap..... You can't be that meticulous..... :oops:

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:49 pm
by HammerTime2
But there's no branding on the presta valve nut and cap.

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:31 pm
by lo5707
crohnsy wrote:You appear to still be using the presta vale nut and cap.....You can't be that meticulous.....


The caps are lighter than the alloy ones i have and are also yet to be sanded down! :lol:

And you have also missed Conti valve caps are yellow.........thus swapping them out for black to match my build.

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:42 pm
by prendrefeu
Yet you are still using the nut and cap. :roll:

Hint: don't use them. Save weight.

Oh, and welcome to Weight Weenies.

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:48 pm
by wojchiech
maybe this is just me, but abrasively rubbing off a logo on a thin pressurized material (bicycle tire) sounds like a bad & unsafe idea. I've seen and experienced enough tire sidewall failures to know.

And plus, how are you going to know where the valve hole is if you can't line up the tire label with it. :noidea: :thumbup:

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:51 pm
by crohnsy
The nut and cap are not needed. Not having them on your bike is lighter than having them on your bike.

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:52 pm
by lo5707
Thanks prendrefeu.

Been on and off the forum for about 3 years now and love it. Hope to post my new build as my first 'proper' post in the new year (a completely matt carbon ride in the region of 5.5kg).....not the lightest i know but a good first WW build on a budget i think!?!

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:02 pm
by lo5707
wojchiech wrote:maybe this is just me, but abrasively rubbing off a logo on a thin pressurized material (bicycle tire) sounds like a bad & unsafe idea.


I did consider this and was one reason i didn't want to use even the lightest of sand paper and simply used a soft towel. The surface (of the actual tyre wall) under the thin rubberised graphic is in perfect condition........hence the reason it took about an hour to do a tyre.

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:07 pm
by lo5707
crohnsy wrote:The nut and cap are not needed. Not having them on your bike is lighter than having them on your bike.


Point taken..........maybe the weight saved from removing the logos will counter the caps :D

Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:07 pm
by Weenie

Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Re: Removing tyre brand graphics

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 7:27 pm
by crohnsy
Not likely.. :smartass: :thumbup: :beerchug: