Help! I ran over a wad of gum, and can't get it out of the treads!
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Help! I ran over a wad of gum, and can't get it out of the treads!
What is the preferred method for dealing with the sticky slimy gooey mess of gum embedded in the fine-grained tread of my Vittoria Adventure Trail tire? I've tried soapy water and toothpicks, but this stuff is being recalcitrant and the fwip...fwip...fwip noise is starting to drive me bonkers. My Search-Fu wasn't up to the task, and I only got info on cleaning gum wall tires instead...
#2
Senior Member
A 50-mile ride over gravel would probably do it. Or you could just try any solvent you have around -- vinegar, WD-40, acetone, goof-off, etc.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,265
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 883 Post(s)
Liked 823 Times
in
622 Posts
Years ago I used carbon tetrachloride, which was a magical solvent for gum (and most other things), but alas a carcinogen. WD-40 would be my best guess now.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Chapel Hill NC
Posts: 1,683
Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 645 Post(s)
Liked 797 Times
in
446 Posts
I think to get gum out of hair (kids!🙄, you freeze it with ice cubes. This “hardens” it to the point that you can chip it off. Try deflating the tire, freezing the gum with ice and flexing the tire to see if the gum will come out in pieces
#5
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,515
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2747 Post(s)
Liked 3,398 Times
in
2,057 Posts
Ice and a pick or freeze off
https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/...f-of-anything/
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/...f-of-anything/
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
Likes For dedhed:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,380
Bikes: 1982 Bianchi Sport SX, Rayleigh Tamland 1, Rans V-Rex recumbent, Fuji MTB, 80's Cannondale MTB with BBSHD ebike motor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 668 Post(s)
Liked 529 Times
in
355 Posts
WD 40 works perfectly
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,906
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,929 Times
in
2,554 Posts
Or the simple "fix". Ride the bike over some dust. Repeat later if needed. Gum's no longer sticky' Ignore it. It won't last as long as the tread around it.
Likes For 79pmooney:
#9
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
Standard home remedies. Cooking oil (Pam spray is convenient), peanut butter, ice
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
#10
mechanically sound
WD40 and a toothpick. Works like a charm on shoe soles too.
__________________
Likes For frankenmike:
#11
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,546
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3674 Post(s)
Liked 5,435 Times
in
2,761 Posts
Put the tire in the freezer?
#12
aka Phil Jungels
Peanut butter will eventually dissolve it.
#13
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
Anything oily: peanut butter, olive oil, peanut oil, butter, lard, WD-40, Goo Gone.
Or park it outside for awhile. Ants and other critters will nibble it away.
Or park it outside for awhile. Ants and other critters will nibble it away.
Likes For canklecat:
#14
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Just take care not to get WD-40, cooking oil, etc. onto the brake track.
Likes For JohnDThompson:
#15
LR÷P=HR
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 2,180
Bikes: 1981 Holdsworth Special, 1993 C-dale MT3000 & 1996 F700CAD3, 2018 Cervelo R3 & 2022 R5, JustGo Runt, Ridley Oval, Kickr Bike 8-)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 867 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times
in
694 Posts
DON'T EVER turn a Can-O-Air upside down, because the liquid comes out so cold it will freeze your fingers and damage them.
Barry
Barry
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the help. I have no peanut butter on hand, and the cooking oil has gone rancid, so WD-40 seems to be what I will try next
#19
Senior Member
#20
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,523
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4357 Post(s)
Liked 3,994 Times
in
2,665 Posts
Peanut butter is for eating anyway It is a shame people use it elsewhere, I prefer a big ole' spoon of it and maybe a nice cool glass of grape juice and I am happy.
#21
Senior Member
Likes For Amt0571: