studlee

Just got new tires last week... was wondering what's the best way to remove wheel weight adhesive off of matte black wheels

Type 2

Comment. At the time new tires are mounted, most owners expect the tire shop to remove the old balancing weights and their tape. From observation, this is a grossly unfounded expectation. Generally all the tire shop will do is remove the individual metal balancing weight, leaving the old double-faced tape [Black Tape Residue]. See Photo - Example of Black Tape Reside on wheel.

As most owners, I desire the best dynamic tire and wheel balancing that a tire shop can deliver. Before taking the car to the tire shop, I take off each wheel and tire to remove the existing weights and double-faced black tape. I use a plastic tool to pry the metal weight off. [See tool in second photo.]

There are several ways to approach the removal of the Black Tape Residue from any Porsche wheel. Apply a solvent, like Oil Flo or 3M Adhesive Remover, soaked rag that is just large enough to cover the Black Tape patch for a few minutes to break the tape’s adhesion from the barrel of the wheel. A bit of elbow grease with the solvent rag wipes away all of remaining residue. See Photo – A Clean Interior Wheel Barrel, Showing the Plastic Tool and Solvent.

With a little paint polish, one can even-out the shadow outline of the tape found on the surface of the wheel. Apply paint protection, like RejeX, at this point.

Caution, do not use a flat blade screwdriver or metal tool to remove the either the weight or its tape, as you will scratch the paint of the interior barrel of the wheel. I have seen many instances where tire mounting personnel have used a screwdriver to remove the metal weight, and then attempt to remove the Black Tape Residue with the same tool. The results are not pretty.

Post-tire mounting. If your late model Porsche has new rubber installed with still existing Black Tape Residue, the mounted wheels are generally open enough to permit you to remove the residue strips. First use the solvent and rag approach outlined above, and then even out the interior barrel with a polish.

LexVan

Wurth citrus degreaser is also very good. Even your favorite wax might remove it. RejeX does with some rubbing.

studlee

Cutting a towel strip the size of adhesive is an excellent idea. Thx

studlee

wow....i could eat off your wheels!!!

I ended up using a cut strip of gauze so it would not absorb too much adhesive remover. I used something like goo gone...patted the moist gauze over the adhesive residue for 10s. with latex gloves on i just rubbed the adhesive with my finger until it rolled up like a booger...did this for a few minutes and got it all off. rinsed off and applied spray wax and cleaned out inner barrel while mounted on the car.

thanks for the tip!!

chuckbdc

Type 2 above gave excellent advice. Another thing to use is WD40. Works wonders and does not hurt the paint.

kayjh

Goo Gone

satoru

Lift-Off or someone said WD-40

pvr

Never thought of removing that before the wheel change, but an excellent tip.

Strat_928

Guys and Gals - just did this and it works great and fast - Liquid wrench! The tape starts dissolving within 2-3 minutes. You can then start rubbing it with your finger or I use a black latex glove for my hands and to provide some friction for the tape. Once the majority is gone, I use a squirt of WDF-40 to clean it up. Will wash and detail the wheels later today. It is by far better than Goo Gone and most everyone has some around the garage. I finished with WD-40 just in case the liquid wrench is a little strong for the painted wheel.

IXLR8

For tire changes, I remove the wheels, clean them thoroughly, remove the weights with dental floss instead of prying them off with a screwdriver as shops do and use Goo Gone or similar products to remove the tape and then finish it off with alcohol to remove the Goo Gone oils. Wheel weights stick better to a clean wheel.

Matrog

As mentioned by the OP, Oil Flo is the bomb. Then clean-up w/ 3M Adhesive remover.