Tractor Tire Marks - How To Clean?

[Kubota Tee]

After almost 2 years of living with unsealed concrete in my shop, I am starting a project to clean and seal the floor. I know, I should have done it right away when it was still in pristine condition . . . . live and learn I guess.

I went to my local concrete contractor supply company and purchased some industrial strength sealer (see pic below) and am working on getting the floor as clean as possible. For the most part, I have been able to get the oil stains clean using various de-greasers and cleaners. However, the stain I have not been able to clean with any luck at all are the tire marks from my tractor (see pic below).

Does anyone out there have a product or home remedy for cleaning tire marks in concrete? Sure would like to get those out before sealing the floor.

 

[eazyduzzit]

Just pretend it's a custom design!

 

[Kubota Tee]

Just pretend it's a custom design!

That may end up being my answer! I can't believe how stubborn those tire marks are. I thought the oil stains would give me the most trouble, but they came up rather easily. I must have tried at least 6-8 different cleaners to get those #$%^&*() tire marks up and they are still there!:confused2:

Argh,

 

[buckeyefarmer]

after sealing my floor, my tires leaves marks like that.

 

[dstig1]

Your only option may be some form of mild mechanical abrasion. Floor buffer sort of thing.

What do you know about your sealant? I used a sealant on mine when new from the concrete place. Later on I found out it really has no resistance to oil or especially gas, so any spills dissolve the coating. Worthless, IMHO. If you are going to do it, do it right and use one of the newer polyurea coatings. Like these guys:

Polyurea Floor Coatings, Polyaspartic Finishing Systems, Garage Floors

Expensive but these materials are the most durable out there. There are DIY versions of these (I think it is the same company - different "division"):

rocksolid floors

 

[wedge40]

Just for grins, have you tried straight bleach. Let it soak for awhile and see what happens.

Wedge

 

[etcallhome]

Someone has way way to much time on there hand ...I agree it is custom designed..

 

[mike23]

I used that exact same sealer in my new garage. It was put on before anything was put in the garage. It will repell oil stains if you get then up before they set too long. It was sealed two years ago and it isn't holding up very well at all. It needs to be redone. I will try to use something diferent.

 

[beenthere]

I've had good luck cleaning with Simple Green.

I don't know what sealer my contractor used 9 years ago, but it sure has held up well (and maybe the reason that Simple Green works well keeping it clean including tire tracks).

 

[Bartcephus]

I have had good results with a regular pressure washer using just water on concrete to get the tire marks out. You just might want to try that.

 

[shane]

Just thinking out loud- If the tires scuff marks are that tough, seems to me they need to make a sealer out of the same stuff as the tires are made from.

 

[SandburRanch]

Paint the floor with floor enamel and leave those poor little marks be that have worked so hard to remain in the decor.

 

[herd]

Have you tried to acid wash it, I am sure that will work as the acid is peeling away a thin layer. It also opens up the pores of the surface for better cleaning which leads to much better bonding and adhesion. Sealing concrete without etching it is a waste of money and effort.

Muriatic acid is cheap and your labor is cheaper.

 

[pat32rf]

A regular HIGH pressure pressure washer, from a rental store, not the little homeownerts model from your neighbour....

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Will not WD-40 take the scuff marks off?

 

[Marveltone]

Tractor tire scuff marks are bragging rights! They mean you're the kind of person who actually does something useful (and fun) with your spare time. Why hide them?

Joe

 

[Kubota Tee]

Tractor tire scuff marks are bragging rights! They mean you're the kind of person who actually does something useful (and fun) with your spare time. Why hide them?

Joe

Joe,

I think you are right! I tried the bleach - no luck. I dried simple green - no luck. I even used an industrial strength cleaner that requires the use of rubber gloves - no luck.

So . . . these marks are now bragging rights - just like you suggested!

 

[Kubota Tee]

I used that exact same sealer in my new garage. It was put on before anything was put in the garage. It will repell oil stains if you get then up before they set too long. It was sealed two years ago and it isn't holding up very well at all. It needs to be redone. I will try to use something diferent.

Mike,

How many coats did you put on? The place I bought it from said it needed 2 coats to ensure a good penetration and seal. Hope mine lasts more than 2 years for how much I paid for this stuff!!

 

[mike23]

I put two coats on it just like the directions said to. My cousin is a concrete contractor and the place he got it from doesn't sell it anymore because there was alot of complaints about it. Mine has peeled in spots from hot tire pick up. Other places of heavy traffic has worn/peeled. I am looking to refinish most of it in the summer. Maybe you will have better luck than me.

 

[LarryD]

A regular HIGH pressure pressure washer, from a rental store, not the little homeownerts model from your neighbour....

That's what they use to clean the rubber from the runway, although it is a little more industrial in size.

I once got a call from the contracting office for the air station to say our joint sealant was coming up. I was just a little confused but proceeded out to the runway to see. It wasn't coming up, it was GONE. Then I noticed the paint markings were also gone and the truck was still headed up the runway removing paint stripes as he was paid to do. 13k psi removes everything.