First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Sweep or blow away loose dirt and grit first.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden area before you use it on the mark.
- Rubber from wheels that roll on vinyl leaves a brown-yellow stain that can't be removed. The Laminate & Vinyl Floors guide covers that surface.
Rubber residue on a driveway comes from plasticizers that migrate out of hot tires and settle onto the concrete. That film is petroleum-based, so a concrete degreaser is the right tool for it. Fresh marks usually come up in one pass, while older ones may only lighten until you repeat the soak.
If the surface is painted concrete, test the cleaner on a small corner before you work the whole driveway. To remove tire marks from cement, let the degreaser soak before you scrub so it has time to work. For old streaks, repeat the degreaser soak and scrub again, and call a pro if it still won't lift.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
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- Concrete degreaserBreaks down the petroleum-based film that holds the rubber to the slab. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff-bristled brush with non-metal bristlesScrubs the rubber loose without damaging the concrete. (opens Amazon)
- Broom or leaf blowerClears loose dirt and grit so the cleaner reaches the rubber.
- Garden hoseRinses away the cleaner and loosened rubber.
- Power washer (optional)Gives a stronger rinse, as long as it stays at or below 800 psi. (opens Amazon)
- Degreaser (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Choose a concrete degreaser
Tire marks are petroleum-based, so a concrete degreaser is the most effective cleaner for them. Choose one labeled for concrete and use it as the instructions say.
Step 2 of 6
Sweep away loose debris
Sweep or blow off loose dirt and grit so the cleaner reaches the rubber directly. A stiff push broom works well on the larger areas of a driveway.
Step 3 of 6
Saturate the marks with degreaser
Pour a generous amount of degreaser over each mark, covering it completely. If the concrete is dry, wet it first so it doesn't soak up the cleaner, and keep it saturated.
Step 4 of 6A few minutes
Let the degreaser sit
Leave the degreaser on the marks for a few minutes so it can loosen the bond between the rubber and the concrete. Stay with it and keep the marks wet while you wait.
Step 5 of 6
Scrub with a stiff brush
Scrub the marks with a stiff-bristled brush, working in small circles and adding more degreaser as needed. Keep the cleaner on the marks while you scrub.
Tip. Work in overlapping passes so you don't miss the edges of each mark.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse the concrete thoroughly
Rinse the concrete well with clean water from a hose until no cleaner or loose rubber runs off. Rinse the whole area, not just the marks, so no cleaner is left on the surrounding slab.
Careful. A power washer must stay at or below 800 psi, since anything stronger is not appropriate on masonry.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Each pass should leave the dark streak paler and softer at the edges, and the rinse water should run clearer with each round. Wait for the slab to dry fully before you call it finished, since a damp patch can look cleaner than it really is. If the mark still looks the same after the third scrub, it has set and needs the set-in steps.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Concrete driveway
Driveways usually have more marks spread over a bigger area, so work one section at a time to keep the degreaser wet until it's rinsed.
Rinse each section right after scrubbing, before you move to the next one, so the marks stay wet while you work.
Cement
Cement gets the same degreaser, scrub and rinse as concrete, so the same treatment applies.
The difference is the scrub: use short passes with the stiff-bristled brush and add cleaner between them rather than leaning hard on one spot. If the marks have been there a long time, use the repeat treatment for old marks instead of scrubbing harder.
Painted concrete
Use the degreaser as written, but scrub more gently and watch for any lifting or dulling in the paint. Skip oxygen bleach entirely, since it can damage painted surfaces.
Rinse with the hose rather than a power washer, since pressure can lift paint. Work one small patch at a time and rinse each before moving on.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Marks that have been on the slab for weeks or months need more than one pass. Repeat the degreaser soak and scrub, then rinse thoroughly before you judge the result.
Before you make a poultice, check for a commercial stain-specific cleaner, since those are preferred over homemade mixes. If you go the poultice route, mix talc, whiting, fuller's earth or clay with a commercial oil and tar remover, spread it at least 1/8 inch thick over the mark, and cover it with plastic for 24 hours.
Let the poultice dry, then scrape or brush it off, and repeat as needed. Older stains need stronger methods, and each stronger step carries more risk of damage to the surface, so stop if the concrete starts to look worn. If the mark is still there after a couple of rounds, get a professional opinion.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on tire marks on concrete, brick & driveways?
Plenty of home remedies float around for tire marks, but most were designed for fabric, counters and other surfaces. Only the degreaser in the steps above is suited to the petroleum-based film on concrete. Here's how each common remedy fares.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rinse before the degreaser has worked
Rinsing early washes the cleaner away before it can loosen the rubber, so you end up scrubbing twice. Give the degreaser its few minutes, then start the scrub.
Don't skip the sweep
Grit left under the cleaner turns into an abrasive paste as you scrub, and that paste can mark the slab. A quick sweep first avoids it.
Don't wait on a fresh mark
The film keeps bonding to the concrete the longer it sits, so a mark from yesterday is much easier than one left for weeks. Clean it as soon as you see it, while one pass with the degreaser can still break it loose.
Don't treat only the darkest center
Tire marks usually spread past their dark core, and the lighter edges still hold a film. Cover the whole streak plus a few inches beyond it, so the degreaser reaches every part of the mark.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The mark is still visible after one pass
Repeat the degreaser soak and scrub, then rinse thoroughly. Older, accumulated marks need stronger methods with more risk of damage, so go carefully and test again on a hidden spot if you change products.
The cleaner keeps drying before it has time to work
Apply more cleaner so the concrete stays saturated, and work smaller sections so you can scrub and rinse before anything dries. Keep the surface wet until the final rinse.
You don't know what made the mark
Test any cleaner on a hidden area first. An unknown stain can be sampled and sent to a testing laboratory if you need a definite answer before treating it.
One deep, set-in spot won't lift
Masonry guidance for deep, localized stains is a poultice (talc, whiting, fuller's earth, diatomaceous earth or clay plus the right solvent) at least 1/8 inch thick, covered with plastic for 24 hours, allowed to dry, then scraped or brushed off and repeated as needed.
When to call a professional
Bring in a pro if a coating or old sealant stops the degreaser from reaching the stain, or if the streak is still dark after the set-in steps. When you call, mention that it's tire residue so they can choose a product that suits the slab.
Questions
Will tire marks come off concrete at all?
Yes, in most cases. The marks are petroleum-based, so a concrete degreaser loosens them, and the scrub and rinse finish the job. Old marks that have dried into the slab may need a second round or the set-in treatment.
Why do tire marks show up on hot days?
Hot tires push plasticizers out of the rubber and onto the slab, so the marks are most likely in the hottest weather. Cleaning them while they're fresh is easier than waiting for them to bake in.
Can I use these steps in a garage or on a patio?
Yes. Garage floors and patios are concrete, so the same degreaser, scrub and rinse apply. If the floor is painted, use the painted concrete notes above.
How soon should I clean fresh tire marks?
As soon as you can. Fresh marks respond to one pass of the steps above, while marks that have been on the slab for weeks or months need the set-in treatment.
Is a pressure washer safe on a tire mark on my driveway?
Yes, as long as you keep it gentle. Hold the pressure at or under 400 psi, use a wide nozzle, and stay about a foot off the slab, since extra force mostly erodes the surface. Pairing the wash with the degreaser does more for the mark than pushing harder.
Why do I need to wet the concrete before I start?
Dry concrete drinks up degreaser unevenly, so some spots get far more product than others. Keeping the slab damp lets the cleaner spread across the streak evenly and rinse out completely.
Can I use bleach on a concrete slab?
Keep bleach for moss, algae, and similar growth, since a degreaser is the better tool for tire film. Use a separate product for the marks themselves, and rinse thoroughly afterward so nothing lingers on the slab.
Tire Marks on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.