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So, my tire smells like skunk.

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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 02:40 AM
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Thumbs down So, my tire smells like skunk.

I'm pretty sure I would have noticed the thump if I ran over a skunk. Maybe I drove through its spray, or one visited my car during the night. In either case, one of my wheel wells reeks of skunk.

Driving it through puddles doesn't help, and a car wash (with underbody spray) didn't do much, either. My co-worker said to bathe it in tomato juice, but I'm pretty sure that only works on dogs.

Anyone else have to deal with a skunked tire before?
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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 04:45 AM
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Yea, you must have ran over a previous "impact" site where the skunk probably had been hit. Or, your neighborhood skunk may have taken refuge in your warm engine bay area and was startled when the engine started.

Anyhoo, tomato juice won't work. Try this...

The secret to washing off skunk smell is in oxidation. The odor from skunk juice comes from chemicals called thiols. Thiols can be destroyed through the power of oxygen. The oxygen in the air is not strong enough, though. You need an oxidizing agent. Luckily, oxidizing agents are very common and easily obtainable. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are both sufficient oxidizing agents. To clean skunk smell, simply mix a quart of hydrogen peroxide with a 1/4 cup of baking soda and a little dish detergent. Wash with this mixture as if it was soap and the smell will come right off.

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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 05:53 AM
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Mike kudos for research thats a very accurate statement..i cooked a skunk to my exhaust once...that sucled
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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 09:43 PM
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Wow, this is good info. Those things are all over the place out here. I nicked a fresh one once, and the car smelled for 2 days.
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Old Mar 15, 2013 | 04:42 AM
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I wonder if Oxyclean would do anything. So, I Googled oxyclean smell remover and this is the first thing that popped up in images...

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Old Mar 15, 2013 | 10:17 PM
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Very Interesting thread.
I have always wondered what to wash a vehicle with after a Mr Stinky encounter.
I wonder if Colin could try a special combo of OxyClean, baking soda mix without the peroxide and see if alone that would work.
Not sure how hydrogen peroxide would react with rubber, and if it could be damaging?
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 01:03 AM
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If u can put peroxide on your mouth to clean your teeth im sure itd be fine on rubber..maybe lol
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 01:30 AM
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Just do burn outs until they smell like rubber
Oh! a practical way...
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 05:42 AM
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Originally Posted by LoveNutz
Just do burn outs until they smell like rubber
Oh! a practical way...

Or run over many neighborhood squirrels to get the guts to cover up the skunk juice??
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Old Mar 17, 2013 | 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Mike1995
Or run over many neighborhood squirrels to get the guts to cover up the skunk juice??
HA!!!!
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