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Oxford Tyre Scrub

7
£3.99

VERDICT:

7
10
User-friendly brush that makes short work of cleaning grotty tyres
Weight: 
200g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Oxford's Tyre Scrub is, you guessed it, a brush specifically designed for clearing tyres of mud and, more importantly, those nasty sharps that get embedded in the rubber, causing punctures and more serious damage. It's not bike specific, so is useful for motorcycles and cars too, but doesn't feel too generic either.

The spec is reassuringly high for £3.99. The very broad ergonomic handle fits nicely in the palm, has a nice, grippy texture and doesn't turn clammy with prolonged use – perfect if you're cleaning a fleet of mucky cyclo-cross or mountain bikes.

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> Buy this online here

Rubberised impact zones are subtle but similarly welcome touches that prevent accidental damage to paintwork, skin and other delicate surfaces when you're really in the zone. Flipping it over reveals a firm, nylon bristle plot, which is supple enough to mould around a tyre's contours for a seriously deep clean but shouldn't leave any swirls or similarly unsightly calling cards on paintwork.

Oxford Products Tyre Brush - handle.jpg

Used dry, I've found it really convenient for those post-ride sweep downs to dislodge flints, glass, thorns or similar sharps that burrow slowly inside the casings. If you find any small cuts, siimply introduce a drop of decent quality superglue into them and leave overnight to cure.

Sprucing up those tyres on a winter/workhorse bike calls for a warm sudsy bucket, but in the words of the late, great Prince Buster: if you have your brush, you can avoid the rush...

I've turned a set of 32mm Kendas, sporting a season or two's heavy soiling, from grotty to very slightly sullied in around three minutes apiece. And that includes the reflective sidewalls! It's also a bit quicker than Green Oil's Bicycle Brush and so far hasn't shown any obvious signs of bristle moult.

> Read more road.cc reviews of cleaning products here

Mountain bike and cross knobblies of varying patterns were transformed in around half the time, but it's worth remembering that these machines, especially race bikes, see more frequent bucket and sponge action than road biased daily commuters or winter trainers.

Playing devils' advocate, I've achieved decent results using big 'knuckle duster type' nail brushes, which can be bought for 50p or so a time from discount stores. I've even been known to demote those from the kitchen sink to workshop duties, so long as the bristle plot hasn't splayed too far...

When all's said and done, though, it's money well spent given the potential cost of tyre damage – not to mention inconvenience of a flat miles from home on a bitterly cold winter night. And, of course, it can also be used on other vehicles too, if that's your thing...

Verdict

User-friendly brush that makes short work of cleaning grotty tyres

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Oxford Tyre Scrub

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

It's a broad section, deep bristled brush for cleaning tyres. Not bike specific but has done a decent job of dislodging grit, glass and other sharps while also restoring their original lustre. Great for 'cross and mountain bike knobblies.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Nylon bristle plot composite handle and base with surface-friendly rubberised bumpers.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Seems well made. On par with if not slightly superior to some established bike brand offerings.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Feels solid, achieves good results with modest effort.

Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Little sign of bristle moult so far.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

Reassuringly sturdy 200g.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10

Plenty of leverage and pleasant to use for longer periods – say, when prepping a fleet of filthy 'cross or mountain bikes.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

There are cheaper solutions but, for me at least, it's worth the asking price.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Overall, the Oxford Tyre Scrub does exactly what it says on the tin and makes cleaning tyres of dirt and debris quick and straightforward. I've tended to use it for giving casings a quick post-ride brush off, to dislodge anything that might work inside and cause a flat/more serious damage. However, when soaked, the bristles also take the fuss out of cleaning 'cross and mountain bike knobblies.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Well made, pleasant to use.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Smaller bristle plot would've been nimbler but it's not bike specific, so hardly a deal breaker.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

It's a good, nicely made brush that is useful for other vehicle tyres too.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 1m 81cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough stuff tourer based around 4130 Univega mountain bike frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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4 comments

Avatar
Yorky-M | 7 years ago
0 likes

have something similar and it is a magic brush for cleaning bikes. Short, bristles and a plastic body to protect paintwork.

Take my money Oxford

Avatar
Jon L | 7 years ago
0 likes

duplicate post

Avatar
orderodonata replied to Jon L | 7 years ago
2 likes
Jon L wrote:

Another case for a solution looking for a problem?

 

Seems perfectly reasonable to me, and the price is about right.

Avatar
Jon L | 7 years ago
1 like

Another case for a solution looking for a problem?

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