How to clean the Zipp logos?

RapDaddyo said:

I have noticed that the white Zipp logos on their wheels turns yellowish after only a few months. Has anybody found a way to clean them or get them white again?

This must be why the stickers are always on Ebay...

RapDaddyo said:

I have noticed that the white Zipp logos on their wheels turns yellowish after only a few months. Has anybody found a way to clean them or get them white again?

unfortunately you cant. Its the plastic sticker material exposed to the sun that turns yellow.

hd reynolds said:

unfortunately you cant. Its the plastic sticker material exposed to the sun that turns yellow.

+1 with HD Reynolds, once yellowed there gone.

If I had some new ones I would try something like Finish line pro detailer to keep them clean and uv protected.

kleng said:

+1 with HD Reynolds, once yellowed there gone.

If I had some new ones I would try something like Finish line pro detailer to keep them clean and uv protected.

Is this something like a polyurethane clearcoat?

wilmar13 said:

This must be why the stickers are always on Ebay...

How does one replace the stickers? How do you get the old ones off?

RapDaddyo said:

How does one replace the stickers? How do you get the old ones off?

I would just place the new ones right on top... unless you change the style of sticker, then you will want to get the old ones off...

wilmar13 said:

I would just place the new ones right on top... unless you change the style of sticker, then you will want to get the old ones off...

I was just worried about them being perfectly aligned. I can't believe Zipp hasn't solved this problem. For wheels this expensive, it's a shame that the white logos look yellow after 90 days. Most bike products that have sticker logos are clearcoated for protection.

This happened to my MY2006 set of 303's and here is the scoop.

For 2006, they started sublimating the decals into the coating, but forgot to put UV protection in the coating, therefore they turn yellow after sun exposure. Due to the sublimation process, there is no way to get the decals off.
Your options are:
placing new stickers over the yellowed decals (although this may be difficult with the dimpled surface),
or get an industrial sharpie and black them out (which is what I did). I preferred the stealthy look (as opposed to the rolling billboard look) and was bummed when I saw that I couldn't take the decals off (before they sunburned).
Unfortunately, you can tell where they are "sharpied", but it still looks better than the yellow decals.

I didn't push Zipp for anything other than the stickers because i thought it would be a moot point. I am sure they will improve the coating in the future and may have already done so.

Has anyone complained enough and tried to get a new wheelset (less the yellowing decals) from them? Your right though, for ~$1700 you'd think that they'd get this issue resolved.

cPritch67 said:

This happened to my MY2006 set of 303's and here is the scoop.

For 2006, they started sublimating the decals into the coating, but forgot to put UV protection in the coating, therefore they turn yellow after sun exposure. Due to the sublimation process, there is no way to get the decals off.
Your options are:
placing new stickers over the yellowed decals (although this may be difficult with the dimpled surface),
or get an industrial sharpie and black them out (which is what I did). I preferred the stealthy look (as opposed to the rolling billboard look) and was bummed when I saw that I couldn't take the decals off (before they sunburned).
Unfortunately, you can tell where they are "sharpied", but it still looks better than the yellow decals.

I didn't push Zipp for anything other than the stickers because i thought it would be a moot point. I am sure they will improve the coating in the future and may have already done so.

Has anyone complained enough and tried to get a new wheelset (less the yellowing decals) from them? Your right though, for ~$1700 you'd think that they'd get this issue resolved.

Hey cPritch, thanks a lot. That's great info. I can tell you right now that I intend to try to get new wheels. As far as I am concerned, these wheels have lost significant value due to the cosmetic degradation. Granted, they may be functionally 100%, but graphics are an important part of a product. If it weren't, they would sell them with no logos at all. I'll let you know what happens. Again, thanks for the scoop.

RapDaddyo said:

Hey cPritch, thanks a lot. That's great info. I can tell you right now that I intend to try to get new wheels. As far as I am concerned, these wheels have lost significant value due to the cosmetic degradation. Granted, they may be functionally 100%, but graphics are an important part of a product. If it weren't, they would sell them with no logos at all. I'll let you know what happens. Again, thanks for the scoop.

RapDaddyo - no problem and good luck. That is the info that Zipp provided me, when I called and complained. As I stated, I preferred my wheels black......but they were more than willing (and did) send me new decals. In there defense to shipping you new wheels, there 2005 wheels were sold with stickers, that were not sublimated, so they could argue that you could just put the stickers over the yellow decals and you would be at the same visual product as a 2005. Let me know how it turns out.

cPritch67 said:

RapDaddyo - no problem and good luck. That is the info that Zipp provided me, when I called and complained. As I stated, I preferred my wheels black......but they were more than willing (and did) send me new decals. In there defense to shipping you new wheels, there 2005 wheels were sold with stickers, that were not sublimated, so they could argue that you could just put the stickers over the yellow decals and you would be at the same visual product as a 2005. Let me know how it turns out.

Will do. And thanks again.🙂

RapDaddyo said:

Is this something like a polyurethane clearcoat?

finishlineusa.compro detailer.htmOpen ↗ although this is not going to help if the discoloration is underneath clear coat, but it may offer some protection to the clear coat itself.

kleng said:

finishlineusa.compro detailer.htmOpen ↗ although this is not going to help if the discoloration is underneath clear coat, but it may offer some protection to the clear coat itself.

Great. Thanks for the link. I'll try this product with my next set of wheels (or logos).

RapDaddyo said:

Great. Thanks for the link. I'll try this product with my next set of wheels (or logos).

Any status on your dealings with Zipp?

cPritch67 said:

Any status on your dealings with Zipp?

First offer - new logo stickers. Response - no, thank you. Awaiting new offer.