Shiny Tires

[Hunchback]

What do you guys use to shine (tire foam, etc.) your tires?
Thanks.

[SpeedPlayer 97sl2]

I used to use the Armor-All tire foam, but I got tired of parking my car on top of newspapers on my driveway to prevent it from staining the concrete. So I switched to the Armor-All All-Purpose plastic/vinyl/rubber protectant/beautifier. The first bottle I used was much shinier and lasted longer. The second bottle I bought doesn't last long enough -- shiny for a couple days, then just flat black the next week. Kinda sucks. Oh well...I guess I got a bad bottle. Anybody know if the stuff specially formulated for tires works any better? I fail to see any difference between the "just for tires" stuff and the all-purpose stuff.

Acevedo 97sl2

[Saturnmeister]

I don't use any of that stuff - just soap & water; I HATE the way it gets black goop all over your hands every time you check your tire pressure...

[------SC 2------]

I use Eagle One - Tire Wet. I have car shows so I need them to be shiny. All my friends use it to they got me using it.

[100KSW2]

Whatever you do don't buy anything for tires (cleaner, etc.) that has a picture of a whitewall tire, or that says it is usable for whitewalls. It will have bleach in it and it will turn your tires an ugly gray.

I have tried a couple of the "wet look" preparations and Saturnmeister is correct, they get all over, don't last, etc. I am currently using the Meguires' Endurance (regular non glossy - they have two different formulas) which, as advertised, does last longer. Save the applicator when the bottle is used up and buy the refill (or save money and just buy the refill and use a rag).

Also, if you use any of the sprays, spray it on a rag or wad of paper towels and then apply it to the sidewalls ONLY. I have seen people soak their tires with the sprayer and this is a BAD idea. I even heard of a detailer who wrecked a Lexus that way: most of these products have silicone in them and you do not want to get that on your brake parts or on the tread of your tires.

Of course I am speaking theoretically. I am sure that nobody on THIS list would do that, except perhaps unintentionally.

[Patrick_97SC2]

I use Mequirs Tire shine or something like that. It smells like grapes and stays on pretty long. I aslo use Turtle Wax Tire wax. It works pretty good too <img src="http://64.77.2.166/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/Images/Happy.gif" border="0" align="middle">

-Patrick
http://members.aol.com/XtremeSaturn/index.html

[SpeedPlayer 97sl2]

I have never gotten any tire shine goop on my wheel or tire valves or brake components. I spray on thin layer, let it dry a little bit, then spray on a second thin layer. This prevents the stuff from running all over this place, and the occassional drop that my dribble over the rim edge, I just wipe it up. As long as you don't apply too thick of a coat, there shouldn't be any need to worry about the stuff getting all over your firewall and side skirts.

Acevedo 97sl2

[silverplum]

I use nothing. Why waste your time worrying about cleaning something that is going to be dirty very quickly? I remember buying tires that were white walls and putting the white to the inside so I would not have to worry about cleaning them.

[Ernie's 00SWP]

I use Black Magic Tire Wet. It lasts a long time also.. To put it on and not have a mess to clean up I use a flat trim paint brush (edging type). I spay the Tire Wet on the brush and wipe the tire, the edge of the brush fits right up against the wheel so it won't get all over. After I wipe around the wheel edge, I wipe the outside portion of the tire. Not only does it not create a mess it also make my Tire Wet last twice as long cause I don't have to waste any by spraying the tire.

[Will_Rage]

Meguiar's "natural shine" vinyl & rubber protectant. A light coat and wipe around. It keeps the tires black between once a week washes and works on the bumpers of my 93 SL1m. Looks pretty good. I don't use it on anything in the car tho, too slick and/or shiny.
Rageout

[lowrider SL1]

I disagree about tire dressing being messy and a waste of time. It doesn't matter how clean your car is if your tires don't look black! I use Meguiar's High Endurance dressing and it works great. At the end of a week my tires still look just as shiny and black as they did the last time I washed the week before. It really bugs me when I see nice clean cars...with brown tires! Yuck. Tire dressing (the RIGHT tire dressing, mind you) completes the look.

[Dr. Bob]

Alas, I will probably never have shiny tires or clean cars - I live on a gravel road. I could wash the cars daily and still not keep 'em clean.

The only thing that goes on my tires is dog pee ;-0

[100KSW2]

Dr Bob

Does that keep the cats from peeing on them, then? <img src="http://64.77.2.166/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/Images/Wilk.gif" border="0" align="middle">

Jim