Tyre finishes (car detailing)

[choppedfan]

We have tried a couple of gel type tyre dressings but haven't been impressed with how after thinking they were dry still spattered up on the paintwork when driving (no mudflaps) and secondly how long they lasted before they didn't retain the uniform semi shiny finish the product promised.
Am now looking at a thing called Protectant 303 which has no silicone in it and is supposed to be good on tyres, any one of you using or have used this stuff any other tyre finish product recomendations are also welcome. I was surprised how expensive this stuff costs, years ago we used to just use the old acrylic tins of tyre black and thought that was flash

Mick

[Dakam]

I've been using Meguires Tyre Shine. Only cause someone gave it to me for Xmas. It does last really well and keeps the tyre nice and shiney, BUT, am copping the same thing. It spatters up the guards, so everytime I go out I gotta clean the shit off. Even touching the tyre, it leaves black shit on your hands and if you aint careful, your clothes.
Will be interested to see what everyone else uses.

Dave.

[parisian62]

Have been using the tyre shine in an aerosol but it doesnt last very long. I recently bought a tin of Kitten brand tyre black that is painted on so will give that a go next.

Stewart

[Harko]

So easy tyre shine I swear by it , Theres no silicone in it so it doesent have any build up ,its aerosol and sprays on as a foam and you get to see white walls if only for a minute .

[Blacky]

My Father in law ran a panel shop for years and they used to use "ironing aid" You buy it at Kmart etc and its only 2 or 3 dollars a bottle - it does the same job as the squirty bottle tyre shine prioducts that arer $15 plus in auto accessory shops.

I'm with Harko though - I use so easy.

[muza]

I use the 'ol cheapo aerosol $2 job!
Works a treat, spray it on and then I wipe over it with a rag.
It gives a real clean look, without the real shiny look, which is what I prefer.
Just don't let the missus spray it on. They tend not to wipe over the tyre with a rag, and you'll be back to square one, sh@t all over the bottom half of your car!
Years ago I was a car detailer, we use to use a silicone spray (panel shops loved us for it ). Unless you wipe over it, it'll go everywhere.
Have you tried wiping over the product your using with a rag once you've put it on?
Might be all it needs.
Cheers Muza

[Cal]

So easy tyre shine I swear by it , Theres no silicone in it so it doesent have any build up ,its aerosol and sprays on as a foam and you get to see white walls if only for a minute .

I use the same stuff, but not the foam one. There's another version that comes in a pump spray which you just spray on and let the tyre soak it in, or you can wipe it after a while. It last for ages, as long as it doesn't rain.

The brush on tyre black can be real nasty. It can splatter, and I've seen it peel off after it's dried.

[Devilrod]

Just a word of warning some of the tyre shines out there will discolour whitewalls. The cheap aerosol ones arent too bad but you do start to get a brownish tinge on the edges after continued use.

[Cal]

with the one I use, I wipe it straight off the whitewall before it can dry. If the white bit gets dirty, a bit of gumption does the trick.

[jack_fc]

I give the tyres (whitebands) a quick scrub with warm water and a bit of dish liquid using a worn (ex-kitchen) green srourer pad, rinse, dry, then wipe with Armourall on a rag (dont spray it on) - works well, lasts a long time; just a quick wipe with a damp rag will bring it up again for a fair while.
Works best if you dont get caught knocking off the scourer though

[ash]

The Autoglym spray is really good.

I use it like a cleaner instead of a coating, spray on, scrub and then wipe it ALL off.

You just get nice black tyres, not shiny, and no mess up the side of your car.

[Harko]

CT110 truck wash was recomended by the whitwall guy for whitewalls and flappers, no silicone.
Flappers do get the oil that leaches from the rubber of the tyre so good to get in behind them too.

[mudgroup]

I use nifty (kitchen spray / degreaser) on the white walls. let it sit for 5 mins before wiping off. brings the black up good too. stu

[61FBspecial]

I used to be a car detailer, and I guess I still am for family and friends etc..

I have used protectant 303 before, It is a milky liquid like armourall but it actually dries, it has a high gloss sheen but is not greasy to touch like other products can be.

Personally, I think all the silicone laden products suit modern cars but do not suit older cars and definitely no good for whitewalls, especially the painted on type (they will turn an ugly brown)

I think older cars are more suited to a matte or semi gloss finish, I actually prefer to shine a tall walled cross ply tyre with plain old Kiwi boot polish. Apply and massage it in all 4 tyres then go back around and hand buff it off (with a boot polishing brush) maybe even a 3rd round of buffing if necessary. That's what I used to use on my FB, it looks authentic, not artificial like modern silicone shines.

There is a black paint on product available from Turtle Wax Australia - Cal black. This is good to use if you are a bit on the lazy side of car maintenance! I used to use it on trucks etc. It is a bitumen based product only supplied in a 5 litre container, not available in stores and turps/thinners must be used to wash the brush out or clean up spills. Basically a thin black paint, it literally lasted for months provided you don't run into gutters etc. Even driving in rain or mud, just wash the tyres as normal to restore the semi gloss finish.

Just remember that if you have previously used a silicone based tyre dressing or a brand new tyre to well and truly make certain that all silicone has been cleaned off and the tyres are dry before using a non silicone based dressing as anything painted on will just flake off.