Semi Permanent Tire Coating Face Off

[fly07sti]

Finally got some time today to apply 2 fairly new products to my beater work car to get some real world testing.
I drive this car to and from work every day. The tires are about a year old and have only ever been dressed with PERL at 1:1.
I scrubbed the tires with McKee’s tire and rubber rejuvenator until I got white suds. This took 3 rounds of scrubbing with a tuff shine tire brush.
I then dried with my Metro Sidekick and let them air dry for an hour or so.
I used an Adam’s VRT foam block which I cut in half because I feel they are easier to manage this way. The OPT product was applied to both front tires while the Adams was applied to both rears.
Onto some pictures.

OPT immediately after 1st coat

Adams immediately after 1st coat

OPT 10 mins after 1st coat

Adams 10 mins after 1st coat

OPT 30 mins after 2nd coat

Adams 30 mins after 2nd coat

Full disclosure, the 2nd coat pics are from the passenger side do to a rain shower that came through and streaked the LF tire, which was cleaned up a while later. The Adams had no streaking from the rain.
My thoughts are that the OPT will last longer because my gloves and applicator started to become tacky and stiff after 20 minutes or so.
Also the OPT is much darker in appearance while Adams has more of a natural look. I’ll try to post updates every week or so.


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[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I then dried with my Metro Sidekick and let them air dry for an hour or so.

Cool test. I like tire coatings. Just applied 6 layers of Tuf Shine to some brand new BF Goodrich All Terrains last Saturday. Will try to share some pictures sometime.


Question, because you have a Metro-Vac Sidekick did you blow dry and blow out the tire coatings while they were wet?


I start with the nozzle at the outer edge of the rim and then blow outward. This not only dries the coating fast so you can apply multiple coats while sitting on your butt in front of the same tire, (before moving around to the other tires), and it also does a great job of blowing the coating in and around all the lettering and other design features on the sidewall.

 

[fly07sti]

I did not hit the tires with the Sidekick while the coating was applied. I wanted to see how they leveled out as today was my first go round with the OPT product. I do use that trick when I apply the McKee’s tire coating and another brand of tire coating and it works very well.
Also, never did see any pics of your Lexus after you applied PNS to them. I’m really curious as to how they held up.

 

[camaro2ssblack]

Looking forward to your real world results on a DD. I believe your initial impressions will be correct. I really like Adams products for their ease of use and aesthetics but as a whole the durability of the entire product line sucks.

 

[mdbenge]

Nicely done. Curious to see how they hold up especially on a DD.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Also, never did see any pics of your Lexus after you applied PNS to them. I’m really curious as to how they held up.

I JUST finished washing the Lexus. It's been 3 months easy since the last wash job. She was dirty.

From what I can see - PNS is not a good choice for a tire dressing. :laughing:


I wish it were, I like it on everything else.

 

[Klasse Act]

Well the Optimum has that "blue/purple" color in that first coat, reminds me of TW Endura but without the black dye to go along with it, also Black Pearl but you certainly know that that already (thanks for that sample again!) I believe whatever makes that "blue/purple" color is the active ingredient that makes it last, wonder what that is. The finish has more pop too compared to the Adam's as well, but some people like the more natural look. That said, when I tried the Adam's Tire Armor it didn't last but that was on my old Abarth and its winter tires, they would absorb tire products like no ones business, except Griot's Garage Black Shine tire gel and both of the Gyeon tire products, that's it.

I expect Optimum to win this one, I had high hopes for Adam's Tire Armor but I guess we'll see in this test. IIRC in their own video they (Adam's) say 2 weeks of protection, atleast their honest, LOL!

 

[sknight1]

Cool test. I like tire coatings. Just applied 6 layers of Tuf Shine to some brand new BF Goodrich All Terrains last Saturday. Will try to share some pictures sometime.


Question, because you have a Metro-Vac Sidekick did you blow dry and blow out the tire coatings while they were wet?


I start with the nozzle at the outer edge of the rim and then blow outward. This not only dries the coating fast so you can apply multiple coats while sitting on your butt in front of the same tire, (before moving around to the other tires), and it also does a great job of blowing the coating in and around all the lettering and other design features on the sidewall.

Out of curiosity, why 6 layers? Isn't that excessive??? Two layers I could see, but no more than that. Thanks!

 

[392hemi]

Thank you for the test! Its been a while since I saw that generation Sentra, especially in such amazing condition! Owned a 200SX SE-R for a short period.

Excited to see how these do as I'm looking for a long lasting tire coating.

 

[fly07sti]

Thank you for the test! Its been a while since I saw that generation Sentra, especially in such amazing condition! Owned a 200SX SE-R for a short period.

Excited to see how these do as I'm looking for a long lasting tire coating.

Ha Ha. It is a clean little car. It’s a 93 with 120k and runs like a top.

 

[Calendyr]

Looking forward to your real world results on a DD. I believe your initial impressions will be correct. I really like Adams products for their ease of use and aesthetics but as a whole the durability of the entire product line sucks.

I am surprised to hear that. One of the chanels I follow on youtube uses the Adam's paint sealant and he says he gets over a year if durability out of an application.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Adams seems to get great reviews on cleaners (APC, wheel cleaner, iron remover) and their QD. I haven’t heard much about any other products


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[SWETM]

Great write up and pictures!

Will be interesting to follow this longevity test.

/ Tony

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Nice test, Don! I prefer the look of Adams, but OPT will prolly last longer.


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[ejaf]

This is great...thanks.

I have my own going on with my banged up daily driver:

Tuf Shine vs. Minwax Polycrylic Satin

Kind of my own version of cheap vs. expensive.

Eric

 

[fly07sti]

8 day update. Had a couple days of rain after application. Approx 100 miles driven.
Got home from work to do a quick wash to clean up the tires and post some updated photos. I was going to clean one side with N914 (similar to OPT recommending using ONR to clean there coating) and the other side by just spraying a tire cleaner on the tires and rinsing off with no agitation. I was pressed for time because my wife had to leave to get her niece while I stayed home with my young daughters.
So I chose the spray and rinse method for all the tires. I used the same McKee’s tire and rubber rejuvenator.
Sorry the pics aren’t great but it was quite cloudy out.

Left Front before wash

Left Rear before wash

Right Front before wash

Right Rear before wash

Left Front after wash

Left Rear after wash

Right Front after wash

Right Rear after wash

The after pics are not 100 percent dry but was hurrying with the the Metro Sidekick and got them 95% dry to take pics.
It seems to have degraded or dulled the OPT while Adams still looks unfazed.
Also, the OPT looks a little streaky and a weird blotchy area on the RF. I wiped them with a white towel and they wiped clean.
Next week I plan to use Reset and a demoted mitt after I wash the car. I’m a little disappointed with the OPT, but maybe that little rain that rolled through on my second coat played negatively with the bonding. Stay tuned.



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[392hemi]

Thank you so much for the update!

I do wonder if the rain during second coat, a long with wheel cleaner damaged the Opt? Hard for me to tell a difference on my little phone screen.

Thank you again for taking the time to do this thorough test.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Not a dealbreaker, but front tires tend to take more of the brunt of abuse compared to the rear tires. It shouldn’t make a drastic difference but it might make some depending on alot of variables. Do you think it’s playing a factor in the results? Or no?

Just out of curiosity, what psi do you have your tires at? I’ve got a hunch they’re over inflated? Lol.

Thanks for posting your experiment with these products.

 

[spazzz]

This is great...thanks.

I have my own going on with my banged up daily driver:

Tuf Shine vs. Minwax Polycrylic Satin

Kind of my own version of cheap vs. expensive.

Eric

WOW, you are a pioneer.
Minwax for wood eh? I have used gallons of this stuff.
I know it is the bomb on wood.

Get a picture for me of the Polycrylic wheel for me.

 

[fly07sti]

Not a dealbreaker, but front tires tend to take more of the brunt of abuse compared to the rear tires. It shouldn’t make a drastic difference but it might make some depending on alot of variables. Do you think it’s playing a factor in the results? Or no?

Just out of curiosity, what psi do you have your tires at? I’ve got a hunch they’re over inflated? Lol.

Thanks for posting your experiment with these products.

I kind of assumed OPT would be more durable from the get go, so that’s why I applied to the fronts. Run 30 psi.