Yep, the newer products will bead for quite a while but the gloss fades after a week or two depending on whether it rains or not.
The Tire Dressing Comparison Thread
- Thread starter DFB
- Start date
Yep, the newer products will bead for quite a while but the gloss fades after a week or two depending on whether it rains or not.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,901
- 2,981
- Thread starter
- #62
2025 UPDATE
It's been two years since I authored this thread. Over that time, I've tried several additional tyre dressings, so the following post will add these to the data base.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE – I probably should have mentioned this at the start of the thread, but I need to address tyre dressing longevity. There seems to be an expectation or need for a tyre dressing to last a long time. But what does “a long time” mean? A few days, a week, months, a year?
I’m willing to bet that most detailing enthusiasts are applying a tyre dressing after each wash. Just like using a drying aid, why does longevity even matter when you reapply every wash? I mention this because I often see people dismissing or complaining about xyz tyre dressing not lasting long enough. To be realistic, most water-based tyre dressings will not hold up to wet roads, let alone a wash. Solvent based dressings will hang on longer, but you end up with a tyre covered in a greasy, dirty residue that is harder to remove and stains your brushes. Tyre coatings are the happy middle ground, but again, you are at the mercy of mother nature and the harsh conditions a tyre is subjected to.
So, please take the longevity claims/observations with a grain of salt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3D Si02 Ceramic Matte Tire – I bought this product as an afterthought but went on to instantly fall in love with it. The water-based Si02 formula is said to create a hydrophobic surface to help repel water, road grime and dust, which in turn makes cleaning quicker and easier.
Try not to get hung up of the “ceramic” bull crap. At its core, this is an absolute pleasure to apply and easily delivers that happy balance between a rich and dark finish but without sickly gloss. The thicker consistency makes it easy to control, probably best teamed with a foam applicator but I have no issues using a brush. With a natural matte finish, a final buff is not always needed but it looks even better if you do.
Very much a sleeper product, even better than other Si02 infused tyre dressings such as Carpro Perl and Gyeon Tire.
Dilution – Not recommended
Type/Formulation – Water-based Si02
Scent – Cherry
Consistency – Cream-like
Best Application Tool – Brush or Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Easy, great coverage
Appearance – Matte to Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – “Long-Lasting”
Longevity (Observed) – 2-weeks
DFB Score – 10/10
Armour Detail Supply Tire+ - A blend of polymers, silicones and acrylics, Tire+ is longer lasting than most water-based tyre dressings. The main focus of this product was to create a hydrophobic barrier to reply dirt and grime, in turn maintaining a freshly dressed look for longer.
On first acquaintance, this product reminded me of OG Tire Dressing. In that I mean a semi-thick liquid that doesn’t necessarily atomise when sprayed, how it spreads easily across the sidewall, and a lovely deep, dark finish. I will say though, Tire+ can be on the glossier side if applied heavy, but its controllable via a wipe down after 10 minutes. It also teams brilliantly with the large Curveball style brushes. And finally, the Banana fragrance makes the product a pleasure to use.
Yet another knockout product from the brand, this is one of my current favourites.
Dilution – Not recommended
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Banana
Consistency – Slightly runny
Best Application Tool – Brush
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Mid to high gloss
Longevity (Claimed) – “Several weeks”
Longevity (Observed) – A week or two
DFB Score – 9/10
Armour Detail Supply Ghost – This is one of those occasions where the hype proved correct. Ghost is considered a tyre sealant, which means it can last much longer than a dressing. While its considered a water-based product, the nano-sealant within the formulation means it cures to a dry finish. This helps seal the sidewall and protects against oxidation and browning. ADS suggests that Ghost can last up to 3-months, more on that shortly.
Ghost is unlike any other tyre product that I have used. Typically, tyre sealants are solvent based to provide longevity, but tend stay tacky and have a high chance of sling. Ghost on the other hand completely dries after 5-minutes, which effectively eliminates sling and won’t accumulate dirt and grime. ADS have also added a blue tracer to show where you’ve been, in effect helping to ensure even coverage. After a minute or so, the tracer disappears and the sealant cures. The end result is a lovely dark, deep satin finish that can be built upon with additional layers if desired, allowing 15-minutes between coats.
Longevity wise, I’ve achieved the claimed 3-months on a vehicle driven in all conditions. Important to note that while the finish will fade slightly over time, the hydrophobic properties will remain and be your guide as to when to reapply. You can in fact lightly top-dress with Tire+ (or similar) between applications of Ghost to boost the look. Now, you could say why bother with Ghost if you are going to keep dressing after each wash? Well, Ghost seems to prevent the sidewalls from getting dirty, the sealant rejecting dirt and grime with ease.
One thing to note, purge the spray head back into the bottle after each use as the sealant tends to harden and prevent it from spraying. Also, don’t use a brush with this product, again, the product will harden and ruin the bristles, stick with foam. And finally, this is a product where the prep work before application is key, do a half-arsed job, you will get a half-arsed result.
Dilution – Not recommended
Type/Formulation – Water-based nano-sealant
Scent – According to ADS, its called "Monkey Farts"
Consistency – Runny Liquid
Best Application Tool – Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Medium (see notes)
Appearance – Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – 3-months
Longevity (Observed) – 3-months
DFB Score – 10/10
Mirch Obsidian – Outright, I don’t recommend buying from this company. This is one of those brands that pops up from nowhere and spams your social media channels with ads. I decided to give the brand a try because of how well it presented, the Gyeon-esque bottles, pretty colours and flash website looked very enticing. The reality? A line of generic private label products with no substance behind them. I even had one product cause permanent damage to a set of wheels, and another that stained a timber worktop via a leak through the sprayer.
Mirch offers two tyre products, Super Shine and Obsidian, the latter being an Si02 infused water-based tyre dressing. The Si02 content is said to improve durability and with cleaning. The gel-consistency is easy to work with, pairing well with foam applicators. While there is nothing wrong with the look and user experience, I really don’t have faith in the brand or the model they operate under. I can almost guarantee that whoever owns the company has no clue what’s in their products.
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water-based Si02
Scent – Can’t recall
Consistency – Runny gel
Best Application Tool – Flag tipped brush or foam applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – “Guaranteed durability”
Longevity (Observed) – Can’t recall
DFB Score – 1/10
Opti-Coat Tire Gel – This is a product I purchased on clearance and sits within the Opti-Coat maintenance line. Now, the maintenance line is supposed to take the base Optimum (OPT) product and make it more premium. As far as I can tell, compared to OPT Opti-Bond Tire Gel, the Opti-Coat version is differentiated by the pink colouring and bubble-gum scent. Apart from that, they look and perform the same.
The key with these two products is the that they are supposed to be longer lasting than most other water-based dressings. That’s not something I noticed, both will let go easily on a rainy day. I’ve also found both versions will separate when left untouched, so you need to shake vigorously before use. The other aspect that I don’t care for is the extremely glossy finish, although it does dry to touch.
I’ve actually rated this product lower than the OPT version, mainly because of the higher price not equating to a noticeable improvement. Not a product I would buy again.
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Bubble-gum
Consistency – Gel
Best Application Tool – Foam applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – High Gloss
Longevity (Claimed) – “Excellent durability”
Longevity (Observed) – Poor
DFB Score – 3/10
To be continued..........................
It's been two years since I authored this thread. Over that time, I've tried several additional tyre dressings, so the following post will add these to the data base.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE – I probably should have mentioned this at the start of the thread, but I need to address tyre dressing longevity. There seems to be an expectation or need for a tyre dressing to last a long time. But what does “a long time” mean? A few days, a week, months, a year?
I’m willing to bet that most detailing enthusiasts are applying a tyre dressing after each wash. Just like using a drying aid, why does longevity even matter when you reapply every wash? I mention this because I often see people dismissing or complaining about xyz tyre dressing not lasting long enough. To be realistic, most water-based tyre dressings will not hold up to wet roads, let alone a wash. Solvent based dressings will hang on longer, but you end up with a tyre covered in a greasy, dirty residue that is harder to remove and stains your brushes. Tyre coatings are the happy middle ground, but again, you are at the mercy of mother nature and the harsh conditions a tyre is subjected to.
So, please take the longevity claims/observations with a grain of salt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3D Si02 Ceramic Matte Tire – I bought this product as an afterthought but went on to instantly fall in love with it. The water-based Si02 formula is said to create a hydrophobic surface to help repel water, road grime and dust, which in turn makes cleaning quicker and easier.
Try not to get hung up of the “ceramic” bull crap. At its core, this is an absolute pleasure to apply and easily delivers that happy balance between a rich and dark finish but without sickly gloss. The thicker consistency makes it easy to control, probably best teamed with a foam applicator but I have no issues using a brush. With a natural matte finish, a final buff is not always needed but it looks even better if you do.
Very much a sleeper product, even better than other Si02 infused tyre dressings such as Carpro Perl and Gyeon Tire.
Dilution – Not recommended
Type/Formulation – Water-based Si02
Scent – Cherry
Consistency – Cream-like
Best Application Tool – Brush or Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Easy, great coverage
Appearance – Matte to Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – “Long-Lasting”
Longevity (Observed) – 2-weeks
DFB Score – 10/10
Armour Detail Supply Tire+ - A blend of polymers, silicones and acrylics, Tire+ is longer lasting than most water-based tyre dressings. The main focus of this product was to create a hydrophobic barrier to reply dirt and grime, in turn maintaining a freshly dressed look for longer.
On first acquaintance, this product reminded me of OG Tire Dressing. In that I mean a semi-thick liquid that doesn’t necessarily atomise when sprayed, how it spreads easily across the sidewall, and a lovely deep, dark finish. I will say though, Tire+ can be on the glossier side if applied heavy, but its controllable via a wipe down after 10 minutes. It also teams brilliantly with the large Curveball style brushes. And finally, the Banana fragrance makes the product a pleasure to use.
Yet another knockout product from the brand, this is one of my current favourites.
Dilution – Not recommended
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Banana
Consistency – Slightly runny
Best Application Tool – Brush
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Mid to high gloss
Longevity (Claimed) – “Several weeks”
Longevity (Observed) – A week or two
DFB Score – 9/10
Armour Detail Supply Ghost – This is one of those occasions where the hype proved correct. Ghost is considered a tyre sealant, which means it can last much longer than a dressing. While its considered a water-based product, the nano-sealant within the formulation means it cures to a dry finish. This helps seal the sidewall and protects against oxidation and browning. ADS suggests that Ghost can last up to 3-months, more on that shortly.
Ghost is unlike any other tyre product that I have used. Typically, tyre sealants are solvent based to provide longevity, but tend stay tacky and have a high chance of sling. Ghost on the other hand completely dries after 5-minutes, which effectively eliminates sling and won’t accumulate dirt and grime. ADS have also added a blue tracer to show where you’ve been, in effect helping to ensure even coverage. After a minute or so, the tracer disappears and the sealant cures. The end result is a lovely dark, deep satin finish that can be built upon with additional layers if desired, allowing 15-minutes between coats.
Longevity wise, I’ve achieved the claimed 3-months on a vehicle driven in all conditions. Important to note that while the finish will fade slightly over time, the hydrophobic properties will remain and be your guide as to when to reapply. You can in fact lightly top-dress with Tire+ (or similar) between applications of Ghost to boost the look. Now, you could say why bother with Ghost if you are going to keep dressing after each wash? Well, Ghost seems to prevent the sidewalls from getting dirty, the sealant rejecting dirt and grime with ease.
One thing to note, purge the spray head back into the bottle after each use as the sealant tends to harden and prevent it from spraying. Also, don’t use a brush with this product, again, the product will harden and ruin the bristles, stick with foam. And finally, this is a product where the prep work before application is key, do a half-arsed job, you will get a half-arsed result.
Dilution – Not recommended
Type/Formulation – Water-based nano-sealant
Scent – According to ADS, its called "Monkey Farts"
Consistency – Runny Liquid
Best Application Tool – Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Medium (see notes)
Appearance – Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – 3-months
Longevity (Observed) – 3-months
DFB Score – 10/10
Mirch Obsidian – Outright, I don’t recommend buying from this company. This is one of those brands that pops up from nowhere and spams your social media channels with ads. I decided to give the brand a try because of how well it presented, the Gyeon-esque bottles, pretty colours and flash website looked very enticing. The reality? A line of generic private label products with no substance behind them. I even had one product cause permanent damage to a set of wheels, and another that stained a timber worktop via a leak through the sprayer.
Mirch offers two tyre products, Super Shine and Obsidian, the latter being an Si02 infused water-based tyre dressing. The Si02 content is said to improve durability and with cleaning. The gel-consistency is easy to work with, pairing well with foam applicators. While there is nothing wrong with the look and user experience, I really don’t have faith in the brand or the model they operate under. I can almost guarantee that whoever owns the company has no clue what’s in their products.
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water-based Si02
Scent – Can’t recall
Consistency – Runny gel
Best Application Tool – Flag tipped brush or foam applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – “Guaranteed durability”
Longevity (Observed) – Can’t recall
DFB Score – 1/10
Opti-Coat Tire Gel – This is a product I purchased on clearance and sits within the Opti-Coat maintenance line. Now, the maintenance line is supposed to take the base Optimum (OPT) product and make it more premium. As far as I can tell, compared to OPT Opti-Bond Tire Gel, the Opti-Coat version is differentiated by the pink colouring and bubble-gum scent. Apart from that, they look and perform the same.
The key with these two products is the that they are supposed to be longer lasting than most other water-based dressings. That’s not something I noticed, both will let go easily on a rainy day. I’ve also found both versions will separate when left untouched, so you need to shake vigorously before use. The other aspect that I don’t care for is the extremely glossy finish, although it does dry to touch.
I’ve actually rated this product lower than the OPT version, mainly because of the higher price not equating to a noticeable improvement. Not a product I would buy again.
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Bubble-gum
Consistency – Gel
Best Application Tool – Foam applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – High Gloss
Longevity (Claimed) – “Excellent durability”
Longevity (Observed) – Poor
DFB Score – 3/10
To be continued..........................
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,901
- 2,981
- Thread starter
- #63
2025 Update Continued............................
Shine Supply Decked Out – This tyre dressing comes from a brand with some very nice products within their range. Wise Guy has been a staple heavy-duty tyre cleaner for many years, and I’ve loved using the coconut scented Shift maintenance soap. So, in some ways, I had highish expectations.
Decked Out is a concentrated water-based tyre dressing that needs to be diluted before use. When mixed at 1:1, the product produces a VERY glossy finish. If that’s not your preference, try the recommended 2:1 dilution for a satin look, you could even take it out to 4:1. I’ve found this product best for tyres that have a large surface area to cover, the runny consistency means quicker coverage, especially teamed with a flag tipped brush. It can also be used to dress wheel arch liners and engine bays.
This is not a WOW product like some of the other Shine Supply products. It does its job, but nothing more.
Dilution – 1:1 (glossy) or 2:1 (satin)
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Very slight banana scent
Consistency – Runny
Best Application Tool – Flag tipped brush or foam applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Glossy
Longevity (Claimed) – Not stated
Longevity (Observed) – A week or two depending on vehicle use
DFB Score – 3/10
Swissvax Pneu – This was an impulse purchase added to an order to reach the free shipping threshold, and the only product from this brand that I’ve sampled. And what a surprise, easily one of the nicest tyre dressings I’ve tried. A thin spray able liquid, Pneu offers quick and easy coverage, the fished result a lovely deeeeeep, dark look.
Like most products from the brand, Pneu is very expensive, taking it off most people's shopping list. Which is a shame because I really enjoy using this product.
(Pneu is the French word for tyre and is derived from "Pneumatic")
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Unscented
Consistency – Runny
Best Application Tool – Brush or Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Super easy
Appearance – Deep satin
Longevity (Claimed) – “Long Lasting”
Longevity (Observed) – Expect a week or two
DFB Score – 10/10
Poorboys Natural Look – This product is from a brand that has long ago given up on product development. I suspect its customer base reflects the brand itself, as in content with what they have, with no intention of trying something new in the hope of finding something better. As a result, Poorboys sits with brands such as Duragloss, Klasse, and Wolfgang in being almost irrelevant.
Natural Look is a multipurpose water-based dressing designed primarily for interior plastic and leather protection, but can transfer to the exterior as well. Much is made of the UV protection and is clamed to produce a natural satin finish. I once tried it on leather, but it left the seats slippery and awful looking. As a tyre dressing, meh. It looks ok but just doesn't have that silky smooth application you'd hope for.
The fact that Poorboys is being discontinued in Australia says it all.
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water based
Scent – Sour Cherry
Consistency – Lotion
Best Application Tool – Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – NA
Longevity (Observed) – Expect a week at best
DFB Score – 1/10
And so, that brings this thread up to date.
Shine Supply Decked Out – This tyre dressing comes from a brand with some very nice products within their range. Wise Guy has been a staple heavy-duty tyre cleaner for many years, and I’ve loved using the coconut scented Shift maintenance soap. So, in some ways, I had highish expectations.
Decked Out is a concentrated water-based tyre dressing that needs to be diluted before use. When mixed at 1:1, the product produces a VERY glossy finish. If that’s not your preference, try the recommended 2:1 dilution for a satin look, you could even take it out to 4:1. I’ve found this product best for tyres that have a large surface area to cover, the runny consistency means quicker coverage, especially teamed with a flag tipped brush. It can also be used to dress wheel arch liners and engine bays.
This is not a WOW product like some of the other Shine Supply products. It does its job, but nothing more.
Dilution – 1:1 (glossy) or 2:1 (satin)
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Very slight banana scent
Consistency – Runny
Best Application Tool – Flag tipped brush or foam applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Glossy
Longevity (Claimed) – Not stated
Longevity (Observed) – A week or two depending on vehicle use
DFB Score – 3/10
Swissvax Pneu – This was an impulse purchase added to an order to reach the free shipping threshold, and the only product from this brand that I’ve sampled. And what a surprise, easily one of the nicest tyre dressings I’ve tried. A thin spray able liquid, Pneu offers quick and easy coverage, the fished result a lovely deeeeeep, dark look.
Like most products from the brand, Pneu is very expensive, taking it off most people's shopping list. Which is a shame because I really enjoy using this product.
(Pneu is the French word for tyre and is derived from "Pneumatic")
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water-based
Scent – Unscented
Consistency – Runny
Best Application Tool – Brush or Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Super easy
Appearance – Deep satin
Longevity (Claimed) – “Long Lasting”
Longevity (Observed) – Expect a week or two
DFB Score – 10/10
Poorboys Natural Look – This product is from a brand that has long ago given up on product development. I suspect its customer base reflects the brand itself, as in content with what they have, with no intention of trying something new in the hope of finding something better. As a result, Poorboys sits with brands such as Duragloss, Klasse, and Wolfgang in being almost irrelevant.
Natural Look is a multipurpose water-based dressing designed primarily for interior plastic and leather protection, but can transfer to the exterior as well. Much is made of the UV protection and is clamed to produce a natural satin finish. I once tried it on leather, but it left the seats slippery and awful looking. As a tyre dressing, meh. It looks ok but just doesn't have that silky smooth application you'd hope for.
The fact that Poorboys is being discontinued in Australia says it all.
Dilution – Not required
Type/Formulation – Water based
Scent – Sour Cherry
Consistency – Lotion
Best Application Tool – Foam Applicator
Ease of Application – Easy
Appearance – Satin
Longevity (Claimed) – NA
Longevity (Observed) – Expect a week at best
DFB Score – 1/10
And so, that brings this thread up to date.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,901
- 2,981
- Thread starter
- #64
DFB’s 2025 Top Picks –
Two years down the track, and countless dressed tyres later, does my final paragraph in the opening post still stand?
“Carpro Perl, NV Onyx and Obsessed Garage Tire Dressing are easily the favourites in my rotation. Honourable mentions go to Adam's Graphene and Koch Chemie Plast Star. Carpro Darkside has also impressed of late.”
Short answer, yes and no. Some have been displaced by newer and better products, some have swapped places. So, what are my go-to’s as of now?
1. Armour Detail Supply Ghost –
I’m finding Ghost to be an excellent base layer product which can be refreshed after each wash using any of the below products. In essence, it helps seal the sidewall and prevents them from getting dirty or turning brown. Think of it like a ceramic coating, wax or sealant on your paint, which you maintain with a drying aid, spray sealant or quick detailer, the base layer provides the protection, the topper product boosts the look.
2. Obsessed Garage Tire Dressing –
I’ve been using this stuff for about four years now and I love it just as much now as I did back then. Where some products need to be extensively worked to achieve a uniform look, OG TD is simply effortless in the way it glides across the sidewall. So, a product that looks, feels and smells brilliant, what more could you want.
3. 3D Si02 Ceramic Matte Tire –
As mentioned in the latest post, this has been a lovely surprise. The application ease, the depth of finish and scent are all home-run attributes. This is a product that you know is on there, but it doesn’t scream about its presence, in other words, it produces a subtle, classy finish.
4. Armour Detail Supply Tire+ -
To be honest, not much separates Tire+, OG TD and 3D CMT, they all have a very similar consistency and application feel. But if you like a little more gloss, Tire+ will have you sorted without the drawbacks associated with some of the glossier dressings.
Honourable Mentions –
While I might not use them as often as the above, the following products I still thoroughly enjoy using and would happily recommend. If anything, it proves just how much choice there is out there now for excellent products.
1. NV Onyx -
This has been on the market unchanged for a long time now, but its still an excellent product that rewards with a classy finish and delightful caramel scent.
2. Adam’s Graphene Tire Dressing –
Forget the graphene thing, this is just a dam good product. With it’s runnier consistency, this would be a great choice for larger SUV and truck tyres as it offers excellent coverage and a nicely balanced finish.
3. Carpro Perl
Another oldie, but it still stacks up after so many years on the market. I once used this neat, but I now prefer it diluted at 1:1 to knock back some of the gloss. Again, a great choice for larger sidewalls.
4. Swissvax Pneu –
Expensive, but the price premium matches the user experience and the classy finish. In particular, it’s the richly saturated dark finish that really impresses. Likewise, how easily it spreads to provide a uniform result.
Two years down the track, and countless dressed tyres later, does my final paragraph in the opening post still stand?
“Carpro Perl, NV Onyx and Obsessed Garage Tire Dressing are easily the favourites in my rotation. Honourable mentions go to Adam's Graphene and Koch Chemie Plast Star. Carpro Darkside has also impressed of late.”
Short answer, yes and no. Some have been displaced by newer and better products, some have swapped places. So, what are my go-to’s as of now?
1. Armour Detail Supply Ghost –
I’m finding Ghost to be an excellent base layer product which can be refreshed after each wash using any of the below products. In essence, it helps seal the sidewall and prevents them from getting dirty or turning brown. Think of it like a ceramic coating, wax or sealant on your paint, which you maintain with a drying aid, spray sealant or quick detailer, the base layer provides the protection, the topper product boosts the look.
2. Obsessed Garage Tire Dressing –
I’ve been using this stuff for about four years now and I love it just as much now as I did back then. Where some products need to be extensively worked to achieve a uniform look, OG TD is simply effortless in the way it glides across the sidewall. So, a product that looks, feels and smells brilliant, what more could you want.
3. 3D Si02 Ceramic Matte Tire –
As mentioned in the latest post, this has been a lovely surprise. The application ease, the depth of finish and scent are all home-run attributes. This is a product that you know is on there, but it doesn’t scream about its presence, in other words, it produces a subtle, classy finish.
4. Armour Detail Supply Tire+ -
To be honest, not much separates Tire+, OG TD and 3D CMT, they all have a very similar consistency and application feel. But if you like a little more gloss, Tire+ will have you sorted without the drawbacks associated with some of the glossier dressings.
Honourable Mentions –
While I might not use them as often as the above, the following products I still thoroughly enjoy using and would happily recommend. If anything, it proves just how much choice there is out there now for excellent products.
1. NV Onyx -
This has been on the market unchanged for a long time now, but its still an excellent product that rewards with a classy finish and delightful caramel scent.
2. Adam’s Graphene Tire Dressing –
Forget the graphene thing, this is just a dam good product. With it’s runnier consistency, this would be a great choice for larger SUV and truck tyres as it offers excellent coverage and a nicely balanced finish.
3. Carpro Perl
Another oldie, but it still stacks up after so many years on the market. I once used this neat, but I now prefer it diluted at 1:1 to knock back some of the gloss. Again, a great choice for larger sidewalls.
4. Swissvax Pneu –
Expensive, but the price premium matches the user experience and the classy finish. In particular, it’s the richly saturated dark finish that really impresses. Likewise, how easily it spreads to provide a uniform result.
Great initial post and updates. Rarely do I ever share observations of products so closely, we really had the exact same experience with so many of the products you tried, though I gravitate towards more shine. If you ever get a chance, grab some Cerakote Tire Shine, its like 253 but with 4x the durability and its easier to apply than most, very close to PERL in ease.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,901
- 2,981
- Thread starter
- #69
I've had similar poor results from products listed as tyre "sealants". The brand suggests 2 - 3 months, but they will be lucky to last 2 - 3 weeks. However, is that a poor result, or poor communication and expectations set by the company?
Ghost is different because it's not a sticky solvent-based product that never truly dries. The thing is, it may not look as good as when first applied, but I've found Ghost hangs in there and continues to repel water and reject dirt and grime from bonding to the sidewall right up until the three month mark. Naturally, your milage may vary. These observations on Ghost are from two daily drivers and not my garage queens. Also, @Klasse Act has seen similar results across two vehicles.
ADS is a favorite of mine and others here, exceeding expectations across the board, here's a snap shot from today
So the contrast here is perfect for the "real world" comparison. First up is my g/f's TAOS tire. Now her's were coated 2x's 4 weeks ago, with nothing more than touch-free washes since then and ZERO touching or re-applying anything, the most honest, 4 week durability possible
️
The next pic is yours truely. Now my tires were cleaned thoroughly last weekend, 1 coat of ADS Ghost applied, cured for about 10 minutes and I back out in the cold. Now the previous application was...
So the contrast here is perfect for the "real world" comparison. First up is my g/f's TAOS tire. Now her's were coated 2x's 4 weeks ago, with nothing more than touch-free washes since then and ZERO touching or re-applying anything, the most honest, 4 week durability possible
️The next pic is yours truely. Now my tires were cleaned thoroughly last weekend, 1 coat of ADS Ghost applied, cured for about 10 minutes and I back out in the cold. Now the previous application was...
I've had similar poor results from products listed as tyre "sealants". The brand suggests 2 - 3 months, but they will be lucky to last 2 - 3 weeks. However, is that a poor result, or poor communication and expectations set by the company?
Ghost is different because it's not a sticky solvent-based product that never truly dries. The thing is, it may not look as good as when first applied, but I've found Ghost hangs in there and continues to repel water and reject dirt and grime from bonding to the sidewall right up until the three month mark. Naturally, your milage may vary. These observations on Ghost are from two daily drivers and not my garage queens. Also, @Klasse Act has seen similar results across two vehicles.
ADS is a favorite of mine and others here, exceeding expectations across the board, here's a snap shot from today
So the contrast here is perfect for the "real world" comparison. First up is my g/f's TAOS tire. Now her's were coated 2x's 4 weeks ago, with nothing more than touch-free washes since then and ZERO touching or re-applying anything, the most honest, 4 week durability possible
The next pic is yours truely. Now my tires were cleaned thoroughly last weekend, 1 coat of ADS Ghost applied, cured for about 10 minutes and I back out in the cold. Now the previous application was...
I have Fireball's tire satin "coating". Maybe it still repels water after a week or 2. I never really watched that. You could still see that they were dressed for probably over a month but they didn't look that great to me.
Being a 3D fanboy i might get there new dressing or maybe Labocosmetica's Nero, which is comparable to Darkside I've read.
Desertnate
Well-known member
- Aug 5, 2013
- 6,239
- 293
This whole thread has me re-considering my tire dressing choices.
Right now I'm trying to get to the bottom of a bottle of Griots Ceramic Tire Dressing, which I don't really like, and I was planning on going back to my old favorite - Duragloss. I might have to try some of these others from this thread. I also have Perl on hand and like the look, but was never impressed by the durability.
As for your comments on durability, I'll confess to being one of those who dress the tires every time I wash the car. However, those washes are sometimes a couple weeks or more apart and I want the dressing to hold up for as long as possible. Something like Ghost with multi-month durability doesn't really have any meaning for me, but I don't want anything that washes off at the first sign of moisture either. I found the old Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel would wash away with the morning dew. That was a non-starter and one of the few products I ever tossed after only a few uses.
Right now I'm trying to get to the bottom of a bottle of Griots Ceramic Tire Dressing, which I don't really like, and I was planning on going back to my old favorite - Duragloss. I might have to try some of these others from this thread. I also have Perl on hand and like the look, but was never impressed by the durability.
As for your comments on durability, I'll confess to being one of those who dress the tires every time I wash the car. However, those washes are sometimes a couple weeks or more apart and I want the dressing to hold up for as long as possible. Something like Ghost with multi-month durability doesn't really have any meaning for me, but I don't want anything that washes off at the first sign of moisture either. I found the old Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel would wash away with the morning dew. That was a non-starter and one of the few products I ever tossed after only a few uses.
dwaleke
Member
- Nov 5, 2009
- 232
- 5
I’ve been using Angelwax Elixir this year on everything and I’m finding that while it looks great at application the shine wears off in a non uniform fashion and the tires accumulate black like residue over time along with browning. Subsequent cleanings (while not as bad as using a solvent based dressing) take more effort than most water based dressings.
I’m going to set it aside for now.
I’m testing Ghost right now but also picked up ADS Tire+ and CarPro Darkside. I also have 3D ceramic matte tire that I need to revisit.
Tasmania
Well-known member
- Jan 12, 2017
- 1,480
- 720
Yeah you got to scrub the tyres, and applying this product is a tricky one because you think everything is covered only to go back a see a spot.
I use the foam black and yellow curved aplercation.
If you're getting a non uniform look maybe could be that it's not fully cleaned or some part are soaking up the product more then other parts.
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 4,901
- 2,981
- Thread starter
- #79
What I like about using a brush for this task is that you can wash the bristles with APC or tyre cleaner as needed. With foam, it doesn't take much to turn them manky, which in turn compromises the finish and possibly the longevity. While I'm sure you can clean them too, how many actually bother to that and just throw it away for a new one? With a brush, your initial investment is much higher, but then a brush will outlive many, many foam blocks. I'm also pretty fussy with what I get on my hands, using a brush I don't need to wear gloves.
But what brush?
Depending on what sidewall you are dealing with, you need something bigger than a traditional detailing brush. It can be done with those, but its not efficient. I'll break this down into three categories.
PLEASE NOTE - I wouldn't use a brush for solvent based dressings and sealants, that includes products such as Ghost, Q2 Tire and Darkside.
Truck & SUV Tyres - For this, size matters! A soft wheel and body brush will be your fried here. While I use a short handle, I've seen the long handle type being used to allow the user to do the task without bending down. My choice here is the TRC Ultra Utility Brush. In the past, I've had people say that this is a poor choice, mainly because the commenter is confusing it with a similar looking brush from RaggTopp which uses stiff nylon bristles. The UUB uses soft bristles and is very effective for applying runnier dressings such as 253, diluted Perl, Hyper Dressing ect.
Mid - Low Profile Tyres - This category would be for 40-series aspect ratio and above tyres. For this, I absolutely love the XL-sized ultra-soft synthetic brushes that originally went to market via Detail Factory Curveball. While I don't normally endorse the Chinese knock-off thing, but the Curveball is expensive, so I would recommend buying the Amazon/eBay/Maxshine versions.
The beauty of this brush is how it finishes down so nicely that you almost eliminate the need for that final knock-back wipe afterwards. And with so many bristles, you get quicker and more consistent coverage that reaches down into all the grooves and lettering. These brushes will work with both runny liquid and cream-like dressings.
Low - Ultra Low Profile Tyres - This would cover aspect rations below 40-series. Here, I use the boars hair version of these XL-sized brushes. Again, the Detail Factory was the pioneer with the Screwball, but there are cheaper alternatives now. With a slimmer profile, these prevent smearing product onto a freshly cleaned wheel. Like the synthetic version, these super ergonomic to use and will work with runny or thick dressings.
I covered this topic in a separate thread, which includes multiple different options -
So, you have cleaned your tires and selected a dressing, sealant or coating. Now, its time apply said product, but with what?
Different tire products work best with different application methods. Most people would associate tire dressings with some sort of foam applicator, and for the most part, that is a correct assumption. But, like everything detailing, there is so much to choose from.
Tip – this is probably an obvious suggestion for those on this forum, but...
Different tire products work best with different application methods. Most people would associate tire dressings with some sort of foam applicator, and for the most part, that is a correct assumption. But, like everything detailing, there is so much to choose from.
Tip – this is probably an obvious suggestion for those on this forum, but...
And tyre cleaning here -
Tasmania
Well-known member
- Jan 12, 2017
- 1,480
- 720
How do you clean the brushes if say you only have one but want to use multiple tyre dressing.What I like about using a brush for this task is that you can wash the bristles with APC or tyre cleaner as needed. With foam, it doesn't take much to turn them manky, which in turn compromises the finish and possibly the longevity. While I'm sure you can clean them too, how many actually bother to that and just throw it away for a new one? With a brush, your initial investment is much higher, but then a brush will outlive many, many foam blocks. I'm also pretty fussy with what I get on my hands, using a brush I don't need to wear gloves.
But what brush?
Depending on what sidewall you are dealing with, you need something bigger than a traditional detailing brush. It can be done with those, but its not efficient. I'll break this down into three categories.
PLEASE NOTE - I wouldn't use a brush for solvent based dressings and sealants, that includes products such as Ghost, Q2 Tire and Darkside.
Truck & SUV Tyres - For this, size matters! A soft wheel and body brush will be your fried here. While I use a short handle, I've seen the long handle type being used to allow the user to do the task without bending down. My choice here is the TRC Ultra Utility Brush. In the past, I've had people say that this is a poor choice, mainly because the commenter is confusing it with a similar looking brush from RaggTopp which uses stiff nylon bristles. The UUB uses soft bristles and is very effective for applying runnier dressings such as 253, diluted Perl, Hyper Dressing ect.
Mid - Low Profile Tyres - This category would be for 40-series aspect ratio and above tyres. For this, I absolutely love the XL-sized ultra-soft synthetic brushes that originally went to market via Detail Factory Curveball. While I don't normally endorse the Chinese knock-off thing, but the Curveball is expensive, so I would recommend buying the Amazon/eBay/Maxshine versions.
The beauty of this brush is how it finishes down so nicely that you almost eliminate the need for that final knock-back wipe afterwards. And with so many bristles, you get quicker and more consistent coverage that reaches down into all the grooves and lettering. These brushes will work with both runny liquid and cream-like dressings.
Low - Ultra Low Profile Tyres - This would cover aspect rations below 40-series. Here, I use the boars hair version of these XL-sized brushes. Again, the Detail Factory was the pioneer with the Screwball, but there are cheaper alternatives now. With a slimmer profile, these prevent smearing product onto a freshly cleaned wheel. Like the synthetic version, these super ergonomic to use and will work with runny or thick dressings.
I covered this topic in a separate thread, which includes multiple different options -
So, you have cleaned your tires and selected a dressing, sealant or coating. Now, its time apply said product, but with what?
Different tire products work best with different application methods. Most people would associate tire dressings with some sort of foam applicator, and for the most part, that is a correct assumption. But, like everything detailing, there is so much to choose from.
Tip – this is probably an obvious suggestion for those on this forum, but...
And tyre cleaning here -