tire application pads - what do you like

builthatch

builthatch

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for years i've been using round terry covered foam pads. i have a bunch of them and store them in bags. when they need it, i wash them. i've re-sewn the edges in the past with a heavier duty line and they hold up great to massive use and cleaning. i'm a wash and reuse guy, as opposed to use a couple times and toss guy.

the problem with them is they don't apply gel well (such as opti-bond), as they absorb more than, say, a foam. and they are a pain in the ass to quickly apply product close to the lip of the rim. it can be done, but it is immensely easier with the flat edge foam pad..

so, i ordered these things
classic-motoring_2144_12575015
from a site and while they work great, they have TERRIBLE durability. the black foam comes off the yellow "handle" very quickly. junk. same things you see at the mass retailers under other brands.

that seems to be an issue with a lot of these types of products, from what i'm reading. also, the contoured ones have no use to me since i apply dressing to 35 series tires up to 75 series tires. one contour doesn't work.

i have a bunch of the multi colored dual density "german" wolfgang pads - i was thinking about trying them for this, but i can see them being a little messy since there isn't really a handle, so to speak. and i'm not sure how durable they would be, since i only use them every so often for hand application in tight spots of compound/polish.

what is everyone using for gel application? i would like something that is flat edged and durable that won't come apart after a couple uses.

some ideas-

these resemble the POS ones i bought, but seem to be much bigger and the foams are different proportions - Cobra Flex Foam Tire Dressing Applicators 3 Pack
the reviews look good - even durability was mentioned.

i was thinking about using something like this - Griot's Garage Mini 3 Inch Pad Holder, hand polishing pad holder with a 4" foam pad of whatever density - i have a bazillion to choose from. probably LC gray. the LC or even cyclo pads are pretty durable. it's round, yes, but the somewhat firmness of the foam would allow me to get close to the lips with precision and ease.

the polishin' pal would do the same thing, but i'm not paying 24.99 for the combo - i don't need the combo, just the pal.
 
I've used terry applicators in the past and just started using foam tire dressing applicators and love the way they apply, nice and even with both gel and liquid.
I use them all day long and they seem to have held up nicely as long as your not using them aggressively (off road tires chew them up)
 
I use these stain applicators that I get from Harbor Freight tools. They're durable, soft enough to wax polished paint with and cheap enough to toss after a few uses if you don't feel like washing them.

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Impressions said:
I've used terry applicators in the past and just started using foam tire dressing applicators and love the way they apply, nice and even with both gel and liquid.
I use them all day long and they seem to have held up nicely as long as your not using them aggressively (off road tires chew them up)
Click to expand...

which ones? because the ones i had, the viper brand...i used very lightly only a few times and found the foam to separate pretty dang quickly. it's almost like they are made to be disposable.
 
Those Viper ones are junk. Too much yellow foam, not enough black foam, and they fall apart. I know what site you're talking about. Their applicators are cheaper...for a reason.
I got a buddy of mine to trade a Cobra applicator something else, and I loved the Cobra. It's just right for all the tires I've use it on. I'm gonna pick up another when I place an order.
 
I'm using the Cobra swipes and they seem to holding up pretty good. I use a different one for each of my tire dressings so I don't cross contaminate them.
 
builthatch said:
which ones? because the ones i had, the viper brand...i used very lightly only a few times and found the foam to separate pretty dang quickly. it's almost like they are made to be disposable.
Click to expand...

Cobra flex foam

I don't use gel tire shine alot.......
For liquid shine I spray 2-3 sprays onto foam and its enough to do one tire
If I do 4 or 5 washes and all tires get shined sometimes I don't have to spray each time
also depends on size and style of tire, works great on serated tires IMO
 
I used to buy the cheap applicators, and just toss them once they get worn out. Now I use a brush that I found. I spray the brush with my 1:1 OptiBond and paint it on. Makes getting in all the nooks and crannies of todays tires very easy.
 
I buy the foam paint brushed from Lowes. Nice clean application and they are cheap. I keep them in a ziplock bag when not in use. When they fall apart, I just toss them. One applicator will last me a couple months of use once a week.
 
Ah, the seemingly never-ending search for a decent tire applicator. The Eagle One Tire Swipes are ok, but they are messy and break down. Those ones in the box are terrible, the foam breaks down and then you're scraping the plastic box against the wheel and the tire. Those Vipers are junk as noted and misleadingly much smaller than they appear on the website. The foam paint brushes never work for me, either. I bought a pack of the Cobras, but what I don't get is that the hand-grip slots are in the black foam instead of the non-porous handle--how is that supposed to keep your hands clean?

I have some old blue crescent shaped foam apps that I got from ADS that seem to be pretty good but they don't sell them anymore. I also have one of the "yo-yo" applicators and the Griot's "surbuf" one on deck, but haven't tried them yet. And so the search continues...
 
Anyone have a video of someone using a foam brush to dress a tire?


I use regular foam pads used to wax the car. It works well, I just need to be sure to make it an fairly smooth even coat and make sure not miss spots. For the lettering I just press harder. It works well, just wondering if someone is a bit faster. I dislike having to wipe a tire down with a cloth afterwards.
 
I discovered it was easier to find a new product to make the job easier, it was the product not the pad.

I used several gel formula's last summer and had problems finding an easy inexpensive applicator that made the job less labor intensive. I predominately used the cobra applicators and the Wolfgang gel and the results were great, however there was a lot of labor involved to ensure complete coverage.

After reading some threads I tried the Poorboy's bold n' bright (spray) sample and switched immediately!! It doens't matter what applicator you use it goes on with ease and I can do all four tires in the time it took to do one tire with the gel, it looks just as good, leave on for 30 minutes and little if no sling off. :dblthumb2:
 
Honestly, I've used foam pads, no mess, terry covered applicators and the best device I have ever used and still do to this day is (drum roll please)....

GOOD OLD 2" PAINTBRUSH!!!! - applicator
PINNACLE BLACK ONYX GEL!!! - product

I find to have better control over product distribution, and the fibers allow me to get properly into the lettering and textured spots on the tire... IMO it's the best thing out there.
 
I retire my foam hand applicator pads that I use to wax with. I use a nitrile glove so mess isnt an issue.

I keep meaning to try Daves method with the little hair and nail brush.
 
builthatch said:
it's contoured though...doesn't that cause issues with the different profiles? i remember using similar things back in the day and the contour was only right for a certain range of tire profiles.
Click to expand...
No Mess is not contoured (flat).
 
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