tire application pads - what do you like

[Danielle]

I use the following:

Cobra foam flex (but I get messy fingers)
Durafoam pad (the dark grey with green colour, I get no messy fingers)
The meguiars tire applicator pad, haven't used it yet as I have others in use now.
And a small applicator that came with the Titanium Black Magic Wet gel from Walmart (2009, Also get messy fingers)

Note:
I always wear nitrile gloves when using tire gel.

 

[builthatch]

No Mess is not contoured (flat).

ahh, nice!

does the gray foam seem like it can separate from the white foam part you hold? because to me that thing seems like a beefy version of the vipers, and to me that would be ideal.

i hear those of you who mentioned the product as being part of the solution - that is why i've waited until now to talk about this. i've been using optimum tire shine and the aforementioned terry covered foam pads for years and years without issue.

however...i have TONS of optimum tire shine, and it's all the old formula...matte. sometimes matte is not what is needed.

i like to use opti-bond sometimes and this is where the terry covered foam pads strike out. with a gel like opti-bond, a foam material is ideal from what i've experienced. though natewood is the exception with the bristle brush and onyx gel. i have a sample of the onyx gel here but haven't opened it since i've been very satisfied with the optimum products.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Bullit, man, what are you talking about? On the No Mess, the "white part you hold" is half of the plastic box that the thing is in, not a foam handle. Trust me, that thing is terrible. I have one, I think I bought it locally, it's an SM Arnold product.

EDIT: Wait a minnit...it does say "white foam handle"...I'll have to go look at mine again, brb..

EDIT EDIT: Ok, mine looks like that...but the foam is one piece (black) and glued into half the box...so my comments apply to the one that looks like the No Mess but isn't the No Mess...and don't apply to the No Mess, I guess...

 

[builthatch]

EDIT: Wait a minnit...it does say "white foam handle"...I'll have to go look at mine again, brb..

yeah the pic def shows white foam along with the description. let me know what you have...maybe they changed it because the style you have sucked? i know the megs one has a plastic handle.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

You got me...if you google "No Mess tire dressing applicator" the first thing that comes up is a Four Star page that shows what I have, including it being used while holding the plastic box half.

 

[builthatch]

You got me...if you google "No Mess tire dressing applicator" the first thing that comes up is a Four Star page that shows what I have, including it being used while holding the plastic box half.

yeah they must have changed it because even the picture on the box shows a white foam handle, vs. the picture on the fourstar site box which clearly shows the package as part of the handle.

AG pic

other pic

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Well, whatever...unless they changed it the black foam isn't any better than an EO Tire swipe...the blue crescent ones I have seem to be a different kind of foam, like the yo-yo shaped ones, and it holds up better.

This is the kind I'm talking about Cobra Tire Dressing Pad but I have the Griot's, which I haven't used yet, because apparently one night while I was sleeping they moved NJ close to the arctic circle...

 

[Rsurfer]

Well, whatever...unless they changed it the black foam isn't any better than an EO Tire swipe...the blue crescent ones I have seem to be a different kind of foam, like the yo-yo shaped ones, and it holds up better.

I agree that the new EO is not as good as the old one. No Mess has held up for me for over a dozen applications. Still the best tire applicator IMO and a handy storage case that keeps the dressing from drying out.

 

[Danielle]

ahh, nice!

does the gray foam seem like it can separate from the white foam part you hold?

YES, after a time the yellow (it's not white) started too seperate of my cobra foam flex. I glued it together this week, but I haven't used it again yet.

 

[05RLS2]

I just buy the multi pack Eagle One tires swipes. They work good for me, and they are cheap enough that once they get too oily I just throw them out