What tire dressing do you use?

[Dubbin1]

Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel I hated this stuff at first but I finally found a process that I'm happy with.

 

[Flash Gordon]

I use a Blue solvent base dressing, Gives a nice dark shine and great durability with no sling.

x2...5 gallons for right around $50 Im the MAN

If I happen to run out, I use Megs Hot Shine rops:

 

[Bullitt AK]

V.R.P. it shines high, i buff it down some

 

[Blackthorn One]

I really like Mequiar's #40. It looks very rich and black, giving a nice sheen, but not a shine, and looks very classy, like you would expect tires at the Pebble Beach Concours De Elegance to look. It seems to last about 2-3 weeks, too, so the durability is there. The fact that you can get it over the counter and it is fairly reasonably priced doesn't hurt, either.
I tried Formula 303 Aerospace protectant recently, but it only seems to last asbout a week, and doesn't seem to penetrate like Mequiar's does, and looks a bit too shiny for my tastes. I suppose it offers more protection, if you can keep it on. I've tried letting it soak for a half hour or so, and then buffing off the excess, but it still doesn't seem to last. I was expecting more from that product.
I've also used Mequiar's Endurance and The Wax Shop vinyl and rubber dressing.
Mequiar's endurance lasts 3-4 weeks, and does look nice, but makes the tires look a bit too shiny, looking a bit like black plastic, and comes in a squeeze bottle, which makes it awkward to get into the tire's lettering without wasting it or getting sloppy. That's just one coat. If you use two coats, then it gets really shiny, and that look I don't like.
The Wax Shop leather rubber vinyl dressing is an excellent product that I feel offers excellent protection, and is my go to product for rubber trim and seals. It makes things look very rich and black, I think the richest I've seen yet, while not looking too shiny.( However, the stuff I have is a cream, and not a spray, and is 21 year old bottle of product They don't make the cream any more, so I can't speak to the newer product's effectiveness. I say this because I just tried to do a search for The Wax Shp products and couldn't find this. Fortunately I don't use much of this product.)
I've tried those clear silicone protectants, too, but they just make things look glossy, and if it was a bit brown before, then it will stay brown.
The Meg's #40 has some cleaning ability, and so with a little rubbing, it makes things nice and black. That, plus the fact that it is a spray product for easier application, makes it my preferred tire product.
I have never tried any of AGs tire or rubber products, and would not object to a free sample.
I REALLY would like to try Griot's garage rubber dressing, but it is so expensive that even if I liked it, I wouldn't use it on a regular basis, only for special occasions.

 

[newbdetailer]

M40 seems a pretty good choice as far as OTC availability. I have not had any sling using it (but I do have mud flaps)

Here are my tires with M40 on them.. It was applied yesterday and was driven for 300 miles.

It does seem to last about 2-3 weeks, but a little Westleys bleeche white and all is removed very quickly (a good thing)


The absolute best tire dressing that I have used is the Michelin 3 in 1 tire shine (too bad they don't make it anymore)
It is the best looking dressing I have tried and lasts pretty good and I have had no sling at all.

These tires were dressed over a month ago with the Michelin 3 in 1 and have a couple hundred miles on them after applied.

Both of the these tires were dressed with and Eagle 1 tire swipe (the older softer one)

 

[Erik Mejia]

x2...5 gallons for right around $50

Who makes this "Blue Solvent" product?

 

[outlawtim]

Who makes this "Blue Solvent" product?

The Blue Solvent base dressing I like to use is call Super Stuff Made By Production
Car Care Products, Alot of the guys who sell products off there trucks to detail shops and car dealers carry solvent base dressing to. I also have used Pro's Solvent dressing along with Carbrite and Auto Magic. Hi-Temp has one to. To me it gives a nice dark shine and holds up really well with no sling.Ardex has a good one to.

 

[MDRX8]

Duragloss Tire & Rubber Mat Dressing (TMD) #253

 

[superd]

I've been using ArmorAll Extreme Shine Gel for over a year and love it. It's inexpensive and leaves an impressive shine that my customers always notice.

Since the original post I bought some of the new WG tire gel. But I didn't notice much of a difference between the WG and Armorall to justify the cost. I plan on trying the Meguiars Hot Shine next.

Here's my pro/con's between the two products;

Armorall
I did try blotting the Armorall after application and it worked very well and stopped about 98% of the "sling off", just a few spots were noticed. This was a marked improvement from my previous application method. Armorall sticks to the tire very well, even after washing and scrubbing with a Wesley's bleach white cleaner it still retains it's shine......no need for another application. I was very impressed with the products durability. For the money and availability it's going to be tough to beat.

WG Gel
I noticed you had to allow a lot of time prior to driving with this product. It did "sling off" just a little at first (dissappointing). After washing the shine diminished very little. It didn't seem to hold up as well as the Armorall, but it sure smells better and it's definitely easier to apply and goes on sparingly.

I will post later Meguiars.

:buffing:

 

[Rob T]

I really like Mequiar's #40. It looks very rich and black, giving a nice sheen, but not a shine, and looks very classy, like you would expect tires at the Pebble Beach Concours De Elegance to look. It seems to last about 2-3 weeks, too, so the durability is there. The fact that you can get it over the counter and it is fairly reasonably priced doesn't hurt, either.
I tried Formula 303 Aerospace protectant recently, but it only seems to last asbout a week, and doesn't seem to penetrate like Mequiar's does, and looks a bit too shiny for my tastes. I suppose it offers more protection, if you can keep it on. I've tried letting it soak for a half hour or so, and then buffing off the excess, but it still doesn't seem to last. I was expecting more from that product.
I've also used Mequiar's Endurance and The Wax Shop vinyl and rubber dressing.
Mequiar's endurance lasts 3-4 weeks, and does look nice, but makes the tires look a bit too shiny, looking a bit like black plastic, and comes in a squeeze bottle, which makes it awkward to get into the tire's lettering without wasting it or getting sloppy. That's just one coat. If you use two coats, then it gets really shiny, and that look I don't like.
The Wax Shop leather rubber vinyl dressing is an excellent product that I feel offers excellent protection, and is my go to product for rubber trim and seals. It makes things look very rich and black, I think the richest I've seen yet, while not looking too shiny.( However, the stuff I have is a cream, and not a spray, and is 21 year old bottle of product They don't make the cream any more, so I can't speak to the newer product's effectiveness. I say this because I just tried to do a search for The Wax Shp products and couldn't find this. Fortunately I don't use much of this product.)
I've tried those clear silicone protectants, too, but they just make things look glossy, and if it was a bit brown before, then it will stay brown.
The Meg's #40 has some cleaning ability, and so with a little rubbing, it makes things nice and black. That, plus the fact that it is a spray product for easier application, makes it my preferred tire product.
I have never tried any of AGs tire or rubber products, and would not object to a free sample.
I REALLY would like to try Griot's garage rubber dressing, but it is so expensive that even if I liked it, I wouldn't use it on a regular basis, only for special occasions.

I'm still looking for that "perfect" tire dressing, but I don't think it exists. Just tried Opti-Bond and don't care for the looks at all.

I realized that I have Meg's #40, so I tried it on my tires last weekend. This is exactly the look that I have been looking for and it was right under my nose the whole time!! rops:

As you say, it makes the tires nice and dark, with good gloss but without going overboard. And....it didn't sling!

The fact that it also has cleaners in it is a bonus, and it applies just as easy (if not easier) than a gel.

We will see how long it lasts.

 

[Shade Tree]

Chemical Guys Silk Shine

No sling, no mess, dry to the touch and not overly bright for the tires. Just a clean look that tells everyone the car was just detailed.

 

[watermark]

:whs: Black Onyx is only the best tire dressing ever! A little goes a long way. I got the sample first, after that I just bit the bullet and paid the $25 for the 16 ounce. Worth every penny, IMHO. :dblthumb2:

You must drive a dark car, because BO definitely slings. Used it this weekend on my Alpine White 335i, and within 20 miles, I had the tell tale little black spots on my quarter panel. I applied it using a foam applicator, very thin coats, wiped off excess and allowed it to dry for 24 hours. Still slung. Not as bad as others, but I want NO sling.

I have been using Four Star Ultimate Tire Protectant Spray with a foam applicator, and although it doesn't have much shine, it makes the tire look brand new with NO sling.

 

[rweekley]

Poorboy's Bright and Bold

I have have been using it all summer. The biggest reason I like it is because it give me a nice shine, but no sling, since it is water based.