Are you’re the kind of person that likes to fully detail your car? Or maybe you just want to keep it looking half decent. Either way, there are many products available on the market to keep it looking nice.
You can buy everything from special paint sealants to high-grade waxes, ceramic coatings and beyond. However, if you’re not also cleaning your tires, it kind of takes away from that fresh and clean look.
Using good tire shine products can be the answer. Gone are the days where a tire shine formula was some goopy mess that lasted for a day or two. Today, we have a huge range of products that offer all sorts of finishes, can help prevent fade, and last for a couple of weeks.
We’ve chosen a pretty good selection that should cover all eventualities. Whether you’re looking for that deep gloss shine or silk matte shine, spray-on or foam applicator, we’ve got you covered. They all have their plus points, and they all offer different things in one way or another. So, keep reading to see what works for you and then make your choice.
The Best Tire Shine
Car Guys says that this is the best tire shine product on the market. That could be true, but only if it suits your needs. If it doesn’t, then it isn’t.
It offers a deep wet shine thanks to the patented polymer additives within the formula. It’s safe to use on vinyl, plastics, and all faded rubber (if you want the ‘deep wet shine’) to restore them to their former glory. It also offers a degree of UV protection. This should help to eliminate fade or degradation to the rubber over time as well.
It’s quick and easy to use and it’s dry to the touch – a non-greasy formula. Once it has been applied correctly (using the supplied microfiber applicator), it won’t sling off and it won’t cause any mess to the surrounding paintwork.
While the Car Guys make a thing of ‘longevity’ the reality is that the results last for about a week under normal conditions. To be fair to the Car Guys it’s about the same for any other products.
It’s made in the USA, non-toxic, and totally environmentally friendly. The Car Guys offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with the product.
This is a ‘no wipe’ formula according to TriNova. Except that it really does need wiping, especially if you want to control the level of shine that you can apply. A low, medium, or high gloss finish is possible, depending on how long you leave the product applied for before wiping. The longer it’s left between application and wiping off, the shinier it will be.
The USA made formula offers a great level of protection and helps to prevent signs of aging and fading. It also repels dirt, dust, and grime, which, of course, helps to give the impression of a cleaner, slicker tire for longer.
Just like the Car Guys, TriNova says that it outlasts any other product on the market. My answer would also be the same – except maybe a week or so under normal conditions. However, the fact that it helps to keep the tire clean can make a small difference.
TriNova has a reputation for offering great products that the trade also loves. So, it makes sense that this is also a quality tire shine spray.
This tire dressing is slightly different from the rest of the list here. It’s a thick gel rather than a watered-down liquid. Meguiar’s says that this is why it’s the ultimate in long-lasting shine. It easily sees off rain and regular washing thanks to the advanced formulation.
You can customize the level of shine (to a degree) with how it’s applied. The regular shine is achieved through application and waiting twenty minutes (at least) for it to dry and cure. However, you can apply a second coat after ten minutes to increase the shine. Or if you want more of a silk look, wiping the tire immediately after application.
It does need to cure before driving the vehicle though, for at least twenty minutes. Otherwise, the gel can fling off, leaving patterns in the tire. More importantly, the gel can stain bodywork and plastics if left for any length of time. You need to clean this off immediately.
Meguiar’s believes that a gel is the way forward because it won’t run or drip. Also, it’s impossible to get overspray because it’s applied by hand. You will need some sort of applicator as the gel doesn’t come with one in the kit. It’s got good UV protection and the anti-browning advanced polymers help to keep the tires in good condition over a period of time.
Adam’s Polishes Tire Shine is a great product that does exactly what it says.
It comes in a spray applicator bottle, which despite Adam’s saying you should spray onto a foam applicator, works really great if you have big tread blocks that are awkward to cover with a regular applicator. Just spray it on.
It can be applied in multiple layers for a deeper shine. It’s a non-fling and non-greasy formula that leaves a deep lustrous shine that other products struggle to match. If you’re feeling pressed for time, you can just spray & go (with a little time for drying.)
The best results happen when applied as they recommend. The results last for around a week. Overall, it is definitely a great choice for a no-nonsense tire shine product that’s easy to apply and maintain.
Chemical Guys Silk Shine Sprayable Dressing
- Rating: 4.1 / 5
- Brand: Chemical Guys
Here’s another product that’s slightly different. It offers a silk (almost matte) finish to any rubber products that it’s applied to. This also makes it great for interior trims such as dashboards, plastics and those all-weather mats in your truck.
The best way to describe the effect is to imagine a brand new tire. It isn’t shiny, but it does have a sheen to it from the releasing agent when they manufacture the tire. That’s effectively what you’re getting. There’s no better product to recreate the ‘as new’ look for your car if that’s what you’re going for.
Of course, it does all the other stuff – UV protection and anti-fading magic. And the Weather-Tek formula means that it’s pretty tough in hard conditions like extreme rain and sun. It’s non-greasy and safe to use on all modern trim, tires, and plastics. It won’t leave them with deep gloss shine, just a clean and crisp ‘new’ look.
Conclusion
You should understand that these shine products aren’t cleaners (although one says that it can be used to clean.) Before applying them, you do need to make sure that the tires have been cleaned properly and are allowed to dry. Applying a tire shine product to wet tires is a recipe for disaster. It just won’t take and it will leave streaks or patches.
With that said, all of these products are top quality as long as you apply them properly (as per instructions). The balance between value for money, use, and finish would make the Chemical Guys my product of choice, but that’s only because I’m not a huge fan of super-slick gloss finishes.
