Silicone vs non silicone tire dressing

Use a high quality dressing that contains a formulated silicone that won't damage the surface like 303 Aerospace Protectant or Lexol Vinylex. These are the only two I use and highly recommend.

You can also use 303 on dry carbon fiber, boats, and doesn't have a shiny appearance. Vinylex gives a partially matte finish, I would probably use this for Concours on the sidewalls.

Both of these contain contain PDMS (polydimethalsilicone) which will not prematurely cause cracking or damage the plasticizers.

 

P.E.R.L is another great product that you can dilute to have different finishes. I use it straight on the tires and it is shiny for about an hour and then gets a really nice low shine just above a matte finish. You can get that at Carpro-us .com

 

For what it's worth, there is nothing wrong with using OTC ArmorAll. It is in fact water-based and will not harm anything. That being said, it's pretty shiny and does attract road grime so it's not my favorite.

I use 303 most of the time, it leaves a very "new tire" shine that's not super noticeable.

 

Correct, ArmorAll has been reformulated so it's safe to use. But that slick, greasy to touch appearance is better left in old John Travolta movies.

 

'Bacon Grease'.

 

+1 for PERL. Great stuff. One that I find reaching for all the time.

 

The OP was asking about how tire dressing effects rubber, not the finish.

Considering the short amount of time the tires last on our cars, if driven like Enzo intended, and the five year replacement recommendation, does it really matter?

(Flame suit on)
Alden

 

303 is a great product -- looks great and also has UV sunblock protection.

I didn't realize Armorall had been reformulated to be "safe". I still wouldn't use it, but good to know.

 

I think you are gloating on the wrong forum.

Alden

 

I bought this stuff at a car show years ago called Super Shine Detail. Aerosol spray that leaves a light shine and doesn't fly off. Only available online. I've used it for years. Fast and easy to apply.
Looks Wet No Mess Tire Shine - Super Shine Detail Products, LLC

 

Haha!

 

Another vote for 303, adds a nice matte finish and UV protection to the tire, and it doesn't sling off onto your car.

 

+1 for 303. Works a treat.

 

Back in the '60s we used black Kiwi shoe polish. I still do. Holds up better than any of the junk on the market today.
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sadly, in the '60's I was using Brake Fluid on my tires

talk about ill informed!
stopped using it when it was pointed out the results of using that stuff on my tires.......youth!
that was way before all the great products now available

 

The 303 UV blocking works well. I used 303 on some solar-powered deck lights to protect the color from fading (which reviews indicated they would in a year or so) and the color hasn't faded at all in 3 years (I reapply 303 about once a year).

What is more interesting, is that I accidentally put 303 on the solar charging window of the first one (before it occurred to me that that wasn't a good idea), and that individual light (out of 14) comes on an hour or two sooner than the other lights because the sensor thinks it's dark before it is dark. It still lets UV through though, because the battery on that light still seems to charge pretty well, but the 303 definitely blocks quite a bit of UV.

Very interesting solution. I bet it does last better than any of the modern products.

 

Learn something new everyday...😆