Tire shiner | FerrariChat

Tire shiner

Discussion in '348/355' started by AceMaster, Jun 16, 2009.

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  1. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,749
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Anyone suggestions on a safe tire shiner? By safe, I mean one that is harmless to the tires ---> I heard Armor All is bad for the tires and eventually causes them to crack.

    I think I saw one from Meguier's called Tire Gel or something like that.

    thanks in advance
     
  2. No Doubt

    No Doubt Seven Time F1 World Champ

    May 21, 2005
    72,740
    Vegas+Alabama
    Full Name:
    Mr. Sideways
    Pure silicon spray. Spray it onto clean tires and do NOT wipe it off. When it dries you'll have jet black tires, and it's harmless to the rubber.
     
  3. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,749
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Awesome, thanks. Where can I get this? I live in a small city with few exotics, so I am not sure if we have a store that will carry a product for low demand...Walmart maybe?
     
  4. junglistluder

    junglistluder F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Mar 23, 2007
    3,609
    VA
    Full Name:
    Brendan
    Any tire gel should work just fine. I've used Armor-All Tire Gel and Turtle Wax Tire Gel with no problems. As long as it is a "tire specific" gel, then you will be fine. and a tip.... let the gel dry, then give it a quick wipe before you drive off. Good to go!
     
  5. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,749
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    ok, thanks. i see the key word is "gel", or No Doubt's recommendation of pure silicone.

    cheers.
     
  6. James-NZ

    James-NZ F1 Veteran

    Jun 26, 2007
    5,822
    Hamilton, NewZealand
    Full Name:
    James
    On the 355 I use the Meguiars Tyre Gel and on my other cars (and the 355 if I'm in a hurry) I use the Silicone spray. CRC make a very good silicone spray, it flicks off the tyres more than the gel though.
     
  7. jm3

    jm3 F1 Rookie

    Oct 3, 2002
    4,364
    United States
    Full Name:
    JM3
    P&S multi dressing.

    My F355 detailing tip:

    Use P21S wheel cleaner, nothing works better. Instead of just cleaning the wheels, I use it all around the wheel wells where the brake dust settles. It works perfect. You can't believe how much brake dust will melt away, even after you washed the car.

    Then wash and wax. Meguiars quik detail.
     
  8. REMIX

    REMIX Two Time F1 World Champ

    Hot Shine. It's good stuff!

    RMX
     
  9. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,948
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    Just got some new wheel cleaner to try... It is made by Mezerna and the pH balance is equal to water...Supposed to be very good....
     
  10. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,745
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    OK, I'm gonna be flamed for this, but here goes......

    For chrissake, man, don't use any "tire shiner". It gets nasty, ruins your slacks when you lean against it, and is just plain unsightly because it makes the tires look like plastic. Just keep the rubber clean and fresh. Paint should shine. Tires should be rubber.
    Some of my best friends are tire shiner-type guys. It's kinda like when your best friend has a comb-over. Somebody really needs to tell them.....everybody knows.
     
  11. gf1red

    gf1red Formula Junior

    Mar 5, 2006
    413
    Staten Island N.Y.
    Full Name:
    Mike G.
    I use to use Griots tire shine until I had 3M put behind my front wheel wells and my rear bumper. The installer said that tire shine discolors the 3M over time so now I just wash the tires on leave them alone.
     
  12. rynoshark

    rynoshark Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 6, 2004
    1,031
    Pacific Northwest
    Be careful with any greasy tire conditioner if you tend to push your car hard in corners. It can cause the tires to be extremely slippery if the gel/conditioner gets on the tread (or wherever the tire deforms under load). It does wear off fairly quickly but if you apply and then immediately take out for a spirited run you might be in for a surprise.

    Once had this done to my race car when it was being shown prior to the race. It was quite surprising how noticeable this was. After the first hard lap or two it was basically gone (normal pace lap would only wear of main part on tread).
     
  13. Cardigon

    Cardigon Rookie

    May 24, 2008
    36
    Peoria, AZ
    Full Name:
    Jonathan
    Slacks??? Friends having combovers??? How old are you people anyway? I wear jeans and am 31. No combovers here!!!!
     
  14. darkkaangel

    darkkaangel Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 20, 2007
    1,265
    North Texas
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    Umm.. I think I may be one plugzit's said shiner-type friends, but in my defense I use Black Magic tire wet foam.
    You just spray it on the tire and leave it, it cleans the the tire kinda like scrubbing bubbles and leaves a clean surface with no wiping or effort and it may shine a little.
    Forgive me Bruce! :)
     
  15. vvassallo

    vvassallo F1 Veteran

    Aug 4, 2006
    8,316
    Palos Verdes
    Full Name:
    Vince V
    #15 vvassallo, Jun 17, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2009
    Any product you spray on and leave to dry leaves a surface of chemical that is not rubber or anything in the tire. It's not paint either, but you can equate it to that. You can see this for yourself if you apply then wipe off and check the rag. If it's black and not rubber residue coming from the tire, then don't use that stuff. Clean with solvent - kerosene works well, then coat with a good rubber protectant, not Armor All, and wipe off. If you concours, then you might want to put that other crap on them, but remember the paint analogy. Your tires are supposed to look llike rubber, not plastic, and should not be greasy to the touch.

    I have used silicon, but I am always concerned about getting that stuff on the paint which is really bad because you should use solvent to remove it, then rewax - kind of a pain just to make the tires shiny. Spray rag far away from car and apply in that case. What's so bad about silicon? Those little silicon molecules prevent wax from adhering to the paint and can actually prevent paint from adhering to the primer in repairs. Which is why you need to check the ingredients of modern waxes that replace go old Zymol or carnuba.
     
  16. AFASTA1

    AFASTA1 Rookie

    Jun 4, 2008
    37
    Montclair NJ
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    i just got my '98 355 Spider 6 weeks ago and was amazed at how new the tires looked (they had 2000 mi on them). i've used plenty of armour all and Meguiar's tire shine products over the years but these looked like they came right off the showroom floor. upon closer inspection i saw what looked like black paint where the rim meets the rubber. i googled black tire paint and found a "permanent water based paint" specifically designed for tires.

    http://www.millertire.com/repairs.asp


    does anyone have any experience with this product?
     
  17. hacker-pschorr

    hacker-pschorr Formula Junior

    Sep 27, 2006
    584
    Land of Lambeau
    +1

    Even worse when people actually shine up the tread, friend of mine did this on his motorcycle (not kidding). He didn't make it very far past the driveway.
     
  18. Zanny1

    Zanny1 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 19, 2003
    1,107
    Arizona
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Agree 100%. Stuff often turns brown and is a stinker to clean off. I prefer the natural look of clean rubber and specifically tell my shop NOT to put anything on the tires following a service and clean-up. Plus the stuff gets all over the side of the car, the wheels, and yes will permanently stain your pants, wife's clothes......... anybody that happens to lean against the tire.
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,028
    USA
    Only when over applied. When used judiciously, it is fine. As far as the look, that is simply personal preference, some prefer to use nothing, and simply scrub the tire well during a car wash.
     
  20. 330GT2+2

    330GT2+2 Formula Junior

    Nov 19, 2005
    584
    Texas
    Full Name:
    330gt2+2
    Zaino "perfect tire gloss"........best I've seen.
     

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