Shine or No Shine – What’s the Right Finish for Tires?

Have you ever seen a brand-new tire? Of course you have, and it probably wasn’t wet or shiny. In fact, it was likely a little dull and waxy looking, a result of the release agents used to make sure it doesn’t stick to its mold during manufacturing. Nevertheless, “tire shine” conditioners represent an entire category of car care products. But is a wet-look, shiny finish the right one for a tire? That depends on who you ask.

For most concours d’elegance and other high-caliber automotive events where the most accurate original appearance is the objective, the only acceptable finish for tires would be described as “natural.” That’s another way of saying “not shiny” (at the expense of looking like no effort was made at all). But for just about any other situation, the decision about gloss comes down to the owner’s preference. And the overwhelming consensus seems to be that a little bit of tire shine looks better than none, in part because it shows that someone’s made the effort to prepare the car.

Silicone vs non-silicone conditioners

Cheap mass-market tire shine products (which shall remain nameless) have given tire dressings a bad reputation among discerning enthusiasts as well as body shop professionals, creating a cultural divide over shiny vs dull. The source of the conflict usually lies with a single ingredient – silicone. And while the presence of silicone in a body shop environment can wreak havoc on the painting process (causing fish-eyes and compromising adhesion), it can actually enhance the durability of tires, despite rumors to the contrary.

The “carrier” component or base liquid used in tire conditioners is usually a greater factor in premature tire aging (dry rot) than the presence of silicone. Most “tire dressings” use a petroleum-derived solvent base to deliver the protective components (including silicone, waxes and other UV inhibitors) onto and into the rubber. As these solvents evaporate, they draw out the natural emollients and waxes that protect the rubber compound’s pliability, degrading the tires over time.

Water-based or non-solvent tire dressings use solvent-free carriers to apply the protective package to the surface. The absence of solvents prevents the dressing from breaking down the tire’s rubber compounds, enhancing durability. Many water-based conditioners are also produced without silicone, in part because silicone doesn’t emulsify in water as readily as it does solvents.

It’s the combination of oil-based carrier and silicone that gives “tire dressing” their distinct wet look and shine, and why water-based “tire conditioners” tend to be dull, even if some do contain silicone. Which one you choose for your vehicle is entirely a personal decision. But regardless of which way you go, here are a few tips to get the best-looking tires from your effort.

Pro Tips

• Only dress clean tires. Between brake dust and road grime, your tires get filthy quickly. Before you dress your tires, clean them (and your wheels) with a quality wheel and tire cleaner. Otherwise your tires may look more brown than black.
• Apply with an applicator. Forget spraying your dressing directly on the tire and spray it directly onto an applicator pad instead. You’ll not only use less product, you also keep it from getting where it doesn’t belong, like your driveway, wheels and bodywork.
• Wipe with a detailing towel. Unless you’re intentionally going for a super wet look, use a towel to blot excess dressing from the tires when you’re done. Even when applied with a pad, tire dressing will pool in the corners of raised letters and other details on the tire face, only to fling on the wheels and bodywork when the car is rolling. Blotting also helps even out the application for a uniform appearance.
• Rotate the tires 180º to dress the flat spots. You’re probably not going to get even coverage on the tire bulge where the rubber meets the road. When you’re all done, move the car so the tire move half a rotation, then touch up where you may have missed. It’s also a great opportunity to review the rest of the tire for inconsistencies.