The Best Tire Shine (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

So now you’ve seen our guide to the best products on the market, how do you know which one is right for you? After all, as we’ve seen there are a number of brands, even a number of different application types out there all with slightly different formulas, claims, and purposes.

Well, the first step could be to look at some questions that are frequently asked about tire shine products.

Why Use Tire Shine?

We’ll go into this in greater detail in the below section on the benefits of using these products on your tires, but broadly speaking most people will be using them simply to make their tires look great.

What is it Made Of?

The product is a formula of various chemicals and polymers, the exact composition of which is a closely guarded secret of their respective companies and manufacturers.

That being said, they can typically be categorized as one of two types – either water based or solvent based.

• Water Based – A more natural option, these products are typically made from naturally occurring oils and polymers suspended in water. Because of this, they are kinder to the rubber that makes up the tire, meaning they can be applied more often. This is handy because water-based products will generally not be as long lasting as solvent based. They also don’t produce quite the same intensity of finish, so if you are looking for very high shine then solvent based products could be best.
• Solvent Based – Generally made of the same ingredients as water-based except that they are suspended in solvents instead of water. Solvents can be more abrasive to the rubber of tires – though they would need a lot of applications before serious damage occurred. Solvent-based products are thought to “bond” with the tire better, making them generally longer lasting. They can also produce a shinier finish for high impact, statement tires.

What are the Different Application Types?

These days, most of these products come as either gels or as sprays, and we have provided examples of both in the above product guide.

• Gel – Typically cheaper than spray style products. They are more time consuming, as the product needs to be directly applied. This hands-on approach, however, allows for more direct control over how much of the product is applied.
• Spray – Usually more expensive, however also typically faster to apply. That being said, to avoid the dreaded “sling” effect – where excess product is thrown off the tire onto the car bodywork – some wiping down may be required unless a fast drying, non-oily spray is selected.

What Factors Should I Consider when Buying?

There are a number of factors that you should bear in mind when selecting your tire shine product, for example:

Ease of Application – as we discussed above, these products typically come as sprays or gel based. Both are relatively easy to apply, but as we said gels may be a little slower but they allow for ease of control. Ultimately, it’s up to you whether you prefer to rub on a gel or spray on a liquid.

Good UV Protection – One of the best secondary benefits of these products (after making your tires look better) is the UV protection they offer. Most of the products we recommended above provide this to some degree. Just like sun cream, some products offer more protection than others. If you live in a particularly sunny area, it could be an idea to invest in a product with better protection.

Shiny Finish? – Again as we discussed above these products can leave a range of finishes. To a certain extent, the finish of the tire can be affected by how long or how much of the product is applied with longer exposure leading a shinier finish.

Restoration – If you’re not really looking for a very shiny, stand out tire then it could be an idea to go for a product described as having a Matte or Satin finish.  These products will provide a more subtle finish, less attention-grabbing and more like simply returning a tire to a fresh from the factory appearance.

Benefits of Tire Shine

As far as we’re concerned, there are three main benefits to using a tire shine products, which are:

• The make tires shiny – Probably the most obvious advantage but still worth making the point! These products are mainly used to return old looking tires back to the appearance they have when they are fresh out of the factory. If you take pride in the appearance of your vehicle then why stop at the tires? Old looking tires ruin the image of the entire car itself, potentially offsetting all the hard work, effort – and money – you have invested elsewhere.
• They keep them shiny – Not only do these products work to add shine and gleam to a tire’s surface, many of them also come with built-in protection against grime and dirt to keep the tire looking great for longer. After all, you don’t want to be cleaning them every other day, do you?
• They protect them – Finally, a number of these products also offer protection again things that could potentially harm the tires, in particular, UV light from sunshine. These harmful rays can damage the natural rubber compounds in your tires, so using a tire shine product with UV protection could help extend their lifespan stop them cracking or turning an unattractive brown color.

How To Apply Tire Shine

Each brand will have slightly different application instructions so you should read the instructions for your product carefully. There will also, of course, be different installation instructions depending on whether you choose a gel or spray-based product.

Broadly speaking, however, there are some general rules that you should follow to ensure that you achieve the best possible results:

Don’t use the product on hot tires. The surface heat will affect the products ability to successfully bond with the tire surface. Instead, only use on tires that feel cool to the touch.

After applying the product, try to avoid leaving the tires in direct sunlight. Again, the heat will affect the ability to dry properly and bond with the tire surface. Move the car into the shade/throw a sheet over it before you apply.

Just as bad news as sunshine is rain! Only apply the product to tires that are completely dry.

Finally, the cleaner the tire surface the better the end result will be. So give the tire a good wash and scrub before application. Remember what we said about rain, however. After you’ve cleaned it, thoroughly dry the tire with a towel before proceeding.