For those who enjoy car care, a little tip I've learned and adopted in the detailing world for tires.
Products used: Armor All (AA) Tire Foam (orange can, black cap), Armor All (AA) Tire Gel (orange squeeze bottle), and a generic degreaser.
A little background, for those who don't know, I used to have a detailing business on the side, and still do some work here and there. Of course I still take care of my own and family's vehicles.
Proper tire dressing is very important, and not just for aesthetics. Proper products will greatly help the rubber and protect the tires.
The way I like to clean tires is to take either Purple Power, Simple Green, Meguiar's Super Degreaser, etc. I then take these and dilute them 1:1. Spray on the tires after wetting them, and scrub, then rinse.
Apply the tire foam on the tire after you've cleaned the tire/wheels (and car). Applying the foam is one of my last steps when I detail a vehicle. I first clean/wash the wheels/tires before I wash the car, this way the dirty water will not splash on the newly washed surface of the car.
It doesn't matter if the tire is wet or not when applying AA Foam. Usually the tires are still semi-wet when I get to this step. I foam all 4 tires, let settle for about 1 min., and then take an old bath towel. I go around and wipe/clean all tires. It's usually good to do this when there is still foam on the tires. The foam is a GREAT cleaner and a good base for the next step.
Then I apply the AA Tire gel. The gel goes a very very long way since the foam makes a great base. It also helps last a lot longer. Gel is a very good durable tire dressing.
This process is something that is very cheap than anyone can do.
There are a few tires that are not compatible with these products. Reason being is these products contain silicone and possible might turn your tires brown. The only ones I am familiar with like these are drag radial's and other soft composite tires. For these, I use Meguiar's Non-Silicone dressing.
Sounds Good, Just let me know when you are ready and I'll help you out. I'm sure if you have been eyeing Adam's that you know that most of our products are water-based, 0-silicone-based!
Also don't forget that all NC Members always receive 10% your orders by presenting the Coupon Code "NissanClub" at checkout online or over the phone!
Good info, again blacksentra07. I tried out a lot of different tire shine products and wasn't very pleased until I started using the Armor All Tire Gel (orange squeeze bottle) you mentioned. It lasts much longer than any of the other products I've tried. I haven't used both the foam and the gel, I'll look out for that next time I head to the autostore.
Good info, again blacksentra07. I tried out a lot of different tire shine products and wasn't very pleased until I started using the Armor All Tire Gel (orange squeeze bottle) you mentioned. It lasts much longer than any of the other products I've tried. I haven't used both the foam and the gel, I'll look out for that next time I head to the autostore.
I know around here, Wal-Mart by far has the best price on the AA Foam can. Only $2.67, where as at auto retail stores, it is anywhere from $4-7, total rip off!
Even in the detailing world where most professionals use boutique products, AA gel is still always mentioned as one of the best. Simply one of the few OTC (over the counter) detailing products that are any good.
I use Nytech gel. shit glistens. and when that's low, some blue tire shine that smells like blueberries. it's great on black trim. we got some white stuff too, but i hate it, it doesn't shine, it more just cleans/protects.
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Anything with silicone in it is damaging to the rubber. You're just making the tires look shiny and not protecting anything. I'm surprised you use it when you own a detail business.
Thats why i never use anything from AA.
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Anything with silicone in it is damaging to the rubber. You're just making the tires look shiny and not protecting anything. I'm surprised you use it when you own a detail business.
Thats why i never use anything from AA.
That's a contradicting statement. Silicone is not going to harm the tires unless you apply it daily for 20+ years... literally.
Silicone is in alllll kinds of detailing products including "boutique" products. If it's that harmful, then why does every over the counter product contain silicone?
Yes, water-based dressing are "safer", but the shine and durability is greatly sacrificed. As previously said, some tires and rubber compositions are much more prone to "browning" from silicone, thus I will use a silicone-free dressing.
That's a contradicting statement. Silicone is not going to harm the tires unless you apply it daily for 20+ years... literally.
Silicone is in alllll kinds of detailing products including "boutique" products. If it's that harmful, then why does every over the counter product contain silicone?
Yes, water-based dressing are "safer", but the shine and durability is greatly sacrificed. As previously said, some tires and rubber compositions are much more prone to "browning" from silicone, thus I will use a silicone-free dressing.
You're right. You're logic is flawed though, by the same idea, you could say why do they sell cigarettes over the counter when they are harmful?
They produce temporary results that majority of the public is happy with since the product "worked" for them-it made the tire shiny. However, when their materials degrade after ten years of using silicone products, then what?
Silicone products do last longer and have better results. I just don't feel safe using anything silicone on my tires or interior plastic when i hate the greasy fake shine look and i've heard so much about the damaging affects of silicone on ALL rubber and plastic.
Ah well, agree to disagree. I think it's just a matter of preference.
You're right. You're logic is flawed though, by the same idea, you could say why do they sell cigarettes over the counter when they are harmful?
They produce temporary results that majority of the public is happy with since the product "worked" for them-it made the tire shiny. However, when their materials degrade after ten years of using silicone products, then what?
Silicone products do last longer and have better results. I just don't feel safe using anything silicone on my tires or interior plastic when i hate the greasy fake shine look and i've heard so much about the damaging affects of silicone on ALL rubber and plastic.
Ah well, agree to disagree. I think it's just a matter of preference.
I absolutely agree with you about everything.
If I applied tire dressing weekly, I wouldn't use silicone. This is just one way I apply dressings, I have numerous other tire dressings, all of which are water-based. I just use this armor all combo about 1-2 a month.
Like you said, I never ever use siliconed products on anything else. The armor all stuff mentioned above is the only AA products I have.
If I applied tire dressing weekly, I wouldn't use silicone. This is just one way I apply dressings, I have numerous other tire dressings, all of which are water-based. I just use this armor all combo about 1-2 a month.
Like you said, I never ever use siliconed products on anything else. The armor all stuff mentioned above is the only AA products I have.
Hah, then we don't agree to disagree, we just agree to....agree?
I tend to wash my car once a week, so i use a water based dressing. I like your idea to use the combo 1-2 times a month though b/c i do like the long lasting bonus. I might start doing that. I have to pick up a bunch of detail supplies this weekend anyway. You think it would be ok to use this method 1-2 times a month and water based dressings for the more often times i wash my car?
Hah, then we don't agree to disagree, we just agree to....agree?
I tend to wash my car once a week, so i use a water based dressing. I like your idea to use the combo 1-2 times a month though b/c i do like the long lasting bonus. I might start doing that. I have to pick up a bunch of detail supplies this weekend anyway. You think it would be ok to use this method 1-2 times a month and water based dressings for the more often times i wash my car?
Yes, it wouldn't be a problem.
Because the AA Foam has silicone in it, use this as a "trial". Once the tires are dry, apply this foam. IF your tires "brown" at ALL, then I would personally stick to using pure water-based dressings. IF they do brown, just take a simple degreaser and spray it on the tires, and lightly scrub, then wash away. I always dilute degreasers 1:1 also.
I've really only ran across a few tires that are very sensitive to "browning." Most of which are drag radials and other rubber composites that are very soft.
Example: I detailed a 02? Jaguar XK8 last year which had a very high performance Michelin summer tire. These particular tires didn't pass the foam test, so I re-cleaned them. Then applied Meguiar's Silicone free dressing with 100% satisfactory.
i am sorry but armor all is POS when it comes to tire shine/foam/liquid w/e
i have been using advance auto parts brand which is like 1$ cheaper but oh boy does it work so much better. not only did AA dry out my old tires but it doesnt last as long as generic brand, thats just my 2c
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