I ask this question here on the RV forum because so many seem to have experience with the 303 protectant stuff. Plus, I want to make sure the reliability of my truck and RV tires is priority.That being said, I'm sort of stuck on something. I like my wheels and tires looking good. To me, dirty tires is like wearing a nice suit with dirty, faded shoes. It just takes away from everything.When I was a young teenager (early 80's) who washed his Z-28 almost everyday, I used a product called Westley's Silicone Tire Shine. It was a silicone based tire shine that came in a can. It was awesome. It would shine the tires really well without any sling-off to the rest of the car. But the best part was, the more you used it, the more it would penetrate the surface of the tire so when you washed your tires again, they would look really dark with no fade but they didn't have that glossy look. Just a nice, deep semi-gloss look. But I guess when Black Magic took over Bleche-White tire cleaner, they dropped the Silicone Tire Shine.I have some product I bought at the auto detail supplier but one makes it super glossy and it slings off bad. The other called Mr. Natural looks good but the first time you wash the tires after, it comes right off and the tires are very dull and faded looking.I have the OEM Michelins on my F-350 and G614s on the Vengeance. As I said, I want to maintain reliability first and foremost. So I worry about trying some experiment such as a straight silicone spray like Liquid Wrench makes. I see multiple 303 products on Amazon. Is one preferable for tires? Is there something better?

I use what tire dealers have been using for their displays for years and I've been using since the early 1960's.........liquid floor wax. Works great! -Tom, W3TLN

Tom N wrote:I use what tire dealers have been using for their displays for years and I've been using since the early 1960's.........liquid floor wax. Works great! -Tom, W3TLNAny special brand of wax? Zep 3?

I have been using Aerospace 303 Protectant since 1993. It is SPF 40 and I am will satisfied with it. There are at least 3 products that I have used, the original 303, which I use on the whole exterior of the MH, car, truck, and boat, including all tires. The one for fabrics and the one for plastics.

Tom N wrote:I use what tire dealers have been using for their displays for years and I've been using since the early 1960's.........liquid floor wax. Works great! -Tom, W3TLNInteresting! Gotta try that!

Tire Shine | Good Sam Community

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Sep 23, 2016
303 for our tires since I knew it was a product. 75 years old and never had a tire issue yet. Maybe I should stop driving ya think?

chevman
EsoxLucius
Explorer
Sep 23, 2016
FireDog Tire Shine
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Sep 23, 2016
harold1946 wrote:
I have been using Aerospace 303 Protectant since 1993. It is SPF 40 and I am will satisfied with it. There are at least 3 products that I have used, the original 303, which I use on the whole exterior of the MH, car, truck, and boat, including all tires. The one for fabrics and the one for plastics.

Ditto what he said.

BTW - before Michelin came out with their own tire care products, (admitted) use of anything *other than* 303 would void the warranty.

~
gbopp
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
TBammer wrote:
@GaryAndGayle: 303, eh? UV protection makes a lot of sense. How does it look when applied?

I use 303 on our Southwind tires. It gives them a little shine but, it's not really noticeable.

I'm concerned about extending the tire life, not a nice shine.

Maybe 303 with wax on top is a good option?
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
CapriRacer wrote:
Caution: Do not use anything on the tires that results in staining your hands. The stains mean that the rubber is being dissolved and the protective coatings in the rubber are being removed.

Ya' see, tires have waxes built into the rubber that create a barrier to the air. There are also antioxidants in the rubber matrix. Over time those waxes flake off and are replaced by more waxes in the rubber matrix - until they are completely used up. That takes quite a while.

If those waxes are removed, the rubber is exposed directly to oxygen and ozone 9a particularly active form of oxygen), so the rubber deteriorates much more rapidly. Frankly, it's best to leave the tires alone, but if you apply anything, avoid stuff that smears.

^^^^^ Good post!
ksg5000
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
Many posts of this forum advise against putting **** on your tires to make them shiny - something to do with interfering with oils in tire migrating (I think). I have used 303 when I am storing rig assuming it' helps with UV issues and tires aren't moving/migrating oils. Worth a google search.
TBammer
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
@GaryAndGayle: 303, eh? UV protection makes a lot of sense. How does it look when applied?
CapriRacer
Explorer II
Sep 22, 2016
Caution: Do not use anything on the tires that results in staining your hands. The stains mean that the rubber is being dissolved and the protective coatings in the rubber are being removed.

Ya' see, tires have waxes built into the rubber that create a barrier to the air. There are also antioxidants in the rubber matrix. Over time those waxes flake off and are replaced by more waxes in the rubber matrix - until they are completely used up. That takes quite a while.

If those waxes are removed, the rubber is exposed directly to oxygen and ozone 9a particularly active form of oxygen), so the rubber deteriorates much more rapidly. Frankly, it's best to leave the tires alone, but if you apply anything, avoid stuff that smears.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Sep 22, 2016
I've used nothing but No Touch Tire Care from Permatex sice the early '90s.
I keep it on my truck tires.....car tires....all my trailers tires......50 hp blue tractor tires.....zero turn mower tires...... '92 Cub Cadet garden tractor tires.....'82 Gilson lawn tractor mower tires.......rubber around windshields.
I found it lasts much longer than 303 on my tires when I worked and had a 660 mile a week commute in all kinds of weather.

I bought a new '90 2500 chevy 2wd. The first thing I do with all my trucks is buy a pair of wheels and have a pair of BFG Mud Terrains mounted.
Anyways I gave the '90 chevy truck to my GS in '07-'08 along with those Mud Terrains which still looked new and no surface cracking/checking even at 80 psi. I'm sold.
westend
Explorer
Sep 22, 2016
THat Westly's Bleche White was originally formulated with a lot of bleach. That's why your tires looked blacker after you used it. It wasn't doing anything to increase the life of the tire.
The protectants like 303 are probably the best to use. If you want your rubber shiny, use it on top of the protectant. Floor wax over 303 may be a great combo.

Forum Discussion

Tire Shine

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

To tire shine/gloss or not?

5er shine products

Shine on fiberglass restorer

Tires

tires, tires, tires