Tire Shine Compounds

I think this Forum gives 303 Protectant high marks.

The tire manufacture I checked with said to NOT use Armor All and recommended the use of 303 Protectant, so that is what I use.

Dick_B wrote:
I think this Forum gives 303 Protectant high marks.

X2. But I usually just clean em with soap and water and a brush.

I've never used anything but soap and water on our tires and also never had cracks form on the sidewalls yet.

That said, this morning getting into my wife's vehicle to go to church some weather checks are showing on the sidewalls of the OEM Goodyear Wranglers on one our Trailblazers, the 2005 model purchased new. It caught my eye in the bright sun as "cracks" has been hot on this forum presently. Not cracks but weather checks as they are hairline and on the surface. Vehicle has less than 70K on the odometer and the tires are a month less than 8 years old now and time to be replaced anyway. Tread wear is also getting close to the wear bars. She doesn't drive that particular vehicle that much and said she wants to keep it as she really likes it. So new tires are coming soon. Not complaining at all as it's just an observation. They'll be replaced with Michelins like all our other vehicles have.

Yes, nearly all tire coating do cause drying and hardening of the tire rubber compound with age. It's the price you pay for having shiny tires! some people want shiny tires and some could care less. Various regions have a lot of hot bright sun and/or more road chemicals etc abundant than other areas. Both play real heck on rubber compounds and so does lower inflation causing extreme tire flexing and heating!

I clean em with soap and water and if you want them to look pretty use Brake fluid, designed to enhance rubber.
You can thank Mr Smith my auto shop teacher from 1966.

Tires leak from the inside as that's where all the air prussure is. Reasonable sized cracks or weather checks on the outside of a tire has very little to do with actual tire failures. Tire sellers push the even tiny cracks issue to get you to think it's going to BLOW any second to get you to buy new ones! Scare you beyond the reality of the actual situation! They don't sell, they don't eat! Simple economics 101!

The rubber coating inside of the tire backed by the cord/belt structure is the bladder and what keeps the air inside as long as the bead seals properly. Ever notice that when an 18 wheeler throws it's outside tread cap, seldom does the tire instantly go BOOM! Pieces of OTR truck tire are all over our hughways. However, continuing to ride in the tire cords/belts wears them away quickly and then you get to hear the BOOM!

Damaged or broken tire cords are another story and do mean the tire must be replaced and very soon.

Years ago, tires all had tubes inside and all the actual tire itself did was to create support for the inflated tube inside and on the road on the outside.

Many years ago there was a product made called Ru-glide that was a non-petroleum non-silicone based rubber lubricant. Lots of hotrod dudes used it to make their tires shine and also as a lube to help mounting tire beads. Never used to see cracked tires using it.

travelnutz wrote:
Many years ago there was a product made called Ru-glide that was a non-petroleum non-silicone based rubber lubricant. Lots of hotrod dudes used it to make their tires shine and also as a lube to help mounting tire beads. Never used to see cracked tires using it.

I asked the tire store I deal with about Ru-Glyde recently and nobody, including the store manager had ever heard of it. As you said, all tire stores used to use it when mounting tires, but I guess it is now history at least in Discount Tire store, as it is still available and the recommenced product by many sources.

45Ricochet wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
I think this Forum gives 303 Protectant high marks.

X2. But I usually just clean em with soap and water and a brush.

X3, after washing with soap and water, dry them and on occasion, apply the 303...

DJF wrote:
I clean em with soap and water and if you want them to look pretty use Brake fluid, designed to enhance rubber.
You can thank Mr Smith my auto shop teacher from 1966.

Haha... :C

I remember the 'ole brake fluid trick.
When were teens in the 70's tires always had to shine.