What is your opinion on the best working tire glaze for that wet look?

Boy, that is a big question...some variables that come into play--sidewall height, tire make and age, cleaning method, desire for oily or water-based dressing (if that matters to you).



What are you unhappy with? The look, the longevity, the sling?
 
Every thing I have tried doesn't seem to shine that good..looks runny and splotchy..I have been using Westley's bleach white to clean the tires with before the dressing..
 
It's funny, this is one area of my detailing that I have never been satisfied with either. I've tried many different tire dressings over the years, and I have *never* been completely satisfied with any of them!



Some sling too much. Some don't give enough gloss (I like the wet/dark look). Many don't last long enough. Others leave a residue buildup after a few uses.



I just ordered some Opti-bond. We will see how that works.
 
Rob Tomlin said:
It's funny, this is one area of my detailing that I have never been satisfied with either. I've tried many different tire dressings over the years, and I have *never* been completely satisfied with any of them!



Some sling too much. Some don't give enough gloss (I like the wet/dark look). Many don't last long enough. Others leave a residue buildup after a few uses.



I just ordered some Opti-bond. We will see how that works.



You said it!
 
Hopefully Opti-Bond will be the ticket. I have yet to use a product from Optimum that I have not been happy with.
 
I love the good old Armor All tire foam. The "new" detailers formula at Autozone. Wipe off the excess after about 5 minutes and the tires look good for a couple of weeks. I bought a gallon of the Opti-Bond last year and still have half of it left. I love all optimum products as well so I went straight for the gallon but it just doesn't do it for me. If a customer wants a clean look or I'm out of the Tire Foam I use the Opti-Bond. If they want the shine I use AA Tire Foam.
 
Rob Tomlin said:
Hopefully Opti-Bond will be the ticket. I have yet to use a product from Optimum that I have not been happy with.



I tried their tire spray and it was so bad that I haven't even considered Optibond, and I love Dr G's stuff.



For me NoTouch original is the best and longest lasting product if you are willing to deal with a more or less matte look. AA tire foam is a very close second. For a blingy look AA tire gel is pretty nice until the first rain, then it just disappears. One bottle also goes a very long way. Mothers FX is a great in between look, not too blingly, but very even and very black.
 
yakky said:
For me NoTouch original is the best and longest lasting product if you are willing to deal with a more or less matte look. AA tire foam is a very close second. For a blingy look AA tire gel is pretty nice until the first rain, then it just disappears. One bottle also goes a very long way. Mothers FX is a great in between look, not too blingly, but very even and very black.



I can get the "look" that I want with a few different products....but so far each and every one of them has some other area where it is compromised.



Recommend a tire dressing to me that can give the look I want without any of the compromises, such as coming off after the first rain (or washing the wheels), doesn't sling, doesn't result in buildup, and is water based so it doesn't cause browning, etc.
 
I usually coat the tires with a water-based dressing, then to amp up the shine, I use Meg's Insane Tire Shine, in the spray can, as my top coat. Tires look like fresh glazed donuts!
 
silk said:
I usually coat the tires with a water-based dressing, then to amp up the shine, I use Meg's Insane Tire Shine, in the spray can, as my top coat. Tires look like fresh glazed donuts!



What does the water based add?



superchargedg said:
Surfcity has a good product too.



I havent heard that name thrown around much lately. I used to hear a lot of good things about their tire shine.



Personally, I prefer the Megs Hot Shine Aerosol. Its not too popular on here, but it provides a good shine, lasts several weeks, and if you don't over apply,

it doesnt sling. Also, Armor All Extreme Tire Gel is a good option.
 
i know alot of people complain megs goes away with rains, but i sprayed it on all my DD's and I mean it's lasted through at least 5 rain storms in the course of i think it's been a month now...but i mean i don't think it's a big deal to spritz it down here and there until you have time to really clean/re-apply...but that's just me...I'm really looking to get a bunch of Armor all though...it seems to still be a fan favorite...I just bought megs because I could use it for alot of things and it was cheap for the gallon ( it was on sale) I'll admit on the lexus i definitely made it over blingy (think it was closer to 2:1 megs:water) but after a few days it toned down some and it still looks pretty good (matte with a slight sparkle)
 
Rob Tomlin said:
It's funny, this is one area of my detailing that I have never been satisfied with either. I've tried many different tire dressings over the years, and I have *never* been completely satisfied with any of them!



Some sling too much. Some don't give enough gloss (I like the wet/dark look). Many don't last long enough. Others leave a residue buildup after a few uses.



I just ordered some Opti-bond. We will see how that works.



Got my Opti-bond, I've tried it, and I don't care for it at all in terms of appearance. It's hard to describe, but I guess it is just too "sterile" for my taste. It makes the tires look "clean", but that's about it. I know many people like the so called natural look, but I prefer a wetter, darker appearance where you can actually tell that a tire dressing was used. With Opti-bond, you can't tell that you have a tire dressing on the tires.



Back to the drawing board...
 
Rob Tomlin said:
Got my Opti-bond, I've tried it, and I don't care for it at all in terms of appearance. It's hard to describe, but I guess it is just too "sterile" for my taste. It makes the tires look "clean", but that's about it. I know many people like the so called natural look, but I prefer a wetter, darker appearance where you can actually tell that a tire dressing was used. With Opti-bond, you can't tell that you have a tire dressing on the tires.



Back to the drawing board...



On a whim, I got some in my last Autogeek order. I have to say, lookswise, on the first set of tires I have tried it on, I love it. Its the exact look I was going for. To me it makes rubber look like hard black plastic. Very similar multiple coats of Z16, which IMO is too much work.
 
For a solvent-based dressing, try Megs' All Season Dressing.



For a water-based dressing, everyone seems to rave about Opti-Bond, which I have not tried. Of the water-based dressings I have tried, Surf City's Beyond Black and Mother's FX Tire Care seem to give the glossiest look, but like all water-based dressings, the glossy look tones down fairly quickly.
 
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