New Tires? Do This Right Away…

New Tire Film

It’s easy to spot that white, waxy film on brand-new tires. This “mold-release agent” is part of the manufacturing process. This is generally stated to wear off by 500 miles…but there’s some fine print…

Tire Dressing + New Tires = Paint Damage?!

Tire dressing, especially in excess, can combine with these agents/additives and sling the combined chemical onto the paint, which can permanently stain your vehicle’s finish. The only fix for this would be an expensive repaint of the surrounding areas.

So…it’s essential to deep clean your new tires immediately, or at least before applying any tire shine.

Prep…the most critical step

• Use a quality tire/rubber cleaner and generously apply it to the surface. Feel free to use a stronger dilution if applicable. A foamer works excellent for this step, allowing the product to sit and work on the surface longer. Give the product time to do its job.

• Use a stiff tire brush on the tire and scrub the tire surface. It’s worth moving the car to expose the bottom of the tires to get a deep cleaning of the entire surface.

• Once done scrubbing, thoroughly rinse off the tire and inspect the surface. You may need to repeat the last step to ensure the tire is cleaned correctly this first time.

• As for drying, a blower works great for removing the water around the rim and tread areas. If you cannot access one, an absorbent microfiber will do the trick. If using a water-based dressing, you do not need to fully dry the tire as this type of tire dressing will work fine with a bit of water left and may even help level out your dressing.

• However, a solvent-based dressing will be best with a dry tire so as not to dilute the chemistry. More on these types of dressings below…

Applying Tire Dressing

A Note on Tire Dressings

There are two flavors of tire dressing (that are worth their own article in the future) - solvent-based and water-based dressings. It’s worth noting that most tire dressings use silicone to do the job - the difference is in the carrier.

A solvent-based dressing will typically come in a blue or purple mixture. These dressings will last the longest and are often best for bigger tires. You’ll also get a deeper shine.

A water-based dressing will often come in a white mixture. These types of dressing do not last as long as a solvent-based dressing; however, these products work great as conditioner products and will offer varying results from a factory matte look to a decently shiny look, depending on the mixture strength.

Application

• Note: It’s a good practice not to have your tire dressing be your last step in detail. This will allow your dressing time to sit, and after the waiting period, you’ll have a chance to inspect your tires again before the vehicle is driven.

• A foam applicator or a bigger brush can be used to apply tire dressing. The key is avoiding excess tire shine on the tire that can sling onto the car’s paint. Any type of tire shine is susceptible to this.

• It’s best to spray directly into your applicator or brush unless you are experienced with your sprayer.

• Start right by the rim area - your product should be most concentrated towards the inside versus on the outside by/in the treads - where it will sling off later. Working from the inside to the outside, the best case scenario is not needing more product as you work out towards the outer edge of the tire. Don’t forget to move the vehicle forward/backward to reach the bottom side of the tire.

• Apply extra coatings if necessary, and when finished, allow the product to sit for a while.

• Once your product has had time to sit, inspect each tire. Use your applicator to level out any thicker areas. Pay special attention to the treads and ensure there is no excess on any of the treads - this will ensure you get a “no-sling” application of your tire dressing.

Maintenance

• Most manufacturers recommend that tires be cleaned at least every two weeks to maintain appearance.

• Depending on your tire dressing product and your environment, you may want to reapply tire dressing every couple of weeks anyway - this is an excellent time to repeat the cleaning process before reapplying your dressing. A tire dressing on a clean surface will last the longest.

---

Recent Articles