Your sidewalls can shine as bright as your paint. These are the tire dressings that prove it.
Tire shine might seem like an afterthought, but if you know, you know: Nothing finishes off a freshly detailed car like a deep, even black shine on your sidewalls. And while there's a whole world of greasy, sling-prone, high-gloss tire dressings out there, there are some solid products on the market that won't leave your tires dressed in goop.
Early tire shines were basic silicone- or petroleum-based dressings that gave tires a wet, glossy look but often at the expense of long-term rubber health. Moreover, they tended to collect dust and dirt, leaving your shiny tires even dirtier after a day or two. These days, tire-care products are formulated to give your tires more than just a blinding shine. A quality tire shine protects your tires and extends the life of the rubber, leaving tires black, sleek, and healthy.
View Price on AmazonWhile there may be some mad chemists behind the formulas for these dressings, using them and evaluating them is really just a trial-and-error process, and the results really come down to preference. Do you like a glaring shine that pops? Or a milder gloss that looks like a fresh clean? Perhaps you prefer a sophisticated, muted matte? (You can probably tell where my bias lies.) That said, there are some characteristics you'd probably like to avoid, such as sling, premature fading, and complicated application processes.
This test was pretty straightforward. I applied some of the top-rated and recommended tire shines to my Porsche Boxster and drove around the city, on the highway, through open fire hydrants, and up against curbs to see which held up the longest, provided the most desirable shine, and was easiest to use.
Tire Kicker from Chemical Guys doesn't posture. It doesn't promise ceramic-level longevity or blind-you gloss. It doesn't require a YouTube tutorial or a "detailing arsenal." What it does deliver, quite effectively and easily, is a clean, dark, fresh look with little to no drama and just enough pop to remind everyone that you care.
The name might sound a little cheeky, but the performance here is legit. This is a water-based dressing that sprays on, wipes off, and leaves behind a nice shiny finish that's just glossy enough but not so much that you'll get accused of preparing for a dealer trade-in.
Source: roadandtrack.com
