Tyre shine v healthy tyres

[Gucci]

I just had to have a tyre replaced (fortunately a nail went into the tyre and highlighted a further problem). As soon as I arrived, they noticed by chance 1 tread area sitting prouder than the the rest! Quite subtle, but it's there and enough to cause a humming noise which I couldn't fathom! My indie said the bearings were fine etc and didn't notice the anomaly either.

Anyway, whilst removing the tyre, the fitter said hmmmm, "don't want to be using tyre shine/silk/slick/meguirs/ stuff - it's corrosive" He also said "We go to these tyre industry conferences and we're asked to tell customers not to use it. They showed us footage of a tyre dressed twice a week which blew out on the motorway"...using Amor-all (sp?) is ok though, as it doesn't use chemicals".

What think? (he's independent and not an ATS or KwikFit etc)

 

[Gollom]

I just had to have a tyre replaced (fortunately a nail went into the tyre and highlighted a further problem). As soon as I arrived, they noticed by chance 1 tread area sitting prouder than the the rest! Quite subtle, but it's there and enough to cause a humming noise which I couldn't fathom! My indie said the bearings were fine etc and didn't notice the anomaly either.

Anyway, whilst removing the tyre, the fitter said hmmmm, "don't want to be using tyre shine/silk/slick/meguirs/ stuff - it's corrosive" He also said "We go to these tyre industry conferences and we're asked to tell customers not to use it. They showed us footage of a tyre dressed twice a week which blew out on the motorway"...using Amor-all (sp?) is ok though, as it doesn't use chemicals".

What think? (he's independent and not an ATS or KwikFit etc)

I was told this too but others pooh-pooh the idea

 

[Gucci]

I was told this too but others pooh-pooh the idea

Yes, I'm waiting for the backlash

 

[jonathan]

i dont know if its any good for your tyres but i've been using black liquid shoe polish for about 20 years with no problems try it its brill it gives you a lovely shine that lasts its also easy to put on and if you get it on the alloy you can just wipe it off with a rag no problem it must be the liquid one though the hard stuff doesnt work

todays top tip

 

[Will]

I'm sure if this was a real issue, we'd have all heard about this years ago? Tyre shine/slick/dressing has been used for a pretty long time now, and I'd have though the manufacturers of the dressing would be in for some stick as well!

Conversely, I've also seen quite a few 'dry' tyres that have suffered sun/UV damage causing cracking of the sidewalls etc (in fairness, probably older cars/tyres perhaps). Surely rubber being a natural product needs/benefits from some form of protection?

I don't use tyre dressing all that often, but I have never had a problem using it. Nor has anyone else that I can think of. Can't really see most dressings being 'corrosive' either - they tend to be waxy rather than acidic?

Not barking at you Gucci at all btw - just strikes me as an odd statement from the tyre guy unless he has proper, thoroughly researched evidence to back up his claims.

Will

 

[Gucci]

Not barking at you Gucci at all btw - just strikes me as an odd statement from the tyre guy unless he has proper, thoroughly researched evidence to back up his claims.

Will

No worries I don't suppose he's the absolute authority - and I'm dubious at the information. I would imagine if it were proven, these products would only be allowed for "show use"? Never had any probs myself on previous cars.

 

[Satch]

"Many popular tire cleaners/shines contain petroleum or silicone products, which will damage the rubber. Tire manufacturers add a wax-based protectant that helps to protect the tire against ozone, which will cause the tire to begin to crack and dry rot. This wax protectant is forced to the surface every time a tire is flexed as it rolls.

The silicone ingredient in many common tire shine products dissolves this wax protectant, thus increasing the tires vulnerability to dry rot. Consumers are advised to read the label when shopping for a tire cleaner/shine, and make sure there are no petroleum- or silicone-based ingredients."

Tire Industry Association - News

That narrows it down a bit, eh?

 

[Rory]

I've never used the stuff and was bemused last time my car was serviced, when I told them not to wash it, that they still dressed the tyres.

One danger comment I've seen is that if it gets on the tread during a valet and the owner then drives off in the wet, the tyre's grip can be compromised, to say the least.

 

[Will]

Certainly a good link there Satch

I'd like to know which manufacturer's tyre dressings are classed as unsafe (silicone/petroleum based?)

Pretty much as I've already said, surely if a product is sold for a specific market/purpose (tyre dressing) and is deemed unsafe, wouldn't there be some sort of action taken?

And 99% of all new (and most pre-owned) cars are sold with tyre dressing applied!

Will

 

[rlowy]

I always use tyre shine, never had a problem over 25 years but note the TIA news warning.

Every new or used car I have bought has had the tyres dressed, every car I see at a motor show has as well, often with the tyre manufactures logo added, I assume they do that directly and not the car manufacturer.

regards

Richard

 

[flango]

Not having a go at anyone except maybe the TIA but I have never heard so much C**p in my life. I used to work for a chemical company that supplied many of the base products that went into tyre shine, the same company also supplied all the synthetic rubber compounds to the likes of Michelin, Pirrelli etc.

So in the construction of a tyre you have natural and synthetic rubbers, mixed with carbon black and a cocktail of chemicals, this is known as a Masterbatch. Many of the chemicals in there are petroleum or silicone derived, then after this there is extrusion and Tyre building but for this we'll concentrate on the chemistry of a tyre.

The main cause of degradation or dry rot of a tyre is UVA absorbsion the same as in modern plastics, in order to combat this UVA protection is added into the cocktail of chemicals that go into the masterbatch. As regards the comment waxes are added to prevent attack from ozone and move to the surface everytime the tyre flexes, well this might have been true 30 years ago but is not true in modern tyres unless you count Polyethylene Glycol as a wax (which some people do) but even then once reacted in the masterbatch it would stay chemically and physically locked in the matrix.

So onto the Chemistry of Tyre shine, well most of it is silicone based with non ionic surfactants and synthetic waxes, the older stuff is petroleum distillate based which is not nice to handle or use and is really outdated now and I can't really comment on its compatibility with modern tyres but there will not be much of this stuff left in existance now due to the green lobby. Anyway modern Tyre shine and I'll talk about one paticular brand " Tyre Slik" (but they are all variations on a theme). These products are specifcally designed and formulated to match modern masterbatch compounds, they are not corrosive, most are pH neutral and they actually give protection by blocking the UVA rays that cause tyre degredation, they work in combination with the chemicals in the tyre to restore flexibility of the sidewall and inhibit cracking as well as cleaning and giving a surface resistant to traffic films and dust.

So how people can say they can impact tyre life and safety is beyond me, having had 30 years in the chemical industry and being an advanced driver trainer I would never compromise safety all my cars have always had tyre shine on and I have never had a problem, in fact I would say it's actually contributed to the tyre life, particularly on cars that dont get used a lot say just at weekends for example.

From what I've seen and know there is no issue with these products as if there were there would have beeen some action or comeback by now.

Just my 2p worth

 

[Roger Jones]

"Just my 2p worth"

Worth a lot more than that. Many thanks for a clear explanation to back up my intuitive feeling that the idea of mass-market cosmetic products being detrimental to tyres is just another silly -- no, stupid -- scare story. Can you imagine any of their manufacturers exposing themselves to such liabilities? No way.

 

[ecossebev]

If there had been any truth in those allegations, surely the Daily Mail would've picked up on it years ago....

 

[stevesey]

if there had been any no truth in those allegations, surely the daily mail would've picked up on it years ago....

:d

 

[Deutsch]

I currently use a nanotech soloution to protect my tyres but for years have used products - particularly when selling cars they have all stated that they protect and nourish tyres - when I lived in Germany the tyres would be changed if they were older than 5 years old from the DOT marking as a safety issue - the ADAC also test tyre dressing soloutions and their last test did not mention a thing about damaging tyres - only to avoid contact with brakes and the tread!