Parade/show tractor tire dressing

[da.bees]

I have two different needs, one for old tires showing weather cracks and the other for tires in fine condition. I despise the wet, greasy appearance some dressing create. I like low gloss that mimics new tires. The best I've found for old and weather cracked in past is satin latex paint which hides cracks. Not a new tire look but large improvement. I haven't found anything I'm pleased with for restoring new look to tires in fine condition. I don't need nor expect something that lasts for a long time.
Am I in the minority in not liking the appearance Armor all?

 

[Ray,IN]

In the 1950's I worked at my uncle's service station. He made his own tire dressing from flat black paint and gasoline. Didn't last long though. EPA did not exist then.

 

[jdeere562]

Soft99 black tire wax. About the best that I have found. Got mine from Amazon. Wash your tires good before application!

 

[quefan]

I have two different needs, one for old tires showing weather cracks and the other for tires in fine condition. I despise the wet, greasy appearance some dressing create. I like low gloss that mimics new tires. The best I've found for old and weather cracked in past is satin latex paint which hides cracks. Not a new tire look but large improvement. I haven't found anything I'm pleased with for restoring new look to tires in fine condition. I don't need nor expect something that lasts for a long time.
Am I in the minority in not liking the appearance Armor all?

I like Spray Nine cleaner, it does not blacken the rubber but is very good at removing dirt and leaves the natural look of the tires age at that time
Do not like Armour All.

 

[sotxbill]

Sadly most products contain a "petroleum distillate" and actually DRY OUT the rubber and make it crack faster long term. So your actually doing harm to your tires and shortning the life. There are several products that claim to overcome this, but they are a bit too pricey for me. I'll let you do your own research as this post will usually stir up a hornets nest.

 

[MSD]

I like the Lucas "Slick Mist Tire and Trim Shine". Just mist it on and rub it in. Leaves a nice none gloss look to them and seems to last quite awhile.

 

[SkipperII]

We had an auto detailer as a volinteer Fire Fighter, he would use good old ethylene glycol antifreeze on our frire engine tires. They looked like new tires.

 

[NDIHC]

When I worked for Bridgestone/Firestone we used.to paint used tires with Firestone rubber and tire black. It was a water based black "paint" with low gloss and came in spray cans or in a concentrated form that was mixed with water and brushed on. Best thing was that it dried so dirt and dust didn't stick to it. Other companies, including Murphys make a similar product. I absolutely despise Armor All or any of the other petroleum based tire shines that leave the tires oily, sticky or slimy. They just make dust stick and make your hands oily and black. Hate that stuff on interior and exterior trim too.

Murphy's tire and tube mounting compound can be used as a tire dressing too. I've never tried it, but it says so on the back of the bucket. And it's not petroleum based.

 

[da.bees]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try them. Well not all of them, I'm afraid gasoline will make matters worse.

 

[RedRamGT]

I used some Kiwi Black shoe polish (wax) on a set of front tires that were dry (gray looking) and had some small cracking. It made the tires look very good. It took a second coat of wax the next year, and so far the tires still look good several years later.

 

[da.bees]

I used some Kiwi Black shoe polish (wax) on a set of front tires that were dry (gray looking) and had some small cracking. It made the tires look very good. It took a second coat of wax the next year, and so far the tires still look good several years later.

Waxing tires with boot polish and showing that shine lasts a year would make a dandy infomercial. It sure doesn't last that long on my brogans.

 

[B. White]

Last year I picked up a Tacoma and the tires were dull and stained. Guy I bought it from said he never could get them to clean up like he wanted. Did some searching since I didn't want anything shiny and ended up trying 303 Aerospace Protectant. I used a cheap throw away 3" or so paint brush to spread it with and make it go further than just spraying and wiping with a rag. We did two vehicles in late fall or early winter last year and they still look pretty good. I'm glad it lasts, since it is not cheap and I hate doing tedious detailing stuff.

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[Roger in Iowa]

GoJo or similar hand cleaners can work wonders. Non toxic and doesn't hurt tires. Easy to try.

 

[sotxbill]

Last year I picked up a Tacoma and the tires were dull and stained. Guy I bought it from said he never could get them to clean up like he wanted. Did some searching since I didn't want anything shiny and ended up trying 303 Aerospace Protectant. I used a cheap throw away 3" or so paint brush to spread it with and make it go further than just spraying and wiping with a rag. We did two vehicles in late fall or early winter last year and they still look pretty good. I'm glad it lasts, since it is not cheap and I hate doing tedious detailing stuff.

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303 was suppositly one of the recommended tire protections.