Table of Contents
- View The Best Tire Shine Below
- 1. TriNova Tire Shine Spray
- 2. Adam’s Infused Tire Shine Plus
- 3. Meguires Hot Shine Tire Foam
- 4. Shine Armor Pristine Tire Shine Dressing & Cleaner Gel
- 5. Carfidant Ultimate Tire Shine Spray
- 6. CarGuys Tire Shine Spray
- 7. Meguiar’s Endurance Tire Gel
- 8. Chemical Guys Super Shine Dressing for Tires
- 9. Black Magic TIRE Wet
- 10. Chemical Guys Tire Kicker Extra Glossy Tire Shine
- Tire Shine Buyer’s Guide
You can spend hours cleaning your car, only to end up, after spending so much time working to make your pride and joy look the best it can, with your hard work ruined by dull, grey tires. They instantly make your car look worn, tired, and older. Even if you can get some shine back in them during cleaning, it’s often gone within a matter of hours on the road.
To combat this issue, invest in a good tire dressing product. It will bring your rubber back to life and give it that factory black shine to set your car off against the rest. But what is the best tire shine on the market this year? There are lots of options and factors to take into account, so we’ve compiled this handy list of the top 10 best tire shine products available right now to help you along in the buying process. All of these products are available on Amazon.com to make it even easier for you to get to a decision.
View The Best Tire Shine Below
1. TriNova Tire Shine Spray
The TriNova Tire Shine Spray is bound to give your tires the high gloss, shiny finish you need to keep your car’s tires looking their best. The effects are long lasting and will protect your tires from dirt, grime, and also salt on the road.
This product can also give you an adjustable shine, depending on how long you apply the product. This means you can choose the way that your tires look. TriNova Tire Shine Spray also boasts anti-aging properties to keep the rubber of your tires from cracking or perishing.
Pros:
+ Long lasting effects to keep your tires clean
+ Anti-aging properties
+ Customizable shine and blackening effect
+ Protection against dirt and salt
Why We Like It – This is a great option for those of you that live in colder places, as the product is resistant to salt. The customizable shine is brilliant, too, meaning you can decide how your tires look.
2. Adam’s Infused Tire Shine Plus
Adams has released a great tire dressing that provides a deep black shine. It can be built on by adding more layers of their state of the art product. Their dressing has been infused with SI02, which means it creates a no sling, shiny finish with silica polymers that keep your tires pristine for much longer.
The product includes a spray nozzle designed to help you reach areas you need to dress, meaning the product is perfect for those that have a chunky tread with hard to reach areas. Adams boasts a satisfaction guarantee to protect its customer’s interests.
Pros:
+ SI02 infused for lasting protection
+ Designed spray nozzle to reach hard to dress areas
+ Buildable shine
+ Satisfaction guarantee
Why We Like It – This high-quality product from Adams combines classic tire shine performance with state of the art innovations to provide one of the best tire shine products on the market.
3. Meguires Hot Shine Tire Foam
This product is an unusual contender, as it’s an aerosol product you apply in a thick foam to your tires. The powerful cleansing properties of this tire shine break down grime easily, and the application is one of the most simple of all the products reviewed. The foam dissolves clear for a no-mess application, simply spray and go, no hassle required.
This product also provides UV protection for the rubber of your tires that will make sure you get a long-lasting, performance look. The UV protection and the protection from dirt and grime will last up to two weeks, preventing constant reapplication.
Pros:
+ UV protection that lasts two weeks
+ Dissolves clear for no clean-up
+ Aerosol can for fast application
+ Powerful cleaning abilities
Why We Like It – This product boasts UV protection that will protect your tires’ rubber from the elements. The effects are long-lasting, with a hassle-free application.
4. Shine Armor Pristine Tire Shine Dressing & Cleaner Gel
This Tire gel provides lasting UV protection. It’s one of the only tire shines to offer this UV protection, alongside polymer technology that provides a fully weather-sealed high gloss finish. This tire shine takes very little time to apply, and a little goes a long way, meaning a bottle will last a long time.
This allows you to keep your car tires black and high gloss for as long as you need. This is a tire gel, so it spreads evenly and easily. It won’t sling, so there’s no need to worry about the gel staining your driveway or floor.
Pros:
+ Long-lasting black shine
+ No sling tire gel to prevent staining
+ UV protection
+ Polymer technology
+ Showroom look
Why We Like It – This tire shine gel provides deep wet-look showroom shine without the time consuming hard work. It also keeps your tires looking better for longer. This tire shine is one of the longest-lasting products on the market.
5. Carfidant Ultimate Tire Shine Spray
This tire shine spray has a unique poly-nano formula that creates a vivid black, high gloss, and wet look finish. The formula of this spray is non-toxic and doesn’t include any dyes or sneaky extra ingredients, so not only can you rest assured that this spray will give your tires the best look you can get, but also that you won’t be harming the environment or yourself while applying it. The protection is guaranteed to last a very long time, but if you are not satisfied, Carfident offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee on their tire dressing. Their smart technology even allows you to control the level of shine.
Pros:
+ Protection that lasts a long time
+ Non-toxic formula
+ Satisfaction guarantee
+ Control over the final look
Why We Like It – With this product you have control. You decide what look you want, whether that’s a full, wet look or just a deep black gloss. The non-toxic formula is also fantastic.
6. CarGuys Tire Shine Spray
This product from Car Guys offers an environmentally friendly, no sling, no mess tire dressing. It has patented nanotechnology that allows the spray to bond to your tires’ rubber, preventing any product from splashing up the side of your car, ruining your polish or coating.
The polymer additives ensure protection that lasts a considerable time and will coat your tires, preventing build-up of grime. The product is USA designed, and USA made. It can be safely washed down your drains without posing an environmental risk, and comes with a full money-back guarantee, should you not be satisfied.
Pros:
+ Patented nanotechnology for added performance
+ Effective control for deep black shine or high gloss
+ Environmental security
+ Won’t damage the paint or finish of your car
Why We Like It – The bonding properties mean you won’t ruin the cleaning you’ve already done, and the environmental factor is a big draw to this Car Guys product, as well as it being produced in the USA.
7. Meguiar’s Endurance Tire Gel
This Endurance Tire Gel from Meguires protects effectively against UV damage and browning and provides long lasting protection from grime and salt. It also has anti-aging properties to prevent cracking and fraying. The Endurance Tire Gel gives your tires a rich, dark, high gloss look that will last a long time and leave your car looking well-loved and detailed.
Meguires endurance tire gel also guarantees a clean application with no splash, sling or staining, due to its gel formula. The product will also endure multiple washes and heavy rain, so the bottle will last you a long time too.
Pros:
+ UV protection and browning protection
+ Anti-aging
+ build-up protection
+ clean application
+ enduring formula
Why We Like It – This may be the best tire shine for an enduring finish, surviving wash after wash, and bad weather. It goes on clean, too, meaning there is no painstaking clean up afterward.
8. Chemical Guys Super Shine Dressing for Tires
This tire shine is the definition of multi-use and is probably the best tire shine you can buy for versatility. The deep acting cream formula can be used on your tires for a deep black high gloss finish tire dressing, but can also be used on vinyl, rubber, plastic, and carbon trim to restore gloss, shine and black to any black surface of your car.
This tire shine gel is made up of a non-greasy water-based formula that leaves surfaces dry to the touch and deep black in no time at all. Chemical Guys have employed specialty UV blockers in their tire shines too, to stop fading and cracking from sun damage.
Pros:
+ Multi-use, versatile product
+ Safe for vinyl
+ UV protection
+ Water-based
+ Car Guys patented non-greasy formula
Why We Like It – This car guys super shine gel is truly multi-purpose, offering great value for money, as you can use it on all your black trim, including vinyl and plastic. It’s also one of the only multi-use tire shines around.
9. Black Magic TIRE Wet
This tire shine spray is one of the best value tire shines available. It has a specially formulated composition to provide a finished look that is comparable to the big brands. It’s simple and not time-consuming to use this tire shine; spray on and leave to get a great high gloss look.
Black magic has used high molecular-weight silicones to provide a protective coating that the weather will seal as well as reinforcing your rubber. The tire shine formula dries really quickly, and the completed look can last up to four weeks and through a couple of maintenance washes.
Pros:
+ Fast drying
+ Protection that lasts a long time
+ Simple to apply
+ Intricate and specialized formulation
+ Great value
Why We Like It – A lot of thought has been put into this inexpensive product, giving it comparable performance to some of the leading brands. This tire shine is also super simple and clean to use.
10. Chemical Guys Tire Kicker Extra Glossy Tire Shine
This is another great Chemical Guys product that is also safe for all trims and black surfaces, with brilliant restorative properties that will bring the glossiest, richest, and highest shine life to your rubber tires. It has been specially formulated to prevent against fading due to sunlight, and the browning of your tires.
It will provide lasting protection against grit and dirt. The formula is non-transferrable, so it won’t rub off and stain if you touch your tires or treated trims, and will hold up to washing and detailing for a few weeks. The product is even safe for interior and engine bay detailing.
Pros:
+ Non-transferrable, non-staining
+ Restorative powers
+ Long time protection
+ Safe for vinyl
+ Safe for interior use
Why We Like It – This tire shine gel is great for so many uses, be it on your tires, your car interior, or even your engine bay. It’ll bring life to your rubber and trims.
Tire Shine Buyer’s Guide
With so many great tire shines listed, it can be hard to know which might be the best tire dressing or the best tire shine for you. Each product has it’s own special features and benefits. So, which is the best for your needs, and what product should you spend your money on? We’ve created this useful buying guide to help you decide just that – and to break down the questions that you might want to ask.
Gel vs. Spray vs. Foam – what type of formula best suits your needs?
One of the most glaring differences between the tire shines available for your car, and its tires is the consistency and formulation of the cleaning product. There are three types within the products we have reviewed, these being foam, spray, and gel. Each of these types of tire shine has its own benefits and downfalls, so it can be hard to know which one you need.
Gel
Gel tire shines are a popular choice for professionals and those who go to car shows and want a really deep, full detail shine. They spread evenly across the tire and often leave a thick coat for the deep gloss to pop, and they last a very long time. This is a great tire shine option for those that want to get into the gritty, deep parts of their tread, and get a deep, black shine without a super wet look finish.
A gel tire shine is less likely to splash or sling too, which means that, if used carefully, they won’t cause hard to clean messes or stains on your driveway. The gel will also often spread further, too, meaning a little will go a long way.
The downside to tire shine gel is that it takes a fair amount of time to apply; you need also to take the time to make sure it’s evenly used. It may require some patience to get it down into the deep tread and pesky areas, so it’s not a quick job. It may not suit those of you who want to be able to bring some life back, without having to go into detail with the application.
A gel tire shine is often not as controllable as spray or foam and is not buildable. So, although it provides a very long-lasting finish, you will have to research what type of finish the particular gel gives you, as you may not be able to build it up. However, this is great if you know what finish a product provides. Enjoy the look it gives you, as this type of tire shine will provide a longer-lasting shine than a lot of non-gel competitors.
Spray
Spray tire shine is the most common formulation of tire dressing and is great as a fast, clean and instant shine product. A lot of sprays on the market (and certainly the ones we have reviewed) last just as long as gel formulas now, and often provide the same protection, including UV and dirt protection.
A tire shine spray bottle will allow you to dress hard to each area as you can spray it directly in, and the formulas are often buildable so you can control whether you want a back to black effect or a full wet look finish. They are brilliant for on the go top up cleaning too and offer some great prices for market-leading brands. Spray tire shine is usually water-based also, and will not leave a residue. Spray and let dry.
Spray shine is often water-based, and though this means less residue, it could also mean that less of a protective layer is applied. A lot of sprays include a polymer technology now, so this isn’t too much of a worry when it comes to water and UV protection. But, there is no built layer, so it may not be as effective as a gel for grit and road protection. However, spray shine does still protect from grime build-up usually and is easy enough to re-apply, so this may not bother you too much, anyway. The practicality often outweighs the negatives.
Foam
Foam is the least common tire shine formulation but provides some great benefits. It’s arguably the best tire shine formula for fast and easy application. The Meguiars hot tire foam that we reviewed comes in an aerosol can to make it even more efficient. The formula sprays on and dries clear. You don’t need to buff on or jet off. Just spray and go.
This makes it incredibly time-efficient, giving you amazing practicality and ease of use. Foam formula expands too, to coat all of your car tires and reach hard to access parts of the tire, tread, and parts that the arches cover. Dry-clear technology prevents staining and paint damage. Foam definitely provides a great midway between spray and gel for those who want the best of both from their tire shine.
Just like spray though, the foam doesn’t necessarily provide as long-lasting of a finish on each tire as gel might, and often doesn’t provide the same protection credentials. So, as a professional choice, this may not be the ideal candidate. Foam isn’t always water-based either, so this is something to make sure of. Silicone-based tire formulas may bond to other surfaces if you’re not careful with your application, which may mean it’ll take longer than you’d like it to when applying the tire product.
What type of finish do you want for your tires?
There are lots of options for the finished look of your tires, such as deep black, high gloss, a wet look, shiny but not wet. The list is pretty much endless really, and you probably have a specific finish in mind for your car, so it’s important to choose a product that meets this image.
Some products will offer a wet look and a super high gloss finish. This may be perfect if you have a show car or stance car, or if you have semi-slicks or summer tires. Or, even if you like the look of this tire finish. If this is what you’re after, take a look at the tire gel products listed as they coat your tires to leave exactly this look with no effort. You do not need to build the product up to achieve this.
Other products offer a blackening effect with less shine, and can’t be built up. A few of the sprays offer this feature. It’s a useful feature if you’re after a deep black appearance, but do not want the show-shine, high gloss appearance of a wet-look finish. There is no worry about applying too much product and ending up with a finish you didn’t want. Make sure to read the spray details and choose a tire product that is non-buildable and preferably buff on rather than dry on as the buffing will give your tires a nice deep matt black finish.
The other main types of products available are buildable dressings. This gives you complete control over the tire finish you get, as you can apply one layer for a matt black look, or multiple until you reach a high gloss wet finish or somewhere in between. These products tend to be the spray-on dry kind, as you can conveniently wait for the product to dry on your tires, and then spray on more rather than having to buff in.
This is a great choice for anyone who wants to modify the look of their tires, depending on what the occasion is. Matt black is perfect for every day, a wet-look is suitable for shows, and a mid shine is great for events or any other scenario. The process can be time-consuming if you want that real, wet look. This type of product is best for those who do want to be able to change it – if you want to stick with a wet look, consider a gel or wet-look product.
Method of application
The application of tire dressing varies product to product, and it’s important to pay attention to what is written on the bottle to make sure you’re getting the best performance out of your new products. There are generally a few main ways to apply product, though, each of which may suit you better depending on what you want and need.
A lot of tire sprays are spray-on let-dry, which is perfect for the time-conscious, and for topping up on the go. You don’t need any special applicators or even a microfibre. You won’t require much patience, either. This is fantastic for quick cleaning, but may not be the perfect option for those who require a real showroom shine, as it may be difficult to get the product spread evenly. Buffing may cause streaking if the product is designed to dry on. These products are generally non-transferrable and stain-proof, so you won’t dirty your clothes or driveway.
Other tire sprays are buff in, which means you will need an applicator pad or microfiber to spread ad buff the product into your tires to get an even and streak-free finish. This is a little more time consuming but can create a more flawless finish if applied carefully. It does require you to use other tire materials alongside the product, which means it isn’t so good for on the spot cleaning.
But it’s brilliant for at-home cleaning without being too time-consuming. A lot of the sprays we have reviewed come with their recommended applicator pad as part of the package. It’s worth checking this out and perhaps choosing a tire product that comes with its own applicator. This will often be specially chosen by the companies to get the best possible finish from the product.
Gels will all require you to apply them via an applicator pad and buff them onto your tire. This is time-consuming, but is, however, great for the detail orientated and professionals amongst us, as it gives you complete control over having an even application. You can see which parts of the tire are coated and which are not.
Another benefit of this type of hands-on application is that you can work the product into the deeper areas of your tires, such as around the tread. The gel will not dry out quickly, which gives you longer to work and ensure you are getting an even finish and the best possible shine and look for the tire.
Chemical and molecular formulation
Some products boast technical formulation and, while it can seem like a lot of difficult jargon, it’s important to see at what innovations have been put into the products on offer.
A formulation style you may see a lot is polymer-based compounds. Put simply, a polymer-based tire dressing will provide superior protection from weather and water, as they combine silicones with the water and gel-based products to amplify the protective and combative powers. These polymer technologies will also help the product grip to your rubber, adding to the level of protection and coating, giving it a much longer-lasting effect.
Also, be sure to check the chemical formulation, and have a look at the products that aren’t harmful, are chemical-free and environmentally friendly! There are lots of products that are now taking steps to improve their chemical composition to be more friendly to your health and to the environment. This is great news for eco-conscious buyers that may have been feeling pressured to buy less friendly products.
Type of protection offered
One of the most important things to consider when making your decision and looking at various tire shines is what sort of protection it offers your tires, not just the look it gives. For daily driven, hard-working cars, it’s a good idea to research into products that provide UV protection to protect your tires against fading and browning, and also against sun damage, such as cracking.
Another type of protection to consider is anti-aging protection for your tires. Gel products are good for this, as they provide a thicker protective layer that will protect against cracking, scuffing, and fraying. This is a great thing to look into buying to ensure the longevity of your tires’ look, which are often some of the most expensive things on your car to replace when they wear down.
Unfortunately, a tire dressing can’t protect against the wearing of your tread due to mileage, so it’s still important to make sure you check your tread regularly and replace your tires when necessary.
Conclusion
Overall, there are lots of different types of dressing and tire shines to consider in order to provide the best protection and finish for your own tires. Brands are making great headway and technological advances that make it better than ever to invest in a good quality product that will help you maintain and manage your tires.
Hopefully, this review and guide will have helped you decide on which is the best tire shine for your needs. Now you can make your tires look their absolute best and protect them from dirt, grime, and sunlight.
