Why do I need to keep my tyre walls looking good?

Over time, if no protection is used, tyre walls will start to turn brown or discoloured, and we always say that the tyres are the final touch in making your car look cool.

Okay, so that’s more time that I need to spend on my car. How long will it take to do?

Including cleaning the tyres first, allow around 15 – 20 minutes.

How easy or fussy is it to do?

There’s no hardship at all, other than getting your hands a bit wet. Easy peasy.

What do I need to buy?

Buy the right product to suit your needs (see tyre product reviews). Ie. Do you want a wet look, or a classy ‘muted’ look? A couple of small kitchen sponges also come in handy to dab away any excess product.

How do I apply tyre shine?

1. Remove any excess muck from the tyres first with a pressure washer or hosepipe nozzle attachment. After this use a car wash product and a sponge to remove the rest. If dirt is ingrained into the tyre wall, use a scrubbing brush lightly to remove it.
2. Dry off your tyres naturally or use a soft absorbant cloth to mop off the worst of the water. Some tyre shine’s go onto wet tyres also, so check the bottle first. We recommend putting them onto a dry tyre wall though, as it can flick off onto the bodywork later.
3. Apply your tyre shine product. They come in many forms including pump action sprays, aerosols, foaming sprays and brush on liquids. Remember to not apply it too thickly, otherwise it’ll flick off. Note. Try to avoid getting tyre shine onto your brake disks as a lot of products contain high levels of silicone.
4. Leave the product to settle for 15 – 20 minutes and then dab any excess off with a kitchen sponge.
5. Wipe any excess product off your wheels. This will help stop brake dust clinging to the wheel.
6. Stand back and admire your handywork.

Top Tip

- Some products may stain driveways so try to use a piece of newspaper at the base of the tyre to stop this happening.

Questions

Got any questions or queries? Just leave a comment at the bottom of the page and we’ll answer you as soon as possible.

Have you got a thought on this How-To? What How-To would you like to see on this site? Got any cleaning tips to share? Let us know in the comments box below.