The tires of your car are as important as the body. Not only in terms of utility, but also in terms of aesthetics. Admit it! When you have a chance, you look at the rims of new cars with some jealousy and envy. Especially if surrounded by a jet-black tire shining. But if you leave these jewels dirty, you risk losing the desired effect.
Imagine: your wheels are like your shoes. No way to let them get dirty, at the risk of tarnishing your image. And if the wheels are the shoes, the tires are the laces. Again, out of the question to walk with dirty laces. Unfortunately, if your wheels are pretty resistant to dirt, the tires get dirty faster. Knowing how to clean and dress them will not only keep them beautiful and fresh, but will prolong their lives.
The first step is to clean the tires. The tires pick up all kinds of debris from the bearing on the ground as well as the dust created by braking. These pollutants penetrate the pores of the rubber and form a gray and dirty tire. These pollutants can not be rinsed with a hose, not even a pressure washer.
What’s needed
For proper cleaning, you will need the following:
A stiff bristle brush (SBB)
Degreaser or all-purpose cleaner
2 buckets (one filled with water and one with soapy water)
A polishing cleaner with a tire
A garden hose
Steps
Wet your tires with a hose.
Then apply the cleaning degreaser generously to the tire and let it work. Be careful though, some products require dilution to avoid damaging the rubber. Read the instructions.
In very hot and sunny weather, fill your buckets in advance so that the cleaner does not dry on your tires (you do not want to let it dry even if it does not cause irreversible damage).
Then brush the sidewall of the tire. Rinse the brush with clean water with each rub.
Wash the tire with soapy water to neutralize any residue and rinse it with the garden hose.
Let the tire dry while you do the same with the other three. It’s also a good time to check the tire pressure (and do not forget the spare wheel).
Glossy and black
Now that the tires are clean, it’s time to give them a new look and protect them from destructive UV rays. Although the level of shine you like is a personal preference, the type of shine you choose is easy to recommend.
There are two varieties: solvent-based (transparent and greasy) and water-based (milky). In addition to being non-biodegradable and often falling back on your paint while you drive, the solvent-based silicone polish contains a compound called Dimethyl (DMS) that eliminates the tire’s elasticity and causes it to harden prematurely. It also moves the Antiozonant movement out of the rubber, causing premature browning of the tire called “blooming”. Antiozonant is added to the rubber to prevent ozone and UV rays from damaging the rubber. When the DMS evaporates, it pulls all the positive properties of the rubber, leaving behind a hard rubber and an abnormally bright tire that will attract dirt.
Water-based polishes contain a silicone-based organic polymer called PDMS. It is used in everyday items like shampoo to leave hair silky and shiny. In addition, they often contain products that help block UV rays, are non-toxic and highly biodegradable. They will not last as long, but the benefits (and even the cost) are worth it; and they do not attract dirt like their counterparts.
Apply this polish as indicated, and do not hesitate to wipe the excess with a clean cloth.
Go back, and enjoy the work!
