No carwash or car detail is complete until your tires are bright and shiny. Tires that shine add the finishing touches and gives your car that brand new look and feel. However, generic tire shine products aren’t just toxic, but they can also damage your tires in the long term.
This can lead to people using other car products like car wax, or natural products like linseed oil, on their tires. Can you use car wax on your tires and rims? The answer is yes. You can use car wax on your tires and rims. However, we recommend using wax specifically for rims on your tires as well.
Certain tire shine products, when used improperly, can cause the sidewalls of your tires to dry. Over time, this dryness can lead to damage on the sidewall of the tire as it starts to crack.
Can I Use Wax as Tire Shine?
You can use wax as a replacement for tire shine. Application is simple, a little bit goes a long way. Make sure you have your favorite wax and a cloth to apply it.
Start by applying a small amount to your tire and go in a clockwise fashion. Try to make the layer of wax as evenly as possible all around the entire sidewall of the tire. Be sure to cover only the sidewalls of your tire, and not the tire itself.
Once you have a light coat of wax on it, go ahead and wipe or buff it off from your tire. Be sure not to leave any excess wax on your tire as a white film may form, indicating that you did not properly wipe the wax off in that area.
We recommend using a wheel wax on your tires as they are easier to use, and will not damage your tires. To check the current price and availability of Chemical Guys Wheel Guard Max Coat Wax, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Can You Use Spray Wax on Tires?
Using spray wax on your tires is actually a fast and effective way to add shine to your tires.
Here is a video tutorial showing how to apply spray wax to your tires:
What Does Waxing Your Tires Do?
Waxing your tires is a great way to offer maximum protection. Other than giving your tires an awesome shine, wax offers a lot of protection against scratches, dirt, and grime by giving a clear coat on top of the rubber which gives a small layer of protection.
Wax will also help prevent damage from the sun, help mask imperfections on your tires, and make your car look cleaner for a lot longer.
We recommend applying wax to your tires at least twice a month for maximum durability and protection.
Why Do People Shine Their Tires?
Like many surfaces of a car, shiny just looks darn good. Interior plastics, when cleaned and shined, look better as they pop out more to the eyes. It gives your car the finishing touch when detailing and cleaning.
This is no different when done to the rubber on your tires. The glossy, dark shiny look that tire shine adds to tires gives it that nice and finished look.
However, not all people like tire shine and this is mostly personal preference. Some people may prefer the regular look of their tires, while others prefer it to be shined.
The major downside to shining your tires is that the look does tend to fade away quickly. Continuously shining your tires can become tedious and expensive depending on the frequency of application and the product that you are using.
What Else Can You Shine Your Tires With?
There are a number of things you can use to shine your tires. Some of these include natural ingredients, while others use harsh chemical compounds.
Car Wax/Wheel Wax
Car wax and wheel wax can be used safely on your car’s tires. Apply a small, even amount of wax around the entire tire. Once applied, be sure to wipe it off thoroughly to prevent caking or a white film of wax from forming.
Boiled Linseed Oil
Boiled Linseed oil is a great and natural way to add shine to your tires. The main downside to linseed oil is that it can take up to 24-48 hours to fully dry.
Apply this oil in the same manner that you would apply wax. Be sure to use a very thin, but even coat as using too much can cause a white, gunky film to form.
Boiled linseed oil is great for rubber and could be applied every two weeks as normal maintenance for your tires.
Tire Shine Products
Tire shine products like Armor All and Meguiar’s are popular brands that many car enthusiasts use to shine their tires.
Unfortunately, these types of products are harsh, toxic, and can lead to damage on your cars tire over time.
Oils
The most common household oils that are safe to use as tire shine are castor, lemon, vegetable, baby oil, olive oil, and even brake fluid.
Natural oils like olive and vegetable are great for the rubber and will not dry it out. Oils will give your tires a natural wet and glossy look, similar to what you could expect from a chemical-based tire shine product.
Final Thoughts
Using less harsh products like car wax or wheel wax on your tires is a great way to add shine to without damaging them. Standard tire shine products contain harsh chemicals that are toxic when inhaled, and may cause cracking over extended periods of use.
Using other natural products like boiled linseed oil, olive oil, baby oil, castor oil, and vegetable oil are great natural alternatives to waxes and chemical based tire shine products.
Adding shine to your car’s tires is a great way to finish off a carwash or detail. It adds a sleek appearance that many car enthusiasts love.