Turtle Wax Jet Black Endura-Shine Tire Coat Kit

[ls973800]

For the first time since April when I first got my C-Max, I have finally been able to wash it and clean the tires.  I just hit 1900 miles and it hadn't been cleaned since it left the showroom floor!  Leasing a condo with a one car garage, and rain about every other day just made it too difficult until now.

 

I read about some tire shine product made by Turtle Wax, and decided to give it a try after reading excellent reviews about it.  I have in the past tried the spray on and wipe on products, but they don't last long, and many of them sling off the tire and make a mess on the fenders.

 

Several years ago I found a product called Tuf-Shine, which is a very liquid dye type fluid.  The tires had to be scrubbed almost immaculately, or the product wouldn't coat correctly.  It may bleed brown, or it may crack.  On my Edge I scrubbed each tire 6 times using their cleaner, and still had to use some mineral spirits in order to get the tire clean enough for the product.  It was a bit expensive, I think around  $40.00 for the kit.  It worked well, but too expensive and not easy to use.

 

The Turtle Wax kit cost around $13.00 and was VERY easy to use.  I washed the car, cleaned the tires once with my Bleche-Wite, and then once with the included Turtle Wax tire cleaner.  I still had some brown showing on the tires which would have been a complete no-no if I was using Tuf-Shine.  The Turtle Wax product didn't make a big deal about removing it all, so I tried it the way it was.

 

I then removed the tires in order to be able to apply the shine product in a uniform circle and not worry about having part of the tire on the ground.  It takes about 120 minutes for each coat to dry, and I applied two coats.

 

You MUST use gloves with this product, as it is a very black dye type watery liquid.  The kit includes one pair of plastic gloves, but get yourself some similar to what I have pictured.  The pad that comes with the kit is nice, but tears apart quickly from the different textures on the tires.  This one was used twice on a total of 8 tires, so 16 times around.  Comments on some of the posts I have read suggest you get the foam type paint pads and try those.

 

I also put my pad in a ziplock bag, and it stayed moist since I had last used it two weeks ago.  Others have said you can wash it, but I think the bag works well.  I had to use a small drill bit to unclog the nozzle on the bottle since it had been last used two week ago. I used only two coats on each tire, and the shine dries to a nice matte finish.  Others have done 5 or 6 coats to get as much of a shine as they can.  The shine does not sling off, rub off, or wash off.  It is suppsed to last 3-4 months before needing a touch up.

 

If you get any on the rims while applying like I did, you just use a rag with some of the tire cleaner on it.  I found the Bleche-Wite to work very well at getting it off the wheels.    Here are the results.

 

NOTE  Turtle Wax makes a similar product, but it has received very poor reviews.  Make sure if you try this you get the exact product and kit that I have shown.  I think you will be very pleased.

 

 

[Adrian_L]

Looks like a good product.

 

On the subject of washing: I have been washing my cars for years with Sunlight detergent.  I just discovered it is so strong it will remove wax! 

 

Time to get a dedicated car washing product.

Edited July 17, 2015 by Adrian_L

[hybridbear]

Very nicely done! My wife would love it if I put that much time & effort into cleaning & shining the tires. I also have Bleche White to clean them and some Black Magic Tire Foam to shine them. But cleaning them is the hardest part because they get so dirty & brown, especially after winter.

[Podivin]

LS, I'm not knocking your work, and thanks for the review of the product, but personally I've never understood the appeal of shiny tires (obviously there IS one, I just don't get it). To me, rubber shouldn't shine. I like a clean tire as much as the next guy, also prefer to see white walls and white letters on tires be WHITE, but the shiny rubber look is just lost on me.  

That must be one of those 'to each his own' things.

:)

[Adrian_L]

For those who are looking for a smooth, matt, fresh-from-the-factory look to their tires, try this:  after you wash and dry your tires, add a little brake fluid to a clean cotton cloth and wipe over once. 

I learned this tip from a car restorer, years ago.

[ls973800]

LS, I'm not knocking your work, and thanks for the review of the product, but personally I've never understood the appeal of shiny tires (obviously there IS one, I just don't get it). To me, rubber shouldn't shine. I like a clean tire as much as the next guy, also prefer to see white walls and white letters on tires be WHITE, but the shiny rubber look is just lost on me.  

That must be one of those 'to each his own' things.

:)

 

 

No, you are not knocking my work at all.  I don't care much for a high gloss or shine on tires either.  That's why I posted the picture of the high shine right after applying the second coat.  I also posted a picture of the same tire once it dried and back on the car.  It was a lot less of a shine, more of how I like it.

 

The brake fluid tip sounds interesting, but I would think it would allow dust and dirt to stick to it. 

[Adrian_L]

It wouldn't.  It dries matt and dry. 

 

A google search will reveal a variety of opinions.  There are those who think brake fluid it will eat your tires away.  Funny it doesn't eat brake lines THAT ARE MADE OF RUBBER!!!!   LOL---the internet. 

 

Whatever you do, don't use Armor-all on your tires OR dash.  The alcohol will dry out rubber and vinyl.  I learned the hard way with a cracked Honda dash in the 80's.   That stuff is junk but they sure sell a lot of it.

 

Better to use mineral oil on vinyl and plastic.  $1 per bottle.