MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

HHFD633 · #1 10-19-2006, 09:04 AM

Looking for a tire dressing i bought about 5 years ago. I cant remeber where i got or even the brand, i had to transfer it to another bottle and i never kept the label.
It was blue , a very deep blue in color and smelled like grapes. It was kinda grease so it must have been silicon based. I did give a huge glossy shine but a natural new look and lasted for ever.

ANY IDEAS?

kenchan · #2 10-19-2006, 11:16 AM

Meguiar's Endurance ?

HHFD633 · #3 10-19-2006, 11:22 AM

no it was a pro brand, white gallon bottle.

kenchan · #4 10-19-2006, 11:40 AM

oh yah, forgot we were in the OTBWD Club.

AntiqueCarNut · #5 10-19-2006, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HHFD633

It was blue , a very deep blue in color and smelled like grapes. It was kinda grease ...
ANY IDEAS?

Maybe Auto Magic's Magic Dressing?

HHFD633 · #6 10-19-2006, 07:54 PM

thats IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

car nut you solved the mystery

AntiqueCarNut · #7 10-20-2006, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HHFD633

thats IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

car nut you solved the mystery

Do I know my detailing stuff, or what

???

boognish · #8 10-20-2006, 06:23 AM

Stuff looks like it might be worth a try... my only hesitation is that it says "Magic Dressing is a solvent-based dressing...."

Solvent-based? Does that mean it can dissolve certain materials on contact and/or has a corrosive effect over time? Just seems kinda...scarey.

Rock on,

-boognish

EDIT: Just scrolled down on their products page and noticed that they ALSO sell "water-based" dressings that seem very similar... I'd feel better using these, personally!

AntiqueCarNut · #9 10-20-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boognish

Stuff looks like it might be worth a try... my only hesitation is that it says "Magic Dressing is a solvent-based dressing...."

Solvent-based? Does that mean it can dissolve certain materials on contact and/or has a corrosive effect over time? Just seems kinda...scarey.

Rock on,

-boognish

EDIT: Just scrolled down on their products page and noticed that they ALSO sell "water-based" dressings that seem very similar... I'd feel better using these, personally!

Lots of the professional tire dressings are 'solvent based'. The solvent is only a carrier for the silicone and other components that leave the shine and protection behind. The solvent evaporates very quickly. The Auto Magic line isn't bad, but it's not really geared to the car enthusiast, IMO. Auto Magic is really 'big' in the detail and reconditioning departments at car dealerships and at car washes. They started in Texas and about 15 years ago began showing up on the west coast. I see them in the New England area, too, now.

The stuff isn't corrosive and shouldn't dissolve anything, per-se, but if used regularly, could contribute to drying or stripping away the protective waxes that are added to the tire compounds, and are released when the rubber flexes while driving. Often the solvent is some sort of refined mineral spirits, kerosene or a combination. Solvent dressings tend to be 'glossier' than water-based dressings. The solvent also helps to keep the stuff from slinging off the tires and often holds up better from exposure to rain and weather than water-based dressings do. Some solvent dressings have formaldehyde in them - so if you're not planning to have a funeral for your tires, you probably want to steer clear of those

.

I prefer water-based dressings. Lately, I've been using the Zaino Perfect Tire Gloss. Looks good when first applied - nice matte/low gloss finish. But, any driving in the rain, and the dressing is completely gone; the stuff is OK, but I'm not thrilled with it. A water-based tire dressing that I've had great luck with for maybe twenty years, is One Grand's ERV.

If you're concerned with what's in the tire dressing, or any 'protectant' (which, in reality may not be 'protecting' at all) that you may use in the interior of your MINI, ask the maker of the product for the MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet. The MSDS will reveal contents of common solvents and such.

El_Jefe · #10 10-20-2006, 03:36 PM

yeah anything that isnt more water based will kill wax or your paint. Now, some say, "im putting it on the tires not the car!" then they hit the gas, it flies up, and splatters against the wax/clearcoat, dries hard as you drive and bam, nice!

sux.

El_Jefe · #11 10-20-2006, 10:04 PM

yes, the heavy protectants I wonder about. Something that makes a shell probably destroys the material underneath after a few uses. Drying it out or making it less resilient. I always make my porous things weather rubber or leather, softer and more maleable with each application rather than harder. things last long this way even if less glossy by far.

HHFD633 · #12 10-21-2006, 06:07 AM

then this isnt the stuff i had, the stuff i had was kinda grease if i got it on me and made a stain on the drive way but lasted for ever when applied and it would last 2 weeks even threw heavy rains. hmmm......

kenchan · #13 11-05-2006, 06:48 PM

been using that Meg Endurance (although not a OTBWD product) for
a while now with soso results. Last week i just got so tired of spreading
that thick blob of schiet and just out of lazyness sprayed my commuter car's
tires with NXT tire shine that i got from that free giveaway Octaneguy
let us know about earlier this year. (After spraying it i just worked it into
the tires evenly with a foam applicator).

to my big surprise, that NXT tire shine lasts just as long...

and
the application takes less than quarter of the time.

i think im
going to use this from now on.

btw, I got a new bottle of Endurance if anyone wants it locally...