I have a 2015 Nissan frontier pro 4x. I replaced a tire after four months because of a bulge. Now 3 of my 4 tires have cracks in them. Does anyone else have this issue? Is it my tires or the fact that I use wetblack on them? Thanks
Hankook tires: cracked?
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What kind of cracks? When were the tires manufactured? I'm guessing late '14, early '15 since you have a '15?
I haven't done a scientific test but when I worked in the shop I saw many cases of premature dry-rot/weather checking in the face of the sidewall, 9 times out of 10 corresponding with tire-shine product usage, so there's a strong case for rubber damage from using tire-shine. Many just looked like a little weather-checking or hairline cracks but all over the sidewall instead of just at the flex-points (usually the edge of the tread and between tread blocks in un-wetted tires).
The worst one I saw the surface of the tire looked like a dried out mud flat with cracks everywhere or overcooked brat with the skin crispy and peeling back. The tires were quite a few years old and had the stuff put on them religiously. Totally turned me off to those products, not that I was into them before. That and I think I'm allergic to something in some of them: a day or 2 after contact my skin gets all blistery then peels like crazy a week or 2 later.
I haven't done a scientific test but when I worked in the shop I saw many cases of premature dry-rot/weather checking in the face of the sidewall, 9 times out of 10 corresponding with tire-shine product usage, so there's a strong case for rubber damage from using tire-shine. Many just looked like a little weather-checking or hairline cracks but all over the sidewall instead of just at the flex-points (usually the edge of the tread and between tread blocks in un-wetted tires).
The worst one I saw the surface of the tire looked like a dried out mud flat with cracks everywhere or overcooked brat with the skin crispy and peeling back. The tires were quite a few years old and had the stuff put on them religiously. Totally turned me off to those products, not that I was into them before. That and I think I'm allergic to something in some of them: a day or 2 after contact my skin gets all blistery then peels like crazy a week or 2 later.
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I am about 9 months into my Hankooks (on a 2015 Pro-4x) and am very impressed with the lack of wear. No signs of cracking, bulging, or other issues. Within a few miles of 20,000 on the odometer.
I don't use tire dressings on mine. Just wash them along with the rest of the truck. I am ok with gray tires...
I don't use tire dressings on mine. Just wash them along with the rest of the truck. I am ok with gray tires...
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Many of the tire shine products out there are actually bad for the tire. Some more than others depending on ingredients.
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I never use tire shine on my tires because rubber doesn't shine. I normally just wash the tires with a tire brush and if they really need it, I use Brillo or SOS pads on them.
BTW I have 7year old tires on one of my cars that I rarely drive and they are showing signs of dry rot but another car that I have has tires I put on in 1980 and these tires still look fine. If I start driving it, I will definitely replace those tires though. Maybe rubber compounds don't last like they used to.
BTW I have 7year old tires on one of my cars that I rarely drive and they are showing signs of dry rot but another car that I have has tires I put on in 1980 and these tires still look fine. If I start driving it, I will definitely replace those tires though. Maybe rubber compounds don't last like they used to.
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If it's solvent based I would NOT use them. Water based products are safe to use on tires. I have cracks on my spare tire stored under the truck that doesn't get any protectant. My tires on the ground are free of cracks.
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What product do you use? How would one know if a product is solvent based or not? TIA
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Adam's Polishes 16oz Tire Shine | Tire Dressing | Tire Shine
I use Adam's tire shine and/or Adam's Super VRT. Solvent based turns your tires brown when the shine wears off. Also, if you see something stating that the product contains petroleum distillates on the label, it's not good for your tires. Usually you can smell the solvents when you are using the product. Those strong smelling aerosol tire shines are usually solvent based. This is based on my experience with tire shine products over many years. YMMV.
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^ ^ ^ ^ What he said....
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Yep. I don't disagree. I just cannot get away with another what he said post right here right now.
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But I didn't say it.
What I can say, is that the boys at Adam's took quite a shine to my classic whip and we're generous enough to hook me up with some products if I let them put one of their stickers on the car. I'd been using their products long before that and I still use them regularly. Last year the car was used on the Jay Leno show because he doesn't have one in his collection. You bet she got dolled up with Adam's products before the shoot.
What I can say, is that the boys at Adam's took quite a shine to my classic whip and we're generous enough to hook me up with some products if I let them put one of their stickers on the car. I'd been using their products long before that and I still use them regularly. Last year the car was used on the Jay Leno show because he doesn't have one in his collection. You bet she got dolled up with Adam's products before the shoot.
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Share some pics with us then. :nerd:
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^ ^ ^ ^ What he said....
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Depends on what method you use to apply the dressing. I use a sponge applicator to wipe the dressing onto the tires. No slinging at all when you apply it using a foam applicator. If you spray the dressing straight onto the tires, it will fling off when you drive away plus you will waste a lot of your product.
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Way back in 1980, lent my 1971 VW Convertible to girl friend to use for 1 month. Before she returned it, she washed it and used an Armor-type product on the convertible top, and first time I tried to put the top down a few weeks later it cracked and broke into many pieces; that top was a replacement top 4 years old at that time (not the original VW-quality top). The supplier of said product denied any knowledge that their product could do that, and denied any responsibility. BTW, the replacement top is still on that VW, and looks good, only have washed with water, and keep sunshine off the top best I can.
About the same time, my brother had a few years-old Fiat he had bought new, and he thought he'd better try to preserve said dashboard. He used the same Armor-type product and within a week his dashboard now was cracked.
Understand: this is not scientific proof, it might be a coincidence. What is not a coincidence is that I haven't purchased ANY products from that company in 35 years.
So I say NAY to using tire dressings...
About the same time, my brother had a few years-old Fiat he had bought new, and he thought he'd better try to preserve said dashboard. He used the same Armor-type product and within a week his dashboard now was cracked.
Understand: this is not scientific proof, it might be a coincidence. What is not a coincidence is that I haven't purchased ANY products from that company in 35 years.
So I say NAY to using tire dressings...
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I used Armor All back in the day because that was all I knew of. I used it on my tires and dash on my 84 Mazda 626. Never had any problem with cracking of anything. Meanwhile, my Brother bought a 1987 Isuzu I Mark brand new and never put anything on his dash. His ended up cracked in several places.
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I'm not in here to hijack the thread.
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Does this same logic crossover to interior cleaners as well? I recently purchased/applied 303 Aerospace interior cleaner and was pleased with it. What about a product like this for the exterior plastics that are susceptible to solar fading IE on top of my bumper or that area b/tw the hood and windshield?
In retrospect, I'd rather not be using a product that cleans well...but is not good for my interior/exterior plastic surfaces for the long haul. Perhaps this is a rubber vs plastic thang?
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