Certain auto detailing products do not always have to be purchased from shops. You can opt for their homemade substitutes. Tire shine is a good example of this. For many vehicle owners the biggest reservation about using commercial tire shine is the cost, so homemade tire shine might seem like a good alternative. But which product will give the best shine and protection for your tires? Let’s evaluate both of them.

Does Oil Work as a Homemade Tire Shine?

The most common household product used as tire shine is oil – castor, lemon, vegetable, olive, baby oil, and even brake fluid. Natural oils like castor and lemon are said to nourish the rubber without drying it. Furthermore, oil will give your tires a wet, glossy look much like solvent-based tire shine. However, the stickiness of oil will result in your tires attracting even more dirt than usual. The result is hard to clean grime and dirt coated tires in less than a week. Also, after dabbing the tires with oil if you do not wipe off the excess product, it can sling on to other parts. For instance, a product like brake fluid can do a lot of damage to the paint. Another negative of using oil is it does not provide UV protection to your tires, while water-based commercial tire shine have agents that block UV rays.

An important thing to remember is to never apply tire shine on the tire tread, especially oils. They will make the tread slippery.

• It Is Environmental-friendly

If organic living is important to you, then homemade tire shine is a good choice. Substances like castor oil will not harm the environment or you in anyway.

• It Is a Cheap Alternative

Some commercial tire shine products like Meguiar’s and Turtle Wax are priced over $20. A homemade solution is very cheap if you do the math and make the comparison.

Here’s a video on how to make an easy homemade tire shine:

Commercial Tire Shine

There are two types of commercial tire shine: water-based, which is biodegradable and solvent-based, which is non-biodegradable. Stay clear from the latter because these products contain petroleum distillates that are harmful to rubber. Choose a water-based product instead because this environmental friendly solution will give a nice satin finish to your tires. This shine will last longer as the solution is also non-greasy, so it won’t attract dust and grime like a greasy solvent-based product would do. Additionally, as mentioned above, water-based tire shine have UV ray blocking properties so it will provide additional protection for the tires.

• Health Hazards

Solvent-based tire shine can even threaten your health. The harsh chemicals can cause dangerous skin ailments and the vapors emanating from them can cause a variety of respiratory problems. A benefit of using homemade tire shine is that you don’t have to worry about chemicals.

• They Are Flammable

Many commercial tire dressings are also highly flammable so using them means you have to take extra precautions. You should dispose the empty cans and bottles according to the method that is mentioned on the product label.

A good tire shine will give you long lasting results without causing damage to the tires or other elements of the car. Homemade tire shine is a decent alternative but a commercial water-based tire shine will give better results and protection. Because the results will last longer than that of a homemade tire shine, the money spent on the product is actually a worthy investment.

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for our newsletter to receive more valuable tips, ideas, coupons, and extras!