Matte Tire Dressing Contest
06-23-2010, 01:20 PM
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Matte Tire Dressing Contest
Two and a half weeks ago I decided to do a comparative review of four different tire dressings that are generally characterized as matte or low gloss: Mother's Reflections Tire Care, Showroom FX White Pearl Tire & Trim Dressing, Surf City Garage Beyond Black, and Duragloss 253 Tire and Rubber Dressing. I applied them to the tires of my wife's CR-V.
I cleaned and brushed the tires with Eimann Fabrik Tire Cleaner. I then applied each dressing with an Eagle One tire sponge and then moved the car and attended to the bald spot. All were easy to apply, though Beyond Black tends to be a little runnier than the others. I waited 30 minutes and then gently went over each tire with a dry sponge to remove any excess, of which there was very little, if any.
I then asked my wife to walk around the car with me and to judge each tire by gloss and blackness. We looked at the tires outside under the noonday sun and in the garage. My wife has a much better eye for these kind of judgments than I do.
Mother's Reflections Tire Care
Reflections gives the most natural look of the four. It is both the least glossy and the least black. If you are looking for a truly matte dressing, this is the one you want.
Duragloss 253 Tire and Rubber Dressing
The Duragloss is a touch glossier than Reflections, as well as a touch more black.
Surf City Garage Beyond Black
Beyond Black lives up to its name. It provides a deep black look. But somewhat surprisingly, it also gives a wetter look than either Reflections or DuraGloss.
Showroom FX White Pearl Tire & Trim Dressing
The blackness of White Pearl is equal to the blackness of Beyond Black but a tiny step up in sheen. Of the four low gloss dressings I tried today, White Pearl is the shiniest. We aren't talking high gloss, of course; but the difference between White Pearl and Reflections is noticeable.
My wife tends to prefer a glossier look on her tires, and so not surprisingly she voted White Pearl as her favorite. I tend to prefer a more matte look, so I found myself favoring Reflections and DG 253. Reflections has been my favorite for the past year, but I can see Duragloss giving it a run for the money for my affections. But honestly, I like all four dressings. The differences between them are minor and mere nuance.
Two Weeks Update
The car has not been washed in the past two weeks. It has been driven in the rain and has sat outside in an airport parking lot for several days. On Monday my wife and I walked around the car and assessed how the dressings were holding up.
Reflections
The gloss has disappeared completely. What we now have might be called a natural black look. It won't last much longer.
Duragloss 253
A little gloss remains and it's a touch blacker than the Reflections tire.
Beyond Black
Blacker and glossier than Reflections and Duragloss.
White Pearl
The White Pearl tire looks very similar to the Beyond Black tire. It's equally as black but still has a tiny bit more sheen.
As the tires began so they are today. Reflections began as the least glossy dressing of the four and has kept that distinction--its gloss has disappeared. White Pearl began as the most glossy dressing of the four and remains the most glossy dressing. It's still looking pretty good.
In my eyes, after two weeks White Pearl and Beyond Black look the best, closely followed by Duragloss. It's impossible for me to compare the tires as they looked when first dressed to how they look today. My guess is that White Pearl and Beyond Black basically look today like how the Duragloss initially looked.
If you want a matte, natural look, then I recommend Reflections and Duragloss, but Duragloss does appear to be more durable than Reflections. Reflections has been my preferred tire dressing for the past year, but Duragloss may soon replace it in my affections. If you want a matte, natural look after a week or two of driving time or prefer a somewhat glossier tire, then I recommend either White Pearl or Beyond Black. I'm impressed by both dressings.
I cleaned and brushed the tires with Eimann Fabrik Tire Cleaner. I then applied each dressing with an Eagle One tire sponge and then moved the car and attended to the bald spot. All were easy to apply, though Beyond Black tends to be a little runnier than the others. I waited 30 minutes and then gently went over each tire with a dry sponge to remove any excess, of which there was very little, if any.
I then asked my wife to walk around the car with me and to judge each tire by gloss and blackness. We looked at the tires outside under the noonday sun and in the garage. My wife has a much better eye for these kind of judgments than I do.
Mother's Reflections Tire Care
Reflections gives the most natural look of the four. It is both the least glossy and the least black. If you are looking for a truly matte dressing, this is the one you want.
Duragloss 253 Tire and Rubber Dressing
The Duragloss is a touch glossier than Reflections, as well as a touch more black.
Surf City Garage Beyond Black
Beyond Black lives up to its name. It provides a deep black look. But somewhat surprisingly, it also gives a wetter look than either Reflections or DuraGloss.
Showroom FX White Pearl Tire & Trim Dressing
The blackness of White Pearl is equal to the blackness of Beyond Black but a tiny step up in sheen. Of the four low gloss dressings I tried today, White Pearl is the shiniest. We aren't talking high gloss, of course; but the difference between White Pearl and Reflections is noticeable.
My wife tends to prefer a glossier look on her tires, and so not surprisingly she voted White Pearl as her favorite. I tend to prefer a more matte look, so I found myself favoring Reflections and DG 253. Reflections has been my favorite for the past year, but I can see Duragloss giving it a run for the money for my affections. But honestly, I like all four dressings. The differences between them are minor and mere nuance.
Two Weeks Update
The car has not been washed in the past two weeks. It has been driven in the rain and has sat outside in an airport parking lot for several days. On Monday my wife and I walked around the car and assessed how the dressings were holding up.
Reflections
The gloss has disappeared completely. What we now have might be called a natural black look. It won't last much longer.
Duragloss 253
A little gloss remains and it's a touch blacker than the Reflections tire.
Beyond Black
Blacker and glossier than Reflections and Duragloss.
White Pearl
The White Pearl tire looks very similar to the Beyond Black tire. It's equally as black but still has a tiny bit more sheen.
As the tires began so they are today. Reflections began as the least glossy dressing of the four and has kept that distinction--its gloss has disappeared. White Pearl began as the most glossy dressing of the four and remains the most glossy dressing. It's still looking pretty good.
In my eyes, after two weeks White Pearl and Beyond Black look the best, closely followed by Duragloss. It's impossible for me to compare the tires as they looked when first dressed to how they look today. My guess is that White Pearl and Beyond Black basically look today like how the Duragloss initially looked.
If you want a matte, natural look, then I recommend Reflections and Duragloss, but Duragloss does appear to be more durable than Reflections. Reflections has been my preferred tire dressing for the past year, but Duragloss may soon replace it in my affections. If you want a matte, natural look after a week or two of driving time or prefer a somewhat glossier tire, then I recommend either White Pearl or Beyond Black. I'm impressed by both dressings.
06-24-2010, 04:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Vanishing Point,Jun 24 2010, 07:52 AM
303 does well on leaving a matte black finish once dry.
06-25-2010, 02:11 AM
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I recently used Chemical Guys Extreme Shine during a detail on two cars (up in the Show and Shine) the tires had a nice matte finish (surprising given the name) almost like they were brandy new. Neither owner has said there is a longevity or sling issue. After my Auto-X this weekend I will be trying it on my own S and can give better feedback then.
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06-25-2010, 10:42 AM
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For me I like to apply the Beyond Black, but it's a bit too shiny so I then wipe off any excess to flatten it out just a bit and reduce any sling. This provides one of the BEST tires shines I've ever seen/used.
08-22-2010, 04:48 PM
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I have not seen Duragloss at the AutoZone, but I have seen it at NAPA--or they might be able to order it for you. I've also seen it at Bumper-to-Bumper. I ordered my bottle through AutoGeek.