Best Tire Shines

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

• The best tire shines on the 2024 market are the Chemical Guys TVD-107, Turtle Wax T-18, TriNova Tire Shine, Chemical Guys Silk Shine, and Adam’s Polishes Wheel and Tire Cleaner.
• On average, a good tire shine will cost around $15 for a 16.0-ounce bottle. Some products can be sold in a 1.0-gallon or 5.0-gallon container which can be a better value.
• Tire shines can range from gel-based to water-based formulas which are important to consider depending on what surfaces you want to use the cleaner on.

Taking care of your car involves more than regular washing and the occasional wax. Tire care can be easily overlooked, but it’s an essential part of auto maintenance. While tire shine products may be viewed as purely aesthetic items, in reality, they can drastically improve tire health. Tire shines are formulated to prevent damage from harmful UV rays, grime, and other contaminants while providing a high-quality appearance.

Choosing the right tire shine for your tires is essential to keep them looking and feeling new. Our expert review team has tested and ranked the five best tire shines on the market so you can make a sound decision.

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Tire Shine Reviews

When searching for the best tire shines, we wanted to consider price, application, and UV protection as advertised and listed in the product descriptions of each tire shine. We then rated each tire shine on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0 stars.

What Is The Best Tire Shine?

We named the Chemical Guys TVD-107, Turtle Wax T-18, TriNova Tire Shine, Chemical Guys Silk Shine, and Adam’s Polishes Wheel and Tire Cleaner as the best-rated tire shines on the market in 2024.

*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.

Tire Shine Ratings: Our Testing Process

After looking at factors such as product descriptions, shipping, customer ratings, and prices, our product testing team ordered the tire shine that best met these standards. A team member tested each product on a Honda, taking note of the glossiness each tire shine produced, ease of application, and the level of UV protection. Each tire shine was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.

Learn more about how we tested tire shines here.

1. Chemical Guys TVD-107: Best Overall

• Cost: Around $12 to $60
• Amazon review score: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars based on over 21,000 reviews
• Available in 16.0-oz. or 1.0-gal. sizes
• VRP (Vinyl, Rubber, Plastic) gel
• Wet shine
• Light tropical scent
• UV protection

Chemical Guys TVD-107 Review

Chemical Guys TVD-107 is our top choice because of its long-lasting shine and UV protection. Its gel texture makes choosing the amount you want to apply easy, and it requires little effort to scrub it into treads. It’s also the least messy of the products we tested, which is a significant feature other tire shines don’t offer.

You can see how the Chemical Guys TVD-107 performed in each of our testing categories below:

Whether you’re a beginner or veteran in auto detailing, Chemical Guys TVD-107 tire shine can handle any wear and tear a tire may have. We recommend this product to anyone who wants a tire that will look brand-new for months to come. Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys TVD-107:

Chemical Guys TVD-107: Our Experience

We especially like the TVD-107’s versatility. The geniuses at Chemical Guys created a formula that’s not only suitable for rubber but also vinyl and plastic, so the TVD-107 doubles as an interior cleaner too.

Application: Due to its gel texture, the TVD-107 was very easy to apply and required no additional spraying or water. We only needed a small amount of product to spread it across the entire surface.

Shine: This cleaner produced a high gloss wet shine on the whole tire, including in between the treads. We were super impressed with how shiny the tiers looked after cleaning, especially since we only used a small amount of product.

UV Protection: The TVD-107 has advanced UV protection to prevent future fading and cracking. The bright shine proved that the UV protection was lightly layered on top of our tire.

Chemical Guys TVD-107: What Customers Are Saying

Nearly 80 percent of all Amazon reviews for the TVD-107 were 5.0-star ratings, with customers raving about glossy finishes with no hassle. Some negative reviews comment about the TVD-107’s lackluster finish on plastic compared to rubber and vinyl.

2. Turtle Wax T-18 Wheel And Tire Cleaner: Runner-Up

• Cost: Around $10
• Amazon review score: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars based on over 4,500 reviews
• Can be purchased as a part of various kits
• Glossy finish
• UV protection
• Light fresh scent
• Biodegradable formula

Turtle Wax T-18 Wheel And Tire Cleaner Review

This tire shine is our runner-up because of its effectiveness in both tire and wheel cleaning. The Turtle Wax T-18 Wheel and Tire Cleaner creates a remarkable rim shine while also providing a protective barrier for your tires. And we love its foaminess that makes for easy scrubbing.

You can see how the Turtle Wax performed in each of our testing categories below:

If you want your rims and tires to be equally gleaming, choose the Turtle Wax T-18 All Wheel and Tire Cleaner. It’s a superb two-for-one combo that dazzled our review team with its ease of use and brilliant shine. Below are the pros and cons of the Turtle Wax T-18 Wheel And Tire Cleaner:

Turtle Wax T-18: Our Experience

Overall, we enjoyed testing the Turtle Wax cleaner. You can get multiple uses out of one bottle but we did find that it may take a few layers of cleaner to get a nice shine.

Application: The T-18’s fluid texture made it perfect for spraying and it spread evenly across our car’s tires. It also scrubbed onto rims with ease for a great finish.

Shine: Our tires and rims had a bright sheen after a single use. While we had to use a good amount of sprays to get a nice shine, it was worth it for the larger bottle size at a lower cost than other tire shines.

UV Protection: The T-18 created a protective barrier against UV rays that stays resilient between washes and was clearly visible after our tire and wheel dried.

Turtle Wax T-18 Wheel And Tire Cleaner: What Customers Are Saying

The most popular feedback among buyers was noting how few sprays were required per use, making it a great value. Many of the positive reviews note the economy of the T-18 and how well a single bottle could clean multiple sets of wheels. However, some negative reviews claim the T-18 requires a few layers before creating a proper finish.

3. TriNova Tire Shine: Best Gloss

• Cost: Around $24
• Amazon review score: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars based on over 5,400 reviews
• Comes in 18.0-oz. spray or 1.0-gal. jug
• High gloss finish
• UV protection
• Nice smell
• Free applicator pad included

TriNova Tire Shine Review

TriNova Tire Shine Spray produces the glossiest shine of all of the products we tested for a thoroughly wet look. Its polymer additives create a water-resistant coating with a sleek black shine. TriNova also includes an applicator pad.

You can see how the TriNova performed in each of our testing categories below:

If you’re searching for an extra glossy tire shine spray, look no further than TriNova. This shine will give you that new tire look without having to buy the rest of the car. Below are the pros and cons of the TriNova Tire Shine:

TriNova Tire Shine: Our Experience

We really enjoyed testing the TriNova cleaner, noting that the shine this cleaner left was unlike any product we have seen before. There were some application issues and the cleaning process took longer than others.

Application: Using the spray bottle was straightforward, plus we enjoyed the feel of the applicator pad. However, it made scrubbing into the treads difficult. TriNova also recommends waiting 15 minutes before removing, which was longer than the other shines we tested.

Shine: The Trinova easily created the most glaring shine out of our testing products. We attributed it to the extra gloss enhancers included in TriNova’s shine formula.

UV Protection: Because of the TriNova’s thick coat, our tires were UV protected well and the shine that held up after driving proved that this cleaner is great for UV protection and resistance against dirt and water.

TriNova Tire Shine: What Customers Are Saying

About 75 percent of a large number of reviews are 5.0-star ratings, with positive reviews admiring TriNova’s longevity compared to competitors. While many of the reviews are positive, some negative reviews express disappointment with dry patches on their tires.

4. Chemical Guys Silk Shine: Thickest Coat

• Cost: Around $11 to $50
• Amazon review score: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars based on over 8,000 reviews
• Comes in a variety of package deals with other Chemical Guys products
• UV protection
• Spray-on shine
• Glossy finish
• Satisfying new car smell

Chemical Guys Silk Shine Review

Similarly to the TVD-107, the Chemical Guys Silk Shine is an all-around workhorse. Its VRP formula works well across various surface types to provide a great clean.

You can see how the Chemical Guys Silk Shine performed in each of our testing categories below:

For a sturdy wet tire shine that can be used on more than just tires, consider checking out Chemical Brothers Silk Shine tire spray. It may take careful aim to spray it just right, but the attention to detail can be worthwhile. Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys Silk Shine:

Chemical Guys Silk Shine: Our Experience

What we like about this product is the versatility to be used on multiple surfaces; tires and wheels included. However, the watery formula of this product made it harder to control and accurately spray on the intended surface.

Application: The Silk Shine spreads easily across our tire and soaked into the treads well. One thing we noticed was the bottle had a problem with overspray due to its trigger design, so getting a direct shot was nearly impossible. The shine, itself, was also watery, so drips of shine were hard to control.

Shine: After wiping down the tires, we found a pleasant shiny coat had formed. The shine did not compare to other cleaners in this review, but it still left a visible shine.

UV Protection: Silk Shine offers strong UV protection with its thick coat. This cleaner also advertises as leaving a protective coat on your interior, so we weren’t surprised that it left a nice coating.

Chemical Guys Silk Shine: What Customers Are Saying

Reviewers are astounded by this cleaner, noting the beautiful shine the cleaner leaves that last for weeks at a time. Buyers also shared that the UV protection helped to keep their newly cleaned areas from fading over time.

5. Adam’s Polishes Wheel And Tire Cleaner: Also Consider

• Cost: Around $15
• Amazon review score: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars based on over 4,000 reviews
• Comes in 16.0-oz. or 1.0-gal. sizes, brushes available
• UV protection
• Spray-on cleaner
• Pleasant aroma

Adam’s Polishes Wheel And Tire Cleaner Review

Adam’s Wheel and Tire Cleaner has a non-greasy formula that’s safe on a variety of finishes. It can also help extend your tire dressing’s life. A key feature that we like about this product is that it targets built-up brake dust.

You can see how the Adam’s Polishes Wheel And Tire Cleaner performed in each category below:

Diehard auto detailers may want to steer towards our other choices, but for a basic tire shine at a bang-for-your-buck price, Adam’s Polishes Tire and Wheel Cleaner is a steal. Below are the pros and cons of the Adam’s Polishes Wheel And Tire Cleaner:

Adam’s Polishes Wheel And Tire Cleaner: Our Experience

Testing the Adam’s Polishes cleaner had its ups and downs. While it got the job done, we agreed that you’ll probably want two or more coats to get a nice shine that the other cleaners could achieve in just one application.

Application: While the shine itself made for easy application on tires and wheels, the bottle was poorly designed and broke early into testing. This made measuring the right amount of soap difficult.

Shine: Adam’s Polishes cleaner left a gentle shine on the tire. One coat was enough to leave a decent shine, but we believe a second coat provides the best results.

UV Protection: Adam’s Polishes Tire Shine has advanced UV protection for any level of sun exposure. We could tell that UV protection was considered in this formula because of the nice coating it left on our tires after drying.

Adam’s Polishes Wheel And Tire Cleaner: What Customers Are Saying

Buyers are super happy with how effective this cleaner is at removing mud and other debris that is caked on and can’t be removed using regular car soap. Some disappointed buyers note that it doesn’t compare to some higher quality cleaners, but for the price, it wasn’t a total letdown.

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Tire Shine Buying Guide

Before purchasing a tire shine for your car tires, you’ll want to consider the application, shine, UV protection, and value to ensure you’re getting the most out of a new tire shine.

Application

The ease of application and use can make or break the car cleaning process. When considering a product, there are different formulas that brands use from gels to water-based cleaners. Gels are sometimes more efficient because you usually only need to use a small amount of the product to get the job done whereas watery substances can be more difficult to control how much you use. Depending on the use and surfaces you plan to use the cleaner on, some formulas may be preferable over others.

Shine

As with any cleaning project, it’s always nice to see a new car shine when you’re done cleaning. Tires handle a lot on the road and pick up dirt, mud, and grime easily over time. A good cleaner will leave a nice shine that makes your tires look completely refreshed. When considering a tire cleaner, check out which of our products has the best shine to help make your decision when the time comes to freshen up your tires.

UV Protection

UV protection helps to protect your car’s tires and wheels from fading and rusting. UV protection is always important to consider in any cleaner because your interior plastic, vinyl, or leather can start to fade over time, especially if your car is parked outside for long periods. Having a cleaner with UV protection will help your car’s surfaces last and keep it in pristine condition.

Value

When buying any aftermarket auto product, you want to look at items that are a fair price but get the job done. For tire shines, purchasing a multi-purpose cleaner might be most effective if you’re looking to get into detailing as well. A cleaner that can be used on multiple surfaces, not just tires and wheels, you can get the most out of your purchase. The amount of product you purchase can also make a difference, which is why cleaners that have multiple-size options can sometimes be a better value.

Compare Tire Shines

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Best Tire Shines: Bottom Line

1. Best Overall: Chemical Guys TVD-107
2. Runner-Up: Turtle Wax T-18 Wheel and Tire Cleaner
3. Best Gloss: TriNova Tire Shine
4. Thickest Coat: Chemical Guys Silk Shine
5. Also Consider: Adam’s Polishes Wheel and Tire Cleaner

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Tire Shine: FAQ

Below are some common frequently asked questions about tire shines:

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Full Tire Shine Testing Methodology

To obtain the best results, we tested each tire shine separately on dirty tires and recorded the before and after results. All tire shines were used according to their manufacturer’s instructions for application.

Application: Tire shines come in two textures: gel and spray-on. While most spray-ons have greater liquidity and are applied directly to the tire, gels are applied to a microfiber towel and must be rubbed in manually. Some tire shines must also be washed off after application, while others simply soak in without rinsing. It’s important to maintain an accurate spray pattern while applying to avoid tire sling, or when a shine accidentally misses the tire surface and stains sidewalls or other non-rubber elements.

Shine: Not only does a high gloss shine produce a better aesthetic appearance, but it prevents dirt and grime from building up over time. By preventing this build-up, shine-protected tires also prevent additional contaminants from being thrown against the wheel wells of your car.

UV Protection: Over time, ultraviolet light can have adverse effects on your tires such as yellowing, fading, and cracking. Tire shines with high UV protection act like sunscreen for your car’s tires, keeping them safe from the Sun’s harmful rays.

How We Score Products

Star ratings help us to honestly evaluate each tire shine in this review and differentiate between products to accurately rate each product. Among the tire shines in this review, we calculated an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 stars.

• 5.0 Stars: a 5.0-star rating is a well above average score for the tire shines in this review. If the application was simple and we didn’t have to use a lot of the product to get the job done and leave a nice shine with UV protection, you’ll see a 5.0-star rating.
• 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star score is an above-average rating. If the cleaner could effectively shine and refresh our tires but it required two applications, you’d see a 4.0-star rating.
• 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating is an average score. If the tire shines in this review met our expectations but could have left a better shine or UV protection coating when compared to other cleaners, we would give the product 3.0 stars.
• 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating is a below-average score. For example, if the tire shine was far too watery that it made the cleaning process difficult, causing us to waste the product and require multiple applications, you can expect to see a 2.0-star score. 
• 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star score is a well below-average rating. If the product is defective in some way or provides little-to-no difference when we compare a before and after cleaning result, we would give the cleaner 1.0 star.

Why Trust Motor1.com

Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.

We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page here.

*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.

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