# Tire dressings **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 19, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529 "2010-06-19T02:29:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lenjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lenjack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lenjack)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 2:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/1 "2010-06-19T02:29:32Z")
I looked at these products in Pep Boys and found more than you can shake a stick at. Which of them are long(er) lasting and will they in any way damage the tires? ---
**Author:** ![Al\_in\_MD](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/al_in_md/32/1658_2.png) [@Al\_in\_MD](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Al_in_MD)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/2 "2010-06-19T04:32:13Z")
Tire dressings should not damage the tire. In fact, part of what they do is to protect the tire from the sun’s UV radiation that dries out the rubber. I use Meguiar’s (lasts about 1-2 months and my SUV is garaged), but you can find a lot of information and comparisons on car care products on the Autogeek and Autotopia web sites. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 10:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/3 "2010-06-19T10:16:09Z")
None are likely to really do any good, but then they likely will not do any bad to your car. If you like the effect, buy the produce. Personally I don’t bother. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/4 "2010-06-19T11:37:59Z")
Tires have waxes and anitoxidants (AO’s) built into the rubber to protect the rubber surface. As the tire flexes, these come to the surface. The waxes form a barrier and the AO’s collect the oxygen. Obviously, the tread rubber doesn’t benefit from the wax barrier, but the tread compound does have AO’s! What you want is a tire dressing that enhances this. There have been some dressings that will literally dissolve the rubber - very bad! Whether they are still on the market …??? And there have been some that dissolve the wax (which has a dull finish) - and that is also not helpful. If you are going to use one at all, pick one that has AO’s. But my recommendation is not to use nothing at all. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/5 "2010-06-19T12:19:55Z")
“But my recommendation is not to use nothing at all.” ??? So, if we shouldn’t use nothing, what should we use? ;-)) ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/6 "2010-06-19T16:09:53Z")
Something. Duh. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lenjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lenjack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lenjack)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tire-dressings/50529/7 "2010-06-20T02:12:19Z")
Thanks…keep it coming. The last time I used such a product, it lasted only a very short time.