The idea of applying the best tyre dressing to a freshly washed car really is the final step, except for maybe stepping back and admiring all your hard work. The images of of old tyre shine, applied by unscrupulous car dealers to make tired tyres look slick is no more, modern tyre dressings will make your rubber look better, and ultimately, keep the tyre sidewalls in healthy condition alongside the usual paint protection steps.
Most modern tyre dressings will let you choose between a satin or matte finish, and shouldn’t fling tyre dressing all over your car as you drive, so long as you’re buying quality dressings.
This is where tyre dressing comes in. Not only does it make the grubbiest of rubber look fresh and glossy, but it’s also very easy to apply and will make your tyres shine, and your car stand out from the crowd. Making your alloys look fresh with a set of alloy wheel cleaners is one thing. But your efforts will look about half-done if you do without tyre dressing afterwards – especially if your tyres are looking rather tired.
The best tyre dressing 2024 at a glance:
The best tyre dressing: Gtechniq T2 Tyre Dressing – buy from Amazon
Editor’s pick: ValetPro Maximum Shine Tyre Gel – buy from Amazon
The best for presentation: Meguiar’s G7516EU Endurance Tyre Gel – buy from Amazon
We’ve found the best examples of tyre dressing on the market to ensure you get the best results possible. And if you want to give your entire paintwork a sense of gloss and protection, read our guide on the best car wax for your paintwork.
The best tyre dressing 2024
The best tyre dressing
You apply the T2 by squeezing he product onto an applicator and spreading an even layer throughout the tyre walls. It's designed not to fling off onto the bodywork when moving and helps to repel dirt and grime that builds up on your tyres overtime.
Pros
- Very good value for money at under £6
- Biodegradable formula, which is nicer for the environment
- Helps bring a shine as well as prevent cracking and other tyre degradation
Cons
- The bottle is quite tiny at just 250ml, compared to others
Editor's pick
The application itself is slightly more thorough than the others, beginning with spreading the product on with a foam applicator. But then you have to buff it in order to get rid of excess product. You can repeat the process for more gloss.
Pros
- Designed to be durable against both rainy and hot, sunny weather
- Quite efficient in terms of use compared with the other options
- The 500ml bottle does represent good value
Cons
- The 250ml bottle doesn't represent as good value as the 500ml one
Best tyre dressing for beginners
The product contributes to a glossy finish and doesn't contain solvent or petroleum, so no harm can be done to your tyres or wheels themselves. At a £10 total, it also represents very good value for money for the spray and applicator in one box.
Pros
- Comes with an applicator as well as the spray
- Glossy finish achieved within moments after application
- Won't harm your wheels and tyres, thanks to no solvents or petroleum
Cons
- You cannot choose between a matte or glossy finish, unlike other tyre dressings
Best durable tyre dressing
Autoglym say it's designed to last for weeks at a time, which is handy if you can only perform a full wash and detail on your car at certain weekends. Unfortunately however, it doesn't have an applicator pad included, and an Autoglym one costs an extra £10.
Pros
- You effectively have the choice between a glossy or satin finish
- Very durable and designed to last for weeks at a time
- Good value for money at just over £11
Cons
- Applicator isn't included, unlike the King of Sheen set
Best tyre dressing for presentation
Rrp: $15.99
Rrp: $15.99
This tyre gel also protects the tyres against UV damage and doesn't drip or run, while keeping the tyres in a dark, enriching gloss.
Pros
- Is designed to last for weeks at a time
- Protects the tyres against browning and UV damage
- Provides a high gloss, very rich shine - especially if you double-layer
Cons
- You don't get to choose between a matte or gloss effect
Best value tyre dressing
It provides a glossy, but neat finish once applied and needs to be shaken well before use to ensure the best results. You simply wipe the tyres using a cloth and spreading an even layer throughout the sidewall.
Pros
- Good value for money at 5 litres for £18
- Very useful if you're cleaning a fleet of cars
- Provides a neat, glossy finish once applied
Cons
- Need to use a fair amount of product
Best instant dressing
Pros
- Quality finish, where you can choose between matte or lightly shiny finish
- Easy to apply, thanks to spray and apply method
- Can be applied to both wet and dry tyres, making things easier
Cons
- Not as durable as applicator-applied dressings
Best wet-look tyre dressing
You are recommended to spray it 10cm away from the tyres and ensure that an even spread of the product is applied for the best results.
Pros
- Easy to apply, thanks to spray-on and wipe-off residue method
- Great value for money at well-under £10
- Brings a showroom-like shine to your tyres
Cons
- Wet look isn't for everyone
Best tyre dressing applicator pad
It should cover the thickness of a wide range of tyre rims, as it's a vaguely similar length to a small hand. It has a curved handle design and is a useful piece of kit when applying the shiny stuff.
Pros
- Simple design that's a well thought-out length
- Is relatively okay value for money at just over £15
- Makes application easier than alternative objects
Cons
- Requires patience when applying
FAQs and things to remember about tyre dressing
How do I make my tyres shine like new?
Wash your tyres to remove dust, dirt, and debris. It might be a good idea to use a pressure washer to properly clean your wheels. You can wait for your tyres to dry if you want, but most tyre dressing can be applied to wet tyres, too.
Apply tyre dressing to the tyres using an applicator. Make sure to never apply the dressing to the tyre tread or brakes. Wait for the product to dry and wipe off any excess residue. After that, you’ll have some fresh-looking tyres. And if you insist, you can even protect the wheels themselves with some wheel sealant.
Does tyre dressing crack tyres?
The simple answer is no. Akin to hand cream and/or skin moisturiser, tyre dressing not only helps to bring a bit of black shine back to your sidewalls, but it also helps prevent them from hardening – a process usually caused by UV rays. It’s hard tyres that crack due to either UV rays or the lack of use, and effectively keeping them moisturised with tyre dressing can prevent this from happening. Similarly, forms of paint protection such as ceramic coatings can also help protect your paintwork if you want to protect the rest of your vehicle.
How often do you need to put dressing on tyres?
It depends on the product you end up going with. Some tyre dressings can last days at a time, others weeks. You won’t find tyre dressings that will uphold their shine for months at a time as tyres are exposed to the most thorough use of the outside of a car. But if you regularly do a full wash and protect process on your vehicle, then tyre dressings can last a decent amount of time before re-application. More heavy duty protectants such as underseal lasts considerably longer as it’s designed for more thorough tasks.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. A veteran car cleaner; if it details, waxes or washes he’ll be on hand to make sure it’s worth your money.
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