Cleaning and protecting mud tires with large side lugs??

W

wmflyfisher

New member
Hey guys,

Newbie here trying to figure out the basics of car detailing. Great site!

Just purchased a 2007 Silverado and would like to know recommendations on cleaning AND protecting mud tires. I just installed these yesterday and the side lugs are fairly large. I'm guessing a pressure washer will be the best for cleaning. What about protecting? How do I apply protectant to all the crevasses without having to spray. I really don't want splatter all over the side of my truck.

Also, could you guys recommend a good, not extremely wet looking tire shine?

Any help would be great!

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Cleaning: APC, stiff brush, MF and elbow grease.

Tire Dressing: I use CG Silk Shine on my customer's cars because it delivers the look you describe and lasts a few washes (maybe a couple of weeks). It is water-based so doesn't sling. It is a spray but, if you spray the applicator, is easy to control and not get on the paint.

I have been using Opti Tire Bond on my cars. Similar look and, maybe, lasts a bit longer. Also water-based but comes in a squeeze bottle (much thicker). It can be 1:1 and applied via sprayer.

CG VRP is similar to OTB but a bit more gloss.
 
mjlinane said:
Cleaning: APC, stiff brush, MF and elbow grease...
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I agree with this 100%. The real trick is to get any browning or dirt off with the brush prior to protecting. Many times I will resort to the tried and proven method of Ajax or Comet with a stiff brush if a tire has any significant browning. Bleche White is also helpful on brown tires. I haven't had great results with spray and walk products on mud tires. All too often these tires are used as intended and are just plain filthy.

I will say that when dealing with large side lugs I actually step away from some of the dressings I normally use and go with a foam. The foam just makes it easy to get complete coverage (though there is typically significant wipe down involved). ArmorAll's Detailer's Advantage is one I like for this purpose. Some of the others may be my first choice for less aggressive sidewalls but make distribution more difficult and time consuming.
 
OTB via sprayer and CG Silk do not sling. You do need to let dry for about 10min and I follow up with a MF wipe.
 
I have used amazing roll off with great success. Apc will also get the job done as well.


As for a tire dressing I would vote for a water based dressing. But in my experience I usually need to do a final wipe down to get any excess product.
 
I use Meg's Hyper Dressing. You can dilute it down to your preference of shine. I usually wipe off any excess build up, and don't have any problems with sling.
 
I also use Optimum Tire Bond on my truck and apply it with a dressing sponge and have never had it sling. Once the sponge is saturated a little bit goes quite far and it normally last a couple of weeks. I then just seal up the applicator in a zip lock bag.
 
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