Optochu

do you have a recommended product?

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

wax/sealant helps keep water spots off the car also since it will just bead off

http://www.chemicalguys.com/Chemical..._p/cws_101.htm

2008GT500

My favorite is Simple Green on the rubber with a cheap nylon brush to scrub. Easy to find, easy to use, and will turn brown tires back to black. After that, for the shine, I use Meguiars Gold Class tire gel with the Eagle One swipes. Using the gel vs the spray will prevent you from having tire shine spots all over the side of your car. If you want to be really ****, shine the tires up the day before you wash it, so any excess tire shine will have already sprayed off.

Optochu

thanks! so if i use it i will be able to remove dried water spots on the car?

never heard of the brand. where can they be found besides online?

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

Chemical Guys is based in California... check out their website for exact location of their store/headquarters.

Water spots need to be removed ASAP by washing the car - which is why the link was to a car washing shampoo. If you let the water spots sit, they will dry on the paint and can even etch into the paint causing permanent damage. This permanent damage can happen very quickly, so it is important to keep your paint protected with something like a sealant or wax. Even if you have a healthy layer of protection, you still need to wash the car if water spots appear.

The only way to remove etched water spots is through machine polishing.

sydtoosic

You may be able to drive over to the CG store/warehouse and have a ball. I wish I lived in Cali.

Optochu

thanks guys! will order it online soon since they too far from me

what kind of sealant/wax do you guys recommend for obsidian?

My current car care system include:
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...ech-waxreg-20/
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...detailertrade/

and Turtle Wax ice car wash and turtle wax ice synthetic polish.

altho i'm not really sure the sequence to do it at.. when it comes to polish or wax or sealant .. etc. are they basically all the same thing?

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

NO.

Polish - A product containing mild abrasives that work to remove (not fill or hide) surface defects by removing a thin layer of paint to produce a flat, smooth, glossy surface.


^You can clearly see which section has been polished. Polishing is best when done by machine.

as far as sealant and wax, read this thread I wrote... all the answers are in there.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/aut...ou-decide.html

Optochu

thanks for the informative post! extremely helpful!

however, will i be able to achieve comparable results with my current care system? i don't want to buy and keep too many things all at once

how many yrs approx can the opti-coat 2.0 and 22ple last?

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

If you want to use a coating like OC2.0 or 22ple VX1 Pro, then the vehicle will need to undergo an extremely detailed process just to prep the paint for the coating.

The vehicle will need to be:
- Washed & Dried
- Decontaminated using Iron X and Detailing Clay
- Machine Polished to remove surface defects
- Washed & Dried again to remove polishing oils
- Wiped down with diluted isopropyl alcohol to ensure a clean surface, free of any residual oils or products
- and then carefully coated

^The above process is best done by a professional or experienced hobbyist. The prep work is absolutely vital before applying a coating such as OC2.0 or 22ple.

OC2.0 is a permanent coating that will last forever (until it needs to be polished again, that is) and 22ple will last approximately 2 years - these durability claims assume that the vehicle is maintained properly after application.


A sealant and/or wax can be applied by anyone after carrying out the proper washing and decontamination steps.

-Zach

1111GS

I used to use Tire Wet but changed to Auto Finesse Satin Tyre Gel. It doesn't look as "wet" as some others but doesn't take long to dry off and won't get on your paint when you drive. I actually like the look of it more. It also has a more pleasant smell. I just squeeze it onto an applicator then apply on the tires. I keep my car/tires clean so I use it quite often but this bottle lasts a long time. Another thing is when I do wash the tires, I wash tires and wheels before I wash the car. I just don't want dirty stuff to splash over a clean car. I just use a different bucket with some brushes. Here is a picture. Not the best because it was taken inside the garage at night but can't find one outdoor.

PondScum

That's the definition that most experienced hobbyist and almost all pro detailers use, but unfortunately Sal Zaino confused things by calling his sealants "polishes", and now all the Zaino fanboys (who think the Zaino process is somehow unique) insist that what they are putting on their cars is "polish"

I've also seen glazes called polishes occasionally. That's actually more acceptable to me, because it's still something you do before putting on a layer of protection.

redcupr

The best tire cleaner I've found is Bleche-White (most auto parts stores have it). Spray it on and wait a minute or so, then I take a wet scrub brush to it. Then rinse. It's amazing the amount of dirt comes off. Leaves the tire nice and black.

Bimmer2Lex

Has anyone used Tuff Shine - is it bling bling shiny?

I've read about people using OC 2.0 on their tires. But I don't want to spend $70 for OC just to use on my tires & not sure if it will be really bling.

That blech white looks like it'd be good to prep the tire for a permanent tire coat.

Is there any permanent really really shiny tire coatings?

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

Tuf shine tire clear coat?

I have it on my wife's SUV. It looks good, I used 3 coats of it and it produces a dark, natural, clean looking sheen. It does not have an artificial, super high gloss look. IMO that super glossy look makes any car look cheap and tacky.

The clear coat requires a ridiculous amount of cleaning prior to application, and in my experience needs to be reapplied (just one or two coats) every month or so to keep it looking like new.

The small bottle lasts a very long time, as the product spreads very thin and you don't use much - even on a bigger SUV tire.