Is too much tire black bad for your car?

Tire black brings back the shine and blackness of your tires. Over time, you may notice that your brand-new car’s tires will become lighter in color, closer to gray than true black. That’s where tire black comes in. Most of the time it is a clear gel-like substance that is applied to your car’s tires. However, it is important to note that too much of a good thing isn’t going to do you well. Be careful with how much tire black you apply and where you apply it when you're conducting your general vehicle maintenance. 

Tire black is a dressing with some functional properties. Good compounds will be able to help preserve your tire’s sidewall by preventing cracking, apart from the already great benefit of giving your car’s tires a nice glossy and deep black finish. Typically, most compounds are water-based, however, you will also find silicone and petroleum-based products in the market. Generally speaking, water-based and silicone-based dressings contain the mildest chemicals. As a good rule of thumb, these are the more preferred products to use on your tires. 

The substance is often used by professional detailers to create contrast between the car’s wheels and the main body of the car. This added contrast makes the car look cleaner, as new rubber is often darker. Tire black also keeps dirt away from the rubber, which means you can enjoy glossy black tires for longer. 

When applying tire black, you should bring out a rag and put a coin-sized amount of the substance on it. Then apply and wipe around the outer sidewall of your tire. Go around the sidewall until your tire starts to show a deep black color. If you need more tire black, apply a pea-sized amount to your cloth. Repeat until you cover the tire’s sidewall.

Of course, repeat the process for all of your car’s tires. 

Heavy-handed and over-zealous owners may get too excited and apply too much tire black. On that note, you do not want to over-apply. You will know it’s already too much when the coat you’ve applied is thick and has a very glossy sheen. A properly-dressed tire will have a subtle sheen to it, while an overdressed tire will have a truly glossy sheen, and even observable dripping because the over-applied substance can’t adhere properly to the rubber. 

Also, take note that you must only apply tire black on the sidewall of your tire. As much as possible, make sure that you don’t apply tire black on the contact patch, or on the tread of your tires. You will compromise your tire’s grip by applying dressing on the tread, however. If you manage to get a bit on the outer edge of your tire, it’s nothing to worry about. Just avoid applying tire black directly on the tread of your tires. 

Tire black sticks on rubber, but if you’re adding a layer of the substance on top of an existing layer, then expect it to fling out when you start driving. If you’ve applied a thick enough layer, be prepared to clean the splats from your car’s paint. 

Applying tire black on the wrong areas will also compromise your tires’ grip. Make sure that you only apply the tire black on the sidewalls of your tires. 

Tire black isn’t that bad for your car’s paint, however, you don’t want to keep it on for long periods of time. To remove tire black that unfortunately splashed on your paint, get a bucket, some water, and some car shampoo, and proceed with the standard method of washing your car. Lather up the shampoo, apply water on the area, and use a microfiber or sponge to touch-wash the affected area(s). After that, make sure the area is dry, and you’re good to go.