Solvent based hurts tires?

So, I joined an MKX/Edge forum to get some info on the Lincoln and of course there's a detailing section. There's a guy on there from Ontario who was recommending a water based dressing. I recommended solvent based and he came back with this response:

The issue with solvent based tire dressings is not that they do not look good or do not last, it's that they can damage your tires over time. It's a widely known issue with solvent based tire dressings, which is why virtually all professional tire dressings are water based. Pretty much only the OTC stuff is solvent based.

Now, I don't claim to know everything, BUT, I have used solvent based dressings for years and on my own FX tires with ZERO side effects, other than they look great all the time. Is this crap or is there some truth to it. I am not going to start a pissing contest with this guy. He has been doling out advice on there hot and heavy and I really don't need or want to come in and rock the boat. I just don't care. The one thing I do find funny is how he refers to himself as a "professional detailer" in almost every post he does. I just wanted to see if anyone else thought this way about water based dressings.

 

Can you give us some examples of the solvent-based dressings you are speaking of?

 

It's BS.

 

I was always under the same impression, so I use water based dressings... guess I never really did any hard research on the subject.

 

mmm I think the paste tire shine u get from off the shelf possibly solvent based and sprayable ones are water based? Totally no idea but I believe all the tire detailers ive used so far have had no damage to the rubber but the off the shelf ones has made my tires have like browning or some color
maybe hes an off the shelf detailer!??!!?

 

Been wondering about it too.

I read through the description of Optimum water baseed dressings on eShine which gave some reasons but still did not change my mind.

Because of your thread, I did some googling and found the same info you brought up Richy.

I always wanted to try Water-based. The interesting thing to add was that Solvent-based is not good for the environment versus water-based. (several references just by googling)

Makes sense now that I think about it and after I read through the ingredients in one of the dressings I used. (googled Petroleum distillates and was surprised a bit about the environment impact)
Hope someone has a more scientific answer but in the meantime, will try water-based next time.

Thnx Richy for bringing this up. Learned some new things.

 

some tire manufacturers state that the solvents used in many oily tires dressing leach out the UV blockers that are manufactured into the composite of my rubber. I have found with my personal experience no degradation of the composition of my tire with solvent based dressings. I think its more of a CYA on the manufacturers part in case the walls did degrade they would be able to get out of a lawsuit. Water based dressing just don't last as long as water based, I have used water based and solvent for years and solvents just last and from what i have seen don't degrade the rubber. Some solvent based dressing stated they actually keep the rubber more supple through the oils in the dressing. As far as I can see no one has done an actual scientific study and its all heresay

 

I agree with Bryan above. All I ever used on clients cars were solvent based dressings as the dressing had to last in the winter months when a client may pick up his car in the rain and I didn't want it washing off before he got home. I have never seen a degradation in tires because of using solvent based dressings.

 

actually, would solvent based solution eat on the tires that use like Orange Oil or those "green" rubber that isn't crude oil based?

 

My personal opinion is that the solvent based has NO adverse effect whatsoever on tires. That's from my personal experience. I believe the reason for the move away from them is for the environment rather than the effect on the tires.

 

Even if it did damage it, tires don't last forever as it is. It would probably take a long time.

 

I have heard that solvents over time are bad but the avg customer replaces tires before the problems take effect. I know companies like Michelin say to use a non solvent tire dressings.

 

P1et..DG Wet Gloss; DP High Gloss, Opti Bond, etc

 

From a chemistry standpoint yes i can harm your tires

But the amount damage is probably very little to none from a standpoint of a measurable quantity. In the composition of the rubber probably nothing will happen

Its like this

A diamond when exposed to the atmospheric pressure will turn to graphite, but it takes millions of years "hence a diamond is forever", similar to the tire it will take longer for the solvent to destroy the tire than the tire will be on earth

 

OptiBond is water based.

 

I have some but have not used it yet; thank you for the correction.

 

Water is a solvent. I think people think solvent bad!

Cheers,
GREG

 

Greg, Just don't tell me Whiskey is a solvent or those will be fighting words!! Solvent=bad
Whiskey=good
:headbang::hippie::afro:

 

Sorry Richy......whiskey is a solvent too. :drinking2:

However you can use it to clean your car if the whiskey is more like vinegar!

Cheers,
GREG

 

Richy, I'll partially agree that some solvent dressings possibly could damage, some junk at dollar tree store, or I seen some people using used motor oil to dress tires... As far as DP tire dressing - it's really good, I've been using it for years, never had any issues...