solvent base vs. water base

A

airjames

New member
ok I page through my prowax catalog, i know I talk about this way too much. :D They have dressings that are water and solvent based, what's the difference????? Tks



91
 
The difference is in the "carrier." Solvent base products use a hydrocarbon solvent to suspend the product. When you appy it, the solvent evaporates leaving thed dressing's active ingredients behind. Most solvent base dresses are loaded with silicone oil. The forum consensus is that solvent base dressings are bad for your rubber tires. They deplete the tires of their UV protective coatings, and the silicone oil is actually a rubber deteriorant over time.



Water based systems use water instead of sovents. They usually have a matte finish (not super shiny), and require you to "wipe twice."
 
DETAILKING said:
The forum consensus is that solvent base dressings are bad for your rubber tires. They deplete the tires of their UV protective coatings, and the silicone oil is actually a rubber deteriorant over time.
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How much time does it take a solvent based dressing to deteriorate your tires?



I have been using solvent based dressing for a few years now, and have yet to have any problems with deterioration.
 
Your tires have several formidable enemies: water, formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, ultraviolet light, and ozone. Water washes away the natural oils in rubber that keep it elastic. Formaldehyde and petroleum distillates act as a solvent, eating rubber on contact. When ozone, an odorless gas which is part of the air we breathe, is combined with ultraviolet (UV) light, a reaction occurs that attacks the tire and its polymers (the agents that bind the rubber).



To protect against ozone and UV damage, a stabilizer molecule called a competitive absorber is blended with the tire polymer. Competitive absorbers work by capturing and absorbing UV radiation and converting it to heat which is dissipated harmlessly. All tire manufacturers use the same competitive absorber, called carbon black. This is why all tires are black.



These absorbers are sacrificial; they expend themselves in performing their function of converting UV light to heat. However, as carbon black loses its ability to perform, it turns gray. This is one reason why black tires discolor as they age.



To protect from further ozone damage, tire manufacturers add a wax compound to their formulas. Tires flex when they are in motion, causing the wax molecules to migrate to the surface. This forms as a protective barrier between the air (ozone and oxygen), water and the tire polymer. In the tire trade this is called blooming. When tires are parked for extended periods, blooming does not occur and ozone quickly attacks the tire polymer. With UV light and ozone working in concert, the degradation is accelerated, resulting in drying, discoloration and cracking.



To combat the negative effects of water, solvents and UV light on tires, the car care industry has created tire dressings. These dressings condition the tire, restoring essential moisture. Tire dressings fall into two groups:



Liquid Silicone Dressings – These penetrating-type silicones form a flexible protective shield on rubber. Liquid silicone seals small openings with a film to prevent penetration of moisture and dirt. Most silicone dressings leave a never-dry gloss film. There are many myths regarding silicone, specifically the negative long-term effects of silicone on rubber and vinyl. The fact is, silicone is an inert material. The benefit of silicone is its ability to easily penetrate the tire’s surface and not evaporate. Some silicone-based dressings contain petroleum distillates as a cleaning agent. Petroleum distillates are harmful to rubber and vinyl, and will cause rubber and vinyl to crack. If you decide to use a silicone tire dressing, make sure it does not contain a cleaner. The only true negative property of silicone is the difficulty of adding UV protection.

Water-Based Dressings – The water-based dressings do not contain silicone oils, petroleum distillates, waxes, or other dangerous solvents that can harm and dull the surface of rubber and vinyl over time. Most water-based dressings use a combination of natural oils (such as shea butter or cocoa butter) to offer a non-greasy, satin finish. Likewise, most of these products contain UV blocking agents to help keep tires from cracking, fading and hardening. Additionally, most water-based dressings are biodegradable, whereas silicone is not.



by David W. Bynon Copyright (c), 2000, Autopia Car Care -- All Rights Reserved
 
It depends on the product's composition such as the amount of silicone oils and solvents in the product, how long it sits on the tires before washing off, maybe a few other variables. There is no simple answer. The fact is that oils and solvents decay and erode rubber. I noticed this on the Goodyear tires on my mom's Cherokee. She was using one of those tire shines you buy at Walmart and spraying (not wiping) the product on the tire and letting it set up. After a year or so the sidewalls looked like they had been sandblasted. It was chemical erosion.



So the timeframe doesn't matter. The bottom line is that the solvent-based products can damage tires over time. If you are budgeting for new tires once a year and you really like the solvent-based dressings, don't worry about it. If you want to keep your tires from being damaged then switch to a water-based dressing.



It's your car, do whatever you want to.
 
I've been using Pro's S-97 Wipe-On Gloss and S-99 Glosso. Both are water-based dressings.



The Wipe-On Gloss give a pretty high shine. I apply it by spraying on a terry applicator, wiping on tire, then coming back a few minutes later and wiping any excess off.



The gloss is a interior dresing. I also use it on engines. I spray it on a terry applicator and wipe it on the vinyl parts. Don't use too much. It gives a pretty high shine and as long as you apply it thinly or come back and wipe it down quickly with a dry towel, then it'll dry 100%. Glosso also lasts awhile. Been on my truck 4 weeks now and it is still nice and shiny.
 
bretfraz said:
So the timeframe doesn't matter. The bottom line is that the solvent-based products can damage tires over time. If you are budgeting for new tires once a year and you really like the solvent-based dressings, don't worry about it. If you want to keep your tires from being damaged then switch to a water-based dressing.



It's your car, do whatever you want to.
Click to expand...
In my pre-autopian days I used a can of tire foam weekly for about 3 years and had no problems with my tires. Now that I am here, I am hearing that solvents will destroy the rubber in your tires, but with all the scientific explanations, there are no case samples or even anyone who has had a major problem with tire rot caused by solvent based dressing. I am not saying that it doesn't happen, I just haven't seen this happen to tires that were less than a few years old.



My brother had tires(were armor-all treated regularly:)) on his vette that were suffering badly from dry rot on the sidewalls after sitting in storage for 10 years, but how long are tires supposed to last anyways? I would never use solvent based dressings on the interior or parts of my car that I expect to last over 5 years, but I do not think it is reasonable to expect tires to last forever, and I will continue to use longer lasting solvent based tire dressings until I see some real world proof.
 
Tks guys for the replies and help. When i get some prowax I will order some of the glosso, and try that out. When i seen the word solvents, I thought that was pretty harsh stuff. Intel I'm getting really anxious to buy some Prowax, you got anymore pics with veichles that you have done with prowax????????????/ Tks again and Intel



91
 
I have used prowax. Depends on what you are looking for. Pro lineup is generally generic bulk stuff that pro detailers use. Typically the products are easy to use and have good results.....I don't think you will be happy with the durability though..........
 
Nagchampa said:
point being?
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The point is, that a dimethyl silicone/petroleum distillate dressing will remove/degrade the micro-wax and carbon black from the sidewall of your tires. That is what's causing the browning. You'll get the same effect if you use a tire cleaner that is excessively caustic.



But I see your point regarding tires being switched every few year anyways.....



I used E1 Wet for a while but have stopped because I've decided I prefer the matte look after all (back to 303 and Z-16). Also, I didn't care for the way using E1 made my tire swipes so dirty and oily.
 
I believe someone asked if there were any cases of silicone based dressing which caused damage over the short term. I know of only one instance. It was with older, bias ply motorcycle tires. It was in the late 80's, on a then-new generation GSXR. A friend of my did not heed warnings of no dressing on his tires, and applied Armor-All to his sidewalls when he put it away for storage. The bike was stored for 4 months, and when he took it out, the tires were brown where the dressing was applied and the rubber was dried and cracking. The bike was stored in a garage which saw no sunlight, so UV was not the culprit.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about using tire foam. Quite a few people here actually use the stuff without issue, but one thing I hate about them is overspray.
 
I have actually been using eagle one wet for about six months, but it just seems that a lot of people jumped on the water-based tire dressing only band wagon lately believing that their tires were going to disintegrate(sp?) over a short period of time.



Tires are not going to last forever so I am not worried about something that will happen to them over the course of 4 to 5 years. Engine coolant has some pretty harsh stuff in it also but engine hoses usually last more than a few years.



Yes tires do turn brown, but is this just at the surface or is it right through the tire? I don't often here of tire dressing causing any accidents by deteriorating tires.
 
This is S-97 on the tires. Best pics I have that show the tires. This stuff will last awhile if there isn't any rain. If there is rain, then it'll wash off. I'm trying to find a waterbased that isn't too expensive but still gets good durability.



Glosso lasts a long time though.



97exp.jpg




lexus.jpg
 
I still like my TW tire gel :) I am down to my last bottle though, and can't find it anywhere....geekysteve....help!



Just applied.....

<img src=http://www.fototime.com/FEF3D42709E4447/standard.jpg>



After buffing........



<img src=http://www.fototime.com/0BDF3060C2A0C0B/standard.jpg>
 
DETAILKING said:
The difference is in the "carrier." Solvent base products use a hydrocarbon solvent to suspend the product. When you appy it, the solvent evaporates leaving thed dressing's active ingredients behind. Most solvent base dresses are loaded with silicone oil. The forum consensus is that solvent base dressings are bad for your rubber tires. They deplete the tires of their UV protective coatings, and the silicone oil is actually a rubber deteriorant over time.



Water based systems use water instead of sovents. They usually have a matte finish (not super shiny), and require you to "wipe twice."
Click to expand...



Good information! We haven't had such quality technical information for a while...



:up
 
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