Tires are the basis of a car. Without them, the car won't be able to go anywhere. Every driver wants his wheels to last as long as possible. But, unfortunately, over time they fade, lose their elasticity and shine, begin to crack, and have to be disposed of. Is there a way to extend the life of your tires? Eat. This method is called rubber blackening. That is, a special solution is applied to the tire, which dries, and the tire becomes shiny, smooth, black - like new, from the store.
Today, drivers have a lot of different tire blackening tools at their disposal. These are both industrial and homemade products. Industrial ones are chosen by those who value their time. You come to the service, pay for the service, and walk around. The experts will do everything for you. And those who are used to saving money bomb the Internet in the hope of seeing a recipe for the desired product, but prepared at home.
Many people think that a home remedy is the first way to save money. Actually this is not true. You also need to buy products, prepare them, and apply them correctly. And, as a rule, they are not enough for a long time.
How to make tire ink yourself: the best ways
Proper car care involves a whole range of procedures: washing the body and cleaning the interior, treating seals and locks, lubricating door hinges, and also caring for tires. In this case, tires require additional processing for the following reasons:
Car tires are treated using compounds known as wheel blackeners. This product is based on glycerin. There are a large number of similar products on sale from various manufacturers, but the main disadvantage is their cost. A more cost-effective alternative is to make your own rubber dye. Read more in our article.
Recommendations
Considering the cost of glycerin, as well as the relatively low consumption and excellent effect, this method is one of the best in terms of quality and price. For this reason, it is recommended to treat rubber with glycerin regularly.
We also recommend reading the article on how to choose the right car tires based on their markings. From this article you will learn what tire markings mean, as well as what features you should pay special attention to when selecting tires for your car.
It is also advisable to periodically treat tires with silicone to preserve the appearance and protect the surface of the tires from exposure to ultraviolet radiation and “drying out.”
Combined with proper rubber storage conditions, the overall service life of car tires can be significantly increased with this approach.
Why do you need to treat tires?
During vehicle operation, tires are exposed to road chemicals. Ultraviolet radiation also has a negative effect on rubber. In this case, the outer part of the wheel, which is constantly open, suffers more.
Moreover, washing the wheels does not solve the problem, since after drying the tires still remain gray. For these reasons, it is necessary to regularly blacken the rubber. The “ink” contains components that:
Of course, this operation is performed at car washes for an additional fee. If you wash the car yourself, the finished products are quickly used up. The solution is to make your own ink.
How to blacken tires on a car
Some of the most common products that can be used to blacken tires include:
Laundry soap for blackening wheels
To treat tires with soap, you need to prepare a medium-hard brush, 70% soap and water. Before processing, the rubber must be washed, after which the brush is lathered with soap, moistened with water and the tires are rubbed.
You can also grate the soap, dissolve it in water, and then rub the solution into the rubber with a brush. The result is that after processing and drying, the rubber will be deeply black.
Shoe polish for tires
Shoe polish is also a tool that allows you to achieve the desired visual effect. Colorless gloss, black cream paint, and shoe polish are suitable for processing.
Before treatment, the tires are washed and dried, after which the product is applied to the surface of the tires with a sponge or shoe brush.
As a rule, shoe paint lasts well and for a long time. As for the disadvantages:
Rubber treatment with silicone
Silicone PMS-200 is suitable for blackening tires. The wheels need to be washed, then silicone should be applied with a sponge. Silicone adheres well to tires (better than soap and shoe polish). One of the advantages is good UV protection.
This property makes it possible to process tires not only for blackening the rubber, but also for seasonal storage of tires (lubricating the surface for moisturizing).
Blackening of rubber with glycerin
Automotive stores offer many products for “blackening” rubber, both expensive and relatively cheap. However, if you carefully study the composition, glycerin is the basis everywhere. The cost of glycerin in a pharmacy is several tens of rubles, while ready-made ink will cost 10 times more.
Glycerin is actively used in the food and household industries, etc. It is used for the production of cosmetics, medications, antiseptics, etc. It is also used for processing leather and fabrics. Glycerin has also found its use in auto chemicals. A large number of car cosmetics also contain glycerin, including tire ink.
Surface preparation and blackening procedure
Before blackening rubber, dirty tires should be washed and dried, and dusty tires should be blown with pressurized air or dust removed in another way. The ink is applied to a clean, dry surface in an even, thin layer. During the procedure, excess mixture is removed with a sponge, brush or rag. The entire process of applying ink does not take even 10 minutes.
After completing the procedure, it is not recommended to immediately operate the car on a wet road; you must allow the product to dry thoroughly. If all surface preparation conditions are met and the blackening process is carried out correctly, the substance on the surface of the tires will last longer.
Glycerin ink: how to make and apply
To make tire ink, just buy a few small bottles of glycerin at your nearest pharmacy. Glycerin must be diluted with water. You can do this at your own discretion, however, experienced car enthusiasts recommend a 1:1 ratio (use 50 ml of water for 50 ml of glycerin).
Durability and efficiency
After treatment, the surface of the wheel quickly turns black, as glycerin is actively absorbed into the upper layers of rubber and also dissolves dirt embedded in cracks and depressions. Moreover, glycerin forms a glossy film, giving additional shine.
Why blacken rubber?
The main purpose of blackening tires is to extend their service life . While driving, rubber is subjected to very high loads: due to, to put it mildly, the imperfect state of our roads, it is affected by various negative factors (sand, pebbles, salt, chemicals), which causes abrasions and microcracks to appear on the surface. Blackening for some time protects the wheels from cracking, fading, dirt and dust.
Why blacken rubber and what will it give?
Let's look at the main advantages of blackening:
On a note! As for the disadvantages, the main one is the need to regularly repeat the procedure (the frequency depends on how intensively and under what conditions the car is used). Moreover, it takes some time.
Do it yourself or go to a service?
Many car services offer blackening services. The procedure consists of the following steps:
If everything is done correctly, you will be able to use the machine within a few minutes after the procedure is completed. On average, prices for blackening start at 50 rubles, but the exact cost will depend on the specific car service. And if you do blackening rubber yourself, the total cost will depend on the frequency of the procedure and the substances used.
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Rubber ink from Coca-Cola
One of the most accessible methods is that you can buy soda at “every step.” Rub the soda into the surface of the tires with a sponge. Almost any similar sweet drink will do. Instead of soda, you can use dishwashing or glass washing gel.
You can even use Coca-Cola to blacken rubber, but the effect will only last a couple of days.
This method has its disadvantages:
- The tires will be sticky for several hours, which means you will have to hold off on traveling during this time (with the exception of dishwashing gel or glass);
- On average, blackening lasts only 2 – 3 days.
Special compositions for blackening
In winter, it is advisable to use silicone-based solutions, and in summer, water-based ones. All factory inks are conventionally divided into 2 large groups.
Table. Types of store-bought inks.
| Name | Short description |
| Shiny | These are silicone-based lubricating compounds, after application of which the rubber becomes beautiful and shiny. But the shine and attractive appearance disappear when dust adheres to the tires. |
| Matte | They can be applied not only to rubber, but to the entire car. The rubber eventually takes on a deep black color. But it is worth knowing that the effect is short-lived and that after contact with water the appearance will be even worse than before blackening. |
Let's consider the most popular inks, highlighted among the whole variety of products.
"Black gloss" . This product is often used in car washes. When applied, the substance is sprayed onto the tire, after which you need to wait about 10 minutes. There is no need to wipe anything. Thanks to this treatment, the color of the rubber is improved, it is protected from dirt and dust, and cracking is prevented. Average market price – from 480 rubles.
"Black gloss" is one of the most popular inks
Dannev . A high-quality color restorer that provides a rich black color to rubber for 48 hours in rainy weather. The wet shine effect is short-term, in addition, there is no protective layer and protection from UV rays. The price of one 250 ml bottle is approximately 260 rubles.
Dannev color restorer
XADO Red Penguin . After treating the wheels with this product, they become very attractive. Lasts quite a long time, costs an average of 420 rubles. for 1 l.
DoctorWax . Effectively restores rubber by eliminating small defects and filling microcracks. Can be used not only for wheels, but also for mats. Reliably protects plastic and rubber, gives them shine, and is used quite economically. But the effect is short-term, especially in case of rain. A 300 ml bottle of the product will cost at least 250 rubles.
Tire restorer DoctorWax
HI-GEAR HG5331 . This is a conditioner cleaner that is best used only on tire moldings and sidewalls. If the product gets on the plastic/body, it must be removed immediately with a dry, clean cloth. What is typical is that the product can only be applied at a temperature of +15–25˚С. There is no shine effect. Approximate price – from 450 rubles.
HI-GEAR HG5331 forms a dirt- and moisture-repellent film
Blackening with beer and sunflower oil
Blackening of tires with beer and sunflower oil is not widespread. The reason for this was the stickiness of the tire surface for a long time. The effect after applying beer and vegetable oil was only in the first moments while the car was standing. After the first trip, dust and fluff covered the tires in a dense layer.
Theoretically, tires can be blackened with beer or sunflower oil, but the effect of this is very doubtful, and excess dust and dirt will stick to the tires
Folk remedies for blackening
The convenience of these methods lies in the simplicity of the recipes for restoring the appearance of tires. Simple materials that are found in almost every home are used here.
Glycerol
Using glycerin for blackening rubber has the following advantages:
But there are also disadvantages that you should also be aware of:
The recipe for making ink is extremely simple. First you need to purchase glycerin at the nearest pharmacy (it is better to take it with a reserve - 10 bottles).
Glycerol
You will also need a bottle with a spray (you can use a small one - in our example the volume is 250 ml).
Spray bottle
In a bottle, glycerin is mixed with water (preferably distilled) in a 1:1 ratio. The resulting solution should be sprayed onto the rubber and rubbed (for example, with a dishwashing sponge). You can see the result of the processing below (the photo shows the wheels after a short trip).
Rubber after blackening with glycerin Result of treatment with glycerin
Shoe shoe
You can blacken tires using shoe polish or any other black shoe polish. The method is good, first of all, because of its ease of processing and low cost (a 100 g jar costs about 20 rubles). But there are also disadvantages of blackening with shoe polish, namely:
Shoe polish is applied in a small amount to a sponge, after which the tire is rubbed. It is advisable to let the car dry after treatment - this way the product will last longer.
Laundry soap
For a short time, the blackening effect can be achieved using ordinary laundry soap. But you shouldn’t use it often, otherwise the rubber will start to dry out. The advantages of the method include low cost and ease of processing (one bar of soap costs about 15 rubles).
Laundry soap should not be used too often. Blackening with a soap solution dries out the rubber.
Coca Cola
Not the most serious, but affordable method of blackening (you can buy Coca-Cola at any grocery store). But remember that after treatment the tires will remain sticky for at least a few more hours, and therefore driving somewhere during this time is not recommended. It can last from two to three days, depending on the condition of the road and how many kilometers you have driven.
Blackening rubber with Coca-Cola
Silicone oil
PMS-200 oil is considered one of the most effective means for blackening car tires. The method is also inexpensive - for 100 ml of oil you will have to pay about 100 rubles.
Silicone oil PMS-200
Silicone oil compares favorably with other inks because:
As for the processing itself, the procedure is not much different from those described above.
Blackening with laundry soap
Regular laundry soap, available in every home, can save the situation. To prepare the ink, laundry soap is cut into pieces or grated. Water is poured into a container with crushed soap. After the soap has dissolved, the working fluid is ready.
To apply the composition to tires, a brush with medium hardness (about 70%) is suitable. Clean tires are rubbed with the resulting mixture, or soap is lathered directly onto a brush and rubbed into the rubber with active movements. The rubber will be black, like new.
Blackening rubber with laundry soap
The advantages of the method include simplicity, availability of funds and speed of application. This method has one drawback - you cannot often use laundry soap , as it dries out the rubber and reduces its service life.
Master Class. Blackening tires with special means
As a rule, commercial ink comes in aerosol cans for easy application. During processing, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions, which should also indicate the predicted effect. The procedure consists of several simple steps, let's get acquainted with them.
Step 1 . First you need to shake the can of product.
The can must be shaken before application.
Step 2 . Next, the composition is sprayed onto the wheel from a distance of about 20 cm.
The contents are sprayed from a 20 cm distance
Step 3 . To ensure that the product is distributed as evenly as possible, the surface of the rubber is wiped with a rag.
The rubber is wiped with a rag after treatment.
Step 4 . After this, you just need to wait for the film to dry.
Important! If the product gets on the body parts, it must be washed off with plain water.
Master Class. Blackening rubber with homemade means
If glycerin , as noted earlier, it must be mixed with water. To blacken 4 wheels, 120 g of glycerin and the same amount of water are enough. It is also worth remembering that if the concentration is higher (for example, 3:5), then a sponge will be required. If the composition is more liquid, you can use a sprayer.
Foam sponge
Experienced car owners talk about the following optimal proportions of components:
Note! In each specific case, the proportions may be different; a lot depends on the degree of “burnout” of the tires.
To apply a homemade solution, you need to prepare a simple hand sprayer. After preliminary preparation (washing, drying the wheels) and preparing the product, you need to follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Step 1 . The product is sprayed or applied manually onto the side surface of the tire.
You can use a sponge or spray bottle to apply glycerin.
Step 2 . The applied composition is thoroughly rubbed with a sponge or rag.
Step 3 . Then you need to wait about 5 minutes.
If shoe , then, in addition to the cream itself, you will need a soft rag or a foam sponge. The algorithm of actions during processing is as follows.
Step 1 . The product is applied to the side surface of the wheel.
Applying shoe polish to the sidewall of a tire
Step 2 . Next, you need to wait for the composition to dry (it will take two hours).
Step 3 . After the substance is absorbed, the surface of the tire is rubbed with a dry cloth until a characteristic shine appears.
Rubbing rubber with a dry cloth
Important information! To soften shoe polish that has dried in a jar, you can add a little kerosene and then mix everything.
of laundry soap is used for blackening , then it should be grated and the resulting soap shavings should be poured with hot water. When the soap has dissolved, the product is applied to the rubber with a sponge and rubbed into its surface. Use a dry cloth to remove any remaining solution.
Rub laundry soap on a grater or moisten it with a brush and apply it to the wheel
Finally, if blackening tires using silicone oil , then you need to take a cloth, apply a little oil to it, and then rub the surface of the rubber evenly. Oil treatment can also be carried out when storing tires for storage (during seasonal replacement).
Applying silicone oil with a cloth
Video - Blackening rubber using glycerin
Petroleum solvent and gasoline "Galosha"
Less common methods are the use of solvents such as Nefras or B-70 gasoline. Tires rubbed with such compounds acquire a black matte surface to which dust does not stick.
Nefras can cope well with blackening of rubber
The solvent is rubbed into the surface of the tires with a sponge or brush. This method is not widely used due to the fact that not many people want to see their car tires in a matte “light” and the above solvents are not popular in principle.
Some useful tips for blackening rubber
Experts believe that it is better to blacken tires using professional means. The reason is quite simple: such compounds not only return the wheels to their original appearance, but also, when absorbed into the tires, reliably protect them.
Rubber blackening is short-lived and requires frequent maintenance
As for cheap store-bought substances, as well as products prepared at home, they hardly protect rubber, and with frequent use they even worsen its properties. Moreover, some compounds may not be absorbed at all and stick to body elements while driving , which ultimately leads to the appearance of dust spots.
Blackening with shoe polish
For blackening rubber, colorless gloss, liquid black shoe paint, and dark-colored shoe polish are perfect. It is worth choosing a cheaper product.
Before applying the cream, the tires are washed and dried. A shoe brush, sponge or foam rubber is suitable for applying to dry rubber. After application, a good result is obtained, and the paint lasts a relatively long time.
Blackening rubber with shoe polish
This method has one drawback - you cannot drive immediately after application, the cream must dry after application, you will have to wait at least 10 minutes.
