I have heard stuff online and IRL about how tire shine can help cause dry rot on tires. I have only used the stuff a few times, so don't really have much experience to test with. I usually don't use it because the shine usually only lasts a day, 2 at best, for me when I have. I was wondering if anyone knew for sure one way or another?

I do know that my ex'* Mom used some stuff a while ago that specifically said "Do not use with painted rims" on her car that had painted aluminum rims and it ate the paint right off wheels. I shouldn't laugh, but she was kinda a PITA. lol

Anyways, what do you all think? I see a lot of you guys use the stuff, especially when I'm surfing the Your Ride section.

I used to tire shine weekly, and never had any problem with dry rot. Tires ran their course without any problems. But, I do live in California and drove the car every day.

I would think it would be the opposite. Most shines have at least some silicone in them, which at least partially seals the pores in the surface of the tire, acting as a impermeable barrier, reducing the chemicals volatilizing from the tire material. Now that would only apply if you keep the stuff on there, and if it had silicone in it.
The cheap stuff only lasts a day or two, but the Meguiars and Eagle One will go a week or so if it doesn't get wet. Spray it on a WARM or HOT tire and it won't last as long either, nor will it last if you drive the car right after applying.

Exactly.

I use it on my car whenever I can and my dad has been using it on his Corvette for years and no problems. They wouldn't be producing tire shine if it caused dry rot.

Take a wheel off and look at both sides. It would be a good example of with use and without use. Unless you tire shine both sides of yours.

Sure they would, well sure they do.Not really dry rot per se, but it does cause the browning of them. Most tire shine is just silicone that you're spraying or wiping all over.

I use 303 aerospace protectant, it has a UV protectant in it, it'* water based (this is important) and works great. Doesn't have an un-natural shine to it either. It'll just lightly gloss a tire while bringing out the natural black in it to a stock look. It'* a tire dressing, not just tire shine, it helps keep the rubber in good shape. It is PERFECT for unpainted plastic body panels as well since it slows/stops UV fading.

It also I also have used a small independent detailing guy'* stuff for a while too, VERY similar, the company was sold recently, and I'm not sure how much has changed as I personally have not used it since the purchase. The 303 can be found @ ACE Hardware.

Only mass market/big brand I could ever stand, and didn't fade, was Dupont Teflon Tire shine, and boy it sure lasted thanks to the teflon.

Well, I guess this all makes sense. Obviously it'* the formulation of what is in the tire shine that would even be a possibility of aiding dry rot to form, if any of them really do in the first place. Of course the cheap stuff is probably more prone to having the bad formula.

Had some other brand of tire shine before that lasted about a week. Used some Turtle Wax brand stuff yesterday and it'* barely noticeable today. It looks black, but not shiny. Oh ok the brand I had before was Meguiar'* Hot Shine. It was a million times better than the Turtle Wax crap I got.