I, like many car owners, have a set combination of car care products that I know works well.  However, every now and then you have to try something new because it might make that combination better.  On the other hand, sometimes it doesn’t work out very well.

This is one of those times.

A few years back, a PR company for Turtle Wax sent  us some new products from their “Ice” product line when it was new to review on the CamaroZ28.Com Podcast.  Among the products that were provided that received a great review from us was the Turtle Wax ICE Total Interior Care.  Quite simply, it worked great, worked on just about everything, and was a breeze to use.  We were impressed.  From that point on, it was the only product I used to clean the interior of my cars, including my Camaro.

Not long ago, I saw a new product by Turtle Wax, Turtle Wax Black Tire Shine.  Shiny tires make a car look great.  However, it was expensive…almost $15 for a can of it.  Based on the description on the packaging, it was perfect.  It was dry when it looked wet, didn’t attract dirt, and was said to last for months.  Perfect.  I bought it and went home to try it out on my daily driver Jeep Grand Cherokee.

They were right about one thing…the tires look wet when they are not.  That is because the product is really more like a clear, flexible rubber.  It leaves a semi-thick coat that dries quickly, almost like a clearcoat for your tires.  It looked extremely wet when it was perfectly dry.  It didn’t look bad…at first.

However, there was a problem.  I followed the directions on the can exactly, which included the following:

“Allow coating to dry for at least one hour before driving.  Wipe off excess product from rims.”

I found out that by the time one hour had passed since I applied it, there was no way to “wipe off excess product from rims”.  It was dried onto the wheel (or the “rim”, depending on what you think is correct).  I couldn’t scrape it off with a fingernail and I didn’t want to try something more aggressive for fear of damaging the surface of my wheel.

The problem didn’t end there.  I also found out the next day that when the sun hits the tire with the product applied to it, there is a sort of oily rainbow effect, like oil floating on water in the sunlight.  See the following image:

I figured at that point, I should send an email to Turtle Wax letting them know what was happening and perhaps I had a defective product.

Here is what I sent:

Hello,

I have always stood by Turtle Wax products, especially the Ice products.

When the new Black Tire Coat came out, I immediately purchased it and used it.  Unfortunately, I encountered a couple of problems.

First, I followed the supplied instructions exctly, which state as follows:
“Allow coating to dry for at least one hour before driving.  Wipe off excess product from rims.”

However, this may not be the correct order of putting this information in the instructions.  After one hour, the product seems nearly impossible to remove from the wheels once dry.  It is stuck to the wheels of my vehicle
(due to common overspray) and I do not know how to get it off without damaging them.

In addition, while the product works as intended on the tire as far as shine, etc., when the sun shines directly on the product that is correctly applied to the tire, it gives off an oily rainbow color appearance on the entire area of the tire where applied.

I would like to know how I can completely remove the product from my wheels and tires.  Unfortunately, I will not be using Black Tire Coat on any of my vehicles in the future.

Your time and attention to this issue is very much appreciated!

Jason Debler

The next day, I received the following response:

Dear Jason,

Thank you for taking the time to contact Turtle Wax, Inc. We appreciate hearing from you.

To remove the Tire Coating from the tire you will want to use a utility brush ( grill brush) on the DRY tire, rubbing in a back and forth motion.  The product will then crack under the pressure and come off.  Once the product is off you can clean the tires as normal and if you wish to re apply the Tire Coating you may do so.

Sincerely,
Customer/Client Relations
Turtle Wax, Inc

I didn’t think I read that correctly at first.  A grill brush?  Like…the kind that has metal bristles?  This is the reply I sent back:

Hello,

Thank you for the reply but I don’t think my message was read completely.

I’d like to get the product off my tires, AND my wheels.  I do not feel comfortable applying a BBQ brush to either as I would certainly damage the wheels and possibly the tires.

Because of the problems that I had with the incorrect directions on the can, the “rainbow” effect of the product in the sunlight when applied, and the overspray on the wheels that I cannot remove, I will definitely not be using this product again.

Do you offer any kind of satisfaction guarantee?

Thank you,
Jason

Immediately, this is the response I received:

Delivery has failed to these recipients or distribution lists:

support@turtlewax.com
The recipient’s e-mail address was not found in the recipient’s e-mail system. Microsoft Exchange will not try to redeliver this message for you. Please check the e-mail address and try resending this message, or provide the following diagnostic text to your system administrator.

I checked the Turtle Wax web site and found no mentioning of any guarantee.  At that point, I determined that I would simply have to cut my losses, and was very thankful I didn’t try this on my Camaro tires first.

From now on, I will stick with what I know works well, Stoner More Shine Tire Coating Plus, it has a satisfaction guarantee, although I have never had to use it nor do I expect to.

Interestingly enough, a few days later I drove through a standard Michigan rainstorm, and by the time I got home there was nothing left of the product on the tires.

The wheels, however, are another story.

It has been a few weeks since then and slowly, the product is finally flaking off the wheels…and securely sticking to the paint behind the wheel wells not unlike snot. I would considering emailing Turtle Wax about this as well, but I am afraid they will tell me to take a belt sander to it.

All joking aside, I will twice about trying anything new from Turtle Wax in the future.

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