Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing: Hands-On Test And Review
A mainstay in the Autoglym range with super easy application, Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing is a quick and simple way to leave your tyres nicely finished.
The fact that this dressing can be applied to wet tyres is a great option for those in a hurry or those who don’t have an air blower to dry the rubber first after a wash.
You can tailor the finish to your desired level of shine, giving an extra level of versatility from the product.
This versatility and speed of application come at the cost of longevity and water repellency.
Instant Tyre Dressing is by no means the best tyre dressing out there, but still has a place for those in a hurry who aren’t overly concerned with a perfect finish.
Prepmycar Rating: 6 / 10
Autoglym ITD500US Instant Tyre Dressing
- 8 Application And Ease Of Use
- 6 Aesthetics
- 4 Water Repellent Features
- 4 Longevity
- 7 Packaging and Dispenser
- 7 Value for Money
- 6 OVERALL TEST SCORE
Pros
Cons
Test Results
Application And Ease Of Use (8/10)
Application couldn’t be easier! You spray on, then walk away. That’s the Autoglym way, and it must be the easiest to apply tyre dressing ever.
This is also Instant Tyre Dressing’s biggest downfall! You will never get a good even covering using this method, and some will always end up on the wheels. Although it dries clean, I hate knowing it’s running onto freshly cleaned wheels.
I eventually started to spray Instant Tyre dressing onto a foam applicator and then applied it to tyres that way. This gives a much more even finish on the tyres but makes a mess of your fingers and the bottle, as this product loves to stick to your hands.
The great benefit of Instant Tyre Dressing is that it can be applied to wet rubber, which speeds up the whole process as you don’t need to spend time drying your tyres first.
Aesthetics (6/10)
After the first application, the dressing does look shiny and wet.
It dries pretty quickly though, and if left unattended, gives a noticeable glossy appearance to the tyres. If you want more of a satin finish, you simply buff the tyre with a Microfibre before it dries. This will also give you a more even finish across the tyre wall.
Water Repellency (4/10)
Water repellency isn’t a strong point of Instant Tyre Dressing.
After a quick spritz of water when the dressing is dry, you can visibly see the dressing running off the tyre. It doesn’t provide any beading or show any signs of hydrophobic properties to speak of and washes off very quickly.
The initial dressing effects don’t do a lot to repel dirt, and as a result, the dressing doesn’t last very long on a daily driver in British winter. Within a week or two, Instant Tyre Dressing is completely gone.
Longevity (4/10)
After just a week of a couple of hundred miles, the dressing is barely clinging on. The side walls are picking up dirt, and the once-dressed parts are very difficult to distinguish against the non-dressed parts of the tyre.
After two weeks, all visible traces of the dressing are gone. Not the best tyre dressing by far.
Packaging and Dispenser (7/10)
Standard Autoglym spray bottle packaging and performance here. Quality spray head that performs perfectly. Nothing to change here.
For a gloss finish, simply spray on and leave to dry If you want a more satin finish, buff the excess off the tyre wall with a clean microfibre cloth.
If you apply using a sponge applicator, you will get a more even finish that starts glossy and goes more satin with more running. You can actually layer Instant Tyre dressing for more gloss and tailor the finish to your exact preference
Value For Money (7/10)
Cost per application
At £8.50 ($9.17 USD) for 500ml, it’s a very reasonably priced tyre dressing in the market.
Using the Autoglym preferred application method, you will use more product per application to cover the whole wall.
This method gives you around 10 cars worth of dressing which is approximately £0.85 ($0.91 USD) per application.
If you spray onto an applicator first, you will use around half as much product, which drops the cost per application to a much more respectable £0.43 ($0.46 USD) per application
My Final Thoughts
For years, Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing was the go-to product for finishing off your car cleaning routine with nicely dressed tyres.
The fact that it can be sprayed on and just left to do its thing and that it can be applied to wet tyres make it a super quick and easy option.
The spray and walk away option is also Instant Tyre Dressing’s biggest downfall!
It’s impossible to get even coverage like this unless you use a lot of product and accept that it’s going to end up on your freshly cleaned wheels. To get around this, you can apply the dressing to an applicator first before applying it to the tyre wall. Just make sure you’re wearing gloves for this option!
There are so many tyre dressings on the market now which give you a better-looking finish, more hydrophobic properties and last much longer, meaning Instant Tyre Dressing is a long way from being the best option out there now.
If you want something quick and are prepared to top up regularly, then Instant Tyre Dressing is still one of the best.
FAQ
Can Autoglym be applied to wet tyres ?
If you want a nice shine (not artificial cheap tyre slick), wash the wheels and tyres and rinse down with cold water, whilst wet apply the tyre dressing so the side walls are wet. I normally dry off the excess from the wheel (not the tyre). Leave to dry before using the car.
Does this product damage the tyre in any way?
No not at all. Any water based tyre shine will not damage the tyre. The ones to avoid are solvent based products. The autoglym tyre shine is excellent.
Does it come with an aplicator pad?
No Pad just spray on and leave to dry for a shining finish or wipe with a cloth for a Matt finish.
Grab it Now
- Spray-on tyre care solution can leave you with a gloss or satin finish, whichever you prefer
- Contains polymer silicone protectants to transform your tyres walls from old to new
- Can be applied to wet or dry tyre walls
