50.Cal Detailing Cammo Tyre Dressing

[Lowiepete]

Hello Folks,

What Is It?

"Cammo" Wet Look Tyre Dressing from 50.cal Detailing

What Does it Bring to the Table

Developed to give a multi-function option to the professional detailer. This
innovative formulation utilises low molecular weight silicon fluids and a rapid
flash base. A single application seals and waterproofs the tyre wall leaving a
matt to satin finish depending on the rubber substrate. If you want the wet
look, a second application brings out the gloss.

Due to the low molecular weight silicones and the fast flashing carrier, when
applied correctly you will never have an issue with "sling" or drips onto your
wheel frame. It lasts as well! A double application can still hold its appearance
for up to 2-3 weeks, albeit depending on ambient conditions. The silicones
will nourish the rubber and as the carrier flashes off so quickly, it won't
degrade the rubber unlike many products currently in the marketplace.

In short:

• Very economical due to its fast flash
• Kind to tyres
• Lasts for weeks
• Water repellent
• Zero sling
• Both Matt and Wet Look finishes achievable with a single product

What Am I Using it On?

A 2009 Renault Megane Coupé

What Do I Think Of It?

To be brutally honest, I've never really rated "solvent" based tyre treatments!
There are two reasons for this. One being that I'm not keen on the finish they
bring, usually they come out way too shiny for my taste. The second being
that I'm unsure about what they might do to a tyre wall. With my having said
this, you might think that I should have been the last person to do this review!

Well, I don't always detail my own car and with some cars, the bright shiny
"wet look" is just right. So, as ever, I'll be speaking as I find. First a word or
two about my "test mule". Just recently I've been given access to this 2009
Renault Megane which has been subjected to some neglect.

The sequence of photos that follow are not chronological as they were also
featuring in a Showroom thread describing the car's initial detail. However,
before that I want to describe some features relating to the product package.

First off, it has to be said that the trigger spray attached to the bottle has
clearly been the subject of no little investment! When I think back to the
days of when I did regularly use this style of product, it tended to go just
about anywhere but where I intended it to.

The precision provided here is quite remarkable! This isn't dependent upon
how much force you use either. Even with just gentle squeezes, the spray is
extremely fine and very precise.

Looking elsewhere on the bottle, you cannot ignore that there are not just
one but 4 warning diamonds relating to personal safety. Just as with the
"Cover-Up" glaze, the instructions are quite unequivocal, but in a much too
tiny typeface size!



Preparation

This gives an idea of where I started from...







The tyres were given a good scrubbing once the BH Auto Wheel had been
rinsed off. I usually work the BHAW into a good lather with a brush. That
helps reduce any continuation of the "bleeding". I then use ONR @ 32:1 as a
pre-spray along with 3 capfuls of CG Hose-Free Eco (HFE) into about 4 litres
of water per two wheels. This to BHAW rinse and follow through with very
thoroughly washed tyres.

A similar approach was taken with the mudguards, using the brush for the
harder to reach areas and a noodle mitt around everywhere else.

Now To The Product Use

I should preface this part of the review by saying that at the time of using
this product I was completely unaware that 50.cal Detailing are intending to
launch a separate trim dressing. I don't think that I'm the only detailer who
sees dressings like Cammo as potentially being a little more versatile than just
for use on tyres.

Hence, it looks like I have jumped the gun a bit in putting Cammo to these
other uses. However, for the purposes of this review I'll limit mention of my
use of it to the tyres and mudguards of this car.

The following day, I sprayed some of the tyre shine onto the mudguards.
I did ask the owner about whether or not shiny tyres were going to be OK.
Not to my taste, but equally, not my car. The next sequence of photos are
pretty self-explanatory...









Here's a before and after of the tyre shine on both tyre and mudguard. It
does prove I did clean the mudguards first...





Conclusions

Since my last use of this type of product the technology has come a very
long way indeed! Because of my lack of motor function and the fact I was
wearing protective gloves, there is one question that I still don't know the
answer to: Is it sticky whilst it's drying?

I deliberately did not touch the applied surfaces so far as the tyres and
mudguards were concerned. It was clear from just how thinly I applied the
product that there wasn't going to be any sling. Although the instructions
say to use two coats for shiny, I found just one to be sufficient.

Where I used Cammo elsewhere as a dressing, wiping it over with an MF cloth,
or spraying a little into an MF cloth and wiping the surface, the finish came
out a lot less shiny than when sprayed directly onto the surface, though this
didn't produce an entirely matt finish.

This is the car with clean tyres before treatment...



There are Falken tyres on the front and Bridgestones on the rear. These are
the wheels in context, a few hours after application...





Where Do I Buy It?

Cammo Wet Look Tyre Dressing costs £11.99 for a 500ml bottle (excluding
delivery) and can be ordered directly from the 50.cal Detailing web site

Acknowledgements

My thanks go to the owner of the test car and to Morgan from 50.cal Detailing
for his help and patience.

Regards,
Steve