z31maniac said:I don't ever put anything on tires. I haven't found anything that doesn't end up slung all over the paint in a sticky mess after the first drive.
I don't think I've had that problem yet. Currently using Chemical Guys Tire Kicker Tire Shine, applied with a sponge.
Armor all is a plasticizer.
Plasticizers make the melted pellets that go through an injection molding machine barrel flow easier into the mold.
Putting armor all on the surface essentially eats the plastic which is why it's sticky to the touch.
Besides that, it was ok back in the day.
Because I do enjoy detailing, some related, helpful videos from our friend Tim McNair. He details cars at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, etc. I have been following his recipes for years. Basically, he sticks with the Griot’s catalog–nothing terribly exotic.
And talk about cleaning/detailing tires.
I do the SD-20 cleaner–wipe on, wipe off–and leave them natural. No tire shine, no nothing afterward. Quick, easy and looks good.
In reply to z31maniac :
I've found that ExoForma works pretty well, though it is a bit more expensive. I definitely recommend though!
I don't care for a glare from the dashboard, and I don't give a E36 M3 if my tires shine so I haven't purchased the stuff in about 35 years.
That silicone in AA that blows around as stated earlier...can be a real problem if you have to do any paintwork. I've heard it can settle on exterior paint and cause massive fish eyes when respraying, and that it is difficult to remove.
pointofdeparture said:matthewmcl said:Armor All etches plastic. It takes "too long" to soak in for consumer happiness, so it contains etching agents to rough up the surface so it soaks in faster. The more you use Armor All, the more you need to use Armor All.
For whatever that is worth.
Yep, I have seen a few vehicles over the years that have been Armor Alled to the point of every surface being a permanently sticky mess. I wouldn't put it on anything other than tires.
If someone put that stuff on my tires, they are buying me new tires.
Shadeux said:The other story is I was detailing my dad's 1980 Lincoln Continental, and in the height of Florida's summer heat, (with the sun directly on the top of the rear seat) I proudly blasted the top of the seat. The sound that followed continues to haunt me.
The top of the seat instantly contracted about a 1/4 of an inch. It made the sound of an extremely small animal in its last moment. A squeak of despair and pain.
Though I frantically tried to undo this, it was finished. The former "leather" was severely wrinkled and felt like hard plastic.
This essentially what I had heard about Armor All. It "dries out" materials and makes them (dashes mostly), or promotes, crack
In reply to L5wolvesf :
The story I heard is that Porsche used to give it away in new-owner goodie bags when you bought a 911, and the people who used it had dash cracking problems, while the people who didn't use it has less dash cracking problems.
I remain unconvinced that Armor All is "bad", after using it for almost 20 years. Which reminds me, my tires could use a touch-up on their shine...BRB 
I think it was fine back when every car seemed to have the same expanse of vinyl and plastic in their interiors. Modern cars have a lot more nuanced interiors and a lot less tupperware. Anti-glare touchscreens, aluminum knobs, soft-touch plastics, upholstered accents in the dashes, etc. You can't just Armor-all everything but the glass any more. Also, the new stuff smells better and detail enthusiasts feel better when every bottle in their kit cost $20+.
I spot-clean high touch areas with a light cleaner and everything else gets the dust wiped off with a damp microfiber a couple of times a year. But I'm not a detail enthusiast.
I detest shiny tires.
Here’s a quick before and after.
These tires saw things–like who knows how many laps on our old VW Fox endurance racer. 
And this is what they looked like after some SD-20–spray, wipe with a microfiber, the end.
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