Sonax Ceramic Tyre & Rim Detailer
Sonax Ceramic Tyre & Rim Detailer (CTRD) is yet another from Sonax’s Ceramic line of products which, if you’re already experienced with, will no doubt be interested in trying out.
In this review, we’ll be sticking to three key areas: Application, Performance, and Value.
Application
It’s very difficult to apply this product incorrectly, whilst we’d normally recommend to always spray into the cloth rather than onto the panel, CTRD is so forgiving that it really doesn’t matter.
You can apply with pretty much any applicator – CTRD will work with any, although I’d recommend microfiber or foam personally – it doesn’t work great with brushes though.
As it’s water-based, you don’t need to fully dry the wheels or tyres beforehand, so it’s extremely easy to simply incorporate the use of CTRD into your wheel drying process, rather than seeing it as an extra step.
It’s absurdly slick on the wheels, and as for tyres, it’s simply a case of wiping them down. Don’t be surprised if you see it lifting off some browning from the tyres (but more on that later!).
Now, this isn’t marketed as something to be used on bodywork, but it has shown promise in this aspect, based on reports from our members.
Performance
Whilst you shouldn’t be expecting multiple months of longevity from CTRD (it is a detailer, after all), it does have some decent chemical resistance and will easily last until your next wash. The finish it leaves on the tyres is a low-satin, semi-matte finish. For those who prefer a more “OEM” look, without the greasy shine, this definitely ticks the box.
As CTRD is intended to be used on tyres – that makes it safe for all rubber surfaces. Try it out on door seals, window trim, etc.! It has a nice darkening effect and can even stop the rubber door seals from squeaking.
When it comes to cleaning power – this is where CTRD shines surprisingly bright.
When I first tried it, I was cleaning a heavily neglected beater and only gave the wheels a very basic face clean, with little attention given to the barrels or behind the spokes. With the wheels/tyres still wet, I sprayed a couple of squirts of CTRD all over and went to town with an old microfiber cloth. As expected, the cloth picked up a lot of brake dust from the wheel, that my half-hearted wheel clean had missed. The surprising part was how amazingly well this dirt was lifted into the towel by the CTRD. In my experience, brake dust can be a nightmare to wipe up, as it often just leaves awful brown smears on the wheel surface that you’re forever chasing to remove.
CTRD performs excellently here, ensuring any brake dust (and even some tyre browning!), are effectively wicked into the cloth, leaving nothing behind on the surface except for a beautifully slick surface that beads every bit as well as I’ve come to expect from a Sonax sealant.
The cleaning performance of CTRD is so great, that this is one of few products I’d actually consider using as a spot cleaner, perfect for a quick shoe-shine when you arrive at the meet!
Value
There’s not an awful lot to say here, except that it’s pretty decent value! Sure, it’s non-dilutable, but considering you only need a squirt or two per corner, a little goes a long way, and the 750ml bottle should last you quite a long time.
It’s a relatively new product on the market, but one thing we’re starting to see is that our users are finding more uses for this – such as on the bodywork, plastics, and rubber. Time will tell if this is a true “swiss-army” knife, but it’s beginning to look that way.
Conclusion
If you’re already in love with the Sonax Xtreme Ceramic line, then adding this to your detailing arsenal is a complete no-brainer. For anyone else, it’s a fantastic gateway into these products that, so far, have not failed to disappoint me one bit. Much like CSC and CUSD, it’s yet another Sonax product that has a permanent place on my shelf.
I genuinely can’t find a fault with it – great cleaning, amazing finish, brainless application – what’s not to love?