I have used almost everything that has been on the market trying to find that one thing that will be the easiest to use and look the best.
Lacquer thinner (in moderation) will clean the hoses under the hood and make them look great. It will also remove (most of the time) the labeling or printing on hoses. Brake cleaner will also remover grease very well, but can remove some of the paint. Be careful using it! Carburetor cleaner will do an excellent job of cleaning tires, even white sidewalls.
There is another product on the market that will shine tires and other similar surfaces, but does contain allot of silicone, which is an enemy to ever trying to apply paint to a surface on which it has been used. That product is Auto Magic. It can be bought from the distributor in Richland Hills, a suburb to Fort Worth.
The biggest problem I have had with shinning tires or making them look shinny is if you apply too much material, it will sling off if you drive the vehicle before the product is dry and get on the fenders and side of the car or truck, making a mess. So, I have used clear floor wax on my tires. I buy it at the grocery store in household cleaning products section. Any of the brands work well. You apply (I use a small brush), let dry (usually a shortime) and it stays well until a rain or washed off. Looks good! I do not use it on whitewalls!
