to make them shine, a bit of tire dressing might do to gloss them the best, or armoral if you r not doing any body work, that silicone gets everywhere. just thinking, it depends on the wire, some of the old black stockers might just be provoked to arc through the side, i had a motor with cheap wires that looked like frankenstein , when i opened the hood one night , ummm thats why it was backfiring n popping....lol. ,(this was due to cheap wires though) but i sprayed my motor once with dressing on all the rubber hoses n wires and dont recall any problems. i would still clean them up first before you apply the tire wet, or clear dressing.