Southland Auto Wash

A testament to their meticulousness, the auto experts at Southland Auto Wash spent a decade developing their signature tire protectant and polish, Tire Blaze. Though they'd tried Armor All or angrily shouting at tires to scare grime away, they envisioned a mechanically applied tire dressing that would function something like hand cream. With the help of Qual Chem, they finally cracked the code. After a treatment, tires look newer, with a glossy, almost wet appearance and a deep-black hue. They also resist rubber breakdown, cracking, and damage from road detritus.

Tire Blaze is only one service at Southland Auto Wash's five locations, but its history reflects the company's devoted attention to detail and insistence on top-shelf car care. These values, along with the wash's extensive water-conservation projects, earned the sudsatorium a nod as Grand Rapids Magazine's Best Car Wash. This should come as no surprise since the family-owned company—now in its third generation of car washers—has been detailing cars on increasingly advanced automated lines since 1950.