Rubber Reviver

Aside from the membrane, it is the rubbers that keep your convertible car waterproof and their care is essential in preventing your car smelling like a swamp.

The rubbers are usually made of a synthetic material which contains plasticizers which make it soft, but with age, these plasticizers evaporate which cause the rubber to be less supple and hold a shape rather than springing back to create a tight, waterproof seal.

In some cases, if the rubbers have perished, it might be necessary to replace them with a new rubber set, but usually the rubbers can be revived using a rubber reviver and conditioner. 

The rubber reviver we use is Krytox. I am sure you will google it, and yes, it is incredibly expensive stuff, however it works and is generally cheaper than a replacement set of rubbers. There are other brands, but we like this one.

What it means

Rubber reviver is a product designed to freshen up and protect rubber parts on a car, especially the weather seals around doors, windows, boots and convertible roofs. Depending on the formula it may clean, lightly dress and condition the surface, darkening faded grey rubbers and helping them feel less dry. Used after proper cleaning, it can make old but serviceable rubbers look smarter and may reduce light squeaks where dry seals were sticking.

Why it matters

• Improves appearance: Rubbers that have gone grey, chalky or green with algae can make an otherwise tidy car look neglected. A good rubber reviver helps restore a more even, darker finish.
• Helps keep rubbers supple: Some products include conditioning agents that can slow further drying and help seals remain flexible for longer when used sensibly as part of maintenance.
• Can reduce minor noise and sticking: Revived, conditioned rubbers are less likely to grab against glass and painted surfaces, which can help with small creaks and sticking doors.
• Not a miracle cure for leaks: While cleaner, better conditioned rubbers are part of good leak prevention, rubber reviver will not fix seals that are already shrunken, split or badly perished.

Where you’ll see it

You will see rubber reviver mentioned in detailing menus, soft top restoration descriptions and some leak-prevention care plans. Typical phrases include clean rubbers and apply rubber reviver, rubbers grey and dry, treat with rubber reviver or rubber reviver used, seals still shrunken, replacement advised. Retail bottles may be labelled rubber reviver, rubber restorer or rubber conditioner and are often marketed for door shuts, window surrounds and roof rubbers.

Context

Rubber reviver sits alongside cleaning, dressing and eventual seal replacement. The usual professional sequence is to deep-clean green, contaminated rubbers first, rinse thoroughly, allow them to dry, then use a suitable reviver or conditioner where appropriate. On convertibles, looking after the rubbers around the roof is an important part of preventing leaks and wind noise, but there is a clear limit - if rubbers have sunk, cracked or shrunk away from the glass and body, no amount of reviver will rebuild missing material or close up gaps. In those cases, replacement seals and sometimes latch or glass adjustment are the real fix, with rubber reviver used afterwards as part of ongoing maintenance.

Common mistakes

• Using rubber reviver on dirty, green rubbers without proper cleaning first, which simply coats contamination instead of removing it.
• Expecting a cosmetic reviver to mend cracked, shrunken or badly perished seals that really need replacing.
• Over-applying greasy products that smear onto glass and paint or attract dust, making the car look worse in the long run.
• Assuming that because rubbers have been treated, leaks are cured, without checking latch adjustment, glass alignment, membranes and drainage.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 05/12/2025 17:09