Why does every car brand have their own weird shade of red?

Red seems to fade faster than most colors, maybe because of how it reacts to sunlight.

I’ve noticed this too - my old Civic’s red turned orangey in spots after a few years, and I’m not convinced the clear coat was the only problem. I park outside too, so I just accept some fading as the price of not having a garage. Keeping up with wax helps a bit, but honestly, I think some of these reds are just doomed from the start.

Red pigments just don’t seem to hold up under UV the way other colors do. I see the same thing with certain roofing granules - reds and oranges fade out faster than grays or browns. I wonder if it’s something about the base pigment chemistry? Anyone ever try those ceramic coatings on their car to slow down fading?

I see the same thing with certain roofing granules - reds and oranges fade out faster than grays or browns.

Yeah, I’ve noticed this too. It’s kinda wild how fast red fades compared to other colors, especially on south-facing roofs. Haven’t tried ceramic coatings myself, but I’ve heard mixed things - some folks say it helps a bit, others not so much. Pigment chemistry definitely seems to play a part.

Pigment chemistry definitely seems to play a part.

Yeah, pigment chemistry is a big deal with reds. The iron oxide pigments used in roofing granules just don’t hold up as well under UV as the ones for grays or browns. South-facing roofs get hammered by sunlight, so reds and oranges fade out way faster. I’ve seen some coatings help a little, but nothing really stops it long-term. If color retention’s a priority, I’d lean toward earth tones - they just seem to last.

Pigment chemistry really is at the heart of it, especially with reds. I’ve done a fair number of inspections where the red shingles looked almost pink after a decade or so - meanwhile, the brown or gray ones right next to them still looked pretty close to new. UV exposure just eats away at those iron oxide reds, and it’s even more obvious on steep, south-facing slopes. Some manufacturers claim their coatings will slow the fading, but in practice, I haven’t seen any product that truly prevents it long-term.

Funny thing is, I had a client a couple years back who insisted on a bright red roof to match their old barn. They were thrilled with how it looked at first, but within five years it was noticeably faded - especially compared to the shaded side. We checked the warranty and, sure enough, color retention wasn’t covered. It’s frustrating for homeowners who want that bold look but don’t realize what they’re up against.

Earth tones do seem to have better staying power. I think it’s partly because the pigments are more stable and partly because fading is just less obvious with those colors. Browns, grays, and even some muted greens tend to blend in as they age. Reds and oranges, though... once they start to go, it’s really obvious.

I wouldn’t say there’s no hope for reds at all, but if someone’s main concern is how the roof will look in ten or fifteen years, I usually recommend sticking with more neutral shades. Sometimes aesthetics win out over practicality, though - I get it. Just have to weigh the trade-offs.