A marketing exec. That’s who you’re believing. Take two new tires. Your front and rear. Wash one as described and get back to me. I’m a materials engineer, I can absolutely tell you that if there was a treatment that could be applied at the factory that would result in a change to the surface of the tire, it would already be done when that tire left the mold post vulcanizing. I realize the average person won’t have this level of detail, but between my actual background and 30 years of riding the slippery shit on the tire is 100% a mold release compound. You can literally wash it off. You can feel it on your hands. You can actually smell it. Hot rubber designed to stick at surfaces needs a non reactive coating to prevent it from sticking to the mold during the vulcanizing process that cures the rubber that gives the tire it’s properties, otherwise they would be scraping the mold after every press. I’ve actually seen the pieces in action at a Firestone plant. You either don’t ride, or are a very new rider.