Are you working with Polished stainless or chrome tips?
Nev-R-Dull works great on polished materials, as does Simichrome or Wenol.
Chrome..just use some chrome polish.
Scotch Brite also comes in grades. Green is the coursest, the Red, then Gray, then White (nearly impossible to find). This is handy to get the road tar off.
On the car?? You mean the black dust that is all over the rear after 10-15 minutes of driving? That I just wash it like normal or use detail spray with a detailing rag.