Cleaning Wheels

Cleaning Wheels

There are several ways to clean your wheels, choose the least aggressive method that will get the job done. A quality car wash/water solution is the least aggressive and will probably remove most of the dirt/brake dust from the wheel.

Most wheel cleaners work best on a dry wheel. Spray the cleaner on the wheel and work evenly into all areas of the wheel with a soft cloth, soft sponge or wash mitt. Try to smooth out any drips or runs so there is an even coating of cleaner over the entire wheel.

Rims and tyres are subject to contamination by brake dust and road grime on a continual basis and are probably the hardest part of your car to maintain to a high standard. In this guide, find out how to wash and clean alloy rims and wheel covers, how to remove stubborn accumulations of brake dust safely and effectively, how to clean and protect tyres, and how to apply sealant protection to alloy rims and wheel covers and prevent corrosion from setting in and causing permanent damage

There are three ways to control brake dust. The first is to fit aftermarket low dust brake pads. Both kevlar-based compounds and high metal content compounds are effective in this respect. The second option is to fit dust shields, which can now be bought for most types of cars. These sit between the rim and the hub and shield the rim from the caliper assembly whilst still allowing ventilation. The downside of such devices is that they look unsightly and aren't suitable for performance cars where high levels of ventilation are required. The third option is to establish a proper wheel care routine. An easy thing to say, but what does this actually mean? In our experience, if you want to keep your wheels in perfect condition, it means a minimum of weekly washing and quarterly reapplication of a wheel sealant. Anything less and corrosion will occur, as we have found to our own cost in the past.

Regular washing should be the easy bit, but is often overlooked, particularly during the winter months when cold and wet weather often means that weekends are spent indoors and the notion of going outside to wash the car seems pointless. Believe us, it isn't. Get your coat and hat on and give your wheels a quick wash and don't worry about drying everything off; just make sure you get any road salt and brake dust off. It only takes a few weeks for serious etching to set in on unprotected rims and in the winter many weekends can pass by without a nice day. Once etching sets in you're facing a problem a bit like rust; no matter what you do it persistently gets worse.

CC Valeting Website Last updated: (23 Feb 2012)