Clean Wheels

[DeadMaus]

TIPS:.....


I need some tips for my wheels. I'm just using meguiars shampoo at the minute but my wheels are absolutely ****ed at the minute. I haven't washed my car or cleaned the wheels for ages because of 'The Big Freeze' and all. My wheels are black with dust and grime. Anybody got any recommendations for products or technique to get them good as new?

[SpeakForYou]

Originally Posted by DeadMaus

TIPS:.....


I need some tips for my wheels. I'm just using meguiars shampoo at the minute but my wheels are absolutely ****ed at the minute. I haven't washed my car or cleaned the wheels for ages because of 'The Big Freeze' and all. My wheels are black with dust and grime. Anybody got any recommendations for products or technique to get them good as new?

My tip, go to a Polish car washing place, get them to clean the car then come home and use your fancy cleaning stuff. Takes out the effort of scrubbing the crap of your wheels

Probably not what you meant though

[Ali C]

If you want to remove caked-on brake dust and general dirt, buy something like 'Wonder Wheels'. You can get it in Halfords, or maybe in places like Wilkinsons (cheaper!). Buy the one that comes with a brush, in order to aggitate the dirt.

I would only ever use it to remove stubborn dirt though. Make sure you rinse the wheels with water after, and then give them a good shampoo. They will look like new

[scoobeedoo]

Get rid of the standard alfa brake pads, which seem to produce tons of black brake dust. Go to somewhere like euro car parts and get ferodo, ebc etc replacement pads. There has been a thread recently re brake dust. Try a search for more info. Hope this helps.

i love my Android phone

[r_d_g]

My tip would be Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner works great at stripping the brake dust and other stuff off.

To protect the alloys after they are clean I use Autoglym Alloy Wheel Seal which helps stop stuff sticking to the alloys and then they are easier to clean. You can get both from halfords and most other local retailers.

Check the detailing section of the forums for more tips as theres lots people who can help there.

[Benjic2]

Whatever you do, do not use Wonder Wheels or any other extreamly acidic wheel cleaner for that matter. These types of products can cause a lot of damage and corrosion if used incorrectly or on a damaged wheel. Use non acidic wheel cleaner and use a detailing brush to aggitate the solution on the wheel and then power wash off. Search for "bilberry wheel cleaner" on the net, this is probably the best wheel cleaner out there.

[Ali C]

Originally Posted by Benjic2

Whatever you do, do not use Wonder Wheels or any other extreamly acidic wheel cleaner for that matter. These types of products can cause a lot of damage and corrosion if used incorrectly or on a damaged wheel. Use non acidic wheel cleaner and use a detailing brush to aggitate the solution on the wheel and then power wash off. Search for "bilberry wheel cleaner" on the net, this is probably the best wheel cleaner out there.

The point I raised above was to only use it when you have to get some really caked-on dirt off, and then wash the wheels immediately. I would only ever use products like this if my wheels were in a really bad way.

I never let my wheels get dirty enough to use any 'products' on them, though. All I use is warm water, a good quality shampoo and some elbow grease. When we had the bad snow and ice I couldn't wash the car, but I did wash the wheels. Just to keep on top of them.

[multijet]

if you know someone in the motor trade that gets valet products from autosmart there alimate non acid based wheel cleaner is brilliant you can dilute 50/50 leave on wheels for about 10minutes power wash off come up like brand new with no scrubbing and causing damage

[Benjic2]

Originally Posted by Ali C

The point I raised above was to only use it when you have to get some really caked-on dirt off, and then wash the wheels immediately. I would only ever use products like this if my wheels were in a really bad way.

I never let my wheels get dirty enough to use any 'products' on them, though. All I use is warm water, a good quality shampoo and some elbow grease. When we had the bad snow and ice I couldn't wash the car, but I did wash the wheels. Just to keep on top of them.

Yeah fair enough i just wouldnt reccommend using it thats all, you shouldnt even use it if your wheels are in a state plus others might not know how to apply and use those types of cleaners. Anyway bilberry is as good as it gets.

[10,500RPM]

Bilberry is one of the best "safe" wheel cleaners on the market. If you do decide to use a strong acidic or alkaline wheel cleaner make sure you don't touch the centre caps and make sure you don't get any in you eyes, it stings like ****.

[gtlewi]

My preference when my alloys are really ditched is to wash as normal, apply some AG Tar Remover buff off or rinse, SRP them and then finish with some Collinite 845 (gives at least 2 or 3 months protection). Takes a while (especially with multispokes) but they come up a treat. I have been known to use some AG Custom Wheel Cleaner but tend to go down the Tar remover/ SRP route as a first course of action

As mentioned many times Bilberry is probably the most suitable wheel cleaner if you go down that route

[alfamito155tb]

Turtle Wax - Productsturtle wax is like one of the best products out there for what you are looking for trust me

[Ralf S.]

If the wheels are really minging, zapping them with any wheel cleaner and rinsing off (as directed) is going to be better for them than anything not designed for minging wheels or requiring more agitiation. If you only use wheel cleaners occassionally (in dire circumastances) you really won't notice any bad effects on the finish. It's better than leaving the salt/brake dust on it..

After washing, you'll probably need to get the stuck on contaminants off. I use Mr Sheen since it is good at disolving tar and it's slightly waxy too. Finally stick some wax on there. A specialised wheel wax will last longer on there than a regular bodywork wax.. but again, don't be shy. Any wax is better than nothing.

Ralf S.

[madBLUE]

I use Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner and leave it on for c.5 mins giving it a light spray of water to stop it drying out. Caked on dirt washes off easily after that.

However upfront protection is best and saves a lot of hard-work. Three coats of Poorboys wheel sealant seems to last over a year for me. A spray with water and a quick wipe usually then brings everything off.

[Oggy_GTA]

Echoing what's been said earlier, I REALLY would avoid any acidic cleaner. These usually have instructions that say "only leave on for 1 minute" or similar ... this is for a reason!

I have a set of wheels (GTA multispokes) that I used to use Wonder Wheels on every couple of months or so. Yes, they were always very clean and bright (mind you it became more difficult to clean them each time!) but this cam at a price.

Looking at them now, compared to a spare identical wheel I acquired some time later after damaging one of them, it's quite obvious how errosive these cleaners are. The damage is most obvious at the back of the casting where the paint is thinnest, and around the valve stems. Nasty stuff - haven't used it for a good few years now.

[bigjim]

some billberry wheel cleaner and a vikan wheel brush, ya sorted.

[05GT]

[QUOTE=gtlewi;3868852]My preference when my alloys are really ditched is to wash as normal, apply some AG Tar Remover buff off or rinse, SRP them and then finish with some Collinite 845 (gives at least 2 or 3 months protection). Takes a while (especially with multispokes) but they come up a treat. I have been known to use some AG Custom Wheel Cleaner but tend to go down the Tar remover/ SRP route as a first course of action
]

That is my exact route too and once the collinite is on it is dead easy just to wash wheels with shampoo.

[A6]

Just to reiterate the Poorboys wheel sealant is an excellent product to protect the wheels and most rave about it on Detailingworld, so it must be good.

I use it and would recommend it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[springbok]

+1 on the above

Poorboys/Chemical Guys/Rimwax all basically the same product.

The best wheel sealant I have used.

PS. Once applied do not use any form of wheel cleaner. Shampoo and microfibre only.

[kandrewsntl]

Guys you really need to get hold of some of this stuff

Exterior Coatings // G|Techniq

lasts 1-2 years and is by far the best wheel sealant ever bar none! The whole range is quite frankly amazing. I may if there is enough interest be able to arrange a group deal too if I speak nicely to Rob :0)

[gtlewi]

Originally Posted by kandrewsntl

Guys you really need to get hold of some of this stuff

Exterior Coatings // G|Techniq

lasts 1-2 years and is by far the best wheel sealant ever bar none! The whole range is quite frankly amazing. I may if there is enough interest be able to arrange a group deal too if I speak nicely to Rob :0)

I would be interested in a group buy of the C5 and C4, matey Been mulling over wether to purchase them for a while so this might be a good chance

[kandrewsntl]

You won't be disappointed I can assure you. I've been using it solely now for the last 8mths and the whole range is utterly brilliant. The p1 polish has no drop back either unlike most. I'll have a chat with Rob on Monday and maybe see if we can't arrange a club discount or something. I'll run it past Operation Alfa too to make sure it's ticking all the right boxes, don't want to get into trouble

[gtlewi]

Cheers mate as you day best to get the green light first

[bigjim]

i agree their stuff is good, window coating g1/g2 + g4glass polish are great. p1 polish is good too.
but the price of that wheel sealant would put me off. i'd use the products i'd already got. any wax would do. once you've taken your wheels off and cleaned them properly, maybe polished and waxed, they'll clean up lovely with just soapy water.

[kandrewsntl]

I agree wit what you're saying but the c5 is in a league of it own. It's the sealant of choice used by many big names in motorsport some mentionable and some not!