What do you use to clean wheels?

[14automobiles]

I am looking for some answers to wheel care...

1. How do you tell what kind of metal a wheel is composed of (painted, chrome, etc)..I have read that there are different cleaning agents for different types of wheels. Can one of these work for metal trim and bumpers too?

2. What do you recommend for cleaning, polishing and sealing each type of wheel?What tool works good to help clean tires (Mothers Power Ball , etc.) ?

3. My wife's car has, what I think is chrome wheels. They have been neglected for more than 5 years. There is a lot of caked on tar and oxidation. What methods and products would you recommend to clean these up?



thank you

[loudog2]

P21 wheel gel/spray(both) and a daytona speed brush is what I use.

[Nappers]

If they are indeed Chrome, I use Meguiar's Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner and you must get the Daytona Wheel Brush, it's pretty tough and handles anything you throw at it (so far).

Make sure they are chrome though. I had a set of wheels I was doing on a truck and the owner thought they were chrome and they ended up being aluminum clear coated. The cleaner didn't hurt the wheels though, but be careful.

[Finemess]

I have aluminum clear coated wheels and use a thick terry towel and car wash.

[Nappers]

Originally Posted by Finemess

I have aluminum clear coated wheels and use a thick terry towel and car wash.

Good point, I use car wash and a separate mitt when the wheels don't need a wheel cleaner as most wheel cleaners strip wax and they are so much fun to wax depending on the wheel!

[14automobiles]

thanks for input...

If your detailing a vehicle how do you know what metal the wheel is? Do you ask the customer and then use the wheel cleaner of your choice?

How many wheel options are there? I can think of chrome, painted and alluminum clear coat. Are there any more?

There is some pretty hard oxidation (or something similar) on my car's wheels. Will the Meguiar's , with the Daytona wheel brush, get this stuck on grime off?

one more thing...is the Daytona wheel brush a boar's hair brush...I thought that is all that should be used on quality wheels

[killrwheels@autogeek]

P21S or Griots wheel cleaner, both are safe on all wheel types and contain no acids. A PowerBall or PowerCone from Mothers and metal polish specific to wheel type often cleans up neglected wheels. Then seal with DP or Poorboys Wheel Sealant.

[14automobiles]

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

P21S or Griots wheel cleaner, both are safe on all wheel types and contain no acids. A PowerBall or PowerCone from Mothers and metal polish specific to wheel type often cleans up neglected wheels. Then seal with DP or Poorboys Wheel Sealant.

Great thanks..."specific to wheel type"...How do you know the wheel type. Is there a way of knowing besides asking the owner.

[Emile]

So many different cars on the road with so many different wheels. It's hard to tell what wheels are on what car sometimes, particularly trying to determine the difference between chrome and polished aluminum wheels.

Your best bet is to use the internet, aside from just asking the owner...many owners believe that they have chrome wheels when they may in fact have polished aluminum. If it's a recent vehicle, you can checkout the manufacturer's website, look at the model and the specs of the vehicle...that will tell you. If the car is discontinued, you can try searching Google for documentation from 3rd-party sites on the specifications of a specific vehicle.

Most factory wheels that are aluminum-alloy are painted and clear-coated, but aftermarket wheels is a completely different story. That's why you're getting recommendations for wheel cleaners that are safe for all wheels.

What year, make, and model is your wife's vehicle?

[agpatel]

Dont know if it is just me but I have many wheel cleaners and normal soap and water do just as well for me. Even if I have not cleaned my wheels in weeks, or a month or two, I can still clean them up fast with a brush and some soap and water that is left over after washing the car. This is on a VW and everyone knows how bad German cars are with brake dust. So like I said maybe I am doing something wrong but soap and water works for me and it is safe on all wheels.