osiapstndp
02-10-2017, 10:26 PM
Yesterday I had a chance to clean the wheelwork on my Challenger. Once a week I perform a traditional wash on all four corners, but this time I decided to do something a bit different. Using McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator and N-914 I was able to perform maintenance cleaning of the wheel barrels, wheel faces and tires. The wheel wells were not included.
Thanks to a tip from Joe@NextLevelDetail, I learned to positively adjust my expectation of McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator. One very cool thing about the product is that it does not have to be rinsed off like a traditional APC or degreaser - a waterless or rinseless wash may be enough to remove residue. That's great!
Here is the rear driver's side wheel.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/7e899f10a8d8d06f59a835b1fe831d64.jpg
It hasn't been cleaned in a little less than a week, but somehow it became the victim of water spots (maybe a puddle was involved).
Working Steps
1. N-914 at 1:64 was used to pre-soak the wheel well and face. Special attention was taken to get as little overspray as possible on the tire sidewall.
2. McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator was sprayed on the sidewall. I sprayed enough to reach even coverage of the surface - not too much, but just enough (hopefully). If too much is used, I figure, it may be more difficult to remove residual product after cleaning is complete.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/d0f2172d257aab71bf59d802fe51e910.jpg
Here is McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator resting on the sidewall after scrubbing.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/0aebd139c8d4f9864f92fa745d2dbd07.jpg
3. Several brushes were used to clean the barrel and face - three different Wheel Woolies and two soft boar's hair brushes. Below is a picture of the front driver's side wheel because I missed taking a picture of the rear wheel.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/187b027e3775c0c2be4ed72ebb213c35.jpg
As somewhat of an aside, I need to evaluate using the large boar's hair brush on wheels that are painted black because it (through my control and pressure) caused a lot of shallow scratches that now need to be removed.
4. A wet towel was used to remove stray dirt from crevices and behind the spokes.
5. After finishing the face and barrel using the wet towel I sprayed down the sidewall with N-914. Initially 1:64 seemed like overkill (read: too strong) for the task, but I kept with it. Turns it out didn't make much of a difference.
N-914 "lays" on the surface very similarly to D114. Here is the front wheel to help describe how the product "lays" at 1:64 - even on small surfaces.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/f97de29ee9c2d8933e260d984f13691b.jpg
6. A soft dry towel was used to remove residual moisture and standing product.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/e5d21934824a721692f286c1da3d015b.jpg
I brought the car into my garage to take a more scrutinizing look at the results.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/ebfc5295d5c99a404b8d2013b4d8b549.jpg
Looks good!
Now it was time to apply dressing. About two weeks ago I applied Griot's Garage Black Shine. For the first few days the product did not play to my tastes and seemed to give a "silicone" look. Thankfully it calmed down significantly and left a quality satin finish. The product seems to last a long time and most likely can be toned down by a few gentle swipes of a towel after application.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/9235d4980e86cbee096130dec60979b4.jpg
7. A microfiber applicator was used to apply the dressing. In hindsight, a foam applicator may be better suited for the job.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/3972c95eed3f2333696abb218e4b9ebf.jpg
A little bit goes a long way!
Half of the sidewall is dressed.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/0b8404b7fd90de50293e744907213882.jpg
The remainder of the sidewall is dressed.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/bb7eb860641aa8303208ed669cac507d.jpg
Thoughts about each product
McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator did a good job at cleaning the small amount of dirt build-up on the sidewall. The result was not perfect, but I didn't soak the surface and I didn't let it dwell for longer than maybe 30 seconds. Subjective and anecdotal evidence (is it even evidence if one has to qualify it like that? :laughing:) suggests that that the cleaner worked sufficiently to prep the sidewall well enough to accept an application of dressing. If the Griot's product lasts another two weeks or so I will call it a success. I won't rate the product with a number because I cannot yet speak for or against it with much confidence. In previous attempts it worked decently, but then again I expected it to act like a strong APC or degreaser. Time and experience will tell. It is worth it to keep testing.
McKee's N-914 worked well to remove what little brake dust and road film that managed to cling to the wheel face, but at 1:64 it may not have quite enough "umph" to effectively pre-soak the barrels. My normal process is to apply diluted D143 to just about everything, scrub the barrels with Wheel Woolies soaked in standard car soap solution, clean the lug nut area with a flagged brush, and then gently clean the face using a high quality wash mitt. This process typically gets every inch very, very clean on wheelwork that is maintained frequently. This time around, however, I used N-914 at rinseless dilution as an alternative to soap and changed my tools just a bit. More practice is needed. Tentative rating for wheel cleaning: 7/10 (at 1:64 for pre-soak and 1:256 for rinseless). On the other hand, for paintwork and glass my rating is a firm 9/10 at 1:128 for pre-soak and 1:256 for rinseless.
Griot's Garage Black Tire Shine held up very well over the past couple weeks. It easily endured one gentle cleaning session and maybe 100 miles of driving. In the first picture of this post it looks like the dressing is still present, even if it's just a little bit. Initially the glossiness is way too strong for my liking, but after a couple drives and a few days it looked much better and it stayed that way for the remainder of its life. This time around I continued to keep the product on at full strength - no wiping of the sidewall post application because I want to better understand its behavior and performance right out of the bottle. Next time I'll use a foam applicator. Rating: 8/10
Products used
1. McKee's N-914 rinseless wash (swap this with your preferred alternative)
McKee’s 37 N-914 Rinseless Wash 128 oz. (http://www.autogeek.net/mckees-rinseless-wash-128.html)
2. McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator
McKee's 37 Tire & Rubber Rejuvenator 128 oz. FREE BONUS! (http://www.autogeek.net/dp-411.html)
3. Microfiber towels
Microfiber Wheel Detailing Towel, wheel buffing towel, all wheel towel, utility towel, shop towel (http://www.autogeek.net/microfiber-wheel-towel.html)
4. Several brushes
Wheel Woolies 3-Piece Kit, wheel cleaning tools, wheel brushes (http://www.autogeek.net/wheel-woolies.html)
Wheel Woolie Spoke Wheel Brush - 12 Inch (http://www.autogeek.net/wheel-woolies-wheel-brushes.html)
Wheel Woolie Spoke Wheel Brush - 18 Inch (http://www.autogeek.net/wheel-woolie-spoke-brush.html)
Wheel Woolies Boar’s Hair Detail Brush 1 inch (http://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-car-detailing-brush.html)
Low Profile Tire Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/low-profile-tire-brush.html)
Wheel Woolies Boar’s Hair Wheel Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/best-wheel-cleaning-brush.html)
5. Griot's Garage Black Shine
Griots Garage Black Shine Tire Gel (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-black-shine-tire-gel.html)
6. Microfiber applicator
Microfiber Applicator Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/cobmicpad.html)
Thanks to a tip from Joe@NextLevelDetail, I learned to positively adjust my expectation of McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator. One very cool thing about the product is that it does not have to be rinsed off like a traditional APC or degreaser - a waterless or rinseless wash may be enough to remove residue. That's great!
Here is the rear driver's side wheel.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/7e899f10a8d8d06f59a835b1fe831d64.jpg
It hasn't been cleaned in a little less than a week, but somehow it became the victim of water spots (maybe a puddle was involved).
Working Steps
1. N-914 at 1:64 was used to pre-soak the wheel well and face. Special attention was taken to get as little overspray as possible on the tire sidewall.
2. McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator was sprayed on the sidewall. I sprayed enough to reach even coverage of the surface - not too much, but just enough (hopefully). If too much is used, I figure, it may be more difficult to remove residual product after cleaning is complete.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/d0f2172d257aab71bf59d802fe51e910.jpg
Here is McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator resting on the sidewall after scrubbing.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/0aebd139c8d4f9864f92fa745d2dbd07.jpg
3. Several brushes were used to clean the barrel and face - three different Wheel Woolies and two soft boar's hair brushes. Below is a picture of the front driver's side wheel because I missed taking a picture of the rear wheel.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/187b027e3775c0c2be4ed72ebb213c35.jpg
As somewhat of an aside, I need to evaluate using the large boar's hair brush on wheels that are painted black because it (through my control and pressure) caused a lot of shallow scratches that now need to be removed.
4. A wet towel was used to remove stray dirt from crevices and behind the spokes.
5. After finishing the face and barrel using the wet towel I sprayed down the sidewall with N-914. Initially 1:64 seemed like overkill (read: too strong) for the task, but I kept with it. Turns it out didn't make much of a difference.
N-914 "lays" on the surface very similarly to D114. Here is the front wheel to help describe how the product "lays" at 1:64 - even on small surfaces.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/f97de29ee9c2d8933e260d984f13691b.jpg
6. A soft dry towel was used to remove residual moisture and standing product.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/e5d21934824a721692f286c1da3d015b.jpg
I brought the car into my garage to take a more scrutinizing look at the results.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/ebfc5295d5c99a404b8d2013b4d8b549.jpg
Looks good!
Now it was time to apply dressing. About two weeks ago I applied Griot's Garage Black Shine. For the first few days the product did not play to my tastes and seemed to give a "silicone" look. Thankfully it calmed down significantly and left a quality satin finish. The product seems to last a long time and most likely can be toned down by a few gentle swipes of a towel after application.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/9235d4980e86cbee096130dec60979b4.jpg
7. A microfiber applicator was used to apply the dressing. In hindsight, a foam applicator may be better suited for the job.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/3972c95eed3f2333696abb218e4b9ebf.jpg
A little bit goes a long way!
Half of the sidewall is dressed.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/0b8404b7fd90de50293e744907213882.jpg
The remainder of the sidewall is dressed.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170211/bb7eb860641aa8303208ed669cac507d.jpg
Thoughts about each product
McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator did a good job at cleaning the small amount of dirt build-up on the sidewall. The result was not perfect, but I didn't soak the surface and I didn't let it dwell for longer than maybe 30 seconds. Subjective and anecdotal evidence (is it even evidence if one has to qualify it like that? :laughing:) suggests that that the cleaner worked sufficiently to prep the sidewall well enough to accept an application of dressing. If the Griot's product lasts another two weeks or so I will call it a success. I won't rate the product with a number because I cannot yet speak for or against it with much confidence. In previous attempts it worked decently, but then again I expected it to act like a strong APC or degreaser. Time and experience will tell. It is worth it to keep testing.
McKee's N-914 worked well to remove what little brake dust and road film that managed to cling to the wheel face, but at 1:64 it may not have quite enough "umph" to effectively pre-soak the barrels. My normal process is to apply diluted D143 to just about everything, scrub the barrels with Wheel Woolies soaked in standard car soap solution, clean the lug nut area with a flagged brush, and then gently clean the face using a high quality wash mitt. This process typically gets every inch very, very clean on wheelwork that is maintained frequently. This time around, however, I used N-914 at rinseless dilution as an alternative to soap and changed my tools just a bit. More practice is needed. Tentative rating for wheel cleaning: 7/10 (at 1:64 for pre-soak and 1:256 for rinseless). On the other hand, for paintwork and glass my rating is a firm 9/10 at 1:128 for pre-soak and 1:256 for rinseless.
Griot's Garage Black Tire Shine held up very well over the past couple weeks. It easily endured one gentle cleaning session and maybe 100 miles of driving. In the first picture of this post it looks like the dressing is still present, even if it's just a little bit. Initially the glossiness is way too strong for my liking, but after a couple drives and a few days it looked much better and it stayed that way for the remainder of its life. This time around I continued to keep the product on at full strength - no wiping of the sidewall post application because I want to better understand its behavior and performance right out of the bottle. Next time I'll use a foam applicator. Rating: 8/10
Products used
1. McKee's N-914 rinseless wash (swap this with your preferred alternative)
McKee’s 37 N-914 Rinseless Wash 128 oz. (http://www.autogeek.net/mckees-rinseless-wash-128.html)
2. McKee's Tire and Rubber Rejuvenator
McKee's 37 Tire & Rubber Rejuvenator 128 oz. FREE BONUS! (http://www.autogeek.net/dp-411.html)
3. Microfiber towels
Microfiber Wheel Detailing Towel, wheel buffing towel, all wheel towel, utility towel, shop towel (http://www.autogeek.net/microfiber-wheel-towel.html)
4. Several brushes
Wheel Woolies 3-Piece Kit, wheel cleaning tools, wheel brushes (http://www.autogeek.net/wheel-woolies.html)
Wheel Woolie Spoke Wheel Brush - 12 Inch (http://www.autogeek.net/wheel-woolies-wheel-brushes.html)
Wheel Woolie Spoke Wheel Brush - 18 Inch (http://www.autogeek.net/wheel-woolie-spoke-brush.html)
Wheel Woolies Boar’s Hair Detail Brush 1 inch (http://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-car-detailing-brush.html)
Low Profile Tire Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/low-profile-tire-brush.html)
Wheel Woolies Boar’s Hair Wheel Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/best-wheel-cleaning-brush.html)
5. Griot's Garage Black Shine
Griots Garage Black Shine Tire Gel (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-black-shine-tire-gel.html)
6. Microfiber applicator
Microfiber Applicator Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/cobmicpad.html)