Wheel Coating question

[Goleafsgo]

I applied the DP wheel coating to my wheels last summer/fall.. I'm not sure when it came out. I just got my summer wheels out and figured I would refresh the coating.

Got out the DP Prep polish and went to work on the first wheel.. ended up deciding it would take too much time and just passed on the entire thing. I just went right to getting my summer wheels and tires on and went for a drive.

I have a BMW CSL style replica wheel on my 335xi and for anyone that hasn't seem them.. they have a bunch of spokes. Using the polish was just a pain in the neck. And then a few spots ran on to the tire and dried. Just not my favorite product to use.. anyway..

Can I use just an IPA wipe down in place of the Prep polish? It would be so much less of a hassle.

Although I'm kind of doubting that it would work well right now because I used the coating on my winter wheels before winter after a thorough Wolfgang Uber wheel cleaner once-over, no prep polish, and the coating was dead within a month if I remember right.

I'm also considering just purchasing Opti-Coat.. What kind of prep work would I have to go through to ensure it would stick to my summer wheels that have DP coating on them? I haven't checked for sure but I think they may still be beading.

I'm really leaning towards the Opti-Coat option now.. just seems so much easier to use with just an Eraser or IPA wipe down required. Wish I would have went that route in the first place. Just wondering what I would have to do to make sure it will stick.

Thanks

[BobbyG]

I've never used DP Wheel Coating but after reading its writeup, I would think any strong wheel cleaner should remove it.

You mention applying Optimum Opti-Coat. I think this is a great idea as it's the most durable hard coating I use for protecting wheels.

To ensure wheels look their best, always polish the wheel with something like Meguiar's Ultimate Polish (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-ultimate-polish.html). This will not only remove any residue left from the DP Wheel Coating, it more importantly bump up the gloss and clarity of the existing wheels finish...assuming of course that "your wheels" are glossy and not a flat finished.

To properly apply Optimum Opti-Coat (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-opti-coat.html), follow their easy application instructions and you'll be amazed at how your wheels look once your finished...An additional product to use on any surface that aids in protection that's super easy to apply is Permanon (http://www.autogeek.net/permanon-platinum-coating1.html)

This is an example of an Optimum Opti-Coat (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-opti-coat.html) + Permanon (http://www.autogeek.net/permanon-platinum-coating1.html) wheel.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/BobbyG53/1999%20Dakota/PermanonWheels001_resize.jpg (http://s153.photobucket.com/user/BobbyG53/media/1999%20Dakota/PermanonWheels001_resize.jpg.html)

[Goleafsgo]

I did wash my wheels this afternoon. They were still beading quite a bit on the initial spray down. I used meguiars all wheel and tire cleaner and the beading was much less, but they did still eventually bead up again

If I were to apply opticoat I'm guessing I would have to polish them anyway to ensure it will stick right?

[Rayaz]

Not necessarily. So long as the wheel is free of any old coatings or sealant or wax or whatever, you would not have to polish to get the Opticoat to stick. The polishing step is more to remove any defects before coating since they will be pretty much locked in once the opticoat cures.

I'm with Bobby, this is the way to go on wheels!

[Goleafsgo]

I think there still is a bit of the DP wheel coating still hanging around on them. Weird. It didn't last on my winter wheels at all but it is sticking around on my summer set.