ok, i admit, i'm stumped

[Neothin]

alright, so i took off my 18's today to give them a thorough cleaning and an application of DP wheel glaze that i picked up @ AG this past saturday. Whilst cleaning them I came across some crap send from the bowels of hell itself. there are small black blobs on the inner part of the rim. These blobs are hardened, but are able to be scrapped off with a fingernail. When you do this though, a small black spot leftover from the original blob is left behind. I can't for the life of me get these leftover black spots off the inside of my silver rims.

list of things i've tried:
DP exterior surface cleaner
diluted/undiluted poorboy's bio APC
pinnacle poly clay (the green one)
dp clay (the grey one)
klasse AIO
poorboy's S&R
Pinnacle gel wheel cleaner
foamed up car wash soap
straight car wash soap

i've tried using sheepskins, a sea sponge (*cringes*), hell, i've even used the pinnacle bug and tar scrubber.

HELP!


I can't get these damn spots off and they really do look kind of ugly seeing as they're black and my wheels are silver.

[FloridaNative]

I'd try some baby oil. If it's tar it might take out the spots.

[scooterguitar]

Sounds like a perfect time to try the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They work greta for burnt rubber and such on bike pipes, bet they'll take those off your wheels!

[Kelso]

i know it seems harsh, but if your careful, its safe. acid wheel cleaner. we use this stuff at work and it really will remove all the brake dust on virtually any wheels. i wouldnt use it for everyday cleaning but if you wanna get that inner gunk, acid and water pressure should do it. i cant tell you what type of acid it is, but its safe. many types would eat through the wheel though so dont just spray anything on there

[joe.p]

I'm wondering if the blobs could be from the break pads heating up.
I did an SUV that had little black specks on the inner rims also. I was able to pop'em off one at a time.

Do you think #0000 steelwool might work?

[ScottB]

those spots are usually tar used in road construction. I get them all the time. Luckily on polished wheels, you use a little metal polish and alls cool. I am surprised AIO did not work. Neo ... ever thought of using some paint polish/compound, something with some bite like 2.5 or XMT 3 ??

[BILL]

Tar........get that all the time here in NY

Lacquer thinner gently..........

[Neothin]

I dont think that it's tar... I don't have tar anywhere else on the car... not even on the outside of the wheels. it's only on the inner part of the rim. When i get tommorow afternoon off I think i'm gonna try the polishing route. there's not going to be any side effects with using an abrasive on the wheels is there? specifically the polished part isnt going to be shinier than the rest?

[scooterguitar]

I'm telling ya, try the Magic Eraser.

[BILL]

Telling ya # 2 try lacquer thinner on a dry rag gently.......