Complete Wheel Care Guide

The Complete Guide to Detailing your Wheels.

3 sections: Cleaning, Dressing, & Protecting.

A clean wheel ensures a complete and happy detail. Read on to see every component of wheel detailing.

Tire Care – Cleaning & Dressing

Dry, brown, and deteriorated tires make any wheel look horrible. To restore the fresh new rubber appearance requires a pretty simple formula:

1) Clean with any effective & safe all purpose cleaner or degreaser

2) Dress with a good long lasting water-based dressing.

So how do we not spend a fortune on different types of dressings and cleaners? Choose the right setup that’s safe, effective, and just lasts.

Wheel Cleaners Part 2: Spray On & Rinse Off

Wheel Cleaners: Spray On, Rinse Off

Continuing from our first Wheel Cleaner Guide.

Spray on wheel cleaners can vary widely in strength and chemical solution. The most advantageous point of spray cleaners are they are generally inexpensive and do not sud as much so rinsing is very easy. The disadvantage of sprays cleaners are they can vary widely in pH level and cleaning strength. You must be aware of the metal surface and chemical interaction occurring. Dilute products and remember the recommended chemical dwell time. To properly use such spray wheel cleaners, it is best to wet the surface, dwell, monitor strength, and rinse adequately. There is a huge variety of of wheel cleaners choose from.

Wheel Cleaners Part 1: Gel & Foam

Wheel Cleaners: Gel & Foaming

Gel foaming wheel cleaners dwell, cling, and ultimately cling to surfaces to allow for proper cleaning. The most advantageous point of gels is that they are ultra safe for all surfaces and are PH balanced. The disadvantage to gels is they create so much foam within curves and holes that rinsing takes a long period of time. Also gels are more expensive. I’d rate the cleaning strength at medium. To properly use such gel foaming wheel cleaners, its best to rinse the surface slightly to allow some liquid on the wheel. Spray the cleaner in a wide spray on the wheel, then begin to agitate vigorously.