Apart from aesthetics damage to your wheels is the result of improperly maintained wheels. Road salt and brake dust that sits on an unprotected wheel will eventually lead to the corrosion of metals, pitting and peeling of the paint and discoloration. A properly maintained and protected wheel will dramatically prolong the life of these materials.



Clean, properly conditioned wheels, tyres and fender wells greatly enhance the overall appearance of your vehicle. Today`s wheels come in a variety of materials and finishes. Clean one wheel at a time, wash wheels and wheel-wells before the rest of the vehicle to avoid dirt and etc. coming into contact to newly washed surfaces.



There are many different finishes and materials available for rims, determine what type of rims, for example powder coated, painted, clear coated, polished, chromed , etc and then decide on an appropriate product and cleaning method.



Most modem automotive wheels have a painted aluminium base with two or three clear coats applied (on the ‘front’ of the wheel but not the back, these are usually just a primer paint surface) and are subjected to similar type contaminants as the paint film surface, including acid rain, airborne pollutants, alkaline water as well as road tar debris.



Wheel surfaces are subjected to intense heat, road oil and debris and generally they see more abuse than any other visible surface on the car. Wheel cleaning is not that difficult, especially if you use the correct tools, they have to work safely but effectively.



Wheel cleaners that contain acid are the most dangerous, there are wheel acids that are safe if used with care and the directions are followed precisely. Accidents and expensive wheel replacements can always be avoided if you do some research and are smart about your choices.



Any wheel cleaner that touts spray-on, hose-off without agitation is a danger to both you and the environment. Use a cleaner that contains no acids, petroleum solvents, butyl or butyl ethers of any kind. Spraying alloy wheels with an acid or lye-based cleaner will almost instantly remove the clear finish, staining the wheel surface a milky-white. An acid can migrate into miniscule cracks and fissures in the wheel`s finish and begin to flake off the clear coat. An effective wheel cleaner should be pH-balanced (slightly alkaline to counteract the acidic conditions found on most roadways).



Determine which product and concentration to use based on experience.



• 1:2 dilution for lightly soiled wheels (1 part concentrate plus 2 parts distilled water)

• Undiluted concentrate for heavily soiled wheels



Always check the products MSDS and its pH value before you use it. It is always preferable that you use a 100% acid-free product with a pH of 7.5 – 8.5.



If the wheel surface has rash, chips, scratches or the surface is compromised or is uncoated you could end up doing a very significant amount of damage both cosmetically and structurally by using an acidic product. pH-controlled [: means it follows the major automotive manufacturer’s guidelines for exterior cleaners; the control limit being pH 10.0<]



Use Caution - braking efficiency is reduced after washing the wheels / brakes. This could cause an accident. For this reason, following a car wash, drive with particular care until the brakes are dry.



Wheel Balancing Weights



Remove any adhesive residue with 3Mâ„¢ Adhesive Remover is a ready-to-use blend of safe petroleum solvents designed to remove adhesive deposits from exterior vehicle surfaces. To minimize the possibility of staining, do not apply in direct sunlight or onto a hot surface. Not for sale in California. Suggested replacement: 3Mâ„¢ General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner



A warning about acids



Of all the chemicals used in the detail business, wheel acids are the most dangerous to the wheel, the employee and the environment. Many contain hydrofluoric (HF) acid which is extremely harmful if you get it on your skin, in your eyes or inhale it and is not recommended.

With any wheel acid, you should always wear safety equipment. This means glasses and gloves; and the work should be done in a well-ventilated area.



Non-acid wheel cleaners, while not as dangerous, have a high pH (12 or 13). They are harmful to your eyes and will severely dry out your hands if not used with gloves. So do not be fooled into thinking that they are not dangerous. They will also etch a paint surface just like an acid



Also, repeated use of wheel acid can break down in the resin in the clear-coat and cause it to cloud and/or deteriorate. So use acid only when absolutely necessary.And remember: Just because it cleans faster than non-acid does not mean you should always use it.



Brake Dust



Airborne ferrous particles containing iron actually penetrate the paint and create corrosive compounds that eat deep into the paint`s sub-layers or paint’s pin-holes. This is a gradual process that often is not evident until it`s too late. Claying or polishing only removes the particle, not its effects, which are continuing to spread beneath the surface.



Modern brake pads are complex compounds of metals, synthetic materials and adhesives (the binder system) used in brake pads can be very difficult to remove and they are also corrosive and will etch the wheel surface this is designed to wear away under friction like the rest of the pad. These materials become sintered (heat etched) to the wheel surfaces and rims due to the high kinetic (friction) temperature conditions they are normally exposed to. Brake dust contains high levels of iron and once sintered to the rim, becomes extremely difficult to dissolve or remove. and will become a conduit for rust compromising the paint surface of your wheels



Removal



• Hose off as much initial grime as you can.

• Rinse up into the wheel well to wash away road kill, mud and other debris.

• Use detailing clay and lubrication to remove any embedded contaminants

• Use a d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner to remove any road tar or oil. Apply P21S® Total Auto Wash to wheel surfaces and let soak in, agitate with a long-handled boar’s haired brush before rinsing

• Spray P21S® Wheel Cleaner (Gel or Liquid) this cleaner is 100% acid-free and will not damage any type of wheel finish. (Gel for badly soiled and regular for normal soil) onto wheel rims and lat soak in

• For badly brake dust soiled surfaces use Aquartz IronX or Sonax Wheel Cleaner formulated with neutralised acid salt. Spray onto wheel surface; allow reacting, and then agitating with a wheel brush before hosing off.

• Used the P21S® Polishing Soap on the clean wheel to polish the lips, inner wheel, and face of the wheel. (agitate lightly on the clear coated parts) Before finally removing cleaner, agitate with a soft brush and then rinse off (See Wheel Brushes)



Caution – do not use acidic or neutralized acid products on compromised (i.e. curbed, flaking or pitted chrome) as they will damage the nickel coating underneath, causing plating failure. Chrome plating is applied over nickel; which provides the reflectivity and most of the corrosion resistance. The plating is exceptionally thin, measured in microns



Do not use the same towels for both bodywork and wheel surfaces. It’s better to earmark separate towels for the wheels



Cleaning Clear Coated Wheels



To distinguish bare (no clear coat) aluminium, by using a metal polish will turn the cloth black; otherwise they probably have a clear coat paint finish. Ensure wheels and rotors are cool before applying cold water as this may cause them to warp.

Periodically remove the wheels to thoroughly clean and inspect them for damage



• Hose off as much initial grime as you can.

• Rinse up into the wheel well to wash away road kill, mud and other debris.

• Use detailing clay and lubrication to remove any embedded contaminants

• Use a d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner to remove any road tar or oil. Apply P21S® Total Auto Wash to wheel surfaces and let soak in, agitate with a long-handled boar’s haired brush before rinsing

• Spray P21S® Wheel Cleaner (Gel or Liquid) this cleaner is 100% acid-free and will not damage any type of wheel finish. (Gel for badly soiled and regular for normal soil) onto wheel rims and lat soak in

• For badly soiled surfaces use C.Quartz IronX or Sonax Wheel Cleaner both are formulated with neutralised acid salt. Spray onto wheel surface, allow to react, and then agitate with a wheel brush before hosing off

• Used the P21S® Polishing Soap on the clean wheel to polish the lips, inner wheel, and face of the wheel. (agitate lightly on the clear coated parts)

• Before finally removing cleaner, agitate with a soft brush and then rinse off (See Wheel Brushes)

• Rinse wheel surface thoroughly with clean water (to avoid splashing paint surface rise by pouring a bucket of water over each wheel from the top down

• Remove any surface imperfections with a suitable clear coat polish (dependent upon extent of damage)

• Dry wheels with a forced air blower; these are extremely powerful and will dry the whole car and the wheels as well. A good tip; flush the rotors and callipers with water until it comes out clear.

• Apply a polymer sealant (Wheel Wax, Collinite Metal Wax # 850 or ZoopSeal) to the surface of the wheels, it will protect the finish from brake dust and the elements and also make them easier to keep clean.

• Organic wax has a low melting point and will not withstand the sustained temperature wheel / brake surfaces are subjected to



General purpose APC - dilute Optimum Power Cleanâ„¢ up to 3:1 to safely clean, vinyl, paint, and plastics. Remove old dash dressings and tough residues from interior panels and wheel surfaces. Special polymers and emulsifiers break down contaminants with minimal agitation.

Use caution when cleaning as the finish on some callipers use a powder coating (Brembo, etc) that can be stained by some wheel cleaners.(See Powder Coated Finishes)



Powder Coated Wheels and Callipers



A powder coating process typically involves temperatures ranging from 345 -410.OF (175 to 210.OC) for 30 minutes. Aluminium alloy wheels made of alloy 6061 contain magnesium and silicon to help improve strength and resistance to hot cracking, and would not be expected to suffer a significant decrease in its strength following powder coating that involved temperatures of up to 410.OF degrees for up to 30 minutes.



This type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electro-statically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a "skin".



The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Once installed, maintaining the initial appearance of a powder coating is a simple matter.



Powder coated surfaces are more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than other finishes. Most dirt and oil will come off with simple soap and water. Other automotive cleaning products also work well.Do not use break cleaners, or other harsh chemicals. Powder coat is much more resistant to these types of chemicals but may dull glossy finishes.



The road dirt and grime which builds up on surfaces from time to time contains moisture and salts which will adversely affect the powder coating and must be removed



Polishing can be done with a micro fibre towel and polishing compound (Menzerna PO 85) and a Lake County (LC) White or Black foam pad to restore scratched surfaces



Cleaning



• Allow wheel surface to cool down

• Hose off as much initial grime as you can.

• Rinse up into the wheel well to wash away road kill, mud and other debris.

• Use detailing clay and lubrication to remove any embedded contaminants

• Use a d-limonene (citrus) based cleaner to remove any road tar or oil(P21S® Total Auto Wash) to wheel surfaces and let soak in, agitate with a long-handled boar’s haired brush before rinsing

• Remove bake dust with C.Quartz IronX or Sonax Wheel Cleaner

• Rinse wheel surface and then dry thoroughly

• And then apply a clear WOWO protectant (Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal)



Matte Wheel Finish



If polished with traditional polishes the finish will become less matte and glossier over time; do not wet-sand or use conventional wax or use an automatic car wash that uses hot wax in the final rinse, as the flattening agents that cause the matte appearance will become ‘levelled ‘The textured finish is accomplished by a diffused 30 degree reflection and are retained very close to the clear coat surface. By levelling the surface the light will be reflected evenly and result in a ‘shine’.



Use a machine polisher and an ultra soft, zero abrasive cut (100 PPI) foam pad) with a mild chemical paint cleaner it will remove surface marring and leave it satin matte. Use a clear polymer, the key is to add surface protection and depth without adding gloss.



Swisswax Opaque products for Matte or Satin Finish paint and have been specifically developed (oil free) to ensure that they don’t change the appearance of matte or satin paint.



1. Remove any sintered brake or rail dust contaminants with a suitable cleaner (C.Quartz IronX or Sonax Wheel Cleaner)

2. Wash surface with Swisswax (SV) Opaque Car Bath

3. Prior to wax application the wrap needs to be totally free from oils and dirt. Clean all wrapped surfaces with SV Opaque Pre-cleaner.

4. Spray a 100% cotton micro fibre towel and apply to one panel at a time.

5. Wipe off with a clean 100% cotton towel

6. Apply SV Opaque Wax to one panel at a time, this wax will provide depth without adding a shine

7. Allow to dry for 10 minutes before buffing off and moving to the next section.

8. After the wax has out gassed and set-up, allow 2-3 hours and then buff the surface with a soft 100% cotton micro fibre towel

9. Use Quick Finish Opaque as a quick detailer to remove finger marks and smudges



Wheel cleaner pH comparisons



• Amazing Roll-Off (pH 14.0) contains butyl

• Eimann Fabrik Hi-Intensity Cleaner (pH of 13.0) contains butyl

• Bilberry is acid free but highly caustic - 13.0

• Multi-purpose cleaners (pH between 9.5 and 12.0)

• Blackfire Gel Wheel and Tire Cleaner (pH 12.5)

• P21S® Bodywork Shampoo (ph 8.0)

• P21S Wheel Cleaner (pH ‘controlled’ 9.0) Green

• P21S Wheel Cleaner (422) Red Gel Formula (pH 9.5)

• Sonax Autopflege Wheel Cleaner full effect (pH ‘controlled’ 9.5)

• Menzerna Tire & Wheel Cleaner (pH7.5) detergent-based cleaners with surfactants, wetting agents and oil emulsifiers

• Groit’s Wheel Cleaner (pH 7.1)

• Meguiar`s D140 Wheel Brightener (pH 5.5) contains Ammonium bifluoride SiO2 (ABF)



Wheel Detailing Brush



These are what I consider to be the minimum requirements for a wheel brush-



• Durability: they have to last, even when used with pressure, especially its shaft

• Non-scratch: the material, fibres or the shaft tip must should not cause scratches to the wheel surface

• Cleaning ability: a brush and stem that is able to withstand the (reasonable) pressure required to clean stubborn stains.

• Brush head bristles or fibres that won cause the wheel cleaner to back spray

• Easy cleaned after use



a) The Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brush - has a thicker, reinforced stem, but maintains its flexibility although the new stem is more rugged for frequent use on auto wheels. The bristles are slightly feathered on the ends to gently clean delicate wheel finishes, such as coated or plated wheels, without scratching.



b) E-Z Detail Brush - is 18 inches long, 4-1/2 inches in diameter and is super-soft with Nylex bristles, a material that combines the softness of a natural bristle with the strength of nylon. There`s a vinyl tip bonded to the top of the brush and a knuckle guard on the handle but the most impressive feature of this brush is the flexible, inner core. This vinyl-coated wire core will bend in every imaginable direction which allows the brush to get into areas where few other brushes can reach.



E-Z Detail Brush, there are three versions of the brush

• Daytona Speed Master Wheel Brush (18 x 4.5 – inch)

• EZ Detail Brush mini (13 x 2.5 – inch )

• EZ Detail Motorcycle Brush (18 x 4.5-inch )



c) Eimann Fabrik Lamb’s Wool Wheel Woolies - wool wheel cleaning brushes, these brushes drastically cut the amount of time it takes to clean almost any kind of wheel. Each brush is 12- inches long with three differing diameter brush head sizes and a chemical resistant handle and a bonded wool head.



d) Spoke & Slot Brush - simple, safe, and effective, ultra-soft bristles squeeze into wheel crevices. Lamb’s Wool Spoke Brush - it replaces those awkward spoke brushes that never seem to be the right size and lack soft bristles on the tip. This tapered ultra soft tool is completely covered with 100% lamb’s wool and is small enough to squeeze between spokes, slots and around bolts 6 1/2" long, 1/2" to 2" in diameter - TOTL



f) Microfiber Cleaning Wand - the special microfiber thick nap cleans tight spaces in; (0.5"x1.5"x12") wheels use dry or moisten with water for extra cleaning power - no chemical cleaners are needed Machine washable, air dry, and no fabric softener. Refills are available – Casabella



g) Power Sticks - are designed to be used with your cordless drill, simply wet the wheel with water, spray on your favourite wheel cleaner, attach the Power Stick to your cordless drill, dip the brush end into a bucket of soapy water and allow the friction of the Power Stick`s Super Soft Cloth to gently scrub away brake dust clear to the back of the wheel.



h) Deluxe Wheel & Brake Dust Remover Brush - was created to make sure those wheels aren`t overlooked. It offers a strong scour pad to remove brake dust from your wheel, as well as an outer soft bristles to clean wheels while protecting that new wheel finish. Grip Techâ„¢ handle for non-slip, easy to grip, with stiff bristle tips to clean in between spokes flexible brush that bends to get into hard to reach rim crevices Removes brake dust and other grime while keeping the wheels shiny and clean



i) Laitner Ergonomic Spoke/ Slot Wheel Brush - removes brake dust between spokes and in narrow slot openings. The narrow wheel brush has soft, chemical resistant bristles to safely clean all types of wheels without scratching. A comfortable handle has a soft, non-slip grip. Polypropylene bristles are securely fastened a soft, non-slip handle with a tough wire core. The wire is completely covered in soft bristles and a rubber tip protects the wheel from contact. The brush is built to withstand solvents, acids, petroleum products, and detergents. The synthetic materials hold up through frequent, repeated use with wheel cleaners and degreasers. If the bristles become flattened, wet the brush and allow it to air dry.



The naturally feathered boar’s hair bristles will not scratch, the boar’s hair (BH is durable yet very gentle on any surface. Use the Clean Wheel Brush on painted, alloy, chrome, plated, and anodized wheels. The Clean Wheel Lug Nut Brush is also a great small brush for interiors



j) Uber Spoke Brush (Detailers Domain) has white Tampico fibre twisted in wire 3-1/2" inch diameter with a pointed end, and a plain sanded hardwood handle.



Wheel Surface Sealants



Apply a sealant after cleaning to make maintenance easier, use a synthetic polymer sealant to protect wheel surfaces as it has a high melting point (350.oF +) The melting point of an organic wax (180.oF+) is too low for the normal temperatures encountered by vehicle wheel surfaces (195.oF+) Also using a polymer sealant enables the wheel surface to resist the adhesion of brake dust, dust and dirt, and road grime and it makes surface cleaning much easier using only a car wash concentrate and water solution. The newer nanotechnology coatings will withstand temperatures up to 500.OF



WheelWax - safe for all wheels, painted, anodized, polished or clear coated. Just wipe it on, let it dry to a haze and wipe it off. For maximum shine, rinse the wheels with cool water and buff to a high shine.



Swissvax Autobahn Wheel Wax - this product was developed for German customers of fast motor cars with alloy or magnesium wheels. The product has been tested on German Autobahns on cars with top speeds of 185 MPH (300 KPM) in Switzerland during the winter. Switzerland has one of the harshest road climates in the world using salt and harsh winter chemicals, and on racetracks in Austria and Germany.



G|Techniq C5 Wheel Sealant – a one-component clear coating based upon chemical nanotechnology that offers a transparent and optically neutral coating for smooth, non absorbing surfaces. Sealed surfaces are easy to maintain, without the need for any special cleansing agents, and are resistant to fresh soiling of the surfaces.



Used on metals offers a long-life protection against corrosion and because of its long lasting adhesion to the base material surface, and is highly resistant to mechanical and chemical attack as well as offering exceptional UV protection. For use on stainless-steel, chrome, aluminium, brass, copper and already coated surfaces. Not intended for use on glass or on plastic materials.



Application – an airbrush or HVLP paint spray gun (5/16-inch (8mm) nozzle at 30 PSI (2 bar) to provide a single, thin (3-10 µ) and uniform coverage for this type of coating



Maintenance- this coating requires no special maintenance and should last for around two years. Coating longevity will be improved if wheels are cleaned only with either normal car shampoo or citrus degreaser. Avoid acid wheel cleaners.