How to Clean, Shine & Protect your Wheels and Tires with 3D Products.

`

This is another`Detailing Made Simple`instruction on how to clean, shine & protect your wheels/tires on your favorite vehicle with 3D Products. As long as you have the right tools, you can dramatically reduce your touch time and increase your effectiveness to achieve a great end result. You certainly donâ€™t need complicated tools or expensive products, just a little ingenuity and some common sense thinking to get the job done. Here`s basically what you need:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/856.jpg

Letâ€™s start by mixing up the proper dilution of 3Dâ€™s Yellow Degreaser. 1st and foremost, this is an alkaline based cleaner and should only be used on chrome & clearcoated wheels. Using it on polished or uncoated wheels could cause blushing of the finish, so it is important to know what surface youâ€™re working with before starting. In this case, we are working with a Corvette ZR-1 and this car is equipped with both clearcoated (powdercoated to be specific) wheels with carbon ceramic brake rotors. Even though the directions state this product can be diluted all the way up to 10 to 1, Iâ€™ve decided to select a 4 to 1 mixture for this application due to this vehicleâ€™s tires having a heavy buildup of dressing and soiling.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/832.jpg

Simply mark off a line on your bottle to exemplify a 4 to 1 mixture and add the appropriate amount of straight product to your bottle of choice.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/834.jpg

Then fill with water:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/835.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/836.jpg

Then give it a light shaking to stir up the contents:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/837.jpg

Hereâ€™s what I was referring to as far as old dressing build up on the tire:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/862.jpg

Next, prepare your wash bucket by cleaning it thoroughly to remove any dirt or loose debris that could cause scratches to your carâ€™s finish.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/840.jpg

Now, I selected 3Dâ€™s Wash N Wax concentrate shampoo. According to the directions, it states that for every 1 Gallon of water, you should add 1 Ounce of product.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/841.jpg

Because I chose to mix approximately 3 gallons of water, I added 3 ounces of product.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/844.jpg

Simply pour the contents into your water filled bucket and flush all contents from the mixing cup:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/845.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/846.jpg

Next, mix thoroughly by hand and then give it a good blast with your water hose to get the foam extremely thick.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/847.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/848.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/849.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/853.jpg

Next, give the surface you are going to clean a thorough rinsing to loosen and remove any potential topical dirt that could cause marring to the finish. This not only makes your job of cleaning the surface easier, but allows the chemical cleaner to attack the surface quicker as there is less dirt to break through.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/859.jpg

And don`t forget about the wheel wells too:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/861.jpg

Next, coat the entire wheel, tire and wheel well with product and allow to dwell.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/864.jpg

Because of my personal preference (yours might vary), I like to scrub the tire 1st:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/865.jpg

I then clean the inside barrels of the wheel with the tool of your choice:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/868.jpg

And then next is the most time consuming partâ€¦..cleaning the outside face of the wheel and back behind the spokes. For this chore, I like to use a retired Micro Fiber towel that no long gets used for paint duty:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/858.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/870.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/872.jpg

A MF towel is an excellent and inexpensive tool to use for cleaning the inside lug recesses of the wheel:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/873.jpg

And then lastly, take you MF towel and clean your wheel well:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/877.jpg

Rinse the entire wheel, tire & wheel well:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/880.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/881.jpg

IMPORTANT: even though your wash solution may appear dirty, it doesnâ€™t mean that itâ€™s still not effective to keep cleaning your wheels:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/886.jpg

Just simply shoot your water hose into your bucket to rejuvenate the suds:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/887.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/888.jpg

After the cleaning is done, I like to use my leaf blower or compressed air to dry out all the cracks and crevices of the wheel:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/890.jpg

Once the wheels are cleaned and dried, I apply a quality paint sealant like HD POXY to the wheel faces. HD POXY is an excellent choice due to its ability to bond incredibly to the wheel and withstand high temperatures all while still protecting the surface and providing a barrier for ease of cleaning at later times:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/901.jpg

Apply to soft applicator and work it in to thoroughy coat the pad:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/895.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/896.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/897.jpg

Then wipe on entire wheel:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/899.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/900.jpg

Once the sealant is removed, we will lastly be dressing the tires. For this, I like 3Dâ€™s Ultra Protectant.

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/905.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/907.jpg

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/908.jpg

IMPORTANT TIP: I like to consciously NOT dress the area of the tire between the 5 and 7 oâ€™clock position of the tire. This way, when you move the car forward/backwards it will noticeably stick out as being bare compared to the surrounding wet looking surface.

Then, reverse or move your car forward a few feet and finish dressing the entire wheel:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/912.jpg

Lastly, with a retired MF towel, final clean and inspect the wheel for any missed spots of wax or soiling:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/919.jpg

FINAL OUTCOME: Perfectly cleaned, shined & protected wheels and tires:

http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/r...Wheels/921.jpg

Products Used:
3D Wash & Wax: Car Soap for Glossy Finish | Wash N Wax | 3D Products
3D Yellow Degreaser: White Wall & Tire Degreaser - Yellow Degreaser | 3D Products
3D Ultra Protectant: Tire Dressing Product - Shining Tires with Ultra Protectant | 3DProducts
HD POXY: Polymer Sealant Car Wax & Car Paint Protectant - HD POXY | 3D Products

David,

`

Many thanks for the `demo`.

`

Great idea on NOT dressing the 5- 7 o`clock of the tire.

`

Heavily considering the 3D Yellow to replace Meg`s Wheel Brightener as a `strong` wheel cleaner. `

`

How is the 3D Wash/Wax regarding lubricity? `Have you ever used it with a clay replacement mitt or nanoskin decon mitt? `Foam cannon?

`

Both products carry an excellent price!

`

Thanks!

-Gabe

Young man...where are your gloves??` LOL!

`

Thanks David.

How does that 3d ultra stack up against hd touch?

Re: How to Clean, Shine & Protect your Wheels and Tires with 3D Products.

I never do this by myself. I tried one time and scared by the results like small spots on my screen and water spots on wheels. So, I took it to a professional shop.

Re: How to Clean, Shine & Protect your Wheels and Tires with 3D Products.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellinger

How is the 3D Wash/Wax regarding lubricity? Have you ever used it with a clay replacement mitt or nanoskin decon mitt?xFoam cannon?

W&W has great lubricity. In fact, it`s not super sudsy either and sheets water great and the protective qualities stay in place to where they bead up after a rain or 2. You can also use it without issues with clay or a clay towel. I don`t have much experience with it being used with a foam cannon, but knowing it`s characteristics, I`m quite certain it will work very well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fdresq4

Young man...where are your gloves??

LOL! I agree, but I have yet to experience any skin problems (drying/cracking) with any of 3D/HD`s cleaners or soaps. Very skin friendly actually. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunkeroo26

How does that 3d ultra stack up against hd touch?

3D Ultra Protectant is a water-based tire dressing. HD Touch is a waterless wash, clay lube & quick detailer. 2 totally different types of products. If you`re meaning how it compares to HD Dress, I`d have to say HD Dress is better for tires, but 3D Ultra is more versatile as it can be used on tires, engines, wheel wells and interiors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexmarten

I never do this by myself. I tried one time and scared by the results like small spots on my screen and water spots on wheels.

You`d have to have pretty crappy water or be washing out in some hot sun to have any real issues like that? You might want to consider doing your wheels/tires 1st and then washing the body 2nd/last to prevent this.