Cleaning Tires And Rims 'First'?

Dispatch said:
But is there a reason to wash them first?
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There are plenty of reasons why some wash first however you can wash last but it is ok to do last. It is just about what your process is. For example, if you just wanted to deal with one wash bucket (mix enough for paint and wheels), this could be a reason.

As stated by many, the biggest risk is just getting the paint wet when washing towels if you dry in between washing paint and tires. I would have to do it to minimize water spots since I have done it both ways.
 
I wash wheels/tires/wheel wells first, then clean the front end and mirrors with the bug sponge, then wash.

Why? Because I can. :)

They take a little longer, always dirtier. If I washed first, then wheels, the water would dry on the car and leave water spots before I got to dry. That's my reason.
 
wheels and tires first. i like to dress them before moving vehicle into garage. i fall down enough without slippery tile. one thing i do differently is use vinyl wheel covers before polishing etc. just a quick buff at the end.
 
To me washing them first seems frivolous being all that dirt and debris from up top has to flow down over the tires and rims.
 
TroyScherer said:

I usually wash wheels and tires first at least when doing a regular wash. I do this because I tend to really scrub tries and get some wheel splatter from my brushes. I also use a separate dedicated 1-2 gallon bucket for wheels.

When doing an ONR wash I tend to do wheels last because I use the leftover wash solution to wash them. Using this method I use some dedicated MF towels to wash and scrub, keeping the splatter down.

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+4 or 5 or however many "dittos" I missed. I usually do an ONR wash especially on my DD, so I just remove the grit guard, throw in a couple of brushes and have at the wheels & tires.
 
I usually wash my wheels and tires first. Usually it takes me as long to clean my wheels and tires (or longer) then to wash the car. I can easily spend 45 minutes cleaning the wheels, spokes, lug recesses, tires, back of the spokes, and wheel arches.

Reasons-

  • Avoid getting dirt and grime splatter back onto clean paint.
  • Avoid getting water spots if the paint hasn't been dried.
  • Avoid doing the hard part last.
 
Wow I sure did not think that it would be overwhelmingly a Tires First reply .... thought it would be half and half.

I do mine first for all the reasons listed and I'm with Todd takes almost an hour to do just the rims tires and wells!

I do them first as well because when I use APC to clean the tires and scrub I'm like mad man haha there's suds flying all over the place! and don't get me started on what I look like after pulling the Daytona Wheel Brush out I'm a speckled mess!
 
Pockets said:
Wow I sure did not think that it would be overwhelmingly a Tires First reply .... thought it would be half and half.

I do mine first for all the reasons listed and I'm with Todd takes almost an hour to do just the rims tires and wells!

I do them first as well because when I use APC to clean the tires and scrub I'm like mad man haha there's suds flying all over the place! and don't get me started on what I look like after pulling the Daytona Wheel Brush out I'm a speckled mess!
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you may want to change the routine so the ladder you need to wash that thing doesn't slide around in the soap suds

or you could just lower it back down to normal height
 
I like to do tires first because I cant dry every nook and cranny inside the rims. While im cleaning and detailing the car the rims will have a good amount of time to dry. Ive driven off before thinking my rims were dry. Only to discover black spots all on the sides of my car, it was oil and greasy water splattered from the rims and tires.... First and last time I let that happen
 
Not to mention cleaning the tires first contaminates all of your cleaning equipment and water buckets.
As we all know tires can be real nasty dirty and obtain grease and oil that does not come out of the sheepskin mitt without machine washing, would you want to rub something like that across your beautiful paint?
 
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i have always did wheels & tires first.

1. hose them off
2. spray wheel & tire cleaner on
3. work in with various brushes
4. hose them off again
5. done

no buckets or dirty water involved. then i will set up to wash the vehicle. i dress the tires last.

sorry. i see i doubled posted on this topic.
 
I do them first. Why? Because they are the dirtiest, take the most time, and whatever slings on my paint gets washed off when I do the rest of the vehicle. I have rotors that get surface rust too, but a short little drive when I'm through with the entire car quickly fixes that.

Dispatch said:
Not to mention cleaning the tires first contaminates all of your cleaning equipment and water buckets.
As we all know tires can be real nasty dirty and obtain grease and oil that does not come out of the sheepskin mitt without machine washing, would you want to rub something like that across your beautiful paint?
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Not if you have separate buckets and cleaning equipment for your tires/rims. ;)


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My car, first.


Customer car, last. Why? When the cars come in, the wheels are too warm from driving. Sure as hell not gonna sit around and wait for them to cool. No, spraying them down with water doesn't work.
 
SSizzlin' said:
My car, first.


Customer car, last. Why? When the cars come in, the wheels are too warm from driving. Sure as hell not gonna sit around and wait for them to cool. No, spraying them down with water doesn't work.
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Very good point.


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XxBoostinxX said:
I do them first. Why? Because they are the dirtiest, take the most time, and whatever slings on my paint gets washed off when I do the rest of the vehicle. I have rotors that get surface rust too, but a short little drive when I'm through with the entire car quickly fixes that.



Not if you have separate buckets and cleaning equipment for your tires/rims. ;)


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4 buckets and 2 separate sheep skin mitts to wash one vehicle??!!
 
Dispatch said:
4 buckets and 2 separate sheep skin mitts to wash one vehicle??!!
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Lol. I use two buckets and one sheep skin for the car. One separate bucket, one lug brush, 2 Daytona speed brushes, a microfiber wash mitt, a tire brush, and a fender brush for the tires, rims, and fenders. Just realized that's a lot of stuff lol. I don't use it all, all the time. Just depends on what is needed during that time.

You don't have to do it any other way if you don't want to bud. I am constantly changing the way I clean. Find a way that works for you and run with it! If you don't like it, evolve, change, or try something else. :)


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SSizzlin' said:
My car, first.


Customer car, last. Why? When the cars come in, the wheels are too warm from driving. Sure as hell not gonna sit around and wait for them to cool. No, spraying them down with water doesn't work.
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Great point.

When I wash a car in shelter (wash bay, garage, etc) I may to the tires and wheels last just to change it up. I some times do this outside as well, just to change the rhythm and avoid stagnation.
 
PA DETAILER said:
i have always did wheels & tires first.

1. hose them off
2. spray wheel & tire cleaner on
3. work in with various brushes
4. hose them off again
5. done

no buckets or dirty water involved. then i will set up to wash the vehicle. i dress the tires last.

sorry. i see i doubled posted on this topic.
Click to expand...


This is my method as well
 
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