An overview of basic wheel and tire care
Too often, wheels and tires don't receive the proper care at car wash time. With these basic hints and tips on how to doll up your set of four, your ride will never have that problem again.
Wheels attract most of the attention to your vehicle. Whether they're basic alloy or flashy chrome, your rims require special attention and care to keep their shine and avoid costly damage.
To get the nasty dirt concoction of brake dust and road grime off painted steel or alloy wheels, blast them with your hose to dislodge the loose gunk. Next, take a brush with light to medium bristle stiffness, load it up with your car wash soap, and wash away. Or, use a standard car wash sponge—these tend to get the tight areas a bit better. Always use a different brush, sponge or mitt for your wheels than for the rest of your ride. You don't want to spread wheel crud around and into your paint.
Be sure to wash your wheels frequently. Caked-on brake dust and road grime can be quite caustic, leaving pits and other blemishes in your wheels that invite rust. And, skip coarse brushes and scouring pads—they leave their own scars on the finish of your wheels.
Chrome wheels pack a whole new level of electric looks, and require more care to preserve that style. Cleaning brushes and solutions that work great for other wheels won't work for chrome, and can even cause expensive damage.
For these hot wheels, select a cleaner made specifically for getting the grime out of chrome. Separate shine products for chrome wheels are also an excellent idea.
Do not: use a harsh brush or scouring pad
Abrasive scrubbing devices are good at removing dirt and grime for a reason: they remove just about everything else in their path, too. If you clean your chrome wheels with one, you're bound to have a scarred finish.
Do not: use household cleaners
Household cleaners are frequently loaded with harmful chemicals that can streak, bubble or dull chrome finish. The best solution to cleaning your wheels? Mild detergent and clean water, or a chrome wheel-specific cleaner. Watch out for acid or lye based wheel cleaners, though— they can have caustic effects.
Do not: wash hot wheels after driving a lengthy distance
Always wash chrome wheels after they've had a chance to cool evenly. Splashing cold water on a hot wheel can have severe effects, including cracking, streaking or bubbling of the chrome plating.
Do not: go more than one week between washing
When brake dust is allowed to sit for long periods of time, it forms pits in the chrome plating that can be disastrous. Dirt and dust now have a place to burrow into your wheels, interrupting your shine. And, the elements can now get into these pits, allowing corrosion to start.
The finishing touch on your latest car wash and detail job is the look of your tires. Whitewalled or not, cleaning and shining your tires is key to your vehicle's overall appearance.
First, wash your tires at the same time you clean the rest of your vehicle. Use a separate wash rag, mitt or brush for your wheels and tires. You can use the same soap, too. Don't be afraid to put a little elbow grease into scrubbing your sidewalls—they can take it. It's the only way to remove deep layers of old tire shine and road dirt.
Next comes shining your tires, and there's a plethora of products out there to help you get the job done. Both cheaper and more expensive tire shine products use oils to condition tire rubber, providing protection and shine properties.
Some tire shine products are meant to be applied by rag or brush. The best way to shine your tires with these products is to spray the liquid directly onto a rag, then rub it in evenly for consistent shine. Be sure to use another rag to remove any excess liquid from the surface of your tires.
Recently, tire shine products that are meant to be sprayed on and left alone have become popular. While they do provide a radiant shine and essential protection (and they take only seconds to apply), they tend to leave pools of extra liquid on your sidewalls. As soon as you drive anywhere, the excess splatters all over your fenders and doors. Make sure to remove any excess shine product from your tires before driving.