Do you have a beautiful set of expensive wheels mounted on your car? Then you want them to still look like new years from now. Brake dust, iron fallout, road salt and aggressive car wash chemicals are the biggest enemies of your clear coat. Incorrect cleaning can lead to dull patches, flaking clear coat or white burnt spots on polished lips. In this guide from Wheels 'N Customs you will learn how to safely clean every type of wheel finish.
The 3 Golden Cleaning Rules:
1. **NEVER clean hot brakes/wheels:** Never spray wheel cleaner onto a wheel that has just been driven; the product will burn into the finish.
2. **USE ONLY pH-neutral cleaners:** Avoid cheap acidic wheel cleaners from supermarket shelves.
3. **Use soft microfiber wheel brushes:** Avoid hard sponges or scouring pads that cause scratches.
1. Maintenance per Wheel Finish Type
1. Polished & Diamond Cut Wheels (Most Sensitive to Road Salt)
Polished wheels have a thin micro-layer of clear coat over bare aluminium. Use **pH-neutral cleaners with colour change (Iron Remover)**. Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water and apply a wheel wax or ceramic coating every quarter.
2. Matte Black & Satin Finishes
Do **not** use gloss shampoo or wax. Do not scrub hard in one spot. Use a soft microfiber glove and a specialised matte detailer spray to remove fingerprints and stains streak-free.
3. High Gloss Black & Chrome Wheels
High gloss black is extremely prone to fine scratches (swirls). Use lots of water, soft wheel brushes with rubber protection caps and dry the wheels after washing with a clean drying towel to prevent water spots.
2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Wheel Maintenance
Can I take my wheels through an automatic car wash?
We strongly advise against automatic car washes for high-end aftermarket wheels. The hard rotating brushes cause fine scratches (swirls) and the chemical wheel cleaners used in conveyor car washes are often set far too aggressive.
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