"The Ultimate Wheel Care Guide".

Editor's Note: I feel like the most of the car care industry has wheel care all wrong. They produce a rather strong wheel acid rather than producing a wheel care system. Zymol is one exception. They have a fantastic wheel care kit. Just remember that your wheels are subject to as much abuse as your paint but in different ways so it is best to be pro-active with procection rather than reactive with chemicals. By that I mean that an ounce of protection goes a long way.

This spring take a weekend and methodically clean up your wheels. I suggest you take each wheel off and Detail it in your house on some newspaper in front of the TV. Without further ado Here's my Ultimate Wheel Care Guide.......

Chrome and painted lug nuts may scratch during removal and installation. Here's my guide for Safely Removing Lug Nuts:
Before you start make sure that you have the following:
Lug Nut Wrench
Thick plastic Freezer Bag
Jack
Jack Stand
Car Wash Solution
Wash Bucket
Detailing Brush
100% Cotton Towel

Step 0: Make sure that the wheels are cool to the touch.
Step 1: Wash them as you normally would
Step 2: With a Detail Brush get down and clean the recesses as best as possible.
Step 3: Wrap a heavy-duty Plastic Freezer Bag over one Lug Nut. The plastic will stretch but will not tear for metal to metal contact. When using a rag for protection ---- a rag will tear and thus damage the lug nut.
Step 4: Place the Lug Wrench over the Wrapped Lug Nut. Make sure that the Lug Nut remains covered.
Step 5: Position your body in such a way to eliminate the effect of torque on your back.
Step 6: Release the Lug Nut and give two full rotations.
Step 7: Repeat Steps 4, 5, and 6 in a 'Star Pattern'. Start with a fresh section of plastic for each lug.
Step 8: Jack up your Wheels one at a time and secure a Jack Stand in the appropriate support area.
Step 9: Remove the Lug Nuts and store in a safe place.
Step 10: Remove the Wheel.

 

Here's my guide to Detailing your wheels:
Before you start make sure you have the following:
Clay Bar
Non-Abrasive Paint Cleaner and Applicator
Wax and Applicator
MicroFiber Towel

Step 0: Make sure that the wheels are cool to the touch.
Step 1: Wash them as you normally would
Step 2: With a detail brush get down and clean the recesses as best as possible.
Step 3: Use your clay bar to clean up the surfaces.
Step 4: Use a non-abrasive paint cleanser to polish the surfaces. If you need to polish the wheels use the appropriate polishing material. Zymol's HD Cleanse, Lusso Paint Revitalizing Creme or the equivalent.
Step 5: Wax (I suggest that you apply a few coats) Your wax can be your regular car wax be that Zaino, Pinnacle, Zymol, Lusso, P21S, Mother's or Meguiar's.

 

Here's my guide for maintaining your wheels: For best results wash once a week
Before you start make sure you have the following:
Spray Bottle with Car Wash Solution diluted 35:1 with water
Wheel Detailing Brush
2x 100% Cotton Towel (Hand Towel Size)
Garden Hose

Step 1: Make sure wheels are cool to the touch
Step 2: Spray off as much brake dust as possible
Step 3: Spray on diluted Car Wash Solution
Step 4: With one Cotton Towel wash the Wheel
Step 5: Hose off
Step 6: Spray on diluted Car Wash Solution
Step 7: With the Wheel Detailing Brush clean the recesses
Step 8: Hose off
Note: Wash all 4 wheels, then wash and dry your Coug's body then dry off the wheels with the other Cotton Towel

 

Wheel Cleaner Product Guide:
When it comes to wheel cleaners, generally, the stronger the cleaning ability the fewer wheel types it is safe on. The best advice I can give is to before purchasing always make check to see what types of wheels the product is incompatible with. Additionally, verify with the wheel manufacturer of the wheel type.

I tend to be a bit partial to gel wheel cleaners as the products tend to "cling" to the wheel to give better cleaning on horizontal surfaces and not "puddle" in certain areas. However, in general gels also tend not to be as effective on baked on brake dust as the stronger types of wheel cleaners. I don't see this as a problem if you choose a regular maintenance cycle for your wheels.

If you generally keep up on the maintenance of your wheels you should not need to use a Strong Wheel Cleaner.


Strong Wheel Cleaners:
Generally these products are stronger wheel cleaners designed to remove baked on dirt.

Mother's WHEEL MIST® MULTI PURPOSE WHEEL CLEANER... $6.49 22 oz.

Meguiar's Hot Rims/Cool Care All Wheel Cleaner... $4.99 24 oz.

Eagle One A2Z All Wheel Cleaner... $4.99 26 oz.


pH Balanced or Gel Wheel Cleaners:
These wheel cleaners are ok for general maintenance. In general they are compatible with most wheel types but you will, of course, want to read the lable first.

P21S Wheel Cleaner Regular Formula... $13.95 16.9 oz.

Griot’s Garage Wheel Cleaner... $9.95 35 oz.
Safe on all wheels. A liquid that adheres to the wheel like a gel.

P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel Formula (pH Balanced)... $15.95 16.9 oz.
Safe on all wheels.

Sonus Gel Wheel Cleaner (pH Balanced)... $17.95 32 oz.
Safe on all wheels.

 

These wheel cleaners seem EXPENSIVE to me. I'm using Armor All wheel cleaner and it works great for $4.99 for a 32 fluid ounce bottle. I have also used "something" 2000 and it was even cheaper - and worked fine. I have the stock wheels on my Z right now and have been using these wheel cleaners every week for 7 months without any problems. What problems should I look for?? Great thread by the way.

 

These wheel cleaners seem EXPENSIVE to me. I'm using Armor All wheel cleaner and it works great for $4.99 for a 32 fluid ounce bottle.
Honestly I was not aware that AA had broken into that segment of the market. I tried calling Armor All® Products Corporation, but their numbers have been disconnected.

I have also used "something" 2000 and it was even cheaper - and worked fine.
Forumla 2000, I believe, is a product line of Turtle Wax.

I have the stock wheels on my Z right now and have been using these wheel cleaners every week for 7 months without any problems. What problems should I look for?? Great thread by the way.
My approach to wheel care is to be pro-active. Get out there and prevent the damage. By adopting this approach you'll notice that your wheels will clean up faster and damage (except for curbing) is minimized.

What to look for: The general rule of thumb is to check to see what wheel types the cleaner you're using is incompatible with. If you don't see yours listed then you should be fine.

This is from the Armor All: "NOTE: Prior to use on motorcycles or un-coated polished aluminum, check with manufacturer. Before use, test on an inconspicuous area. If hazing or spots appear, discontinue use. Do not apply to brake parts or other zinc and cadmium-plated surfaces.
Use in an area that allows for evaporation of runoff and prevent entry into storm drains, streams or any body of water."

I tried to find out some additional product info but came up dry. It looks to me like if you applied any surface protection to your wheels you'd be washing it off immediatly with this. If you're happy with the process you're using then by all means stick with it. Just be aware that you may be able to save yourself some extra time.

Oh, and thanks for the kind words.

 

I've just got to disagree about putting WAX on wheels (okay, I don't think you should put wax on cars at all, but especially not on wheels).

Wax melts at around 180 degrees, right (carnauba). Your wheels regularly spew hot brake dust that is WAY above 180. These particles land on your wheels, melt the wax, then imbed themselves in the softened wax. That's going to make it MUCH harder to clean.

I polish my wheels on my street car and my race car with Zaino Z5. I know Zaino can take the heat (I've used it to polish the cook top on my stove, and it doesn't melt with a gas flame less than an inch from the surface). Once the wheels are protected this way, cleaning requires a quick splash of water and a wipe (I can use my finger, or a cloth).

 

Showcars, thanks for your imput. You can put any surface protection on your wheels. I've had wax on several hundreds of customer's wheels, plus I give car care advice to thousands upon thousands of people.... and I follow up and track my customers and all, when they follow the program, have fantastic results.

The surface protection can be a natural wax (carnauba, montan, or anyother number of natural wax types) or a synthetic wax (polymer).