Cleaning wheels

[jord79]

The PP multi spoke alloys are a right PITA to clean. I haven't yet used any specific wheel cleaning products as I don't want to risk damaging the paint, but in the past I have used alloy wheel cleaner without any issues.

Are there any good products anyone can recommend or any particular ones to avoid?

Much appreciated.

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[Jimboy2]

I use the Meguires stuff. Seems ok on the paint so far.

 

[Stuart0202]

I use Ammo plum wheel cleaner. Works really well and is ph neutral etc..

 

[Monty]

I'm no detailing expert, but it seems coating the wheels with a sealant seems to be the most beneficial thing you can do. The dirt then just comes away with normal car shampoo. I'm finding this at the moment with my coated wheels, but not sure about long term or if brake dust steadily builds up.

Going to invest in some winter wheels soon and 'ease of clean' will be high on the list. Cleaning alloys can be time consuming and hateful experience.

 

[Manders Mustang]

I'd recommend this for sealing the wheels:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gtechniq-Alloy-Wheel-Armour-15ml/dp/B004JNVO7C

I'd also recommend doing it with the wheels off the car so you can get the entire alloy and do a full job, but it's totally up to you. You can leave it on the car.

Will make cleaning them a boat load easier.


If that's not your style, alloy cleaner's seem to work a charm. If i'm going for a full fresh look i'll use meguiars, but for most the time it's a lot of scrubbing with a cloth and soapy water (Tend to alloy clean properly every 3-6 months, so mines due one soon!)

 

[DonKarlos]

The Meguiars wheel cleaner works perfectly fine but you'll still be spending a while with the brush. Those tiny triangles on the edge (especially on the fronts) take forever. I try to get as much off as possible with the jetwash beforehand.

 

[Actual]

I have the Mustang Black wheels which in reality are a lustre gunmetal grey and I really don't have any difficulty with a straightforward wash with the shampoo and wax with a microfiber cloth. I have a little routine to work my around inside the "triangles" and between the spokes. Admittedly I'm not so OCD to want to clean behind the wheel.

When washing I don't even notice where I touched up my curb scrapes with paint or marker pen (always in glove box)

Fascinating Fact: Has anyone noticed that the valve stem is inside a triangle on the front 255 and between the spokes on the rear 275?

 

[jord79]

I did notice the perculuarities with the position of the valves. Any logic as to why?

The wheels do tend to look more gunmetal and have a satin finish when not properly clean. I don't actually mind this, but when cleaning if not using a specific product or being very fastidious, it tends to leave patches. I've used the elbow grease method a couple of times, but worry about causing swirl patterns

 

[SteveS]

My wheels are Gtechniq'd and clean up quite well...outers only!
In practice I'm not too fussed about the wheels. As long as they look cleanish, that'll do. Be an excuse to buy some new ones down the line

 

[Manders Mustang]

My wheels are Gtechniq'd and clean up quite well...outers only!
In practice I'm not too fussed about the wheels. As long as they look cleanish, that'll do. Be an excuse to buy some new ones down the line

The C5 stuff? how's it actually work? I've been recommended it, but like, it's £30 which is quite cheap bearing in mind the hassle it may or may not save me./us with the hassle it'd save with brake dust?

 

[SteveS]

The C5 stuff? how's it actually work? I've been recommended it, but like, it's £30 which is quite cheap bearing in mind the hassle it may or may not save me./us with the hassle it'd save with brake dust?

No idea how it works (or indeed what stuff it actually is offhand - will check the invoice). Had it done with the rest of the car at a detailer and probably forked out a good deal more than £30 for it, but nothing much seems to stick to the car. I really should learn how to do this stuff myself...
Beginning to wnder if it has something to do with my troubles with the lighting tints.

 

[SteveS]

The C5 stuff? how's it actually work? I've been recommended it, but like, it's £30 which is quite cheap bearing in mind the hassle it may or may not save me./us with the hassle it'd save with brake dust?

Apparently my wheels were done with CSL as for the paint.

 

[Enoch]

The C5 stuff? how's it actually work? I've been recommended it, but like, it's £30 which is quite cheap bearing in mind the hassle it may or may not save me./us with the hassle it'd save with brake dust?

GTechniq C5 wheel armour is pretty effective, but Cquarz UK ceramic paint protection, is easily a match for it....

I have the C5 on my standard GT wheels, but based on a friends Porsche Cayman that has the CQuartz UK stuff on his wheels, I'll be using it on my new wheels..

Did I mention I'm getting some new wheels:ford::headbonk:

 

[Manders Mustang]

No idea how it works (or indeed what stuff it actually is offhand - will check the invoice). Had it done with the rest of the car at a detailer and probably forked out a good deal more than £30 for it, but nothing much seems to stick to the car. I really should learn how to do this stuff myself...
Beginning to wnder if it has something to do with my troubles with the lighting tints.

£30 is the C5 wheel sealant stuff Gtechniq do. Looks fairly easy to apply - Clean wheel meticulously, rub on, let it cure. Lasts 1 yr - 18 months, and the sealant is resalable. Obviously will be a lot more for a detailer to do it (Try 80-150 quid! depends how meticulous they are, if they take wheels off the car etc).

Nothing sticking to them is the good thing, I'm looking at C5 just to make removing brake dust easier, I've just put the G5 glass on my rear window, threw a bottle of water of it and it just fell off the windscreen. Waiting for rain to see the real benefits

As for the lights, if they'd been coated in any sealant, it would have caused issues, whatever the 'most expensive' detail GTECH do (Can't remember what Letter/Number combo it is - think its crystal cerum) won't let vinyls adhere too, at all, so if your car is GTECH CS'd you can't add decals unless you remove the protection. Anything under that, is going to cause issues. You have to rub the surface with White spirit/Isoprobyl rub/Rubbing alcohol to remove the sealant, wipe that down, vinyl applicator and water so it doesn't smudge

[MENTION=13920]Enoch[/MENTION] cheers bud, will look into that as well, curing time and durability will be the biggest seller for me, if one requires me to 'cure under a head lamp' i'll avoid it, because I don't have a heat lamp lol.

 

[GT Nate]

Megs Non Acid wheel cleaner + Daytona speed master brush and wheel whoolies.

Once clean use Hydro2 to coat them.

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