Whether you’ve just completed your project vehicle, or finally purchased that AMG you’ve had your heart set on, you’ve got to have wheels that set your car or truck apart from the rest. And let’s face it- some wheels are more expensive than the vehicles wearing them. That’s why it is important that you care for your wheels in a manner that keeps them looking great for years to come!
Brake dust is the number one cause of dull, unattractive wheels. No matter the composition of your brake pads, or your driving habits, brake dust is inevitable. Other factors include road debris, tar, and the wandering dog or cat (seriously).
Below are a couple of tips for maintaining the luster of your new wheels.
● Wheels are made available in several different finishes. Make sure that your wheel cleaner is intended for your particular finish whether your wheels are chrome, painted, hypersilver, polished, or a machined surface. You will also need towels, scrub brushes, a bucket of warm soapy water, carnauba wax or similar, a hose and spray nozzle.
● Before cleaning your wheels, be sure to allow time for your wheels to cool to the touch. You can aid in the cooldown process by hosing the wheels off with cool water from a garden hose. It is best to park your ride in the shade before getting started.
● Just like the body of your vehicle, most wheels are painted and clear coated. Never use harsh cleaners or soaps to clean your wheels. Lightly dirty wheels can easily be cleaned with a good quality car wash soap and water, but if there is an extra build up of brake dust and road grime a very soft bristle brush will help take it off after washing with soap and water.
● Regular weekly cleaning of your wheels will help prevent brake dust ever building up and giving you tough cleaning issues. After cleaning, applying a light coat of wax will protect your wheels and help stop brake dust or ride grime sticking to your wheels. If cleaning chrome rims, do not apply wax, as the chrome needs to breathe. Instead, use a cleaner intended for chrome surfaces.
● Removing the wheel and cleaning the backside can increase the amount of light reflected through the spokes, thus making the front shine more brilliantly. To remove years of buildup, you may have to use a brush to scrub until the surface is clean of all dust.
● When detailing your wheels, you may come across chips and scratches caused by kicked up debris or perhaps your neighbor got careless with this lawn care techniques, blasting your beautiful wheels with sand and rocks. You may have misjudged a turn or entered an area downtown where you should have brushed up on your parallel parking skills. Whatever happened, your wheels look pitted, scratched and dented. This is known as curb rash.
This is not something, unfortunately, that any amount of wax, or polish with “buff out”. Curb rash calls for expert evaluation. Sometimes a wheel can be refinished, other times it may be best that it is replaced, but that’s not a call you should really make alone, ask the staff at a reliable local auto shop instead.
Visit our Contact Us page to find out how and where to reach us.
We can also give you a free online estimate. Click here to give us the details of your car repair needs.
We work with all insurance companies and we can guarantee the quality of our work every time.
