Wheels and Tires

Welcome back, and thank you for riding along. This month, we are moving down to the part of the car that keeps us on the road and gets the least attention: your wheels and tires.

The end of summer is the right time to check on your wheels and tires. Over the past few months, you have collected brake dust, road tar, and heat-baked grime. Since the winter road salt is only a few months away, this is a great checkpoint for maintenance.  These contaminants can build up, and that is when they corrode finishes and break down rubber from the outside in.

Brake Dust: A mix of metal shavings and carbon that comes off your pads every time you brake. It gets hot and adheres, embedding itself into the wheel finish rather than sitting on top of it.

Road Tar and Grime: Sticky asphalt residue thrown up from hot pavement, mixed with oil and road film. It bonds to wheel faces and barrels.

Tire Browning: That brown haze on sidewalls is not dirt. It is a protective compound working its way out of the rubber, and it means the tire is drying out and heading toward cracking.

Quick Tip: Look at the inside barrel of your wheel, not just the face. If the back side is caked while the front looks clean, your wheels are only being rinsed, not actually cleaned.

*Recommended Service: Premium Complete Detail or an Exterior Premium Detail followed by Ceramic Coating.

A FEW POINTS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR WHEELS AND TIRES

1. Match the cleaner to the finish:  A pH-neutral cleaner is safe across every finish and is the right default unless you know exactly what you are working with.
2. Never use the same tools you use on paint and the vehicle body: Brake dust is abrasive metal. A mitt that has touched your wheels will scratch your clear coat.
3. Use a separate bucket, brushes, and towels for wheels.
4. Do the wheels and tires first: Wheel cleaner overspray and loosened grime will run down onto clean paint if you save them for last. 

STARTER SUPPLIES

FOR AT-HOME MAINTENANCE

• pH-neutral wheel cleaner
• Soft wheel woolie or barrel brush
• Stiff-bristle tire brush
• Dedicated wheel bucket with grit guard
• Water-based tire dressing
• Microfiber towels kept separate from your paint towels

Featured Product: 

Untouchable Tire Shine Spray

Meguiar’s Supreme Shine High Gloss

Note: The link below is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase through it, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Quick Tip: Never spray wheel cleaner on hot wheels straight off a drive. The product will flash-dry and stain the finish. Let them cool to the touch first, and scrub the tire itself before dressing it, since dressing over old browning just seals it in.

Disclaimer: These tips reflect my personal recommendations, based on my own experience in the field.