Topic: Cleaning Really, no VERY dirty RIMS

[RunsinLight]

My rims I have basically ruined by using them year around combined with having very dirty brakes.  I knew this would happen. 

My reason for asking is before I take my winter tires re-mounted in to get them installed I like to clean them as best I can so the person working on my car doesn't need a shower afterwords.

Taking the tires off the car and hand cleaning is what they need. I tried a pressure washer. I think I could almost hear the dirt laughing at me. 

Can anyone recommend a tire cleaning product that has worked better then others?

[mrthompson]

I had good results using one the Mothers line of wheel cleaners.  I still had to do some finishing up with a rag to get the worst stuff off, but the Mothers made the job much easier.

[aquadorhj]

I tried turtle rim cleaner they had on sale at Canadian tire. $3 per spray bottle.
Used half the bottle for 4 wheels.

It worked alright. I've always just used soap water before and I have the say it was on par.

[airbalancer]

have you tried soap , water and elbow grease 

[mmret]

I found some green liquid (Simoniz brand) at Canadian Tire. Absolutely lethal if you accidentally breath in the mist but it completely melts the stuff off.

Spray on. Wait 30 seconds. Wash off (no high pressure requirements). That'll get 90% of it in my experience. The other 10% will require some manual labour with a towel or whatever depending on the design of the rims.

**Of course, high financiers from HBS like myself do not actually do manual labour. We let the poor people have a few scraps from the table and they gladly toil away!

[1TSX]

Watch out for the Rim cleaners you buy. If left on the wheels too long, they'll damage the finish. That stuff is essentially diluted acid.

[mmret]

Watch out for the Rim cleaners you buy. If left on the wheels too long, they'll damage the finish. That stuff is essentially diluted acid.

In that case, hold your breath.

[Gardiner Westbound]

Don't use a pressure washer. It will force water into areas it’s not meant to go, rip off trim and peel paint. It can even damage body metal and tire sidewalls.

Check an aluminum wheel cleaning product to see if it is for bare aluminum or painted and clear coated wheels. Bare aluminum wheel cleaners contain a mild acid that will strip paint and clear coat.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4630

Tried it on my friend's 2007 VW Rabbit. He didn't wash his rims for months and the brake dust came off very easily. Wash the rim, rinse it, spray this on, wait 30 seconds and start washing it off while wiping the rim by hand. Don't leave it on long and rinse it very well. Excellent product.

[CanuckG35]

P21S Gel Wheel cleaner is hands down the best wheel cleaner I've used.  I would also highly recommend that you protect your wheels with Poorboys Wheel Sealant after you've cleaned them. 

[Fobroader]

I found Mothers wheel and rim cleaner with a brush, about 4 applications will get 95% of the crap off....anymore than that and your clearcoat is damaged and the wheels will need to be refinished. All you need is garden hose, as mentioned above, a pressure washer has a very good chance to rip off chunks of clearcoat.

[CanuckG35]

I found Mothers wheel and rim cleaner with a brush, about 4 applications will get 95% of the crap off....anymore than that and your clearcoat is damaged and the wheels will need to be refinished. All you need is garden hose, as mentioned above, a pressure washer has a very good chance to rip off chunks of clearcoat.

If you are using a quality wheel cleaner like P21S, Pinnacle, Chemical Guys, etc you will have ZERO worries about damaging your wheels.  OTC products like Mothers, Simoniz, etc not so much. 

[airbalancer]

How 'bout Castrol Super Clean?  Or Wal Mart's equivalent, Purple Power.  Basically oven cleaner in a bottle. A nice big bottle.  No?!    So tough you can see the rubber melting off your tires.  Only did that once.  Taurus doesn't count, it's an experimental vehicle. lol

Ok...don't.  But it works great on a greasy engine.  Spray it on, let it sit for a few seconds, hose it off.  Not that we're talking about engines...but I like a clean engine almost as much as I like clean wheels.

Canuck - where do you get that cleaner and sealant?  Wold like to try something like that.  I'm guessing the sealant helps with cleaning the brake dust off later?  The F150 tends to leave the chrome plated caps looking ugly.  Hard stuff to clean off.

you wash your truck 

[safristi]

Welcome back O tanned one..................is that Sardines and Vino Verde i smell on yer breath!!!! ......


  where does one acquire this PIS2 P2IS Gel!!!! easily....and the PoorBoys stuff......locally..or are they both Interweb thigies....

[CanuckG35]

Keh-vin/Saffy,

Unfortunately, they are not available over the counter and you would need to order them online.  You can get both at eshine.

http://www.eshine.ca/p21s_gel_version_wheel_cleaner_1000_ml-1704.php?cat=14
http://www.eshine.ca/poorboys_wheel_sealant-1844.php?cat=14

PB's wheel sealant will not only protect your wheels from the elements, it makes future wheel cleanings a breeze. 

[safristi]

   A breeze........................   A GENTLE one OR Kilt lifting one.....................the neighbours may complain.........


 note to self wake up and E-Shine my shoes.....car bits...and fiddly bits...not necessarily in that order..........

[CanuckG35]

^ I thought your neighbours were used to that by now!   

[RunsinLight]

I ended up going with Meguairs, was very impressed.  3+ years of brake dust came off with little effort on my part.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4630

Tried it on my friend's 2007 VW Rabbit. He didn't wash his rims for months and the brake dust came off very easily. Wash the rim, rinse it, spray this on, wait 30 seconds and start washing it off while wiping the rim by hand. Don't leave it on long and rinse it very well. Excellent product.