Topic: Is waxing wheels worth the effort??

[slybry]

I treat my cars pretty good. I keep them meticulously clean, I wax twice a year, sprayed with rust prevention, detail the cars each summer, use only synthetic oil etc etc etc. I fuss so much my neighbours make fun of me.

One thing I have never ever done is wax the alloy wheels on my cars.

Is it worth the effort?

Can I use the same wax I use on the car's paint? Or do I have to buy special wheel wax? What I have found at crappy tire comes in small packages and is over priced.

[safristi]

  Not if they are too HAIRY.............. ...Canuck35's thread has some good tips on using yer Mothers Balls thingies and ointments to salve the savage ravages of Wintaah Driving.....

[CanuckG35]

I treat my cars pretty good. I keep them meticulously clean, I wax twice a year, sprayed with rust prevention, detail the cars each summer, use only synthetic oil etc etc etc. I fuss so much my neighbours make fun of me.

One thing I have never ever done is wax the alloy wheels on my cars.

Is it worth the effort?

Can I use the same wax I use on the car's paint? Or do I have to buy special wheel wax? What I have found at crappy tire comes in small packages and is over priced.

You can definitely use your normal wax on your wheels, the issue will be durability.  A regular wax will typically only last a few weeks when used on wheels.  And it won't last even that long if you use a strong wheel cleaner.  I would recommend using products like Wheel Wax or Poorboys Wheel Sealant instead.  They are formulated for the higher temperatures on wheels and will last MUCH longer.  The application of Poorboys Wheel Sealant is a little easier than Wheel Wax and it smells really good too!  I use layer 2-3 coats of Wheel Sealant on my wheels and I don't need to apply it again for a few months. The wheel sealant really helps in repelling brake dust as well. 

[aquadorhj]

The wheel sealant really helps in repelling brake dust as well. 

once the brake dust ARE piled on, how do you easily get rid of them?  i just use soapy water and sponge, but is it easier if i have the wheel wax on?  the bmw really puts out brake dust by the tonne...

[CanuckG35]

The wheel sealant really helps in repelling brake dust as well. 

once the brake dust ARE piled on, how do you easily get rid of them?  i just use soapy water and sponge, but is it easier if i have the wheel wax on?  the bmw really puts out brake dust by the tonne...

P21S wheel cleaner is a great and safe product for removing caked on brake dust.  Once you have the wheel sealant applied future brake dust removal will be much much much easier. 

[Snowman]

I wax my wheels with the car. It makes weekly cleaning and brake dust removal easy.

[5 Wheel Drive]

I usually will wax mine in the Spring before they go back on the car.  It's just enough to make cleaning off brake dust a snap when I'm washing it.

[CanuckG35]

For those that just their normal carnubas on their wheels, make sure you apply it VERY often if you want your wheels to remain protected.  At the very least, once a month. 

[Jaeger]

I'm pretty fussy about keeping my car clean, but have never waxed the wheels.  I just wash them when I wash the car (separate sponge and bucket) and never had any real issue getting brake dust off.  This is going back several years / several cars.  Not worth the effort to me to wax them.  And yeah, my neighbors laugh at me too - usually for washing a car that's "already clean". 

Jaeger

[dr_spock]

Probably depends on how shiny you want your rims to look and how many years you want them looking that way.  I washed and waxed mine before I stored them away for the winter.   Otherwise, I don't wax them much.  After 13 years my alloys looks ok from a distance but up close you can see all the scratches and nicks from flying road debris.

[CanuckG35]

I'm pretty fussy about keeping my car clean, but have never waxed the wheels.  I just wash them when I wash the car (separate sponge and bucket) and never had any real issue getting brake dust off.  This is going back several years / several cars.  Not worth the effort to me to wax them.  And yeah, my neighbors laugh at me too - usually for washing a car that's "already clean". 

Jaeger

Using a product like PB's Wheel Sealant isn't all about having your wheels easier to clean.  Sure, that's a definite bonus but it's mainly about protection.  Wheel Sealant will protect the clearcoat on your wheels just like your favourite Carnuba wax or Sealant protects the clear coat on your paint surface.  Wheel sealants protect your wheels from brake dust and other contaminants and keep them on the surface rather that scouring into the clearcoat from the high temps.  Not trying to convert you, just explaining why they are used is all. 

[rrocket]

My custom CCW wheels had raw, uncoated aluminum lips.  If you've never had this, let me assure you it's a HUGE, huge PITA to keep clean and shiny.  Even the slightest misting of water would leave spots all over them and dull the mirror-like shine.  Plenty of work to keep clean.  So I went with a wheel sealer and it made the situation much, much better.  I do forget what it was called, but I'd imagine what Canuck is recommending would work fine.

Looked like this before I powdercoated the centers: