Anybody have insight on a good wheel cleaner. i'm looking for one that does a good job on brake dust and is safe for my painted KR wheels. the ones i have tried lately seem kinda lame.

 

I use Simple Green on the wheels. I spray it on full strength and let it sit for a couple of minutes (careful not to let it dry). Then wash with a cloth. It removes just about everything and without any scrubbing.

For a "quick & dirty" cleanup, I use my electric powerwasher on the wheels. It will take off *most* of the dust without any chance of stripping the chrome or paint (my wife's car).

When I am detailing, I hit the wheels with the power washer, do the rough washing on the rest of the car while most of the water on the wheels dires, then use the Simple Green. Unless of course it is for a show, in which case off come the wheels.

Hope that helps. I had tried a number of different cleaners & degreasers and found that as far as price and what it does goes, Simple Green was the best. You also can use it to detail your engine compartment too. Just spray on full strength, wait a couple, then hose off (DON'T use a power washer). You can either let the engine dry in a couple of hours or use a compressed air hose to blow most of the water down.

Good luck and clean driving!

Chuck

 

Be careful using Simple Green full strength. I cleaned an engine awhile back with SG full strength and it discolored the black plastic. I've found on wheels the best cleaner is soap and water. Armor-All makes an all purpose wheel cleaner called Quicksilver that I've had good luck with. I usually clean the vehicle often enough that I rarely need a cleaner.

Steve

 

Eagle-1 A2Z wheel cleaner! Best on the market in my opinion! This stuff is amazing. Don't let it sit too long,though,about 30 seconds a wheel. Mothers clear coat wheel polish after that,,another amazing product. Makes the clear coat on my wheels look wet. It's a 98 with 64,000 miles,so that's saying something,,,,98

Good luck...

 

I'm with 98 screamer, the eagle A2Z is GREAT!!!! I use it on my chrome wheels and on the painted wheels on my wifes car. Works great and doesn't mess up the painted wheels. Also, a light squirt on the white letters on the tires and scrub with a stiff brush, gets the white CLEAN!!!! I use the A2Z about once every 3 or 4 washes, not everytime.

 

Maybe I'm just cheap but I've never seen anything work as good as "elbow grease".

I wash the wheels last with the "dregs" of the wash bucket and a small rag, then scrub the tires with a stiff brush and Comet cleanser. Then scrub while rinsing to remove any residue.

A light coat of tire dressing after drying and that's it!

Paying more for fancy cleaners???

Like I said... maybe I'm just CHEAP!

XLT_D

 

I use Zymol Brite Spray-Gel Wheel Wash. My wheels have never looked as clean using any other product. I've been using it for years on my previous cars (one BMW and one Corvette). It now works great on my new SCrew.

 

I think an important thing to remember is to make sure the wheels are cold when you spray on your cleaner and don't let it set to long!

I go around the truck spraying each tire with a white wall cleaner then spray the wheel cleaner on the rims just before I scrub the tires, then wash everything off with a wash mitt (not the same one used on the body) and bucket of soap (clean bucket and fresh soap and water).

I clean the interior, the wheels and tires, the engine compartment, then I wash the truck. . . just my way, but it works for me!

Bob

 

One wheel at a time is the way to go,if your using one of the "store bought" cleaners It greatly reduces the chance of frying the clear on the factory wheels I forgot to mention that the other day,,,,oops,,,,98