alloy wheels

[cjaoh]

What is the best way of cleaning the black ground in dirt on alloy wheels?

[madmondeo]

Jack the car up and take the wheels off. Then i use either Wonder Wheels or Turtle Wax's wheel cleaner. both work very well and Wonder Wheels even comes with a brush!!



http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,3,3

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/serv let/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_prod uctId_220221_langId_-1_categoryId_123059

[Toureman]

It's easy to clean your wheels if you don't let them get ground in dirt in the first place.

Once you have got all the crud off polish them and just wash them once a week, you won't have that problem then.

[cjaoh]

Cheers, unfortunately i only got the car recently and the previous owner has neglected them a little. Bought some Wonder Wheels today and gonna give it a try. Once again, Cheers and Toureman, i promise to keep on top of them. :-)

[donn1901]

when cleaning alloy wheels try to use just washing up liquid or car shampoo as most products contain chemicals that are harmful to the wheels and over time will eat at the alloy as its only a soft metal anyway. If you bought a new set of wheels and they we're to flake due to using any wheel cleaner then the warranty on the wheels would be void. So the best thing is to dip them in a bath of hot water with lots of car shampoo in and clean them thoroughlly.

[madmondeo]

yes i have to agree with the posts too, if you try to keep on top of them the dirt shouldn't ever become ground in again and they will be easy to keep looking nice! Best to give them a good soak with car shampoo and not even take the washing up liquid anywhere near your car!

The wheels are the hardest part of any vehicle to keep clean for the obvious reason they are in contact with the road all the time and pick up all sorts of crud. I also use Mer's Wheel Wax but i am mad about keeping my car clean and polished.

[Caladon]

It depends upon the finish on the alloy as to whether the dirt will become ground in or not.

Most of it is brake pad dust which is microscopic and falls in to all the cracks.
Our Land Rover has an almost brushed effect which means taking it off road, carbon deposits and the brake dust make it almost impossible to clean.

Use a jet wash (or finger over the hose) to get the majority of the dirt off and give it a good scrub... but not with washing up liquid as that can also damage paint work, but with an own brand like Halfords car cleaner.
A tooth brush would be best or I find a nail brush a good size and doesn't damage the alloy when cleaning whilst using a very cheap brand wheel cleaner.

Remember to leave it on only for a very short time and wash it off with lots of water. That way there should be no damage or corrosion at all.

[cjaoh]

Cheers guys, took all your comments on board. Got the wonder wheels out this morning, took the wheels off to give them a good clean and it works very well (still got some tar spots on the wheel though). Once again, cheers.