View Full Version : Best way to clean wheels?
What do you guys use to clean your wheels? My wheel has multiple spokes which makes it a pain to clean. Black Magic has a wheel cleaner which doesn't seem to require you to remove the wheels. Anyone has any experience with this?
Larry Bastanza
04-14-2003, 14:11
ak,
Last season I tried some wheel cleaner from Meguiars. I really thought it worked great. I finally got that caked up brake dust off the inside of my wheels. Also I recall a good one called P21S, but have not used it in years.
The only thing was it said to not use it if you had plastic piping in your drains!!
I said it was safe for the wheels though :)
HTH,
LarryB
I do not use wheel cleaners. I have seen too many of our customers ruin good wheels with acidic cleaners that they have paid good money for.
I never put anything on my wheels that I would not put on the hood (or any other part) of the car. I use zymol clear auto bath with a seperate sponge and bucket so that I won't get any grit anywhere it's not supposed to go. Just my $0.02
Aaron:p
stevefromatl
04-14-2003, 14:35
Originally posted by AaronR
I do not use wheel cleaners. I have seen too many of our customers ruin good wheels with acidic cleaners that they have paid good money for.
I never put anything on my wheels that I would not put on the hood (or any other part) of the car. I use zymol clear auto bath with a seperate sponge and bucket so that I won't get any grit anywhere it's not supposed to go. Just my $0.02
Aaron:p I agree with Aaron. The last thing I want to do is stain my wheels with something or scratch them.
Yellow Rose
04-14-2003, 14:39
What do you guys use to clean your wheels?
Soap and water.....the need for "specialty" wheel cleaning products is a load of poop. I have used household liquid detergent for +25 yrs, and I'll bet you a set of Advans :p that my wheels (even whenever I wash my track wheels) are just as clean as somebody who uses wheel cleaner stuff.
Larry Bastanza
04-14-2003, 14:58
I feel so naive now :o :)
Originally posted by AaronR
I never put anything on my wheels that I would not put on the hood (or any other part) of the car. I use zymol clear auto bath with a seperate sponge and bucket so that I won't get any grit anywhere it's not supposed to go.
I do the same thing - just using good ol' Zymol Clear or whatever car wash liquid I happen to use (I sometimes use Meguiars). I don't bother using a separate sponge and bucket; I just make sure to do the wheels last.
Originally posted by Larry Bastanza
Also I recall a good one called P21S, but have not used it in years.
I've used P21S before and it is good for cleaing wheels. HOWEVER, it usually leaves a white residue on the calipers and rotors after I use it. The residue comes off on the rotors after braking, but it stays on the calipers. I still haven't got rid of the white residue and have stopped using P21S. I know some detailers use P21S but they usually take the wheels off the car when they use it. Now I know why......
I have since picked up a bottle of Zymol wheel cleaner. It works beter than P21S IMHO. The liquid itself feels like gel. You spray some on and use the brush that comes with the kit to spread the gel around. Rinse and voila. You are done.
I have been washing mine with Zaino Z-7 wash. I then use Z-6 gloss enhancer and a clay bar. I use the clay bar that I use to go over the paint. Slightly used but not full of grit. It really pulls the grime out of the little pits on the wheels. Then I throw the clay bar away. Seems like a good way to get a little more use out of it.
I'm sure it would work with whatever lubricant you normally use with a clay bar.
John
I used Eagle One Wheel Cleaner yesterday and it seemed to do a good job.
I've used a wheel cleaner on this car and my MR2's wheels and they really help the brake dust removal. Didn't harm the MR2 in ten years!
I have stock 2000 wheels and clean them with Zaino wash, dry them well, use Stoner "More Shine Less Time" on the tires and finally use crumpled newspaper to put a beautiful shine on the wheels. Same trick on the windows with the newspaper after a good cleaning with Stoner "Invisible Glass". Looks great. :cool:
osugrad97
04-17-2003, 10:20
I use Honda Spray Polish. Its great. Spray it on a dirty or dusty wheel and just wipe off. It leaves a nice shine as well as a slick surface to help keep additional dirt/dust off. Its available at any Honda dealership for like $7 a bottle. Don't leave home without it!
D'Ecosse
04-17-2003, 10:40
Originally posted by tabasco
I have stock 2000 wheels and clean them with Zaino wash, dry them well, use Stoner "More Shine Less Time" on the tires and finally use crumpled newspaper to put a beautiful shine on the wheels. Same trick on the windows with the newspaper after a good cleaning with Stoner "Invisible Glass". Looks great. :cool:
Haven't tried the Stoner tire dressing, but if it works on tires as well as the "Invisible Glass" works on windows, I definitely need to get some. IG is a fabulous glass cleaner - Use it in the house now too, no more Windex on anything!
(this thread has digressed off Wheels a little, but I think that's OK - nice to have some other cleaning tips outside of the Z v Z debates)
Thanks for the inputs. I think I'll try the honda polish thing first. I tried cleaning with regular soap but the real gummy dirt doesn't seem to come off and besides, it's a bitch cleaning my wheels :o
Just my $.02. If you use a spray cleaner (whatever brand) try to avoid overspray on the brake rotors. The cleaner I used (not on my NSX) left a film on the rotors and when the wheels rotated it caused a vibration sound during slow rolls similar to a distorted rotor. Now I only clean my wheels with car wash, a soft wheel/tire brush and a towel to dry.
Originally posted by D'Ecosse
(this thread has digressed off Wheels a little, but I think that's OK - nice to have some other cleaning tips outside of the Z v Z debates)
What brand of dishwashing liquid do you use to get your dishes clean and still leave your hands soft and smooth like Marge's? :D
Old Palmolive commercial? I believe it was Madge. :)
Originally posted by nsxtasy
What brand of dishwashing liquid do you use to get your dishes clean and still leave your hands soft and smooth like Marge's? :D
Originally posted by ss_md
Old Palmolive commercial? I believe it was Madge. :)
http://www.tvacres.com/admascots_madge.htm
Blue Knight
04-17-2003, 15:01
i also use the same liquid wash to clean the wheels...last always due to the grease and dirt.
i normally wash my NSX with my friend who owns the new M3. i see him using a type of spray that does not need to be wiped off...just spray and let it dry....the dirt and grease automatically disappears along with the white foam...anyone seen this before?
i wanted to try some but the first time i asked him happened to be his last use of the product. i didn't get a chance to get the name of that product.
MiamieNeSeX
04-17-2003, 15:10
Originally posted by Blue Knight
i also use the same liquid wash to clean the wheels...last always due to the grease and dirt.
i normally wash my NSX with my friend who owns the new M3. i see him using a type of spray that does not need to be wiped off...just spray and let it dry....the dirt and grease automatically disappears along with the white foam...anyone seen this before?
i wanted to try some but the first time i asked him happened to be his last use of the product. i didn't get a chance to get the name of that product.
Maguairs makes a good wheel cleaner, but techinically the easiest way to clean your wheels is from a lawn chair with a good view of your wife wiping them down :)
Blue Knight
04-17-2003, 15:24
Originally posted by MiamieNeSeX
Maguairs makes a good wheel cleaner, but techinically the easiest way to clean your wheels is from a lawn chair with a good view of your wife wiping them down :)
indeed.....that's one way i'll never see...at least not in this life time....
osugrad97
04-17-2003, 15:29
I would never trust my wife to wash my baby!! Let her stick to the laundry and dishes!!!
D'Ecosse
04-17-2003, 15:38
Originally posted by nsxtasy
What brand of dishwashing liquid do you use to get your dishes clean and still leave your hands soft and smooth like Marge's? :D
Couldn't tell you what we use ..... that's women's work! :D
Blue Knight
04-17-2003, 15:42
Originally posted by D'Ecosse
Couldn't tell you what we use ..... that's women's work! :D
where are all the single people out there? care to share? don't say your moms do the dishes.
it's a sin to live at home and drive an NSX...though i did for a few months...hehe...
MiamieNeSeX
04-17-2003, 15:52
Of course for you single guys the options are imense.
Notice the use if a clean sponge for the wheels
D'Ecosse
04-17-2003, 19:17
Aah, Armando - you have your sisters wash the car, huh?
Blue Knight
04-17-2003, 19:21
Originally posted by D'Ecosse
Aah, Armando - you have your sisters wash the car, huh?
armando, whoever you are....i'm coming over for dinner....looking forward to the dessert :D
I use plain soap and water too but Zymol does make a product specifically for wheels that if applied to a clean set of wheels does make subsequent cleanings much easier. It keeps the dirt from grabbing onto the surface and easier to remove.
FYI, I don't work for Zymol, it works for me.
TigerNSX
04-17-2003, 19:52
Originally posted by D'Ecosse
Aah, Armando - you have your sisters wash the car, huh?
You mean sister-in-laws, right? :D I wouldn't let my sisters wash my car like that, especially in that outfit (I am just a protective brother). :rolleyes:
NSX UNITED
04-17-2003, 23:39
Originally posted by osugrad97
I would never trust my wife to wash my baby!! Let her stick to the laundry and dishes!!!
I don't even trust my gf to do laundry or dishes!! :D
NSXaholic
04-18-2003, 00:24
Soap and water does the trick for me. The question for me is not so much how do I get my rims clean, but how do I prevent brake dust from settling on them shortly thereafter and ruining that shine. Anybody else have that problem? :(
Regards.
TigerNSX
04-18-2003, 09:19
I usually put a wax on my rims after washing them. I find that it sort of repells the grease, and easy to remove it when you wash it.
Blue Knight
04-18-2003, 11:32
speaking of wheels, how about tires? any good tire dressing products out there? after i give that shine to my tires, i take a drive and it splatters all over the rear quarter panels....any suggestions?
Blue Knight
04-18-2003, 11:33
speaking of wheels, how about tires? any good tire dressing products out there? after i give that shine to my tires, i take a drive and sometimes that grease gets onto the body panels....any suggestions?
oops, two posts...how did that happen? :p
MiamieNeSeX
04-18-2003, 11:33
Clean them again when you get back :)
Blue Knight
04-18-2003, 11:35
ahh, that's the secret......thanks
MiamieNeSeX
04-18-2003, 12:25
Dont forget the cleaning crew though :)
Blue Knight
04-18-2003, 12:29
ahhhh....i see. the secret is to get a few of those girls to lean against my X and that grease on the panels will be all gone.....
thanks for the advice, miamienesex!
bling! 200th post....congrats to myself.
Originally posted by Blue Knight
speaking of wheels, how about tires? any good tire dressing products out there? after i give that shine to my tires, i take a drive and sometimes that grease gets onto the body panels....any suggestions?
Hey Blue Knight
Stoner's "More Shine Less Time" is the best I have ever used. Use it very sparingly and allow ~1/2 hour to dry. It does not cake on like others and has a nice satin finish.
MiamieNeSeX
04-19-2003, 08:15
Just doing what I can to help. :)
Originally posted by Tiger740
I usually put a wax on my rims after washing them. I find that it sort of repells the grease, and easy to remove it when you wash it.
Yup.
Has anybody here tried this stuff (http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/wheelwax/wheelwax.jsp)?
http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/giftguide/wheel_wax.jpg
Originally posted by Blue Knight
after i give that shine to my tires, i take a drive and it splatters all over the rear quarter panels....any suggestions?
I had the 3M paint protection film (http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7221) applied to my side skirts and quarter panels for this reason. Nothing sticks to that stuff! Any surface dirt wipes off with a little quick detailer spray.
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