How To Detail Wheels And Tyres - Step By Step Guide No.7  

This is step No. 7 in the step by step guide using OFF THE SHELF products. Once again there are far superior products on the market, however they can't be purchased at normal automotive outlets.

HOW TO DETAIL WHEELS & TYRES

Recommended products:-



Autoglym Mag Wheel Spray (No.1 choice) (not pictured)
Meguiars Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner (No.2 choice)
Black Knight Tire Cleaner (for tyres only)
Kenco Tyre Contour Brush
Kenco Brake Dust & Wheel Cleaner Brush
Meguiars Hot Shine Tyre Spray.


WHEEL CARE CHALLENGE:-
Your car's wheels can dramatically enhance the appearance and performance of your car. Modern wheels can also present a substantial cleaning challenge as heated dust particles from brake pads bombard the wheel and bake into the finish. If left on the wheel, a phenomenon known as galvanic corrosion sets in, which will eventually destroy your wheel's appearance.

Most modern wheels, in particular aluminum wheels (or "Mags" as they were once called), are painted with the same paint and clear-coat used on the body of your car. While durable, the wheel’s clear-coat finish is subject to damage from acid compounds (including acid rain, hydrocarbons, and acidic cleaners). Likewise, polished and anodized aluminum wheels (not protected by a clear-coat) will react (dull or corrode) to both alkaline and acidic conditions.

Unfortunately, typical car wash soaps and household cleaners are not strong enough to break the bond between brake dust, road tar, road grime and the wheel. To properly clean wheels, the car care industry has developed three groups of wheel cleaners:

1.) Acid-based Cleaners:- These are widely used by detailers, car dealers and car washes who need to clean wheels in the shortest possible time or with the least amount of effort. Acid-based cleaners are typically 2% solutions of oxalic, phosphoric, and hydrochloric acid. Eagle One All Finish Wheel Cleaner is an example of an acid-based cleaner. While acid-based cleaners pack the greatest cleaning punch, they can easily etch the surface of your wheel. Care must be taken not to use acid-based cleaners on wheels with pitted or chipped surfaces. The acid will migrate into any fissures and accentuate flaking and peeling of surface coatings.

2.) Acid-free Solvents:- These are mild solutions of alkaline solvent, usually ethylene glycol or butyl ether, with a wetting agent. These solutions creep under the dirt and brake dust, loosening and lifting surface grime. Non-acidic cleaners usually require some surface agitation (wheel brush or sponge) but will not etch the wheel's finish like and acid. The problem with these solutions is that they pose a serious health risk (skin irritation and respiratory distress). I warn everyone to review the contents of their wheel cleaner.

3.) Detergents:- Generally speaking, detergents are safe wheel cleaners, but can be a little tough on tires and other rubber. Of all the active wheel cleaner ingredients, detergents are by far the safest for both car and owner. Detergents also require the most agitation (brushing) to completely clean your wheels. The benefit of a detergent wheel cleaner is that it will not harm delicate wheels and it does not pose a health risk.

TYRE CARE CHALLENGE:-

Like the wheels, your tyres have several formidable enemies, including water, formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, ultraviolet (UV) light and ozone. Water washes away the natural oils and waxes in rubber that keep it elastic. Formaldehyde and petroleum distillates act as solvents, eating rubber on contact. When ozone is combined with UV light, a reaction occurs that attacks the tyre and its polymers.

It's easy to keep tires looking great and in good condition by treating them with a quality dressing at least once a month. Meguiars Hot Shine Tyre Spray is brilliant for this, and even better as it has an adjustable nozzle depending on the size and profile of your tyres. One little tip is to make sure the tyre is fee of dirt and silicone first before applying otherwise it will not ahere to the rubber and will subsequently flick up the side of the car when driving. Also where possible leave the tyres to dry over night before drivng after application to allow the product to adhere to the rubber properly.

To protect against ozone and UV damage, a stabilizer molecule called a competitive absorber is blended with the tyre polymer. Competitive absorbers work by capturing and absorbing UV radiation and converting it to heat, which is dissipated harmlessly. All tire manufacturers use the same competitive absorber, called carbon black. This is why most tires are black. These absorbers are sacrificial; they expend themselves in performing their function of converting UV light to heat. However, as carbon black loses its ability to perform, it turns gray. This is one reason tyres tend to discolor with age.

To protect tyres from further ozone damage, tyre manufacturers add a wax compound to their formulas. Tyres flex when they are in motion, causing the wax molecules to migrate to the surface. This forms a protective barrier between the air (ozone and oxygen) and the tyre polymer. In the tyre trade this is called blooming. When tyres are parked for extended periods, blooming does not occur, and ozone quickly attacks the tyre polymer. With UV light and ozone working in concert, the degradation is accelerated, resulting in drying, discoloration and cracking.

To combat the negative effects of water, solvents and UV light on tyres, the car care industry makes tyre dressings. Tyre dressings fall into two groups: oil-based and water-based silicones.

1.) Oil-based silicone dressings:- are nonpenetrating coatings that seal rubber and vinyl. They are very good at providing a protective surface barrier. Oil-based silicone dressings create a glossy film that never really dries. I'm not a fan of these products, as most contain petroleum distillates as a cleaning agent. Petroleum distillates are harmful to rubber and vinyl, and will cause cracking.

2.) Water-based dressings:- do not contain oils or petroleum distillates that can harm and dull the surface of rubber and vinyl over time. Most water-based dressings offer a nongreasy, more natural looking satin finish; however, they are not as durable as the oil-based products.

PROPER TYRE & WHEEL CLEANING:-

To properly clean your tyres and wheels, you will need a 3-5 gallon bucket, a soft tire and wheel scrub brush, a sponge or wash cloth, a water hose and nozzle, car shampoo, and a spray wheel cleaner.

Warning: Do not clean your wheels if they are still hot from driving. Let them cool, or thoroughly hose them down. If your brakes are hot, spraying them with cold water may cause severe damage.

I recommend the Kenco Brake Dust & Wheel Cleaner Brush. It's soft enough not to scratch your expensive mag wheels, but hard enough to remove debris from the inside of the rim. To clean the actual tyre itself I recommend the Kenco Tyre Contour Brush. If you use a tyre gel, or if your tyres get heavily soiled, you may want use the Kenco Tyre Contour Brush, which has stiff bristles.

Here are some step-by-step tips to make cleaning easier:

1.) Clean one wheel at a time.
2.) Clean your tires and wheels first before washing the rest of the car. This prevents the splattering of cleaners, dirt and brake dust on already cleaned panels. Your car is also less likely to get water spots from drying while you wash your wheels.
3.) Mix a bucket of soapy water with your favorite car shampoo, using double the recommended strength.
4.) Thoroughly rinse the tire and wheel with water using a hose and spray nozzle. If it is exposed, rinse the brake caliper to flush away loose brake dust. Finally, rinse up into the wheel well to wash away road grunge, road kill, mud and other debris.
5.) If your tires and wheels have a heavy coating of brake dust or road grime, spray them down with your wheel cleaner. Allow the cleaner to soak for 30 seconds (minimum) to 3 minutes (maximum). For fine wheels, I recommend Autoglym. This formula are non-acid, detergent based cleaners.
6.) Use a tire and wheel scrub brush and your soapy water to agitate the tire and wheel surface. Use plenty of soapy water. The soap acts as a lubricant to gently lift dirt and grit away from your wheels. Follow up with your sponge or washcloth to wash the remaining dirt from the tire and wheel. If your wheels have large open areas, use the sponge to get behind these areas. Make sure the tires are scrubbed. Many people put layer upon layer of dressings on their tires, but never clean them. The result is a brown or yellow discoloration.
7.) Use your wheel brush and soapy water to scrub the accessible areas of the wheel wells, too. This small detail keeps your car looking fresh and new. If your wheel has a lot of small nooks and crannies, use a parts cleaning brush.
8.) Thoroughly rinse the tire, wheel and wheel well. Use plenty of water. You need to ensure that all traces of the wheel cleaner (and your neighbor's cat) are gone.
9.) After washing your car, remember to dry your tires and wheels using a detailing towel.

I do not recommend using tire cleaners containing bleach. Bleach is used in many tire cleaners to brighten whitewall tires, but they can turn tires a dull gray. Bleach will stain your alloy wheels permanently. Read the product contents on the label before you buy. I recommend Black Knight Tyre Cleaner to clean rubber effectively. Simply spray it on (DO NOT GET IT ON THE MAGS), leave it sit for 10mins, scub the tyre then hose off and dry.

If you have intricate wheels, a round brush, such as this 1 Inch Round Natural Detail Brush is a must.

PROPER TYRE & WHEEL CONDITIONING:-
After you clean your tyres and wheels, you need to protect them. Tyre dressings accent the appearance of your tires and protect against cracking and fading. Likewise, waxing your wheels protects their finish from brake dust, and makes them easier to keep clean.

Your wheels should be waxed, at a minimum, each time you wax your car. You can significantly reduce your wheel cleaning and waxing efforts by coating your wheels with a high quality acrylic. I recommend Autoglym Extra Gloss, as it is heat resistant and will not yellow. Another excellent wheel protection product is Plexus. Plexus works well on wheels with many small openings, as these wheels are difficult to wax.

TO APPLY TYRE DRESSING:-

Simply turn the nozzle on the Meguiars Hot Shine Tyre Spray to the right setting for your tyres. Spray it on in one even light coat DO NOT FLOOD THE TYRE WITH IT. Wipe over the mag to remove any over spray and simply let dry for a few hours (the longer the better).

SUMMARY:-
Keeping your tires and wheels clean and detailed makes a big difference in the appearance of your car. If you have invested in upgraded factory or aftermarket tires and wheels, spending a little extra time detailing them helps maintain your investment.

This post has been edited by king of the concrete jungle: Apr 11 2005, 04:36 AM
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