The best time to wash your car’s wheels and tyres is during the seasonal wheel replacement when you remove these components and gain easy access to all the nooks and crannies. Yet, even if you want to clean the wheels and tyres without dismantling them, you will find useful recommendations for the best effect in this article.
What do you need?
To soften dried impurities, use a special product for stain removal and prepare a separate product to combat metallic contaminants and brake dust. You may also need special wheel brushes for a more thorough cleaning, as well as car clay for a finishing touch.
Before you start
Make sure the wheels and tyres are cool to the touch, and avoid washing them immediately after driving when the wheels may be hot from sun exposure or friction.
Detergents dry too quickly on hot surfaces, so vehicle parts will not be thoroughly cleaned and with get even more stains. In addition to it, rinsing hot materials with cold water can accelerate material degradation. The best approach would be to wash the wheels and tyres early in the morning or evening or in a shaded area.
Also, wash the wheels and tyres before washing the entire vehicle if you do not plan to dismantle them, otherwise, you risk splashing dirty water on a clean car. If you are going to dismount the wheels, remember not to place them on hard surfaces such as cobblestones or concrete, which can scratch the surface of the wheels.
Pre-washing
Start with rinsing any loose dirt from the wheels and tyres under pressure and apply a product such as Stain Cleaner from Soft99. For maximum effectiveness, add more product with the atomizer and spread it over the surface with a brush, creating a thick foam.
Main wash
After the pre-wash, you can now identify more persistent stains such as asphalt and metallic particles, airborne rust, and grease traces. Those will require a more powerful product, for instance, Soft99’s Iron Terminator, which is perfect for dissolving deeply embedded dirt on the wheels. Be prepared to repeat the process as needed, and use special Kamitore wheel brushes for maximum effect.
Adhesives and grease require a special product such as Pitch Cleaner from Soft99, which is best applied with a microfibre cloth.
After rinsing the wheels with water, use car clay to remove the dirt residue.
What to avoid while washing wheels and tyres?
Using the same water, sponge, and brushes for wheels and car body can be harmful to surfaces. Applying abrasive cleaners and highly acidic products can harm the rubber, while stiff and rough brushes can scratch the wheels.
Make sure you clean the wheels thoroughly and do not leave any brake dust, as this can trigger corrosion. Additionally, make sure to rinse all cleaning products thoroughly, as some of them can cause even permanent stains.
Last but not least, make sure you do not apply any dressings on the tyre threads, as this can reduce traction by making the surface slippery and be potentially dangerous.
For more information, visit: https://soft99store.co.uk/en/.