What's the best way to maintain the appearance of your custom wheels?
Oct 09, 2024
Recommended Wheel Care Instructions
Wheels should be cleaned by hand regularly to remove contaminants like road grime, salt, ice/snow melting chemicals, and dirt, which traps moisture and causes corrosion to most wheel finishes. Brake dust is highly corrosive and may cause pitting of the wheel finish. Household chemicals are typically too harsh for your wheel's finish and should be avoided. A mild car wash soap or dish soap works best to properly clean your wheels.
Never clean your wheels when they are still hot from driving. Do not attempt to cool hot wheels with water, as this may cause damage to the finish and can warp the brake rotors and/or drums.
Chrome Wheels:
Clean chrome wheels when they are cool to the touch using a mild car wash soap or mild dish soap and water. Dry immediately with a soft cloth to prevent spotting. After cleaning, apply a coat of soft, non-abrasive cream wax or wheel polish to seal the wheel and prevent surface corrosion.
Painted, Machined, PVD, and Clear Coated Wheels:
Clean painted, Machined, PVD, and clear-coated wheels when they are cool to the touch using a mild car wash soap or mild dish soap and water. Dry immediately with a soft cloth to prevent spotting.
Polished Aluminum Wheels:
Clean a polished aluminum finish when they are cool to the touch using mild car wash soap or mild dish soap and water. Dry immediately with a soft cloth. Polished wheels (that are not clear-coated) will diminish over time and require additional care and maintenance. A specially formulated custom wheel polish designed for non-clear-coated polished wheels is recommended to return shine to oxidized wheels, along with a wheel seal designed for non-clear-coated polished wheels. The finish on polished aluminum wheels is not covered under any warranty.
Automatic spray and touch-free car washes do not completely remove contaminants and can cause harm to the finish. In addition, automatic car washes and the cleaning agents and brushes used to clean tires can damage the wheel surface. Hand washing is strongly recommended.
