What do you use to clean wheels?

[crankycodger]

Swing by your local Harley store and pick up a bottle of S100 motorcycle cleaner. Get just the regular, plain ol' original kind. Spray it on, wait maybe 90 seconds (NOT in the hot sun) and hose it off thoroughly. Repeat 3 times then pop a cold one and pat yourself on the back for working so hard.

I've never found anything that beats it.

 

[SirBarton]

If you have TRD Wheels only use the TRD Soap with the TRD Brush and the TRD Bucket.

 

[catrains]

If you have TRD Wheels only use the TRD Soap with the TRD Brush and the TRD Bucket.

I thought the TRD wheel washing was included with the free oil changes ?

 

[PCMSF]

I have matte black wheels (and I Plastidipped the center caps) so I only use regular car wash soap, rinse, and then wipe dry.

Last time I had the vehicle detailed, they used a spray-on wheel cleaner and it left greasy looking splotches everywhere. They had to use simple green to get the splotches out.

 

[Cøzy_SR5]

Chemical guys makes really good cleaner!!

 

[J-Roc]

Chemical guys makes really good cleaner!!

Chemical Guys makes great products. I use G6 Hyper Coat dressing on my wheels and plasti dipped rims....

 

[LandCruiser]

Coarse grit sandpaper and black Rustoleum.

 

[FourEyedWilly]

Generally washing the car with a pressure washer is frowned upon since it can damage the paint. Just make sure to keep an adequate distance away from the car and you should be fine. I find the pressure washer works great for cleaning the undercarriage. I still hand wash the rest of the car and pressure wash the wheels and undercarriage. Works awesome for me.

Very true. I should have mention this. I used to own a pressure washing business so I do stay pretty far away and don't use the aggressive tips. Wells and undercarriage I get close but paint is just the soap tip. Plus the pressure washer I use is pretty weak all things considered. I would love to learn how to use an orbital polisher but I'm more than apprehensive on that one.

 

[shahsmerdis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmDaUjkKRec

 

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Everything I use from CG's has been top notch

Car Wash, Wax, Polishes, Microfiber Towels and Best Auto Detail Supplies - Chemical Guys Professional Car Care Products - Wholesale and Retail


They carry it all

 

[Mello03]

Sonax---- great stuff

X2 stuff is awesome and melts brake dust away.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Very true. I should have mention this. I used to own a pressure washing business so I do stay pretty far away and don't use the aggressive tips. Wells and undercarriage I get close but paint is just the soap tip. Plus the pressure washer I use is pretty weak all things considered. I would love to learn how to use an orbital polisher but I'm more than apprehensive on that one.

Check out the Porter-Cable 7424. It's DA and impossible to burn the paint. I've had mine for about 5 years and worth every single penny. ;-)

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7424XP-6-Inch-Variable-Speed-Polisher/dp/B002654I46

 

[TRDfan2011]

Waiting period for cleaning repainted wheels?

Tire shop damaged my wheels and sent them out to get fixed. Wheels look brand new. What is the waiting period if any before I can clean & wax?

 

[Dalko43]

I use water. Sometimes soap.

Why do people here posts these kinds of topics? It's a freaking 4runner; drive it and clean it when it gets dirty. If you're going to fret over what to clean your wheels with, you bought the wrong vehicle...

 

[tinman831]

I use water. Sometimes soap.

Why do people here posts these kinds of topics? It's a freaking 4runner; drive it and clean it when it gets dirty. If you're going to fret over what to clean your wheels with, you bought the wrong vehicle...

Sometimes I post. Sometimes not.

Why do people here post these kinds of responses? It's a freaking forum; people come here with questions and want to increase their knowledge. If you're going to fret over a newbie posting questions, you're on the wrong forum. However, judging by your post history, you seem to do this a lot.

 

[TRDfan2011]

I use water. Sometimes soap.

Why do people here posts these kinds of topics? It's a freaking 4runner; drive it and clean it when it gets dirty. If you're going to fret over what to clean your wheels with, you bought the wrong vehicle...

Some like rockin' the junkyard special weekend warrior look, others like the clean look after playing. Some just like their investment to last as long as possible. It's just a matter of preference and saving $$$ in the long run. eep:

 

[Heavy_GD]

I use las totally awesome from the dollar store.

The wax thing also works well too.

 

[WakeDreams]

I have tried everything, but the best results (for general brake dust etc) I have gotten is with a dry cloth prior to wetting the rig down.....comes off easy, looks brand new.

 

[Brandonium]

I like clean wheels and a clean ride. Doesn't matter what you do in it. If you have the time to play in it then you should have the time to clean it.

Some parents must have skipped teaching their kids how to properly care for their possessions. :loco:

I just make sure never to use the same water for the paint which is easy since I wash from top to bottom. I use a rag or worn sock to clean it and a brush for the tire. I also clean the barrel of the rim, calipers and wheel wells.

What can I say.. I like my 40k investment to look like I actually had to work hard for that money..because I did!

I use Aerospace 303 on the tire itself as I don't like that greasy tire shine crap.

 

[Dalko43]

Sometimes I post. Sometimes not.

Why do people here post these kinds of responses? It's a freaking forum; people come here with questions and want to increase their knowledge. If you're going to fret over a newbie posting questions, you're on the wrong forum. However, judging by your post history, you seem to do this a lot.

Some like rockin' the junkyard special weekend warrior look, others like the clean look after playing. Some just like their investment to last as long as possible. It's just a matter of preference and saving $$$ in the long run. eep:

1) A car, especially a mass-produced SUV, is not an investment. Something like a low quantity, 60's era Ferrari might maintain or go up in value over time, but a 4runner won't.

2) I'm all for cleaning the car and taking care of it. But fretting over what solution to use on your wheels is freaking stupid. Wash your wheels off with water and a little soap if they are dirty and call it a done deal. The stock wheels are aluminum so there shouldn't be much to do to keep them clean and relatively rust free.

I see more and more posts on here discussing how to 'make my 4runner look cool' or keep it 'all spic and span' and less posts about how to do transfer case oil changes or other mechanical topics....that speaks volumes about the type of 4runner "owners" who frequent this forum.

Seriously...this is a multi-page thread about wheel cleaning for a 4x4, utilitarian SUV. From the way some people on here worry and fret about their vehicle's appearances, you'd think we were talking about tricked out Cadillac Escalades: