Everything You Need to Know About Wheel Cleaners

What is a wheel cleaner and what do I need it for? Wheels get dirty particularly quickly as salt, road grime, and brake dust accumulate on them. This quickly makes eye-catching wheels unsightly and devalues even the highest quality car. Apart from the appearance, dirt on the wheels can lead to far worse problems. The enemy of every wheel: brake dust. Brake dust settles as black dust on the wheel and can burn into the protective lacquer of the wheel, damaging your wheels. In the worst case, the load-bearing capacity of the wheel can even be reduced. Regular wheel cleaning and care is therefore particularly important. Acid-free or acid-containing wheel cleaner? Generally, wheel cleaners can be divided into two categories: acid-free or acid-containing. Acidic wheel cleaners are rarely used, for example, on heavily soiled and acid-resistant wheels. For chrome-plated and polished wheels, it's best to keep your hands off them. Acid-free wheel cleaners, on the other hand, promise gentle cleaning and are environmentally friendly. A wheel cleaner is acid-free if its pH value is between five and nine. If the pH value is higher or lower, it can damage, for example, painted wheels. Solution Property pH Value Suitable for Acidic 0-5 Very heavy soiling (check material's acid resistance, not suitable for chrome wheels) Neutral 6-8 “Normal” soiling on polished, painted, powder-coated, and chrome wheels Basic/Alkaline 9-14 Insensitive materials with moderate dirt Which wheel cleaner for which wheels? For cleaning aluminum wheels, it is recommended to use special aluminum cleaners. Aluminum wheels are more susceptible to damage from dirt or grit and do not tolerate every wheel cleaner. The ingredients of special cleaners for aluminum are chosen to clean light alloy wheels gently but as thoroughly as possible. The pH value is usually neutral. So-called intensive cleaners with a pH value in the acidic or alkaline range are suitable for very heavily soiled and used wheels that have not been cleaned for a long time. Frequent drivers who often travel on dirt or forest roads should use an intensive cleaner. For polished, powder-coated or chrome-plated rims, we recommend using special cleaners whose composition is tailored to these materials. Chrome-plated rims or rims with elaborate paintwork require gentle care to avoid damage to the surface. Such special cleaners contain no aggressive substances. Wheel cleaners also differ in their consistency. They are available as foam, gel, spray or in liquid form. For efficient cleaning, it is important that the cleaner adheres well to the wheel surface during the exposure time. Make sure that the wheel cleaner is not too thin. How do I use wheel cleaner? After spraying the wheel with a wheel cleaner of your choice, let the cleaner sit (2-7 minutes depending on manufacturer and degree of soiling). Afterwards, you can work on it with a special wheel brush and a soft brush (for small gaps, like the bolt holes). Then rinse the rims thoroughly with a strong jet and plenty of water to completely remove any cleaner residue. This prevents later damage. Finally, dry the rims with a soft microfiber cloth. Always wear gloves to protect your skin when cleaning rims. You should never use wheel cleaner on hot rims. So, let the car cool down before you start cleaning. To extend the effect, you can apply a rim sealant after cleaning. Why do wheel cleaners with an active ingredient indicator turn purple and stink? Wheel cleaners with an active ingredient indicator turn purple/red when they come into contact with dirt. The special ingredients react with the metallic dirt components and change their color. This way, you can see that the wheel cleaner is working and dissolving the dirt. As a rule, wheel cleaners with an active ingredient indicator smell like rotten eggs. This is due to the sulfur they contain, which is a component of the active ingredient indicator. Some manufacturers want to counteract the odor and now offer wheel cleaners with fragrance. How often can I use wheel cleaner? Acidic wheel cleaners should only be used on extremely dirty and rarely cleaned aluminum wheels. They are therefore not suitable for regular wheel washing. However, you can use acid-free wheel cleaners in everyday life. We recommend cleaning the wheels after about 150 kilometers driven. You should also clean the wheels particularly thoroughly when changing and storing tires. When the tires are dismounted, you can easily reach hard-to-reach areas, such as the back of the wheels. Even in winter, a more thorough cleaning is required, as road salt mixes with road dirt and sticks to the wheels. Are you looking for a set for your tires and wheels? Then we recommend our 9-piece tire & wheel set!

Solution Property	pH Value	Suitable for
Acidic	0-5	Very heavy soiling (check material's acid resistance, not suitable for chrome wheels)
Neutral	6-8	“Normal” soiling on polished, painted, powder-coated, and chrome wheels