Cleaning Guide for Wheels and Tyres
In nearly every article we write, we stress the importance of regular tyre inspections and maintenance, but how can you properly check for your tyres if they’re absolutely filthy and covered in dust and dirt?
Tyres and wheels are the lowest part of your car. Not only can dirt really detract from the overall look of your vehicle, if the buildup is significant enough, it can even cause vibrations through the steering wheel.
Road grime, dirt and brake dust all act to make your wheels and tyres absolutely filthy, so learn how to clean them with Tyres R Us!
Cleaning Wheels
Many modern cars come with fancy alloy wheels with various designs that look great when they’re clean. Many designs have intricate corners and folds that trap dirt and dust.
The issue with dirty wheels is that wheels can get very hot while you’re driving, especially if you’re using the brakes a lot, as is the case with towing or spirited driving. The hot wheels can cause the brake dust to bake itself into the clear protective coatings on your wheels and make cleaning a chore.
Make sure your wheels are cool before cleaning, grab a bucket with some warm water and a few brushes, and read on to find out how to make your wheels look like new.
Brake Dust
The best way to clean wheels and remove stubborn brake dust is with a dedicated wheel cleaner. These are designed to be safe for tyres, brakes and suspension components, while activating to remove brake dust which can be corrosive.
Simply using a cleaner isn’t enough in most situations, with a medium stiffness brush being excellent at agitating stubborn dirt from your wheels. Keeping in mind that you don’t really want to use the same brush on your paint as you use on your wheels, as the dirt and dust from your filthy wheels will cause swirl marks in your car's paint finish.
Scratches
We’ve all been there, you’re parking your car and hear the jarring metallic grind of your wheels hitting the curb. If you’re lucky the damage might be mild enough to touch up with a file or some paint, or if your wheel has one of the amazing diamond-cut finishes that look almost iridescent, you’re going to need to source a professional repair. A diamond-cut finish isn’t just a paint, it’s a precision machined surface that needs to be re-formed with specialist tools.
Plastic Wheel Covers
Many cheaper vehicles and some fleet vehicles are still equipped with steel wheels and plastic clip-on covers. This is great because if they ever get damaged, they’re able to be easily and cheaply replaced. They also unclip from your wheels relatively easily for cleaning with the same brushes and cleaners you use on the body of your vehicle.
After you’re done cleaning your wheels, there are surface protectants available to help prevent contaminants from sticking to your wheels, hopefully extending the time period between cleaning sessions!
Cleaning Tyres
There’s not much point cleaning the actual tread on your tyres, as simply driving will remove most of the mud and dirt.
Tyre sidewalls can be cleaned with soapy water and a stiff bristle brush, or the same brush you use on your wheels. Use a swirling motion and regularly rinse off your brush to really bring your sidewalls back to life.
Finally, spray a bit of tyre shine and use an old rag to wipe the tyre over to even out the finish. Job done! Note: many budget tyre shine finishes are silicon-based and contain petroleum compounds, which will cause dirt to stick to your nice clean tyres.
Inspecting for Damage
As you’re working your way around the tyres and wheels, look for damage to the sidewalls such as tears, cuts or nicks. Tyre sidewalls undergo more stress and friction than the tyre surface and must be in good condition in order to be safe on the road.
Run your hand over the tread surface and look for nails or stuck debris, such as rocks. It’s always worth having a small screwdriver or pliers on hand to remove stuck rocks from your tread if you find some.
If you’re mechanically minded and are able to remove the wheels from your car for cleaning, now is the time to check for curb rash or damage.
Check your tyre air pressure by using a cheap gauge and make a note if any of the tyres are significantly different than the others, as this could be a sign of a slow leak.
Book in Today!
For replacement tyres, puncture repairs, wheel and tyre packages and more, come and see us! We’re located at 122 Munro Ave, Sunshine with easy parking. We’re your local tyre and wheel experts in Sunshine and proudly serve customers coming from areas such as Sunshine, Sunshine North, Avondale Heights, Keilor East, St Albans, Ardeer and Kealba.
Call us up today on 03 9362 1611 and bring your vehicle in for a tyre and wheel inspection if you have any concerns or questions regarding your tyres.