PROJECT JOURNAL / WHEEL CARE
Cleaning alloy wheels: take care around the details
A close-up of an Audi wheel highlights the areas that collect dirt and brake dust.
A wheel can look clean from a distance while dirt remains in the spoke corners and around the centre cap. This supplied photo shows those areas clearly. It is a wheel-care reference, not an edited before-and-after cleaning result.
Identify the finish first
Check whether the wheel is painted, lacquered, diamond-cut, polished or another finish before selecting a cleaner. Also check for damaged or missing coating. A product suitable for one wheel finish may be unsuitable for another.
Follow the cleaner’s instructions
Autoglym’s Clean Wheels instructions specify cool wheels, gentle agitation of dirt traps and rinsing before moving to the next wheel. They also distinguish finishes that need a different product. Check the label of the cleaner you actually use, including dilution, contact time and finish restrictions.
Keep a real record
Take a photo in similar lighting before and after cleaning. That makes it easier to see what cleaning removed and what is a chip, stain or damaged finish. Cleaning and cosmetic repair are different jobs; the photograph here retains the wheel’s visible condition.