Wondering how best to maintain the appearance of your wheels? Here are some best practices to help you keep your wheels looking great for years to come.
Recommended Wheel Care Instructions
Wheels require regular maintenance to retain their factory finish and notable appearance. Wheels that have been neglected or improperly maintained will be void of all warranties.
Wheels should be cleaned by hand regularly to remove contaminants like road grime, salt, ice/snow melting chemical, and dirt, which traps moisture and cause 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 Plated 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.
Many areas of the country use road salts and chemicals during the winter months that can cause adverse effects on your wheels; it is recommended to clean more frequently during this season. Failure to do so may greatly reduce the life of the product.