Okay, so you’ve just dropped $1000, or more, on some wheels that make your car more beautiful. It doesn’t look better, but it is more than a car. The only problem with those incredible rims is that cars and their parts get dirty. How do you keep your wheels looking great?
First, there are two good reasons to keep your tires clean. Although dirt buildup won’t cause any major accidents or make your car unsafe, it can look downright disgusting. Also, if you ever have to take the wheel off, say if you get a flat on the side of the road, clean wheels will make it a much cleaner job.
As with many things, it all depends. The spoke pattern and the finish are the most important aspects of cleaning wheels. Most aftermarket wheels come in one of three different finishes: chrome, powder coat, and paint. Each wheel is unique and will require different cleaning methods.
Chrome is the toughest to keep looking nice, but when it shines, well, it shines. Chrome itself is a thin layer of shiny metal chromium on another metal, so it can pick up scratches very easily. The trick to cleaning chrome rims like the ones sold here is to wash them like you normally would (with a mild cleaner like Simple Green and a microfiber cloth), and then apply chrome polish, which will make them gleam like Justice.
Although paint and powder coat is very similar in terms of how to care for them, the former is more delicate and more costly to repair. Paint is a thin coating of colored glass that is applied to the wheels. The powder coat is a thin layer. Both can scratch easily so be sure to wash them as you would chrome. You can simply rinse off the dirt, use a mild cleaner, scrub gently with a microfiber cloth and then dry it with a clean microfiber, chamois, or microfiber.
It is relatively easy to maintain your new wheels if you have the right tools. We prefer gentle, natural cleaners such as Simple Green and microfiber towels. These cleaners provide the best results while avoiding more scratches. If you have gentler soap or softer towels, please feel free to use them.
Don’t you want a set of wheels you can be proud to own?
This post was written by a wheel and tire expert at Tennessee Tire. Tennessee Tire & Wheel is Clarksville Tennessee and Fort Campbell Kentucky’s leading tire and custom wheel shop. We proudly offer Southern Hospitality combined with the lowest prices in town! Come see us, call us, or message us for a quote today. You won’t be sorry you did.
