Wheels & Tyres

Wheels carry the worst dirt on the car: brake dust that bakes onto the finish and road grime a normal shampoo will not shift. This section covers cleaning and protecting wheels and tyres, with the brushes and mitts for the job, from wheel cleaners such as CarPro WheelX and Stjarnagloss Hjul to wheel coatings, tyre cleaners and tyre dressings such as CarPro Darkside.

How to choose

• Cleaning wheels: Wheel Cleaners dissolve brake dust and grime; for a protected wheel that only needs washing, use a Wheel Shampoo.
• Protecting wheels: Wheel Coatings last longest (Autobead's Alloy Coating comes in 1, 3 and 5 year versions) but need a spotless wheel. Wheel Sealants are quicker to apply.
• Brushes and mitts: Wheel Brushes, Tyre Brushes, Wheel Arch Brushes and Wheel Wash Mitts work the cleaner into barrels, spokes, tyre walls and arches. Iron & Fallout Removers dissolve the iron in brake dust.
• Cleaning tyres: Tyre Cleaners strip browning and old dressing so the next finish goes on evenly.
• Finishing tyres: Tyre Coatings are made to last longer between applications than the gel and spray Tyre Dressings.

Good to know

Work on cool wheels one at a time and never let a cleaner dry on. Acid cleaners such as AutoBead Acid are for heavy, neglected soiling; polished, chrome, anodised or damaged wheels need an acid-free cleaner. Pair any cleaner with Wheel Brushes and Tyre Brushes.

How can I protect my alloy wheels?

Clean them fully, then seal or coat them so brake dust has less to stick to. A wheel coating lasts longest but needs a decontaminated wheel and cure time, while a wheel sealant goes on after a normal wash and is topped up more often. Keep sealant off the brake discs and pads.

Related: Exterior, Wheel Wash Mitts, Trim Dressings. Popular brands here: Autobead, Infinity Wax, Sam's Detailing, CarPro.