AutoBead Acid Wheel Cleaner

Acid wheel cleaner for heavy brake dust

AutoBead Acid Wheel Cleaner

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£7.95

In stock

Size 500ml

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AutoBead Acid Wheel Cleaner AutoBead Acid Wheel Cleaner £7.95

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Autobead Acid Wheel Cleaner is a concentrated acidic wheel cleaner made for the heaviest brake dust residue and other deposits. Its gel-based formula gives a longer working time, so it makes light work of heavy carbon deposits where non-acidic wheel cleaners would struggle.

  • Shifts heavy brake dust
  • Gel stays on for a longer dwell
  • Flexible dilution
  • Tackles heavy carbon deposits
  • Ideal for neglected wheels
  • Trade sizes available
  • Thicker and clingier diluted
  • Rinses off with a pressure washer
Read the full description

Full Description

Autobead Acid Wheel Cleaner is a concentrated acidic wheel cleaner made for the heaviest brake dust residue and other deposits. Its gel-based formula gives a longer working time, so it makes light work of heavy carbon deposits where non-acidic wheel cleaners would struggle.

Autobead recommends a 1:3 dilution, neat for heavy residue and up to 1:10 for lighter soiling. It is the one for neglected wheels. Because of the strength of the acid, it is not for sensitive finishes, polished or bare metal, or damaged and corroded wheels. Use Autobead Alloy Cleaner on those.

Key Features

  • Concentrated acidic wheel cleaner
  • Gel-based formula for longer working time
  • For heavy brake dust and carbon deposits
  • Dilute 1:3, neat or up to 1:10
  • Ideal for neglected wheels
  • 500ml, 5L and 25L

More in Wheel Cleaners and from Autobead.

Royal Mail Tracked 24 from £3.95, free over £100.Delivery details

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Key features

  • Acid Wheel Cleaner
  • Heavy Duty
  • Brake Dust Cleaning
  • Deep Cleaning
  • Rinse Away Formula

The Drivers HQ

Expert Notes

Acid wheel cleaners are for the jobs a normal wheel cleaner cannot finish: the heaviest brake dust residue and heavy carbon deposits on wheels that have been left for a long time. The gel base keeps it working on the wheel for longer.

The trade-off is strength. Autobead is clear that it is not for sensitive finishes or damaged wheels, and points those to its non-acidic Alloy Cleaner instead. Do not let it dry on the surface, and rinse it away with a pressure washer.

Perfect For / Suitable Surfaces

  • Painted alloy wheels
  • Wheel faces and barrels
  • Neglected wheels

Caution: Not for polished, bare metal or sensitive finishes, or damaged wheels showing corrosion. Do not let it dry on the surface.

Technical Specifications

Product Type
Acidic Wheel Cleaner
Formula
Concentrated Gel
Dilution
1:3, Neat To 1:10
Not For
Polished, Bare Metal, Damaged Wheels
Sizes
500ml, 5L, 25L
Dwell Time
Several Minutes
Rinse
Pressure Washer
Alternative
Autobead Alloy Cleaner
Brand
Autobead

How To Use

Prepare

  1. Shake well before use.
  2. Dilute 1:3, use neat on heavy residue, or dilute up to 1:10 for lighter soiling.
  3. Check the wheel is not polished, bare metal, sensitive or corroded.

Clean the wheels

  1. Spray onto the wheel and leave it to dwell for several minutes.
  2. Agitate with a wheel brush, without letting the product dry.
  3. Rinse clean with a pressure washer.

Top Tip: Keep it for heavily soiled wheels. For regular washes and sensitive finishes, Autobead recommends its non-acidic Alloy Cleaner.

Performance Benefits

  • Breaks down brake dust and road grime
  • Helps restore cleaner wheel faces
  • Reaches spokes and recessed wheel areas
  • Speeds up routine wheel cleaning
  • Suitable for maintenance wash routines
  • Rinses away after agitation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Autobead Acid Wheel Cleaner safe on all wheels?

No. Autobead says it is not for polished, bare metal or sensitive finishes, or for damaged wheels showing corrosion. Use Autobead Alloy Cleaner on those.

What dilution should I use?

Autobead recommends 1:3, neat for heavy residue and up to 1:10 for lighter soiling.

How long do I leave it on?

Allow a dwell time of several minutes before agitating, and do not let it dry.

When should I choose an acid wheel cleaner?

For neglected wheels with heavy brake dust and carbon deposits that non-acidic cleaners struggle to shift.

Why does it get thicker when diluted?

Autobead says dilution increases the gel's thickness and cling time, which keeps it working on the wheel for longer.

Who sells Autobead in the UK?

The Drivers HQ is the exclusive UK reseller of Autobead.

HQ Suggests Tips & Insights

  1. Work on cool wheels, one at a time.
  2. Never let it dry on the wheel.
  3. Wear gloves when handling acid cleaners.
  4. Check the wheel finish before you start.
  5. Shake the bottle before use.
  6. Use it neat only on the worst residue.
  7. Rinse with a pressure washer.

From the Advice Centre

Guides Featuring This Product

Visit the Advice Centre
How to clean alloy wheels: AutoBead Alloy Wheel Cleaner on The Drivers HQ display plinth in front of a grey Hyundai i30 covered in snow foam How to Clean Alloy Wheels: Step by Step, Brushes and CleanersOur step-by-step wheel-cleaning method covers finish checks, routine cleaners, brake dust, brush choice and protection. Learn when stronger chemistry is appropriate and... Best alloy wheel cleaner UK: AutoBead Alloy Wheel Cleaner on The Drivers HQ display plinth in front of a snow-foamed BMW 5 Series Best Alloy Wheel Cleaner UK: How to Choose SafelyChoose an alloy wheel cleaner around the finish and type of dirt. We explain maintenance cleaners, iron removers and specialist acid products,...

The Brand

Autobead

Autobead (also written AutoBead or Auto Bead) was founded on simplicity and efficiency: car care products that get a car clean and protected with as little wasted effort as possible. It has supplied car cleaning and maintenance products to drivers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria since 1999, and its range now covers every stage of a detail, from citrus pre-wash and shampoo to compounds, polishing pads and Silex ceramic coatings.

The Drivers HQ is the exclusive UK reseller of Autobead. We keep the range on the shelf at our Ilkeston shop and deliver it across the UK.

Our customers' favourites are Heavy Dirt citrus pre-wash, Pure Shampoo, Snow Foam and the two wheel cleaners, Alloy Cleaner and Acid Wheel Cleaner.

Shop all Autobead
Autobead Downforce Heavy Cut and Fine Cut foam pads with Autobead Finishing Compound and Quick Detailer on a black display plinth in a photo studio

Autobead products by job

Pre-wash and wash. Heavy Dirt is a concentrated citrus pre-wash for bugs, bird lime and road grime, and it is safe on wax and sealants: dilute it 25:1 for everyday use or 10:1 for heavy dirt, and it also cleans door shuts, engine bays, plastics and rubber. Snow Foam is mildly alkaline and goes in the lance at 1 part to 4 parts water. Pure Shampoo is a pH-neutral 2300:1 shampoo with no gloss enhancers or waxes, so it will not mask or break down existing protection, and Ceramic Shampoo builds up a layer of ceramic protection with regular use.

Wheels. Alloy Cleaner is a ready-to-use, non-acidic wheel cleaner that is safe on all wheel types, and Alloy Cleaner Concentrate is a concentrate you dilute to suit how dirty the wheels are. For neglected wheels with baked-on brake dust, Acid Wheel Cleaner is a gel used at 1:3, but not on sensitive finishes or damaged wheels. Finish with Tyre Dressing, a gel that does not sling.

Decontamination. Iron Fallout Remover is a pH-neutral gel that turns purple as it dissolves iron particles on paint and wheels, and Tar Gel lifts tar spots with less run-off than a liquid. Keep tar removers off plastics and rubber.

Paint correction. The three compounds are graded by the sanding marks they remove: Heavy Cut up to 1500 grade, Medium Cut up to 2500 grade and Finishing Compound up to 3000 grade, each with a Downforce foam pad of the same cut (heavy, medium, fine) for dual action or rotary machines. Surface Prep removes silicones, wax and sealant before a coating.

Protection. Lance Sealant gives up to three months of protection from a foam lance, Spray Sealant is a silicone polymer and silica resin sealant, and the waxes include a Matte Wax for matt paint and wraps. Between washes, Quick Detailer and Ceramic Quick Detailer top up the gloss.

Interior. Interior Detailer leaves plastics, vinyl and leather with a matt, factory-look finish, Leather Cleaner is a pH-neutral cleaner and conditioner, and All Purpose Cleaner dilutes from 5:1 to 30:1 for everything from carpets to wheel arch liners.

Shop Autobead by type: citrus pre-wash, snow foam, car shampoo, wheel cleaners, compounds and polishes, polishing pads and ceramic coatings.

Autobead Finishing Compound and a Downforce Heavy Cut pad with a dab of compound on a detailing trolley in front of a dark blue Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 in a home garage

Choosing an Autobead ceramic coating

Autobead's Silex ceramic coatings come in two families:

  • Silex Series: the 1 Year Paint Coating and 2 Year Paint Coating, titanium ceramic coatings designed to be applied outdoors in a single, self-levelling layer. They resist chemicals from pH 2 to pH 12.
  • Silex Pro: the 3 Year and 5 Year Paint Coatings and the 5 Year Graphene Coating, for longer protection.

Autobead also makes coatings for alloy wheels, glass, leather and fabric.

Autobead's coating warranty matches each paint coating's labelled durability. It applies when the coating is installed by an Autobead Accredited Detailer, the warranty is registered within seven days and the car has a yearly inspection with the installer.

Whoever applies it, the paint needs to be washed, decontaminated and, if needed, polished first, then wiped with Surface Prep so the coating can bond. Do not wash the car with detergent for the first 10 days, then keep it clean with Pure Shampoo or Ceramic Shampoo.

Autobead also trains detailers through its Detail Like a Pro courses (a Foundation Day, an Advanced Day and a four-day Masterclass) and its Silex accreditation for professional coating installers.

Need a hand choosing? Visit our Ilkeston shop or send us a WhatsApp. We deliver Autobead across the UK by Royal Mail Tracked 24, free on orders from £100, or you can order online and collect from the shop.

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