Alloy wheel cleaner

eccleshill · 09-05-2008, 09:27

Finally got round to giving my Octavia a good spring clean after a winter of splash and dash washes to just get the worst off. The wheels are still looking a little grimey in the corners.
This is the first car I have had with alloy wheels and I am after a good product to get them clean and sparkling again.
Autoexpress recommends Carplan Wonder Wheels but it carries a whole load of warnings not to use it on unlacquered wheels.
I have the standard Elegance 16" Vega wheels - are these wheels lacquered? Has anyone used this stuff? Is it any good? Any better recommendations?
Also any recommendations for keeping them looking good?

Staedtler · 09-05-2008, 09:32

I've used Wonder Wheels on my Pegasus 17" alloys to great effect, the only thing it struggled on was some tar. After washing it off, I gave the alloys a coating of some normal car body paint wax to help stop anything sticking to them in the future.

cheezemonkhai · 09-05-2008, 10:47

Get a 60-70p bottle of stardrops and a cheap sprayer bottle (£1)

Make up strong solution (4:1) and get an old soft toothbrush or similar.

I've not found anything that can stand up to that and unlike wonder wheels it isn't acidic.

Once you're done rinse it off well with a shampoo.

You can dilute any solution you have left to 10:1 and use for general household cleaning or use it in a bucket on floors

I use this on the Vega wheels and it works a treat.

I have some wonder wheels but it is really really aggressive and these days it is only used when nothing else works or on steel wheels.

PSM · 09-05-2008, 10:57

I have used wonder wheels to great effect before. Although I would not recommend it for everyday use due to it being a bit aggressive (but very good to remove subborn dirt occasionally). I now wax my wheels (with the same wax I use on the paintwork) after each clean and this has greatly reduced the amount of cleaning I have to do since the dirt does not stick like it used to. Now a wipe with a wet and soapy sponge removes all the dirt.

Tom_vRS · 09-05-2008, 11:18

Thread moved to Styling and Car Care

Johnny50 · 09-05-2008, 12:16

Stardrops gets my vote for wheels too.

gillywibble · 09-05-2008, 13:26

Autobrite non acidic wheel cleaner. Awesome stuff.

I also use Megs wheel brightener, diluted up to 10:1.

Baker21 · 10-05-2008, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gillywibble

I also use Megs wheel brightener, diluted up to 10:1.

IMHO this is one of the best Wheel Cleaning products on the market...........

fabtdi · 10-05-2008, 09:43

I use AG Motorcycle Cleaner, brilliant to use on my Vrs alloys, just spray directly onto a brush and it lasts for ages.

jasc1988 · 10-05-2008, 09:59

I have used Wonder Wheels to great effect, good for that little boost

skudmissile · 10-05-2008, 12:15

i just jet wash mine.

The surface is so smooth on my powder coated wheels the brake dust just rinses off.

have used wonder wheels in the past....... one thing i learnt was dont get it in your eyes.... it smarts a little

jasc1988 · 10-05-2008, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by skudmissile

i just jet wash mine.

The surface is so smooth on my powder coated wheels the brake dust just rinses off.

have used wonder wheels in the past....... one thing i learnt was dont get it in your eyes.... it smarts a little

Or cuts

RichB86 · 10-05-2008, 22:31

ive started using wheel brightener and really impressed with it atm. smells good to!

Baker21 · 10-05-2008, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichB86

ive started using wheel brightener and really impressed with it atm. smells good to!

Lummox · 10-05-2008, 22:57

Pah paint em matt black. No need to clean them then.

matt@theforce · 10-05-2008, 23:08

I used AutoGlyms Alloy wheel cleaner on SWMBO's fabia last week and I've never seen them so clean.

DJM123 · 11-05-2008, 12:36

Is the Megs stuff v.acidic? I have the usual black tar in the corners by the spokes and cant seem to shift them with anything. Have used wonder wheels before but as said above found it to be v. aggressive and sore on my eyes!

Baker21 · 11-05-2008, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM123

Is the Megs stuff v.acidic? I have the usual black tar in the corners by the spokes and cant seem to shift them with anything. Have used wonder wheels before but as said above found it to be v. aggressive and sore on my eyes!

You can dilute the Megs Wheel Brightner as to how you see fit but if you want rid of tar then I would recommend investing in some AS Tardis............

turnerswfc · 11-05-2008, 16:31

I've been using wonder wheels and rate it. Though I think i'll be giving the megs wheel brightener a go in the near future.

tdirob · 11-05-2008, 16:33

is megs wheel brightener available in small bottles? I've only seen the 5L bottles on elitecarcare and I don't think I'll need that much...

09-05-2008, 09:27	#1
eccleshill Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Leeds Posts: 225 Thanks: 8 Thanked 20 Times in 13 Posts	Alloy wheel cleaner Finally got round to giving my Octavia a good spring clean after a winter of splash and dash washes to just get the worst off. The wheels are still looking a little grimey in the corners. This is the first car I have had with alloy wheels and I am after a good product to get them clean and sparkling again. Autoexpress recommends Carplan Wonder Wheels but it carries a whole load of warnings not to use it on unlacquered wheels. I have the standard Elegance 16" Vega wheels - are these wheels lacquered? Has anyone used this stuff? Is it any good? Any better recommendations? Also any recommendations for keeping them looking good?

09-05-2008, 09:32	#2
Staedtler Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner I've used Wonder Wheels on my Pegasus 17" alloys to great effect, the only thing it struggled on was some tar. After washing it off, I gave the alloys a coating of some normal car body paint wax to help stop anything sticking to them in the future.

09-05-2008, 10:47	#3
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 14,723 Thanks: 91 Thanked 412 Times in 383 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner Get a 60-70p bottle of stardrops and a cheap sprayer bottle (£1) Make up strong solution (4:1) and get an old soft toothbrush or similar. I've not found anything that can stand up to that and unlike wonder wheels it isn't acidic. Once you're done rinse it off well with a shampoo. You can dilute any solution you have left to 10:1 and use for general household cleaning or use it in a bucket on floors I use this on the Vega wheels and it works a treat. I have some wonder wheels but it is really really aggressive and these days it is only used when nothing else works or on steel wheels. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

09-05-2008, 10:57	#4
PSM Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 205 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner I have used wonder wheels to great effect before. Although I would not recommend it for everyday use due to it being a bit aggressive (but very good to remove subborn dirt occasionally). I now wax my wheels (with the same wax I use on the paintwork) after each clean and this has greatly reduced the amount of cleaning I have to do since the dirt does not stick like it used to. Now a wipe with a wet and soapy sponge removes all the dirt.

09-05-2008, 11:18	#5
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 11,052 Thanks: 622 Thanked 375 Times in 256 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner Thread moved to Styling and Car Care __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green. Don't miss the new DR COLORCHIPS GROUP BUY!

09-05-2008, 12:16	#6
Johnny50 Here's Johnny ! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5,047 Thanks: 192 Thanked 139 Times in 135 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner Stardrops gets my vote for wheels too.

09-05-2008, 13:26	#7
gillywibble Cuthbert Dibble Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Watching Tom peeping at Lady Godiva. Posts: 6,279 Thanks: 223 Thanked 213 Times in 176 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner Autobrite non acidic wheel cleaner. Awesome stuff. I also use Megs wheel brightener, diluted up to 10:1. __________________ I drink, therefore I spam.

10-05-2008, 09:43	#9
fabtdi Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 123 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner I use AG Motorcycle Cleaner, brilliant to use on my Vrs alloys, just spray directly onto a brush and it lasts for ages.

10-05-2008, 09:59	#10
jasc1988 Big Jas Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,664 Thanks: 85 Thanked 102 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner I have used Wonder Wheels to great effect, good for that little boost __________________

10-05-2008, 12:15	#11
skudmissile Moving Stables Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,184 Thanks: 418 Thanked 181 Times in 163 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner i just jet wash mine. The surface is so smooth on my powder coated wheels the brake dust just rinses off. have used wonder wheels in the past....... one thing i learnt was dont get it in your eyes.... it smarts a little __________________ Bored of the volvo already

10-05-2008, 22:31	#13
RichB86 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 830 Thanks: 37 Thanked 31 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner ive started using wheel brightener and really impressed with it atm. smells good to! __________________ Must Go Faster

10-05-2008, 22:57	#15
Lummox U18 Automotive Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,805 Thanks: 22 Thanked 658 Times in 554 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner Pah paint em matt black. No need to clean them then. __________________ Unit 18 Automotive Services now open Servicing, repairs, modifications you name it we do it. Cupra console bushes at special price, PM for a very competitive quote.

10-05-2008, 23:08	#16
matt@theforce Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Durkar Posts: 1,902 Thanks: 71 Thanked 64 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner I used AutoGlyms Alloy wheel cleaner on SWMBO's fabia last week and I've never seen them so clean. __________________ Modifications, I'm not telling you Support Briskoda Join FREEDOM >>> <<<

11-05-2008, 12:36	#17
DJM123 Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sevenoaks Posts: 104 Thanks: 10 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner Is the Megs stuff v.acidic? I have the usual black tar in the corners by the spokes and cant seem to shift them with anything. Have used wonder wheels before but as said above found it to be v. aggressive and sore on my eyes!

11-05-2008, 16:31	#19
turnerswfc Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sheffield Posts: 100 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner I've been using wonder wheels and rate it. Though I think i'll be giving the megs wheel brightener a go in the near future. __________________ Standard 07 Fabia VRS in Corrida Red......Bought 19/04/08 and lovin' it!!!! Just finding my feet with it at the mo.

11-05-2008, 16:33	#20
tdirob Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wrexham Posts: 1,217 Thanks: 25 Thanked 35 Times in 33 Posts	Re: Alloy wheel cleaner is megs wheel brightener available in small bottles? I've only seen the 5L bottles on elitecarcare and I don't think I'll need that much... __________________ Golf GT TDI - Standard (at the minute)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode