If you want your ride to look its best you are going to invest in a set of rims and tires, but custom wheels are going to set you back anything up to $1,500 per tire! If you are laying that kind of money out for your wheels you need to know how to look after them and keep the car looking its very best. There is no point in pimping your ride only for it to look shoddy and dirty.
You want your wheels looking like “wow!” every single time someone sees them. If you are taking your ride in for a professional to detail you should already have taken the time to have pre-cleaned the wheels. We’re not talking about taking them to task here, but you want the professional detailer to spend their time on bringing the car and wheels to look their very best, nit taking out silly bits of crud you could easily do yourself. It’s just about doing a little something to make sure the real, professional effort goes into creating the finished effect.
Looking after your wheels takes the same effort and routine as looking after the rest of your car. First, you need to wash and clean off the detritus from the road and then polish them to ensure they are protected from the dirt which is going to attack them in future. Make sure you use a good detergent and follow up with a wheel cleaner; follow this up with a good quality wheel polish and protectant spray.
Doing the wheels yourself is a chore, but one time saving tip is to complete one wheel, including the rim and tire, all in one go. Once you have finished one tire, move on to the next – this way you will save time and effort and have all your materials to hand as you work.
Personally, I recommend you start cleaning the rims first and work outwards to the tire. This way you deal with any runoff form cleaning the rim which splashes onto the tire.
You are going to need some equipment to make sure you get the most out of your tires and rims. An old, soft toothbrush is very useful for getting around the rim and into the nooks and crannies. You will also need a sponge and a smooth rag – never use anything which is abrasive, and never use abrasive cleaners on your rims or tires (these will scour the finish and result in them becoming dirty quickly and they will also lose their sheen).
Looking after your wheels is important if you want your car to look great. The car bodywork needs to gleam, but it is the wheels which will really make the vehicle stand out in the crowd. You are paying top dollar for your wheels so make sure you invest in the right equipment, cleaners, polishes and protectants to ensure they always look their best when you are out on the road and cruising.
Tags: custom wheels and tires, detritus, finished effect, professional detailer, professional effort, quality wheel, rims and tires, silly bits, soft toothbrush, wheels and tires